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The decision to get rid of Gary O’Neil from the Wolverhampton Wanderers hot seat continues to look like the correct decision, even if the Old Gold are still staring over their shoulder anxiously at the relegation places in the Premier League.

Under the former choppy managerial regime, Wolves were leaking goals for fun and losing clashes left, right and centre, with O’Neil tallying up a worrying 11 league defeats this season before his expected dismissal.

Now, under the more polished reign of Vitor Pereira, Wolves are two points clear of the bottom three, with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa sticking out as a key result near the foot of the division.

Pereira will hope he can one day be remembered in a similar vein to Nuno Espirito Santo, with the Portuguese manager hailed as a modern-day great at Molineux, before then embarking on a new adventure elsewhere at Nottingham Forest.

Nuno's standout Wolves stars

Glancing at the stars Nuno had at his disposal in the West Midlands makes for some enjoyable reading, with the likes of Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota starring in attack under the now Forest boss’ methods, alongside the popular 51-year-old also possessing midfield superstars such as Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho.

Neves was undoubtedly one of the finest stars to ever don an Old Gold jersey under the Portuguese coach, with Neves going on to amass a weighty 253 appearances for the club as 30 goals and 13 assists came his way.

Delving deeper, the likes of Jota also really came into their own in the English game at Wolves before becoming a success at Anfield, with all 44 of his strikes at Molineux coming under the much-celebrated boss.

Where Are They Now

But, for all the many hits, there were a couple of notable misses, with this attacker – who joined during the same transfer window as Jimenez – going down as a complete disaster.

The Wolves flop now outperforming Larsen and Ait-Nouri

Before we look at how this flop has turned around their playing days after a bruising experience at Molineux, some scars have to be reopened.

Patrick Cutrone would join the Wolves ranks for a bumper £16m in the summer of 2019, with the club’s impressive track record in unearthing top-quality gems from abroad no doubt making the Old Gold faithful believe that this would be another successful and exciting buy.

Unfortunately, sweet strikes such as this one from the Italian versus West Ham United wouldn’t be regular, with only three goals and four assists coming the ex-AC Milan attacker’s way from 28 largely forgettable appearances.

In the end – after multiple loan stints away from the club saw him move out to Spain among other new locations – Cutrone would up and leave permanently for hometown side Como in 2022, bringing his cursed stay in England to a thankful halt.

The one-time senior Italy international would open up about his headspace during his dismal time with the Old Gold shortly after returning to his native country, stating that he felt “alone” throughout his bumpy stay.

The 6 foot attacker being back in familiar surroundings would soon see the Old Gold dud get back to the goalscoring best that resulted in Wolves once forking out £16m, with Cutrone’s encouraging output this campaign in Serie A actually bettering both Jorgen Larsen and Rayan Ait-Nouri’s own numbers back in Pereira’s camp.

Top five G/A Wolves players in the PL – 24/25
Player	Games played	Goals scored	Assists
1. Matheus Cunha	24	12	4
2. Jorgen Strand Larsen	23	7	2
3. Rayan Ait Nouri	24	3	5
4. Goncalo Guedes	22	2	4
5. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde	23	2	3
Stats by Sofascore

Cutrone would slot straight into second place in the table above if he was still at Wolves, with the Como-born attacker picking up six goals and four assists this season in league action.

As a result, he betters Larsen by one goal contribution and his left-back teammate by two, as Cutrone attempts to just shrug off his poor spell in England with more and more standout showings in Italy.

