West Ham United have conducted a scouting mission to assess Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba ahead of a potential transfer swoop, according to a report.
The Lowdown: West Ham eyeing midfielder
Declan Rice could well leave the London Stadium this summer, with it recently being reported that Manchester United are now set to push Arsenal for his signature.
As such, David Moyes has started looking at potential replacements for the Englishman, and Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is one player being linked with a move, while Bristol City’s Alex Scott is a potential younger option.
The Latest: Baleba scouted
According to a report from 90min, the Hammers have also scouted Baleba in recent months, with a view to lodging a potential transfer bid.
However, West Ham will face stiff competition for the midfielder’s signature, given that the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are also believed to be interested.
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The Verdict: Get it done?
Hailed as ‘brilliant’ by journalist Antonio Mango, the 19-year-old is at the right age to be a long-term heir for Rice, and he has already started to force his way into the Lille team, having made 14 first-team appearances in all competitions this season.
It has been a real breakthrough season for the starlet, however, he has mainly been limited to cameo appearances off the bench, and he is yet to prove himself as a consistent performer in Ligue 1.
That said, West Ham should undoubtedly continue to monitor his performances for the rest of the season, especially considering the club now appear to be resigned to losing Rice in the summer, and a suitable replacement will be needed.
The major talking point surrounding Tottenham Hotspur at present is the future of manager, Antonio Conte, with the experienced Italian looking destined to move on at the end of the season amid the expiry of his current deal.
While talks between the 53-year-old and the Spurs hierarchy are set to take place in the coming months – with chairman Daniel Levy having the ability to trigger a 12-month extension in the former Chelsea man's contract – it does appear that a departure could well be something of an inevitability.
That has come amid the recent on-field woes that Conte has overseen, with the north London outfit having crashed out of both the FA Cup and Champions League in meek fashion, while also facing a real fight to secure a top-four berth.
A major gripe that supporters are likely to have with the serial-winning coach is his at times dour style of play, with the recent goalless draw at home to AC Milan having seen the Lilywhites produce a "pathetic" – in the words of journalist Josh Bunting – and lifeless display.
Such a pragmatic approach has also drawn criticism from Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville in the past, with the former Manchester United skipper stating back in October that the club's desire to sit back had made them look "negative" and "awful", following the derby defeat to Arsenal.
The same type of criticism also fell the way of Conte's predecessor, Nuno Espirito Santo who lasted just a matter of months in the job, while former boss Jose Mourinho was also targetted by ex-Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas for his typically 'cautious' style of play.
Those three managerial appointments appear to be at odds with what the club's supporters are craving, with the aforementioned Levy having stated prior to the capture of Santo that he was keen to get back to the club's roots, by pursuing "free-flowing, attacking and entertaining" football.
That should well be a major consideration when choosing a potential successor to Conte this summer…
Who should replace Conte at Spurs?
It does appear that Levy could have already identified a suitable candidate to take the club away from this recent, negative trend of appointing pragmatic managers, with The Telegraph reporting that Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is on Tottenham's radar at present.
While previously something of an unknown quantity after having spent much of his managerial career outside of Europe, the 57-year-old has come to wider attention following his fine work at Parkhead over the past 18 months or so, with the Old Firm outfit looking on course to claim a second successive league title under his watch.
Not only has the Greek-Aussie been able to fashion a truly relentless and rampant outfit on the domestic front – with the Glasgow side currently nine points clear at the summit – but he has managed to do so in a truly captivating and entertaining manner, with his side already scoring 90 goals in just 28 Scottish Premiership games this term.
As BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves stated earlier this year, Postecoglou's focus is on implementing "beautiful attacking football", having conjured a style that supporters simply "love" to watch.
Unlike Conte's recent, limp set-up against Milan, the former Australian head coach does not appear to have any shortcomings about taking the game to the opposition, with Hargreaves having stated that the coaching visionary "goes after everyone".
That was evident when the Scottish champions welcomed 14-time European champions Real Madrid to Paradise in the Champions League back in September, with opposition boss Carlo Ancelotti admitting that his side had "suffered" in that first half, despite the La Liga giants ultimately securing a 3-0 victory.
Such fearlessness will be music to the ears of those back at N17, with both the club and supporters likely sick to death of seeing cautious and unglamorous football being played, despite possessing the likes of Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski in their ranks.
