Former Newcastle United forward Faustino Asprilla is the latest name to chime in with comments on the prospective takeover of the club.
The Colombian enjoyed a two-year spell at the Magpies between 1996 and 1998 before returning to Parma, and the northeast outfit has clearly left behind a mark on Asprilla as he’s asking the same question as the majority of fans – what exactly is happening with the deal?
He tweeted that along with a highlights reel of his time at St James’ Park:
Some of the Magpies faithful have even been responding to the 50-year-old’s message on Twitter…
Reports first emerged over a month ago that a Saudi-backed consortium involving Amanda Staveley, the Reuben brothers and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were close to purchasing Newcastle for £300m from Mike Ashley after a torrid reign of 13 years at the helm.
Hilariously obscure Premier League players – Can you name them all?
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Whilst Wednesday night’s draw to Vitória represented yet another disappointing on-field performance from Arsenal in the 2019/20 campaign, manager Unai Emery must take a degree of responsibility for a considerable mistake on his part in the Europa League clash.
Shkodran Mustafi rose highest to meet Nicolas Pepe’s free-kick in the 80th minute, but the Gunners appeared devoid of confidence, with the German centre-back’s header their first shot on target of the whole game.
In a week where Emery had made the decision to strip Granit Xhaka of the Arsenal captaincy and hand it to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the fixture against Vitória represented the perfect opportunity for the Gabonese forward to take over the armband and lead his side to victory against seemingly inferior opposition.
Yet the decision from the Arsenal boss to fully rest the Gabonese forward and not even take him to Portugal points to a manager who seems out of touch with the intricacies of motivation and management; the opportunity to set a precedent for the era of Aubameyang’s captaincy from the outset missed by Emery.
Given the testing league fixture that the north London side will encounter on Saturday, coming up against the high-flying Foxes under the management of Brendan Rodgers, victory seems unlikely in Aubameyang’s first league game as captain of the club; certainly on current form.
Yet had the former Borrusia Dortmund man travelled for the Europa League game, playing and captaining his side, this could have represented a shrewd move from Emery for reasons that stretch beyond the quality of Arsenal’s football: this was a chance to send a statement to both the club’s fanbase and its critics that the decision to remove Xhaka’s captaincy has galvanised the squad.
But a 1-1 draw and an underwhelming performance on foreign soil is likely to only further intensify calls for Emery to depart The Emirates, with Saturday’s league fixture holding the potential to make it just four wins in 12 league games for the Spaniard.
Aubameyang could emerge as an outstanding captaincy option with innate leadership qualities, but the striker’s task of picking back up a side who have experienced another deflating result will be a true test of his ability to energise this Arsenal side. After all, he’s their top scorer this season.
But there can be no doubting that Emery’s decision for the forward not to travel, and to hand the captaincy to Rob Holding, marks yet another mistake in missing an opportunity to build some much-needed momentum in the Gunners’ bid to salvage their 2019/20 campaign.
Liverpool are flying high at the top of the Premier League table, and beating Manchester City 3-1 on Sunday clearly left star left-back Andrew Robertson in a positive mood.The Scot took to Twitter shortly after helping Jurgen Klopp’s side pull off a huge win against their title rival to tease one of his teammates, Roberto Firmino, and remind everyone of the dangers of the Brazilian’s flying kick celebration.Firmino had shown off his trademark celebration in response to the action unfolding on Merseyside, as defeating the Sky Blues put a nine-point gap between Liverpool and the reigning champions.
Manchester City now find themselves behind Leicester and Chelsea after goals from Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane dealt more damage to Pep Guardiola and his side’s title defence.
A photo of Firmino celebrating Mane’s goal perfectly captured the £72million-rated Brazilian in mid-flight as he flew towards Robertson and the jubilant Senegal winger, which led the Scot to tweet: ‘Never celebrate with Bobby.’
Leeds United fans will be roaring on their players every week in the hope that promotion back up to the Premier League is won, but the Daniel Farke era at the Whites doesn’t quite have that same charm to it as when Marcelo Bielsa was occupying the dug-out.
