Ruben Neves ‘ran the show’ for Wolves in their 1-0 win away to Everton on Sunday afternoon, according to journalist Tim Spiers.
The Lowdown: Wolves seal crucial win
Bruno Lage’s side made the trip to Goodison Park this afternoon in what was an important Premier League clash for both sides.
In the end, the game was settled by a ruthless second-half header by Conor Coady, who will have been particularly delighted given his Liverpool past.
The victory took Wolves to seventh in the table, leapfrogging Tottenham after their 3-2 defeat away to Manchester United on Saturday, and the Old Gold now sit just four points behind the fourth-placed Red Devils.
The Latest: Spiers praise for Neves
Taking to Twitter after the match, Spiers hailed Neves’ performance as the 24-year-old’s brilliant season continues:
The journalist gushed: “Ruben Neves was outstanding. Ran the show. What a guy.”
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The Verdict: European dream still alive
Neves rightly deserves enormous praise for his display at Goodison Park, with the 24-year-old enjoying a 90% pass completion rate (69 out of 77), winning six duels and completing all three of his dribbles as per Sofascore.
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For Wolves, it was a huge three points as they built upon their midweek thrashing of Watford, also capitalising on Spurs’ defeat yesterday to preserve strong hope of a European finish.
A Europa League spot may end up being more realistic than a top-four finish, especially as Arsenal will still have three games in hand on the Old Gold after tonight, but this team deserves European football of some kind at Molineux next season. Neves certainly does based on performances like today’s.
In other news, Wolves continue to eye up a move for one player this summer. Find out who it is here.
When former Leeds United academy starlet Lewis Cook emerged on the scene at Thorp Arch, then manager Dave Hockaday raved about the teenage talent, saying: “if you chopped Lewis’ head off and put an older head on his shoulders, you wouldn’t be surprised”.
It was Hockaday who handed the midfielder his debut and first start for Leeds before he left the club, and Whites fans would surely have been thankful for seeing one of their own being given a genuine opportunity.
After eventually making 85 senior appearances for the Yorkshire club, Leeds eventually cashed in on their young prodigy, with Bournemouth paying a fee rising to £10m to lure him away from Elland Road back in the summer of 2016.
Despite being dubbed as a “special talent” by former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, Cook’s time at the Vitality Stadium has been absolutely marred by a wretched record of injuries – indeed, earlier last year, he suffered another long-term knee injury which kept him out of first team for the best part of 2021
It’s all meant that the midfielder has played just 140 times for the south coast club in his six years there, and new Bournemouth manager Scott Parker admitted he could empathise with the now 25-year-old.
He said: “I was a player a little while ago and I realise during injuries they’re the worst moments really, when you feel really low. Certainly long-term ones and to go and do the same injury like Lewis has, psychologically that probably would’ve been a big blow for him in that sense.
“I think I see that where he is currently as well. I’m sure it’s been some tough moments for Lewis, just in the nature of two injuries and long-term like they’ve been. But I’ve certainly been impressed with him where he is.”
Cook’s return in the back end of 2021 has coincided with an improved run of form for Bournemouth that has seen them firmly in the mix for an automatic promotion place, lying in second in the Championship at the moment.
The midfielder himself has now played 20 games in all competitions this season, becoming much more of a regular fixture in Parker’s starting line-up.
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But while Cook is now finally beginning to rebuild his career, Leeds will no doubt feel they cashed in on the former England international at exactly the right time.
AND in other news – Leeds must finally offload £15k-p/w outcast who last played at Elland Road in 2018
Paulo Dybala is currently one of the most exciting strikers in Europe, tearing up Italian football at Juventus this season with 25 goals in all competitions, but could he be on his way to the English Premier League.
He’s been linked with a move to Liverpool this week, a transfer rumour that has caught the imagination of Reds supporters, even if they think it’s pretty unlikely it will be pulled off.
The striker has scored an excellent 67 goals in 132 appearances for the Italian giants, making him one of the most devastating strikers at the club in recent memory.
At just 24 years old he isn’t even the finished product either and has plenty of improving to do.
