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Southampton have been linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon winger Jovane Cabral in recent weeks and if the Saints can sign him, he could be the man to replace Nathan Redmond in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad.

According to Portuguese news outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness), both Southampton and West Ham remain interested in the 22-year-old, with the Hammers having fallen short with a bid during the summer transfer window.

So far this season, the Cape Verde international has made six appearances in the Liga NOS for Sporting, in which he has contributed two goals and one assist, resulting in a solid average rating of 6.76 (per WhoScored).

The youngster performed superbly in the Portuguese top-flight last season, as he scored six goals and contributed two assists in just 16 appearances. He also earned four man-of-the-match awards in that time, which led to him averaging a superb 7.17 rating, so it was no surprise to see the likes of Southampton and West Ham credited with an interest in him.

Cabral’s former teammate, and current Manchester United star, Bruno Fernandes, certainly seems to be a big fan of the young winger, as he revealed in an interview with Canal 11 (via Inside Futbol) that:

“I didn’t teach him anything. What he did in the game is down to his quality, his ability.

“What I did was simply text Jovane before the game, talked to him a little.

“I had already told him after the game in Guimaraes that I wanted to talk to him.

“Jovane in the past has had his ups and downs, many ups and downs, and I think it was always due to the fact that he stayed a little moonstruck when things went well and very low when things went wrong.

“So I tried to have a conversation with him in such a way that he kept his focus, that he did not get carried away by the fact that in Guimaraes he had a good game.

“In my opinion, he did not have a great game because I know Jovane’s quality and I think he can give more.”

If Southampton were to sign the £9 million-rated Cabral and if he were to have anywhere near the impact that Fernandes has had since joining Manchester United, then he would surely prove to be a very good signing indeed.

With WhoScored suggesting that Cabral has a lot of attractive strengths for a winger, including his ability to finish and play key passes, it would perhaps not be a surprise to see him replace Redmond in Hasenhuttl’s squad, considering the Englishman has failed to contribute a single goal or an assist so far this season.

It will be interesting to see whether Southampton are able to see off interest from West Ham to bring Cabral to the club in the January transfer window.

Liverpool produced another superb home display on Sunday night, winning 4-0 at Anfield against Wolves.

Goals from Mohamed Salah, Georginio Wijnaldum, Joel Matip and an own-goal from Nelson Semedo secured a resounding win for Jurgen Klopp’s side to put them back into second place in the Premier League behind Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference.

However, the performance of Curtis Jones may be a cause for concern for the German manager, as he was one of few Reds players who struggled somewhat on the evening, which may lead the former Borussia Dortmund boss to consider reinstating Naby Keita or Diogo Jota in his starting team for Liverpool’s next big game, which sees them face Fulham in the Premier League next weekend with Wednesday’s clash against FC Midtjylland in the Champions League now a dead rubber.

As per SofaScore, the academy graduate won just five out of 12 of his duels during his 90 minutes on the pitch, earning him a disappointing success rate of just 42%.

Jones’ performance earned him an overall 6.8 rating, which was better than just two other Liverpool players who started the game, with both Neco Williams and Roberto Firmino earning a 6.7 rating.

Although the 19-year-old’s passing was fairly solid during the game, with 95% of his attempts finding a Liverpool shirt and him losing possession on just eight occasions, it was his defensive contribution that might have Klopp worried.

The English midfielder was dribbled past on two occasions and had one error leading to a Wolves shot as his poor pass gave Wolves a clear strike at goal, suggesting that the was somewhat fortunate not to be punished by Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

Jones grabbed the winner in the midweek 1-0 win against Ajax, which led Klopp to praise him after the game, saying:

“Curtis Jones – what a game for a 19-year-old boy. If I would be sure he couldn’t watch my interview, I would say something else!

“He is a really good kid to be honest and a really good player. I’m really happy to have him around.

“That’s how it is sometimes. When we have problems there is always an opportunity for somebody else. He took it, exceptionally well. I’m really, really happy with him.”

However, he was unable to match this level of performance against the Old Gold, as he never really looked like adding to the six goals he has for Liverpool’s senior side in his career thus far and he wasn’t able to de as defensively strong as Klopp would want in his midfield.

Therefore, it might be best for Klopp to consider resting Jones for their upcoming fixtures, as you worry that if he were to produce a similar display in the Reds’ next home Premier League fixture, which sees them take on top-of-the-table Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield a week on Wednesday, he could well be punished.

