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After managing to secure their first Premier League win of the season in their previous match against Leeds United where they won 1-0 thanks to a goal from on-loan striker Armando Broja, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side face another opportunity to pick up all three points with Burnley set to travel to St. Mary’s at the weekend for their latest league clash.

In preparation for the arrival of Sean Dyche’s side, Southampton have been handed a big injury boost ahead of the match.

What’s the news?

After missing the Leeds match as a result of an injury he picked up whilst away with Scotland during the recent international break, Che Adams has returned to first-team training prior to their game with Burnley, which should be pleasing for the fans and huge for the match at the weekend.

Since joining Southampton from Championship club Birmingham City back in the 2019 summer transfer window for a reported fee of £15m, the 25-year-old, who is currently valued at £18m according to Transfermarkt, has made 83 appearances for Hasenhuttl’s side in which he has managed to score 13 goals and provide ten assists along the way across all competitions, proving himself as a useful attacking outlet for the team.

Even though Adams has yet to score a goal in the Premier League so far this season, the striker has still managed to rack up an average of 1.4 shots per game, showing he has been a threat for the team going forward.

Hasenhuttl’s headache

If Adams is fit enough to be included in Southampton’s squad this weekend, we feel that the manager will have a big decision to make as to who he picks to start up front against Dyche’s side.

Given how Broja managed to score the winning goal against Leeds in his first league start for the Saints, we feel that he has definitely put himself in the running to start on Saturday.

However, given how Adams has a lot more experience of playing in the Premier League with 71 matches under his belt, perhaps this could sway Hasenhuttl into putting him back into the side if he’s deemed fit. After all, that added expertise of the top-flight could give Southampton the best chance of beating Burnley, who are still looking for their first league win of the campaign.

Moving forward, whether Hasenhuttl chooses to start Adams or not, we feel that this match against the Clarets is a great opportunity for the Saints to pick up another win and put their poor start to the campaign behind them, especially given how their opponents have managed to concede 13 goals so far this season.

In other news: 3 assists: “Exciting” Saints gem thriving on loan, he could cause Ralph a big dilemma – opinion

Manchester United have been stepping up their pursuit for a new manager during the international break with Ralf Rangnick due to end his interim role this summer, and an important update has now been revealed by Fabrizio Romano on the progress with Erik ten Hag.

What’s the word?

Popular transfer insider, Romano, has revealed an update on ten Hag’s future and has revealed that the Dutch manager has been approached by other clubs.

Tweeting to his 7.4m followers on Monday morning, he confirmed:

“It’s true, Erik ten Hag has been approached by two more clubs after meeting with Manchester United. No final decision yet on Man Utd side – he’s been interviewed last week, positive feeling but club board’s still considering other options.”

Glazers will be worried

The Glazers already have a very strained relationship with their fans, with a number of protests held against the owners over the years and letting the favourite choice, ten Hag, slip through the cracks due to the potential of him securing his future elsewhere, could be the final nail in the coffin for the owners at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman is the obvious choice to take over the project at Manchester United after his success with Ajax over the last few years, taking the Dutch champions to their first Champions League semi-final since 1997 in 2019 and then going on to win two Eredivisie titles and two Dutch cups.

Thus, the 52-year-old clearly possesses the winning mentality the Red Devils are desperate to reignite at their club.

During the manager’s reign at Ajax he has earned some impressive statistics, with 207 games in charge, winning 153, drawing 26 and losing just 28, leading to a win rate of 73.9% and an average of 2.34 points per match.

The Dutch side have scored a remarkable 570 goals in those 207 fixtures at a rate of 2.75 goals per outing, proving further that ten Hag’s attacking tactics are extremely effective, and again, something Man United are in dire need of to not only find an identity as a team but to become the powerhouse they once were under Sir Alex Ferguson.

The powers at United must be more efficient and decisive in the coming weeks when it comes to finalising their plans for the future of the club moving forward. They cannot afford to go another season trophy-less and with a number of players potentially leaving on a free this summer, including Paul Pogba, attracting the right talent to replace could become a difficult task if the club can’t offer bright prospects for players.

In other news: MUFC now battling to sign £63m-rated gem this summer, he’s “better quality than Pogba”

Leeds United turned down the opportunity to sign Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks on loan this season, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Midfielder needed?

The Whites haven’t done a huge amount of business in the summer transfer window, with Kristoffer Klaesson and Junior Firpo coming in, as well as Jack Harrison making his move from Manchester City permanent.

There is still time for new signings to join, however, and midfield is arguably an area that requires more depth, with Kalvin Phillips perhaps relied upon too heavily at times.

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The Latest: Leeds turn down Winks move

Despite this, The Athletic‘s Hay claims that Leeds declined the opportunity to bring in Winks on loan, with the 25-year-old seemingly not part of Nuno Espirito Santo’s plans.

