Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will be fit to play against Aston Villa on Saturday, but Roberto Mancini is weighing up whether to risk the attacker.
The Argentina international has had a scintillating start to his time in England, but suffered an adductor strain in the 4-0 win over Blackburn in the Etihad Stadium outfit’s last game.
With a crucial fixture against Villarreal in the Champions League coming up on Tuesday, the Italian coach may rest his in-form frontman.
“Sergio could be ready for Saturday but I don’t know if we will take the risk. I am sure [he will be] 100% for Villarreal on Tuesday,” he told the side’s official website.
City’s form domestically has been good, but with only one point from two games in Europe, the English team need a victory against their La Liga opponents in midweek to keep their chances of progression alive.
Ironically enough, if Mancini does decide to rest Aguero for the Villa clash, the side are short of options in attack, with Carlos Tevez not currently being considered.
Mario Balotelli may be able to deputise however, as he seems to have shaken off a back knock that prevented him from inclusion in Italy’s Euro 2012 qualifiers with Serbia and Northern Ireland.
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Newcastle fans aren’t too sure what to make of this week’s striker links, after the club has been linked to both Fernando Torres and Bas Dost.
It seems like the Magpies have been linked to Bas Dost about a hundred times now, but they do say there’s no smoke without fire.
This time, it’s Portuguese outlet Record (via TalkSport) that are claiming Dost is open to leaving Portugal this summer, after grabbing an incredible 24 goals in 24 league starts.
The towering striker was reportedly the subject of a huge bid from Newcastle last summer, so fans have been here before and aren’t all that convinced by the fresh links.
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Fans are however getting very excited about the prospect of signing Fernando Torres.
After being linked with a move for the 34 year-old Spaniard in January, the Magpies have this week been moved into 6/1 favourites to sign Torres when his contract runs out this summer.
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The Atletico Madrid legend has managed seven goals in nine starts this season, and fans love the idea of teaming him up with Rafael Benitez again, who brought him to Liverpool back in 2007.
Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
Sunderland confirmed the appointment of ex-Birmingham chief Kristjaan Speakman in December 2020 and the Black Cats supremo has endured a rollercoaster of a time at the club so far.
He has overseen three transfer windows and one manager change, along with a failed play-off campaign last term in League One. Whilst Sunderland are yet to make their way back up to the Championship, the sporting director has had some success in his role.
Dream deal
One of Speakman’s first signings at the Stadium of Light has ended up being a dream deal as he signed Scottish striker Ross Stewart, who joined on a permanent deal from Ross County for a reported fee of £300k in January 2021.
At the time of the deal, then-Sunderland boss Lee Johnson said: “I think Ross is a player that will be great for us in the short term, but he can also develop and improve over the long term.”
The forward struggled for game time in the final five months of the 2020/21 campaign as he started three matches in League One and was brought off the bench a further ten times. Despite his lack of involvement, he averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 6.99 and scored three goals – a respectable return given his limited minutes on the pitch.
Johnson’s prediction came true this season, though, as he stepped up after Charlie Wyke’s departure and has made himself the figurehead of the attack. He has scored a whopping 22 goals in 35 League One outings for the Black Cats, whilst averaging a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.34.
This means that he has scored 25 times in 38 league matches for Sunderland since joining for £300k. This works out at £12k spent per goal he has scored so far and it would not be surprising to see that number dwindle in the coming months and years as his statistics do not suggest that he is going to stop finding the net any time soon.
His impressive form landed him high praise from an opposition manager earlier this term, with Portsmouth’s Danny Cowley saying: “Everyone talks about Ross Stewart’s goals, but the way he defends from the front is the reason why for me is the best forward in the division.”
These comments suggest that he offers more than goals and is able to lead from the front with his pressing. His 5.7 aerial battles won per game also show that he offers a big outlet at the top end of the pitch, with Sunderland using him as a focal point to relieve pressure.
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Taking all of these points into consideration, Speakman pulled off a masterclass in bringing Stewart to the Stadium of Light last year.
