Wolverhampton Wanderers were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening after defeat at the hands of their local rivals.
Nuno Santo named 11 changes to the side that drew with Newcastle United at the weekend with him primarily opting for a youthful-looking squad barring the likes of Patrick Cutrone, Ryan Bennett, and John Ruddy.
Aston Villa came out on top with a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Anwar El Ghazi and Ahmed Elmohamady while it was the Italian striker who got on the scoresheet for the visitors.
Many supporters at Molineux firmly believe their experienced goalkeeper was at fault for both strikes as he was making just his third appearance of the season.
One fan blasted the 33-year-old saying he needs to retire and start his gardening career, which echoed the thoughts of another, who believed Ruddy had ‘no future’ at Wolves.
‘Shambolic’ and ‘lacklustre’ were just two of the other words used to describe his performance at Villa Park.
A further member of the old gold faithful even claimed that the shot-stopper had let the young members of the starting XI down with his mistakes.
Lots of Aston Villa fans took to social media to share their thoughts on Jack Grealish failing his fitness test, after the Birmingham-based outfit announced that the midfielder would not be facing Liverpool on Saturday.
Grealish played no part in Dean Smith’s plans against Jurgen Klopp’s title-chasing Reds, despite being at Villa Park, having been unable to pass a late fitness test on Saturday morning following a severe bleed in his calf.
Smith had hoped that adrenaline would carry Grealish over the line, but it was decided best to rest the 24-year-old after he took a whack in the closing stages of last week’s defeat at Manchester City.
Every Premier League club’s WORST player is named and shamed in the video below…
Grealish also sat out the midweek Carabao Cup clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, which was the first game the Villa captain had missed across all competitions this season.
The attacking midfielder had scored two goals in his last three Premier League appearances, coming against Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as finding the back of the net in his EFL Cup outings against Crewe Alexander and the Seagulls.
Only Ahmed El Mohamady had created more key passes per ninety minutes than Grealish in the Premier League for Villa in the opening ten games of the season, as well, with the Egyptian averaging 2.7 to the 24-year-old’s 2.5.
Anwar El Ghazi was the man tasked with replacing Grealish, though, after the Dutchman returned to Smith’s starting line-up after scoring against Wolves in the week.
Here are some of the reactions shared when Villa announced that Grealish was not in Smith’s squad to face Liverpool on Saturday…
A West Brom player with a “huge” personality could miss his side’s Championship clash with Plymouth Argyle this weekend, according to Carlos Corberan.
West Brom look to stay top of Championship
The Baggies found themselves top of the Championship table at the end of last weekend, having produced a superb performance in their 3-0 win away to Portsmouth. That, coupled with Sunderland’s surprise 3-2 loss away to Plymouth, meant that Corberan’s side reached the table’s summit, meaning they are now the team to beat in the division.
Next up for West Brom is Saturday’s visit of the Pilgrims at The Hawthorns, and while the hosts will be resounding favourites to get all three points, their opponents showed against previous league leaders Sunderland what they are capable of.
While there is much to be positive about from a Baggies perspective currently, a concerning injury update has dropped regarding an important figure.
West Brom suffer injury concern before Plymouth
Speaking ahead of the clash with Plymouth, Corberan revealed that West Brom ace Jayson Molumby is a doubt for Saturday’s game because of a calf complaint:
“Molumby still didn’t recover well from the calf perspective, he was playing with some problem during the Portsmouth game. During training he couldn’t make a normal week, so let’s say he’s a doubt, we have to see how he reacts in the last days to see if he can be involved or he can’t.”
Not having Molumby available would be an undoubted setback for West Brom, given his quality and experience at the heart of his team’s midfield. The 25-year-old now has 108 appearances to his name for the Baggies, not to mention winning 25 caps for the Republic of Ireland, while Corberan has made it clear what he thinks of him, hailing his personality:
“I think the personality and the goals that he has are very huge. The commitment that he has with himself, with the club, with the team, he was playing today with a lot of pain in the ankle. He was having to have an injection to play today, yesterday he couldn’t complete training, only half, but he is going to make a career because he has the determination to make it. Some people with adversity – they give up. Molumby is not going to do that.”
