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Newcastle United set up a third-round tie against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup after defeating AFC Wimbledon 1-0 at St. James’ Park in a rescheduled fixture thanks to Fabian Schar’s penalty before the break.

It wasn’t a vintage display but Eddie Howe will be pleased after ringing the changes and advancing in a competition that saw his side defeated as finalists the season before last.

There’s hope at the hearts of the Toon support that Newcastle can restore their place in European competition next term, but a concerted drive toward a trophy would go down a treat too.

Everyone will need to pull their weight to achieve this after superior opponents in the Carabao Cup and, starting from January, the FA Cup – and Miguel Almiron did his case no favours with this one.

Miguel Almiron's performance vs Wimbledon

Almiron was fouled by Joe Pigott just before half-time and thus played one of the most important parts of the evening, winning the spot kick that sent Newcastle through to the next round. He also scored early on but to see his strike ruled out for offside.

But this wasn’t an accurate representation of his performance, having been wasteful in possession – giving the ball away on 16 occasions – and proving profligate in front of goal. The Paraguayan, aged 30, was also caught offside on a couple of occasions.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Penalties won

1

Touches

82

Shots (on target)

3 (0)

Big chances missed

1

Accurate passes

54/61 (89%)

Possession lost

16x

Key passes

1

Crosses (completed)

2 (0)

Dribbles (completed)

1 (0)

Total duels (won)

6 (2)

Howe will be hoping to see sharper attacking efforts from his team, especially with a crucial Premier League clash against Everton at Goodison Park forthcoming.

Almiron, who has only featured off the bench in the league thus far, must be dropped.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Howe must now drop Miguel Almiron

Harvey Barnes started against Wimbledon but was withdrawn at the break, while Anthony Gordon was introduced after the hour mark and centre-forward Alexander Isak was not included at all as he regains fitness ahead of the weekend.

If Isak is fit to start at Everton, then he will. Furthermore, Jacob Murphy sat through the entire affair on Tuesday night as an unused substitute, making a subtle comment on Howe’s view of the Premier League contest.

Almiron has not tasted top-flight football for the past three matches and played only two minutes across United’s opening three. This emphasises the potential role he is to play throughout the campaign – bit-part.

Murphy might not be the most clinical of wingers, but he works his socks off and invariably puts in a decent shift. Almiron, too, embodies this approach, but it’s hard to make the case for him when he fails to grasp promising goalscoring opportunities and contribute to the overall flow of the attack.

A fully-fit Newcastle frontline would consist of Barnes, Gordon and Isak anyway. Back to the bench for Almiron.

Newcastle wanted to sign £100m star who's been way better than Isak

Eddie Howe was keen on signing a Premier League star in the summer transfer window…

ByRoss Kilvington Sep 30, 2024

Manchester United fan and presenter Mark Goldbridge has been left fuming after an update on summer signing Manuel Ugarte.

Man Utd 1-1 FC Twente

The Red Devils’ slow start to the new campaign continued on Wednesday evening, this time in the Europa League, with Erik ten Hag only managing a draw at Old Trafford against former club FC Twente.

Christian Eriksen opened the scoring in the first half, however in the second, he was caught out which allowed Sam Lammers to level things up. Talking after the game, Ten Hag, who appears to be under pressure from the Red Devils hierarchy, admitted he and his players were “very frustrated”.

“We kept them alive, we were 1-0 up, controlling the game. You have to be consistent and keep going in the second half, we dropped the level and gave the goal away. We didn’t finish it off, we had to go for the second goal and so they [FC Twente] stay alive and we get punished with a mistake from ourselves. We are very frustrated, yeah.

“The goal, it’s a team mistake, a player of Twente can dribble through almost the whole pitch, or half the pitch, without stopping. That is not acceptable, we can’t give a goal away like this. We have seen, again, you have to keep going for the whole game; once you are 1-0 up you have to keep going and go for the second goal.”

Ten Hag impressed: Man Utd teenager may make debut after shining in training

He could be fast-tracked.