While it would be an obvious step up for the "genius" that is Postecoglou – as dubbed by Frank McAvennie – to work with such a high calibre of player, the one-time Yokohama Marinos head coach does appear to have the attacking credentials that Levy and co are craving.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that four other Liverpool players could follow Firmino out the door.
What’s the latest on Milner’s contract and Liverpool?
Big news came out of the club this week as it was revealed that Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino will not renew his contract, meaning he will leave for free this summer.
Having been a part of the Red’s setup team since 2015, this will be a big blow for Jurgen Klopp but it sounds as though one of their other more experienced squad members may also be on the move this summer too.
Indeed, while talking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that on top of expected departures for Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and loanee Arthur Melo, Milner may opt to head off at the end of the seasons too.
He said (1:22): “So, Firmino is available on the market on a free. He’s not going to be the only one of this big Liverpool revolution because Klopp is informed about Firmino.
“But the feeling in the club is that also Naby Keita has very good chances to leave on a free transfer; Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club on a free transfer; James Milner will make a decision at the end of the current season; and also Arthur Melo will not stay in Liverpool next season and we’ll be back to Juventus to find another solution.
“So many changes are expected.
What is Milner’s contract situation at Liverpool?
Firmino will leave Liverpool having played over 350 games for the club. While if Milner goes, they’ll also been losing someone with a similar number of games (318) under his belt.
What’s more, the duo have won the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Club World Cup.
Still, all good things must come to an end and it may well be the right time to start a new era at Liverpool. After all, the club’s poor form this season suggests something drastic may well need to happen in the summer if they want to get back to their best.
Milner will see his contract expire this summer and so the next few months will be key to him making a decision. Klopp has hinted that he wants the 37-year-old to stay but it remains to be seen if the Englishman will commit to another season.
Chelsea finally lifted an iron weight off their chests after clinching victory in the Premier League, defeating relegation-threatened Leeds United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to belatedly kickstart an ascension up the table.
Having clinched victory just two times from the previous 15 matches across all competitions, Graham Potter’s Blues saw off the Whites to keep hold of tenth place in the division after Aston Villa defeated Crystal Palace.
The result does now close the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur to 11 points, with the west London outfit also holding a game in hand on their city rivals, but a string of consistency will be paramount if Chelsea are to salvage something from their wayward season.
Having failed to capitalise on a resounding and unrelenting offensive surge in the opening phase of the encounter, Stamford Bridge did not receive the roar of approval it so dearly craved, and when the respective outfits took to the tunnel at the interval, parity intact and the deadlock unbroken, the home faithful would be forgiven for a sense of trepidation that the familiar recent script was to be followed once more.
However, £75m summer signing Wesley Fofana met Ben Chilwell’s cross early after the break to secure a coveted victory, and Potter will hope to use the win as a platform to build upon, seeking success over the latter period of the term.
While the French defender was “inspiring his side” with his goal, according to Terry Flewers, it was his positional peer and countryman Benoit Badiashile who deserves the plaudits after another first-rate performance at the back.
Was Badiashile “superb” vs Leeds?
Signed from AS Monaco for £35m in January, Badiashile has been impressive during the opening phase of his career in England, recording a commendable average league rating of 7.33 – as per Sofascore – over his first six matches in the Premier League.
And against the Peacocks, the 21-year-old once again exhibited his skill set and ball-playing aptitude, assured and composed in snuffing out danger and effectively contributing from the back.
Sofascore recorded his rating on the afternoon at 7.2, with writer Gabe Henderson hailing him as “superb” for his efforts in claiming a fourth clean sheet from his six top-flight appearances.
Having made a tackle and two interceptions, the colossus’ defensive aptitude was on full show, while his 87% pass completion rate was yet a further demonstration of the prowess with his passing that sets him in a particular bracket of sublime modern defenders with an eye for the elegant.
Also making 79 touches, Badiashile was very much in the thick of the action from start to finish, completing 75% of his attempted long balls and winning two of his five total duels.
Chelsea’s acquisition seems to be more of a coup by the match week, and with further superlative showings such as the performance against Leeds, Potter might just rest easy knowing he has such a formidable and consistent force in front of the net.
