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Everton have received an injury blow to a big player while away on international duty, meaning he could now miss the upcoming Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

Everton hit new low under Dyche

The Blues have suffered a miserable start to the new season, having begun it with hopes of an improvement being on show after three successive relegation battles in the top flight. Instead, Everton have lost all three of their opening Premier League matches in 2024/25, starting with a 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton and added to by a 4-0 trouncing away to Tottenham.

The real nadir came last Saturday, however, as Sean Dyche's side blew a 2-0 lead at home to Bournemouth late in the day, eventually losing 3-2 at Goodison, with two of the visitors' goals coming in stoppage time. It was one of the bleakest defeats that the Blues have suffered in years, and they arguably look like the worst team in the league currently.

In terms of Dyche's future as manager, the Englishman doesn't appear to be in danger of losing his job right now – Graham Potter has been mentioned as a possible replacement if that time comes – but it's fair to say that many Everton supporters are now running out of patience with him, following such a dreadful start to the season.

Now, the Blues boss has been hit with an additional headache to contend with, following an injury to an established and popular figure.

Everton hit with injury blow to "amazing" player

According to Liverpool World, Everton ace Seamus Coleman is an injury doubt for next weekend's clash with Aston Villa after picking up a fitness issue in the Republic of Ireland's 2-0 defeat at home to England on Saturday evening.

The right-back was forced off in the UEFA Nations League clash at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, being replaced by Blues teammate Jake O'Brien after 57 minutes, and he is now facing a race against time to be fit for another crucial Premier League game.

Admittedly, Coleman isn't the force he was at the peak of his powers, but he is still good enough to be starting for his country, and his vast experience is badly needed during such a tumultuous period at Goodison.

The 35-year-old certainly has his admirers, including former Everton manager Frank Lampard, who said of him earlier this year: "Seamus [Coleman] was amazing from the first time I sat with him, so now I messaged him the other day because he made his way 15 years ago. That was incredible, and what a player as well, by the way."

The hope is that the £55,000-a-week-earning Coleman is back in time for the trip to Villa next Saturday, having only started once in the league so far this season, with his character in the dressing room so priceless during such a challenging spell.

Gary O'Neil and his Wolves side have had a tough start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, losing to Arsenal and Chelsea already, before getting a draw against Nottingham Forest to gain their first point of the season.

One area Wolves were looking to recruit over the summer was midfield, once dominated by a Portuguese trio of Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho and Matheus Nunes. The central department at Molineux has certainly lost a lot of quality in the past few years.

Neves made 48 appearances for Al-Hilal last season in all competitions last season, scoring seven goals, and providing 12 assists in 4,073 minutes.

While Andre was signed from Brazilian shores, they must lust after the return of one player, in particular. That man is midfield sensation Vitinha.

Vitinha's time at Wolves

Vitinha spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan with Wolves, making 22 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring one goal and providing one assist in his 711 minutes played. That sole goal – a long-range stunner – came against Chorley in the FA Cup.

The midfielder played alongside the likes of Neves and Moutinho under manager Nuno Espírito Santo, finishing 13th in the Premier League that season.

The Portugal international initially came through the ranks at Porto, making 59 appearances for their senior team either side of his loan to Wolves, before earning a move to PSG in 2022, joining the club for around €40m (£33.7m).

Since then, he's certainly become a fine young talent, one that's currently valued at £76m by the Parisiens.

Vitinha vs Neves comparison

Vitinha is now a key figure at PSG, making 46 appearances last season for the French giants in all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing five assists.

It's safe to say he's been pretty good. So good in fact that he's incredibly among the Ballon d'Or nominees for 2024. That's a far cry from that wintery night in Chorley, isn't it?

Whilst Vitinha is now entering his prime years, his ex-colleague Neves is currently spending his final playing years in Saudi Arabia. The duo are playing at different levels, but Wolves could certainly do with the passing qualities of either one of these midfielders right now. Here's how they compare…

Vitinha (23/24) vs Neves (22/23) comparison

Stats (per 90 mins)

Vitinha

Neves

Goals

0.23

0.14

Assists

0.13

0.02

Progressive Carries

1.86

0.84

Progressive Passes

7.84

6.51

Shots Total

1.80

1.80

Key Passes

1.66

0.96

Passes into Final Third

7.10

6.03

Tackles

1.60

2.36

Interceptions

1.11

1.54

Stats taken from FBref

Vitinha has really started to establish himself as one of the best passers in Europe, completing 7.84 progressive passes per 90, thus ranking within the top 7% of midfielders on the continent for that statistic.

