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Former Newcastle transfer target Rhian Brewster has officially completed his move from Liverpool to Sheffield United.

What’s the word?

Reports in recent days had suggested that Steve Bruce’s side had asked to be kept informed about Brewster, but that has since failed to come to fruition for the Tyneside club.

Instead, it’s the Blades who have lured the England youth international away from Anfield for a reported £23.5m, with there being both a sell-on and buy-back clause included in the deal.

Newcastle of course signed Callum Wilson on a permanent basis for £20m earlier this month from recently relegated Bournemouth.

Better option than Callum Wilson

The fact that Liverpool ended up letting go of Brewster on a permanent basis, and that he only cost £3.5m more than what Newcastle supposedly paid for a 28-year-old Wilson, makes the Magpies missing out on the youngster a tad more disappointing.

A deal was clearly there to be done with Liverpool, but the Newcastle hierarchy clearly didn’t have the negotiation skills to convince the Reds that they would be a great destination for the striker.

Described as “wonderfully skilled” by Jurgen Klopp and as a “good finisher” with a “fantastic work ethic”, Brewster would have been the kind of exciting profile of signing that would surely have raised the anticipation levels at St James’ Park.

Aged just 20, Brewster has all the time in the world to develop into a superstar at Premier League level, and also has a ringing endorsement from one of his former teammates in the England youth sides, Jadon Sancho.

The Borussia Dortmund sensation said: “I have played with him. I know how good he is. He causes defenders nightmares. He is a great player. I feel like he is at the right club, he is developing and he is still so young. We have got a special connection, you know? We message each other and tell each other to keep going and keep believing.”

With that much potential, Newcastle may regret missing out signing him on loan for this season, let alone on a permanent deal.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. And yet again this season for Leeds, Pablo Hernandez stepped up when his side needed it the most.After coming on at the break for Tyler Roberts, the Spaniard struck a late winner in the Whites’ clash away at Swansea on Sunday afternoon, handing Marcelo Bielsa’s side all three points.

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Hernandez, formerly of Swansea of course, rescued Leeds from a potentially damaging draw in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship this season.

And after the full-time whistle went, The Athletic journalist Phil Hay took to Twitter to share his reactions about the midfield genius, and made the huge claim that there is “no-one to touch him at Leeds since the club went down in 2004”.

After hearing what Hay had to say, Leeds fans took to the replies section to give their seal of approval.

Some Leeds fans urged the club to simply build a statue of him at Elland Road.

Another couple of fans insisted that Hernandez will already go down as a club legend, with one supporter in particular even putting in the same bracket as the late, great Jack Charlton and Billy Bremner et al.

Despite being 35, Hernandez just continues to defy all logic, and rolls back the years.

He may not last a full 90 minutes anymore, and recent weeks has seen Bielsa use him off the bench, but there can be no questioning his ability and influence whilst on the pitch.

With eight goals and seven assists this season in the Championship, Hernandez has come up with some big moments. But perhaps none as big as the last-gasp winner against Swansea, and it’s no surprise so many Leeds fans are absolutely in love with the midfield maestro.

Liverpool are on the hunt for a new centre-back following the departure of Dejan Lovren to Zenit St Petersburg last week and they may have found the ideal replacement amid fresh reports from Germany.

What’s the word?

According to Sport Bild, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp wants Schalke 04 defender Ozan Kabak at Anfield next season and the club could make their move this summer.

They claim that the young Turkish international has a release clause of €45m (£41m) but that isn’t activated until 2021, meaning the Premier League champions can freely negotiate with the Bundesliga outfit over a potential switch.

The 20-year-old only joined Schalke in the summer, his third club in as many years, after former Huddersfield Town boss David Wagner paid Stuttgart’s €15m (£13.7m) clause.

Next VVD?

Klopp could well have another VVD on his hands given Kabak’s own ambitions. He’s previously expressed his desire to become one of the best in the world “like Virgil van Dijk” who’s his idol.

