Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe reportedly wants to bring a "future icon" to the club in the near future, personally picking him out as a target for the Magpies in 2024.
Newcastle transfer news
Newcastle will be desperate to get some incoming transfer business done during the January window, with so many players linked with moves to St James' Park of late, but FFP difficulties making business hard. In defence, Lazio ace Alessio Romagnoli has been backed to seal a move to Newcastle, while Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio has also been touted as a target in recent months, with the pair both highly-rated players with a lot of their careers ahead of them.
Further up the pitch, Atalanta defensive midfielder Ederson is seen as someone who could come in and add quality in the middle of the park, and Bayern Munich superstar Joshua Kimmich is considered an ambitious option.
Howe wants Benjamin Sesko at Newcastle
According to a fresh update from Football Transfers, Newcastle boss Howe wants to bring RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko to the club this summer.
Benjamin Sesko
"Newcastle have set their sights on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko as a primary target for the upcoming summer transfer window, FootballTransfers has been told. The talented young forward caught the attention of Newcastle's scouting team when he was playing for RB Salzburg and now there is belief that a deal could be done with the forward playing second fiddle to Lois Openda in Germany.
"We are told Eddie Howe, who is keen on bolstering his squad for the upcoming season, has identified the 20-year-old as one of the club's major targets. Sesko has impressed during his time with RB Leipzig and it's thought that the Austrian could be competition for Alexander Isak in the upcoming seasons, with Callum Wilson’s future uncertain."
Slovenia
25
10
RB Leipzig
24
7
RB Salzburg
79
29
FC Liefering
44
22
Sesko is a player of immense promise, having already made such an impact in European football at the age of just 20, scoring 29 goals in 79 appearances for RB Salzburg, and now seven in 25 in a Leipzig shirt. There is also the small matter of netting 10 times in 24 caps for Slovenia, showing that he is making a big impression on the international stage, too.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described the young striker as a "future icon", which highlights just how highly he is regarded in some quarters, and he could be a perfect replacement for Callum Wilson.
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ByHenry Jackson Jan 21, 2024
Sesko is someone who Newcastle should go all in for at the end of the season, seeing him as a massive part of their future. If they miss out on him, it could be one that they regret further down the line.
Newcastle United chiefs have been sending scouts to keep track of an exciting young midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window, having been forced into a quiet January by Financial Fair Play restrictions.
Newcastle United transfer news
After fending off a number of surprising exit links, Eddie Howe was happy to see the January transfer window slam shut with the core of his Newcastle side intact. But while the North East outfit managed to keep hold of in demand stars Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron, the lack of incomings has left the club needing to make a number of additions this summer.
Currently sitting ninth in the table, the top four finish last season and subsequent Champions League campaign feel like distant memories for Newcastle as they battle to keep themselves in the running for the European places. With just one win from their last six league games, the pressure is on Eddie Howe to build a team able to replicate last season's success.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
Sandro Tonali's ongoing ban for gambling offences will mean he will be unavailable until next season, and fan favourite Joelinton's contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025, leaving the Premier League side in desperate need of midfield reinforcements. With reported losses to the tune of £155 million limiting their transfer spending this season, the top of Newcastle's to-do-list for the summer will be to address concerns in the middle of the park.
"Powerful" Onana wowing Newcastle scouts
The Magpies' well documented January window woes have left the club already making their plans for the summer window. Sources have told Football Insider that Newcastle have compiled an extensive scouting dossier on Everton's Amadou Onana ahead of a potential deal for the Belgian international.
PIF's scouts are apparently very impressed by what they've seen too, as the club are now "very keen" on a deal and believe Onana is a "big upgrade" on some of their current options in the centre of the park.
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.
Since arriving on Merseyside, the 22-year-old has earned significant plaudits, with current boss Sean Dyche glowing over his power, aerial ability, and timing to arrive in the box, as well as praising his "ugly side of the game with his hard work and positional sense".
With the futures of Newcastle's midfield duo hanging in the balance, any incoming players will have to match both the progressive output of Tonali and the defensive qualities of Joelinton. A strong tackler who can carry the ball and cause chaos in the opponent's box, there is no doubt that Onana could be the successor to the midfield at St James' Park, ranking in the 93rd percentile for aerial duels won by midfielders in Europe's top five leagues (Onana stats – FBRef), as well as creating 39 shooting opportunities for he and his teammates this term.