And, in other news… Bye Bye Gini: LFC can sign their Wijnaldum replacement in PL midfielder expected to “get better and better”

David Moyes can solve West Ham’s defensive woes by reviving efforts to sign Fiorentina’s “fearless” enforcer Nikola Milenkovic in January.

What’s the word?

According to Irons insider ExWHUemployee, while speaking on the West Ham Way Podcast, the east London outfit could strive to make another approach to sign Milenkovic in the New Year after falling short in efforts this summer.

Moyes scoured the market for defensive upgrades following the conclusion of the extended 2019/20 campaign, ultimately signing Watford’s Craig Dawson on loan in a deal club figures were reluctant to commit to as they see the 30-year-old as a stop-gap solution.

Milenkovic would likely have been a long-term option to fix a backline that allowed 62 goals in 38 Premier League games last season, with reports by the Daily Mail claiming a £20million offer was tabled in September for the towering 6 ft 5 enforcer previously tracked by Manchester United.

The offer fell short of Fiorentina’s rumoured €35m (£31.6m) valuation, as the Serie A side held firm amid rival interest from Juventus, knowing Milenkovic would warrant a lofty fee through his technical ability and versatility to also play at right-back.

ExWHUemployee does not believe the Hammers’ interest in Milenkovic has ended, noting that his ongoing contract standoff could open the door for a renewed approach.

“A centre-back who we looked at in the summer window was Nikola Milenkovic at Fiorentina,” he said. “He’s refusing to sign a new contract at the moment. And it could be the case that we could go back in for him in January. This is not confirmed at the moment though.”

Characteristics of a beast

West Ham stepping back into the ring in order to fight for Milenkovic’s services in January would certainly offer Moyes the top-draw defensive talent the London Stadium natives sought this summer, providing they can reach a compromise with Fiorentina.

The Serie A side are not yet under intense pressure to sell the 23-year-old as Milenkovic is under contract until 2022, though the 23-cap Serbia international is not currently considering penning new terms at the Artemio Franchi Stadium as he dreams of a move to one of Italy’s elite sides or of a move abroad, per Calciomercato.it.

Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid are each claimed to have come forward with determination and conviction to sign Milenkovic in the summer, too, which has sparked Fiorentina to consider lowering their asking price to avoid the defender walking away for free.

West Ham stepping in before a rival suitor can emerge in January would see the London Stadium natives snap up someone who former FK Partizan manager Ivan Tomic hailed during his time in charge of the Belgrade outfit, and ensured Milenkovic penned his first professional contract in 2015.

“Milenkovic has [the] physical characteristics of a beast,” Tomic said, via quotes by Mozzart Sport. “He reads the game well, plays the ball and should have a great career ahead of him.”

Mozzart journalist Dejan Stankovic also once told ESPN of how Milenkovic’s nature has seen him compared with Manchester United great Nemanja Vidic, but is in some regards better than the five-time Premier League winner.

“Milenkovic is better than Vidic with the ball at his feet, and he is much calmer on the field,” he said.

It remains to be seen how willing Fiorentina are in lowering Milenkovic’s valuation, and whether or not West Ham return with renewed interest in the towering enforcer who has started all six of his Serie A appearances this term.

AND in other news, David Moyes has been backed to bring the “perfect” £10m bonus to West Ham in January.

There’s now an air of optimism brewing in Merseyside after Everton bolstered their squad with no fewer than three new signings and now they’re back in action as the Premier League returns this afternoon.

The Toffees face a trip south to north London to face Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But what sort of lineup will Carlo Ancelotti select as he faces another former Real Madrid boss in the form of Jose Mourinho?

Here’s what we are predicting…

There are no doubts over Jordan Pickford going into the new campaign as the first-choice shot-stopper. He’s got no viable backup or real competition.

His back four will most likely include Lucas Digne and Seamus Coleman on either flank with Michael Keane partnering Yerry Mina through the middle. The young Mason Holgate is expected to be out through injury for several weeks.

Ancelotti could hand a debut to his Napoli lynchpin Allan as he looks to fortify their weak midfield from last season. However, Andre Gomes remains in the starting XI over fellow summer arrival Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Out wide, Richarlison drops back to take up a spot on the left with the £22.95m-rated Alex Iwobi occupying the other side whilst there’s another debut through the middle as James Rodriguez is given a start in the number ten role.

It means there’s no place on offer for Tom Davies or Gylfi Sigurdsson – much to the delight of many back in Merseyside, you’d imagine.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin will surely lead the line as a result with his Italian boss opting for a 4-3-3 rather than a 4-4-2.