Neves, in his final season at Wolves, averaged fewer progressive passes per 90 (6.51), fewer passes into the final third per 90 (6.03), and fewer key passes per 90 (0.96). Those are number which shows the level Vitinha is currently performing at in France.

An area Neves still outperformed the former loanee when comparing these two seasons is on the defensive end making more tackles and more interceptions per 90. To put those statistics into context, we can compare them to the current duo at Molineux.

Wolves' midfield pairing consists of Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes, who are both brilliant players in their own right. However, Lemina is better known for his off-ball work, averaging 2.82 tackles per 90, whilst Gomes also offers similar assets going box to box, leaving them with a lack of passing quality in the middle.

Vitinha is the exact type of player Wolves could use in midfield to balance things, control games better, and bring their talented attackers such as Matheus Cunha into the game more.

Related Wolves could unearth the next Ruben Neves in "gifted" academy midfielder

He has impressed on loan in the Championship

Posts 1 ByJoe Nuttall Sep 9, 2024

Newcastle United are expected to make an offer for an "extraordinary" free agent, but will need to act quickly as he is also wanted by another Premier League club, according to a fresh transfer update.

Newcastle contract & transfer news

The Magpies' summer transfer business is done and dusted, in what was a relatively low-key period in the market for them, but there are still contract and transfer rumours doing the rounds. The future of Anthony Gordon was a major talking point during the summer, with a move to boyhood club Liverpool mooted a number of times, but the winger ended up staying put at St James' Park. Now, it is claimed that the 23-year-old could sign a new deal at Newcastle, acting as a major boost for Eddie Howe.

In terms of potential new signings, only free agents are now available for the Magpies, with Yusuf Yazici reportedly a target, having left Lille upon the conclusion of last season. Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are also thought to be in the mix for the 27-year-old.

There is another free agent who has emerged as an exciting option for Newcastle, too, as they battle with one of the clubs mentioned above for his signature.

Newcastle plan offer for "extraordinary" midfielder

According to a new update from Le Figaro [via Sport Witness], Newcastle could soon table an offer for Adrien Rabiot, who is currently a free agent after his departure from Juventus at the end of last season. United are in the same position, however, seeing the Frenchman as an excellent option to replace Casemiro, as the two Premier League clubs are said to "need to hurry" to get a deal done.

Rabiot could be a fantastic addition to Newcastle's midfield, considering his pedigree as a player throughout his career, during which time he has won seven league titles – six for Paris Saint-Germain and one with Juve. Not only that, but the 29-year-old has won 48 caps for a formidable France team, proving to be a key figure in the middle of the park, while David Trezeguet has lauded him in the past.

With Newcastle supporters not overly happy about a lack of stellar signings during the summer transfer window, the £29.5m-valued Rabiot could add so much class and experience to Howe's midfield all without splashing a penny, possessing quality in possession and a strong work ethic off the ball.

Last season, the France international registered eight goal contributions (five goals and three assists) in Serie A, but he also averaged 1.9 tackles per game, not to mention starting five matches for his country at Euro 2024 earlier this summer.

Newcastle sold a defender for £90k, now he has more career goals than Isak

The Magpies previously sold a defender for mere peanuts…

ByRoss Kilvington Sep 8, 2024

Signing Rabiot should be considered a no-brainer for Newcastle, even though he would likely demand big wages, with the free element of the fee making it less of an issue.

Chelsea recorded their first competitive win under new manager Enzo Maresca on Thursday night, beating Servette in the UEFA Conference League qualifier, first leg, 2-0. Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring for the Blues in the second half with a penalty, before Noni Madueke doubled the lead, after coming off the bench.

It wasn't the most convincing of wins for the Blues, in what seemed to be a very flat game. However, they did manage to keep 59% possession, and create more "big chances" than Servette, despite not really looking like they got out of first gear.