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Would he be a good fit at Liverpool? Supporters seem to think so with many taking to social media in the wake of the rumours to share their excitement at the potential addition of the Argentinian.
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After reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, is such a move as unrealistic as it first appears?
Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White could leave the club for a hefty transfer fee this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The Lowdown: Gibbs-Whites excelling on loan
The 22-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements by Bruno Lage last summer, joining Sheffield United on loan in order to play regular football.
Gibbs-White is enjoying a superb spell at Bramall Lane, scoring nine goals and registering seven assists in the Championship, also being hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Barnsley manager Poya Asbaghi over the weekend.
While the youngster is expected to return to Wolves at the end of the season, it could be that a permanent exit materialises in the summer.
The Latest: Journalist backs permanent Gibbs-White exit
Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that Wolves could sell Gibbs-Whites for a higher amount than previously thought, given the quality of his performances this season.
The journalist said: “The loan move has raised his price tag, considering how well he has done at Sheffield United.
“If Bruno Lage doesn’t see Morgan Gibbs-White as being a long-term part of his plans, they might be able to get a decent fee for him in the summer if they do decide to cash-in.”
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The Verdict: Keep hold of him
While it is understandable that Gibbs-White may be eyeing up regular playing time elsewhere, it would be an error for Wolves to sell him at this point in his career.
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Still only 22, the Englishman is showing what a talent he is while playing in a tough league this season. Also, with Joao Moutinho ageing and Ruben Neves’ future at Molineux potentially in doubt, opportunities could arise for the Blades loanee moving forward.
Gibbs-White’s current Wanderers deal expires in the summer of 2024, so giving him a chance to shine next season makes sense, with the opportunity to sell him in 2023 if it doesn’t work out for him in Old Gold by that point.
In other news, Tim Spiers is fuming about something Wolves did against Leeds United. Read more here.
Aston Villa correspondent Ashley Preece has dropped a major update on Philippe Coutinho ahead of the trip to Leeds on Thursday night.
The Lowdown: Links elsewhere
Villa have reaped the rewards after signing the playmaker on loan from Barcelona in January, with the 29-year-old contributing to six goals in 521 minutes of Premier League action.
He starred in the clash with the Whites last month, scoring once and providing two assists, and he goes into the game at Elland Road in fine form after adding to both tallies in the 4-0 win over Southampton at the weekend.
As we know, Villa have an option to make his move a permanent one in the summer, although the likes of Arsenal and West Ham have been linked with Coutinho’s services in recent weeks.
The Latest: Preece’s claim
Preece shared a story on Birmingham Live on Monday, looking at a number of Villa-related topics.
When it came to Coutinho, he said that sources from Spain have informed the news oulet that Barcelona are keen to sell the 29-year-old, possibly for less than £33m.
They appear desperate to get the Brazilian’s £300,000-a-week wage off their books, with Coutinho currently on 65% of that salary in the Midlands, and a sale is expected to go through.
The Verdict: In Coutinho’s hands
Rumours over a move to either of the two aforementioned London clubs are just speculation for now, but Villa may well be cautious over a full-time move for the Brazilian.
Ultimately it will be Coutinho’s decision, should Villa’s Premier League rivals firm up their reported interest, but hopefully he is open to making his loan move permanent over the coming months.
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As Preece also mentioned, the 29-year-old has settled in extremely well in the Midlands due to being close friends with Douglas Luiz and has socialised with the likes of Emi Buendia and Emi Martinez away from Bodymoor Heath.
That could contribute to his thinking over the coming months, and his performances since returning to England suggest that he would be a major coup for Villa on a full-time deal.
In other news: Villa now set to share details of ‘devastating’ injury to ‘brilliant’ player; Gregg Evans gutted
Barcelona have reportedly made their first bid for Leeds United winger Raphinha, making him their first-choice summer transfer target.
The Lowdown: Raphinha twist
The Whites have had a tough season in the Premier League and they still face a huge battle to remain in the division with eight matches remaining.
Raphinha has been a standout performer for Leeds, registering 12 goal contributions in the league – nine goals and three assists – but he has been endlessly linked with a move away.