Hopefully, the Black Cats chief can continue to pull gems out of the back and lead the club back to the Championship.
AND in other news, Neil can save Speakman millions with “promising” SAFC dynamo who’s “really bright”…
The Athletic’s Celtic correspondent Kieran Devlin belieevs that Joe Hart could have done more to prevent Livingston’s goal in the Hoops’ 3-1 victory on Sunday.
The lowdown
Celtic beat Livi to restore their three-point cushion at the top of the Premiership following their arch-rivals’ 1-0 win over Aberdeen on Saturday.
Goals from Daizen Maeda and James Forrest either side of a Nicky Devlin own goal had given Celtic a healthy lead, but Andrew Shinnie threatened to ignite a comeback for the hosts when he pulled one back in the 56th minute.
Shinnie ‘stabbed home in a crowded goalmouth’ (in the words of BBC Sport’s Clive Lindsay) as the Hoops failed to deal with a Livingston long throw.
The latest
Writing on The Athletic’s matchday discussion board after Celtic let their clean sheet slip, Devlin expressed his disappointment with the £15,000-per-week goalkeeper over his role in the goal for Livingston.
Replying to a Hoops fan who was bemoaning his team’s defending at set pieces in the wake of Shinnie’s goal, the journalist stated: “Think Hart should be doing better there too”.
The verdict
When you watch the goal back, you can see where Devlin is coming from. Hart should perhaps be expected to take charge of the situation, but ultimately he remains virtually on his line and doesn’t get down quickly enough to prevent Shinnie poking the ball under him.
However, the broader issue here is Celtic’s weakness when it comes to defending set pieces. The Bhoys may be top of the table, but they have the third-worst record in the league in that department (10 goals conceded, one fewer than Aberdeen and two fewer than Ross County).
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Strikingly, 55% of the goals they’ve conceded in the division have come from set pieces. In light of these statistics, it’s hard to pin the blame on individuals, and it should be regarded a team failing.
In other news, this Celtic youngster is back in training
According to a report from 90min, Tottenham Hotspur have joined the plethora of clubs interested in signing Liverpool centre-back, Joe Gomez.
The lowdown: Fall from grace
The 24-year-old central defender has endured a difficult season since returning to full fitness following a serious patella injury.
Having previously been the favoured partner alongside Virgil van Dijk, Gomez has now fallen to forth in the central pecking order behind the Dutchman, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate.
This has led to widespread speculation linking the man once hailed as ‘sensational’ by Jurgen Klopp following a spell of nine clean sheets in 11 outings with a move away in the summer.
The latest: Plenty of suitors
The latest report on the 11-cap England ace cites the ‘biggest interest’ is coming from Spurs, Leicester City, Newcastle United and West Ham.
It’s also claimed that ‘half the Premier League’ are keen on signing Gomez and the ex-Charlton Academy starlet wants to reignite hopes of making the England squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, Klopp is believed to be desperate to retain the services of the London-born defender and could therefore demand a ‘hefty fee’.
The Verdict: Perfect fit
Spurs boss Antonio Conte seems certain to at least attempt to strengthen each department of the squad in the summer and adding Gomez to the ranks would be a superb move.
The Englishman has only made 14 appearances this season despite proving his fitness and as such has suffered a reduction in market value from a high of £37.8million to just £22.5million (Transfermarkt).
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Already a serial trophy-winner, young enough to improve further and comfortable in possession (WhoScored), Gomez would be the ideal signing to bolster the Lilywhites’ defensive unit.
In other news: Journalist shares update on Spurs’ pursuit of Championship star! Find out more here.
Every Premier League game has become important for Frank Lampard and his Everton side as they battle for safety this season so that their top-flight status can be maintained.
Tonight they will host Newcastle United at Goodison Park in a rescheduled fixture that gives them the opportunity to gain distance from the relegation zone.
The Toffees boss revealed in his pre-match press conference that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still uncertain for the game and will be assessed further ahead of the clash, with the decision on his selection going down to the wire.
