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Arsenal could be set to lose one of their first-team stars next summer, with a report revealing he’s keen to leave the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's summer departures

Edu and Mikel Arteta sanctioned the sales of 14 players during the previous transfer window, with the likes of Folarin Balogun, Granit Xhaka and Nicolas Pepe being some of the bigger names to depart, whilst a further six stars were sent out on loan for the remainder of the season in order to receive more game time.

The Gunners are also receiving interest in both Thomas Partey and Jorginho from Serie A side Juventus so they are another pair who could be heading for the exit door potentially in January, but they aren’t the only ones who might be looking to move onto new pastures.

In the Premier League this season, Aaron Ramsdale has started just four games (WhoScored – Ramsdale statistics), having lost his place between the sticks to David Raya who has been given the nod for the last six top-flight outings (Transfermarkt – Raya stats), with the former goalkeeper having fallen significantly out of favour.

The England international’s situation has been recognised with Chelsea being credited with an interest in the 25-year-old, and if the following update is to be believed, both the player and the club could reach an agreement to let him go in 2024.

Aaron Ramsdale sets sights on exit

According to Football Insider, Aaron Ramsdale wants to depart Arsenal, and the board could be open to giving him the green-light next summer.

“Arsenal could now part with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale next summer, sources have told Football Insider. It is believed the 25-year-old could be sold in 2024 – with the Gunners then free to go back into the market and sign a clear number two shot-stopper.

"It is believed Ramsdale wants regular first-team football – not just to stake his claim for the Three Lions ahead of Euro 2024, but also to keep his career on track at a crucial time in his development.”

Since joining Arsenal from Sheffield United two years ago, Ramsdale has kept 31 clean sheets from 84 appearances at the Emirates Stadium (Transfermarkt – Ramsdale stats), with some of his reflexes having seen him hailed “outstanding” by journalist Josh Bunting.

Standing at 6 foot 2, Arteta’s £120,000-a-week earner (Arsenal salaries) has also shown that he can be equally as strong with the ball at his feet as well as in-between his gloves having recorded a 100% pass success rate for all of his short and medium dispatches so far this season (FBRef – Ramsdale stats).

Therefore, N7 chiefs could be making a mistake by letting Ramsdale leave, especially considering how shaky Raya has looked on occasions since coming into the side, highlighted by Gary Neville, so this could be a decision that needs to be given a second thought in the New Year.

There are few cities in Europe that better embody both football and music as much as Liverpool does. With Merseyside the birthplace of The Beatles and home to two historic football clubs in Everton and their neighbours at Anfield, it's natural that, over the years, the two variables have interlinked to evoke a certain romanticism.

For the Reds, they have flourished, with noteworthy songwriters like Jamie Webster ensuring there is always time for a singalong in the Kop and each of the other three stands.

In this article, Football FanCast aims to delve into the top 12 Liverpool chants of all time, with a mix of old and new gatekeeping the current golden era from taking every position. Each entry is rated based on meaning, context, and outright catchiness!

13

Honourable mentions

Before starting the list, it's only fair to give an honourable mention to those chants that missed out by a whisker.

Certainly, this was a gruelling task trying to name only 12, so much so that we changed the list from 10 to 12 entries and still shed a few anxious tears when trying to decide which mantras were dropped to the sidelines.

Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk's chants both missed out from the Jamie Webster era, while the addition of 'One Kiss' from Dua Lipa, which has become an honourary Liverpool anthem in recent years, was toyed with back and forth.

But although it's still the only pop song to make middle-aged (and over) Scousers dance around like it's the 80s, the decision was made that, since no lyric had been tailored to the Reds, it couldn't be counted.

Other chants unfortunate to be excluded but deserve a place in Anfield legend are Luis Suárez's Depeche Mode redraft, "Bring on Yer Internazionale", and the "Attack, Attack, Attack" squall that inspired some of the greatest comebacks in Anfield's illustrious history.

12

I'm So Glad, Jürgen is a Red…

To the tune of The Beatles' 'I Feel Fine'

Lyrics: "Jürgen said to me you know, We’ll win the Premier League you know, He said so. I’m in love with him & I feel fine. I’m so glad that Jürgen is a Red, I’m so glad he delivered what he said."

There aren't many others that deserve the keys to the city more than Jürgen Norbert Klopp. In a non-footballing sense, among the first alternatives that come to mind are the Beatles. So it's only right that the two combine to bring about the first of 12 chants that help forge the notion of Anfield being the Reds' 12th man.

Klopp says he hates the chant, palming away any praise and encouraging Anfield's regulars to focus their affection towards the players on the pitch. But it doesn't stop the Kop from making certain that the manager knows his place in Liverpool.

Where Jurgen Klopp ranks among the oldest managers in the top 4 divisions

After so many years of Sir Alex Ferguson trying to knock the Reds off their perch with Manchester United, Klopp's rule has seen Liverpool take back their throne in style, and so it's only right that a chant attuned to the city's best manager since the days of Shankly and Paisley made the list, especially given its Beatles connection.

11

Oh, He Wears The Number 20…

Diogo Jota's got his own song

Lyrics: "Oh, he wears the number 20, He will take us to victory, And when he’s running down the left wing, He’ll cut inside and score for LFC. He’s a lad from Portugal, Better than Figo don’t you know, Oh, his name is Diogo!"

So many players have been and gone, conquered and vanquished – which makes becoming a Liverpool legend incredibly difficult. But although Diogo Jota's £41m investment raised eyebrows in 2020, the Portuguese forward has repaid that sizeable show of faith with interest.