A fresh update could be the biggest indication yet that the 25-year-old is moving on to pastures new, in a twist from previous reports which claimed Barca will not move for the Elland Road star.
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The Latest: Barcelona make bid
According to Sport [via Sport Witness], it is now the Catalan club’s ‘number one goal’ to sign Raphinha this summer, moving on from Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.
There is already thought to be ‘open negotiation’ regarding a move and the Catalan giants have ‘submitted a first offer’ for the winger.
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The Verdict: All fairly predictable
Raphinha’s head will surely be turned by the prospect of joining a club of Barca’s stature, especially with Xavi seemingly turning the club’s fortunes around after last weekend’s 4-0 win away to Real Madrid.
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Some true Brazilian greats have represented them down the years, whether it be Romario, Ronaldo or Ronaldinho, and the Leeds star, hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by Rio Ferdinand, could be desperate to follow in their footsteps.
Leeds are a special club in their own right, but even the most hardened supporter would find it tough to begrudge Raphinha a dream move to Spain if it happens, with the Whites receiving a huge fee which can then be spent on new signings.
In other news, an expert has made a key Leeds ownership claim. Read more here.
Can Newcastle United immediately bounce back from their Tyne-Wear Derby disappointment?
Thankfully, for Eddie Howe’s bruised outfit, there’s now two home games on the spin in the EFL Cup and Premier League to try and restore some pride, with the Toon picking up an impressive five league victories at St James’ Park already this season.
If they were to overcome Fulham in mid-week, they would also only be one match away from another EFL Cup final, which is – of course – the trophy Howe and Co famously lifted last campaign to triumphantly end their hunt for some honours.
Moving up the top-flight standings is also a pressing matter, with the Magpies currently stuck in a mediocre 12th spot, with the January transfer window surely helping their chances of making a push up the league, to go against Howe’s grumbles after the Stadium of Light defeat.
Newcastle consider move for £22m star
The underperforming Magpies showed in the summer that they’re not afraid to throw cash around, spending a whopping £250m on the likes of Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga.
While Elanga struggled once more against Sunderland, Howe and Co will be hoping they can land a gem in the midfield ranks shortly, if new reports are to be believed, linking them with Giovani Lo Celso’s services.
Indeed, reports from Spain suggest that the ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has been on the Tyneside radar for some time, with a move whirring into motion potentially if Newcastle are willing to cough up around £22m for the Argentine, who isn’t in the Real Betis first team consistently anymore.
The report continues that while there is ‘no formal offer yet’, contact has occurred between the two clubs and the interest is genuine.
He has shown off enough glimpses of his quality as an attack-minded midfielder in the likes of La Liga, Ligue 1, and the Premier League, to be considered a target worth exploring, with Howe even potentially winning himself a modern version of former Toon great Yohan Cabaye if a January move were to go through.
How Lo Celso can be the next Cabaye
Much like Lo Celso who had a whirlwind 11-goal contributions under his belt for Paris St Germain before moving to Spurs, Cabaye would only be exposed to Ligue 1 with Lille, before becoming a household Premier League name on Tyneside.
By the end of his impressive stint, the skilful Frenchman would have 18 goals and 12 assists next to his name donning Newcastle black and white, leading to his ex-manager in Alan Pardew hailing him as a “fantastic asset” who always had an “elegance” about him, even as he fought for the spotlight, playing alongside the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa and Demba Ba.
Lo Celso will hope he can arrive back on English shores and be another classy midfield presence, even as faces such as Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade attract more attention, with the £22m-rated midfielder also capable of a moment of magic in attack – like Cabaye – as seen in the effort above being hammered home last year for Betis.
There will also be an expectation that the South American can immediately remove any cobwebs visible from him falling down the pecking order in Spain, and stand out in the Premier League to push the Toon up the standings, with Cabaye’s added presence during his debut season at the club, lifting Pardew’s men to a dizzy fifth position.
Lo Celso’s Spurs numbers
Stat
Lo Celso
Games played
108
Minutes played
5192 mins
Goals
10
Assists
8
Sourced by Transfermarkt
From just nine starts this season for Betis in La Liga, Lo Celso has still managed to collect one goal and two assists, with a mighty 11 goal contributions amassed last campaign, when handed more regular chances.