He has made 176 appearances for Spurs and won ten caps for England – Mauricio Pochettino once hailed him as ‘amazing’ – but he missed out on a place at Euro 2020.

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The Verdict: Strange decision

Marcelo Bielsa is seemingly content with his squad, but it does seem odd not to have signed Winks, considering he was available on loan.

It may simply be that the Leeds boss doesn’t feel he fits into his style of play, but he is still a proven Premier League midfielder who could have added more quality in the middle of the park at a minimal cost.

Winks averaged 1.3 key passes per game in the Europa League last season, highlighting his quality on the ball, and he may have dovetailed nicely with Phillips.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly interested in a late move for one player. Find out who it is here.

Frank McAvennie has given his reaction to some ‘devastating’ Newcastle United injury news he’s now heard from Tyneside.

The Lowdown: Six weeks out

As per The Athletic, Callum Wilson is now set to be out for the next six weeks through injury.

The former AFC Bournemouth striker was taken off during the North East club’s 2-2 draw with Southampton at St. James’ Park before the international break, and did not play in the 4-1 away loss to Manchester United on Saturday afternoon.

The Latest: McAvennie on Wilson

Speaking to Football Insider, former Celtic and West Ham United striker now pundit McAvennie has claimed that the Tyneside outfit will struggle massively without Wilson in their side: “It’s not just the goals with Wilson.

“He holds the ball up so well, he’s a real live wire.

“It’s a massive blow to lose him for that long. Obviously the transfer window has shut and Newcastle didn’t sign a striker.

“Wilson is so good on the ball, to get another player like him was always going to be hard.

“He’s so good under pressure, it’s a devastating loss for Newcastle.

“They are really going to struggle without him.”

The Verdict: All downhill…

It just about could not get any worse for Steve Bruce right now, with his team currently sitting in 19th spot in the Premier League table with no wins and just one point from four matches so far (Premier League).

To top it off, they are now set to be without Wilson for the next few rounds of fixtures, who has already managed two goals in three appearances so far this season (Transfermarkt), one of the lone bright sparks in an otherwise frighteningly thin squad.

Nonetheless, with Leeds United at home coming up in the top flight on Friday night, the Magpies need to somehow find a away to get all three points without the Englishman.

In other news, find out who is set to be recalled against LUFC here!

Crystal Palace will be hoping to claim just their second Premier League victory of the season when they host Newcastle United this afternoon.

The Eagles have made a promising start to life under new manager Patrick Vieira, putting in several exciting and entertaining performances in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Draws against the likes of West Ham United, Leicester City and Arsenal have come either side of a famous victory over Tottenham Hotspur, but the south Londoners will be left disappointed by their tally of eight points from eight games.

That’s because the Premier League table could have looked a whole lot healthier for Palace if they hadn’t conceded last-minute equalisers against both Brighton and Arsenal.

The string of frustrating results puts extra pressure on the Eagles to claim all three points when the managerless Magpies come to Selhurst Park this afternoon, with Newcastle sitting 19th in the table and without a win to their name.

As a result, Vieira must go with a more attacking lineup than he has in recent weeks, providing his charges with more firepower in the final third of the pitch.

Schlupp could terrify Newcastle

One effective way to do so without putting Palace’s defensive shape and structure at risk would be to unleash versatile midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp, who hasn’t started in the league since the visit of Brentford in August, at the expense of the more cautious Luka Milivojevic.

The outstanding performances of Conor Gallagher and James McArthur make the pair virtually undroppable in Vieira’s engine room, but the latter is more than capable of taking over Milivojevic’s defensive duties, allowing his teammates the freedom to push forward.

With Schlupp in the side, Palace would have a far greater attacking threat through the middle of the pitch, as last season’s underlying numbers show.

As per WhoScored, the Ghana international recorded three assists in the Premier League – the third-highest tally in the squad – and averaged 0.7 key passes, 0.7 shots and 1.1 dribbles per league game, bettering or matching Milivojevic’s respective totals in each metric.

He was labelled “incredible” by his former manager Roy Hodgson following an outstanding performance against Manchester United in September 2020, and now it’s time for Schlupp to show Vieira what he’s capable of; the French tactician just needs to be brave enough to select him from the off, as the enterprising 28-year-old could terrify a Newcastle side bereft of confidence and form.

In other news… Parish must sanction bargain Palace swoop for 6 ft 2 colossus, Vieira needs him 

Former Football League star David Norris insists that Todd Cantwell would cost Aston Villa crazy money in this transfer window.

Villa have been linked with a move to sign the Norwich winger after selling Jack Grealish to Manchester City for £100m.

