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Wolves’ recruitment over the last few seasons has been second-to-none – signing the likes of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho for a combined £20m is smart, smart business.

Although it hasn’t always gone their way…

What was the word?

In the last January transfer window, the Midlands outfit were linked with a move for wing wizard Jarrod Bowen whilst he was ripping it up for Hull City in the Championship.

The Athletic’s Tim Spiers reported at the time: “They are admirers of Jarrod Bowen at Hull City but the forward would cost £20 million.”

He would go onto sign for Premier League rivals West Ham for that exact fee, so the decision to turn their nose up at that sort of price is now certainly looking like a massive mistake.

Perhaps a surprise considering the Old Gold had been monitoring him ever since his breakthrough at non-league Hereford United.

One that got away?

The 23-year-old somewhat made a decent impact in his maiden half-season in east London, providing one goal and four assists as the Hammers narrowly escaped relegation.

Now settled, Bowen has become one of David Moyes’ most lethal options in attack and Wolves know all too well about that having been truly stung by him earlier this season.

Per WhoScored, the winger has scored three goals in nine appearances whilst also averaging 2.2 shots, 0.9 dribbles and 0.8 crosses per game.

Two of those strikes came against Nuno’s men, where he rated out as SofaScore’s Man of the Match (8.2). He absolutely gave Conor Coady (5.9) and Romain Saiss (6.2) nightmares.

Football.London graded his display a 9/10 and said: “[Bowen] took his goal superbly, composing himself before curling past Rui Patricio to give the Hammers the lead.Right place at the right time to tap home his second of the game. Should have had a hat trick.”

Bowen is now valued at £25.2m by Transfermarkt, an increase of 25% on what the Irons paid for him in January – and that’s finally starting to look like an absolute steal.

His former Tigers boss Grant McCann regularly waxed lyrical about his potential during his time in Yorkshire, dubbing the maestro an “exceptional talent” who is often “unplayable.”

Without Diogo Jota, Nuno could’ve done with a player like Bowen in the side. He would’ve taken some pressure off of Raul Jimenez in terms of goalscoring.

AND in other news, Wolves can find a Conor Coady successor in “exceptional” teen sensation…

Mikel Arteta has been doing a tremendous job at Arsenal ever since taking over not so long ago. The biggest testament to that has perhaps been their FA Cup victory over Chelsea as the Gunners clinched their first silverware under the new coach. The first of many, the fans are hoping.

But the squad is not yet complete and there are at least a couple of deals reportedly on the cards for the ongoing summer transfer window. One of the players who was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates is Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey. According to the latest report from The Athletic, however, the midfielder’s wage demands have emerged and they just might be a big blow for Arsenal’s hopes of snatching him up.

The same outlet suggests the player wants a £200,000-a-week deal if he is indeed to replace La Liga with the Premier League this summer. Not only that but negotiating with Diego Simeone’s men could be an increasingly difficult task, especially given the club’s advances in the Champions League.

Partey is currently a part of a good project and even though he himself could be convinced, the papers say the Gunners would still have to get him through paying his £45m release clause. At the moment, however, this is something they are largely reluctant to do.

And yes, various swap deals including the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Matteo Guendouzi have been mentioned but also promptly dismissed by the Rojiblancos. That, alongside the huge £10.4m deal Partey wants in his contract, could indeed derail Arsenal’s attempts to snatch him away.

Verdict

There is no denying Partey’s overall quality. The young midfielder has the capacity and the ability to become one of the best in his position in the immediate future. Presently, he’s already one of La Liga’s top prospects and will only continue to grow.

The price, however, might just be too big for Arteta to pay. For that reason, and due to Atletico’s reluctance to sell, it might be for the best to look elsewhere instead.

Leeds United are back in action at Elland Road for the first time in this new campaign but it comes in the form of the EFL Cup second round.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side will host League One outfit Hull City and the Argentine will surely ring the changes for this one with Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

At the weekend, the Whites kickstarted their Premier League return with a bang, narrowly losing 4-3 to the champions, Liverpool.