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Looking at his standout numbers for Spurs, too, shows off a talent ready to dive back into the challenges of the Premier League, with Jose Mourinho – who managed the hit-and-miss 29-year-old once upon a time – lauding him as “phenomenal” when chipping in with ten goals and eight assists overall in North London.
He would also be described as “unbelievable” by journalist Alex Mitton, when irregularly handed first-team minutes.
Capable of lining up as a right midfielder, or as a deep-lying playmaker like Cabaye, this does feel as if it could be a signing that’s an inspired move, with Lo Celso’s £22m price tag arguably a bargain amount to splash, like the Frenchman’s modest £4m fee in 2011.
Newcastle need an injection of freshness after some poor results in recent matches, as Lo Celso aims to be just one spark that pushes them back into European contention.
PIF's worst signing: Newcastle flop is becoming more pointless than Elanga
Newcastle’s summer transfer window has left plenty to be desired as Eddie Howe’s side toil.
Steven Gerrard came off the bench to inspire Liverpool to victory over Newcastle at Anfield to move level on points with Chelsea and keep their top four dream alive.
Gerrard entered the action on the hour with the scores level and secured the points 17 minutes scoring the crucial third after Craig Bellamy’s brace had put the hosts into the lead. A Daniel Agger own goal had given the Magpies a shock lead after 25 minutes only for the Welsh international to score from close range and equalise just before the half hour. Bellamy put home side into the lead on 67 minutes before Gerrard struck 13 minutes from time to move Kenny Dalglish’s side up to fifth as they caught up with Chelsea on points. For Alan Pardew he watched his players slide to seventh in the table following a fifth defeat in eight games.Newcastle hadn’t scored at Anfield since a Patrick Kluivert goal in 2004 and you’d have to go back a decade further for their last win on Merseyside which came in 1994 in the days of Kevin Keegan and Andy Cole.
Demba Ba is the new hero at St James’ Park is chasing his 15th goal of an impressive season following his free transfer from West Ham. The Senegal international hardly had a touch in the first half as Liverpool dominated penning the visitors back with Stewart Downing having a penalty appeal turned down after his header supposedly hit Ryan Taylor’s arm. Charlie Adam tried his luck from 30-yards before Downing forced Tim Krul into a low save with a strike from a similar distance. With both teams cancelling each other out in midfield it was going to take either something special or a massive stroke of luck for a goal to materialise. The latter certainly came into play as Newcastle broke the deadlock against the run of play with Taylor’s cross from the box being flicked on by Yohan Cabaye before hitting Ba and then Agger before nestling in the back of Pepe Reina’s net. The lead lasted barely four minutes with Downing’s in-swinging cross finishing off by Bellamy after a brief moment of pinball in the Magpies penalty area.
It was the home side who started the brighter after the break although the only notable effort on goal saw Downing whistle one wide of Krul’s goal from 25-yards. However they finally got their reward for an enterprising start to the half with Bellamy giving them the lead from a free kick after Cheick Tiote was hardly adjudged to have fouled Agger. The former Magpies striker did brilliantly to bend the ball over the wall although his cause was helped somehow by Danny Simpson blocking Krul’s path as he attempted to keep the ball out. It was back to the walls time for the away side now and the game was almost put to bed by one of their own with former Toon striker rising above Mike Williamson to meet right wing Gerrard’s cross only to see the ball cannon back off the cross bar. Newcastle almost levelled three minutes later after Ba latched onto Cabaye’s elegant through ball but was thwarted by Martin Skrtel who raced back to clear the strikers dink over Reina off the line. Their chances of a comeback were ended seven just minutes later though with Gerrard latching onto Jordan Henderson’s through ball and sliding the ball past Krul to put the Red’s right back into contention for a top four finish.
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Tottenham will offer Kion Etete a new deal in the summer before loaning him out to a Championship club next season, according to Spurs insider John Wenham.
The Lowdown: Etete’s loan spells
The 20-year-old joined the Lilywhites in 2019 after signing from his boyhood club Notts County, transitioning from the under-18s to the under-23s the following year.