Wolves must regret losing loan "maestro" who's worth 202% more than Munetsi

Wolves had an exciting talent on their books

By
Joe Nuttall

Feb 15, 2025

They are a side that has had success in keeping Smith quiet in the past

AAP12-Dec-20221:20

Rabada: Looking forward to playing at the MCG

South Africa have identified making Steven Smith play at the ball early as the key to keeping Australia’s most prolific batsman quiet in their three-Test series this summer.They are one of the few countries in the world who can claim to have found an answer for Smith through his career ahead of Saturday’s first Test at the Gabba.Smith made a century in his first Test against them in 2014, but has since endured a dry run. Besides Bangladesh, who he has played two Tests against, Smith’s average of 41.53 in nine games against South Africa is his lowest against any nation.Related

Back to the future: the remaking of Steven Smith

Smith hopes to 'get into a nice groove' for South Africa Tests

Smith has made changes in his technique since he last faced South Africa, but bowling coach Charl Langeveldt said his team had a clear plan for the right-hander.”The key to most of the top six is the first 20 balls and to make them play,” he said. “Steve has changed. He is not on the move anymore and he has got a good base now where he is not moving around the crease as much.”I think it is going to be a good challenge for our boys. The boys are up for the challenge but the key is going to be that first 20 balls where we need to really make him play more.”Steven Smith has tweaked his technique this year•Getty Images for Cricket AustraliaThe fuller approach to Smith marks a change to how teams have attacked him in recent years with shorter-pitched bowling aimed at his body. That had prompted Smith to alter his technique in a way that would allow him to duck the ball easier and open up the range of his pull shot on the leg side.South Africa made a point to bowl full in their tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in recent days, with opening bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi picking up seven wickets between them.Most of their wickets came caught behind or in the slips with fuller balls, in a similar plan to the one they want to execute on Smith.”The guys got the fuller lengths that we want. Conditions are different in Brisbane to anywhere else in the world really,” Langeveldt said.Smith is well aware of his history against the South Africa, raising it in a press conference on Sunday. But he has stated already this summer that he is back feeling at his best, with unbeaten scores of 200 and 20 in Perth against the West Indies less than a fortnight ago.”I feel in a good place, I feel like I am batting nicely,” Smith said. “I feel in good rhythm and I am looking forward to it.”

West Ham United now want to sign an “unbelievable” midfielder for free in the summer, at which point his contract is set to expire, according to a report.

Quiet deadline day for West Ham

The Hammers confirmed the arrival of 20-year-old striker Evan Ferguson on a loan deal from Brighton & Hove Albion on deadline day, but otherwise they were relatively quiet, after missing out on a deal for another forward.

West Ham had been pushing to sign FC Lorient’s Eli Junior Kroupi, and they even agreed a £35m deal for the young Frenchman, but he ultimately ended up completing a move to Premier League rivals AFC Bournemouth for a far lower fee.

ExWHUEmployee has since confirmed the Cherries were able to win the race for Kroupi’s signature as they are a sister club of Lorient, with the 18-year-old set to remain in France on loan for the remainder of the season.

Not only were the Irons keen to sign another striker, but they were also pursuing a midfielder in the winter transfer window, engaging in talks over a deal to sign Lille midfielder Angel Gomes.

West Ham United’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Brentford (h)

February 15th

Arsenal (a)

February 22nd

Leicester City (h)

February 27th

Newcastle United (h)

March 10th

Everton (a)

March 15th

Telegraph reporter Mike McGrath has since revealed Gomes is set to remain at Lille for the remainder of the season before making a decision on his future, having attracted the interest of a number of Premier League clubs.

Rather than making a move on deadline day, the midfielder made the decision to assess his options in the summer, at which point West Ham are keen to sign him on a free transfer, alongside Tottenham Hotspur.

Gomes could be a quality addition

The England international has cemented his place as a key player for Lille over the past few seasons, displaying his attacking prowess by registering eight assists in 31 Ligue 1 appearances last term.

During his time with Manchester United, the £11k-per-week maestro was lauded as “unbelievable” by Nicky Butt, and his performances for Lille indicate he could now be ready to prove himself in the Premier League.

West Ham are well-stocked in attacking midfield, with Lucas Paqueta remaining a regular starter this season, but the opportunity to sign Gomes on a free transfer is too good to turn down, so they should look to secure a pre-contract agreement in the coming months.