Bielsa, who is a revered figure to this day at Elland Road, was rightly adored in West Yorkshire, having lifted the Championship title aloft under his eccentric stewardship, whilst also steering the Whites to an impressive ninth-place finish right after promotion was sealed back playing amongst English football’s elite.
Marcelo Bielsa
The beloved South American was responsible for some top signings coming in through the door during his four years at the club too, even if everything began to fall apart towards the back end of his tenure.
Marcelo Bielsa's best players at Leeds
Away from getting the most out of the likes of Kalvin Phillips during his time in charge, alongside the infamous Victor Orta, Bielsa also went out and purchased some fine talents who would don the Leeds strip in style.
Raphinha is an obvious name that springs to mind, with the Brazilian trickster’s audacious tricks and flicks spellbinding the Leeds masses on a regular basis after he joined in 2020 on a bumper switch from French outfit Rennes.
He amassed 17 goals and 12 assists playing in West Yorkshire before an inevitable big-money move away from Elland Road happened, with Barcelona now taking in the delights of Raphinha week in week out.
It wasn’t always the flashiest signings who came good under the now Uruguay manager, however, with the likes of Mateusz Klich impressing. He was purchased for £1.5m from FC Twente 12 months prior to Bielsa’s arrival but it wasn’t until the South American head coach came in that he proved himself to be a masterstroke buy.
Mateusz Klich
He went on to make 195 appearances in total for the Whites after leaving the Netherlands behind, becoming an everpresent member of Bielsa’s starting XIs as a reliable midfield presence.
Of course, although the decorated manager ended up sanctioning some top deals whilst managing in England, he also fell victim to some blunders in the transfer market.
Former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa.
One of Bielsa's worst signings
It could be argued that one of Bielsa and Orta’s worst-ever signings was the purchase of Kiko Casilla back in 2019, even with the former Real Madrid shot-stopper joining on a free transfer.
The Spaniard’s time at the club saw him make countless errors between the sticks, enough to be referred to as a “complete liability” by Leeds content creator Oscar Mario in 2020. The Whites also had to make do with a younger Ilian Meslier for eight games that same year after the 6 foot 3 ‘keeper was ruled out having been banned due to racially abusing another player.
That would then lead to the now free-agent ‘keeper never reclaiming his number one spot back off the Frenchman, going on to make just five appearances in total during his final season at the club during 2020/21.
It wasn’t just his below-par performances which saw him notch up just 23 clean sheets for the club, that would anger those at Leeds during his disastrous stint. Indeed, the one-time Spain international was also earning a significant pay packet.
1. Rodrigo
£100k
2. Raphinha
£63.5k
3. Kiko Casilla
£40k
4. Diego Llorente
£40k
5. Robin Koch
£40k
Amazingly, despite making such limited appearances during his swansong season, Casilla would still rake in a hefty £40k-per-week salary, only beaten by star players Raphinha and Rodrigo in terms of higher wages.
In total, on wages alone, Leeds would end up burning through £6.2m on Casilla during his three seasons at the club.
Looking at Farke’s camp now, both Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani staggeringly earn less, despite being key parts of the German manager’s plans at Elland Road.
Largie Ramazani
Both attackers will be key for Leeds as they aim to win promotion back into the Premier League – with Ramazani on to two goals already for his new employers since a summer move from Almeria – but both the former Manchester United youth player and his Italian counterpart earn just £17.5k-per-week and £30k-per-week respectively.
Leeds have since moved on from the rollercoaster ride of Bielsa’s time in charge, and poor signings such as Casilla, with Farke and Co now attempting to go full steam ahead after the international break to put together more wins for an ongoing promotion charge.
Leeds could seal promotion by signing "the best ST in the Championship"
The Whites were once interested in a deal to bring the centre-forward to Elland Road.
A member of the Arsenal squad has opened up about the fear he’s experienced as he gets treated for a “bad” injury, with the player also working hard to get back to full fitness.
Arsenal players sidelined through injury
Mikel Arteta is currently without a few key players, and they’ve done well to come through what has been a testing period undefeated.
