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Sunderland return to action in the Championship this afternoon as they face promotion-chasing Luton Town at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats have lost four of their last five matches in the division and will be hoping to head into the upcoming international break on a high.

Tony Mowbray's side were beaten 2-1 by Sheffield United, despite taking the lead through Edouard Michut, on Wednesday night and there could be at least one change for the head coach to make.

Luke O'Nien started the game at left-back and was forced off with an injury in the 87th minute, which could cause him issues ahead of today's match.

Speaking about the defender's situation, Mowbray said:

"I think it was just a kick and a clash, and yet it is a bit concerning because Luke O'Nien isn't somebody who would be hobbling about or staying down from an injury, so we'll see over the next day or two."

However, the head coach later added that the defender should be "okay" to be in the squad.

Who could replace Luke O'Nien?

With natural left-backs Dennis Cirkin and Aji Alese out, the Black Cats manager must avoid risking aggravating any issue for O'Nien by handing a start to January signing Joe Anderson.

Although the versatile ace may be 'okay', there is no need to risk him when there is another player in Anderson who could step in. While the 22-year-old plays in the heart of the defence by trade, the Englishman is also capable of playing at left-back.

He has been deployed as a full-back in 23 matches in his youth career – along with a further 65 at centre-back – and this suggests that the enforcer is comfortable featuring on the flank.

Anderson could also improve the team's build-up play out from the back, with Mowbray describing him being a naturally left-footed player as a "rarity" upon his arrival.

O'Nien – a right-footed gem – only created one chance in his last four appearances and the ex-Everton man produced 0.8 key passes per match in the EFL Trophy earlier this term.

The 22-year-old, who made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game in the EFL Trophy this season, did catch the eye in his cameo against Millwall last month – making four tackles and interceptions in just 12 minutes on the pitch.

Journalist Josh Bunting once hailed the defender as "impressive" and his statistics in his short Championship debut proved that he has the potential to be just that in the second tier.

Therefore, Mowbray must unleash the battler in place of O'Nien he could be an excellent stand-in at left-back with his defensive and creative ability.

A number of Manchester United supporters have been reacting to the news that Harry Maguire will be suspended for the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton.

The Lowdown: Sunday chaos

Erik ten Hag’s side continued their long unbeaten record at Old Trafford following a dramatic quarter-final with Fulham on Sunday afternoon.

Aleksandar Mitrovic put the visitors in front in the second half before chaos ensued with 20 minutes to go. Jadon Sancho’s effort was blocked on the line by Willian, with referee Chris Kavanagh initially giving a corner. However, VAR advised the official to check the pitchside monitor, with Willian protesting and manager Marco Silva not happy. Silva was then shown a red card before Kavanagh awarded a penalty, with Willian also dismissed as well.

Mitrovic was also furious and pushed the referee’s arm, becoming the third visitor to be sent off. Bruno Fernandes equalised from the resulting spot kick before Marcel Sabitzer put United in front shortly after and Fernandes sealed a 3-1 win in stoppage time.

Ten Hag’s side will now take on Brighton at Wembley for a place in the final, but the United boss won’t have a full selection of players to choose from.

The Latest: Fans react to Maguire news

Maguire received a booking after just 21 minutes for a foul which meant that he would be suspended for the semi-final. United Report shared the news on Twitter during the game, where a number of supporters were actually happy at the update.

“Finally some good news” – @nilohitsharma

“Best thing to happen today even if we win” – @MattyMurray18

“Yessssss” – @thatmendiguy

“Blessing in disguise if Varane is for enough to replace him” – @forthesp0rts

“YESSSSS TODAY CAN’T GET ANY BETTER” – @kxngrxse

“One less game I have to endure Maguire in a United shirt until he’s sold to Newcastle in the summer. Seems like a decent enough lad but watching him play for United gives me major health problems. Looking forward to it being over, but I will have PTSD for many many years.” – @ManUnitedTalk

“This news, makes me feel better than seeing our performance” – @djuangnoff

The Verdict: Varane and Martinez?

Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have been Ten Hag’s first-choice centre-back pairing this season. Varane missed the match on Sunday with an injury but is expected to be back in action following the international break.

Therefore, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the two were to start at Wembley next month, with Victor Lindelof a potential option from the bench.

Maguire being suspended isn’t ideal, though, despite the reaction from some fans, so Ten Hag will be hoping his squad remain fully fit over the coming months, especially at the back before the meeting with Brighton.

Liverpool have not been at the races this season and are seemingly looking to craft a future that keeps the club at the forefront of the Premier League track, with Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri targetted for transfer.

What's the latest on Ethan Nwaneri to Liverpool?

According to journalist Tom Canton, speaking on The Gooner Talk YouTube Channel, Jurgen Klopp's Reds are among the interested suitors for the 16-year-old prodigy, who is the Premier League's youngest-ever player after making an appearance against Brentford earlier this season, aged just 15-year-old.

Canton said:

“We still don’t know if the youngster will be committing his future to Arsenal.

“Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and a number of other clubs are all interested in the youngster, who became the youngest Premier League player ever against Brentford in that game earlier this season.

With mounting intrigue in such a precocious talent, Liverpool will be hoping to take the lead in the race and present the starlet with a tantalising deal too good to turn down.

Who is Ethan Nwaneri?

His record-breaking, if fleeting, debut for the Gunners in September remains the solitary involvement he has had in a competitive professional encounter, but this is no detriment to Nwaneri's development.

Once lauded as a "special' talent by senior peer Granit Xhaka, the Hale End phenom has scored four goals and provided four assists for the youth outfit this year from 20 outings, recently hailed as "impressive" by Kaya Kaynak for catching the eye in the FA Youth Cup.

Having scored seven goals and supplied five assists from 18 games for the U18s before earning chances within the U21 fold, Nwaneri is a coveted talent, and it is no wonder that so many Premier League outfits are desperate to secure his name.

If Liverpool prove successful in their pursuit, Nwaneri could follow in the footsteps of Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho and Stefan Bajcetic, with the triad of teenagers all joining the Merseyside outfit in their formative years and now flourishing in Klopp's plans.

The latter, in particular, could be a gem for Nwaneri to model his own development off; signing from Celta Vigo for £224,000 in 2020, as a 16-year-old himself, Bajcetic has been Liverpool's shining light this season and heralded as a man with a "big future" by The Athletic's James Pearce.

With Klopp also waxing lyrical over his prized starlet, calling him "exceptional", Nwaneri must take note and consider the platform that could be handed to him at Anfield, with prodigious talent springing up lightning-fast at present.

Signing Arsenal's remarkable young talent would be met with universal approval from the Reds fan base, but he could not be expected to make an impact among the seniors right away, instead integrating slowly and absorbing the fruits of his team-mates' labour.

The youth are receiving a platform to rise to prominence under Klopp's wing, and if Nwaneri does indeed decide to exit north London, Merseyside might be the most auspicious route to an emergence as a world-class phenom and Anfield's next big thing over the coming years.

Former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann reportedly has one key condition before he thinks about joining Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs want Nagelsmann

Reports have highly suggested that Spurs are in for Nagelsmann and have been ever since he was surprisingly dismissed from Bayern last week. Indeed, the 35-year-old is currently a free agent and readily-available for work with Thomas Tuchel replacing him at the Allianz Arena.

He joins the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Luis Enrique as the big name out-of-work managers who have been tipped to potentially replace Antonio Conte in north London. This comes after Nagelsmann was actually a contender to replace Jose Mourinho at Spurs back in 2021 with chairman Daniel Levy now given another chance to appoint him this summer.