Yerry Mina, Tom Davies and Fabian Delph remain on the injury table, and Jonjoe Kenny will be unavailable for selection following a one-match ban after receiving a red card over two yellow-carded fouls against Wolves.
With that being said, this is how Football FanCast expects Everton to line up their team against Newcastle United this evening…
We predict that Lampard will make just two changes in his team that lost to Wolves last weekend, but will switch formation from 3-4-3 to 4-4-3, matching Eddie Howe’s favoured set-up for the Magpies.
The first player we expect to see integrated into the team is Allan, who may return to the midfield, alongside Donny Van de Beek and Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Brazilian national has proven time and time again he offers fantastic attributes in the midfield over the course of the season so far, playing the full 90 minutes in every single one of the six victories that Everton have tallied.
According to SofaScore, the 31-year-old makes 2.8 tackles and 1.1 clearances on average per game, has an 87% pass success rate in his own half and is successful in the majority of his dribbles (68%) in his 22 Premier League appearances so far, proving that he is effective in that central position in midfield.
The second player we expect to be given their chance against Newcastle United is Anwar El Ghazi, who hasn’t had the opportunity to start a game yet and has only had 11 minutes of game time for the club since he joined in January. But with the team failing to score in their last four league games Lampard could put a fresh perspective in the attacking line.
The £9m-rated gem who was hailed “unstoppable” by Alan Hutton, has already scored against the Tyneside club this season when he netted the second goal in Aston Villa’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle at Villa Park in August, and the Toffees boss will be hoping that he can emulate his performance tonight.
With El Ghazi’s inclusion in the side, it means that Lampard will need to drop an attacker from his front line, and we expect that Demarai Gray will be the player to lose out in the starting line-up for this game.
The £42k-per-week forward who was dubbed a “big player” by Lampard, could be the man that loses out with Anthony Gordon and Richarlison holding their spots in the team to make way for a chance to be given to another offensive face.
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Ultimately, Everton cannot afford any room for error and must impose themselves effectively on this Newcastle side this evening, as they are currently only safe from the drop zone by goal difference.
This game in hand over their relegation competitors is the perfect opportunity for Lampard to take in front of the home fans at Goodison Park.
In other news: Everton dealt fresh injury setback ahead of NUFC, Frank will be frustrated
The Athletic’s Phil Hay has delivered an update on where things stand with Leeds United’s plans for the summer transfer window.
What’s the story?
He said: “Summer transfer windows on Marcelo Bielsa’s watch were invariably measured events. He never changed the face of his dressing room too much in one go, but this close-season, irrespective of the division Leeds are in, will demand a more thorough rebuild.
“As Bamford retreated to the bench in tears at Molineux on Friday night, dejected by aggravating a foot injury inside 25 minutes, it was hard not to think again about how makeshift Leeds have been up front this season. It is becoming their first port of call for recruitment.”
Support for Bamford
Given Patrick Bamford’s injury struggles this season, it’s no surprise to see the Whites lack that ruthless edge in front of goal, scoring just 34 times in 30 Premier League games.
The England international struck half that total himself last year, and being without him for a number of months, exposed one of the glaring holes in this Whites squad.
With him out, Leeds have had to turn to the likes of Dan James and Joe Gelhardt up front, and while the duo have tried to lead the line the best they can, neither possess either the skill or experience to be a consistent threat like Bamford week-in and week-out.
News that the club are well aware of that need for a new striker heading into the summer transfer window is a welcome relief for manager Jesse Marsch, and it’s one that should have supporters buzzing.
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Giving Bamford the support and cover he needs could be the key to ensuring the Whites don’t suffer a complete drop-off in form if and when he is out of the team.
AND in other news: Orta set for Leeds disaster as terms agreed for £63k-p/w “storm” who’s “a level above”
Aston Villa have been very busy in the transfer market over the past few years, with many players arriving at the Midlands club and several moving away from Villa Park either on loan or permanent deals.
With the upcoming summer transfer window set to open for business once the season comes to an end, it seems as though the Villans may be involved in a tug-of-war over securing a deal for one particular player.