So here’s how we think the Yorkshire giants could line up this evening…

There could be as many as seven changes as Bielsa gives valuable game time to those that need it – it’s going to be one long season in the top-flight either way.

Between the sticks, veteran Kiko Casilla is handed an opportunity in the place of this season’s first-choice Illan Meslier whilst the back four keeps both vice-captain Luke Ayling and summer arrival Robin Koch.

They could be joined by skipper Liam Cooper, who missed the trip to Anfield late on after failing a fitness test, and Barry Douglas at left-back with Pascal Struijk once again taking up Kalvin Phillips’ anchor role in his likely absence.

Mateusz Klich is another who keeps his place amongst the starting XI, this time pairing Jamie Shackleton instead of Pablo Hernandez.

While on the wings, it’s all change with 20-year-old prospect Ian Poveda and usual backup Gjanni Alioski being dealt rare starts with Helder Costa and Jack Harrison dropping to the bench.

Patrick Bamford also joins them as a substitute with Bielsa opting to give £26m signing Rodrigo a valuable run-out instead. He was described as “extraordinary footballer” by former Barcelona boss Quique Setien, so it’s time the Elland Road faithful got a glimpse of that tonight.

AND in other news, Orta set for transfer blunder as mooted target edges towards a new club…

Manchester United could spring a surprise and sign former Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick on a free transfer this summer.

According to Football Insider, as per Daily Express, Man United are plotting a shock move for Hendrick in the summer following his release by the Clarets and amid reported interest from AC Milan. The Red Devils are ready to move for him as he can fit into multiple positions in midfield.

It is no secret that United want to sign Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho, but the 2-2 draw with Southampton showed that still need to shore up defensively.

The Irish international, who has won 54 caps for his country, is now a free agent.

Hendrick has impressed for Burnley this season, as Sean Dyche’s side have climbed their way into the top half of the Premier League table. He played 24 games in the Premier League this term, scoring two goals, supplying two assists, winning 1.1 headers per game and recording a passing accuracy rate of 75% (via WhoScored).

Nemanja Matic remains the club’s only specialist in the defensive midfield position, which is a major cause for concern as the 31-year-old Serbian isn’t getting any younger, but the Republic of Ireland midfielder could provide cover as a midfield anchor if necessary.

Dyche had made it clear that he wanted Hendrick to stay with the Clarets but the 28-year-old rejected the offer of a new deal from the Turf Moor outfit.

His versatility could prove useful as Solskjaer’s side seek to challenge for silverware next season. However, whether or not the Red Devils will be able to stave off interest from AC Milan and Newcastle is another matter altogether.

United fans, should Ed Woodward sign Jeff Hendrick in the summer? Let us know in the comments section!

After starting off the new Scottish Premiership campaign with three wins in a row, Rangers could only manage a draw away at Livingston on Sunday afternoon.

Steven Gerrard’s side looked completely toothless up front as they toiled their way to a hugely disappointing 0-0 draw. The Gers enjoyed 79% possession of the ball, but despite ‘dominating’ the game, they didn’t really test Max Stryjek in the Livingston goal.

Out of the 23 total shots they had, only three of them found the target, and it was the kind of blunt attacking performance that can have a major impact on the title race in the long-run.

Are you a massive Rangers fan? Know everything about the club? Well do you know your Gary Stevens from your Michael Ball? This quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…



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The one man who came away from the game with a decent amount of credit, was Connor Goldson. The centre-back marshaled the back-line alongside Filip Helander, and once again proved why he is arguably Gerrard’s unsung hero in this Rangers team.

Since signing from Premier League side Brighton back in 2018 for a fee in the region of £3m, Goldson has been the picture of consistency, rarely putting a foot wrong and not missing many games either – it’s a telling stat that he has already amassed 110 games for the club.

It was no surprise that earlier last week, Gerrard waxed lyrical about the 6 foot 3 powerhouse, insisting that he simply isn’t appreciated by many.

