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There could be exciting times ahead for Newcastle as talks with Saudi Public Investment Fund seem to be progressing, and according to The Sun the group is lining up Rafa Benitez to take over as manager.

What’s the word?

The consortium, which involves Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well as David and Simon Reuben, are in discussions with Mike Ashley over a £340m bid for the club.

There are still several details to be sorted out but they have reportedly planned on who their manager will be upon taking over – Benitez.

It is believed that the Spaniard will take over at the end of the season, thereby allowing Steve Bruce to continue in the role and finish what has been a good season for the Magpies so far, as they sit seven points off relegation.

Good news for fans?

Although Bruce wasn’t the most popular of appointments he has had Newcastle punching above their weight, as they sit 14th in the Premier League and are still in the FA Cup despite numerous injuries hitting the squad.

Given the wealth of the consortium taking over it is little surprise that they are looking to upgrade, as they may want a manager who has greater experience of managing at the top level, including high-profile players, and Benitez has that in abundance, unlike Bruce.

Added to that, it would be a good way to win over fans, many of whom were very disappointed when the former Liverpool boss left last summer, having never enjoyed the backing of owner Mike Ashley.

It would be harsh on Bruce to be dismissed and he deserves the chance to invest in the squad, as so far he has made some clever signings in Allan Saint-Maximin and Jetro Willems, both of whom are greatly appreciated amongst the fanbase.

A football legend: Can you get over 80% on this Gazza quiz? Find out now…

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Of course, the takeover deal is not yet near completion and given Ashley’s history it is likely that talks could stall for one reason or another, and therefore Bruce deserves continued backing from the board, including further spending in the remainder of the transfer window.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have been lining up a move for a £25m player who could make all the difference in a key area.

Kurt Zouma spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan at Everton before returning to parent club Chelsea over the summer.

The Frenchman has been a regular for the Blues this season, making 17 appearances in all competitions, including the full 90 minutes against Ajax on Tuesday night.

Zouma was part of a defence that shipped four goals against the Dutch champions, who had two players sent off in what was an incredible game of football.

Wayne Rooney puts himself forward for the Everton job in the video below…

There was a standout moment for the 25-year-old at Stamford Bridge, though, when he decided to embark on a quite wonderful run before firing over the crossbar.

The final effort was not exactly fantastic, but it was excellent work from Zouma as he powered through the middle of the park.

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A number of Everton fans took to social media to comment on the central defender’s rush of blood to the head, and a selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below:

[ad_pod ]Being called up for the national side is probably pretty daunting for a young player.They’ve got to put aside all club rivalries and work with players who are usually on the opposing teams week in week out.It presumably helps to have a player from club level standing beside you, and fortunately for James Maddison and Ben Chilwell, they can rely on each other.Watch Leicester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Indeed, both Leicester stars have been named in Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad, and they shared a moment on Twitter that highlights the type of camaraderie they will bring to the Three Lions’ set-up.

It all started when Leicester City’s official account posted an image of Chilwell looking at Maddison’s phone over his shoulder.

The left-back then took that tweet and joked that the midfielder was checking to see if anyone had sent him some rather private messages, thanks to his England call-up.

Maddison wasn’t having any of that though, and he fired back with a quip saying that he was actually checking if Chilwell was fit this weekend so that he could sort out his Fantasy Premier League team.

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Last summer Aston Villa were staring at potential turmoil. Embroiled in financial trouble, the club failed to achieve promotion and were at risk of losing their coveted star Jack Grealish.

To see Villa now back in the Premier League just a year on is incredible.

During the reign of Tony Xia, Villa’s financial situation became dire. The mass spending on player wages in the Championship just hadn’t paid off.

Therefore, the arrival of Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris was a welcome relief.

In July 2018, they essentially saved the football club. Without the American and Egyptian businessmen, Villa would have been in deep trouble.

The reality is that it’s incredibly unlikely they’d now be sitting among the big boys of English football again. But here we are. One of the oldest football clubs in England, first established in 1874, are back arguably where they belong.

Gone are the days of Xia’s spending. The club are now lead by individuals who seemingly have their act together. Considering what’s gone before, it’s a stark contrast.