In the meantime, Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason have been tasked with guiding the club to a top four Premier League finish in what will be a crucial few months at Tottenham. Champions League football will be pivotal in persuading prestigious managerial candidates to take the Spurs job with reporter Pete O'Rourke, writing for Football Insider, now claiming it is a key condition for Nagelsmann.

Indeed, the journalist claims that RB Leipzig's former boss may 'only take charge' if Spurs seal a place in the Champions League next season. Indeed, this is seen as 'key' in convincing top manager targets like Nagelsmann to take the post during the off-season.

It's added in the report that Nagelsmann is Tottenham's top managerial candidate to replace Conte over Pochettino and star striker Harry Kane is 'believed' to 'welcome' that decision. The England international could apparently be 'tempted' to stay if Spurs appoint the German.

Why should Spurs appoint Nagelsmann?

The attack-minded boss, who encourages an intense, high pressing style, certainly has his credentials for the Tottenham managerial post. Called a 'sensational manager' by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Nagelsmann already has a league title to his name at such a young age and has amassed quite the reputation as a very exciting coach.

He's been called the 'perfect fit' for Tottenham by members of the media and reports also claim that he could be 'open' to a Spurs approach.

It's not surprising that Nagelsmann could help to convince Kane to stay in north London given his status as a big name who has worked with some of Europe's most prestigious players at Bayern. His appointment could well be one to watch, but European football will be a pivotal factor.

Newcastle United have come a long way from the days when Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley owned the club and in just over one year the club has been transformed from relegation battlers to top-four contenders.

The Magpies reached their first domestic cup final since 1999 and are currently just two points off a Champions League qualifying spot inside the top four with 12 games remaining this season – a far cry from the bitter memories Ashley left behind.

Indeed, the St James' Park faithful will have only a handful of positive moments to reflect on over the unpopular owner's 14-year reign, but just like a broken clock always right twice a day – he did have some rare success when it came to transfer business during his tenure.

Ashley made some controversial decisions during his time in the northeast, particularly with certain players' futures under the reign of Kevin Keegan and Rafa Benitez, but from an individual standpoint, he made a pretty profit on some to done the famous jersey.

One of the exits he had no choice but to sanction was the sale of Ayoze Perez in 2019 when the Spaniard who had been signed for £1.5m was sold for £30m to Leicester City after the Foxes triggered a release clause in the player's contract – a technicality that Ashley claimed to regret.

Where is Ayoze Perez now?

There is no doubt that the sale of Perez was met with fury from supporters after tallying up 195 appearances, 48 goals and 17 assists, becoming one of Newcastle's shining lights in a difficult time for the Magpies.

However, since making his £30m move to the Midlands, Perez has been unable to deliver the same output for Leicester with only 15 goals and 12 assists registered over 115 appearances – although did collect himself silverware in the form of an FA Cup back in 2021.

In more recent times, the 29-year-old – once dubbed "impressive" by Alan Shearer – found his game-time dwindling under Brendan Rodgers having often been played out of his position of a number 10 or second striker which he was so successful in at Newcastle.

Having never reached the heights once seen in the North East and running out of opportunities to convince the Leicester boss that he is worthy of a spot in his attacking threat – Perez made the move to Real Betis in January this year to get some first-team football away from the Premier League.

Over nine appearances, the Spanish forward has scored one goal and delivered one assist, hitting the back of the net against Manchester United in the Europa League but inevitably being knocked out of the European competition by the Red Devils.

With that being said, hindsight is a wonderful thing and had he stayed at St James' Park things may have been very different for Perez, however, there is no doubt that a £28.5m profit on the player who has not been in better form since is a great sale.

Tottenham Hotspur could now turn to Brendan Rodgers in their search for a new manager, according to reports…

Tottenham manager news – Brendan Rodgers' chances are increasing

Football Insider claim that the 50-year-old is an attractive prospect for chairman Daniel Levy and the Lilywhites hierarchy, with contact already being made since his departure from Leicester City earlier in the week.