This perfectly sums up what a big character Molumby is and why West Brom will miss not having him to call upon this weekend, having started every other Championship game so far this season. In that time, the £17,000-a-week Irishman has enjoyed an 88% pass completion rate and averaged two clearances per game, showing that he is a force both in and out of possession.
Cost £8m, now he's unemployed: Bilic made a mistake signing West Brom flop
West Bromwich Albion won’t want to fall victim to a similar transfer misfire soon.
1 ByKelan Sarson Sep 20, 2024
Looking at the table, West Brom should still have enough to get past Plymouth, even though their key midfielder will be a miss if he is out, and it would be a disappointment if Corberan’s men weren’t still top of the Championship when this weekend reaches its conclusion.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly plotting a brand-new role for fan favourite Kai Havertz ahead of their north London derby clash against Tottenham, and the tactical tweak will also impact deadline day summer signing Raheem Sterling.
Arsenal without key players ahead of crucial derby against Spurs
The north Londoners go into this all-important match against Spurs off the back of their first dropped points of the new Premier League campaign, with Brighton holding Arteta's side to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.
Fabrizio Romano: Arteta backs £21m Arsenal ace for "really important" role
He’s also extremely popular in the dressing room.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 3, 2024
Joao Pedro's second-half strike cancelled out a stunning lobbed finish from Havertz, but the game also had disastrous consequences for star midfielder Declan Rice, who was perhaps unfairly sent off for two bookable offences against the Seagulls.
Rice will now miss Arsenal's trip to Tottenham, with summer signing Mikel Merino also sidelined for nearly two months after fracturing his shoulder in training at London Colney.
Tottenham (away)
September 15
Man City (away)
September 22
Leicester City (home)
September 28
Southampton (home)
October 5
Bournemouth (away)
October 19
Merino could be their fourth potential absentee, as both Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are also very unlikely to feature in Arsenal's next game, with no return date confirmed yet for the pair.
Rice and Merino's absence in particular will leave Arteta pretty short in midfield, but there is some good news, as Sterling could well make his Arsenal debut against Spurs following his arrival at the eleventh hour on deadline day.
The 29-year-old, who worked under Arteta at Man City, is a proven Premier League player who boasts plenty of both goals and assists from stints at every high-profile English club he's been with.
Sterling also possesses big-game and trophy-winning experience, which will be invaluable for Arteta, as he seeks to make it third-time-lucky and finally beat his old mentor Pep Guardiola to a domestic league crown.
Arteta plotting new Havertz role which will impact Sterling at Arsenal
The Chelsea loanee, according to GiveMeSport this week, is set to have a big say on Arsenal's starting eleven and tactical plans for their face-off against Spurs.
It is believed that Arteta is planning to drop Havertz deeper and play Sterling in a false-nine role against Tottenham, as both Merino and Rice's unavailibility requires the Gunners to make significant changes in that area of the park.
The tactical gamble would remove Havertz from a position where he has been starring for Arsenal since he signed from Chelsea in the summer of 2023, with the German already scoring two goals and registering an assist in their opening three matches.
"He’s so intelligent; he ghosts through," said Arsenal legend Martin Keown on the 25-year-old's displays lately.
"As a centre-half, you want someone to mark, but when he keeps disappearing into midfield all the time you get a bit nervous, and suddenly he’s there with two or three other players, so he can be really effective and that’s working for Arsenal."
Hoping to seal their transfer window with late reinforcements, Celtic have reportedly made an opening offer to sign a midfield addition for Brendan Rodgers this summer.
Celtic transfer news
At the start of the summer, it looked as though the Bhoys were willing to settle on their title-winning side in the Scottish Premiership, but they soon got going with their reinforcements, welcoming the likes of Kasper Schmeichel, Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah on a permanent basis. And the rumours have only continued since their arrivals, as those in Scotland look to end their summer on a high.
Midfield seems to be the focus too. Names such as Alvyn Sanches and Mateusz Bogusz linked to Celtic Park in recent weeks. Bogusz could be a particularly impressive addition, with his ability to play as both an attacking midfielder and centre-forward a trait that could replace Matt O'Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi if both headed for the exit door in the next week.
O'Riley has, of course, been the subject of interest from Brighton and the player is now set to move to the Premier League side in a record Scottish exit worth an initial £25m that could rise to £30m.