Total
45
39
71.2%
31
A Swiss Army Knife of a footballer, Onana can adapt his game to compliment his teammates. Able to offer defensive support to the more attacking Bruno Guimarães or take on the progressive onus in the presence of the physical Joelinton, there is no wonder why Newcastle are making early moves to get this deal over the line.
After a fee of £33 million first brought Onana to England in August 2022, Everton will be eager to see a return on their investment in the former LOSC Lille midfielder. With further sanctions hanging over their heads and uncertainty over which league they will be playing their football next season, their hand could be forced to part ways with some of their prized assets this summer. With countless clubs circling the situation at Everton, Newcastle's early pursuit of one of the league's most promising players could see them complete the deal early into the next transfer window.
Juventus delighted that Newcastle want to sign their "excellent" player
The offer could come soon and they want to cash in.
The future of a "vital" Sheffield Wednesday player has been decided ahead of the summer transfer window, according to an update from reliable journalist Alex Miller.
Sheffield Wednesday contract news
The Owls picked up a massive 2-0 victory away to Millwall on Saturday afternoon, keeping their hopes of survival alive in the Championship with one of their most important victories of the season to date.
Danny Rohl continues to do an admirable job since replacing Darren Moore earlier in the campaign, even if results are far from perfect, and the hope is that he can inspire his side to safety between now and May.
Once the end of the season arrives, there could be something of an exodus at Hillsborough, considering how many established players are out of contract with the Owls in 2024.
That includes last season's League One playoff final hero Josh Windass, who could potentially leave on a free transfer, should an extension not come his way, or he decides he wants a new challenge. The same applies to midfielder Will Vaulks, who is a key figure in the middle of the park when he is fit.
Legendary fan favourite Barry Bannan also falls into that category, as does centre-back Dominic Iorfa, so it could be a summer of real change, and a lot could depend on whether Wednesday have avoided relegation from the Championship or not.
Barry Bannan to stay at Sheff Wed
Writing on X, Miller claimed that Bannan will stay put at Sheffield Wednesday this summer, still being considered an important figure by Rohl.
"Barry Bannan is approaching the end of his Wednesday contract. Asked in December, he seemed uncertain over his future. Danny Rohl was unequivocal answering where Bannan will play his football next season. It doesn't get much clearer than this."
Bannan has been a genuinely superb player for Wednesday over so many years, and he is now arguably one of the best in the club's history given his technical ability and longevity, making a whopping 389 appearances for the Owls in total.
Bannan was described as an "intelligent" and "vital" player for Wednesday by Moore during his time as manager, and Rohl clearly thinks the same.
At 34 years of age, the Scot arguably isn't quite the force he used to be, which is only natural, but he is a footballer who relies more on talent than pace, so there is no reason why he can't still be an important figure at Hillsborough for a few more years, dictating matches just like he did at Millwall this weekend.
A short-term extension is a no-brainer and the hope is that Bannan is still playing Championship football next season, being rewarded after showing so much loyalty during the League One days.
Even with Sunderland announcing that Mike Dodds would be manager until the end of the season following Michael Beale's dismissal, that hasn't stopped the Black Cats rumour mill churning out possible Beale successors for the summer.
It will be a major decision for the Black Cats board to get right, with Dodds even in line for the permanent job if he excels in his temporary duties between now and the end of this campaign.
With the likes of Steve Cooper linked to the vacancy, another name that has tasted promotion success up to the Premier League is also being touted to be in the running for the Sunderland job.
Yet, unlike Cooper, this appointment might not be the best fit despite this name's impressive unbeaten record against the Black Cats when occupying the other dug-out.
Sunderland's manager search
TEAMTalk have reported that former Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom will be spoken to regarding the Sunderland vacancy, the 46-year-old manager eager to dip his toes back into the cut and thrust of second-tier football despite the calamitous end to his Blades reign.
This would be a risky decision to take by those associated with the Black Cats, with Heckingbottom exiting South Yorkshire with just one Premier League win from 14 matches in charge this campaign with the Blades looking doomed to an immediate return to the Championship.
Still, with an automatic promotion up to the top flight on his resume sticking out – with football pundit Carlton Palmer describing this feat as "remarkable" at the time – the Sunderland hierarchy could deem Heckingbottom as a potentially successful successor to Beale regardless of any recent misfires.
Heckingbottom's managerial record
The 46-year-old boss is certainly one that divides opinion, with fans of Barnsley and Leeds United cold on their ex-manager after struggling at both Oakwell and Elland Road.
Winning just four matches in charge of the Whites from the 16 games he was in the dug-out for, on top of accumulating 40 losses with the Tykes, it's fair to say Heckingbottom had to rebuild his scarred managerial career somewhat at Bramall Lane.