1 ByCharlie Smith Sep 26, 2024

One player who featured alongside Eriksen was summer signing Ugarte, making just his second start for the Red Devils. The Uruguay international played the entirety of the 1-1 draw, however, some supporters weren’t impressed with what they saw from the midfielder.

Ugarte criticism after second Man Utd start as Goldbridge reacts

Shared in a report by SPORTbible, some Man Utd supporters criticised Ugarte, with a selection of social media responses to his display available to view below.

“Thought people were too harsh on Ugarte but bro is not good.” “Why is Ugarte shooting? He never scored a goal in his career, you’re just wasting possession.” “We had academy lads better than this guy and I will die on this hill as its proven throughout the season.” “We could have got Amadou Onana for the same price man.” “McTominay is twice the player Ugarte is.”

Goldbridge was quick to see the displeasure aimed at Ugarte and called the “pile on a disgrace”, adding in a separate X post that “football is truly lost”.

As per SofaScore, Ugarte was Man Utd’s joint third-best performer or the Red Devils on Wednesday, recording a match rating of 7.5/10. The 23-year-old completed 81% of his passes, won six of his 10 duels, made four tackles, two interceptions and two clearances, so the criticism does feel harsh as Goldbridge alludes to.

Manchester City are set to be offered the chance to sign an exciting young defender in a player plus cash deal, according to a recent report.

Man City now keen on "sensational" new international valued at £70m

Man City have their eye on an exciting talent who could cost them a lot of money.

ByBrett Worthington Sep 17, 2024 Man City transfer updates

The Blues are said to be looking to tie Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri down to new contracts over the coming months, as the Belgian has entered the final year of his deal at the Etihad and Rodri is the subject of interest from Real Madrid.

But as well as looking to tie players down to new contracts, Pep Guardiola and Co. are also looking at potential transfer targets for January or next summer. The latest player to be on the radar of Man City is midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

The Blues are said to be keeping an eye on Gibbs-White and have compiled a detailed dossier on the midfielder after his impressive performances, which recently saw him handed his first senior England cap. The scouting network at the Premier League club are said to be huge admirers of Gibbs-White but may face a battle on their hands, as Nottingham Forest are keen on tying the player down to a new and improved contract.

But while City potentially look into a deal for Gibbs-White, they now potentially face a difficult task in keeping one of their star players as a European side prepares an interesting offer.

Barcelona prepare Araujo-Haaland swap bid

According to a report from Spain relayed by Football365, Manchester City could be offered the chance to sign Ronald Araujo from FC Barcelona. This report states that the Spanish giants are keen on signing Erling Haaland, and they are prepared to offer Araujo in exchange plus around £40m to sign the Norwegian.

The Blues are said to have “huge interest” in Araujo, who has been described as an “athletic monster” by BBC analyst Raj Chohan in the past. Guardiola is also keen to add a new centre-back to his squad, but the report states Barca expect City to reject their advances due to the inclusion of Haaland.

The 25-year-old has been at Barça since August 2018 and has played 150 times for the Catalans, scoring eight goals. Were Araujo to join Man City, he could become the Blues’ very own Virgil van Dijk, as the pair are very similar when it comes to their style of play and what they offer on the football pitch, as shown by Fbref’s comparison tool.

Ronaldo Aruajo

Virgil van Dijk

Pass completion rate

88.8%

91.4%

Shots per 90

1.04

1.27

Shot creating actions per 90

0.99

1.67

Tackles won

22

23

Fouls

25

23

Aerial duel win rate

73.2%

81.4%

The club’s president, Joan Laporta, sees Haaland as his dream signing for Barcelona and they think offering Araujo is a “galactic exchange”, albeit one they expect City to reject in its current format.

West Bromwich Albion have lost a powerful youngster as he seals a move to a new club, according to a recent report.

The Baggies were very busy during the summer months making several changes to the personnel, as they look to go better than they did in the Championship last season.

West Brom sold a star for just £1.25m, then he became a £25m goal machine

West Bromwich Albion must now regret letting this star go towards the start of his career.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 11, 2024 West Brom’s summer transfer window

West Brom fell short in the play-offs last season, so the club’s board made it clear they were going to back Carlos Corberan during the summer as they push to finish in the top six at the very least once again.