In the German top-flight this campaign, the central defensive starlet has averaged 3.6 clearances, 1.4 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 0.8 dribbles per game, via WhoScored. Throw in a passing success rate above 80% and you’ve got a pretty decent ball-playing option there.

Kabak has also been lauded as “one of the most promising young defenders in Europe” by former Stuttgart head of sport Michael Reschke whilst Thomas Hitzlsperger dubbed him “incredible,” “astonishing” and a “role model.”

At 6 foot 1, he’s not as imposing as the Dutch colossus, but his height hasn’t stopped him from averaging 2.9 aerial duels won per appearance this season.

In fact, the Turk has managed more tackles and interceptions than VVD this season – might he be the perfect partner?

Michael Edwards must open the chequebook to land him this summer, especially as they could negotiate a fee below that release clause – otherwise, the Reds could come to rue that decision later down the line.

AND in other news, Liverpool eyeing £55m raid for Steven Gerrard-like midfielder…

One of the club’s most promising starlets, it appears Manchester United could be set to make a key decision on the short-term future of James Garner.

The 19-year-old has made just six appearances for the first-team this season at Old Trafford, but has been in prolific form for the side’s U23s – as per Transfermarkt, he found the back of the net eight times in just ten games at Premier League 2 level, despite predominantly playing in holding midfield.

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With competition for places intense, The Manchester Evening News claim that “a loan is inevitable next season as United re-plot his pathway to the first-team”, and that “the late developments of midfielders Tom Cleverley and Jesse Lingard offer encouragement”.

After hearing about the update on Garner’s future, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

One United fan however seemed to think that Garner’s career is finished based on the latest development.

Garner has received some glowing endorsements about his ability from managers and coaches alike, and he’s certainly a talent worth keeping an eye on.

A loan away to potentially another Premier League team, or even a side in the lower divisions of English football would give him valuable first-team opportunities to shine.

Many Wolves supporters were purring over Pedro Neto’s superb strike in their team’s 2-0 win against West Ham this evening.

The 20-year-old came off the bench in the 64th minute at London Stadium and rounded off his team’s victory with a goal to remember. With six minutes remaining, he latched on to a deep cross from Matt Doherty and crashed an unstoppable volley past Lukasz Fabianski.

That was the Portuguese forward’s third goal of his debut Premier League season, having also netted against Watford and Southampton over the winter, and his fifth in all competitions for the club he joined last summer. [via TransferMarkt]

Wolves’ 11th win of the league campaign has brought them level on points with fifth-placed Manchester United and leaves them only two points behind Chelsea in the Champions League positions, with Frank Lampard’s team travelling to Aston Villa tomorrow. [via Sky Sports]

These Wolves fans on Twitter were left awestruck by Neto’s volleyed goal against the Hammers, with one supporter hailing the youngster as the Molineux outfit’s “next star”:

Wolves fans, what did you make of Neto’s goal and overall performance this evening? Comment below with your views!

Lys Mousset showed exactly why Sheffield United signed him in the summer with a brilliant display against Manchester United.

He played a key role in the Blades’ first before tucking away a fine strike from outside the box to double his team’s lead, and his display left many fans very happy.

The striker has been in goalscoring form of late and now leads the club’s scoring charts with four goals, and the course of the match changed considerably once he went off injured.

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That fact wasn’t lost on some supporters, who believe it points to the influence he had on the match, as he was able to run in behind the defence and cause problems for United’s three centre-backs – as he did for the first goal.

Mousset having to be subbed off will therefore be a concern of the manager and the club’s fans, as he was just beginning to repay the £10m fee spent to take him away from Bournemouth, as well as his £25,000 weekly wage.

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Here are some of the reactions to the Frenchman’s performance on Sunday.

According to Record, Tottenham are unwilling to meet Benfica’s asking price for Alejandro Grimaldo.

What’s the word?

With Danny Rose currently out on loan at fellow Premier League side Newcastle and his long-term future at Spurs up in the air, it is unsurprising to hear the north London side seemingly being in the market for a new left-back.