Heckingbottom would win 51 games for Sheffield United as both a permanent manager and as a caretaker, which coincided in the South Yorkshire outfit winning automatic promotion last season comfortably before the wheels came off making the jump up.
Club
Games managed
Wins
Draws
Losses
Sheffield United (permanent/caretaker)
109
51
18
40
Hibernian
32
12
10
10
Leeds United
16
4
4
8
Barnsley
105
37
28
40
Still, it's not as if Chris Wilder – Heckingbottom's immediate replacement – has fared any better with the Blades rooted to the foot of the Premier League table on 13 points currently.
Heckingbottom's insistence on playing a 3-5-2 formation – which saw varied levels of success at Bramall Lane – could work at the Stadium of Light away from his numbers as a boss, with the likes of Trai Hume excelling potentially as a wing-back figure.
Moreover, amazingly so, Heckingbottom has never lost a game when facing off against the Wearside outfit as a manager – picking up four wins and a draw from his five encounters with Sunderland, with the last win coming just last year as the Blades won 2-1 away from home.
It would be a major risk to throw Heckingbottom into the spotlight at Sunderland, with the job having a reputation for swallowing managers whole and then spitting them back out again as was seen with Beale, but his recent promotion-winning status could sway the Black Cats hierarchy somewhat.
Regardless of who is chosen next as Beale's successor, it will no doubt be an interesting managerial saga to watch unfold with Dodds keen to impress now to stake his own claim for the permanent job.
Modern football is consumed in a completely different way than it used to be, with social media allowing supporters to find a voice and share their opinions around the globe.
YouTubers and podcasters now play a prominent role in football for many fans, becoming household names around the world, offering their views on the game and often proving divisive. Arsenal Fan TV is perhaps the prime example, with the famous Arsenal fan site often as popular with opposition supporters as Gunners fans, depending on the result.
Then there's Mark Goldbridge, covering all things Manchester United and the Premier League – but who is exactly is The United Stand presenter?
Mark Goldbridge and Man Utd
Goldbridge has arguably become one of the most recognisable and successful YouTubers around when it comes to football coverage, offering regular thoughts on his beloved United.
His watchalongs during Red Devils matches have provided so much entertainment down the years, with his Alan Partridge-esque mannerisms and hilarious reactions to United conceding goals often having the potential to go viral.
Intriguingly, there are persistent claims that Goldbridge is actually not a United fan at all, with Nottingham Forest rumoured to be his team of choice growing up. He actually began supporting United through his Grandad on his mother's side after his parents split up, explaining the confusion in an interview with FourFourTwo.
Mark Goldbridge real name Brent Di Cesare
Perhaps the one thing that many don't know about Mark Goldbridge is that it isn't his real name, with the United supporter actually called Brent Di Cesare. A quick search on Companies House proves this, with the 44-year-old's real name listed with The United Stand, his YouTube channel.
Interestingly, he actually had a career in law enforcement before his current job became a full-time occupation – he was a police detective investigating financial fraud, which meant he needed to create an alias when he wanted to start posting his videos.
Mark Goldbridge net worth
There is a reason why being a successful influencer is something that kids crave to be at school these days – something that was simply impossible when sitting down with your careers officer back in the day! It can be an extremely lucrative job, depending on the level of success achieved, and it appears as though Goldbridge is making a great living out of keeping the masses entertained.
Incredibly, Goldbridge has a reported net worth of €5m (£3.9m) and earns around $250,000 (£196,000) per year, which sums up how big his following is and the success he has achieved as the years have passed.
Mark Goldbridge Twitter
Goldbridge is a big presence on Twitter/X, with over 800,000 followers to his name as of March 2024, and he will often be found providing his latest thoughts on all things United, even providing a balanced view on rival clubs in an age when so many have wild opinions simply to generate clicks.
Twitter/X
807,700
Instagram
460,000
YouTube
342,000
TikTok
813,000
Mark Goldbridge wife
Away from the public eye, Goldbridge is a married man with a family. He met his wife when he was 20 while living in Ireland and working in insurance. They're married and have three children – two daughters and a son.
Mark Goldbridge age and height
One thing that can often come as a surprise to many is Goldbridge's age, with the Nottingham-born personality currently 44, turning 45 in April 2024. For whatever reason, it is easy to envisage him being younger than that when viewing his content. Goldbridge is 5 foot 8 inches tall.