According to French journalist Nabil Djellit, Celtic have submitted their first offer to sign Mahamadou Diawara amid his struggle for game time at Ligue 1 giants Lyon. The Scottish champions aren't the only side reportedly interested, however, with Nantes, RC Lens and others all chasing the teenager's signature in the closing days of the window.
Just 19 years old, Diawara is a similar prospect to Sanches, who Celtic have also been linked with. Clearly eyeing young midfielders full of potential, Diawara could yet emerge to become a replacement for O'Riley at the heart of Rodgers' midfield.
"Brilliant" Diawara needs summer move
In need of game time after starting just four games in Ligue 1 for Lyon last season, Diawara could get the opportunity he so desperately needs at Celtic before the end of the month. Potentially following in the footsteps of former Frenchmen to complete moves to the Scottish giants such as the highly successful Moussa Dembele, the midfielder may yet realise his potential in Glasgow.
The 19-year-old has certainly earned plenty of fans from his time in France, including U23 scout Antonio Mango, who dubbed Diawara a "brilliant signing" and a "box-to-box" midfielder when Lyon secured his signature from Paris Saint-Germain just last summer.
Just one summer later and whilst things haven't quite worked out for Diawara, Celtic have seemingly swooped in with an attempt to end the teenager's nightmare. Diawara may well be one to keep an eye on in the final week of the transfer window.
Leeds United are still searching for their next manager to lead the squad in their Championship campaign next season, and it has been reported that the search will enter its final stages this week ahead of making a decision.
The Whites parted company with their third-appointed manager of the season Sam Allardyce after suffering relegation from the Premier League last month and will be looking for the perfect manager to achieve automatic promotion over the 46-game campaign next season.
Former Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers was one of the hottest prospects for Leeds and had been heavily speculated with a move to Elland Road, however, on Sunday evening it was confirmed that the 50-year-old coach will return to Scotland where he will reunite with Celtic upon agreeing a deal.
As a result, that ship has sailed for the 49ers, and now they must focus on other candidates who can provide the experience needed, improve the performances and boost the confidence of the Leeds squad, with a number of options still available on their short-list.
One coach who has been touted with a move to West Yorkshire and, like Rodgers, is Premier League proven is former Brighton and Hove Albion coach Graham Potter, who was sacked by Chelsea at the beginning of April.
Would Graham Potter be a good fit for Leeds?
There is no doubt that Potter is one of the most respected English managers in the game right now as his work at Brighton in developing the club into a Premier League established side is widely recognised.
Over his 143 fixtures in charge, the 46-year-old coach – hailed a "genius" by journalist Sam Morton – tallied up 43 victories and 43 draws, accumulating 172 points during his time on the south coast, which is an impressive achievement.
Even more impressive is Potter's ability to get the very best out of young and upcoming talent, playing an important role in the development of Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, Marc Cucurella, Leandro Trossard, Adam Webster and Tariq Lamptey – with all but Mac Allister being signed during Potter's reign.
graham-potter-championship-leeds-manager-news
As a result, the Englishman could be the perfect coach to polish and get the very best from the budding talent at Elland Road with the club boasting a number of exciting young players including Wilfried Gnonto, Joe Gelhardt, Crysencio Summerville and Tyler Adams.
With that being said, it would be a no-brainer to appoint Potter if the opportunity presents itself this summer as his experience would not only improve Leeds' chances of promotion but could seriously improve the young prospects at the club with a bright future ahead of them.
There is no chance that Nicolo Barella will leave Inter Milan for Newcastle United this summer for just £50 million, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The 26-year-old is one of Inter's best players and was named in the Serie A Team of the Year for the 2021/22 campaign.
What is the latest news regarding Nicolo Barella?
A report from the Telegraph on Wednesday claimed Newcastle were "closing in" on the potential signing of Barella with a deal believed to cost around £50 million.
The report states that the Italian is one of two players the club has "earmarked" for the summer as a top target, with the other being Leicester City midfielder James Maddison, as the Magpies aim to surround Brazilian star Bruno Guimaraes with top-level talent in an attempt to further unlock the midfielder.
nicolo-barella-liverpool-transfer-premier-league
However, since then, reports from Italy have conflicted with what was originally reported by the Telegraph. CalcioMercarto has suggested the 26-year-old's agent has not spoken to any clubs as of now. It also states that Inter want to keep their midfielder, whose contract runs until June 2026, and if they were to sell the midfielder, they would need an £80m-£100m offer to consider letting him leave.