MatériaMais Notícias

Teve ‘lei do ex’ no encerramento da 9ª rodada do Brasileirão. E das cruéis. Na noite desta segunda-feira, no Nilton Santos, o Goiás venceu de virada o Botafogo por 2 a 1, com dois gols do ex-alvinegro Pedro Raúl, ambos no segundo tempo. Cuesta abriu o placar para o Glorioso na etapa inicial. O resultado colocou o Esmeraldino na 12ª posição, com 12 pontos. O Botafogo é o 10º, também com 12. Clique no player acima e confira os melhores momentos da partida.

>>> Veja a tabela de classificação do Brasileirão e os próximos jogos

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French heavyweights PSG are willing to offer one of their own forwards in an exchange for sought-after Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran, and Luis Enrique’s side appear determined to strike a deal for the Colombian.

Jhon Duran attracting late January interest

West Ham are widely reported to have failed with a £57 million bid to sign Duran recently, with manager Unai Emery and co not keen on letting go of a very capable back-up star who’s scored 12 goals in 26 appearances across all competitions.

Aston Villa set to make fresh bid for £25m Olympian after January talks

Unai Emery’s side have been in negotiations for another signing.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 25, 2025

Villa apparently have zero intention of green-lighting a January exit for Duran, with the 21-year-old also recently putting pen to paper on a contract extension following his sensational start to the Premier League campaign.

However, this firm transfer stance hasn’t stopped suitors from contemplating whether to test NSWE’s resolve when it comes to doing business.

West Ham United (home)

January 26

Wolves (away)

February 1

Ipswich Town (home)

February 15

Chelsea (home)

February 22

Crystal Palace (away)

February 25

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are emerging as very serious contenders for Duran’s signature as we enter the final stage of this January window, with the Saudi Pro League side apparently considering a winter bid.

Broadcast giant talkSPORT backs other reports of Al Nassr’s interest in Duran, with Villa apparently braced for an offer from the Middle Easterns. However, Emery’s side are very ready to play hard-ball, and could demand in excess of £85 million to let him go.

Other suitors are beginning to join the potential auction as well, and one of Duran’s mooted landing spots is PSG, who are willing to push the boat out.

PSG prepared to offer Asensio in bid to sign Duran from Aston Villa

According to CaughtOffside, Enrique and co may well hand Villa the chance to sign out-of-favour £236,000-per-week forward Marco Asensio.

The former Real Madrid ace joined PSG on a free transfer from La Liga in 2023, but has since been relegated to the fringes of Enrique’s plans. They could now use his situation as an opportunity to land Duran, as PSG plot an intriguing proposal.

It is believed PSG are prepared to offer Villa the chance to sign Asensio in a part-exchange bid for Duran. In terms of cash, the highest PSG are willing to climb right now is £59 million, which is nowhere near enough and just £2 million more than West Ham’s rejected approach, so they could use Asensio as a sweetener in the deal.

It is added that they will put Villa under severe pressure to sell Duran in the final days of the window, so PSG appear very eager to beat Al-Nassr to his signature.

Fair to say, it’s been an eventful week at Everton.

On Thursday, mere hours before their FA Cup tie at home to Peterborough United, it was announced that Sean Dyche had been sacked, leaving Leighton Baines and club captain Séamus Coleman in caretaker charge, overseeing an unspectacular 2-0 victory.

Remarkably, this is the first time any Premier League club have sacked their manager on the day of a game, prior to kick off, for 30 years.

Then, on Saturday morning, it was confirmed that David Moyes had returned, 13 years after leaving Merseyside for Manchester United, having overseen a whopping 518 matches during his first spell in charge.

With the Toffees currently 16th in the Premier League table, a mere one point clear of the relegation zone, reinforcements are needed, but could the first arrival of the second Moyes-era be imminent?

Everton want to bolster their forward line

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Everton are ‘in talks’ with Olympique Lyonnais over the signing of Ernest Nuamah.

Meanwhile, reports from France on social media claim the deal is only ‘one step away’ with an ‘agreement almost reached between the different parties.’