With promotion to the Premier League secured, Leeds can look forward to an exciting post-season of being linked to players across Europe.

And one man who they will surely be excited at being touted with, is Brentford winger Said Benrahma.

The Algerian of course will be familiar to Marcelo Bielsa’s side having scored against them in a Championship fixture this season, and according to the latest reports, is now being eyed up by the Whites this summer.

The report claims that Bielsa wants the 24-year-old at Elland Road at all costs, and has made him his priority in terms of summer transfer targets. It’s further added that the Whites are readying an offer in the region of €26m (£23.6m) to lure him away from London.

Is it Haaland Snr or David Hopkins? Your Leeds knowledge will be put to the test with this quiz…

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And when you look at the kind of season he had, it’s easy to see why Benrahma is a man in demand. With 17 goals and nine assists, the attacker has been one of the main reasons behind Brentford’s charge for an automatic promotion place – they narrowly missed out on the final day.

As per Whoscored, he has averaged a very impressive 3.9 shots, 2.1 key passes and 3.1 dribbles per game in the Championship, and that level of creativity and goal threat is something that could really elevate Leeds’ attack.

His ability to take players on is second-to-none, and it’s no surprise that several people who have worked closely with him have raved about his technique and skills – including Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

He said: “For me he’s a quality player with top skills but also finishing skills. We actually worked very hard with him to arrive in the box at the right situations. In there when he’s turning and running at people – oof, I don’t want to defend against him!”.

His teammate Henrik Dalsgaard further underlined just how much of a difficult customer he can be for the opposition, saying: “He’s such a tricky player, you think you’ve got him locked in the corner and then, all of a sudden, he’s out”.

And if you needed to sum it all up, then look no further than Sam Saunders, Brentford B’s assistant coach, who claimed Benrahma “could nutmeg a mermaid”.

Benrahma may be plying his trade in the Championship, but all signs point to him being a Premier League quality player in the future. Victor Orta and co would be foolish not to snap him up ahead of the competition.

With Newcastle’s proposed takeover continuing to drag on, it appears things are now beginning to affect how the club deals with players contracts.

According to The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, the current Magpies hierarchy are “having to consult the prospective new owners on any contract negotiations, complicating the futures of Matty Longstaff and Andy Carroll”.

Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…

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It’s revealed that as part of the whole takeover process, Lee Charnley “must communicate financial dealings such as new contracts with the would-be buyers, delaying all business at St James’ Park” – essentially, were Longstaff to agree terms on a new deal, that would then have to be signed off by the Saudi consortium.

And after hearing about the kind of impact the takeover delay is beginning to have on the club, Newcastle fans flooded to Twitter to share their frustrations.

Some Magpies fans took aim at the Premier League in particular, and called them out for continuing to drag out the process, with a couple pointing to how it’s now beginning to affect their “ability to do business”.

One particularly pessimistic Newcastle fan suggested that this all had the sense of deja vu about it, and that when everything falls to pieces, the Magpies hierarchy will just be delivering excuses again.

So the Magpies are currently being left in limbo.

Whilst the Premier League continue to drag their heels over doing their due diligence on the takeover, Newcastle are having to contend with a situation where nothing is really certain, meaning the futures the likes of Longstaff can’t be resolved anytime soon.

The Tyneside club will have to hope that there isn’t a worse-case scenario whereby the takeover falls through, and players whose contracts come to an end soon, walk through the exit door too.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is keen to reunite with Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma in the summer. 

According to The Mirror, Spurs will need to spend £25m on Zouma if they want to bring him to north London.

Last week The Daily Star claimed Chelsea are willing to listen to offers for the centre-back, which could pave the way for the Lilywhites to make a move.

Mourinho is adamant he wants to add to his defensive options before the start of next season, as Jan Vertonghen could leave the club in a matter of weeks, and Zouma may be the ideal solution to his problems.

The Portuguese signed the Frenchman from St Etienne for £12m back in 2014. He has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the Blues, winning the Premier League twice, the League Cup and French League Cup, amid loans to St Etienne, Stoke City and Everton.

Zouma has played 22 games in the Premier League for Frank Lampard’s side this season, making 1 tackle per game, averaging 1.9 interceptions, and completing 4 clearances on average (WhoScored).

Last year he received plenty of high praise from the former Chelsea boss, who previously described him as a “champion of England.”