However, Villa still need to throw caution to the wind, particularly this summer.

Edens and Sawiris, alongside CEO Christan Purslow, will be eager to display their financial muscle over the transfer window. Considering they’re now preparing for life in the Premier League, it would be understandable if they decided to throw some big sums of money at players.

In recent times they’ve been targeting Brentford’s Neal Maupay in a deal which could cost £20m whilst Joe Lolley is expected to receive a bid of £10m.

Maupay, in particular, represents a large deal but signing those types of players could prove pivotal despite the fees.

What the club can’t afford to do though is fall into the trap Fulham did. After achieving promotion last season they spent over £100m. That was the first time a newly promoted side had ever spent nine figures over the course of a transfer window.

They brought in some highly regarded players, including Jean Michael Seri and Andre Schurrle, but it proved disastrous. Dean Smith’s men will have to spend this summer, there’s no question about that, but they’d be playing a considerably dangerous game if they were to do what the Cottagers did.

Fulham’s methods made a statement, but they brought in far too many players who simply weren’t prepared for life in the top-flight of English football.

If Villa were to follow this same model, then they’d be waving a swift goodbye to the Premier League. That’s why caution must be at the forefront of their minds during the off-season.

It would also suit Smith too. He’s used to working on tight budgets and did so to great effect at Brentford.

The former Bees manager signs players with scope to improve and this method would be of far greater benefit to Villa. In signing Maupay and Lolley, he’d have two players he can certainly develop further.

One is 22 and the other is only just entering his prime years. They’re key examples of the players the club must be looking at.

Completing shrewd deals should be the order of the day, not splashing over £100m on players who simply don’t cut it.

The fact this debate is even possible says something about just how far the Midlands side have come. The thought of spending £20m on a player during the final year of Xia’s reign would have been impossible.

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Yet, Edens and Sawiris have worked wonders. They are the embodiment of how all good football owners should be.

Far too many in the modern game stand idly by and fail to invest in the club they have control over. You only need to look a matter of miles down the road to see the lack of investment West Brom owner Guochuan Lai has provided.

Villa, therefore, have everything to be thankful for. The fact they’re now back among the country’s elite is a testament to how hard they worked this season.

Back in March, they sat 13th in the Championship, not even in the frame for promotion. Their rise in recent months has been phenomenal.

They’ll go into this summer knowing they can keep hold of Grealish, the man the club is now built around.

If you told a Villa fan that was feasible just a year ago, they’d have laughed in your face. However, Edens and Sawiris have made that possible.

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According to a report in The Daily Mail, in-form Aston Villa star Jack Grealish is being scouted by Tottenham Hotspur as they look to make some big moves in the transfer market this summer, and it is a predictable story that ramps up the pressure on Villans boss Dean Smith.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Spurs have long been linked with the 23-year-old and the Championship outfit managed to rebuff interest in him last summer according to The Times, before tying him down to a new contract with a £45m release clause included.

While that is a fee that could make the north London outfit make twice about making an approach, the Midlands outfit will need to be prepared for interest in their talisman and captain – especially if they don’t win promotion back to the Premier League for the third successive season.

Grealish has made a huge impact following his return from a three-month injury lay-off earlier this month, and was of course the victim-turned-hero during the second city derby last weekend.

Pressure on Smith

While the skipper did commit his future to Villa, there would be no surprise if the talented individual begins to get itchy feet should the club remain in England’s second tier for yet another season.

If a club like Tottenham do come calling it will undoubtedly interest Grealish – especially when he sees how well other English players like Dele Alli and Harry Kane have fared under Mauricio Pochettino in recent years.

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Given the 23-year-old is a Villa fan however, any uncertainty would surely be removed if they are competing in the top flight next term.

The pressure is then very much on Smith to deliver in the coming weeks and months, and with automatic promotion all but out of the window they will have to rely on the lottery of the play-offs if they secure a top-six finish.

Glasgow Rangers central midfielder Nicolas Raskin dominated the headlines for the right reason last weekend when he scored in the League Cup win at Ibrox.

The Belgium international had been left out of the last two matchday squads in the Scottish Premiership, but returned to score the opening goal in front of the home supporters on Saturday.