Corberan was backed with 11 new signings arriving, their biggest capture being Mikey Johnston from Celtic, who has rejoined the club on a permanent basis after impressing on loan at the Hawthorns last season.

Mikey Johnston

Celtic

Callum Styles

Barnsley

Torbjorn Heggem

Brommapojkarna

Gianluca Frabotta

Juventus

Devante Cole

Barnsley

Ousmane Diakite

TSV Hartberg

Joe Wildsmith

Derby County

Mason Holgate

Everton

Paddy McNair

San Diego

Uros Racic

Sassuolo

Lewis Dobbin

Aston Villa

Johnston followed the likes of Callum Styles, Devante Cole, Mason Holgate, and Paddy McNair in joining the Midlands side this summer. The West Brom boss will hope their arrivals can play a significant part in the club reaching the top six and eventually the Premier League.

As well as the arrivals, West Brom also oversaw a few departures, with the most high-profile being striker Brandon Thomas-Asante, who left to join fellow Championship contenders Coventry City. Meanwhile, they also lost midfielder Okay Yokuslu, who moved back to Turkey and signed for Trabzonspor.

The Baggies have made an excellent start to the new Championship season, winning three of their opening four league games, with the only exception being a 0-0 draw with Leeds United. West Brom will be looking to keep up their unbeaten start this weekend when they travel to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth, but before that game, the Championship side have suffered some disappointing transfer news.

Powerful youngster leaves West Brom to join new club

According to the NUFC Blog, Newcastle United have signed young West Brom midfielder Jayden Kouossu. The report states that the Magpies have secured a deal for Charlton Athletic’s Lesecond Yeutembip, and they have also beaten a host of Premier League clubs to the signature of Kouossu.

It is reported that Kouossu has chosen to join Newcastle after impressing on trial with them, despite also being handed the opportunity to do the same at Chelsea and Fulham.

Kouossu, who is described as being a “powerful midfielder,” can operate as a number six or as a number eight. The midfielder was born in Italy, Milan, but moved to England at an early age. Kouossu is eligible for under-14 football, but the young gem is said to have been impressing in West Brom’s under-15s and under-16s.

The midfielder will now join up with Newcastle’s under-15s, with the report stating there is a chance he will be fast-tracked to their under-16s due to his recent progression. Kouossu will be hoping the move from The Hawthorns to St. James’ Park allows him to grow more as a footballer, and his development will be one to watch, even if West Brom won't reap the rewards.

Liverpool are reportedly willing to meet Khephren Thuram’s €30m (£25.6m) asking price this summer.

What’s the latest Liverpool transfer news?

The Reds and Jurgen Klopp have been busy so far this summer in the transfer market as they look to improve on what was a disappointing 2022/23 campaign where they missed out on Champions League qualification.

Owners FSG have already splashed the cash by spending €112m (£95.7m) on two new marquee midfielders. Alexis Mac Allister was the first to make the move to Anfield from Brighton & Hove Albion, and the Argentine has since been joined by Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.

Fabrizio Romano did hint that three new midfielders were on the radar for the Reds this summer, which may leave one more addition on the cards.

Reports have suggested that Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia could be on the way to Merseyside, with those at Anfield believing the player wants the move despite interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea. The Saints want £50m, whereas Liverpool are willing to offer £40m, however, Thuram, another player to be linked with the Reds, would command a lower fee.

Paisley Gates relayed an update from Spain regarding Thuram in the last 48 hours, claiming OGC Nice want to receive €30m (£25.6m) for the Frenchman.

The report states Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool are all interested, however, the La Liga winners cannot meet the asking price, whereas the Reds and Bayern Munich are willing to pay that figure.

Who is Khephren Thuram?

Thuram is primarily a central midfielder who can play in a holding role or on the left of midfield and appears to be going from strength to strength with a career-high €40m Transfermarkt valuation.

The 22-year-old, a France U21 international, has made 138 appearances for the Ligue 1 side and was the club’s sixth best performer last season, as per WhoScored. Thuram’s average match rating was actually better than any other Liverpool midfielder, so he could be a wise addition in both the short and long run.