The Englishman – who has been the subject of intense speculation regarding his future amid the club’s recent woes – will also be fully aware that the displays of both Fofana and Badiashile, in particular, could have helped save his skin by easing the pressure on his position, with the 47-year-old spared the axe for another day.
Chelsea may have lost the talented Jude Soonsup-Bell to Tottenham Hotspur in January but the club worked swiftly to bring in a replacement, with Jimmy Jay-Morgan arriving from Southampton.
Who is Jimmy Jay-Morgan?
Although Chelsea have been criticised for not bringing in a first-team-ready striker in the January transfer window, despite the hundreds of millions spent, Jay-Morgan could represent a very real option for Graham Potter in the not-too-distant future.
Such was the youngster’s reputation and goalscoring record at Southampton, that the Blues reportedly spent £6m to bring him in from the Saints in the winter transfer window.
The 17-year-old fired in a phenomenal seven goals and five assists in 18 games in the U18 Premier League last season and was swiftly moved up an age group, continuing to impress in the Premier League 2.
After scoring a hat-trick against Birmingham late in 2022, the teenage forward earned a lot of praise from academy coach Louis Carey.
He said: “I know Jimmy gets the headlines and the match ball, he can finish and the range of finishes is at the level we probably haven’t seen coming through the system for many years.
“At the end of it, you need someone like Jimmy to finish, and as I said I think he’s one of the best I’ve seen in my time here.”
He managed four goals and five assists in just eight appearances for the Saints in Premier League 2 this season, so it was no surprise that Chelsea paid big money to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Upon his signing, head of youth development and recruitment Jim Fraser said: “In signing Jimmy-Jay we have added a player with good potential to our Academy squads. His ability marks him out as an exciting striker and we are delighted he has chosen Chelsea for this next, important stage of his development.”
That marks him out as an incredibly hot talent for the future, one who could well go on to replicate the greats of the past.
Chelsea haven’t had a striker reach 20 Premier League goals since the 2016/17 campaign when Diego Costa hit 20 for Antonio Conte’s title-winners and they arguably have someone just as clinical in the Cobham academy.
Arguably their best striker of the Premier League era, however, was the powerful Ivorian forward, Didier Drogba, a player who like Jay-Morgan certainly knows how to attract the headlines and score a wide range of goals.
Drogba certainly arrived in different circumstances, however, signing in a £24m deal in 2004. However, he went on to make 381 appearances for the Blues, contributing 164 goals and 86 assists, which included arguably the biggest moment of his career when he headed home the equaliser against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final.
That’s not to say that the Chelsea teen is going to do the same but with his excellent potential, there is no reason why he can’t begin to make moves towards replicating Drogba’s legacy.
The Blues have had the likes of Tammy Abraham and Armando Broja try to live up to that already, but Jay-Morgan could just be the best-placed of the lot.
Journalist Lee Ryder has claimed that there could be a few Newcastle United absentees at the City Ground this weekend.
The Lowdown: Howe will be hoping for positive injury news
Newcastle will be hoping that they can make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time in 2023 when they travel to Nottingham Forest in the first kick-off of the weekend – although they could be walking wounded.
This is mainly because Eddie Howe admitted during his press conference that there were a few knocks and niggles after his side were part of a very physical game against Wolves last Sunday, which could be a cause for concern.
The Magpies aren’t the only side with injury woes, though, as opponents Forest are set to be without Brennan Johnson for the big clash, which will be a huge boost for Newcastle given the form he’s been in as of late.
The Latest: Newcastle players may face late fitness tests
After sitting in on Howe’s pre-match press conference, Ryder revealed on his YouTube channel that the Toon boss hinted at some potential absentees on Friday evening due to several small injuries.
He said: “Really, for Newcastle now going into this crucial period, they’re going to need everyone. Eddie Howe said today the majority of the squad should be available for Forest.
“So that is a little hint that there could be a couple of absentees. He did say that a couple of players haven’t trained this week, so we’ll have to wait and see exactly what squad turns up at the City Ground.”
The Verdict: Managing fitness and injuries will be key for Newcastle
With just 13 games left to play in the Premier League, we have certainly entered into the business end of the season, so keeping everyone fit to play in these crucial games will be very important for Newcastle’s chances of finishing in the top four.