He said: “I don’t think Connor gets the credit he deserves and that’s not just this season, that’s looking at the big picture. He’s been robust, he’s always available and has rarely missed a training session. He’s in fantastic shape, he’s a leader and so professional. He’s made a couple of individual errors that I think people hold him to. But he’s so important to this team. I can’t express how important he is to us.

“I don’t know why he doesn’t get the credit he deserves but that’s only on the outside. His team-mates value him a lot, as do the staff and the club. That’s the only thing that really matters in terms of Connor’s thinking. We’re right behind him and we know he’s done a fantastic job for us.”

And against Livingston, Goldson proved his manager was absolutely spot-on with his assessment. Whilst the home side hardly posed the stiffest of attacking threats, the defender dealt with everything superbly, ensuring the Gers could pin them back.

As per Sofascore, he won a quite ridiculous 17 of his total 20 duels, whilst he also enjoyed 113 touches of the ball too – only Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara had more. Goldson could perhaps have moved the ball forward a bit more and with a bit more tempo, but there was no questioning that he has been a lynch-pin.

As Gerrard says, he may not get the credit he deserves, but he’s certainly one of the unsung heroes of this Rangers team.

Sunderland’s fortunes on the pitch didn’t get any better at the weekend and that is unlikely to change until Phil Parkinson drops Max Power from the team.

The Black Cats’ midfield has been a problem for them all season long. A lack of creativity is a big reason why they have scored more than one goal in just one out of Parkinson’s 13 games in charge, while there is also little protection for the back four because of the current midfield.

In a bid to reduce that concern the Sunderland boss has moved to a back five, playing a formation where there is less importance on the midfield two to dominate play.

That has helped a little and earned them a point at the weekend, but the midfield pairing of George Dobson and Max Power still performed below par for a team supposedly challenging for promotion.

Power, in particular, was a disappointment. He failed to get a foothold in the game and as Roker Report put it, he misplaced far too many passes, which earned him a rating of 3/10 from them.

The 26-year-old wasn’t much better from a defensive perspective either, and therefore his role in the team is questionable – he doesn’t act as a creator or as a midfield enforcer.

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His one tackle and one interception, as per WhoScored, while not terrible, is not exactly the showing of a midfielder who wins back possession for his side, and that has been an issue for Sunderland all season.

Too often it is easy for the opposition to play through them and get into dangerous positions. That is why clean sheets have been too infrequent under Parkinson, though it is at least clear what he must change – or add in January.

No clues: Can you name all of these Premier League icons? Test your knowledge below…

Power’s two key passes on this occasion is a surprising return from him given he has averaged just 0.5 key passes per game this term, which underlines the usual lack of creativity in the team.

That’s why the likes of Will Grigg and Marc McNulty have struggled with three league goals between them, and why Parkinson has to drop Power if the team is to improve and progress.

The Black Cats’ boss is in a difficult situation due to Grant Leadbitter and George Dobson also performing poorly this campaign, with the latter also getting sent off against Blackpool, but if he has the chance to sign a midfielder in January he must take it.

In other Sunderland news, Phil Parkinson has been on the receiving end of fan criticism once again, this time for his actions after the Blackpool draw.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with plenty of targets so far, but nothing has materialised as of yet. 

However, things may be about to change, as Alasdair Gold has shared fresh insight into Spurs’ pursuit of Norwich City star Max Aarons, via football.london.

According to the Evening Standard, the Lilywhites will mostly have to rely on swap deals and signing free agents in the summer.

Earlier this year, Football Insider claimed Aarons is Jose Mourinho’s top target and added the club are primed for talks with Norwich when the transfer market opens.

Now, Gold believes Daniel Levy is waiting to see what happens to Norwich as he may be able to sign the youngster at a cheaper price.

Mourinho is desperate to find some competition for Serge Aurier and Spurs will resume their charm offensive when everything goes back to normal.

Taking part in a fan Q&A on football.london, Gold commented “Max Aarons, I think they’ll certainly be an element of waiting to see if Norwich will go down that will make a huge difference, you’d imagine, to transfer fees.