Journalist Zach Lowy certainly feels a move could be a smart one, recently describing him as the perfect signing for Klopp’s team due to his elite ball-carrying and high press.

“Khephren Thuram is just the sort of player that Liverpool need to transform their midfield. Elite ball carrier for someone of his size and really effective at winning the ball high up the pitch — perfect signing for Klopp’s side.”

Lowy’s comments are backed up by FBref, who rank Thuram in the top 1% of midfielders for successful take-ons that lead to a shot and top 4% for progressive carrying distance.

At just £25.6m, under his current Transfermarkt valuation, Liverpool may feel that a deal could be a bargain in the long run, and by the looks of things, the Reds are willing to meet that asking price. As a result, a move could be one to keep an eye on, which could mean Liverpool lining up with Thuram, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in a completely new midfield three at some point next season.

Arsenal have been given the green light to forge ahead with a bid for prodigious midfielder Xavi Simons following Paris Saint-Germain's withdrawal from consideration.

What's the latest on Xavi Simons to Arsenal?

That's according to L'Equipe – via Get Football News France – who claim that the Dutchman is against a return to Ligue 1 after joining PSV from the French champions last summer.

The report claims that Mikel Arteta's Gunners are among the clubs looking to 'capitalise' on the situation, but that Simons is seeking assurances over the regularity of his match action after such stellar work in his homeland this season.

According to Fabrizio Romano, there is a €6m (£5m) buy-back clause for PSG in the dynamic midfielder's contract, with Arsenal joined in their interest by Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

Clubs outside of PSG may well be expected to pay in the region of £30m; his expected transfer value, as per FootballTransfers. It would mark another huge statement of intent from a club desperate to improve their midfield options ahead of next season.

Indeed, only last night, the club submitted a record-breaking £100m bid + £5m in add-ons for Declan Rice.

How good is Xavi Simons?

At surface level, Simons is a prolific No. 10 approaching prominence on the major European stage; dig a little deeper, and this enigmatic midfielder is one of the most dynamic and nuanced in the game.

Still only 20-years-old, Simons turned his back on PSG one year ago and unleashed his skills on the Eredivisie with the Boeren, plundering 22 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, including 28 direct contributions from 34 matches in the league.

There's an argument that considering his diminutive stature, fleet-footed gait and versatility across the central third, Simons could be the natural successor to Santi Cazorla's former position in the Gunners team, with the elegant Spaniard forging 180 displays for Arsenal, scoring 29 goals and providing 45 assists.

As per Sqwuaka's player comparison tool, there are several similarities to the respective phenoms' skill sets, with the esteemed Cazorla creating an average of 2.4 chances throughout the 15/16 Premier League season – to Simons 1.9 last term, completing 2.7 take-ons to Simons 2.4, and winning 6.2 ground duels to Simons 6.4.

Given the 38-year-old maestro's most efficient Premier League seasons, posting 12 goals and assists apiece in the 12/13 campaign and seven goals and 11 assists in the 14/15 term, match up with Simons' budding eye for goals and assists, he could be moulded into a midfield machine every bit the calibre of Cazorla.

And with Arteta having previously played at the Emirates Stadium at the same time as the Al Sadd star, he'll undoubtedly know a thing or two about how to utilise Simons' all-encompassing qualities to the best of his ability.

Praised as a "magic" talent by scout Jacek Kulig, Simons could well be the aforementioned Rice's perfect central partner in north London. Indeed, he'd surely integrate into the fold without seam, absorbing the fruits of his teammates' labour and cementing his stature as a prodigious talent capable of emulating the success of someone of Cazorla's ilk.

Glasgow Rangers have submitted a bid for midfielder Jose Cifuentes as Michael Beale aims to get the transfer over the line this summer.

What’s the latest on Jose Cifuentes to Rangers?

According to The 4th Official, Rangers have submitted a bid for the midfielder as they look to bring him in during the summer transfer window as opposed to waiting to sign him for free upon the expiration of his LAFC contract in December.