Numah joined Lyon from Danish Superligaen side Nordsjælland for a reported €30m in 2023, suggesting the Blues are unlikely to get him on the cheap.

However, as noted by Colin Millar, Matt Slater and Matt Woosnam of the Athletic, les Gones have been provisionally relegated from Ligue 1 “following an audit of their finances”, informed they must “satisfactorily improve their financial situation before the end of this season”.

As a result, Nuamah appears set to be sacrificed, although no Everton supporter should consider this a done deal until he has officially put pen to paper.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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That’s because, in the summer, Nuamah was reportedly on the verge of joining Fulham, only to “vanish” part-way through his medical, after breaking down in tears, declaring his love for OL and refusing to move to West London, with American owner John Texter subsequently forced to send an apology letter to the Cottagers.

Fair to say, the Toffees will be hoping to avoid similar complications.

How Ernest Nuamah compares to Dwight McNeil

Ghanian commentator George Addo Jnr on Twitter describes his compatriot as “some talent”, with journalist Owuraku Ampofo adding that he is “a fantastic dribbler”.

Wesley Mak of Opta’s The Analyst labels him as “a multi-functional forward” capable of playing anywhere across the front three, comparing him to West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, another Ghanian attacker who began his career at the world-renowned Right to Dream Academy.

Well, considering Everton are the Premier League’s second-lowest scorers this season, ranked rock-bottom for xG, the Blues need all the attacking reinforcement they can get, but how does Nuamah compare to their joint-top scorer Dwight McNeil?

Nuamah vs McNeil comparison (23/24 & 24/25)

Statistics

Nuamah

McNeil

Appearances

56

56

Minutes

3,205

4,732

Goal

8

7

Expected goals

6

4.3

Assists

4

10

Expected assists

5.1

12.2

Shots on target %

39.7%

27.4%

Shot-creating actions

109

190

Crosses

122

365

Attempted take-ons

160

103

Progressive carries

146

111

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

The table outlines that these two wingers are stylistically very different.

McNeil is much more a creator, hence why he’s accumulated significantly more assists and expected assists while, last season, only eight players across Europe’s “top five” leagues put in more crosses than his 229; Dyche-ball at its finest.

Meanwhile, Nuamah is much more of a dribbler, registering more take-ons and progressive carries, with the Ghanian significantly more of a goal threat, bagging 15 goals during his final campaign at Nordsjælland, on target against such illustrious opponents as Paris Saint-Germain and Eintracht Frankfurt since making to move to Lyon.

Well, considering Everton have scored nil during eight of their last ten Premier League outings, failing to find the net in a whopping 39% of the league games Dyche took charge of, Nuamah will certainly be a welcome addition for all Evertonians.

Related Could be an awful Lookman repeat: £100k-p/w Everton star in talks to leave

Everton could be set to sell one of their highest earners this month

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Jan 13, 2025

Ipswich Town supporters will be hoping that their relegation-threatened team’s positive January continues against Brighton and Hove Albion, with a draw and a win already collected this month in all competitions.

After the Seagulls travel to Suffolk, Kieran McKenna’s men then have a double whammy of Manchester City and Liverpool to contend with, as more and more fixtures in the Premier League come thick and fast for the Tractor Boys.

The Northern Irish manager will know he can rely on the likes of Liam Delap moving forward among other top first-team personnel to continue to put in admirable performances, with the 21-year-old wanting to let his football do the talking amidst rampant speculation linking him with a move away from the top-flight minnows.

How Ipswich can ensure Premier League survival

In all fairness, McKenna’s men have been far from poor this term with some notable players becoming household names across the campaign to date.

The biggest part of their survival bid will be the aforementioned Delap. He’s seriously caught the eye on the way to notching up plenty of goals with his eighth Premier League strike of a glittering season coming last time out versus Fulham when he calmly slotted a penalty away in the 2-2 draw.

Before that, he also managed to score and assist during a dramatic 2-0 win over Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, with the Blues now interested in snapping up the potent attacker at some point this January.