But whilst Portuguese publication Record confirm Spurs’ interest in Grimaldo, they claim that both Jose Mourinho’s team and Italian giants Napoli are unwilling to meet Benfica’s demands.

The Greatest Bargains in Premier League history – How much did they cost?

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The report suggests Benfica are asking for around £35m (£30m) to let the Spanish defender go, and that with him still having three years left on his existing deal, they are under no pressure to cash in on him on the cheap.

Biting the bullet

Spending big-money on a full-back doesn’t naturally come across as the best use of resources, but for Spurs, getting Grimaldo in this summer could be absolutely pivotal to ensuring Mourinho has a defence that he can rely on both going forward and back.

The Spaniard has been in imperious form in domestic football with Benfica, registering an impressive six assists in just 24 games in Liga NOS. And when you look at his underlying numbers, it’s easy to see why he’s been so influential for the Portuguese side in an attacking sense.

As per Whoscored, he averages 1.2 shots, 2.2 key passes, 1.5 dribbles and 1.8 crosses per game in the league – startling numbers for someone who is just a left-back. In fact, his arrival could elevate Harry Kane’s game to another level.

The Spurs talisman can become more of a penalty box predator rather than feeling compelled to come deeper to collect the ball and help out his team with the build-up phase. Grimaldo can provide the north Londoners with another attacking outlet, and having someone like Kane on the end of his crosses and surging runs forward could result in the England international plundering even more goals than he already does.

So not only would Spurs improve their back-line, but they could also simultaneously sharpen their offensive game too. It’s exactly why Daniel Levy must reconsider his side’s stance of not being willing to meet Benfica’s asking price for Grimaldo.

Amidst all the recent links to a player like Philippe Coutinho – a play-maker in a position Spurs have plenty of options for – Grimaldo should be the man Spurs focus on this summer.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans reminisce about this former star’s time in north London.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Granit Xhaka was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy on Tuesday, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang taking over the role, as reported by BBC Sport.

Granted, there aren’t that many Arsenal players who jump out as a natural skipper – which is probably why Xhaka was named in the first place – but the Gabon international’s appointment was a bit of a surprise.

FFC recently wrote about the dwindling influence of the captain in Premier League football, and the decision to appoint Aubameyang has served to further illustrate that point.

One thing that can be suggested about the way this role has evolved over time is that there are now various moulds of captain.

Within Arsenal, Sokratis may fit the brutish enforcer image, Hector Bellerin is the active speaker, having opened up on various social issues, while Matteo Guendouzi is the embodiment of someone who puts their all in for the team.

Aubameyang fits very clearly into one category: the talismanic figure. This type of captain often leads by example, simply by being the best, giving their teammates a level to work towards.

It is fair to say that the 30-year-old has been the Gunners’ top performer this campaign, as he has scored 8 Premier League goals in 11 games, which equates to half of the team’s overall total.

There may be more to Aubameyang than meets the eye. Perhaps, behind the beaming smile and amusing celebrations hides a motivator and man of powerful words who can grab his team by the scruff of the neck and drag them through a game, or speak success into existence.

However, it seems more likely that his credentials for the position are that he is a likeable character, one who commands the respect of the dressing room, isn’t disliked by the fans and is extremely talented.

Long gone are the days of Arsenal skippers in the ilk of Patrick Vieira and Tony Adams and, while Aubameyang is undoubtedly a strong candidate for the role, it will be intriguing to see how Arsenal’s new skipper fares.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes that Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings should be a regular in the Three Lions starting line-up.

The centre-back has broken into Gareth Southgate’s squad recently and has even started two of their last three games against Bulgaria and Kosovo respectively (Transfermarkt).

England are now looking ahead to Euro 2020, but Southgate still needs to decide on his first choice partnership at centre-back.

Whilst Harry Maguire looks a nailed on starter given he has started all 10 of their fixtures in 2019, the second position looks up for grabs.