Servette had a good go themselves, especially in the final 10/15 minutes, testing Chelsea with a flurry of shots, as they managed a total of 22 shots throughout the 90 minutes. This was a Chelsea side that made nine changes from their weekend defeat to Manchester City, and therefore the sluggish nature of the performance could be down to that.

Renato Veiga's game in numbers vs Servette

A huge positive from this game for Chelsea was new signing, Renato Veiga, who was signed from Basel this summer for around £12m. The youngster can play a host of positions, including left-back, centre-back, and defensive midfield.

The 21-year-old recorded a 7/10 match rating according to GOAL, praising his 'demonstrated versatility' when inverting into midfield, alongside Moises Caicedo from left-back.

Veiga completed six clearances, three interceptions, and one tackle, as well as winning 3/3 of his aerial duels, as per Sofascore, something he adds to the team given his 6 foot 3 frame for a left-back. But it isn't just his defensive and physical prowess that stands out.

Having 78 touches, completing 47/55 passes, and completing 2/3 long balls, the young Portuguese defender showed his ability and composure on the ball, to play through the lines, and progress play for the Blues, which is a hugely important factor in Maresca's system.

It is for this reason, that it could be argued that the west Londoners have perhaps found their answer to Arsenal's new £42m signing, Riccardo Calafiori…

Calafiori comparison

Now the main factors in this comparison are the modern natures of these defenders and the tactical versatility they give you. Much like Veiga, Calafiori is built like a central defender, a 6 foot frame with a strong body archetype, but possesses the ability to play as a left-back, central defender, and step into central midfield.

Calafiori often stepped into midfield for Bologna last season, whether that was positioning himself there to receive the ball as a midfielder, or driving into midfield from the defensive line, using that progressive carrying ability to drive his team forward.

These are similar traits to Veiga, who can use his powerful stride to carry the ball forward, or his footballing IQ to position himself accordingly to receive the ball as a midfield option. Their comfortability on the ball for defensive-minded players is top tier, and this is an ever-growing asset in the modern game.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Calafiori

Assists

0.19

Shot-Creating Actions

1.76

Passes Attempted

69.35

Progressive Passes

3.68

Progressive Carries

1.07

Tackles

1.80

Interceptions

1.92

Blocks

1.46

Aerials Won

2.30

Something becoming more and more apparent at the top level, especially with Manchester City and Arsenal in the past year, is fielding these fullbacks with a central defender's frame, as they seek physical advantages over the pitch.

Veiga and Calafiori are great examples of this player archetype, offering physicality and height in this area of the pitch, whilst possessing midfielder qualities on the ball, and still completing a high level of defensive actions per game.

So Chelsea could have hit the jackpot, with their £12m man, who possesses all the qualities needed to succeed in the Premier League, especially as football continues to evolve.

Worse than Mudryk: Chelsea's 4.5/10 flop must never wear the shirt again

The Blues are on the cusp of advancing to the UECL group stage…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 23, 2024

Elisabeth Terland and Celin Bizet were on target as Manchester United maintained their unbeaten start to the Women's Super League season.

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Leicester miss golden first half opportunityTerland powers a header on stroke of half timeBizet doubles United's lead after defensive errorFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE

Manchester United headed into the game against Leicester knowing they needed to win to keep the pressure on Arsenal and Brighton. Both won their respective games on Saturday, and respectively sat three and four points ahead of the Red Devils when they kicked off against Leicester.

In a lacklustre start, both sides struggled for fluency, and few opportunities presented themselves for either side, with Grace Clinton's mis-directed diving header the best chance of the opening half an hour.

While United dominated the ball, Leicester posed a sporadic threat on the counter attack, and in the 38th minute, should have taken the lead, after a deflected Yuka Momiki attempt fell to Hannah Cain six yards out, but the winger could only scuff the attempt wide.

On the stroke of half-time, United punished Leicester's wastefulness, as Geyse Ferreira clipped a lovely cross into Terland, and the Norwegian striker directed the header beautifully into the corner. Terland almost doubled her tally with an overhead kick early in the second half, but could only watch as the ball dropped wide.

The second period played out as an uneventful affair, as United controlled the ball, content with their one-goal lead, while Leicester harried and chased them to no avail. In the 80th minute, United made sure of the three points, as Catherine Bott miscued a back pass following a Millie Turner long ball. Celin Bizet latched onto it, and coolly rolled the ball into the corner.