“It just naturally will because Norwich will need more help, as it were financially. Not quite a desperate position but they will need what money they can get.

“You do imagine that then prices will naturally have to come down.”

The England U21 international has been one of the few highlights of an otherwise dismal season for the Canaries, making 1.3 tackles per game, completing just under 1 interception, and registering 1.8 clearances on average in the Premier League (WhoScored).

Norwich were willing to let him leave Carrow Road for a fee of around £30m but their valuation is expected to plummet in light of the economic uncertainty surrounding the ongoing pandemic, and it could be reduced further if they are relegated to the Championship.

Spurs are now face stiff competition from derby rivals Arsenal in the race to sign the 20-year-old in the summer.

Mourinho is in the hunt for a new right-back, as it is fair to say the Lilywhites have struggled to fill the void left by Kieran Trippier, and Aurier’s antics off the pitch have angered the club’s hierarchy.

Although the Ivorian has earned a higher WhoScored rating than his younger counterpart for his performances so far, the Englishman has averaged more blocks per game and been fouled more times.

Given his young age, he would surely be a shrewd investment for the future, as his market value will no doubt continue to increase over time.

Tottenham fans, should the board sign Max Aarons in the summer? Let us know down below!

Having overseen both Halloween and Bonfire Night, the festive period of the campaign is now upon us.

However, the frights for opposition managers and fireworks from the Premier League’s flair players certainly haven’t stopped.

England’s top-flight possesses many a player from the top drawer, and a handful of them were in fine fettle throughout November as the Premier League began to take shape.

Wolves, Sheffield United and Burnley are the early success stories, gatecrashing the top seven and displacing historic names such as Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United.

Enough talk of team efforts for a moment though – let’s take a look at the individuals nominated for the PFA Bristol Street Motors Fans’ Player of the Month award for November…

Raul Jimenez 

The Mexican hitman enjoyed a quite brilliant November for Wolves.

Jimenez began the month by netting against Arsenal at the Emirates in a 1-1 draw, before going on to score a crucial goal in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa – Wolves’ Midlands rivals.

The former Benfica forward then scored another match-winning goal in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth to round off a brilliant month for himself personally.

Çağlar Söyüncü

The long-haired Turkey international netted his first ever goal for Leicester during the month of November, opening the scoring in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Söyüncü also played a key role in helping the Foxes secure three clean sheets on their way to a hat-trick of 2-0 wins, coming against Arsenal and then Brighton – the 23-year-old didn’t concede a goal throughout the entire month.

Ricardo Pereira

Another Leicester star makes the list of nominees, this time in the shape of Ricardo Pereira.

The Portuguese right-back – like Söyüncü – also contributed to a sturdy backline that didn’t ship a single goal in November, playing every minute of all three games and doing so in style, as he so often does.

James Maddison 

Another Leicester player!

Brendan Rodgers’ side complete a treble in the nominees as James Maddison also makes his way onto the shortlist, having enjoyed an eye-catching November as well.

The former Norwich playmaker scored his fourth Premier League goal of the season in the 2-0 win over Arsenal, while winning the WhoScored Man of the Match award for his performances against Crystal Palace and Brighton.

Sadio Mane

Where would Liverpool be without this gem of a goalscorer?

Mane got November off to the perfect start for the European champions with a goal and an assist against Aston Villa, as Liverpool nicked a 2-1 win in stoppage time.

The former Southampton forward then scored in the 3-1 win over reigning champions Manchester City, before netting another crucial goal in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace to ensure his side took maximum points from their three games.

Christian Pulisic

The American is really starting to come into his own at Chelsea.

Pulisic scored two goals in three games throughout November to take his league tally for the campaign to five in just seven starts.

The former Borussia Dortmund man grabbed a significant goal in the 2-1 win over Watford, before sealing the win against Crystal Palace with a brave diving header.

Aston Villa are interested in signing Pedro from Chelsea, who secured their place in the Champions League knockout rounds on Tuesday, as reported by The Telegraph.

The Villans are interested in a deal that offers him regular football as Dean Smith aims to bolster his attack.