It is claimed that the Gers have agreed terms with Cifuentes and it is now a case of working out an appropriate fee for the 24-year-old in order to lure him to Ibrox before the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

Could Jose Cifuentes improve Rangers’ midfield?

Beale is embarking on a complete rejig of the playing staff, with five players already departing due to their deals expiring, and there could well be more as he aims to assert his own authority on the first team.

Ryan Jack was one of those players who was out of contract at the end of last term, yet he signed a new one-year extension, and there is no doubting his quality despite missing large chunks of football through injury during his spell in Glasgow.

With the club entering four competitions next season, it’s vital there is strength in depth, however, could Cifuentes actually be an upgrade on Jack should he arrive this summer?

Not only does the Ecuadorian poses a much greater attacking threat, evidenced by scoring more goals (seven to one) and creating more big chances (11 to 2) than the Scotsman across their last full seasons for their respective clubs, but he also makes more tackles (1.8 to 1.2), wins more duels (4.7 to 2) and wins possession more often per game than Jack (0.7 to 0.2), showcasing his strengths across attacking and defensive aspects of his game.

Cifuentes was also hailed by Ecuadorian football expert Benedikt Duda, who said: “Cifuentes is a No 8, who is physical and strong in defence with a tendency to get involved in the attack. There is a good reason he wears the No 11, and footballing-wise, he models himself after Paul Pogba.”

The 24-year-old is seven years younger than Jack and has the potential to become a mainstay in the heart of the Ibrox midfield for years to come. The Scot may complete more passes per game (45.7 to 27.9) than Cifuentes, yet it is clear that various attacking and defensive attributes aren’t quite up to the standard of the MLS star, and this could suggest he will be a major upgrade on the 31-year-old.

The summer transfer window has now commenced, although uncertainty remains at Manchester United as to just who will be joining the club ahead of next season, amid Erik ten Hag's apparent desire to strengthen his current options.

A new 'world-class' centre-forward appears to be high on the agenda for the former Ajax boss – as per Manchester Evening News – with the Red Devils having unsurprisingly been heavily linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane, as the Englishman enters into the final year of his contract in north London.

More recent reports have indicated, however, that despite Ten Hag's apparent admiration for the England skipper, United are unlikely to push for a move amid Spurs' unwillingness to sell, with the Old Trafford outfit seemingly wary of engaging in negotiations with rival chairman, Daniel Levy.

As such, the search is set to continue in the club's bid to find a new, quality number nine, with reports in recent weeks having suggested that Borussia Monchengladbach ace, Marcus Thuram, could be among those being considered.

The £53k-per-week marksman is an attainable target with just a matter of weeks left to run on his existing deal in Germany, ensuring that he could represent a bargain, free-agent alternative to Kane for those at the Theatre of Dreams this summer.

Would Marcus Thuram be a good signing for Man United?

While Spurs' long-serving talisman did enjoy a stellar 2022/23 campaign after bagging 30 Premier League goals, Thuram also caught the eye in his own right, after chipping in with 16 goals and seven assists in just 32 games across all competitions.

With the 6 foot 4 sensation also offering the ability to play on the flanks, it is no surprise why he has been hailed as a player that "every Premier League club should be trying to sign", in the words of The Athletic's, Carl Anka.

Also described as "phenomenal" by former Gladbach teammate Denis Zakaria, the Italy-born ace is also a real asset due to his dribbling prowess, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 13% for successful take-ons and the top 12% for progressive carries among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues.

Equally, unlike Kane – who has begun to 'drop deeper' in recent years, as per MEN's Tyrone Marshall – Thuram seemingly offers more a threat inside the area, as he ranks in the top 13% for touches in the opposition box, in contrast to the Englishman, who ranks in just the bottom 34% in that regard.

Having a deep-lying player like Kane in attack is arguably 'not what United need', according to Marshall, hence looking at a more dynamic and mobile figure like Thuram instead.

Of course, the former Guingamp ace does not boast the same Premier League pedigree as his Tottenham counterpart, although the chance to land the ten-cap striker on a free should surely be too good an opportunity to turn down for Ten Hag and co.

Newcastle United have made contact regarding a deal to sign Barcelona forward Raphinha this summer, according to reports.