They had embarked on an aggressive recruitment strategy prior to his exit, signing Danny Ings from Southampton, Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen, Ashley Young on a free transfer, and Axel Tuanzebe on loan from Manchester United.

In addition to those four, Villa have already raided Norwich to sign Emiliano Buendia for a fee of just over £34.5m.

However, reports claim that the club could still go back to Carrow Road to bring Cantwell into the club too.

He enjoyed a fantastic season last term, scoring six goals and laying on seven assists in the Championship, and Norris has cited the example of Ben White, who moved to Arsenal for a fee of £50m, as evidence for an inflated transfer market. Cantwell is valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: “Yeah I think you’ll see that quite a bit, the money’s gone crazy.

“The Brighton centre-half going for big dough, and I think with younger players, and what’s happened traditionally in the past especially if their British, the price seems to be even higher.”

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s interest in Ajax gem Nicolas Tagliafico…

What’s the talk?

According to Sky Sports journalist Matteo Moretto, both the Magpies and Chelsea are both looking into the possibility of a swoop for the Eredivisie full-back.

The report claims that he will be allowed to leave the Dutch giants in the January transfer window and he could be on his way to England.

Major issue

The left-back position has been a major cause for concern this season and the signing of Tagliafico can solve this problem for Howe, which is why Newcastle must seal a deal for the Argentine international.

Jamal Lewis is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, after finally being given a chance following Steve Bruce’s exit from the club, and no one else has managed to perform well in that area of the pitch.

Javier Manquillo was given the nod against Manchester United earlier this week and produced a woeful performance, although it could be somewhat excused by the fact he is a right-back by trade.

Howe should not be forced into playing a right-footer at left-back and this highlights why this is a position that needs to be addressed in January.

Matt Ritchie has averaged an unimpressive SofaScore rating of 6.66 in the Premier League, showing that he has not been able to perform to a good standard consistently.

Tagliafico, meanwhile, has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.17 or higher in each of his four full Eredivise seasons for Ajax. This suggests that the £44k-per-week gem is able to put in excellent displays week-in-week-out, which could make him a reliable option for Howe to call upon at left-back, solving their key problem.

Former Premier League forward Kevin Campbell previously hailed the gem when asked if he would be a good addition to Leeds’ squad. He told Football Insider:

“He is a top-quality player. He’s got lots of experience in the Champions League and on the international stage so I think it would be a smart signing.”

It is now down to Howe to ensure that Newcastle are able to beat Chelsea, or whoever else wants Tagliafico, to his signature in order to bolster his squad in January.

The 29-year-old could then compete alongside Lewis for a spot in the team when the Northern Irishman is back from injury and Manquillo and Ritchie will not be needed to play.

AND in other news, Howe must work his magic with NUFC dud whose value has plummeted £8.1m in 2 years…

Brazilian outlet UOL have provided a fresh update on Barcelona’s attempts to sign Leeds United star Raphinha this summer.

The Lowdown: Second bid for Raphinha…

Raphinha has been heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp following his fine campaign in 2021/22, with the 25-year-old the top of the charts at Elland Road for goals, assists and chances created. [BBC]

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According to Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona are readying a second bid worth an initial €40m (£33.9m) with various add-ons.

The Whites star will be available for just €25m (£20.9m) in the summer should the club suffer relegation, with Barcelona fully aware of that potential release clause.

The Latest: Deco jets out

UOL columnist Bruno Andrade dropped an update on Raphinha on Monday afternoon, revealing that his agent, Deco, flew out to Barcelona over the weekend to progress discussions.

They added that the former Portugal midfielder was expected for talks on Tuesday as they look to thrash out a possible contract with the Catalan giants until June 2027.

The Verdict: Leeds hold the cards…

Leeds aren’t expected to enter talks with Barcelona over a possible deal until the summer due to their Premier League position.

Jesse Marsch’s side have picked up seven crucial points in their last three games, leaving them eight clear of the relegation zone. All their focus will be on guaranteeing a third successive season of Premier League football, which could also give them control over a possible exit for Raphinha.

They will be able to demand way more than the £20.9m relegation release clause if they stay up, and a possible big-money fee that they may receive could fund plenty of summer arrivals ahead of Marsch’s first season in charge at Elland Road.

In other news: ‘Bad news from Elland Road…’ – Big Leeds injury update emerges on Joe Gelhardt

An update has emerged on PSG striker Mauro Icardi, regarding the chances of him signing for Newcastle in January…

What’s the talk?

According to Foot Mercato, the Argentine striker has been offered to the Magpies, along with Barcelona, Tottenham and Juventus as he attempts to leave the Ligue 1 outfit.

The report claims that he would like to find a ‘quieter’ club where he can be an important player for the side, rather than being a small fish in a big pond in France.