Raskin met James Tavernier’s corner brilliantly to head the ball into the back of the net for the first of what will, hopefully, be many goals this season.

Why Nicolas Raskin is a key player for Rangers

Russell Martin needed to get the central midfielder back into the squad as quickly as possible after the manager claimed that a breakdown in trust led to the player being left out of the clashes with Celtic and Hearts.

The Belgian star is a terrific operator in the middle of the park because he can deliver quality at both ends of the pitch, having scored five goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season, per Sofascore.

Nicolas Raskin (24/25)

Premiership

Europa League

Appearances

33

12

Tackles per game

2.8

3.7

Interceptions per game

0.6

1.3

Ball recoveries per game

5.6

7.4

Ground duel success rate

57%

50%

Aerial duel success rate

56%

55%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Raskin was particularly impressive when it came to the defensive side of the game in the 2024/25 campaign, with his ability to disrupt attacks and win possession back for his side.

Despite the Belgium international’s quality in the middle of the park, it is Djeidi Gassama who has the potential to be the club’s best player this season.

Why Gassama could be the best player for Rangers this season

The Light Blues signed the electric winger from Sheffield Wednesday for a fee of £2.2m in the summer transfer window, and he has already shown plenty of promise on the pitch.

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Gassama has delivered four goals and one assist in 12 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, per Transfermarkt, showing that he can provide a big threat in the final third.

The clip above shows that Rangers signed a player who they knew was capable of “glorious” goals from the left flank, cutting in to create something out of nothing.

Gassama has already shown that he can score glorious goals for Rangers, as his first strike for the club against Panathinaikos was very similar to that goal for the Owls.

The 22-year-old magician has the quality to simply create something out of nothing when the Light Blues need a moment of magic, which is an incredibly valuable trait to have.

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Gassama has yet to score in five matches in the Scottish Premiership, unfortunately, but he has been in a side that has struggled to progress the ball. As much as he can provide quality out of very little, the winger still needs to get the ball to his feet out wide to isolate his man.

If Martin can get the system and the starting XI right, the former Sheffield Wednesday winger could deliver consistent quality out wide with his impressive dribbling ability and ball striking.

That could make him a real difference-maker, as he was in the Champions League qualifiers with four goals in six games, for the Gers moving forward this season.

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Therefore, Gassama could be the club’s best player because of his ability to win games on his own with his goalscoring and creating potential, but it is down to the manager to put him in a position to exceed and shine brighter than the likes of Raskin and Bojan Miovski.

West Ham United have come forward to sign an “outstanding” striker, who is now likely to leave his club in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Hammers set sights on striker after Forest defeat

Graham Potter would have been hoping the 2-0 victory over Manchester United would give his side the platform to have a strong end to the Premier League season, but his side fell to yet another defeat on Sunday afternoon, with Nottingham Forest prevailing 2-1 at the London Stadium.

Jarrod Bowen, who has been one of the only bright sparks for the Hammers this season, was once again on the scoresheet, netting his 12th Premier League goal of the campaign, with the England international featuring as a striker.

Bowen’s output this season indicates he could be capable of remaining the first-choice centre-forward in the 2025-26 campaign, rather than moving back out wide, with Potter currently short on options in that area of the pitch.

However, with Michail Antonio now 35-years-old and Niclas Fullkrug failing to make an impact in his debut Premier League campaign, it could be wise to bring in another striker this summer, and a forward with top-level experience has now entered the frame.

According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), West Ham have now come forward to sign AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham, who is set to leave the Italian side permanently this summer, upon returning from his loan with AC Milan.

A deal will not be easy, however, with Abraham setting his sights on a move to a ‘top-tier club’, despite his recent struggles, and there are doubts over whether he would be tempted by a move to the London Stadium.

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Posts ByDominic Lund "Outstanding" Abraham could reignite career at West Ham

In truth, the 27-year-old is unlikely to be in a position to be too picky about his next club, given that he has hardly set the world alight in the Serie A this season, picking up just three goals and five assists throughout the campaign.

The Englishman could get his career back on track by moving back to his native country, however, and a move to the London Stadium could be a good fit for all parties, with Potter currently lacking options in the striker department.