"Most underrated" £23m Arsenal star working tirelessly to prove himself
Fabrizio Romano says he doesn’t stop.
ByEmilio Galantini Sep 26, 2024
Arsenal beat Tottenham 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Gabriel Magalhaes, with goalkeeper David Raya taking all the headlines in Bergamo as the north Londoners grabbed their first Champions League point of the season against Atalanta..
They also came away from the Etihad Stadium with a 2-2 draw, and they could’ve even won the clash. Arsenal were leading Man City 2-1 for the majority of the game and did well to hold them when down to 10, but John Stones’ dramatic late leveller meant they had to settle for a draw.
Leicester City (home)
September 28
Southampton (home)
October 5
Bournemouth (away)
October 19
Liverpool (home)
October 27
Newcastle United (away)
November 2
These results have been made all the more impressive considering Mikel Merino is sidelined with a fractured shoulder, while left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko has been out for weeks after his calf injury.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is still out with a knee injury as well, and David Raya, Jurrien Timber and Ben White are doubts to face Leicester City as well. Kieran Tierney remains absent with a thigh problem too, so Arteta has a bit of an injury crisis right now.
There is also their biggest miss, £30 million club captain and chief creator Martin Odegaard, who suffered ankle ligament damage on international duty with Norway.
Odegaard admits to fear after "bad" ankle injury
Sharing his own update, Odegaard has shed light on his “bad” ankle injury at Arsenal, all while explaining how his recovery is coming along as he hopes to return as soon as possible.
“It was a bad twist to my ankle, and I damaged some ligaments there,” said Odegaard in his programme notes pre-Bolton.
“But it’s part of football and now I’m just trying to recover as quickly as I can. I’m moving forward, making progress and I’m feeling more positive every day. I’m working hard and my only thought is to get back as soon as possible.
“I’m at the Sobha Realty Training Centre basically every day now, working hard and doing everything I can do to get better. I have to be careful not to push it too much, but at the same time do what I can to make sure I come back as strongly and quickly as possible. I’m trying to support the team in a different way now, if I can’t be on the pitch. That’s my situation, and I have to make the best out of it.
“It’s something I’m not used to. I’ve been quite fortunate, if that’s the word, or have done well to avoid injuries in the past, but this is football and I have to get on with it. I think it was unfortunate to get the injury in the way that I did, but also it could have been worse. It was not a nice twist, and when it happened I felt it could be serious. I’ve injured my ankle before and the pain felt a bit different this time. That’s what scared me, but from what happened it could have been worse, so in that sense I got away with it a bit.
“Like any player, the first thing I asked the medical team was how long I would be out for, but it’s a bit tricky to say at the moment. In the early stages, it’s crucial to get a proper rest and to make sure everything heals well. After that it’s about getting stronger and building it up again.”
What is there to say about Harry Kane that has already been uttered? Quite frankly, very little.
The striking sensation – who famously left Arsenal behind as a boy – is now a Tottenham icon and leads Spurs’ scoring charts.
If ever you needed any further evidence of his goalscoring prowess, the England international is also his nation’s top scorer, topping a certain Wayne Rooney a few years ago now.
Harry Kane at Euro 2024
Kane continues to go from strength to strength and since moving to Bayern Munich last season after finally leaving Spurs behind, he has been a man-possessed.
Kane’s time at Bayern so far
With Kane in tow, Tottenham failed to win a trophy. With Kane in tow, Bayern Munich failed to win a trophy.
Perhaps it’s just him? Despite all of the goals and indeed the personal accolades, the striker’s misfortune is quite incredible.
He’s lost a Champions League final, two European Championship finals, a World Cup semi-final and he’s not scored in any of them. Perhaps Kane is not made for the biggest of occasions then.
We jest, of course, but it was rather typical that Bayern’s 11-year dominance of the Bundesliga came to an end the campaign Kane joined.
That said, the centre-forward enjoyed a remarkable season himself, scoring a staggering 44 goals in 45 games for the German outfit. Now 31, however, the former Spurs man is showing no signs of slowing down having already found the net on four occasions in three top-flight games this season. It’s safe to say he’s pretty damn good.