Complete Howe’s attack

The signing of Icardi could complete Howe’s attack by allowing him to deploy his favoured 4-4-2 formation. At the moment, the Magpies do not have two natural strikers who can effectively play alongside each other at the top end of the pitch, with Joelinton finding more success elsewhere and Allan Saint-Maximin at his best out wide.

Callum Wilson could find a dream partner in the Argentine striker, who has proven that he can score goals at the top level. In 296 games for Inter and PSG, he has scored a whopping 160 goals and provided 39 assists – showing his quality as a finisher.

Juventus and Italy centre-back Giorgio Chiellini lauded the Argentine in his autobiography, comparing him to French icon David Trezeguet. He said:

“Among the great attackers I have faced, I highly value Icardi, who inside the area is almost impossible to mark. Mauro against Juve has often scored, it hurt me.

“He’s a world-class centre-forward, even if he lacks something in the collective game, he’s a Trezeguet but with different characteristics, lethal in the aerial game but perfectible outside the surface.”

Trezeguet scored 34 goals in 71 caps for France and 171 goals in 320 games for Juventus during his playing days as a striker, which emphasises how highly Chiellini rates the Argentina international as he has been willing to compare him to such a legend of the Turin club.

This, along with his statistics for Inter and PSG, shows why the £31.5m-rated beast could be able to complete Howe’s attack at St. James’ Park.

Having a lethal finisher with a proven track record of scoring goals could take some of the pressure off Wilson and allow him to thrive, with defenders potentially offering him more space as they pay attention to Icardi. It would also leave Saint-Maximin and Joelinton to play out wide in midfield, with Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron also pushing to start.

Therefore, Howe must ensure that Newcastle are able to get a deal over the line for Icardi in January to bolster their striking options and complete his attack heading into the second half of the season.

AND in other news, Discussions underway: NUFC must land £100k-p/w beast compared to “Ballack” and “Gazza”…

Rangers could find Steven Gerrard’s perfect heir at Ibrox after being mooted with a move for someone who’s already spent some time with the Gers in Glasgow.

What’s the story?

Gerrard was formally announced as Aston Villa’s new boss after a successful two-and-a-half-year stint in Scottish football, leading to intense speculation over who will take over the reins.

The Sun journalist Bruce Archer took to Twitter on Wednesday afternoon as doubts over Gerrard’s future grew, saying: “Think I’d go for Gio or Paulo Fonseca #RangersFC,” when addressing who he would appoint as his successor. 

A report from the same outlet, meanwhile, claims the former defender is even keen on coming to Scotland.

While Fonseca would be an extremely intriguing option, Van Bronckhorst’s past experience with the Glasow giants could make him the ideal replacement.

Steven Gerrard’s perfect heir?

The 46-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful playing career at both club and international level, making 106 appearances for the Netherlands and turning out for Feyenoord, Rangers, Arsenal and Barcelona at left-back.

Van Bronckhorst won two league titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup during his three-year stay with the Gers between 1998 and 2001, before going on to claim further silverware in north London.

After joining the Gunners in a big-money move, he secured one Premier League title and two FA Cups with the capital club, and then also enjoyed two league title victories and one Champions League success at Barca and two Dutch Cups with Feyenoord.

He retired in 2010 having helped the Netherlands reach the World Cup final and was appointed as Ronald Koeman’s assistant manager at De Kuip a year later, eventually replacing his compatriot at the helm in 2015.

In just his first year in charge, Van Bronckhorst guided Feyenoord to the KNVB Cup and followed that triumph up by winning the Eredivisie in 2016/17.

It was the Rotterdam outfit’s first top-flight title in 18 years and they continued their quest for silverware by claiming the Dutch Cup once again in the subsequent campaign, illustrating his true credentials as a top-class manager.

The Dutchman’s fairytale time at his boyhood club came to an end in 2019, and when discussing Van Bronckhorst’s decision to leave Feyenoord, the club’s former technical director Martin van Geel lauded his work.

“Gio has done more than fantastic here and he continues to do well. So we would have liked to sit down with him next month, as planned, to start talking about any contract extension,” Van Gaal said.

“Gio is really someone who follows his heart and if he feels he wants to do something else after this season, we can only respect that. We are incredibly grateful to him, already, for the great contribution he has made to the club’s recent unprecedented successful period.”

A spell at Chinese outfit Guangzhou followed in 2020, but Van Bronckhorst has been out of work since, but judging by his previous accomplishments, he may well be the perfect heir to carry on Gerrard’s excellent work at Rangers.

Both as a manager and a player, he has a history of winning titles on a consistent basis. With that in mind, it feels like a match made in heaven for the trophy-hungry Gers.

And, in other news…Bye-bye Stevie: Rangers could land dream Gerrard successor in “excellent” 50 y/o boss