Is Raphinha leaving Barcelona?

The Brazilian international only swapped the Premier League for La Liga last summer when he arrived at Camp Nou in a big-money move from Leeds United. He’s made 50 appearances in Catalonia to date, but there's a chance he could already be hitting the road once again.

Xavi’s right-sided winger still has another four years remaining on his contract, but after establishing himself as the manager’s joint second top-performing offensive player during his debut season, is attracting interest ahead of the upcoming window, in particular from St. James’ Park.

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano revealed last month that the Magpies, alongside top-flight rivals Chelsea, both hold an “interest” in the 26-year-old, but it sounds like it’s Eddie Howe who is the first to make an official move.

Are Newcastle signing Raphinha?

According to Spanish outlet Sport (via Sport Witness), Newcastle have “already made a first approach” to enquire about a deal for the man called a "phenomenon" by his international teammates. Barcelona’s attacker is “keen to continue” where he is, but it’s stated that the northeast outfit will “insist” on signing the player regardless of his stance.

The Magpies have “positioned themselves” and “would be willing to pay a fee” to bring him to St. James’ Park. The Blaugrana have made it clear he could “only leave” if they received an offer in excess of €80m (£68m), and the opportunity to play in the Champions League could end up “convincing” him to join.

Should PIF splash the cash on Raphinha?

Newcastle will already know what Raphinha is capable of having played against him several times during his spell at Leeds, where he was dubbed “frightening” by members of the media, and with that impressive form having continued since joining Barcelona, PIF should definitely test the waters by making an offer.

Barca’s left-footed gem, who is represented by D20 Sports, clocked up 14 goal contributions (seven goals and the same number of assists) in 36 La Liga appearances last season, with this high standard of displays seeing him collect six man-of-the-match awards.

The World Cup participant was also a major threat when providing for his fellow teammates having recorded 172 crosses and 117 shot-creating actions, which were both higher than any other member of his squad, as per FBRef, so should he put pen to paper in the near future, he would only improve Howe’s attacking ranks even further.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their search for a new head coach ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Andoni Iraola to Celtic?

According to the Daily Mail, former Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola is preparing to throw his hat in the ring in the hope of being in contention for the job.

The club are in the market for a new boss after Ange Postecoglou left Parkhead to put pen to paper on a deal with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Iraola is currently a free agent after opting against a contract extension with Vallecano having kept them in LaLiga for a second straight season.

Would Andoni Iraola be a success at Celtic?

The Hoops could strike gold with the young tactician as he is an up-and-coming coach who has shown great promise in his short career so far.

Former Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch is another name to have been linked with the job but Iraola would be a far better option than the American boss, whose poor form at Elland Road raised red flags to those at Parkhead.

The 49-year-old barely avoided relegation from the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign as he lost five of his 12 matches with the Whites and finished 17th in the table.

He then lost ten and won four of the 20 matches he managed in the division the following campaign, and that led to him being relieved of his duties by the English side with a points per game rate of just 0.9.

That spell in England came after the American lost six of his 14 Bundesliga games with RB Leipzig in Germany, which included five wins that left them underperforming in 11th in the table. They went on to finish fourth in the table, with 17 wins to ten losses, suggesting that he was holding them back.

Iraola, however, won 22 of his 46 matches in LaLiga 2, including the play-offs, to win promotion to the top flight in the 2020/21 campaign and was then able to establish Vallecano in the Spanish top division.

The 40-year-old tactician, who typically plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, finished 12th in both 2021/22 and 2022/23 and this shows that the Spaniard was able to successfully lead a club through a transitional period.

They finished outside of the play-offs in the second tier in the season before he joined, 2019/20, and was able to turn them into an established top-flight club within three years before his departure this summer.

Therefore, Iraola, whose work with Vallecano was hailed as "insane" by scout Jacek Kulig, is a manager on the up who has proven himself capable of uplifting a team above their means.

On the flip side, Marsch has failed in his last two jobs and has been a disappointment in England and Germany, which suggests that the Spaniard would be a far better option for Celtic at this moment in time.