Each of Mings, John Stones, Michael Keane and Joe Gomez have featured alongside Maguire this year (Transfermarkt), but Robinson believes that it is the Aston Villa man who should get the nod and has admitted that he was stunned that the 26-year-old was dropped for the recent game against Montenegro.

Robinson told Football Insider: “I was surprised that he was left out of the last game (vs Montenegro), really surprised that Gareth Southgate put John Stones into the side, one because of his lack of game time and two because I think the way Mings played in the game before that, he deserved to keep his place.

“He’s had a problem at centre-half, and I worry if the solution will be found before we face better teams, but I think Tyrone Mings is the answer to his problem.

“He’s made it clear that Maguire is his No.1 centre-half and Mings should be his partner.

“I was surprised that he was left out the last game, he’s very very good with the ball at his feet, he’s comfortable, he’s a left-footed centre-half so that gives him a massive advantage over others.

“I’ve played with two right-footed centre-halves and neither want to play on the left, so he brings that balance, he is good in the air, he’s strong, he reads the game well and I think him and Maguire should be the centre-half partnership.”

Whilst Mings has done well in his two England appearances so far, keeping clean sheets in both matches, it is still debatable whether he is, as Robinson suggests, the answer to the Three Lions’ problem at centre-back.

After all, he is still in the infancy of his international career and, with all due respect to Bulgaria and Kosovo, he wasn’t really tested in either of his appearances.

He needs to prove himself against a better quality of opposition before being considered as definitely good enough to start for England, both at club and international level.

That said, his rivals for the position are not pulling up any trees either. Stones has barely featured for Manchester City this season (Transfermarkt) and the same can be said for Gomez (Transfermarkt), whilst Keane has recently been dropped by Everton (Transfermarkt).

If Mings can play consistently well for Aston Villa between now and the end of the season, he will give himself a great chance of nailing down a starting position for his country.

Aston Villa fans, do you think Tyrone Mings should be in the starting line-up for England? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Tony Cascarino believes Everton’s performance against West Ham United finally provided some justification for the heavy investment from Farhad Moshiri. The former Chelsea man picked out Tom Davies, Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi as three players who impressed against the Hammers.

What did he say?

Everton were victorious in the Premier League for the first time since early September, as the Blues beat West Ham in a comfortable 2-0 display on Saturday.

Bernard got Goodison Park roaring with the opening goal before Gylfi Sigurdsson netted an incredible strike in added time.

Cascarino had nothing but praise for Marco Silva’s side as they moved out of the relegation zone. The pundit said, per The Times: “For the first time this season, Marco Silva’s Everton looked to be worth the £450 million owner Farhad Moshiri has spent to assemble the squad.

“Silva’s side were hell-bent on playing high-intensity, tenacious football against West Ham. Tom Davies excelled in midfield. Theo Walcott had his best game in an Everton shirt. Alex Iwobi did not stop running.

“These are the kind of committed performances Silva needs from his players every week.”

Everton need to justify spending

As alluded to by Cascarino, Moshiri has spent an incredible amount of money over the years as Everton’s majority stakeholder. Transfers such as Richarlison for £50m have worked out well, but others such as Cenk Tosun for £27m have been nothing short of a waste.

Iwobi, who signed from Arsenal for a fee that could rise to £34m proved his worth against the Hammers.

Playing in the number 1o role instead of Sigurdsson, the Nigerian put in a 9/10 display, as per The Liverpool Echo. Elsewhere, Walcott – who has had a tough time on Merseyside so far – finally justified his transfer and also put in a 9/10 display on his first league start for the club this season.

Managers down the years have spent a lot of money under Moshiri, and it has got them nowhere near closer to his aim of achieving Champions League football. The addition of Marcel Brands as director of football has not helped much either thus far, but if they emulate the level of performance they showcased at the weekend they might just start moving in the right direction.

It does appear that, for the first time this season, Silva has found his ideal starting XI. He must hope they can continue in this fashion so they don’t need to continue spending extravagantly in the transfer market.