Mark Goldbridge Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
While Goldbridge is clearly a big United fan, he will often spend his time discussing their rivals, like any other level-headed football supporter.
The 44-year-old has had plenty to say about Liverpool down the years, but while some may mock his opinions on other matters, Reds supporters actually appear to think relatively highly of him.
Goldbridge has appeared on Liverpool fan site The Redmen TV in the past, for example, speaking fairly and concisely about United's adversaries, and it is a reminder that some of his antics during games can often be part of the character he has developed, often for comic purposes more than anything else.
In fairness to him, it looks as though he has realised that there is a space in the market for someone more measured than the classic Twitter tribalism nonsense most content creators opt for.
It takes a lot for any United supporter to praise Liverpool, especially given their success during the Jurgen Klopp era, not to mention online when millions of people can view your thoughts. For that reason, Goldbridge deserves praise for this.
Overall, he may not be to everyone's taste, but once you realise much of his schtick is tongue-in-cheek and appreciate that he can also talk plenty of sense, it becomes far easier to simply sit back and enjoy those Partridge-esque moments.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Michael Edwards would return to Liverpool to assume the role of CEO of football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG), a more far-reaching and influential role than his previous job at Anfield as Liverpool's sporting director.
That's not to say the 44-year-old's erstwhile position at the club didn't have its influence, with Jurgen Klopp's dynasty on Merseyside built on the foundation of Edwards' involvement in club operations and transfer activity; in other words, Liverpool's illustrious success over the past near-decade owes much to his diligent work.
Klopp is stepping down from his position as Liverpool manager at the end of the season but now there is hope that the club will continue to thrive, with the first-team in a great position after being recharged with fresh talent last summer and a tidal wave of youth prospects emerging.
It is the teenage ranks that fill Liverpool with such excitement, Klopp overseeing breakthroughs from stars such as Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley, among many others, to join a senior squad consisting of top-class pros like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.
Liverpool's best academy graduates
Liverpool arguably have the richest crop of youth talent filtering through in the Premier League right now; Tottenham Hotspur's U21s are undefeated atop the Premier League 2, but no other club boasts the same success that Klopp's kids have found over the past few months.
The Anfield side had been beset with a heap of injuries recently that had threatened to derail an exciting campaign, but despite this deluge, the Carabao Cup has been clinched and Liverpool have waded deeper into the FA Cup and Europa League (holding a 5-1 advantage over Sparta Prague in the last 16 after a first-leg drubbing).
Harvey Elliott scores for Liverpool.
Moreover, the fight for the Premier League title continues and Sunday's draw against Manchester City illustrated this success, with Quansah and Bradley both starting and excelling.
Bradley, for example, ranks among the top 6% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for assists, the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 17% for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 1% for tackles and blocks per 90, as per FBref.
While he has not been in the first-team long, completing just 16 senior appearances this season, Bradley looks the real deal and has ensured that the Reds have not felt the absence of the injured Alexander-Arnold too keenly – which really is quite a thing.
Quansah's introduction came earlier, with Alexander-Arnold hailing the young centre-back's "absolutely phenomenal" start to life in the first-team.
Harvey Elliott
20 y/o
39
2
7
Trent Alexander-Arnold
25 y/o
29
2
10
Curtis Jones
23 y/o
28
5
3
Caoimhin Kelleher
25 y/o
20
0
0
Conor Bradley
20 y/o
16
1
5
Bobby Clark
19 y/o
10
0
1
James McConnell
19 y/o
8
0
1
Ben Doak
18 y/o
6
0
0
Jayden Danns
18 y/o
4
2
0
Luke Chambers
19 y/o
4
0
0
Kaide Gordon
19 y/o
3
0
0
Stefan Bajcetic
19 y/o
2
0
0
Calum Scanlon
19 y/o
2
0
0
Lewis Koumas
18 y/o
1
1
0
Trey Nyoni
16 y/o
1
0
0
James McConnell, Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns, Lewis Koumas, Stefan Bajcetic, Trey Nyoni. Those are just some other names of teenagers making waves for Liverpool recently, and that list is not exhaustive.
But what if Liverpool's most exciting up-and-comer is not even playing at the club right now? Might it be that this colossal influx of quality stretches beyond the city?
Indeed, Luke Chambers is currently out on loan with Wigan Athletic in League One and the dynamic defender's displays suggest that he too might be in line for a senior role next season.
Luke Chambers' season in numbers
Chambers has actually completed four senior appearances for Liverpool this season, starting twice during the Europa League group phase, but he was granted a loan move to Wigan in January to best serve his immediate development.