It's thought that the former Celtic and Liverpool boss has a "good chance" of taking the vacant managerial role at Hotspur Way, as per the website's sources, and the fact that he would not require any compensation to be hired is a bonus, considering how much the club have forked out on the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, who was sacked during the recent international break.

Levy has long admired the Northern Irishman, dating back to his time at Swansea City over a decade ago, having won the Championship playoffs in 2011.

Imagine Rodgers and James Maddison at Tottenham

When names such as Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique are being bandied, Rodgers is hardly going to be the most exciting appointment but the recent failures of Mourinho and Conte – two of the game's perennial winners – have shown that Spurs is a poisoned chalice for many successful coaches.

It makes Rodgers an intriguing prospect, having won the FA Cup and Community Shield during his time at the King Power Stadium. The 50-year-old likes to deploy an "attractive, attack-minded" brand of football – in the eyes of journalist Henry Winter – and is thought to be one of the best in the game when it comes to man-management.

“He has been a revelation. He manages every single player differently, he knows we have different characters in the dressing room and his man-to-man, one-on-one management is the best I have known," once lauded Reds legend Steven Gerrard back in 2014.

Another benefit to hiring him could be in the transfer market, where Tottenham have long considered James Maddison a target – indeed, according to the Telegraph, the Lilywhites are leading the race to sign him in the summer and it's believed that the Foxes have already set his market price at £50m.

The north London outfit are desperate for a creative midfielder capable of playing through the middle and out on the wings, and the 26-year-old fits the bill. Last term, he provided 18 goals and 12 assists and despite Leicester's poor form, he has still proven to be a key player, with 15 goal contributions in 23 appearances and that includes a few outings with the captain's armband too.

There is no player in the current Spurs squad that has the ability to provide this from midfield, with a lot of their goalscoring and playmaking reliance coming from both Heung-min Son and Harry Kane.

It's why Maddison has been lauded as a "monster" by journalist Josh Bunting and a "magician" by analyst Statman Dave.

Both Rodgers and Maddison clearly struck up a good partnership in the Midlands, not just given the playmaker's impressive attacking midfield returns but also from his comments after the long-serving head coach was sacked.

" A top manager and even more importantly a brilliant and caring man. Your impact on my career and life outside of football is something I’ll be grateful for forever," he tweeted.

Darren Ambrose, former Crystal Palace star and well-known Spurs fan, is also behind Levy hiring the 50-year-old, as he believes he'd bring the England international with him and get the club "absolutely flying" again.

"Brendan Rodgers plays the type of football and the style that Spurs supporters like," he told talkSPORT. "The job he did at Leicester was remarkable. Maybe it is time for a new voice at Leicester, but bring [James] Maddison along to Spurs with you and they’ll be absolutely flying."

Therefore, Spurs could do little wrong in appointing the "football genius" – in the words of journalist Sid Lowe – as their next manager as he and Maddison could continue that frightening partnership in north London.

أثار سيرجيو راموس مدافع إشبيلية، غضب جماهير فريق أتلتيكو مدريد، خلال المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين بمنافسات الدوري الإسباني.

وتغلب أتلتيكو مدريد على إشبيلية بهدف دون مقابل أمس السبت ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني “الليجا”.

واستقبلت جماهير أتلتيكو مدريد، راموس قائد ريال مدريد السابق، بصيحات الاستهجان طوال المباراة.

وكان راموس أثار غضب الجماهير بعد أن خرج الإسباني من النفق ودهس شعار أتلتيكو مدريد المحفور على العشب.

not Ramos stepping on Atleticos badge lmaoooo pic.twitter.com/ikZQVf27DB — 𝐌𝐚𝐲⁷ (@clkbae) December 24, 2023

راموس يمثل رمزًا لذكريات سيئة لجماهير أتلتيكو مدريد، حيث سجل هدف التعادل الشهير في الدقيقة 90 في نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا بين ريال مدريد وأتلتيكو مدريد في عام 2014، قبل أن يفوزوا 4-1 في الوقت الإضافي.