What’s the news?
According to a recent report from Spanish media outlet Sport, fellow Premier League side Newcastle United have set their eyes on striking a summer deal for Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian, who is currently valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, made a return to England in January after Villa secured a loan deal for him from Barcelona until the end of the campaign.
Labelled an “instrumental” player by Steven Gerrard when he was at Liverpool before joining Barcelona in January 2018 for a massive fee of £142m, this is exactly what he has been for Villa since his arrival in the Midlands.
With 10 league appearances under his belt for Gerrard’s side, the 29-year-old has netted four goals and provided three assists along the way, showing that it didn’t take him long to get back into the swing of things in the Premier League.
In addition to his useful goal contributions, Coutinho’s overall performances have given the Villa fans a lot to savour, with WhoScored listing him as the club’s highest-rated player with a rating of 7.28/10.
To highlight the former Liverpool star’s attacking prowess for his new team, he has racked up a higher match average of shots (2.5), key passes (1.5) and dribbles (1.6) than any other Villa player, showing just how important a player he is for the Midlands club.
Taking all this into account, it would be a disaster for Johan Lange and Villa if they weren’t able to secure their loan star on a permanent basis in the summer.
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Also, given how crucial the Brazilian has been for the team, it would surely leave Gerrard fuming if the 29-year-old were to join a Premier League rival in the summer rather than stay at Villa and help to push the club forward.
In other news: Gerrard can finally axe £46k-p/w dud as Villa plot bid for “tenacious” £65m “predator”
Pundit Danny Mills believes Leeds United may have a fresh problem with Raphinha, Football Insider report.
The Lowdown: Barcelona links
Raphinha, labelled as ‘phenomenal’ by Jermaine Beckford, has been catching the eye following an impressive campaign in a Leeds shirt.
The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with Barcelona, who, according to Spanish outlet Sport, are readying a second bid worth an initial £33.9m (€40m).
Various add-ons would also be included in a possible deal, with the Spanish giants aware of Raphinha’s €25m release clause if the Whites drop back down to the Championship.
The Latest: Mills’ comments
Mills, who contributes for Sky Sports, was asked by FI for his thoughts on Barcelona and the Brazilian.
He believed the Nou Camp would be a ‘huge draw’ for the winger and questioned if Raphinha will become a ‘problem’ at Elland Road.
“What that low bid does, is unsettle the player.
“It says to the player and his agent, ‘we’re interested and we want you’. Suddenly the player is thinking ‘Barcelona want me’.
“If there is intent from Barcelona’s side, it firms the whole thing up and it makes it awkward for Leeds United in that situation.
“This isn’t a Kalvin Phillips scenario when he’s been here his whole life, he’s been here for a couple of years.
“For a South American, Barcelona is a huge draw. Now they have declared their interest, will Raphinha become a bit of a problem?
“At the end under Bielsa, he didn’t look happy.
“Raphinha has to think if he wants to play in the bottom half of the Premier League or in the Champions League with Barcelona.”
The Verdict: No problem
Raphinha has been Leeds’ best-rated performer this season, as per WhoScored, with no player scoring more goals, registering more assists on winning more man of the match awards.
Jesse Marsch also revealed on Thursday that he hasn’t spoken with Raphinha over his future, hailing him in the process.
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You’d expect that he won’t be a ‘problem’, as Mills has speculated, between now and the end of the season in regards to forcing a move away, and helping Leeds stay in the top flight could actually help him earn a mega-money move to the Nou Camp.
In other news: Orta and Marsch now keen on signing ‘wonderful talent’ who shares agent with 6 Leeds players.
Celtic were in freefall after Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation, staring into the abyss of a dismal domestic campaign, alongside further woes in Europe.
Desperate times called for desperate measures, with former treble winner Martin O’Neill parachuted in to steady the ship – six years on from the 73-year-old’s last managerial appointment.
What transpired was, excluding that night in Midtjylland, an almost perfect interim period for the beloved coach, with O’Neill leaving things in a far better place than he found them for new boss Wilfried Nancy.
