Hull City’s record signing Jimmy Bullard was sacked by the club back in August following an incident which was thought to be related to breaching rules over alcohol during a pre-season training camp in Slovenia. He had previously been warned over his over-the-field behaviour and it was not a surprise to see him dismissed.
Bullard’s antics got me thinking about other footballers and managers who had put their football club in a extremely embarrassing position with their actions off the pitch.
Bullard is certainly not the first and won’t be the last football personality to make the headlines for their alledged drinking. Many others have had extra-marital affairs to the detriment to their career in football but we hear less about these now because of the rise of injunctions that prevent publishing details of these affairs. However we normally get to hear about them eventually, isn’t that right Mr Giggs?
Click on Bullard below to see the Top Ten
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Sky Sports News journalist Michael Bridge expects Rangers duo Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo to be the subject of interest ahead of the summer transfer window.
The lowdown
Both players have already been linked with moves to English Premier League clubs in recent months.
The Daily Mail have claimed that former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is keen on a reunion with Kent at Aston Villa, while a report from Football Insider in the autumn claimed that Crystal Palace were eyeing up Aribo.
The Gers have already sanctioned one lucrative sale to a top-flight club south of the border in 2022, agreeing to let Nathan Patterson join Everton for £16m.
The latest
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Bridge said that Rangers could well receive approaches for the duo, feeling ‘sure’ that the form of Aribo in particular won’t have gone unnoticed.
The journalist claimed: “I do expect Kent, and I do expect Aribo to get interest, I really do. I know you’ve touched on Aribo before with Palace, and I’m sure clubs will look at him. He’s a really, really, really good player.”
The verdict
From Rangers’ point of view, there’s potentially a business decision to be made here.
At the end of this season, both Kent and Aribo will be into the final 12 months of their contracts. If neither of them has penned a new deal by January, then they will be able to negotiate pre-contract terms with clubs outside Scotland.
That could see the club lose two of their most valuable assets – they both rank in Transfermarkt’s top three in terms of market values for Rangers-owned players – for nothing.
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Their first choice may be to keep both Aribo and Kent at the club, but if that isn’t realistic, cashing in on them when they can maximise income from their sales could be a smart move.
In other news, read this injury expert’s claim on Aaron Ramsey
With Antonio Conte opting to send versatile Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso on loan to Villarreal in January, and the La Liga side having an option to buy the 25-year-old this summer, it would very much appear as if the Argentina international’s time in north London could be coming to an end.
It is true that the £19.8m-rated midfielder never quite lived up to expectations following his £55m move to Spurs in 2019 – earning seasonal SofaScore match ratings of 6.77, 6.78 and 6.72 in 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 respectively. However, considering just how impressive he has been so far in Spain, perhaps the club’s decision to include an option for Villarreal to buy the Argentine could be one that Conte comes to regret.
Indeed, over his four La Liga outings in the current campaign, the £100k-per-week dynamo has been in remarkable form Unai Emery’s side. He has created one big chance for his team-mates, in addition to averaging 0.5 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 29.3 passes and winning five duels (at a success rate of 71%) per game.
These returns have seen the 25-year-old average a highly impressive average SofaScore match rating of 7.22, not only ranking him as Villarreal’s third-best performer in the top flight of Spanish football but also the 11th-best player in the entire division.
Furthermore, according to FBRef, over the past year, the player who Jose Mourinho dubbed “phenomenal” also ranks in the 96th percentile of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for passes attempted, the 95th percentile for progressive passes, the 93rd percentile for pressures, the 97th percentile for tackles and the 90th percentile for interceptions.
As such, should Lo Celso demonstrate this level of form consistently for Spurs, he could undoubtedly become a hugely important player for Conte.
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However, as a result of the option-to-buy clause that Villarreal hold for the midfielder, the Italian looks rather unlikely to have the chance to reassess the status of the Argentine within his squad – something which could cost Spurs big time come the summer.
In other news: Conte can axe Paratici’s “terrible” £62k-p/w Spurs dud with 19-year-old dubbed “one of the best”
Leeds United goalkeeper coach Marcos Abad, whose importance at Thorp Arch has been labelled as ‘huge’, is expected to stay at the club and work under Jesse Marsch, according to Training Ground Guru.
The Lowdown: Bielsa departs
The Whites decided to sack Marcelo Bielsa on the weekend after three-and-a-half years in charge at Elland Road following a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham.
Marsch has since been named as the Argentine’s successor, penning a deal through to 2025 in Yorkshire.