It would be a huge shame for Newcastle and Howe if they were to miss out on European football altogether – which is possible given the form of Brighton and Brentford – so Howe’s side will need their top players fully fit to fight off some stiff competition.
Howe has had to deal with several major injury blows to his team this season, with the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak, Joe Willock and Fabian Schar all missing games so far, and they can ill afford to miss many more given how often they’ve featured this term.
Arsenal are reportedly one of three clubs in the Premier League ‘most active’ in the chase for Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto this summer.
The Lowdown: Burst onto the scene
Gnonto has burst onto the scene in the Premier League, after he did not feature in each of Leeds’ first six games in the division.
He has played in every match since, scoring two goals and making a further three assists from out wide, while he has also bagged himself two goals in the FA Cup (Transfermarkt).
Nonetheless, the exciting teenager is sure to attract plenty of interest in the summer, especially if the Whites end up relegated.
The Latest: Arsenal ‘most active’
As per Italian news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Gunners, along with fellow top-flight rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, are ‘most active’ in the race to sign Gnonto this summer, with other clubs also chasing his signature.
The Italy international does not seem to suit new manager Javi Gracia’s system, having only started in one of Leeds’ last three Premier League matches, and so there could be an opportunity at Elland Road to cash in.
The Verdict: Depth needed
If Mikel Arteta’s team are going to fight on four fronts next season, with them expected to qualify for the UEFA Champions League via their league position, then they will needed added squad depth, especially in the forward areas.
Both Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe have been ruled out for extended periods with injury already this season, while Eddie Nketiah is also currently sidelined.
Gnonto is a player with a lot of potential, and already knows the Premier League, so his signing would make sense for the Emirates Stadium outfit in that respect.
Hailed as a ‘top player’ with ‘scary pace’ by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, the winger ranks in the 90th percentile of all his positional peers for average progressive carries per game over the past year, and also ranks highly for a number of other key metrics (FBRef).
Nonetheless, Gnonto just seems like another young talent that could thrive under Arteta’s wing.
Liverpool have been dealt a blow after it was confirmed that Jordan Henderson is ‘ruled out’ of the Champions League game vs Real Madrid on Wednesday, according to journalist James Pearce.
The Lowdown: UCL preparations
The Reds suffered a heavy 5-2 Anfield defeat to Carlo Ancelotti’s outfit back in February and are now set to complete the Bernabeu second leg tonight.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Jurgen Klopp offered his thoughts on the task ahead. He said:
“What I said 3 weeks ago after the game was Madrid were through, now we know there’s a game to play. If there’s only 1% chance, we give it a try. We play a strong opponent and try to win it. That is possible. For that we’re here. We’ll see where it leads to.”
“We are here to win the game and that is difficult enough here, one of the best teams in the world. We will give it a proper try. It’s not about sitting here saying ‘scoring three goals is no problem’. Of course it is.”
The boss held his last training session at Kirkby on Tuesday morning before him and the rest of the team flew out to Spain later in the afternoon, but it appears that they were without their captain.
The Latest: Henderson update
Taking to Twitter, Pearce revealed that Henderson was unable to join his fellow teammates on the plane as a result of being under the weather. He wrote:
“Captain Jordan Henderson ruled out of #LFC’s 2nd leg showdown v Real Madrid. Hasn’t travelled to Spain due to illness.”
The Verdict: Blow for Klopp
Henderson is a real leader both on and off the pitch for Liverpool so it’ll be a huge blow for Klopp to be without his skipper’s services for the fixture vs Real Madrid.
The England international has had an impressive Champions League campaign in 2023, averaging 1.8 tackles and 1.5 key passes per game with one assist to his name in four appearances (WhoScored).
The Merseyside star also ranks in the 97th percentile for passes attempted and the 96th for progressive passes, highlighting his desire to contribute to his side’s efforts in the final third (FBRef).
Finally, Henderson has been dubbed a ‘hero’ by journalist Josh Bunting and the Reds will be hoping that they are successfully able to secure a positive result without him in the middle of the park.
Liverpool suffered a humiliating defeat at the Vitality Stadium yesterday in their Premier League clash with Bournemouth and Jurgen Klopp will surely be left frustrated following another unorganised and uninspiring performance from his side.
