All posts by h716a5.icu

Arsenal have opened contract talks with William Saliba in a bid to extend the centre-back’s stay at The Emirates.

What’s the talk?

In recent comments cited by GOAL, the defender revealed – shortly after the 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon – that the club have held preliminary talks regarding the extension of his current deal in north London.

When asked whether there would be news on a new contract soon, the 21-year-old said: “We will see. They talk a little bit. We will see.”

Saliba then added: “I waited a long time for my first north London derby. I enjoyed it since the first minute to the end, and I am so happy. It’s a derby, a big game, where all the fans and the players want to win. I like to play big games like this.”

Edu hit the jackpot

Considering the revelation Saliba has been in the Arsenal backline so far this season, Edu’s decision to splash £27m on the defender back in the summer of 2019 very much looks to have been something of a masterstroke by the Gunners’ technical director.

After being sent on three separate loans over the last three seasons – to Saint-Etienne, OGC Nice and Marseille respectively – the 21-year-old finally managed to secure a regular spot in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI in pre-season, and his impact on the Spaniard’s side so far this term has been remarkable.

The King of North London! Honour his most famous goal with this awesome t-shirt! – Click here to buy…

Indeed, starting all eight of Arsenal’s Premier League fixtures this season, the £52.5m-rated talent has been in astonishing form, helping his side keep three clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.6 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 3.1 clearances and winning 3.4 duels – at a success rate of 56% – per game.

The France international has also impressed going forwards, having scored two goals, registered one assist and created one big chance for his teammates, as well as completing an average of 61.5 passes – at a success rate of 94% – and 2.8 long balls per game.

These returns have seen the £40k-per-week sensation who Fabrizio Romano dubbed “untouchable” average an exceptional SofaScore match rating of 7.13, currently ranking him as Arteta’s sixth-best performer in the top flight of English football.

Furthermore, as a result of his remarkable returns on the pitch, the 21-year-old starlet now boasts a market valuation that is already £25.5m greater than the £27m Arsenal paid for his services just three years ago – an astonishing 94% increase.

As such, it is clear to see that Edu well and truly hit the jackpot when bringing Salbia to the club back in the summer of 2019, as not only has the defender become a key part of Arteta’s starting XI but he is also an extremely valuable financial asset for the Gunners – with a new deal for the Frenchman now appearing to be an absolute must for the club in the coming weeks.

It’s become blatantly obvious in recent weeks that Tottenham Hotspur are absolutely missing the presence of Dejan Kulusevski in the final third as the Swedish workhorse has emerged as an imperative figure to manager Antonio Conte since his arrival back in January.

Spurs have been struck with some tough results in recent weeks, ranging from defeats to Sporting CP in the Champions League and at the weekend, in the north London Derby and then on Tuesday night, the frontline looked woeful against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Indeed, a front three of Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Richarlison mustered up only two attempts on target throughout the 90 minutes as the Lilywhites were held by the Europa League holders in Germany.

Before the game, Conte hinted at a tweak in the system to cater for the loss of the injured Kulusevski and it was perhaps especially surprising to not see the change deployed at the Waldstadion.

“With this type of players and this squad we can play with these two systems, 3-4-3 and a 3-5-2,” the Italian told reporters (via football.london). “Also [Yves] Bissouma who is a good player who can play with the two midfielders and the two strikers can be Sonny and Kane or Richarlison and Kane.”

That 3-5-2 is what brought a first Serie A title in over a decade back to Inter Milan in 2020 and it’s a change that helped him adapt to the loss of key players after his Premier League triumph at London rivals Chelsea, where Eden Hazard was allowed to roam free with Cesc Fabregas the main ‘creator’ in the hole.

With Spurs now in a slump, it’s a system that the 53-year-old must return to and the key to that exciting transition is surely Oliver Skipp, who can become the anchor of that midfield three, allowing any two of Bissouma, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur the freedom to advance forward.

Tottenham could keep their defensive stability by going to a three-man engine room and it could lead to greater control of matches, with the side ranking seventh-worst in the Premier League for passes into the final third (24 completed per 90), via FBref.

That’s worse than Wolverhampton Wanderers, who recently sacked their manager Bruno Lage, and Southampton, where Ralph Hasenhuttl is looking likely to be the next to go in the English top-flight.

Skipp had been a regular starter under Conte before he picked up persistent injury troubles but now he’s fit and available, it would be foolish to not unleash him in the coming fixtures.

Last season, the England U21 international enjoyed a better tackle success rate per 90 (66.6%) than Hojbjerg (62%), and registered fewer inaccurate short passes per 90 than the Dane, as well as Bentancur, as per WhoScored.

That stability is exactly what Conte needs to make the 3-5-2 work, so heading into this weekend’s clash with Brighton and Hove Albion – who are just three points behind Spurs in fourth – Skipp must be back in the starting XI.

The £80k-per-week enforcer, once lauded as an “absolute machine,” by Opta’s Matt Hayes, can help Spurs forget about Kulusevski and his injury in the short term and help aid the smooth transition into Conte’s success-proven 3-5-2.

AND in other news, £50k-p/w “special talent” who had 101 touches was Conte’s one shining light in Germany…

Sunderland have a number of talented young players who have been catching the eye in the academy set-up at the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

Max Thompson, who joined the club from fellow Championship side Burnley in the summer, has scored five goals and provided one assist in five Premier League 2 matches and the likes of Caden Kelly and Zak Johnson have also been regulars for the U21s.

They will all be hoping to follow in the footsteps of previous academy graduates and one of the players they are attempting to emulate is current first-team midfielder Daniel Neil.

The 20-year-old gem burst onto the scene last season as he played 39 matches in League One for the Black Cats under Lee Johnson and Alex Neil, starting 31 times.

He has remained a key player for Sunderland following their promotion to the second tier and has started 11 of the club’s 13 fixtures so far this term.

One player who could be the next Neil to step into the first-team set up, whilst playing in the same position, is 15-year-old central midfielder Chris Rigg.

The talented youngster has stepped up to the U21s this season, despite not turning 16 until January, and has played twice in the Premier League 2 so far.

He was directly involved in four goals in nine appearances – two goals and two assists – for the U18s in 2021/22 and has set up one goal in his solitary outing for them in the current campaign.

Journalist Phil Smith claimed that he was “sensational” at that age group last season and his performances have not gone unnoticed outside of the Stadium of Light.

Last month, it was reported that Premier League side Newcastle are interested in signing the midfielder from their bitter rivals for a fee of £2.5m. Sunderland are said to be desperate to keep him as he is rated as the best young prospect in the United Kingdom due to his performances for club and country.

The youngster has also proven himself to be a leader for his age, recently captaining England in a youth team match against Italy, and has been called up by his country at U15 and U16 level.

Whilst Mowbray may not call upon the youngster this season due to his age, he may look to unearth the youngster’s talent in the future and attempt to integrate him into the first team in the same way Johnson did with Neil in 2021/22.

Of course, it is down to Rigg to prove that he can handle the step up to senior football but his statistics, the interest in his services, and his international recognition suggest that he has the potential to do so, which is why he could be the next academy graduate to excel on Wearside.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Andrey Santos ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that the Magpies are keeping tabs on the Vasco da Gama defensive midfielder, who has been valued at more than £20m by his club.

Although, the reporter has also stated that Newcastle are not the only team in the race for his signature and has not confirmed whether or not he is a priority target.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “I think he is one that they’re looking at. There are quite a few clubs doing that, though.

“It’s the same old situation at Newcastle whereby they have various people with different ideas of the style and type of player that would fit in.

“But, yes, he is one of the names that I’ve been told they have got an eye on.”

Excitement for Eddie Howe

The Toon head coach should be excited by this news as Santos is an incredibly talented young player who could be a future star at St. James’ Park if he joins the club in the next transfer window.

In the Serie B this year, the defensive midfielder has caught the eye by bagging seven goals, as well as making an average of 3.9 tackles and interceptions combined per game across his 31 appearances. The 18-year-old has shown that he can chip in at the top end of the pitch whilst consistently winning the ball back for his side defensively.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig once described him as a “pressing machine” and wrote that he is a “perfect player for a high intensity and pressing team”, which suggests that he would suit Howe’s style of play.

The Magpies boss wants his team to press aggressively to force mistakes out of the opposition high up the pitch and Kulig’s analysis of Santos indicates that he would be a dream player for the ex-Cherries manager to work with.

His statistics in the Serie B show that he is capable of winning possession back on a consistent basis, which illustrates the benefit of his pressing style, and he is strong in physical battles – in spite of his age – with a success rate of 61% in his duels this year.

Therefore, Howe should be excited by the thought of Santos coming in as he has the profile of a player who would be perfect for his system at Newcastle.

At the age of 18, he is also a gem who the coach can work with over the course of a number of years. The Brazilian dynamo would not come in with an instant expectation of being a star in the Premier League and, instead, could be someone Howe develops in the seasons to come, which could be an exciting prospect for the Englishman.

Glasgow Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has shown a willingness to dip into the academy to unearth new talent since arriving at Ibrox last year.

He has handed opportunities to the likes of Alex Lowry, Charlie McCann, and Adam Devine throughout 2022, whilst Leon King has been a regular in the side throughout the current campaign.

Prior to his arrival, Steven Gerrard was also willing to promote B team players into the first-team squad and one brilliant example of this was right-back, Nathan Patterson.

The gem, who joined the academy for £0 at the age of eight in 2009, was backed by Gerrard to make the breakthrough, with the former Gers coach admitting that he allowed other players to leave in order to develop Patterson, saying:

“He has got a massive future ahead of him and we just need to keep guiding him and shaping him and improving him. We have got a player here, I think.”I think you’ve seen the moves I’ve made in terms of the squad. I moved two or three full-backs on because I had big confidence in Calvin Bassey and also Nathan.”He made his first-team debut in the 2019/20 campaign and made 27 first-team appearances for the club in all competitions under Gerrard and Van Bronckhorst combined before earning himself a transfer to Premier League side Everton in January 2022.

The club confirmed that the move was a club-record fee for the Light Blues, which Sky Sports reported to be £16m, and sporting director Ross Wilson commented on the gem’s growth in Glasgow, saying:

“Personally, Nathan is someone that I’ve placed a lot of faith in since I joined Rangers. We saw top potential in him and I’ve enjoyed working with him and seeing him develop every day.

“Nathan is supported brilliantly by his family and as Rangers fans, I know they are extremely proud of his Rangers achievements.”

The dynamo, who was once dubbed “first class” at international level by Callum McGregor, only played 11 times in the Premiership for the club, as captain James Tavernier was ahead of him, but made his Scotland debut in 2021 whilst at Rangers.

Gerrard was ready to cast other, senior full-backs, aside – according to his aforementioned quotes – to allow Patterson the chance to develop at Ibrox and it worked perfectly.

The defender was able to play a supporting role behind Tavernier whilst getting minutes in several competitions and playing for his country at international level, which was enough to attract interest from Everton.

This led to a club-record exit, which has since been trumped by Calvin Bassey’s move to Ajax for roughly £23m in the summer, and this gave Ross Wilson plenty of money to work with to improve the squad moving forward.

Therefore, Rangers struck gold by unearthing Patterson from the youth team and Van Bronckhorst will now be hoping the likes of Lowry, McCann, Devine, and King can also go on to be record-breakers in the future.

A big update has emerged on Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin and his potential availability against Aston Villa…

What’s the latest?

Magpies boss Eddie Howe has revealed that the Frenchman could be in contention to feature in the match if came through training (on Friday) without any setbacks.

The head coach told the Chronicle: “Yeah there’s a chance. We will see how training goes today. He has made really good progress and I am really pleased with how he’s attacked his rehab and the work he’s put in. So there’s an opportunity to get Maxi fit and available.”

He added: “Maxi is in a really good place. I think the setback he had recently with his hamstring was a huge blow to him.

“But it almost reset him mentally. It was like (he thought): ‘Right I have really got to get myself right and get my recovery right’.

“So I think I have this time, a steely determination to get back fit and get back in the best condition possible. He’s been having really intense treatment, three sessions a day, two at the training ground and one at home.”

Huge boost

This could be a huge boost for Howe if Saint-Maximin is fit enough to face Aston Villa as he could make a big impact on the pitch, whether that is from the start or as a substitute.

The French forward is electric in the final third and could provide a spark out wide on the left, where Newcastle have struggled to hurt teams this season since the ex-Nice man’s injury.

Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron have combined for 10 goals and one assist between them in the striker and right-wing positions in the Premier League, but Jacob Murphy and Ryan Fraser have only managed one goal and zero assists in a combined seven starts.

No one has been able to step up in Saint-Maximin’s absence to nail down the left-wing position and that is why his return would be a welcome one.

He has the quality to be a difference-maker on the ball and has proven himself in the Premier League. The gem produced five goals and five assists in the top-flight last term and has mustered up one goal and two assists in just four starts so far this season, whilst completing 3.2 dribbles or more per game in both campaigns.

Only Kieran Trippier (7.72) has averaged a higher SofaScore rating than Saint-Maximin (7.36) within the Newcastle squad in 2022/23 and this suggests that he is one of the club’s top performers.

Therefore, having him available will be a huge boost for Howe because of the level of quality he can provide on the pitch in comparison to the likes of Fraser and Murphy.

Lara also urges the West Indies board to focus more on developing players for Test cricket

Vishal Dikshit in Mumbai17-Oct-2019Former West Indies captain and batting great Brian Lara believes appointing Kieron Pollard as the ODI and T20I captain is “a step in the right direction,” but he has urged Cricket West Indies to focus more on developing players for Test cricket.”He’s got some good experience,” Lara said of Pollard, who last played an ODI over three years ago, at the launch of a T20 tournament for retired players in Mumbai. “I also believe that a captain is as good as his team and the people who really support him. And I believe that he will get the support, that’s half of your job done.ALSO READ – Hayden Walsh Jr, Brandon King break into West Indies’ ODI, T20I squads”Practically, he has played cricket all around the world, he will understand what needs to be done. So it’s not a bad decision. If he’s committed to West Indies cricket for a long period of time, it’s a step in the right sort of direction and let’s see how it goes.”In Tests, the eighth-ranked West Indies recently lost 2-0 to India at home. They started the year in emphatic fashion by beating England 2-1 in Tests at home but against India in August, they were able to bowl out the visitors only twice in four innings and could not cross 250 even once in as many attempts.Brian Lara, Jonty Rhodes and Sachin Tendulkar at an event to promote the Road Safety World Series T20 cricket league•AFP”We came off about six months ago a win against England in the West Indies which was very promising,” Lara said. “So you expected the team to maybe follow on after that. But there was a lot of one-day cricket and different things happening over the last five-six months with almost the same players. So the attrition level is something the West Indies cricket board and the management will have to see if they can solve that because some of the cricketers are understanding the shorter version of the game but the longer version they’re missing some key elements.”I think first we’ve got to get back to playing good and competitive first-class cricket in the Caribbean where the guys spend time in the middle as batsmen, bowlers bowl long spells and see if we can work from there.

“If you listen to any other teams in the world or captains, they’re very wary of the West Indies. They never ever take us for granted, which is a good thing.”Brian Lara

“But I still believe that the talent on show for West Indies is very good and promising. Maybe the entire batting line-up is in their 20s, you just want to know that if they’re playing at the highest level that they are capable of performing well. I think learning the game at the international stage is not where you want to go.”West Indies’ next assignment is a full tour against Afghanistan in India where they will play three T20Is, three ODIs and a one-off-Test over a period of three weeks. A short gap after that they will feature in another three T20Is and three ODIs against India in India. Lara emphasised on the importance of adapting to conditions on their tour of India, where spin usually plays a vital role.”To be successful anywhere in the world you have to adapt very quickly,” he said. “If you’re playing in Australia, India, South Africa, West Indies…they’re all different conditions. First and foremost, everyone that plays international cricket has a certain level of skill and talent to play the game. How you approach with your mental strength is key, adaptation of the environment you’re in is key. Learning all these important things to be successful…to be a step ahead, not having any excuses. I think those things are key to making sure that you’re successful playing anywhere in the world.West Indies have been a much harder opposition to beat in the shortest format, ever since they won the T20 World Cup back in 2012. They are currently ranked ninth in the format but could pose a different challenge for oppositions in the format, banking on some of the CPL stars who have broken into the team recently. The next T20 World Cup is still over a year away and Lara said handling the talent coming through from T20s will be key for defending champions West Indies in the coming months.”It’s still quite a long way,” Lara said of the T20 World Cup to be played in Australia in October-November 2020. “Whatever tournament the West Indies are going to, they’ll never be favourites at this point in time…even when we won the two tournaments in the past. What we do have is the shorter version of the game. A lot of young players that are coming into the team, [Shimron] Hetmyer, [Nicholas] Pooran, they are very very good in the T20 version, in the limited-overs version of the game.”The talent is there, and I’ve always said in the past that the West Indies have some of the best talents in the world coming through. What we do with that talent, how we harness that talent is the most important part. I reckon that the next eight-ten months before the World Cup there will be a lot of planning. You may even see some new faces coming through. If you listen to any other teams in the world or captains, they’re very wary of the West Indies. They never ever take us for granted, which is a good thing. So hopefully we will make a good showing coming to the World Cup.”

Aston Villa suffered a crushing defeat today in the Premier League as they became the latest victims of the seemingly unstoppable Newcastle United.

With Unai Emery unavailable to take charge, it gave Aaron Danks the opportunity to try and follow up his 4-0 win over Brentford with another three points this afternoon.

However, it was he and Villa who were on the end of that scoreline today, as Eddie Howe’s side were rampant at St James’ Park.

Falling behind deep into added time at the end of the first half, Callum Wilson’s spot kick had the visitors adrift at the break, and the rout had been completed before the 70th minute. Another goal from Wilson, followed by strikes from Joelinton and Miguel Almiron, sealed the result.

Thoroughly outclassed, the Villans had just 40% of the ball and did not register a shot on target, managing only three in total compared to Newcastle’s 20, via SofaScore.

Whilst there were plenty of miserable performers in claret and blue, with Ezri Konsa at the back particularly unimpressive, it was Leon Bailey who truly let Danks down against the Magpies.

The Jamaican winger would have been keen to build on last Saturday’s goal and assist, but instead he was offensively inept.

He was particularly wasteful throughout, losing the ball an astounding 12 times from 23 touches, which meant he was dispossessed once for every 1.9 touches taken. This carelessness is further exacerbated by his 55% pass accuracy.

Although Konsa might have recorded a poor 6.2 SofaScore rating, and a mere four from Birmingham Live, it pales in comparison to the 5.9 recorded by Bailey, the worst of any outfielder on the pitch this afternoon.

His misery was further compounded by the fact that he did not muster a single shot all game and was successful with just one of his four dribbles.

It will have been dreadful viewing for incoming manager Emery, although it gives a clear view as to just how deep the problems at Villa Park run.

Bailey will certainly need to buck up his ideas if he is to force his way back into the new manager’s plans, as after today’s display he will surely have tarnished his reputation with the Spaniard.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been in woeful form this season, recording just two Premier League victories as they languish in the relegation zone.

While the hiatus for the upcoming World Cup might dent the momentum for some teams, Wolves will surely be looking at the break as a chance to regroup and focus ahead of an important second half of the season.

There could be a big Molineux contingent playing at the tournament, with Ruben Neves and Jose Sa having a strong chance of making the Portugal squad given their involvement in recent months. However, it is another Old Gold player who might just be a wildcard for Fernando Santos’ squad…

Matheus Nunes could shine at the World Cup

Nunes already has nine caps for Portugal, although his below-par performances in the Premier League this season might go against him, especially when he is up against Otavio, Joao Palhinha and Vitinha for a seat on the plane to Qatar.

The £85k-per-week sensation clearly has talent in abundance, judging by his displays for Sporting Lisbon last season.

He averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.95 for his performances in Liga Portugal while chipping in with three goals and two assists, demonstrating his attacking ability from the middle of the park.

Wolves swooped in and signed him for a club-record £42.2m in the summer, and although he has found the transition from Portuguese to English football more difficult than imagined, the more experience he gains, the better he will adapt.

The 24-year-old was dubbed “special” by talent scout Pedro Alves during his time at Sporting, while Pepe Guardiola claimed that he was “one of the best players in the world today” after Manchester City faced the Portuguese side last season.

Santos has a plethora of options available to him in the midfield area and Nunes faces a fight to make the 26-man squad. If he does make it to Qatar, the Wolves man can certainly make his mark, and it might just be the tournament which launches him into stardom.

Tony Mowbray has said that Niall Huggins ‘will be on the coach’ as Sunderland take on Birmingham City in the Championship tonight.

The Lowdown: Injury problems

The 21-year-old has suffered from some really unfortunate injury problems since arriving at the Stadium of Light, restricting him to a mere four senior appearances for the Wearside club.

The right-back made his return to the pitch for the under-21s last month and has played three games in total for Graeme Murty’s team so far this season.

The Latest: Huggins in the squad

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of Sunderland’s match at Birmingham tonight, Mowbray has confirmed that Huggins is back training with the first team and ‘will be on the coach’ to the ground with the rest of the squad.

The 58-year-old stated that Huggins “is fully back in with the first team and he will be on the coach travelling with us to Birmingham”.

The Verdict: Timely boost for Sunderland

After Mowbray admitted that his side have ‘lots’ of injuries going into tonight’s clash, having Huggins back in the first team – having made no senior appearances so far in this campaign – is no doubt a timely boost for Sunderland.

There was a lot of promise for Huggins when he first arrived from Leeds United, with the Black Cats’ manager at the time Lee Johnson praising his versatility, physicality and speed.

Equally as comfortable at playing both right-back and left-back, the youngster’s extra versatility will also be welcomed by Mowbray, especially if the Sunderland boss has a number of players unavailable in the full-back positions.