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Despite his recent struggles, the “outstanding” former Chelsea man also has a lot of experience at the top level, having made 22 appearances in the Champions League, winning the competition during his time with the Blues.

As such, Abraham, who cost AS Roma £34m back in 2021, could be a solid signing for West Ham this summer, should he be willing to change his stance and move to a club of the Hammers’ stature.

Arsenal have been handed a key advantage in the race to sign a highly-rated forward this month, after discovering that he’s keen to link up with Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal "highly likely" to sign new forward in January

The Gunners boss has publicly confirmed that his side are actively pursuing a fresh forward option before deadline day on February 3rd, leading to multiple reports linking Arsenal with a host of high-profile strikers.

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RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres, Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen and Botafogo star Igor Jesus are just some of the reported Arsenal striker targets, as interim sporting director Jason Ayto weighs up the best possible option.

“We lost two very important players in Saka and Jesus, we lack goals and options in the front, it’s clear,” said Arteta on signing a centre-forward.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Wolves (away)

Today

Man City (home)

February 2

Leicester City (away)

February 15

West Ham (home)

February 22

Nottingham Forest (away)

February 26

“If we can get the right player, that’s what we’re actively looking at. They’ve [the players] all been there, we have very short numbers for many weeks, they recognise the situation. Sometimes I consult the players on signings, especially if they know them. It’s away from the computer and the data, they can sense it, they know about them.”

While talks are yet to advance over any of their targets as things stand, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has reassured supporters – saying it is “highly likely” that Arteta’s side to end up bringing in a new centre-forward before the January deadline.

“It’s highly likely,” said Romano on Arsenal’s search for a striker to GiveMeSport.

“This is the expectation of Mikel Arteta, so I expect the club to back him and find a solution on the market even if big clubs are not available.”

Another heavily-linked striker comes in the form of Wolves star Matheus Cunha, who is yet to pen a fresh contract at Wolves despite apparently agreeing financial terms. The sticking point has reportedly been Cunha’s desire to include a relegation clause, with the Brazilian’s talks over a new deal stalling and handing a transfer opportunity to interested sides.

Reliable journalist Ben Jacobs writes that he won’t come cheap, though, and Vitor Pereira’s side could demand as much as £80 million.

Arsenal discover Matheus Cunha wants to join them in January

In better news regarding their pursuit of Cunha, as per GiveMeSport, Arteta has been handed a “significant boost” in the race for his services.

The outlet claims Arsenal have discovered that Cunha wants to join them this month, with the Gunners in pole position ahead of fellow suitors Chelsea, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

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However, that being said, Wolves remain determined to land the former Atlético Madrid star who’s scored 10 goals and assisted four others in all competitions so far this term – and in five different positions across the attacking third.

It could take a big-money bid from Arsenal to prise the “phenomenal” Cunha away from Molineux, but that was always going to be the case with any world-class forward midway through the campaign.

Unfortunately for Manchester United and their fans, it's already starting to feel like more of the same in the Premier League this season.

Erik ten Hag's men may have picked up all three points in their season opener against Fulham, but in the two games since, they haven't picked up any.

There is still clearly plenty of talent in this team, but with sides around them already starting to pull away, Ten Hag cannot afford to drop any more points against Southampton, and he must make changes.

One of those changes should be to drop Marcus Rashford, as his underwhelming form from last season has seemingly carried over, and the manager has a solution on the bench.

Rashford's recent form

So the first thing to say is that when he's on song, Rashford is easily one of the most dangerous attackers in the Premier League, if not Europe, but therein lies the problem: he's not on song and hasn't been for some time.

For example, he followed up his incredible haul of 30 goals and 11 assists in 56 appearances in the 22/23 campaign with a disappointing return of eight goals and six assists in 43 appearances last season.

In other words, the Englishman went from averaging a goal involvement every 1.36 games to one every 3.07 games last year, and unfortunately, he's carried on that underwhelming form into this season.

Rashford's 24/25 stats

Appearances

3

Goals

0

Assists

0

Shots

0

Passes per Match

23

Offsides

3

All Stats via the Premier League

For example, in his three league games thus far, the 26-year-old has failed to score or assist a goal, and while he has created the odd chance for his teammates, he's just looked ineffective in attack.