Rumours in the past have also linked the Euros winner with moves to both Liverpool and Manchester United, and the news that Newcastle was closing in on a move caused confusion within the respective fanbases as they wondered why their clubs were not making an attempt to bring in the Inter midfielder.
What has Fabrizio Romano said on the news?
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Inter Milan will not sell Barella for £50m despite Newcastle's strong interest.
The journalist stated: "What I can tell you is that, for sure, there is interest from Newcastle and for sure Eddie Howe is a big fan of Nicolo Barella, they would love to sign Barella. But they also know that at the moment for Inter £50m is absolutely not enough to sell Barella. They extended his contract, it was a few months ago.
"And so the idea of Inter is to keep Barella, no chance to sell Barella for £50m. They want way more than this to be tempted. So let's see if Newcastle will try to improve their proposal or do something serious in the next days. For sure, they like the player, for sure they want the player but £50m, at the moment, is not enough."
Is Barella the right player for Newcastle?
The Italian could be an incredible statement signing by the Magpies as they get set to embark on their first Champions League campaign in over 20 years, with the midfielder being regarded as a "sensational talent".
Barella has a fantastic statistical profile, drawing comparisons with some of the best attacking midfielders across the globe such as Luka Modric, Martin Odegaard, and Bernardo Silva, with the Italian's quality in the final third being a real standout attribute.
Those qualities mentioned, therefore, make the news that Newcastle are intending to use the midfielder as a six rather than as an eight perplexing, as that would limit the player's chance to use his statistical strengths and instead amplify his statistical weaknesses according to FBref.
Newcastle should definitely do all they can to bring Barella to Tyneside, but they have to ensure that they utilise him in the best role for his skillset.
Manchester United are reportedly plotting a shock summer swoop for Leeds United defender Robin Koch, as manager Erik ten Hag seeks to strengthen his defensive ranks ahead of next season.
What's the latest on Koch to Man United?
According to Sky Sports Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg, the Red Devils are said to have made contact regarding a move for the 26-year-old, with the German centre-back seemingly set for an exit from Elland Road following the club's recent relegation.
Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed: "News #Koch: He‘s on the shortlist of ManUtd! Loose talks took place. Confirmed. #MUFC."
While there has been some suggestion that the former Freiburg man – who has just 12 months to run on his existing deal – could be available on a free transfer due to a possible relegation clause in his contract, further reports have revealed that a fee would be required if a move is to occur.
Would Koch be a good signing for Man United?
There may be those among the Old Trafford faithful who are scratching their heads at that shocking transfer rumour, with it hard to see the benefit in signing a player who was no doubt culpable in Leeds' return to the Championship in 2022/23.
The £40k-per-week dud – who has previously been branded "horrible to watch" by journalist Beren Cross – was part of a backline in Yorkshire that shipped 78 Premier League goals in the most recent campaign, the worst record in the division.
On an individual basis, Koch was no shining light as he racked up an average match rating of just 6.63, as per Sofascore, with that figure ensuring he would rank just 21st among Ten Hag's current squad at the Theatre of Dreams.
Dan James for Man United
There also may be a concern at United at the prospect of snapping up another asset from the Championship, with the Red Devils having perhaps been stung by their signing of Daniel James from Swansea City back in 2019.
While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and co did ultimately make a profit on that £15m signing – having moved the Welshman on to Leeds, ironically, for £25m in the summer of 2021 – the wing wizard rarely looked of the quality required to make the grade in Manchester, scoring just nine goals and registering only nine assists in 74 games in all competitions.
Despite possessing something of an "X-Factor" due to his breathtaking speed – according to Solskjaer – James was simply just "not a Manchester United player", as per talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor.
Also described as "headless" by pundit Darren Bent, the 25-year-old has hardly set the world alight since his Old Trafford exit after scoring just four times in 40 games for Leeds, before enduring a bit-part role on loan at Fulham in 2022/23 in which he made just 23 outings across all fronts.
While that's not to suggest that any move for a newly-relegated or second-tier player will prove to be a mistake, United must question the wisdom in looking to the Championship to find new recruits – such as Koch – with a Champions League campaign and potential title challenge on the horizon.