It looks as if Cameron Toshack will serve as the American’s assistant, and Marsch will also be able to call upon Abad to continue his work alongside Illan Meslier.
The Latest: Abad set to stay
Training Ground Guru shared a story on Monday regarding Bielsa’s staff.
They claimed that assistants Diego Reyes, Pablo Quiroga and Luis Ouvina and fitness coach Benoit Delaval will leave, whereas head of analysis Guillermo Alonso and Abad look set to stay.
The Verdict: Orta influence
Pundit Kevin Campbell believes Abad should be given ‘huge credit’ for the work he has done with Meslier, and Victor Orta has surely had a say in the goalkeeping coach and Alonso staying put at Elland Road.
Indeed, the pair both worked under Orta at Middlesbrough, so the director of football has now collaborated with the duo at two English clubs and is clearly a big fan of their work if they are not joining the Bielsa exodus.
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It seems to be a decision that makes sense, especially when you look at Meslier’s progression at Elland Road, with his Transfermarkt valuation at a career-high £18m figure.
In other news: ‘According to insider sources’ – Report claims Leeds chief set to ‘resign’ in Bielsa aftermath.
A big Newcastle United injury update has emerged on Joe Willock and Jonjo Shelvey after they missed out on the clash with Chelsea.
What’s the latest?
Chronicle reporter Lee Ryder has revealed that the pair were both absent due to illness and did not miss out because of any injury concerns.
Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game as he brilliantly brought the ball down in the box and prodded past Martin Dubravka, ending the club’s long unbeaten run in the Premier League before they could reach 10 matches.
That came after the Magpies had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down earlier in the second half. Jacob Murphy was sent tumbling down by Trevor Chalobah and the referee waved away all appeals.
Ryder Tweeted: “Shelvey and Willock have an illness #nufc.”
Relief
Howe will be relieved that both players are ill instead of being injured as it hopefully means they can swiftly recover from their ailment before being available to face Everton on Thursday night. Whereas, there may have been more concern had they both sustained knocks.
Losing either player for an extended period of time would have been a huge blow and that is why the head coach will be delighted that they are not injured.
Shelvey’s SofaScore rating of 6.91 makes him the fifth-best performing player at the club this season – second if you exclude January signings – and Willock has hit form of late with two goals in his last four Premier League outings.
Having both players out was a setback for Howe against Chelsea because he was unable to call upon their quality and it left him with almost no option but to select Sean Longstaff. The Newcastle academy product struggled at Stamford Bridge as he completed just 68% of his passes and only made one tackle, whilst failing to make any key passes, clearances, interceptions or blocks – as per SofaScore.
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This shows why it would have been incredibly concerning for the Magpies had Willock and Shelvey sustained injuries prior to the game as Longstaff proved that he is not up to the task of replacing them. Instead, they are both ill and will, hopefully, recover in time for the huge clash with Everton on Thursday night – with the Toffees currently sitting 17th in the table as it stands – and Howe will be relieved.
They are nine points behind the Toon but a win for them would make that six and they have two games in hand on Howe’s side, which could make bring Newcastle back into trouble if they win those matches.
AND in other news, Forget Burn: NUFC dud who lost possession every 3.2 touches wasted a golden ticket…
Aston Villa have been pretty busy during the two previous transfer windows in terms of bringing new players in and moving some of their current ones out in the other direction.
With the next summer transfer window on the horizon and set to open for business at the end of the season, it seems as though the Midlands club could be heading towards a potential howler concerning one of their more recent recruits.
A recent report from Football Insider has claimed that fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion have identified Villa striker Danny Ings as a potential summer transfer target.
The Villa Park outfit signed the striker from Southampton back in the previous summer window in a deal worth a reported fee of £25m.
Since then, the Englishman has gone on to score five goals and provide five assists in 23 Premier League appearances, showing that he can be a useful attacking option for Steven Gerrard’s side despite not being consistent in terms of his goals.
Labelled as a “first-class” player regarding his movement on the pitch by Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison, Ings still has time in his debut season at Villa Park to add some more goals and assists to his tally to help the club end the campaign as strongly as possible.
Despite not being particularly consistent when it comes to finding the back of the net in a Villa shirt, if the club were to sell the striker to Brighton, a team that are currently only three points behind Gerrard’s side in the league table, and he then managed to become a regular goalscorer with the Seagulls, this would be a major howler for the club and Johan Lange given the hefty fee they shelled out for him.
