All posts by z3u9t.icu

Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic has returned to training ahead of tomorrow evening’s Premier League clash with Leeds United.

The Lowdown: Milivojevic’s absence

The club captain has only played 31 minutes of Premier League action over the last two months and didn’t travel with the squad for the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle on Wednesday.

Milivojevic, who Roy Hodgson labelled as ‘outstanding’, suffered a hamstring injury in the FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea last weekend.

It looks as if he could return to the squad for the visit of Jesse Marsch’s side, though, after a positive injury update emerged days before the game.

The Latest: Back in training

Football.london relayed comments from Patrick Vieira’s pre-match press conference on Friday.

The Eagles boss confirmed that Milivojevic was going to be in training on Saturday, while Michael Olise was also going to be assessed yesterday after he was withdrawn early on at St. James’ Park.

The Verdict: Good news

Although Milivojevic hasn’t been a regular started in Vieira’s first season in charge, it is good news knowing that he appears to be over his muscular problem relatively quickly.

Hopefully, he’ll now be able to give Vieira another central midfield option from the bench against the Whites alongside Will Hughes and Jams McArthur.

Who knows, the Palace boss may even look to shake things up following three successive defeats, and he could be forced into one change, should Olise fail to recover in time.

In other news: Source: Freedman now stepping up Palace move for ‘phenomenal’ left-footed star as news emerges. 

After bouncing back to winning ways in the Premier League last weekend, Aston Villa will be hoping to cause an upset when they make the trip to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon to face Manchester United.

Dean Smith’s side blew Everton away last time out with a second-half salvo as Leon Bailey stole the show with a remarkable cameo which saw him have a hand in two goals before being forced off with injury.

The Jamaica international will not be a part of the travelling party to Manchester, though, and Smith will have some big decisions to make on his starting line-up, especially after a couple of players in particular impressed in the midweek Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Chelsea.

With that in mind, here is a look at how Villa might line up when they take on United. We anticipate seven changes from the line-up at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Emi Martinez should return in between the sticks after sitting out the cup game against the Blues on Wednesday, while Villa are likely to revert to a back four in the absence of Axel Tuanzebe, who is ineligible to face his parent club.

While the likes of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings will form the majority of that defence, there remains a question mark over Matt Targett’s availability after a supposed adductor injury. That could see Ashley Young keep his place at left-back from the game against Chelsea.

In midfield, John McGinn is unlikely to play a part given concussion protocols, so that could see Jacob Ramsey partner Douglas Luiz in the engine room.

Further forward, with Bailey out until after the October international break according to Smith, it might be the right time for Bertrand Traore to remind everyone of his abilities. He could be joined by Emi Buendia, who got a runout in midweek, with the £13m-rated Anwar El Ghazi – who came under real fire from some Villa fans on Wednesday – dropped to the bench.

Up top, Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings will hope to develop their fledgling partnership even further at Old Trafford.

Predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young; Luiz, Ramsey; Traore, Buendia, Watkins; Ings.

Meanwhile, Gregg Evans has delivered some transfer insight into this Villa academy starlet…

Former Premier League striker Gabriel Agbonlahor believes that Leeds United may have rushed their decision to hand Patrick Bamford a new contract.

The Lowdown: Bamford extends Leeds stay

The 27-year-old enjoyed a superb 2020/21 season for the Whites, scoring 17 goals in the top flight and helping them finish ninth in the table in their first campaign at that level since 2003/04.

Bamford has been rewarded for his excellence, with the striker signing a new five-year deal at Elland Road last Thursday.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″]

The Latest: Agbonlahor unconvinced

However, Agbonlahor isn’t convinced that Bamford has done enough to justify a new-and-improved contract is, telling Football Insider that the ex-Chelsea marksman needed to prove himself for longer.

The former Aston Villa striker said:

“I think it’s a bit of a rush to give him that deal, to be honest. He’s had one really good season but you want to see if he has second season syndrome himself or if he can do it again this season. You can decide on the contract maybe halfway through this season.

“Marcelo Bielsa might see stuff that we don’t see. Maybe they want to tie him up because other clubs are after him. If it was me, I’d probably wait and see how he does this season.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-13/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Key season for Whites star

Although Agbonlahor’s comments are a little harsh, there is an element of truth to what he’s saying, considering that Bamford – who ex-Leeds ace Brian Deane called a “confidence player” and “very intelligent” – has still only had one prolific season in the Premier League.