Chelsea's extortionate spending has created an unbalanced and demoralised squad that has seen the club at its lowest point since the turn of the century.
The amount of players is unmanageable and some have been brought in for ridiculous figures and have dramatically failed to repay their fees.
The Blues need to adopt a more meticulous and calculated transfer policy, spending lower sums on more quality players.
In recent times, the West London outfit has been linked with Benjamin Pavard, and securing his signature would be a notable step in the right direction for incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino.
What’s the latest on Benjamin Pavard to Chelsea?
Last month, it was first reported by BILD’s Christian Falk that the 2021 Champions League winners were interested in the Bayern Munich man.
This was followed up by a tweet by Fabrizio Romano, which confirmed that the Frenchman will not sign a new deal at his current club and wants to start a new chapter in his career.
Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany has since gone on to reveal that a fee of €40m (£34m) may be required to convince the Bavarian Giants to sanction his departure.
Pavard’s contract expires in 2024, so Bayern may be forced into his sale this summer to avoid losing him on a free next year.
How would Benjamin Pavard fit in at Chelsea?
The former Stuttgart star has made 30 Bundesliga appearances and averaged 2.3 tackles, 2.5 clearances, and 1.5 interceptions as he secured his fourth-straight league title.
Described as “outstanding” by Uli Hoenes, the 27-year-old also excels outside of Germany, as he ranks in the top 7% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles per 90, as well as the best 17% for interceptions per 90, according to FBref.
Coupled with his obvious defensive acumen, the 2018 World Cup winner is also a force going forward, sitting within the best 3% for progressive passes, total shots, shot-creating actions, and non-penalty goals per 90.
His solidity, offensive threat, and his ability to appear across the backline means he has drawn comparisons to Chelsea legend Branislav Ivanovic.
The aforementioned duo both regularly appeared at centre-back or full-back, and their functionality means they are two of the most underrated players in each of their generations.
Branislav Ivanovic Chelsea
This trait goes under the radar as functional players make the game look so easy and this versatility is invaluable for any manager.
Nine years, 337 appearances, 34 goals, and ten trophies later – Ivanovic is a Premier League legend, lauded for his consistency, productivity, mentality, and reliability.
Pavard mirrors this set of imperious qualities and being available for such a modest fee, it makes complete sense for Chelsea to make a move.
Manchester United could ditch forward Anthony Martial as he is a 'symbol' of their 'bad recruitment' in years gone by, according to journalist Alex Crook.
What's the latest transfer news involving Anthony Martial?
According to The Sun, Manchester United will listen to offers for Martial this summer as he ticks into the final 12 months of his £250k-a-week contract at Old Trafford.
The report states that the Red Devils are targeting a move for Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane and will focus their efforts on trying to land the £100-million valued star in the off-season.
As per FootballTransfers, Aston Villa are said to be weighing up a loan move for Martial as Unai Emery looks to secure a versatile attacker in the transfer window.
Erik Ten Hag isn't believed to have any plans for the Frenchman moving forward and will look to shift him out if appropriate interest in his services arises.
In 2015, Martial joined Manchester United in a deal that involved paying an initial £36 million fee that eventually could rise to £58 million, as per BBC Sport.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Crook thinks that Manchester United will look to offload Martial in the summer transfer window.
Crook stated when asked if Martial would be sold: "Definitely. I think he's only got a year left on his contract, so they won't want to lose him on a free at the end of the season.
"They're not going to recoup anywhere near the money they spent on him. He is a symbol of United's bad recruitment over the years, where they have been paying over the odds for players and then having to sell them for a much-reduced fee."
Should Anthony Martial be sold by Manchester United this summer?
Martial has been a decent focal point for Manchester United this campaign when available; however, the 27-year-old has endured frequent injury struggles during the last year and should probably be moved on to avoid a scenario where he runs down his contract.
In 2022/23, Martial made 28 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils, registering nine goals and three assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.
Nevertheless, Martial obtained an average match rating of 6.59/10 for his exploits on the field for Manchester United, pitting him 16th out of a 26-man squad, suggesting room for improvement, according to WhoScored.
FBRef also show that Martial ranks in the bottom 32% of forwards across Europe's top five divisions for shots per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, managing just 2.25 per outing.
If Manchester United can recoup some money for Martial, selling him on may be the best solution for both parties due to his inconsistent level of reliability.