There is undoubtedly still a quality player in there, but it feels like he could do with some time out of the team.

Moreover, considering United are playing one of if not the weakest teams in the league tomorrow, it feels like the perfect opportunity to make a change and start one of the club's young and exciting wingers in his place.

Why Diallo should start

Yes, the youngster who should come back into the side is Amad Diallo, but he should do so on the right, meaning Alejandro Garnacho shifts over to the left, where he has started the majority of games in his career.

Now, nobody is claiming that the young Ivorian is a better player than Rashford at this point, but unlike the Englishman, he is not burdened with a combination of expectations for what fans know he can do and pressure due to what he has done.

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Moreover, while the former Atalanta gem is still young, 22 is old enough for him to be getting regular starts in the first team, and while he's still somewhat raw, he has looked good when given the opportunity to play.

For example, against Brighton & Hove Albion last month, he scored and looked dangerous in attack, and while last season saw him spend a lot of time out with injury issues, the campaign prior saw him light up the Championship with Sunderland.

In just 43 appearances, the Abidjan-born "superstar", as dubbed by football creator Liam Canning, scored 14 goals and provided four assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement once every 2.38 games for the Black Cats.

Ultimately, while the step-up to Premier League football is significant, Diallo has shown he has the potential to thrive, and with Rashford still underwhelming, Ten Hag must take full advantage of a game against Southampton and start the Ivorian in place of the Englishman.

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A quality member of the Aston Villa squad is now open to leaving this summer as he ponders moving to a major European club, which will come as a concern for manager Unai Emery amid his chase for Champions League football next season.

Villa in driving seat for fourth after fantastic Premier League campaign

The Villans are now overwhelming favourites to seal a fourth-place finish and qualification for Europe's most prestigious competition next term.

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He’s a player in-demand…

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They've been locked in a tense battle with Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham for much of the season, but the north Londoners are now losing serious ground after three consecutive Premier League defeats, putting Villa in the ascendancy.

Spurs still possess a game in hand on Emery's side, though the gap between both sides is now much larger, so it would take a late capitulation from Villa for Tottenham to stand any chance of usurping them at this point.

Aston Villa's remaining matches

Tottenham's remaining matches

Brighton (away)

Liverpool (away)

Liverpool (home)

Burnley (home)

Crystal Palace (away)

Man City (home)

Sheffield United (away)

After a fantastic campaign, where critics have been taken aback by Villa's stellar form at times, the prospect of Champions League football in the Midlands next season is looking very real.

“We are fighting with Tottenham to get fourth position and the Champions League. It is an amazing season, if we are finishing like that,” said Emery on the race for fourth ahead of Brighton on Sunday.

“There is still work to do and we are very motivated because we have in front of us very important matches. On Sunday is Brighton and next Thursday in Athens. Sunday is a very important match to try and get closer to our first objective in the Premier League.”

If Emery does seal fourth, it will arguably be easier for him to keep hold of his star players. Arsenal have been interested in Douglas Luiz for a long time, and previous reports have suggested that they could lodge a summer move as they seek new midfielders (Football Insider via FFC).

Meanwhile, Arsenal are also thought to be fans of striker Ollie Watkins, coming as the Englishman enjoys his finest top flight campaign to date and as sporting director Edu seeks a prolific new goalscorer.

The Gunners could be spoiled in their potential attempts to lure away both of Emery's stars if Villa find themselves in the Champions League group stage pot for 2024/2025, but that isn't to say Villa will be completely immune to the prospect of players departing.

Diego Carlos open to leaving Villa as he ponders AC Milan move

Indeed, according to TEAMtalk, defender Diego Carlos is already eyeing an exit this summer.

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The Brazilian has suffered from a few injury problems during his time in Birmingham, like his hamstring issue most recently. However, when fit and available, Carlos has played a big role in Villa's success under Emery.

His form has attracted interest from AC Milan, who have earmarked the 31-year-old as one of their top targets. The Rossoneri have plans to bring in a quality new centre-half and are among the favourites to seal a deal for Villa's £100,000-per-week ace.

Carlos is apparently evaluating a move to Milan and is open to leaving Villa, which will come as a worry for Emery ahead of what could be a historic campaign next season.