On that note, however, there is a player who recently left Spurs who can now boast Kane-like numbers.
Spurs may have sold their next Kane
Over the summer supporters got a wonderful opportunity to watch teenage sensation, Mikey Moore, in action.
Now 17 years of age, the attacker is one of the best young properties in the Premier League right now and actually found the net over pre-season, notably scoring impressively in the clash with Hearts.
Mikey Moore makes his Tottenham debut
Moore looks destined for a bright future in the game but as he will know, plenty have tried and failed to cross the bridge between academy and first-team football.
Dane Scarlett is currently at Championship side Oxford United on loan while a certain Troy Parrott is plying his trade in the Netherlands.
The Irishman was sold in a permanent deal over the summer, a move that was reported to cost Dutch side AZ Alkmaar a paltry £6.7m to finalise.
So, how is the 22-year-old faring in the Eredivisie so far?
Troy Parrott’s time at AZ Alkmaar
Well, it just so happens that the Irishman is one of the most prolific forwards on the continent right now.
Having swapped London for the Zaan district in the Netherlands, the forward has quickly made a name for himself in his new setting.
MK Dons (loan)
47
10
7
Preston (loan)
34
4
0
Excelsior (loan)
32
17
5
Ipswich (loan)
18
2
0
Spurs U18s
15
17
3
Spurs U19s
9
9
2
Spurs U21s
14
5
1
Millwall (loan)
14
0
1
AZ Alkmaar
5
4
0
Spurs first team
4
0
0
Parrott happened to spend last term on loan at Rotterdam club Excelsior where he thrived, scoring 17 times in 32 outings across all competitions. It would appear that he impressed those in the Eredivisie, with Alkmaar shelling out to sign him over the summer.
Since then he’s continued to score on a regular basis, finding the net on four occasions in five matches. That stat might be a tad misleading, however, as all four of those goals came in the same match.
During a staggering 9-1 win for AZ against Herenveen last weekend, Parrott was the main source of goals as he beat the goalkeeper on four occasions. To make this story even more intriguing for those of a Spurs persuasion, who was managing the opposition? A certain Robin van Persie.
The former Arsenal and Manchester United star certainly knows a thing or two about scoring goals but even he would have been blown away by the Irishman’s performance.
Such a tally of goals means that he’s now scored as many as Kane has in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich this term.
Tottenham’s record scorer netted his own hat-trick last weekend, putting Holstein Kiel to the sword in a 6-1 drubbing.
While those incredible results were happening, Postecoglou’s men would go onto lose to their fierce rivals Arsenal. They did not score but you can bet your house on the fact they would have done with Kane in the team.
While they will sill no doubt lust after his return, they can probably be secure in the fact that they sold Parrott at the right time. That’s unless he goes onto become a world-beater in the years to come.
Spurs could axe Johnson by unleashing "outstanding" academy teen instead
The incredible youngster could be something quite special.
Newcastle United are reportedly interested in Sporting CP star Goncalo Inacio, as the Magpies eye a busy summer ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Eddie Howe is expected to continue to deliver in the transfer window, after the North East side confirmed the marquee signing of AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali for a fee of £55m this week.
Having gained access to the Champions League for the first time since 2002/03, Newcastle have a bolstered pull going into the window, with added financial reassurance from Saudi Arabia’s lucrative Public Investment Fund.
Howe could add to the joy of securing Tonali by setting his sights on Inacio, who is a player in demand this summer.
What’s the latest on Goncalo Inacio to Newcastle United?
As reported by Football Insider on Monday, Newcastle are ‘plotting’ a move for Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio.
The report claims that the Magpies are ‘exploring’ the idea of signing the defender, who “fits the profile” of the individual the club are wanting to hire.
Spanish publication AS listed Arsenal and Liverpool as other candidates eyeing the 21-year-old, who is valued by his club at €45m (£39m).
What could Goncalo Inacio offer to Newcastle United?
Despite discovering the perfect balance in central defence between Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, the Magpies could bolster their back line this summer to add depth and competition in the position.