It's been a brilliant decision, with the 19-year-old cementing himself as a starring member of Shaun Maloney's team and being crowned the outfit's Player of the Month for February, having featured in central defence and, more recently, at left-back. Like Quansah, therefore, he can play in the middle. Like Bradley, he can play in wide defence. That certainly bodes well for his chance of first-team football at Anfield.
Liverpool defender Luke Chambers.
As per Sofascore, the 6-foot defender has racked up two assists from 12 League One fixtures so far, keeping four clean sheets, completing 82% of his passes, succeeding with 67% of his dribbles and averaging six successful duels, 3.4 tackles and 4.5 ball recoveries per game.
Those are some impressive metrics, and while he is plying his trade some distance away from top-flight football with the Reds, Chambers has showcased his skills remarkably and has already proved himself an exciting prospect in Klopp's eyes through his features in Europe.
He might just prove to be the biggest talent Liverpool have had since Alexander-Arnold, surpassing the aforementioned Bradley and Quansah – who were both on loan in League One last season.
Described as a "top talent" by Liverpool reporter Lewis Bower, Chambers' versatility and energy in defence blends with some excellent defensive work and an impressive technical quality to boot. He's the real deal and his recent exploits with the Latics might just be the launchpad his budding career needs.
One final point. Now that Edwards' appointment has been confirmed, with Richard Hughes taking the role as sporting director from Bournemouth too, the hunt for Klopp's successor will start to ramp up the gas, with one man the clear favourite to take to the dugout.
Yes, Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is working wonders over in Germany and while Bayern Munich, ten points behind table-topping Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, are hoping to appoint Alonso themselves, Liverpool will throw the kitchen sink on getting it over the line.
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ByAngus Sinclair Mar 1, 2024
Chambers was actually a transfer target for Alonso's side last summer but Liverpool rejected the advances, so if the Spanish tactician does wind up at Anfield, Chambers might find himself joining the likes of Bradley and Quansah at the crest of this prodigious wave of potential.
The next few months will be telling, but with all these cogs clicking together Chambers might just be fuelled with belief that he too will enter the limelight at Liverpool, sooner rather than later.
Sunderland will take this International break as an opportunity to regroup and refresh on the training ground, with Mike Dodds' dire Black Cats winless in their last seven Championship games.
The loss of their main attacking spark in Jack Clarke to the Stadium of Light treatment room has really hurt the Wearside outfit, who now find themselves in mid-table obscurity off the back of this poor run of games when talk of promotion was once potentially on the cards.
The lack of potent strikers has also really killed Sunderland throughout the season as a whole, especially the continued blanks being fired by Chelsea loanee Mason Burstow up top.
Mason Burstow.
Yet, even as Burstow manages to remain wasteful in Sunderland red and white with just one goal from his stint to date, one former £9m Black Cats buy now finds himself worth less than the 20-year-old flop.
Wahbi Khazri's time at Sunderland
Purchased for a bumper £9m by legendary Dutch manager Dick Advocaat, Wahbi Khazri would never quite acclimatise to this new English surroundings when relocating to Sunderland in 2015.
The 74-time Tunisia international would demand such a fee off the back of his exploits in France, where the ex-Black Cats man would muster up 30 goals and assists across just two seasons at FC Girordins Bordeaux.
Sunderland fans would never quite see this same magic unfold when Khazri pulled on a Black Cats strip, however, with the now 33-year-old attacking midfielder only managing three goals and two assists from 42 games.
This would result in the Wearside club taking a sizeable financial hit when offloading their ex-number ten in 2018 to Saint-Etienne – offloading their former £9m buy for an initial £6m to the Ligue 1 side five years ago.
It would go down as an underwhelming capture, with the current Montpellier man never quite able to regularly dazzle the Sunderland masses like he did with a wonderful strike against Chelsea during his first season.
Looking at Khazri's transfer value now, the decision to splash the cash looks even more of a waste of money with the 33-year-old midfielder worth less than Burstow playing in Ligue 1 towards the back-end of his career according to Football Transfers.
What Wahbi Khazri is doing in 2024
The 5 foot 9 creator's transfer value is now all the way down at €1.4m (£1.2m) in 2024, a far cry away from the bumped-up figure Sunderland once paid to land his services.
It's a massive decline from the amount Saint-Etienne even paid to land Khazri after his lacklustre time at the Stadium of Light, with the one-time Black Cats dud remarkably now coming in as being cheaper than Burstow – who is estimated to be worth €1.7m (£1.4m) – despite the loanee's torrid loan switch to date.