There have been other star performers in the side which include Leif Davis at the back who has transitioned to top-flight football equally as well.

The ex-Leeds United man has three goal contributions next to his name in the league as a gung-ho option in defence but has also managed to show solidity at the back when needed, notably winning as many as six duels won in total versus Nottingham Forest back in November.

Alongside these two faces, there have been other standout individuals such as Dara O’Shea who won five duels himself versus Chelsea, but there have also been some notable underperformers.

One of which has been the captain…

Sam Morsy's struggles at Ipswich in the Premier League

Sam Morsy’s difficult adjustment to Premier League life was clear for all to see in Ipswich’s last league clash at Fulham, with the midfielder giving away one of the two spot-kicks at Craven Cottage due to some reckless tackling on a day where most of his play felt erratic.

He ended up winning just two of his seven duels against Marco Silva’s hosts – with his average per game for the season a far heftier 4.3. His showing against Chelsea was also below-par considering all of the star performers surrounding him, having registered just 71% of his passes.

Therefore, McKenna could well have a selection conundrum to address involving the long-standing Ipswich servant, with Kalvin Phillips also standing out in the FA Cup in his place with a goal tallied up against Bristol Rovers.

With Nemanja Matic also touted with a move to Suffolk, there might not be space for the 33-year-old veteran anymore in his starting XI on a consistent basis, despite the fact Morsy has been a regular during the club’s promotion heroics.

1. Axel Tuanzebe

£40k-per-week

2. Dara O’Shea

£35k-per-week

= 2. Arijanet Muric

£35k-per-week

3. Ben Johnson

£30k-per-week

= 3 . Sam Morsy

£30k-per-week

On top of Morsy sliding down the pecking order due to his out-of-sorts form, he could soon be axed for good by Ipswich owing to his high salary which sees him rake in a £30k-per-week pay packet.

Amazingly, both Delap and Davis earn less despite taking to the top flight like a duck to water, with the exciting pair both taking home a lesser £20k-per-week.

Whilst Morsy did win the club’s Player of the Year for his side just last year as promotion was reached, McKenna will know he needs to keep up with the times, which could result in the ageing midfielder’s game-time lessening even more as survival is sought after.

Ipswich could sign a "monster" Matic alternative in £8m star

The experienced international could be just what Ipswich need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 16, 2025

Chelsea are currently in pole position to sign an “incredible” Premier League defender this month, according to a report.

Chelsea looking to sell before they buy

Enzo Maresca is looking to trim his squad in the January transfer window, and the manager is trying to get Ben Chilwell off the books, given that the left-back has not featured in a Premier League squad so far this season.

It was reported to be certain that Chilwell will depart this month, but there could be some obstacles in the way, as the Englishman is said to be refusing to take a pay cut, which is likely to put off potential suitors.

There are a number of other players who Maresca could get rid of this winter, with the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Carney Chukwuemeka potentially on their way out, which could facilitate Chelsea to do some business of their own.

PSG willing to table stunning £150m+ offer to sign "fantastic" Chelsea star

The French giants are not messing around…

4 ByTom Cunningham Jan 3, 2025

Back in the summer, a number of Premier League clubs were vying for the signature of Marc Guehi, but he was priced out of a move by Crystal Palace, who were demanding a fee of £75m to sanction his departure.

Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Crystal Palace (a)

January 4th

AFC Bournemouth (h)

January 14th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

January 20th

Manchester City (a)

January 25th

West Ham United (h)

February 3rd

Now, GiveMeSport have provided a new update on the Blues’ pursuit of Guehi, reporting they have now been handed a golden opportunity to win the race for his signature during the January transfer window.

The Blues are in pole position to sign Guehi before February 3rd, as Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester United are not in a financial position to make expensive signings this month.

As such, Maresca’s side are now contemplating making a move for the defender, seizing the opportunity to beat their rivals to his signature.