Another area that sparks rumours that Newcastle could recruit a defender this summer is the uncertainty surrounding the future of Jamaal Lascelles, who has just one year remaining on his contract.
The club captain made just 11 appearances in all competitions last season, registering just two starts in the Premier League all year.
As reported by Football Insider this week, the Englishman will have a ‘decision to make’ this summer on whether he opts to depart or risk facing another campaign deprived of game time.
Should the 29-year-old decide to leave, Howe could find his perfect replacement in Inacio, who had impressed as a standout centre-back in Europe last term.
Lauded as “complete” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 21-year-old flexed his ability in being an assured presence in Sporting’s defence, contributing to seven clean sheets in 26 Liga Portugal starts.
As per Sofascore, the Portuguese ace won 59% of his total duels in the league, as well as averaging 1.4 interceptions and 1.2 tackles per game to cement himself as one of the most important figures in Ruben Amorim’s side.
One of the most impressive areas of the defender's game is his ability on the ball, with Kulig describing him as being ‘one of the most interesting’ centre-backs in Europe.
As per FBref, the central defender could add an alternate strength to Newcastle’s side, highlighted through his monstrous average of 9.04 progressive passes per 90, showing his ability to get the ball forward from the back.
To put into comparison the new outlet that Inacio could hand to Howe at St James’ Park, Schar averaged an average of 3.90 progressive passes per 90, with Botman following with an average of 2.50, via FBref.
Newcastle could add a new layer of solidity by signing Incacio, who could not only allow Lascelles to leave without repercussion on numbers in the squad, but also prove to be an upgrade to those already on show in the North East.
Tottenham Hotspur seem to be closing in on what could be Ange Postecoglou's first blunder of his tenure…
What's the latest on Clement Lenglet to Tottenham?
That's according to Spanish outlet Sport, who suggest that the Lilywhites have now agreed personal terms with Clement Lenglet over his proposed return on a permanent basis.
The Barcelona man spent last term on loan in north London, and despite having not set the world alight, has come available for just €10m (£9m). Whilst this might mark a coup, negotiating a change to his £200k-per-week wages should have proved more of a stumbling block than it apparently has done.
It now falls to the two clubs to try and iron out an acceptable fee that would see the 28-year-old finally end his miserable spell with the Catalan giants.
Should Tottenham sign Clement Lenglet permanently?
Having temporarily moved to England with a big reputation, this left-sided defender joined in what many believed to be an intelligent swoop for the club.
However, it quickly became clear why Xavi was so willing to allow the France international to depart the Camp Nou, with his displays in the English capital nothing short of abysmal.
davinson-sanchez-tottenham-hotspur
Despite making 26 appearances in the league, he could only muster a 6.65 average Sofascore rating, only the 20th best in a Spurs side that missed out on European football. Gazing back through his recent campaigns in La Liga though, this should not have come as a surprise.
The term before his arrival he could only post a 6.67 average rating in the league, suggesting his steady decline has been there for all to see.
Journalist Jonathan Johnson sought to outline it too, when he took to Twitter to write in 2021: "Lenglet. A complete & utter liability of a defender."
Despite this, in what was a torrid season for Spurs, it was Davinson Sanchez who remained in the firing line for the bulk of the year. The Colombian was even booed off the pitch during one substitution, in which he cut a visibly upset figure.
This was whilst recording a higher average rating than Lenglet in the league of 6.87, even impressing the year before with his 7.08 average rating.
Although he may have been a big-money acquisition back in 2017, the investment into his potential was one worth making at the time, even if he is yet to fulfil it. With 205 games for the club under his belt, the 27-year-old has at least returned some value from his switch.
To sign Lenglet would be a huge blunder for Postecoglou, as he would only repeat the same mistakes that have led to their decline in stature.
The Australian must expel the failures of the past in order to command a brighter future for his new club, the likes of which these kinds of signings should not be a part.
Arsenal, amidst all their high-profile transfer endeavours, could be set to secure one star under the radar…
What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Arsenal?