Bequeathed a resurgent team by his short-term predecessor, Nancy – unfortunately – was contrastingly handed a hospital pass from the Parkhead hierarchy, with his belated arrival coming at the start of a pivotal week for the Glasgow giants.
Three miserable defeats have since followed across three competitions, with the Hoops’ season reaching a new nadir in Sunday’s woeful 3-1 defeat to St Mirren at Hampden Park.
The Frenchman, and his much-debated tactical set-up, are firmly under the microscope already, although fingers must be pointed too at what now looks like an ever more disastrous summer of recruitment.
How Celtic's summer window turned into a disaster
Comparisons with those at Ibrox are rarely popular, although it is remarkable how both Glasgow clubs have slipped into a similar scenario, with Rangers boss Danny Rohl left to pick up the pieces of the Light Blues’ own horror window under Kevin Thelwell and Russell Martin.
Nancy, too, has inherited a poorly-acquired squad himself, notably devoid of a senior, reliable centre-forward, with new men Kelechi Iheanacho and Callum Osmand both sidelined with injury.
Forgotten man, Shin Yamada, is also yet to score following his arrival from Japan, with compatriot Hayato Inamura another figure shackled to the periphery, having hardly had a look in under Rodgers or O’Neill.
Loan signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has featured just once amid an increasingly bizarre stint, while Kieran Tierney’s long-awaited homecoming has not gone as expected, with the Scotsman notably hooked at the break in last week’s debacle against Roma.
Much more has been seen of Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Nygren, although the attack-minded pair have flattered to deceive to date, with Tounekti registering just two goals and no assists despite initial promise.
Nygren boasts a respectable haul of 12 goals and assists, although the Swede hasn’t contributed in any of the last five Premiership games, while damningly failing to even make it off the bench in Sunday’s showpiece.
Perhaps Nancy has already seen enough from a man who has missed nine ‘big chances’ already in the league and Europa League, as per Sofascore, albeit with Celtic supporters having at least seen flashes of quality end product from the 24-year-old.
That isn’t true of everyone…
Celtic flop is a bigger waste of money than Tounekti & Nygren
Signed for roughly £7.2m combined, much more would have been expected of Tounekti and Nygren at this stage, with the Parkhead outfit no doubt praying for the return of the absent Jota to bolster the forward line.
When the Portuguese genius is back fit and firing, however, it will expose an even greater flaw from the summer of chaos, with Nancy now left with a string of attacking players all suited to the left flank.
Indeed, Jota, Tounekti and Daizen Maeda all appear at their best in that role, while even Yang Hyun-jun looked rejuvenated on that side under O’Neill, after netting in the win away at Feyenoord.
Quite what that all means for £5m man, Michel-Ange Balikwisha remains to be seen, with the DR Congo international already at the bottom of that pecking order, following his summer switch from Royal Antwerp.
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Set to be absent over the next few weeks due to his AFCON involvement, the 24-year-old will drift even further into forgotten man territory, having made such minimal impact to date.
Balikwisha – 25/26 SPL stats
Stat (*per game)
Record
Games (starts)
7 (2)
Goals
0
Big chances missed
0
Assists
1
Big chances created
1
Successful dribbles*
0
Key passes*
0.4
Possession lost*
4.4
Stats via Sofascore
Chased for an extended period by the Hoops, the long-term target has since registered just two assists in 13 games for his new side, while failing to score in any of his fleeting appearances.
A starter just twice for the Premiership side, including in the derby draw back in late August, the versatile forward has been an unused substitute in each of the last five league games, as well as in the cup final loss.
Of course, it is hard to judge a player who has hardly been given a chance too harshly, although it doesn’t bode well that a succession of managers have now opted against throwing him into the mix.
Considering how long he was chased, and how much the Hoops dished out on him, Balikwisha has to go down as arguably the worst signing of the summer, if not Rodgers’ worst signing of his second spell.
Fabrizio Romano drops blunt 15-word update on Wilfried Nancy's Celtic future