It was a far from clinical performance from United, who on multiple occasions looked like they would hand Leicester a route back into the game, but two moments of clear thinking were enough to get them over the line.

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Manchester United are undefeated in the league so far this season, winning four and drawing three.

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While she couldn't get her name on the scoresheet, Geyse Ferreira was a constant thorn in the left side of the Leicester defence. The Brazilian's tricky feet and rapid turn of pace repeatedly turned Courtney Nevin inside out, and her assist for Terland was the contribution her performance deserved.

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While she was the player on the end of Leicester's two best chances, Hannah Cain couldn't keep a cool head, and in missing them prevented her team from having a chance of taking a result away from the King Power. The first an effort from the edge of the box that curled high and wide after a swift counter-attack; a forgivable miss.

But the second looked set to be a guaranteed goal, and only the Welsh winger will know how she somehow prodded the ball wide. She will be having nightmares of that missed opportunity tonight.

Failure to interview for Performance Pathway role leads to allegations of cronyism

George Dobell03-Mar-2021

The ECB has been accused of “failing to adopt their own policies” on inclusion and diversity after they made a high-profile coaching appointment without advertising the role.The ECB announced on Monday that Richard Dawson, currently the head coach at Gloucestershire, would be the new Elite Performance Pathway Coach alongside three other specialist coaching positions.But while the vacancies for a spin bowling, seam bowling and batting coach (subsequently filled by Jeetan Patel, Jon Lewis and Marcus Trescothick respectively) were all advertised, the pathway role was not.This would appear to go against the ECB’s own announcement, in July 2020, that they were “recommending the adoption of the Rooney Rule for all coaching roles across the game”. Named in recognition of Dan Rooney, a former chair of the NFL’s diversity committee, the Rule demands that a non-white candidate be interviewed for every senior coaching role.It was introduced in the US to tackle the issue of exclusion and had been publically adopted by the ECB in the aftermath of the growing appreciation of the game’s struggle to achieve appropriate levels of diversity across playing, coaching and administrative positions.But with the pathway role filled without a specific interview process, there was no opportunity to interview candidates of any ethnicity before the appointment. And that, some claim, amounts to a failure by the ECB to implement their own inclusivity and diversity agenda.”It is quite unbelievable that the ECB are failing to adopt their own policies,” Ismail Dawood, the former umpire who is currently pursuing a discrimination claim against the board, told ESPNcricinfo. “Richard Dawson is an excellent coach. With his holistic approach, he has done a fantastic job in developing a successful team of cricketers and men. I’m sure he will be a great success with the Young Lions team.Related

Trescothick, Lewis, Patel named as ECB elite coaches

John Holder sues ECB over alleged racial discrimination

“The ECB, on the other hand, seem to be a law unto themselves, implementing knee-jerk policies but not following them through eight months later. Cronyism and institutional racism, both historical and active, have been highlighted over the past 12 months, with many in the game speaking out.”While accepting that the specific role was not advertised, the ECB insist the recruitment process was thorough and fair. A spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo that the vacancy only came about after Lewis, the previous pathway coach, was given the role of elite seam bowling coach. With many other candidates having been interviewed – and around 30 percent of the candidates short-listed for interview having been non-white – the ECB felt they had explored the talent pool available to them and were well placed to make the appointment.They also point out that the interview panels were diverse both in terms of gender and ethnicity (the process was headed by the ECB Performance Director, Mo Bobat, who is a British Asian from a state-school background), and that one of the coaches appointed was non-white.While the ECB would not confirm that Dawson was interviewed for the spin bowling position, it seems safe to assume he was and that he made a strong impression. Having narrowly missed out to Patel for the spin job, it seems the ECB felt he was the perfect man to replace Lewis.Criticism of the ECB on the issue is not limited to issues around diversity and inclusion. Toby Radford, batting coach of West Indies when they defeated England in 2019, also makes the point that, by not advertising the specific role, the ECB limited the field of candidates. In particular, he argues that interviewing for specialised roles and then appointing a more general coach makes little sense.”I am disappointed that the ECB has appointed an important national coaching role without advertising or interviewing specifically for it,” Radford told ESPNcricinfo.”I am sure that many high quality international coaches with substantial experience and knowledge would have jumped at the chance to go for this job if they had known that it existed.”Other coaches with views similar to Radford or Dawood shared their views with ESPNcricinfo but were reluctant to do so on the record in case it jeopardised future employment opportunities. One of them, a former first-class player with a Level 4 coaching qualification, dismissed the ECB’s statements on inclusion and diversity as “nothing but fluff and politically correct statements”.”These actions seem reminiscent of the similar systematic failings by the ECB in adopting any of the recommendations of the 1998 race review they commissioned,” Dawood added, referring to a previous review into inclusion issues which he claims was not actioned.Meanwhile the ECB have confirmed that Jonathan Trott, who has been the batting consultant with the England Test team in India during the Test series, will stay on to fill in for Trescothick who was due to join the tour ahead of the limited-overs games. Trescothick has recently suffered a family bereavement.