Khazri hasn't helped matters by being largely anonymous this campaign for his French employers, only tallying up a single goal and assist from 24 games in total.
His dire showing against the might of PSG last match showcased Khazri's career ending with a whimper playing for Montpellier, managing just 18 touches in total against the reigning French champions before being hauled off after 59 minutes. Still, he isn't the first to find life a little tricky against the Parisian outfit.
Games played
21
Goals scored
1
Big chances missed
4
Goal conversion rate
3%
Average touches per game
22.5
Successful dribbles per game
0.6
Possession lost per game
6.6
At least, in the case of Burstow, Sunderland can move on knowing the Blues loanee didn't significantly dent their bank account when he returns to Stamford Bridge at the end of this disappointing season.
Whereas, when you see how much Khazri's transfer value has tumbled, the Black Cats must still regret forking out the amount they did to land the dud during the height of their Premier League days before their notable demise occurred down the divisions.
As the next ten games represent a make-or-break moment for Tottenham Hotspur's pursuit of the Premier League's top four, it will not be good news for the Spurs faithful to hear that one of their star players is currently representing his national team despite sustaining an injury.
Spurs' season plagued by injury crisis
If Spurs do fall short of Champions League football this term, it will likely leave fans wondering what could've been if so many of their stars had not fallen victim to injury.
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ByTom Lever Mar 25, 2024
Whilst the last few weeks have seen key players James Maddison and Son Heung-min return from their respective knocks, there are a number of Spurs' important players still in the treatment room, with the second issue of the season for breakout star Micky van de Ven particularly frustrating.
Spurs' current injury list
Return Dates (via Premier Injuries)
Ryan Sessegnon
03/06/2024
Fraser Forster
27/04/2024
Micky van de Ven
30/03/2024
Manor Solomon
13/04/2024
With further injuries the last thing Ange Postecoglou needs, the news of a Spurs star continuing to represent his country despite suffering a knock could make for uncomfortable reading for the Australian.
Bentancur to play through broken toe for Uruguay
As first reported by Sport Witness, Rodrigo Bentancur has revealed that he has been playing with a fractured toe for the last few weeks after sustaining the injury in Spurs training.
Speaking to the media after Uruguay's 1-1 draw with the Basque national side over the weekend, the 26-year-old said: “I broke it two or three weeks ago, but I’m still playing the same. I broke my phalanx. I had to stop for three or four weeks for it to knit up, and it was impossible. It was before the game against Crystal Palace in training, but here I go, recovering. Once I warm up, I forget”.
Bentancur is expected to take part in his nation's second fixture of the international break despite the ongoing issue, a friendly against Ivory Coast in France on Tuesday evening.
Since arriving in North London in January 2022, Bentancur has struggled with injury, missing a number of crucial games during his time at Spurs. The worst of these issues saw the Uruguayan miss around eight months of action after the midfielder ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during Spurs' damaging 4-1 defeat to Leicester City back in February 2022.
The 26-year-old managed to return from this setback in October 2023, but only managed a four-game run in the Spurs side before suffering a torn ankle ligament during November's loss to Aston Villa. Missing much of the festive period, Bentancur returned to the team in the new year, but has struggled at times owing to his prolonged period on the sidelines.
Rodrigo Bentancur for Tottenham.
Despite his issues, Bentancur is still a part of Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay side, with the midfielder set to play again on Tuesday night when they take on the Ivory Coast in a friendly match. With Bielsa's brand of 'murderball' well known to English fans from his time with Leeds United, it is unlikely that Bentancur will be able to take it easy during his next game.
With the Lilywhites involved in the close race for the top four, the last thing that the Spurs faithful would want to see would be one of their key players miss even more games due to injury.
Glasgow Rangers came back from the brink not once, but twice, to avoid defeat in the third Old Firm clash of the season at Ibrox on Sunday.
The first-half performance was as dismal a display that the Ibrox faithful have been witness to this term, offering absolutely nothing going forward, while looking shaky defensively.
Whatever Philippe Clement said at half-time clearly had the desired effect. Fabio Silva won a penalty which James Tavernier converted to make it 2-1, before Cyriel Dessers had a goal disallowed somewhat controversially.
Abdallah Sima did make it 2-2 with five minutes to go, yet Celtic went straight up the other end of the pitch and restored their advantage.
Enter Rabbi Matondo. The Welsh winger replicated his stunning strike against Hibs last weekend, but to a much greater magnitude, and it was worthy of winning any game, never mind securing a share of the spoils.