It’s also safe to say that the 41-year-old Villa manager wouldn’t be too happy to see one of his attacking players, that is more established in the Premier League than others, join another top-flight club just a year into his current deal at Villa Park.
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Moving forward, if the former Saints star can get a good run of form under his belt between now and the end of the campaign with some more goals to his name, this could put to bed any rumours of a potential summer exit from the Midlands club and hope that he can have a more fruitful season in front of goal next time around.
In other news: NSWE had lucky AVFC escape on “complete” £82k-p/w dud whose value has collapsed £25.2m
West Brom defender Semi Ajayi has revived his career at the club in the second half of the season, having started the last nine games in a row despite making just 15 appearances in the 2021/22 Championship beforehand.
His speed and physicality have caught the eye in recent months, and after becoming an outcast under former Albion manager Slaven Bilic, current boss Steve Bruce has brought him in from the cold and helped him return to his best – but his recent form might eventually come at a cost.
What’s the news?
Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips has claimed that the Baggies could be forced into selling their 28-year-old centre-back, who he believes could even be playing in the top flight next season.
When asked by West Brom News if Albion could lose Ajayi this summer, the 48-year-old replied: “I would say so. I think he’s a really accomplished centre-half, he has shown in these spells that he can deliver and it’s just getting that consistency.
“When a new manager comes in and you fall out or whatever, I think he’s shown that he’s got the quality, he’s a big, powerful centre-half with leadership qualities.
“So, I would assume that there would be interest in him, he would fit the mould of a lot of teams, maybe in the lower half of the Premier League, and definitely the top half of the Championship – he’s definitely a player that would attract interest.”
West Brom need to keep Ajayi
Ajayi has excelled in the Championship in previous years, including his 2018/19 campaign which saw him feature in all 46 of Rotherham’s matches, scoring seven goals in the process. That prompted the Baggies to sign him for £1.49m, and their promotion-winning 2019/20 campaign saw him score five goals in 43 matches, a very respectable return for a centre-back.
This year, the Nigeria international has made 2.9 clearances and won 5.1 duels and 1.3 tackles per game, while completing 80% of his dribbles and executing 1.6 long passes per match.
With superb athleticism and rapidly improving defensive skills, Ajayi – who last year was described by former England midfielder Trevor Sinclair to be “getting better all the time” – would be a huge loss to West Brom, and the Albion faithful will surely be hoping that they can keep hold of him for next season.
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Given the fine form that the Nigerian has shown, it could be disastrous for the Baggies to lose the 28-year-old if the lure of another club proves too attractive to resist.
In other news: West Brom dodged a huge transfer bullet over £48k-p/w “Rolls-Royce”
Italian journalist Giancarlo Padovan has named Tottenham Hotspur among the clubs in the mix to sign Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.
The lowdown: The end of an era
The 28-year-old is set to leave the Italian giants as a free agent in the summer and as a result, end a seven-year spell in Turin.
In that time the versatile Argentinian attacker has enjoyed a trophy-laden career, helping Juve towards five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia successes and three Supercoppa Italiana victories.
However, despite previously agreeing on terms to sign a new deal, Dybala is now believed to be moving onto pastures new with a host of clubs keen.
The latest: Spurs named
Speaking to Sky Italia, via CalcioNapoli1926 and translated by Sport Witness, Padovan has doubled down on previously reported interest from Tottenham in bringing the Argentina star to the Premier League.
The journalist said: “He knows that besides Juventus there are many important teams, he knows that he can go to Atletico or stay in Italy, at Inter. In England, there are Arsenal or Tottenham: in short, he will not remain unemployed.”
Padovan went on to claim that the 32-cap ace may struggle to earn the €10million (£8.4million) per year salary that he desires but the forward is determined to prove Juventus wrong.
It’s also suggested that Dybala will requisition UEFA Champions League football as a ‘minimum’ requirement from a new club.
The latest: The importance of top-four
Potential deals such as this one truly underline the importance of finishing inside the Premier League top four and subsequently qualifying for Europe’s elite competition.
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Whilst a move for the man lauded as ‘extraordinary’ by Alessandro Del Piero could be difficult to complete due to the fierce competition, Antonio Conte would undoubtedly be desperate to add a player of Dybala’s calibre to the Lilywhite’s squad.
This season, the man valued at £36million (Transfermarkt) has scored 13 times and provided six assists in 29 appearances across all competitions – predominantly from a second striker role – so to sign him for zero initial transfer cost would be incredible business.