That's according to football.london, who sought to detail the various players linked with a switch to the Emirates.
Whilst it is a piece dominated by the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, Romeo Lavia is one such name that could very easily be missed. However, the information they provide is crucial, suggesting that they are close to an agreement over personal terms with the Belgium international.
Although rumours surrounding Manchester City's interest in Declan Rice might have Gunners fans feeling deflated, this should offer a small uplift in that a similarly solid midfield option seems poised to join.
It was noted earlier this week that Southampton would command a fee of £50m to sanction the exit of their young star, but Edu has already proven himself a shrewd negotiator who is willing to wait on a cheaper deal to appear.
Is Romeo Lavia better than Thomas Partey?
In acquiring this teenage sensation, it could spell terrible news for Thomas Partey, who already continues to be linked with an exit.
Whilst the midfield titan enjoyed one of his standout years in north London, it seems Mikel Arteta is keen on expelling his older players in order to usher in a brighter future. Fortunately for him, the Ghana international boasts plenty of suitors, with Juventus the latest to be linked with a move for him.
What makes this arguably the perfect swap is that Lavia boasts huge similarities with the 30-year-old, and yet is 11 years his junior.
In a Saints side that finished rock-bottom of the Premier League table, the 19-year-old general remained a solid asset in their engine room, never letting the side down. As such, he maintained a 6.80 average rating, buoyed by his 86% pass accuracy, 2.1 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, via Sofascore.
Journalist Jacob Tanswell was particularly enamoured with some of the work of the Citizens academy graduate, writing on Twitter: "Romeo Lavia having the courage and awareness to perform a no-touch turn (which was the only right decision) is frankly ridiculous."
thomas-partey-arsenal
Despite his youth, he was happy to sit at the base of the midfield, screening the back four and allowing the foundation for his team to play. Partey operated in a similar role, and thus also recorded 2.1 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game in the league, as per Sofascore.
With their midfield stalwart seemingly heading for an exit, and a move for his replacement nearing, it seems all signs are pointing towards Arteta continuing his youth-focused revolution, with his Ghanaian general potentially all set to become the latest victim of such an approach.
Carlos Corberan's past history with Leeds United makes him a good candidate to be their next manager, journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed.
Has Corberan been linked with Leeds job?
The Whites have been looking for a new boss since Sam Allardyce's recent exit from Elland Road, following the end of a dreadful season that saw their three-year stay back in the Premier League come to an end.
Numerous individuals have been linked with taking charge of Leeds and one person whose name has continually emerged is Corberan. The 40-year-old enjoyed three years as the Whites' Under-23s manager between 2017 and 2020, before moving on to prove himself in senior management.
He has excelled at West Brom since taking over early in the 2022/23 season, inheriting a team who were second-bottom of the Championship and almost getting into the playoffs last month, just missing out in the end.
The 6ft2in Corberan could jump at the opportunity to return to Elland Road this summer, this time taking on the main job, although it remains to be seen if he is happy at West Brom for the time being.
West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.
Why is Corberan a strong choice for Whites?
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Taylor said that Corberan's knowledge of Leeds could work in his favour, as they look to nail the managerial appointment:
"I do like some of those names mentioned. I like Corberan, obviously he's got that Leeds connection as well because he's worked with the clubs under-23s before.
"But again, it needs to be a project at Leeds. It's a cliché at the moment to say this, but you need to look at Burnley as a kind of benchmark in the model they've used to bounce back and come back even stronger than before."
There is certainly plenty of logic surrounding the signing of Corberan this summer, with the Spaniard an exciting young manager who is already proving his worth with the Baggies.
The progress he has made in such a short space of time at the Hawthorns is remarkable, taking them from second bottom to just narrowly missing out on a play-off place. And, if West Brom do keep hold of him, they will surely go into next season as one of the favourites to head into the Premier League.
Granted, Corberan remains inexperienced, and the magnitude of the Leeds job cannot be underestimated, but the fact that he knows the club so well already is a big positive, and he would also represent a long-term appointment with fresh ideas, rather than someone of Allardyce's ilk.