اقرأ أيضًا | أتلتيكو مدريد يستقر على موقفه من مد إعارة جواو فيليكس إلى برشلونة

فاز راموس بخمسة ألقاب في الدوري الإسباني وأربعة ألقاب في دوري أبطال أوروبا خلال 16 عامًا بقميص ريال مدريد.

وانضم لاحقًا إلى باريس سان جيرمان، ثم عاد إلى إشبيلية في الصيف الماضي بعد غياب 18 عامًا.

أصدرت اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية، 8 قرارات عقب اجتماعه اليوم السبت، لمناقشة العديد من الملفات وكان أبرزها موقف هشام حطب رئيس اللجنة بعد قرار إيقافه من قبل وزارة الشباب والرياضة.

وكانت وزارة الشباب والرياضة أصدرت يوم الثلاثاء الماضي، قراراً بإيقاف مجلس اتحاد الفروسية برئاسة هشام حطب والذي يترأس اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية أيضاً.

وجاء أبرز القرارات الصادرة من اللجنة الأولمبية، الموافقة على قرار إيقاف هشام حطب بالإضافة إلى عرض موقفه على الجمعية العمومية غير العادية لسحب الثقة.

وكانت اللجنة الأولمبية، أعلنت إيقاف هشام حطب رئيس اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية، لحين انتهاء النيابة العامة من تحقيقاتها كما قررت تكليف نائب الرئيس المهندس ياسر إدريس بأعمال رئيس اللجنة. قرارات اللجنة الأولمبية اليوم

– قرر مجلس إدارة اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية برئاسة المهندس ياسر إدريس مخاطبة اللجنة الأولمبية الدولية، للتأكيد على أن المسؤول عن الحركة الأولمبية الوطنية المصرية هو مجلس إدارة اللجنة الحالي برئاسة المهندس ياسر إدريس.

– وافق مجلس ادارة اللجنة الأولمبية بالأغلبية على إيقاف المهندس هشام حطب رئيس اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية السابق.

– عرض موقف إيقاف هشام حطب على الجمعية العمومية غير العادية لسحب الثقة منه والمقرر عقدها يوم 13 يناير 2024.

طالع | بعد إيقاف هشام حطب.. ياسر إدريس: انتظروا عهدًا جديدًا في اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية

– اختار مجلس اللجنة الأولمبية حسين السمري قائمًا بأعمال المدير التنفيذي وأحمد رشيدي وكيل أول الجهاز المركزي للمحاسبات سابقاً قائماً بأعمال المدير المالي.

– اختيار المحامي الدولي هيثم علي مستشارا دولياً للجنة الأولمبية متطوعا.

– اختيار المحامي محمد الأسيوطي مستشارا للقضايا المحلية والشئون القانونية متطوعاً.

– اختيار ممدوح الششتاوي مديراً للعلاقات العامة والتسويق.

– من المقرر أن يتم غدًا عملية التسليم والتسلم لجميع الأمور المالية والادارية غدا الأحد بعد اتخاذ كافة الإجراءات القانونية.

Tottenham Hotspur manager target Vincent Kompany reportedly wants to stay at Burnley for the next Premier League season, according to Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest on Kompany to Spurs?

The 37-year-old has been very regularly mentioned as a candidate for the Spurs job in recent weeks, with reports even claiming he is chairman Daniel Levy's top choice to replace Antonio Conte.

Lilywhites chiefs have apparently been impressed by Kompany's work in the Championship this season, leading to Levy considering a move for him more seriously.

It's also been rumoured that the Belgian is happy to speak with Spurs over their vacant managerial role, coming amid links to former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique and ex-Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann as well.

There is apparently division within Spurs over who should take the reins next campaign, with members of the squad calling for Mauricio Pochettino's sensational return whilst Levy favours Kompany (The Daily Mail).