It was perhaps a missed opportunity, but considering how bad Rangers were in the first half, a point isn’t bad.
Several members of the starting XI delivered abysmal performances, however, most notably Scott Wright, who it was a surprise to see actually start the match.
Scott Wright’s game in numbers vs Celtic
The Scot had started only six Premiership matches prior to the Old Firm clash over the weekend. Considering Clement had Dujon Sterling, Ross McCausland, and a returning Sima ready to be deployed on the right wing, the decision was rather strange.
The former Aberdeen player had played just 20 minutes against Celtic this season, further evidence of his inclusion being peculiar, but Clement had obviously seen enough in training to warrant giving him a start.
Wright looked off the pace from the very first whistle, failing to contribute anything meaningful going forward as he and Tavernier struggled down the right flank, as you can see from the table below.
Goals
0
Assists
0
Key passes
0
Successful dribbles
0
Possession lost
4
The occasion clearly got to the winger as he completed just eight passes during the first half, taking 18 touches and losing possession four times.
In terms of providing Dessers with some service, Wright failed to deliver a single cross or attempt a dribble, while failing even to make a key pass throughout a dismal opening 45 minutes.
It was perhaps no surprise that he was hooked at half-time by Clement, with the manager unleashing Sima, who had a much greater impact.
Rangers winger Scott Wright.
This was the third occasion since the end of January that Wright had started a league match, before being subbed at half-time. It is clear he cant be trusted in games of this magnitude and with a title to fight for, he shouldn’t be in a Rangers' jersey again.
The 26-year-old was even given a dismal match rating of just 4/10 for his display in the match by the Scottish Sun, who said Greg Taylor ‘dealt with him comfortably’ throughout the first half.
Scott Wright’s statistics this season
It's fair to say Wright hasn’t had the desired impact since failing to secure a move to Turkish side Pendikspor last summer as he looked to fight for his place in the side under Michael Beale.
Since then, Wright has made a total of 28 appearances (18 from the bench) while scoring just two goals and registering zero assists, hardly the form of a player who deserves a start in the most important Old Firm clash in years.
Rangers winger Scott Wright.
When compared to his teammates, Wright currently ranks in a lowly 17th spot for shots per game (0.9) in the top flight, along with ranking 22nd for big chances created (one), 18th for key passes per game (0.6) and 16th for successful dribbles per game (0.4).
These are poor numbers across metrics which a winger should be excelling at, but Wright has been ordinary, not just this campaign, but his whole spell at the Ibrox side.
With seven Premiership games to go, plus a Scottish Cup semi-final clash (and potential final), every game is now a must-win if they are to win the league title this season.
Clement must make better choices with regard to who starts matches and, given his options on the wing are much better than they were due to injuries, Wright must be dropped for the subsequent games.
The players who can replace Scott Wright
McCausland is the obvious choice given how much he has played this season. Since making his first appearance of the 2023/24 campaign against Aris Limassol in October, the Northern Irishman has featured 30 times for the Light Blues, scoring twice and grabbing three assists in the process.
The youngster has also registered more successful dribbles per match (0.8) and more key passes per game (1.5) than Wright, showcasing how impressive he has been since becoming a first-team regular under Clement.
Rangers forward Ross McCausland.
While Sima has been typically deployed on the left wing this season, could he be an option on the right-hand side of the attack?
Matondo deserves some more game time after his heroics against Celtic, which could see him given a start against Dundee on Wednesday. Sima also had a wonderful impact when coming off the bench and certainly has earned a first start since recovering from his hamstring injury.
The on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion starlet has already scored 16 goals during his time at the club, offering a dangerous threat from the wide areas.
A wide duo of Matondo and Sima, combined with Dessers leading the line, could cause Dundee all sorts of problems, although they could be stifled by having to play on what resembles an Olympic swimming pool, judging by the state of their pitch.
At this stage of the season, performances simply don’t matter, securing three points is the main thing. Clement would quite happily see his side win the remaining seven games 1-0 if they were to go on and win the league title.
The Belgian will have found out a lot about his team following the 3-3 draw against Celtic. Starting Wright in any of the remaining fixtures shouldn’t even be considered, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him depart Ibrox in the summer.
Chelsea are back in action once again in the Premier League tonight as they prepare to travel across London to take on Arsenal at The Emirates.
The Blues were knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday as they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City at Wembley, thanks to a late strike from Bernardo Silva.
Mauricio Pochettino's side will not be winning any silverware this season but still have the chance to qualify for the Europa Conference League or the Europa League, which means that every game is important and all three points are needed this evening.
A win for Chelsea would see them move up to seventh in the Premier League, ahead of West Ham United and Manchester United, and level on points with Newcastle United in sixth, who have a better goal difference at the moment.
The Blues could, however, be without their superstar forward Cole Palmer for this clash with the Gunners, as he is currently a major doubt to be fit for the game.
Latest Cole Palmer fitness news
According to Pochettino, the England international has been struggling with an illness and may not be ready to take to the field at The Emirates tonight.
The Chelsea boss stated that, as of Monday, he did not "believe" that the left-footed maestro would be involved in the game, and added that the attacker may not even be able to play if he recovers on Tuesday.
He added that it would be a "good" challenge for his team to face the Gunners without Palmer in the starting XI, as it could motivate the other players to prove that the side is not "Cole Palmer Football Club".
There is little doubt that the English magician will be a tough act to follow for whoever is tasked with taking his place in the lineup, due to his phenomenal form in the Premier League this season.
Appearances
28
Goals
20
xG
14.95
Assists
9
Big chances created
12
Key passes per game
1.9
As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old wizard has been outstanding in the final third with a staggering 29 direct goal contributions in just 28 appearances since his move from Manchester City last summer.
He is the joint-top scorer in the division, alongside former teammate Erling Haaland, and only three players – Kieran Trippier, Pascal Gross, and Ollie Watkins – have registered more assists.
Chelsea, therefore, do not have anyone in their current squad who has proven that they can reach similar levels, as not many players in the entire league have proven that so far this term.
However, his potential absence does provide someone with an opportunity to step up and make their mark with a big performance against the Gunners.
Instead of going for the experience of Raheem Sterling, Pochettino must unleash speedster Mykhailo Mudryk on the left flank, moving Conor Gallagher into a central role.
Raheem Sterling's form this season
The former England international, who has one goal in his last 16 games in all competitions, has struggled in front of goal at times this season for the Blues.
Now 29, Sterling is an experienced option who has been there and done it in the Premier League over the years, for Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea.
However, his work in the final third during the 2023/24 campaign has left a lot to be desired. The right-footed attacker has scored six goals and missed 11 'big chances' in 27 league appearances, which has included 21 starts.
Raheem Sterling
This shows that he has not made the most of the opportunities that have been created for him so far in the top-flight, as he has spurned five more 'big chances' than the forward has scored goals.
Sterling has also failed to provide creative quality on a consistent basis for the London-based outfit, with four assists and one key pass per game on average.
The 29-year-old attacker has not been efficient in his offensive or defensive duels, either, with a success rate of just 38% in his attempted dribbles, to go along with a duel success rate of 39% in his battles on the ground and in the air combined.
Why Pochettino should unleash Mykhailo Mudryk
Pochettino must now unleash Mudryk from the start on the left flank ahead of Sterling, as he has the potential to offer more than the English dud in and out of possession.
Firstly, the Ukraine international has won 45% of his duels, including 48% of his ground battles, in the Premier League this season, and could, therefore, provide slightly more strength off the ball to compete against opposition defenders.
The young dynamo, who journalist Nizaar Kinsella hailed as "electric" last year, has also completed 55% of his attempted dribbles in the top-flight.
This shows that the £100k-per-week speedster can beat his man more often than not on the wing, whereas Sterling has been tackled 62% of the time so far.
Appearances
27
25
Starts
21
12
Goals
6
4
Big chances missed
11
3
Assists
4
2
Big chances created
6
5
As you can see in the table above, Mudryk has been less wasteful in front of goal – with more goals than 'big chances' missed – and has only created one fewer 'big chance' for his teammates in nine fewer starts.
This suggests that the 23-year-old whiz, who ranks within the top 10% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers for progressive carries (5.82) per 90 this term, has been more efficient at the top end of the pitch than Sterling, given the difference in their playing time and contributions in attack.
Therefore, Pochettino should provide Mudryk with an opportunity to start on the wing against Arsenal in the absence of Palmer, ahead of Sterling, with the added motivation of showing the Gunners what they missed out on.
Chelsea eyeing "clinical" £151m signing to upgrade on Mudryk
The Blues are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the impressive “difference-maker”.
ByDan Emery Apr 23, 2024
Mikel Arteta's side reportedly had two offers rejected by Shakhtar Dontestk before the winger completed his £89m move to Stamford Bridge at the start of last year, and the young gem may want to prove to them that they should have done more to land his signature.