The 2021/22 campaign is a big one for the Leeds hero, with second season syndrome always potentially on the cards for strikers, due to opposition defenders sussing them out and gaining a greater understanding of their style of play.

Bamford needs to prove that his superb form last season was no flash in the pan, enjoying another relentless campaign in front of goal and backing up the club’s decision to give him a new long-term deal.

In other news, Phil Hay has provided a key Leeds United transfer update. Read more here.

Having seen his Queens Park Rangers side get their 2021/22 Championship campaign off to a highly impressive start, with the Rs picking up 11 points over their opening five fixtures of the season, Mark Warburton would have undoubtedly been worried his side’s unbeaten league record was about to come to an abrupt end with 11 minutes left to play against Reading on Saturday.

Indeed, heading into the closing stages of the fixture, the west London side trailed the hosts by three goals to one, with QPR very much looking as if they were heading for their first defeat of the new season.

However, just 13 minutes after being brought into the game, debutant Andre Gray pulled one back for the visitors, before Stefan Johansen dramatically levelled the scores in injury time, ensuring the Rs would be heading back to London with a share of the spoils.

And, while the Norway international’s late equaliser would have delighted Warburton in the moment, it is Gray’s first goal for the club which could well prove more valuable to the 59-year-old over the course of the season.

Blackstock 2.0

Having got off the mark so quickly for QPR, Warburton will feel vindicated about his decision to bring the £70k-per-week centre-forward to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on transfer deadline day, as Gray clearly still possesses the ability to play a huge role in the club’s push for promotion this season.

Indeed, the 30-year-old has demonstrated previously that he is an extremely capable goalscorer in the Championship, having scored 17 goals and registered eight assists over 47 appearances for Warburton’s Brentford side back in 2015/16, as well as 25 goals and 10 assists over 43 appearances for both Brentford and Burnley in 2016/17 – firing the latter to promotion.

As such, with the £3.6m-rated man having bagged his first league goal for QPR just 13 minutes into his debut, we would not bet against Gray going on to replicate this previous form once again this term, perhaps even surpassing the hauls of former Rs striker Dexter Blackstock in 2006/07 and 2008/09, when the forward scored 13 and 11 Championship goals respectively.

And, if the player Xisco Munoz dubbed a “brilliant” talent can indeed refind his goalscoring form for the west London side, it would undoubtedly provide the club’s already strong chances of securing a top-six finish this term with a considerable boost, something that would delight everyone associated with the club.

In other news: Forget Willock: “Unbelievable” £8k-p/w beast stole the show for QPR in August

There appears to be ‘growing confidence’ that Leeds United could beat a number of top clubs to the signing of Espanyol youngster Mateo Joseph Fernandez.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Fernandez move

The Whites may potentially be looking at January reinforcements and one player they have been linked with is 17-year-old Fernandez.

The striker is yet to make a senior appearance for Espanyol but he is considered an exciting prospect with a bright future ahead of him.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375277″]

The Latest: January move incoming?

According to The Daily Mail, the signing of Fernandez could be edging closer, with Leeds confident that a January move will come to fruition.

The Whites are believed to be fighting off interest from the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona, highlighting the attacker’s potential.

Fernandez reportedly has a £1.2million release clause in his contract that lasts until next summer, giving clubs the opportunity to sign him on the cheap.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-19/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: One for the future

While Fernandez wouldn’t arrive as an immediate first-team squad member for Leeds, he is someone who could be viewed as a long-term project, along with the likes of Sam Greenwood and Joe Gelhardt.

It is vital that the Whites plans for life long beyond Marcelo Bielsa, ensuring they don’t stand still and instead continue to cement their place as a reestablished Premier League outfit.

In other news, one Leeds player has ‘a lot to improve’, according to a pundit. Find out who it is here.

Former Premier League footballer Dean Windass could see James Ward-Prowse going to Aston Villa, but says Southampton won’t want to lose him.