According to the report, they believe a cut-price deal should be available with Pedro’s contract expiring at the end of the season.

The World Cup winner has slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, making just six starts and three substitute appearances across all competitions this campaign.

Having a player of the Spaniard’s pedigree can certainly be positive, with the former Barcelona man also winning three Champions Leagues.

Though there is already competition on the wings, as Trezeguet, Anwar El Ghazi and Jota are all at the club, while Jack Grealish has been featuring on the left-wing lately.

With this in mind, FFC writers have given their thoughts on whether Villa should move for the 32-year-old.

Viji Jeevathayalan

“A Champions League winner in his time with Barcelona, Pedro turning up at Villa Park to strut his stuff would be one major statement of intent. From playing one-twos with Lionel Messi to potentially feeding off Wesley’s flick-ons. Sounds about the same.

“But if Dean Smith can manage to convince the Spaniard to leave his current home at Chelsea to join his project at Aston Villa, it would underline how ambitious the club are. And whilst he hasn’t had significant game-time this season, with just nine appearances to his name, he has enjoyed a largely successful time at Stamford Bridge overall.

“He has scored 42 times and provided 26 assists across all competitions for the Blues, and would bring a vital source of goals and title-winning experience. Signing Pedro would be a major coup.”

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Kealan Hughes

“While Pedro has undoubted quality and would add some much-needed experience to the Villa ranks, you can’t help but feel that this is a signing they don’t really need to make.

“Dean Smith already has a plethora of quality wingers at his disposal, with players like Trezeguet and Anwar El Ghazi proving their attacking threat with three league goals each this term, and Jack Grealish also able to play out wide.

“Pedro’s eight strikes in the league last year suggests he’d also contribute in that department, but the Villans would still be better suited to targeting a striker, as Wesley has hit a run of barren form and his mobility is somewhat of an issue. That’s made worse by the fact there is no Premier League quality alternative in the squad.”

Domagoj Kostanjsak

“I feel like signing Pedro could really give Aston Villa the boost they need. Even though he’s fallen down the pecking order just a bit and is slowly but surely going towards the twilight of his career, I’d still say Pedro is a brilliant player. The fact he’s played for Barcelona and Chelsea proves that.

“He would also bring about that experience and top-level pedigree that might be missing in their current team. Obviously, he’s not really a long-term solution but still has enough fire to provide an instant impact. If they can really land him, it would be a no-brainer for me.”

Red Herring or Real Hero: Only hardcore Villa fans will get all of them right….

Danny Lewis

“Villa already have plenty of options on the wings, but Smith has shown that he wants to have competition all over the pitch, with an example being that he has five centre-backs at his disposal.

“Considering this, bringing Pedro in makes sense for Villa, as it will add another quality option that he can put out on the wings.

“A move to Villa Park could also make sense for Pedro due to the number of wingers, as having options means he wouldn’t have as much pressure to hit the ground running, with some rust potentially having developed from his sporadic use this campaign.

“The team is currently above the relegation zone on goal difference, so any added quality can only be beneficial and Pedro falls into that category.”

In other news, Villa could be in safe hands despite Tyrone Mings’ injury.

Following the news referee Martin Atkinson has been appointed as head official for Newcastle United’s game against Bournemouth at the weekend, fans have had plenty to say in regards to the decision.Â

Atkinson, who has already taken charge of 11 Premier League games this season, has been chosen to officiate at St. James’ Park ahead of the encounter – with supporters not taking too kindly given his past record with the Magpies.

It will be the official’s third game refereeing Newcastle in 2019/2020, after taking charge of the opening day defeat to Arsenal and the goalless draw at home to Brighton.

Atkinson has also awarded the Magpies six bookings over his last four games, while not actually awarding a red card since Newcastle’s 1-0 home defeat to Everton back in 2017.

Of course, supporters aren’t exactly thrilled to have him in charge when they come up against the Cherries on Tyneside, with fans as vocal as ever in regards to their disdain for the decision.

Here’s what they had to say.