Meanwhile, Vertonghen has struggled for consistency so far. He was notably substituted after a disastrous display against Southampton in the FA Cup earlier this year.

The 33-year-old has made 19 appearances in the English top flight at the time of writing, registering 2.1 tackles on average, attempting 1.6 interceptions, and completing 2.9 clearances per game (WhoScored).

Mourinho is now interested in a reunion with his former player as the Belgian has fallen out of favour with the head coach.

As it stands, Zouma could be the perfect replacement for Vertonghen next season. Indeed, he is clearly an upgrade on the wantaway veteran, as he has earned a higher WhoScored rating of 6.9 for his performances this season.

Given his young age, the 25-year-old may turn out to be a shrewd investment, as he surely still has a long career ahead of him. Moreover, his experience at the top levels of the game could prove vital as Spurs resume their hunt for silverware in the future.

Furthermore, he has worked with Mourinho before, so he will already have an understanding of the coach’s methodology and tactics.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sign Kurt Zouma in the summer? Let us know down below!

Plenty of Newcastle United fans have discussed takeover advice given to the prospective new owners by Sir John Hall, who owned the Tyneside club before selling it to Mike Ashley.

Hall has called on PCP Capital Partners, run by Amanda Staveley, to rebuild the Magpies properly and hopes that the takeover will be the start of better times at the Toon, he told Sky Sports News.

The 87-year old sold NUFC to Ashley for £135 million back in 2007 and any deal to sell the club this time around will be closer to £300 million, as per the report.

The former Newcastle owner warned the potential new owners to take in the city and the community, and referenced Liverpool as an example. He added that he would not like the money to be spent irresponsibly, but would like to see a team built with some superstars as well as local lads to challenge the top five over the next few years.

Hall also claims that his relationship with Ashley was not an issue and that the CEO of Sports Direct was fine to deal with.

These supporters discussed the advice from their ex-owner on Twitter:

Missing football!? There’s still plenty of Newcastle discussion going on in the Vital Newcastle Forum! Click here to get involved!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Newcastle’s attack has let them down time after time this season and Steve Bruce could opt to play without a striker against Manchester City.

On the chalkboard

The Citizens have struggled on their visits to St James Park in recent years and that was mainly due to the way Rafa Benitez made life difficult for them by restricting their usual flow and the space they had to operate in.

Bruce has continued on from the Spaniard in a very similar way, operating with five at the back and looking to contain the opposition before counter-attacking to great effect.

The Magpies beat City in the same fixture last term and the year before that soaked up a great deal of pressure, conceding 78% possession, in a 1-0 defeat.

A similar gameplan could work wonders, therefore, and with the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin running at City’s makeshift back four they could also have some joy at the other end of the pitch.

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No striker

Man City have looked a little more vulnerable in the league this campaign but they still possess a style and the personnel to really hurt Newcastle, and keeping Gabriel Jesus quiet will be key to picking up points.

Playing without a striker seems like a negative approach but in reality, it could free up the wingers to be more expressive, and the space it would restrict in their defensive half would make it very difficult for City to find a way through.

Joelinton didn’t exactly hold the ball up well against Aston Villa on Monday, either, and with the Brazilian now enduring a run of ten games without a goal it is unlikely he will be missed in an attacking sense, particularly not by the fans.

There is a concern that Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron won’t be able to score too since neither has found the net in black and white yet, but they at least provide an outlet on the break and the ability to carry their team up the pitch with their dribbling ability.

The pair have averaged four and one successful dribbles per league game respectively, while also providing a threat in behind the defence if they can be picked out by Jonjo Shelvey or Sean Longstaff, which worked to good effect against West Ham a few weeks ago.

Sacrificing a striker for an extra midfielder should reduce the influence of key men like David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, and that may just be enough to stop Pep Guardiola’s men.

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Manuel Pellegrini is a man under pressure, especially after the poor performance his West Ham United side put in for the majority of their 3-2 loss against Tottenham Hotspur.

This has begun leading to conversations around who would replace the Chilean if he was to be sacked, with The Athletic hinting that it could be Chris Hughton.

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ExWHUEmployee has also offered an update that indicates Sean Dyche could also be in the hat:

While there are some West Ham fans who don’t want him due to the perceived style of football his side plays, many are thrilled by the thought of having him in the dugout at London Stadium.

He has already beaten the Hammers this season, his Burnley side currently sit seventh in the Premier League table and he has taken them to the Europa League in the past.

A selection of Twitter reaction to the update, including posts from thrilled West Ham fans, can be seen below: