Halloween is upon us once more and as with all walks of life, football is unable to escape its irresistible charm. Last night saw Leeds United striker Luke Varney miss an open goal that will decorate every football howler DVD for years to come, while Arsene Wenger and his merry band of reserves gave their supporters quite the scare, before producing a remarkable comeback that marks yet another chapter in Reading’s nightmare start to the season.
The less said about the unpleasantness surrounding this evening’s fixture between Chelsea and Manchester United the better, so why don’t we focus on those unfortunate figures in football who don’t need to bother dressing up tonight.
Click on Brendan Rodgers below to unveil the 15
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Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where I have been checking out Football FanCast’s Halloween XI.
Leeds United have been linked with a move for Ernesto Valverde as a potential managerial candidate, according to the BBC.
The Lowdown: Marsch leading contender
Marcelo Bielsa has officially left Elland Road after almost four years in charge following the club’s poor form in recent weeks.
The Whites are now just two points off safety and have conceded 60 times in 26 Premier League fixtures this season.
Reports have claimed that former RB Leipzig boss Jesse Marsch looks set to be the man who will come in for Bielsa, but it seems as if Valverde is also on Victor Orta’s radar.
The Latest: Valverde interest
As reported by the BBC, Marsch has been of interest to the Whites for a while.
However, they also claim that there are other candidates, including Valverde, who is also out of work at the moment and is known by Orta.
The Verdict: Risky
Valverde, who Lionel Messi described as ‘wonderful’, played an attacking 4-3-3 system during his last position in management at Barcelona.
Whoever comes in to replace Bielsa will have a huge task on their hands to keep Leeds in the Premier League, but at first glance, Marsch could be the safer option.
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As Phil Hay mentioned earlier this month, the American’s possession-based football and focus on a high press may well make for a smoother transition, although bringing in any new manager at this time of the season appears to be a risky call given the Whites’ precarious league position.
In other news: ‘I’m told’ – Phil Hay drops hint of possible return date for injured Leeds duo
An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their interest in Sporting Lisbon centre-back Goncalo Inacio…
What’s the talk?
According to Calciomercato, the Magpies are keen on a deal to sign the defender from the Portuguese champions in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Toon have not been put off by his new contract with Sporting, after he recently penned fresh terms until 2025.
Get it done
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe must ensure that he can get a deal over the line for the £9.2k-per-week tank in the summer, as he would be a fantastic signing for the club.
He has been in fine form in Liga Portugal for Sporting this season, averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.08 across 19 starts. The Portuguese giants have kept 11 clean sheets in those 19 matches, showing that Inacio has been a crucial member of a terrific defensive unit this term, which is one of the reasons why he would be a fantastic addition to Howe’s squad.
Journalist Zach Lowy previously dubbed him “underrated”, while his former coach José Lima (as quoted by Portuguese outlet RR) also heaped praise on the defender, saying: “The psychological aspect is one of his great strengths, as he shows a lot of tranquility in any situation, in addition to his technical skills, in the formation, he could play as a left-back because his dominant foot is his left.
“Although at Sporting, now, he plays on the right side, even though that is not the dominant foot. He has, therefore, evolved and has been more confident with the passing of the games. He is an increasingly stronger player. He has always played with quality.”
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At the age of 20, he has the majority of his career ahead of him to grow and develop as a player over the years, so Newcastle would be buying him for his ability now and also what he can provide further down the line. Howe could work with him on the training pitch to help him fulfill his potential, which could make him a huge asset in the future if he is able to increase his value.
Therefore, the Magpies must seal a deal for Inacio, as he would likely make an impact in the short-term given his statistics for Sporting and in the long-term with his potential. He would be an excellent addition to the 44-year-old’s options at centre-back and must be a priority target for the summer.
AND in other news, Forget Trippier: £13m “Rolls-Royce” is saving NUFC’s season, he’s their “figurehead”…
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has received both an injury lift and blow this week, following Saturday’s 1-0 victory at home to West Ham United.
Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino all took part in Sunday’s session at Melwood, with the first two expected to be involved in the matchday squad for tonight’s Champions League round of 16 second leg clash against Inter Milan – with the Reds leading 2-0 on aggregate before kick-off.
That said, the German manager is still sweating over one of those players. Unfortunately, he believes that the game may have come just a little too soon for Brazilian forward Firmino though, who suffered a muscle injury in the reverse fixture a few weeks ago.