Dom Sibley says that his struggles for form in Sri Lanka had left him in a “pretty dark place”, but was proud of the “courage” he had shown to make mid-series adjustments and sign off on a high with a crucial half-century in England’s series-sealing run-chase in Galle.Sibley came into the second innings of the second Test under huge pressure following a run of 4, 2 and 0 in his previous three innings, having been dismissed by the left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya on each and every occasion.However, he fought his demons through hard work on and off the field – backing up intensive nets sessions with England’s batting consultant Jacques Kallis, with a focus on digging in for the first 20-30 balls of the second innings – to anchor a tricky run-chase of 164 with a battling 56 not out.Though Sibley did have to ride his luck with three close calls for lbws, all of which were shown on DRS to have been clipping the stumps, his sheet-anchor approach provided England with the foundation for their more free-flowing batsmen to take control of the chase, with first Jonny Bairstow and then Jos Buttler scoring at close to a run-a-ball in crucial stands of 45 and 75 respectively.”I had a bit of a stinker at the start of the series,” Sibley told the host broadcaster shortly after hitting the winning runs. “I’d worked hard during the winter months in England, so you start to doubt yourself a little bit before today.”I had felt really confident coming into the series, of what I’ve done to play spin. So to doubt that, and try and change things mid-series, was something that took a little bit of courage.”Working with Jacques in the nets were really tough sessions actually. But luckily it paid off a little today. I hadn’t given myself a chance in the first three innings of the series, but to start against spin with a new ball, that’s something I’ve never really faced in England.”Related

• Joe Root backs Zak Crawley, Dom Sibley to grow from tough initiation

• Lasith Embuldeniya's unsexy virtues put him on the right path

• Dom Sibley breaks out of slump to help see England home

• Sri Lanka's batsmen, and the voice of unreason

Asked what he had been working on since the end of the English summer – in which he had made his second Test century against West Indies at Emirates Old Trafford but struggled for fluency against Pakistan – Sibley said that “options” were his key, given that by his own admission, he is not one of the team’s more natural stroke-makers.”In the summer I felt I was getting a bit stuck at the crease. [In the first Test], I felt stuck the whole time to be honest,” he said.”But it was just a case of believing, and trying not to doubt yourself too much, even though I’d obviously had three failures to the same bowler. He had done me on the outside [edge] and also by skidding through, so I was just trying to work it out. He certainly had the wood over me, but I just tried to spend 20, 30 balls [at the crease], then try and build a partnership and take the focus off myself.”Obviously I had a bit of luck with the reviews, but it’s just nice to have spent a bit of time in the crease, given myself a chance and seen the boys over the line.”Speaking after England’s first innings, Buttler had hailed Joe Root’s second century of the series as a “masterclass”, and said that the entire team could learn from his example. And Sibley agreed, even if he did admit to being a touch overawed by what he was witnessing.”Watching Joe makes you feel a little bit inadequate to be quite frank,” he said. “The way he’s played the series is incredible, and the way he swept and made it look so easy on tough wickets.”Sibley might not have been England’s obvious match-winner on a day four pitch, but with a more confident use of the sweep, and an eye for the gap at midwicket to release the pressure, he kept the strike rotating and ensured England did not get bogged down in pursuit of a potentially tricky target.”We talked about going down in tens, really,” he said of his key stand with Buttler, which came after a rare failure for Root – who was bowled round his legs for 11 to complete a series haul of 426 runs in four innings.”Sixty, 50, 40 … keep counting down. Jos plays at a lot higher tempo than me so he took the pressure off me and when Joe got out, I thought I need to be there at the end – just bat through, at an even tempo.”Afterwards, Root added his own praise for the character that Sibley had shown.”As a whole batting group, we’ve had lots of discussions about how to play spin,” Root said. “It’s about how that fits in with your own individual games.”More than anything, it’s testament to the work that he’s put in,” he added. “To figure out his own method on a fourth-day wicket in very extreme conditions, and see us across the line in a high-pressure environment that like is really impressive, especially off the back of a couple of low scores.”It just shows that one of our biggest strengths is the character in the dressing room, for a guy to stand up off the back of the scores he had, he deserves all the plaudits he gets.”Sibley’s score came at an opportune moment, with the impending return of Rory Burns and Ben Stokes for the India tour meaning that one or both of the incumbent openers could miss out in Chennai next month.”I have to wait and see what happens with guys coming back into the team but, yeah, I’m pleased that I’ve managed to end this tour on a high,” Sibley said. “I was in a pretty dark place so to get some runs there’s a bit of relief. After the hard work I put in, it’s nice to see some rewards.”