The Reds went into the game off the back of a monumental 7-0 victory at Anfield last weekend against bitter rivals Manchester United and supporters were hoping that the tenacious display would spark a much-needed turnaround in their inconsistent campaign, alas it was not meant to be.
Klopp’s formerly high-performing and unstoppable side found themselves completely outplayed by their opponents on their visit to the south coast and it was blatantly obvious that the midfield selection were completely out of their depth from the very start.
Liverpool’s young breakthrough stars Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic were deployed alongside Brazilian stalwart Fabinho in the starting set-up in the centre of the pitch, however, the German coach quickly realised he had made a huge mistake.
Both youthful prospects struggled to fend off the pressure applied by the Cherries which led to Elliott being hooked at half-time after being dribbled past four times and losing 100% of his duels over the first 45 minutes.
It was crystal clear that Liverpool sorely missed the dominant and controlled presence of Jordan Henderson in the heart of the team with a clear lack of leadership and a poor approach to the recovery needed following the first-half winner from Philip Billing.
Should Klopp unleash Jordan Henderson?
Indeed, the Liverpool captain has had his own struggles in some of his individual performances this season alongside many other key players who have failed to step up when it matters most this season.
However, there is no denying that Henderson offers sound leadership and eliminates the kind of uncharacteristic chaos that was caused for large periods of the game yesterday.
Over 23 league appearances this season, the 32-year-old has registered one assist, created three big chances and successfully completed 57% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 50.4 touches, 36.9 accurate passes and winning 1.6 duels per game.
Not only that, Henderson ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for progressive passes whilst tallying up a 90% short pass completion rate, delivering 2.7 shot-creating actions per game and completing 102 ball recoveries in the Premier League so far, proving that he is a hard-working and consistent presence.
The Sunderland-born midfielder has no shortage of admirers praising him for his consistency and impact on the success Liverpool has seen since the arrival of Klopp, with journalist Henry Winter paying tribute to the player’s strong leadership skills on and off the pitch:
“He’s been a beacon of hope in dark times for the country, a nation craving real leadership.
“And he’s a winner on the pitch, too, helping end that 30-year wait for the title. Gerrard’s right. The captain’s armband, that symbol of taking responsibility, suits Henderson well.”
With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Klopp to unleash Henderson over the remaining 12 league fixtures as he could be the guiding light that Liverpool desperately need to secure a Champions League qualifying spot for next season.
Crystal Palace are interested in appointing Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper this summer, according to The Daily Mail.
The Lowdown: Three wins from 11
The Eagles decided to part ways with Patrick Vieira prior to the international break and confirmed on Tuesday that Roy Hodgson has returned on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Paddy McCarthy will assist the 75-year-old, with Ray Lewington returning as first-team coach. The club also added that Dean Kiely will remain as goalkeeping coach at Selhurst Park.
Hodgson and Lewington are hoping that three wins from the club’s last 11 Premier League games will be enough to keep them in the division, with Palace’s last top-flight victory coming on New Year’s Eve.
Club officials appear to be already looking at Hodgson’s long-term replacement, with Adi Hutter and Paulo Fonseca possible targets, however, a manager in work in England appears to be another contender.
The Latest: Cooper update
The Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel provided an update from Palace in the last 48 hours, claiming the club remain committed to appointing a new manager in the summer.
He reported that a number of managers Palace are interested in are currently in work, name-checking Cooper at the City Ground.
The Verdict: One to watch?
Hodgson will be taking on Cooper’s Forest side at Selhurst Park on the final day of the season, a match where Palace will be hoping they are already safe. The Reds are one of Palace’s relegation rivals, so if Cooper fails to guide Forest to safety, a move for the Welshman could become a real possibility.
Cooper, who shares the same agency as Eberechi Eze, has done a brilliant job with his current employers since taking over in September 2021 when they were towards the bottom of the Championship, leading the club to promotion following a playoff final win at Wembley. He has won or drawn more games in the Premier League than he has lost, coming out on top in his only meeting with Vieira back in November.
Sam Allardyce even thinks Cooper would have ‘done the best job of all the managers in the Premier League’ if he keeps Forest up, however, doing just that may impact Palace’s chances of a move.
Cooper could be a name to keep an eye on over the coming months, but Palace supporters will be desperate for the club to remain in the top flight and may not be worrying too much about who could take over from Hodgson at this moment in time.