Perfect opportunity for Chelsea

If the Blues are in a position to spend big this January, perhaps if they manage to get a few players off the books, then Guehi could be a fantastic addition to Maresca’s squad. The England international has been impressing for quite some time now, with football writer Stuart James previously lauding him as “incredible.”

In the summer, the Englishman established himself as a key player for his national side, missing just one game throughout Euro 2024, which was due to a suspension.

Having made a name for himself at international level, Guehi could now be ready to take the next step in his career by signing for a top Premier League club, although it may be difficult for Chelsea to get a deal done this month.

Not only will the 24-year-old set them back a huge fee, but he has reportedly made it clear that he wants to join Liverpool in the summer, and it may be difficult to change his mind, given how well the Reds are performing in the Premier League, however, this update suggests Chelsea are in pole positon this month.

Nat Sciver’s unbeaten 148 helps her move up to the second spot among batters

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Apr-2022A record 170 in the final of the Women’s World Cup 2022 helped Alyssa Healy grab the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings for batters. As a result, Laura Wolvaardt’s stay at No. 1 was short-lived and she finds herself at the fourth spot.Nat Sciver, who scored an unbeaten 148 in vain in the title-clash, usurped Ellyse Perry at the top in the allrounders’ charts while climbing up to second in the batters’ rankings. Apart from finishing with 436 runs, Sciver also picked up four wickets in the tournament.Healy, who had just two half-centuries to show in the round-robin stage, had slid down to the fifth spot last week. However, two centuries in two knockout games – being the first ever to do so in World Cups – meant that she became the first player to score over 500 runs in the women’s tournament. It enabled Australia to win their seventh trophy out of the 12 editions.Rachael Haynes, who scored 497 runs in the tournament, was the lowest-ranked Australian batter in the top ten, placed at sixth. Beth Mooney (third) and Meg Lanning (fifth) are the others above her.Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana, who gained a spot to be placed ninth, continue to be the only Indians in the top ten.Among the bowlers, Sophie Ecclestone continues to lead the rankings, despite going wicketless in the final. She picked six wickets in the semi-final against South Africa. Shabnim Ismail, who finished second among the wicket-takers in the World Cup, gained a spot to be ranked second. Anya Shrubsole’s five wickets across two knockout games saw her gain five places to eighth, a spot above team-mate Kate Cross.

MatériaMais Notícias

O meia Nenê expôs sua bronca com a conduta da arbitragem na partida na qual o Vasco foi derrotado para o Flamengo, por 2 a 1, neste domingo (6). Na saída do gramado, o camisa 10 queixou-se.

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-Vocês viram, acho que o árbitro foi muito parcial. Sempre umas coisinhas que, na dúvida, para a gente não tem, para o outro lado tem. É difícil… Na hora ali do segundo gol (do Flamengo, marcado por Arrascaeta), todo mundo viu que foi falta no Andrey. É complicado – declarou, em entrevista ao PPV do Carioca.

Ainda não é assinante do Cariocão-2022? Acesse www.cariocaoplay.com.br, preencha o cadastro e ganhe 5% de desconto com o cupom especial do LANCE!: GE-JK-FF-ZSW

Em seguida, o meia cruz-maltino avaliou a atuação da equipe no duelo no Nilton Santos.

-A gente jogou muito bem hoje, o time estava realmente concentrado, focado, jogamos melhor em muitos momentos do jogo. O time está de parabéns pela melhorar, pela dedicação. Fico realmente frustrado pelo resultado e pelo que aconteceu, com a omissão do árbitro. É o futebol… – disse.

Os jogadores do Vasco cercaram o árbitro Rafael Martins de Sá ao final da partida.

Com a sua terceira derrota em clássicos, o Vasco segue com 19 pontos e não terá a vantagem do empate nos confrontos da semifinal.Além disto, os cruz-maltinos podem ser ultrapassados pelo Botafogo que, com 16 pontos, vão a campo nesta segunda-feira (7), contra o Volta Redonda.

O Vasco encerra sua participação na primeira fase no dia 13, contra o Resende, em São Januário.