A £100,000-a-week Tottenham player, who featured in 39 games under Ange Postecoglou last season, wants to leave the club this summer.

Tottenham sell Joe Rodon to Leeds United in latest Spurs exit

Postecoglou recently hinted that Spurs are set to axe a few squad members over the coming weeks, saying that the Lilywhites need to implement "drastic change" and not everyone will be along for the ride.

Club reply as Tottenham make bid for £21 million player after Archie Gray

Postecoglou is looking to sign another starlet after the Yorkshire sensation.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 2, 2024

Ryan Sessegnon, Japhet Tanganga, Eric Dier and Ivan Perisic have all left Spurs, following the expiry of their contracts, while chairman Daniel Levy also reached an agreement to terminate Tanguy Ndombele's deal a year before it was meant to run out.

Wales international defender Joe Rodon has now joined the aforementioned group out of the N17 exit door, with Leeds United announcing that they have signed him on a permanent deal following an impressive season on loan at Elland Road.

Rodon has put pen to paper on a £10 million move to Leeds, with English sensation Archie Gray officially moving in the opposite direction to Tottenham for a reported £40 million (Fabrizio Romano).

Postecoglou's suggestion of an overhaul appears to be coming to fruition, slowly but surely, and many other players have been tipped to leave as well. Genoa have been in talks over a permanent deal for Djed Spence, while another Serie A side in AC Milan are maintaining their negotiations over Emerson Royal.

Bryan Gil, Giovani Lo Celso, Troy Parrott, Richarlison, Sergio Reguilon, Yves Bissouma, Manor Solomon and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have also been linked with north London exits over the past few months, with Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg sharing an update on the latter.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg keen to quit Tottenham as Dortmund eye move

The reliable Bundesliga journalist says Hojbjerg is keen to leave Tottenham this summer, with just a year remaining on his contract, and he's thought to be attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund – who see the Dane as an alternative to Pascal Gross.

Hojbjerg did actually feature in a seismic 39 appearances in all competitions last season, but the vast majority came off the substitutes bench, with the 28-year-old now looking for more opportunities to start elsewhere.

The £100,000-per-week midfielder was a mainstay in the starting line-ups of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte before Postecoglou, but the former Southampton star lost his place to Bissouma last term. Mourinho signed Hojbjerg for around £20 million four years ago, and he's gone on to make 184 appearances in all competitions.

After a disappointing seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Newcastle United could now sacrifice one of their top stars in order to bring new players through the door at St James' Park.

Magpies eye up defensive reinforcements this summer

After struggling to settle on a nailed on back four last season, Eddie Howe appears to be in the market for players to reinforce his backline. One defender has already made the move to Tyneside with free agent Lloyd Kelly set to join the club at the start of July after leaving Bournemouth at the end of his contract.

Top target: Newcastle want to sign "unbelievable" PL star who's like Gordon

Newcastle looking to add more firepower in attack

ByConnor Holden Jun 26, 2024

With one already through the door, the latest rumours out of St James' Park have linked Newcastle with a number of further defensive signings. AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori is one name linked with a move to the Magpies with the English defender potentially available for £42million this summer.