Villa have already signed Danny Ings from the Saints this summer and there has been plenty of speculation that they are interested in midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

Sky Sports reported last month that Southampton had rejected Aston Villa’s £25m offer for the player and that the south coast outfit have no interest in selling him.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Windass could see the transfer happening but also understands that Southampton won’t want to lose him, saying: “Another situation where Southampton won’t want to lose him, he’s the captain.

“I can see that happening obviously with the funds they get for Jack, he could be the one that can come in. [He’s] not a similar player to Jack but obviously similar quality in the sense he can get you goals from free-kicks. His wide free-kicks – he puts them on the money every now and then.”

Ward-Prowse featured in every Premier League game for Southampton last season and also in the clubs six cup matches (5 FA Cup and 1 EFL Cup), scoring nine goals and creating a further seven.

Both Villa and Southampton have looked to strengthen their sides this summer, with both making five new signings each. With under a month to go in the transfer window, will Ward-Prowse be the sixth Villa signing or will the Saints stand firm and keep hold of their captain for the upcoming season?

Rangers will have Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey available for their upcoming Old Firm Derby on 2 January, as well as their other fixtures in the meantime.

What’s the latest?

With the Africa Cup of Nations set to start on 9 January, there had been doubt that the Nigerian trio of Balogun, Aribo and Bassey would be available for the Glasgow derby at the start of 2022.

Rangers will travel to Parkhead in what will be Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first game against Celtic as the Light Blues’ manager.

The 46-year-old confirmed when speaking to the press this week that the trio would be available for the derby, stating: “Any players representing at the Africa Cup of Nations will be here for the Old Firm match before being released.”

Rangers fans will be buzzing

It will certainly come as a relief to Gers fans to have a bigger squad available than initially thought, particularly for a game of such magnitude.

Not only that, there are Premiership games against Dundee United, St Mirren and Aberdeen to come beforehand in what is set to be a busy festive period for Ban Bronckhorst’s side.

All three players affected could be crucial for Rangers, but the availability of Joe Aribo will be a particular boost. The 25-year-old has six goals and three assists to his name in the Scottish top flight so far this term, as well as featuring in all six of the Gers’ Europa League group stage matches.

Across domestic and European commitments, the 25-year-old has already racked up 30 appearances in 2021/22 for Rangers, achieving the squad’s second-highest WhoScored average performance rating for the season with 7.40.

As for Balogun and Bassey, the former has been absent from the squad in the Gers’ last five league outings, whilst the latter has started to find a regular spot in the team, starting the last ten games across the Premiership and Europa League.

Balogun has won more headers per game (4.5) than any of his team-mates this term, while Bassey has delivered some quietly impressive performances of late. Therefore, it will come as quite a boost for Rangers fans to learn that these two and Aribo should be available for the Celtic clash on 2 January.

In other news – Hagi 2.0: Van Bronckhorst chasing dream Rangers move for “innate talent” compared to Lionel Messi

Newcastle United have reportedly now ‘moved’ to try and sign Paulo Dybala in the summer.

The Lowdown: Out of contract

Dybala is out of contract in the summer, and so he is expected to leave Juventus at the end of the season as a free agent.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-5/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Currently rated at £36m by Transfermarkt, whoever is able to sign him will be getting a real bargain on their hands – the Argentina star has scored eight times in 20 Serie A starts this season, racking up a huge 3.7 shots, 1.5 key passes and 1.7 dribbles per game (Whoscored).

The Latest: Newcastle move

As per Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), both the St. James’ Park faithful and Arsenal have now ‘moved’ for Dybala, with his preference to move abroad from Italy.

However, they have not ‘gone beyond the show of interest’, but would have a chance of signing him from a financial perspective.

The Verdict: No-brainer

To get a player of Dybala’s quality for free is surely a no-brainer, perhaps regardless of whatever his potentially remarkable wage demands are.

Hailed as ‘world-class’ by former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson, the Argentina international has won as many as five Serie A titles with the Old Lady, as well as many other accolades (Transfermarkt).

He has over 200 combined goals and assists for club and country over the course of his career so far, and at 28 years of age, is still at the peak of his powers.

Nonetheless, bringing him in through the door on Tyneside would certainly send out a big message to the rest of the world that the Magpies mean business.

In other news, find out what three other strikers are on PIF’s shortlist here!