This season, Spurs decided to loan out the centre-forward, sending him to League Two outfit Northampton Town for the first half of the campaign, where he netted six goals in 23 appearances.
After being recalled by his parent club over the winter, Etete now lines out for League One side Cheltenham Town.
Wenham has insisted that any calls for Etete to be involved with the Tottenham first team are premature. He claims that Spurs will offer the youngster – who is out of contract in June 2023 – a new deal before then sending him on loan to a Championship club later this year.
Speaking with Football Insider, the N17 insider said of the 20-year-old: “He’s really settled in and it looks like he has found some form.
“There have been some fans who are now talking about his potential involvement with Tottenham next season. That is really premature for me. He has made great progress this season. He established himself in League Two and he’s now made the jump to League One.
“I think the plan now will be to give him a new contract in the summer then find a Championship side for him to join.
“He can continue his development in the Championship. I think anything else is way too soon.”
The Verdict: Would be wasted
Wenham is right – any calls for Etete’s involvement with the first team are premature for a number of reasons.
Firstly, he would have a serious lack of game-time at Spurs. Harry Kane is rarely rotated out of Antonio Conte’s starting XI, so apart from the early rounds of cup competitions, the 20-year-old would probably only get a few minutes here and there, rather than regular first-team football elsewhere.
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This is exacerbated by Dane Scarlett’s rise at the club, with Conte claiming that he is “the best prospect from the academy”, so if any youngster is going to get senior minutes under the Italian, it is probably him.
Furthermore, Etete has only played eight times in League One, so the transition to Championship football would likely be much easier for him than the huge leap to the Premier League.
In other news: Michael Bridge thinks one forgotten man at Spurs could be in high demand
Nottingham Forest have held talks to sign a former Atletico Madrid star, with Evangelos Marinakis directly involved, and he has now made a decision on moving to the City Ground.
Forest looking to strengthen squad amid relegation battle
Forest have some breathing room near the bottom of the Premier League table, having gotten some wins under their belt since the arrival of Sean Dyche, but they are not out of the woods just yet, suffering a 1-0 defeat away at Fulham on Monday night.
The Tricky Trees remain just five points clear of the bottom three, so there is still plenty of work to do, as we approach the half-way stage of the season, with the January transfer window nearly upon us.
A lack of goals has been one of Dyche’s side’s main problems this season, having scored just 17, the second-lowest number in the top flight, with only bottom of the table Wolverhampton Wanderers scoring fewer.
As such, bringing in a new striker may be of interest in 2026, and earlier this month it was revealed that Nottingham Forest have now joined the race for Bologna striker Santiago Castro.
However, Forest have also set out to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch, according to a report in Brazil, which states talks have been held over a deal to re-sign their former defender Renan Lodi.
Lodi held direct discussions with Marinakis, but the chairman appears to have scuppered the deal, having made it clear he wanted the left-back to join Olympiacos on loan to begin with.
That proposition didn’t go down well with the former Atletico Madrid star, who spent the 2022-23 campaign at the City Ground, and he is now close to joining Brazilian side Clube Atlético Mineiro.
"Fantastic" £40k-a-week Nottingham Forest ace now set to leave within weeks
The Tricky Trees may be rocked by a departure in the January transfer window.
ByDominic Lund Lodi may have been unnecessary signing for Forest
The Tricky Trees have set out to bring in a new left-back, with Sassuolo’s Josh Doig emerging as a target earlier this month, but it is debatable whether they need to strengthen in that area of the pitch.
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Dyche already has Neco Williams and Oleksandr Zinchenko at his disposal, while Cuiabano is due to return from a loan spell with Botafogo, so there is little reason to bring in yet another left-back.
Instead, it may be a better idea to focus on bringing in attacking reinforcements, especially considering there have been suggestions Arnaud Kalimuendo already wants to leave, despite only arriving in the summer.
As previously mentioned, Bologna star Castro is one of the names on Forest’s shortlist, and the 21-year-old could be an exciting addition, having amassed five goal contributions in 13 Serie A outings this season.