Another defender on PIF's shopping list is Juventus' Federico Gatti. The 26-year-old central defender is linked with a £25 million move away from the Turin outfit and Newcastle are reported to be ready to launch a formal bid for the player.

With fresh faces in defence clearly high on Newcastle's list of priorities, the club could now use the transfer window to sell one of their most reliable players in this area of the pitch.

European club target Toon star

As first reported by Sport Witness, the Turkish press are claiming that Trabzonspor are interested in signing Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar. The Swiss centre back has just one year left on his current deal at St James' Park meaning that he is likely to be moved on this summer.

The report goes on to state that Schar is now Trabzonspor's top target in their search for a new central defender after the 2022 Süper Lig winners failed to convince Marseille’s Samuel Gigot to join, and they have already reached out to the Magpies star.

Current Toon boss Howe spoke on Schar's unique abilities back in March, telling the press: “There won’t be many centre-halves like Fabby (Schar). He is a total one-off, he is a very good defender when he is absolutely concentrated and really well-trained.

"He is as good a defender as I’ve seen. But he would probably tell you that his biggest strengths are on the ball, and he can see things and execute things that I don’t see many other centre-halves capable of doing. That’s why he’s so important to us."

Schar made 36 league appearances for the Magpies last season, scoring four goals in the process. The 32-year-old's goal scoring prowess is well known with the player synonymous with well struck efforts that end up rippling the back of the net.

As he is currently away representing Switzerland at Euro 2024, Sport Witness states that any negotiations will not take place until the tournament has concluded.

With Newcastle eyeing up moves for a number of high profile defenders, shifting Schar's £45,000 per week wages off the books could be what allows the Magpies to go after some of their top targets.

Rangers are interested in signing a "highly-rated" Premier League player in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update from journalist Graham Falk.

Rangers transfer news

The Gers' season ended in heartbreaking fashion, following their last-gasp defeat to Celtic in the Scottish Cup final, and Philippe Clement will now be desperate to bring in new faces this summer, in order to avenge that loss, as well as falling short in the Scottish Premiership title race.

Kalvin Phillips looks highly likely to leave Manchester City ahead of the 2024/25 season, having fallen completely out of favour under Pep Guardiola, and he has been linked with an exciting move to Rangers. Celtic are also providing competition for the midfielder's services, so there could be an auction for his signature, following a tough spell on loan at West Ham last season.

FK Radnicki goalkeeper Stojan Lekovic has also emerged as a transfer target for the Scottish giants, with the towering 6 foot 6 stopper making 61 appearances for his current club, and representing a long-term option at 22 years of age.

Godoy Cruz left-back Thomas Galdames could join Rangers as a replacement for Borna Barisic, too, having reportedly played his final game for his team, and he spoke about his future last week ahead of Copa America duty with Chile, saying: "The transfer market begins now, but I have to concentrate on the national team. If I do get a transfer, it needs to be something that will be good for my career. That's what I have been working for since the day I became a footballer."

Rangers want "highly-rated" Premier League player

According to Falk on X, "Rangers are interested in highly-rated Arsenal defender Reuell Walters" this summer, with the 19-year-old expected to depart the Emirates before next season gets underway after rejecting a new deal.

In his report for The Scotsman, the journalist adds that the youngster "already posted his goodbyes via social media and was given well wishes by the likes of Declan Rice and William Saliba", suggesting that he was held in high regard at the north London giants.

Walters could be an exciting addition for Rangers, even though he is still such a young player who is lacking experience at the top level. He will have learned so much from training alongside some world-class players at Arsenal, with Oleksandr Zinchenko heaping praise on him.

"I like so much centre-back Reuell. I think the qualities he has, he is aggressive. I swear to God, one time he pushed Gabriel Jesus in a shoulder-to-shoulder. It is not easy to push Gabriel because he is very strong, and he was confident on the ball afterwards, he kept the ball well and passed. Wow. He impresses me I think the most."

Rangers learn price for "creative" target Clement personally wants to sign

A deal won’t come cheap…

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 1, 2024

Walters has been capped by England at Under-20, Under-19 and Under-18 level, making a combined nine appearances for his country, and the fact that he can shine at centre-back, right-back and in midfield would make him a versatile option for Clement for years to come.