Former Scotland defender Alan Hutton has been reacting to Celtic’s interest in Derby County left-back Lee Buchanan, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Buchanan profiled; Taylor injury

Buchanan, who can also play as a centre-back, is out of contract with The Rams at the end of the season.

An England under-21 international, the 20-year-old’s Transfermarkt valuation has been on the rise in the last 12 months, and he has made 13 appearances under Wayne Rooney this season.

Celtic have had their own left-back issues following Greg Taylor’s shoulder surgery in September. Since then, Ange Postecoglou has used Boli Bolingoli, Adam Montgomery and Josip Juranovic to fill the void left by Taylor, and it now seems as if Buchanan could be a possible signing.

The Latest: Celtic visit; Hutton reacts

According to reliable reporter Alan Nixon of The Sun, the Hoops could turn to Buchanan to solve their left-back issues. He claimed that Celtic have sent top scout Mick Doherty to watch the youngster in action – the first move in a possible winter window swoop.

Hutton, who regularly features as a pundit for the BBC, was talking to Football Insider about the links to the Derby youngster. This is what he had to say, admitting that both Celtic and Glasgow rivals Rangers should be looking to take advantage of Derby’s financial struggles:

“There’s never a problem with looking for a bargain.

“If there’s an opportunity to take advantage of a club who are in a difficult situation, you look at the likes of Barcelona selling off their best players – Rangers and Celtic have to take it.

“They’ll be looking to pinch the best talent they can down south because it’s a small fee they will have to pay.”

The Verdict: Worth a low-risk gamble?

Celtic may hold an advantage over any English clubs who are interested in the full-back due to cross-border rules. The Hoops will be allowed to approach Buchanan in the New Year ahead of a possible pre-contract agreement, should his situation remain the same as now.

Another option is for Celtic to make an offer to the English Championship club with a view to an immediate deal, with Nixon reporting that Derby may sell in the next window.

You’d expect that the figure would be a cut-price one as well due to the 20-year-old’s contract situation, so signing a left-back who Rooney hailed as ‘incredible’ and who has been tipped for England could be a low-risk gamble worth taking from the Hoops’ hierarchy, especially given Celtic’s recent instability in that position.

In other news: Lost the ball 44 times, 16 duels lost, only 1 shot on goal: Celtic’s worst 3 performers against Livingston

West Ham United made it through to the semi-finals of the Europa League last night after beating Olympique Lyon 3-0 away from home.

The Hammers went in at halftime 2-0 up after coming through a barrage of Lyon attacks throughout the first period of their second-leg clash.

Three minutes into the second half, Jarrod Bowen found the back of the net to put David Moyes’ side 3-0 up with one foot in the semi-finals.

Having got through the game with a clean sheet and three goals scored, this was a magnificent night for the east London club, who deservedly made it through to the next stage of the tournament.

In terms of individual performances, one figure that stood out from the crowd in a West Ham shirt on this occasion was defender Craig Dawson.

With the French side having 17 attempts at goal in total, the centre-back had a lot to deal with throughout the night.

Labelled as a “set piece savant” by commentator Maximiliano Bretos, the 31-year-old put his side 1-0 up with a headed goal from a corner.

However, it was his work defending his own goal where the Englishman really stole the show.

With just 32 touches of the ball in total, the defender made four clearances, six blocks and one interception, showing just how vital he was for the Hammers in keeping Lyon out of their goal.

He also managed to win 67% of the duels he was involved in, highlighting how much of a tough opponent he was for the opposition players.

This display ultimately earned the veteran an impressive overall match rating of 8.5/10 for his efforts, making him the highest-rated Hammers player on the day according to SofaScore.

Having picked up a higher rating than fellow goalscorers Bowen and Declan Rice, this shows just how solid he was at the top and bottom of the pitch and that he was a massive reason why the team have gone through.

The 52k-per-week centre-back’s display caught the attention of West Ham journalist Roshane Thomas who described Dawson’s performance as “superb.”

Moving forward, with the east London club now set to take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-finals, they will need their defensive powerhouse to be just as impressive next time out as he was in midweek if they want to reach the final.

In other news: Moyes can form “dangerous” duo as GSB plot bid for £25m gem who could “explode” at WHU