In other news, Tottenham eyeing four major summer signings. Find out more here!
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is keen on bringing West Ham midfielder Declan Rice to Anfield this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.
The Lowdown: Rice superb for Hammers
The 23-year-old has matured into a formidable footballer in recent times, becoming one of the first names on the team sheet for both the Hammers and England.
Rice has been magnificent for West Ham this season, starting 28 Premier League games and even being hailed as ‘world-class’ by former head of academy recruitment David Hunt, while David Moyes has suggested he will cost any interested parties a whopping £150m.
Even still, the Englishman has of course been linked with a move away this summer, and it now appears Liverpool could be in the hunt.
The Latest: Liverpool keen on move
According to Football Insider, a Reds recruitment source has claimed that Rice is Klopp’s ‘number one target’ in the summer transfer window.
This is quite the twist from reports just last week which suggested the Anfield outfit will not be involved in the race for Rice.
Football Insider’s report does say that there is ‘little chance’ of a move coming to fruition, however, due to the likely astronomical transfer fee that West Ham would demand.
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The Verdict: Not the right fit
While Rice is a superb player, it is hard to imagine Liverpool signing him this summer, both in terms of his price tag and the fact that he isn’t necessarily needed.
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In Fabinho, the Reds have one of the world’s best holding midfielders and it is difficult to see how Klopp would fit both players into his starting lineup, with the German generally only playing with one No.6.
It feels more likely that Rice will end up at one of Liverpool’s rivals – Chelsea or Manchester United, for example – with the Reds eyeing up more of an advanced No.8 instead.
In other news, Fabrizio Romano has dropped a key Liverpool transfer update. Read more here.
Aston Villa have now leapfrogged a Premier League rival in the race to sign a replacement for Harvey Elliott, according to a report this afternoon.
Aston Villa prepare for active January window
As recently confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, the title-chasing Villans are looking to back Unai Emery next month and are working on potential January additions behind-the-scenes.
Villa suddenly find themselves slap bang in the middle of a race for the Premier League crown after making a statement by beating frontrunners Arsenal earlier this month.
Emiliano Buendia’s 95th-minute winner sent Villa Park into raptures, with Emery’s side passing every single test thrown their way since then, including a 2-1 win over Man United over the weekend.
Their torrid start to 2025/2026, when Villa took five games to even score their first goal of the season, feels like a distant memory, and they have every reason to be overwhelmingly positive heading into Christmas.
Aston Villa now looking at signing Tottenham star after pre-agreed January deal
The Villans could be more active next month.
ByEmilio Galantini
The club’s incredible 10-game winning run across all competitions makes them the most in-form team in England right now, not to mention one of Europe’s sides to beat at the moment.
Villa’s summer transfer window was marred by PSR roadblocks, with NSWE spending the least cash out of any Premier League side.
Now, reports suggest they could invest more next month instead, having already reached a pre-agreement to sign Brazilian sensation Alysson from Gremio.
After successfully negotiating that deal, it is believed Villa have their eyes on Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson.
Aston Villa eye Crystal Palace hijack by opening talks with Brennan Johnson
According to TEAMtalk today, Aston Villa have made contact with Johnson’s representatives over a potential January transfer, threatening to hijack Crystal Palace’s move for the Tottenham forward.
The 24-year-old has fallen out of favour under Thomas Frank this season, starting just six Premier League matches despite scoring 18 goals across all competitions last term, including the Europa League final winner against Man United.
Palace appeared frontrunners for Johnson’s signature with manager Oliver Glasner confident of agreeing personal terms as the Eagles looked to bolster their attack.
Staying in London was viewed as attractive for the forward too, who seeks regular minutes ahead of Wales’ World Cup qualification play-offs.
Sources suggested a fee between £30m-£40m could be enough, with Tottenham open to either a permanent sale or loan deal.
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However, Villa’s recent intervention has complicated Palace’s plans, and they could now ‘hijack’ the move.
Emery has identified Johnson as the ideal addition to provide pace and versatility to his frontline, with the winger potentially replacing Elliot, whose loan from Liverpool is likely to be terminated in January after failing to earn the manager’s trust.
Tottenham remain willing to consider offers for Johnson, who cost £47.5m from Nottingham Forest in 2023, though Frank would prefer retaining him for squad depth.
West Ham have also expressed interest in the Welshman, but Villa’s title ambitions and financial resources could prove decisive in securing his services ahead of their London rivals.
Aston Villa now plotting swoop for £30k-a-week defender, they're frontrunners