It's set to be a very interesting few weeks in the Tottenham manager chase, especially as London rivals Chelsea reportedly target a move for the likes of Enrique who is also wanted at N17.

Going back to the 'unbelievable' (Jonny Bentley) Kompany, reporter O'Rourke has shared an update on Tottenham's chances of hiring the Man City legend, and it isn't good news.

Writing in a column for Football Insider, the journalist claims Burnley's boss is flattered by links to Spurs, but he is insistent on remaining at Turf Moor to help maintain their top flight status next season.

O'Rourke wrote:

"The future of Kompany is also a big talking point amid reported interest from Tottenham and Chelsea. I’m told the interest is flattering for the Clarets boss, but he wants to give it a crack with Burnley in the Premier League after his work to return them to the top tier. Despite the extensive links and speculation, it is unlikely that Kompany will take another job in the off-season."

Where should Spurs look now?

We believe the answer is staring Levy in the face – Pochettino. The Argentine is not only readily-available and free to hire, but also possesses the necessary Premier League experience and already has relationships with certain Spurs players.

The transition would be a far smoother one than that of other candidates as a result, with Pochettino's brand of open, expansive attacking football also coming as a big draw.

Supporters are regularly singing his name as they yearn for a potential return, a wish Levy must surely grant.

Arsenal might have counted a draw at Anfield as a success, given their troubles at that ground in the past, but to relinquish another 2-0 lead at West Ham United is not quite as understandable.

David Moyes’ men had been hammered 5-1 in their last home encounter against Newcastle United, and when the Gunners scored twice inside ten minutes, the home fans must have feared another drubbing.

However, whether it be through complacency or a mentality issue, Mikel Arteta had to watch his team throw it all away, thus handing Manchester City a golden opportunity to reclaim the Premier League crown.

The contrast between the two games was mainly down to just how busy Aaron Ramsdale was in the clash on Merseyside compared to his return to the capital, as a draw arguably flattered the title-chasing outfit in the former.

Many rushed to laud the former Sheffield United shot-stopper as the sole reason for picking up a vital point after his stunning succession of saves from Mo Salah and Ibrahima Konate. However, as is always the way with players in such an important role, one mistake can so easily see your stock plummet.

From being their Anfield hero one week, the 24-year-old did not take long to be dragged down to a zero at the London Stadium.

How did Aaron Ramsdale play vs West Ham United?

With a 6.91 average rating this season, Ramsdale has held himself to impressively high standards across a campaign that could still end with the ultimate silverware.

It marks a meteoric rise from back-to-back relegation with the Blades and AFC Bournemouth. Despite that, at £24m Arteta saw value in the youngster, and he has been the number one at the Emirates ever since.

Upholding an average of 2.4 saves per match, whilst keeping 12 clean sheets in the league, few could question his dependability as the last line of defence. However, against the Hammers that was unfortunately not the case.

Earning a 6.3 rating, of which only two others on the field recorded lower, the goalkeeper was surprisingly unconvincing at the back for his side. He would make just one save and one punch all game, and yet when truly called upon, the £60k-per-week ace went missing.

With Arsenal on the back foot as West Ham pushed for an equaliser, Jarrod Bowen’s volleyed snapshot should have been a comfortable effort for Ramsdale to push aside. However, it instead squirmed in at his near post, leaving him remonstrating with the linesman for respite that would never come.

Journalist Josh Bunting then suggested that: “Aaron Ramsdale has to do better there at his near post though.”

From last game’s four-save display, many of which were truly outstanding stops, yesterday marked a vicious downturn.

As aforementioned, the goalkeeping position will always remain as such, where one mistake can define a performance; no other role on the pitch warrants that kind of scrutiny.

However, when fighting for elite honours, everyone has to be faultless. They cannot afford to switch off, and given that Arteta’s number one clearly did at this moment, it cements his fall from hero to zero in the space of just one week.