“I think all trained yesterday fully. I’m not sure yet what we make of that exactly, to be honest, because we have to see how they react,” Klopp said yesterday.
“So, Thiago was only a week out, probably will be fine but we have to wait for it. Joel was only three or four days I think, so he is fine, I would say.
“With Bobby [Firmino], it was longer out, it was [his] first session, so we have to see if we have to stress that or if it makes probably sense to give him just a few more days with proper training.
“Because we obviously don’t train properly today, it’s a minus-one session, it’s tactical stuff, not high intensity and Bobby might need something else. We will see that. But they are all in training.”
The potential return to the starting line-up for both Thiago and Matip will be huge for the team, as their vast experience compared to other options that Klopp could select instead will be crucial in helping the team see through the victory against the current Italian Serie A champions.
This season, 30-year-old Thiago has started just ten Premier League games, due to fitness reasons and the competition for places at the club, but has still managed to average a solid 7.05 match rating according to SofaScore, as well as contributing one assist and one goal for his club.
Meanwhile, Cameroon international Matip has been a mainstay at the heart of defence alongside Virgil Van Dijk, keeping out exciting young prospect Ibrahima Konate when fit, and averaging an impressive 7.28 match rating in the Premier League.
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Sadly, Firmino’s absence, if he does miss the tie, will be a big one. Although Diogo Jota has scored 17 times this term but has only just returned from his own injury absence and may not entirely be up to speed yet. Thus, the opportunity of handing him a mid-week rest would have been an appealing one for the club’s boss.
The Brazil international is a man for the big occasion too, having scored three in four Champions League matches this season, and not having him available will be something that Klopp will no doubt be concerned about this evening. He needs to hope that Jota performs and indeed, stays fit.
In other news: Klopp drops cryptic 7-word Liverpool message on live TV, fans will be worried
Leeds United are interested in signing Wolves’ on-loan youngster Morgan Gibbs-White this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour.
The Lowdown: Gibbs-Whites excelling on loan
The 22-year-old joined Sheffield United on a temporary basis last year, in order to earn more regular playing time away from Molineux.
Gibbs-White has impressed greatly for the Blades this season, scoring a stunning goal against Middlesbrough in midweek and netting eight times in the league overall, not to mention registering seven assists.
It could be that the young Englishman feels a permanent move from Wolves makes sense given his form away this term, and a key update has emerged regarding his future.
[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]
The Latest: Leeds in the race
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are one of the clubs expressing an interest in signing Gibbs-White in the summer, as Jesse Marsch eyes up reinforcements.
The Whites aren’t alone in monitoring the midfielder, however, with Crystal Palace, Southampton and Fulham all mentioned in the report, too.
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The Verdict: Brilliant long-term prospect
Gibbs-White is a player of huge promise – his teammate David McGoldrick has claimed he has the ‘world at his feet’ – so Leeds potentially snapping him up is an exciting prospect.
He would add the guile and end product in midfield that is lacking at Elland Road, with none of the Whites’ current central midfielders scoring more than once in the Premier League this season.
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At 22, Gibbs-White is also someone who could represent a long-term signing, with Marsch nurturing him and ensuring he slowly becomes a key player over time.
Whether or not Wolves are willing to sell a prized asset remains to be seen but it is a transfer Leeds should continue eyeing up in the coming months, with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2024.
In other news, an injury expert has provided an update on a stricken Leeds player. Read more here.
Everton’s youth academy has produced a number of top talents in the Premier League era, including the likes of Wayne Rooney, Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman who all had lengthy Premier League careers.
More recently, Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny and Anthony Gordon have all become first team regulars after graduating from the academy, while the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite, Lewis Dobbin and Isaac Price are both tipped to become first-team players for the club in the future.
One player that could have come through the U18s and U23s though is Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson, who was linked with a £1m move to play for Ronald Koeman at Goodison Park back in 2017 when he was 15.
Now aged 20, Forest are believed to want £20m for the creative midfielder, who has already made 94 senior appearances, scoring an impressive 24 goals, creating nine more.
The drastic change in valuation, a 1900% increase to be exact, is not only evidence of Johnson’s huge potential, but also of his exciting development already in his career.
This season, the Wales international has made 35 appearances in the Championship, scoring ten times and assisting six, averaging a 7.02 as his club target promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
Taking 1.8 shots per game on average as well as making 1.2 key passes, he has established himself as one of the most dangerous threats in the second tier, while he has also impressed greatly in the FA Cup, including in the fourth round when he scored against rivals Leicester City to help his team to a 4-1 victory at home.
Described as a “livewire” by Wales Online, Johnson has earned praise all season for his performances, including from England and Manchester United legend David Beckham, who posted after the FA Cup Third Round victory against Arsenal: “Great performance. What a moment [Brennan Johnson]. Well done mate.”
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With Everton lacking creativity from deep and a regular goalscorer and assister in their relegation battle, Johnson would have been a welcome addition to the squad – and the board will surely be reeling from the failed transfer back in 2017 which would have proved to have been a bargain, especially now with their Premier League status on the line.
In other news: Everton can finally axe “sloppy” dud who’s “regressed awfully” by signing £15m brute
Everton’s worst nightmares are beginning to be realised, with the club flirting with the relegation zone and the prospect of losing both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison a plausible one.
Should the club fail to secure their Premier League status, it seems eminently possible that Frank Lampard will be sacked, and the biggest rebuild of their modern day history would then need to commence.
However, due to Financial Fair Play issues, their next manager – or Lampard if he keeps them in the top flight – may be forced into moulding a number of youth academy stars as a key part of the rebuild, including striker Lewis Dobbin, who has been in good form for the under-23 team. If the club lose the aforementioned star duo, along with Salomon Rondon and Cenk Tosun, the 19-year-old could find himself being the most senior striker at the club, at least temporarily.
However, if Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri made different decisions back in 2020, it would likely have been Rangers youngster Tony Weston leading the line in the Championship next season, should that be where the Toffees are headed.
Everton reportedly wanted the Liverpool-born striker while he was still just a 16-year-old at Blackpool, and valued at around £250k by the Seasiders, before making the move north of the border.
Now aged 18, he has scored four goals in the UEFA Youth League this season, also netting an impressive 21 goals in the Lowland League for the Glasgow giants’ development team.
Rangers coach Steven Smith called Weston “clinical” after he scored two goals in a Rangers B win over Broomhill earlier in the season, saying: “We created plenty of chances last week and we spoke about getting numbers and getting goals and getting assists.
“Those are things that Tony does get. Today, the chances fell in the right areas and he managed to finish them. We spoke about being clinical and he was certainly that.”
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Although he is still developing, Weston has an abundance of talent which could have been of use to Everton in the coming years, particularly if they are to lose their star strikers this summer amid relegation. It could be one that Moshiri looks back upon as a howler on his part.
In other news: Sold at £1m, now the next Wayne Rooney: Everton had a mare on 20-goal “wrecking ball”
According to 90min, amid all the noise surrounding pre-summer talks for Paulo Dybala, it appears Tottenham Hotspur have made contact to sign another superstar forward in Darwin Nunez.
The Lowdown: Nunez in demand…
Touted by reliable reporter Fabrizio Romano as one of the ‘big name’ players who could be on the move this summer, Benfica’s star striker is apparently attracting interest from across Europe and the Premier League.
As well as Spurs, north London rivals Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and West Ham are all harbouring an interest in Nunez, who could leave for £65 million this summer (90min).
This is significantly less than his release clause, which is estimated to be over £100m, and 90min believe that the Lilywhites are already making their first moves for the player before July 1.
The Latest: Spurs in contact…
While the links to Dybala are hotting up, according to 90min’s information, Tottenham are also in contact with Nunez’s representatives to find out what sort of agreement is possible to back manager Antonio Conte with the forward’s signing.
The report adds that Nunez himself is ‘ready to move’ this summer and a switch to England is very much ‘in his sights’.
The Verdict: Promising target…
While it will require a hefty investment on Tottenham’s part, the 22-year-old has been in scintillating form for Benfica this season, leaving little wonder why they are set to demand a hefty fee.
He’s racked up a quite incredible 20 goals in 22 league appearances over 2021/2022 with his young age and versatility across the forward line coming as yet more incentives for Spurs to attempt a move.
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As Spurs officials allegedly make contact, this could be an indication that the club have real ambition to satisfy Conte.
In other news: Paratici sets sights on ‘phenomenal’ £100m man who Spurs have been offered before! Find out more here.
Rangers are among the clubs in the race to sign an England international goalkeeper this summer, according to The Daily Mail.
The lowdown
The £32,500-per-week contract of West Brom netminder Sam Johnstone runs until the end of June, at which point he will be free to choose his next club.
The Englishman was the Baggies’ first-choice ‘keeper in the Premier League last season and wound up staying put despite their demotion to the Championship. He’s made 34 league appearances for Steve Bruce’s side, who sit 12th in the table.
Rangers may need a new goalkeeper for next season, with 40-year-old veteran Allan McGregor also out of contract over the summer.
The latest
The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones and Sam May wrote that Rangers have ‘expressed an interest’ in signing Johnstone, having identified him as a potential replacement for McGregor. However, they face competition from at least four clubs south of the border.
Tottenham Hotspur, who apparently looked poised to sign him at one point in January, want him to provide cover and competition for Hugo Lloris, while recruitment staff at Newcastle United, West Ham United and Southampton have all discussed making a move for the 29-year-old ‘in recent months’ as well.
The verdict
Johnstone would be an excellent signing for Rangers.
He was unfortunate not to get a move last summer, having been a shining light in an otherwise dour to-flight campaign for West Brom. Johnstone was among the nine best shot-stoppers in the division (‘preventing’ 4.4 goals) and was named Player of the Season by both his team-mates and the club’s supporters.
Even after the Baggies’ relegation, the £7.2m-rated stopper earned call-ups for the first three international windows of the 2021/22 season during the autumn. He has won three caps for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions up to this point, underlining his pedigree.
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He may be seen not only as a successor to – but also an upgrade on – McGregor, who was questioned for his role in Celtic’s equaliser in Sunday’s Old Firm defeat. Ibrox legend Ally McCoist said that the £13,000-per-week veteran ought to have parried Reo Hatate’s strike ‘wider’, duly allowing Tom Rogic to convert the rebound.
Would Johnstone pick Rangers over Spurs? The Daily Mail’s report noted the 29-year-old’s ambition to make the England squad for the World Cup at the end of the year, and you could argue that he would be better served playing weekly at Ibrox than his likely destiny as Hugo Lloris’ little-used understudy if he goes to north London, where the Frenchman is virtually undroppable.
West Ham United have now opened talks to sign a “relentless” new striker, who has emerged as a strong target for the January transfer window.
West Ham open talks to sign new striker
Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that Niclas Fullkrug could be heading for the exit door next month, with one of Europe’s biggest clubs opening discussions…
Losing Fullkrug is unlikely to be viewed as a major blow, given that Callum Wilson and Jarrod Bowen have led the line in recent weeks, with the latter scoring his fifth Premier League goal of the season in the 3-2 defeat against Aston Villa last time out.
Bowen is not an out-and-out striker, however, predominantly featuring on the right-wing throughout his career to date, and the Irons are looking to sign a potential replacement for Fullkrug in the upcoming transfer window.
It was recently revealed that scouts had been left seriously impressed by Norwich City striker Josh Sargent, and there has now been a new development in the Hammers’ pursuit of the American.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, West Ham have now opened initial talks over a deal for Sargent, with Nuno personally involved in the recruitment process, informing club chiefs which players he wants to sign next month.
Norwich are set to hold out for a relatively high fee for the centre-forward, however, with the Championship club expected to demand over £20m, which is more than the Premier League side had been hoping to pay.
However, given that the Irons are in dire need of a new striker, and the 29-cap USA international has been identified as a strong target, the Canaries are in a solid negotiating position.
"Relentless" Sargent could help fire West Ham to safety
With Fullkrug now in talks over an exit, West Ham undoubtedly need to bring in a new centre-forward next month, and the 25-year-old has been impressing at Championship level, amassing 15 goals and five assists in 32 second tier games last season.
Since then, the Norwich star has gone on to chip in with nine goal involvements in 20 Championship matches this term, which indicates he could be ready to make the step-up to Premier League level.
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Lauded as “relentless” by former Stoke City boss Tony Pulis, Sargent is clearly a talented striker, and the Hammers may have their work cut out trying to attract proven, top-level centre-forwards, given that they are currently locked in a relegation battle.
West Ham now make enquiry to sign "unbelievable" £35m Premier League striker
The Hammers are stepping up a move for a new centre-forward.
1 ByDominic Lund
As such, signing the former Werder Bremen man this January could end up being a savvy move.