He is the latest Reds player to be lustrated by the Kop with a chant, with his 47 goals and 15 assists in 125 Liverpool games making him a worthy candidate to be held in such high esteem.

In the Jamie Webster era, Anfield has been blessed with a mill of an inexhaustible supply of great terrace songs. Most recently, it is this one that has captured the heart of the city. Jota's gold-standard performances marry his earnest desire to fully digest and inherit Liverpool's culture to reward him with a belter.

10

Merry Christmas, Everton…

To the tune of Shakin' Stevens' 'Merry Christmas Everyone'

Lyrics: "Mane's scoring, All around us, Kopites singing, having fun, It's the season, love and understanding, Merry Christmas, Everton…"

Every club has a Christmas song. Most of the time, it tends to take form to the tune of Michael Bublé's 'Winter Wonderland' or BAND AID's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'. However, although Liverpool's choice opts for another parody – this time a Shakin' Stevens' classic – it is often the Kop's originality that prevails over other fanbases' attempts to create an atmosphere.

After Sadio Mané scored in injury time back in December 2016 to secure a 1-0 Goodison Park victory for the Reds, a new winter classic was born. The Senegalese winger would go on to finish his Liverpool career with six goals in seven Merseyside derbies – showing beyond doubt why it was he who deserved to play the starring role in an anti-Everton chant over anybody else.

Whenever the Christmas lights are switched on, it provides the Anfield faithful with the perfect opportunity to warm their throats up with the best of a trilogy of Merseyside derby chants (the others being 'Tell Yer Ma, Yer Ma' and 'Since 1995…') loud enough for it to be heard on the other side of Stanley Park.

9

Steven Gerrard Is Our Captain

It's only right Mr Liverpool features among the greats

Lyrics: "Steven Gerrard is our captain, Steven Gerrard is a red, Steven Gerrard plays for Liverpool, A Scouser born and bred. Dur dur dur dur dur dur dur dur (Repeat x3).

"And then one night in Turkey, It was 21 years since Rome, With a Liverbird upon his chest, He brought the cup back home, Dur dur dur dur dur dur dur dur (Repeated X3)."

During a time when Liverpool were suffering a hangover from their domestic highpoint throughout a time Manchester United and Chelsea were finding their feet on the biggest stages, Steven Gerrard proved to be Captain Fantastic, Mr Liverpool. He wore the Liverbird upon his chest with pride and dragged a below-par Reds side to nine trophies, including a fifth Champions League title, to remind the rest of the country of his club's status as the Kings of Europe.

He proved he was a true Scouser and there may never be another like him. For his efforts in Istanbul alone, he is deserving of an A-list song to solemnize the dizzying heights he captained the club to. If there was ever a footballer you could count on to make a difference and win games by himself, it was Gerrard, and this chant, despite not being the most popular in his discography, perfectly symbolises his paladin runes.

8

Sí, Señor

Nothing quite like this Bobby banger

Lyrics: "There's something that the Kop wants you to know, the best in the world, his name is Bobby Firmino. Our number nine, Give him the ball, and he'll score every time. Sí, Señor, pass the ball to Bobby and he'll score.

Up until his departure this summer, 'Sí, Señor' was a staple matchday salute to Roberto (or Bobby) Firmino that included arguably the catchiest chorus of the list. Firmino, joining from Hoffenheim in 2015, was a striker that realised the meaning of 'The Liverpool Way' from day dot, and he played an instrumental role in taking that way of thinking into its next step of evolution.

Before the Brazilian arrived on Merseyside, the Reds were struggling to reclaim past zeniths. But when he departed in 2023, the archetypal Klopp student, who played such a vital yet downplayed role in Liverpool's modern system, left a legacy of a Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, League Cup, Club World Cup, Super Cup, and a rite of passage to touch the 'This is Anfield' sign to the orchestra of his very own Latin rendition.

7

The Torres Bounce

To the tune of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home'

Lyrics: "His Armband proved he was a red, Torres! Torres! You'll Never Walk Alone it said, Torres! Torres! We bought the lad from sunny Spain, He gets the ball he scores again, Fernando Torres! Liverpool's number 9!"

From one great Liverpool number 9 to another. Fernando Torres was the breath of fresh air every Kopite had dreamt for after a long and tiresome period of nobody doing their worst to stake a claim as Anfield's talisman to bring them back to the glory days.

Andriy Voronin, El-Hadji Diouf and Florent Sinama-Pongolle all came before Torres, setting the bar pretty low for incoming strikers. But whatever the Liverpool fans expected from their new Spaniard leading the line, the Atletico Madrid man transcended presupposition.

Finishing his Liverpool journey with 81 goals in 142 games, Torres quickly became adored by the Kop, with his Old Trafford demolitions and consistent goal-getting escapades revitalising the Reds in their penultimate nearly-men episode before Klopp took charge.

Other clubs up and down the United Kingdom have since tailored lyrics to the song he was given in the memorable 2008/09 season to their own assets, but none are nearly as good as this one.

6

We Won It In Madrid…

To the tune of The Beautiful South's 'Rotterdam'

Lyrics: "We've been to PSG and Napoli, Belgrade and Germany, When we went the Allianz, Liverpool scored three. Porto, Barcelona, Who the f*ck yer try'na kid? Cos we're the mighty Liverpool, We won it in Madrid, We won it in Madrid."

When your European success is as indomitable as Liverpool's, it's only right that they boast about it whenever rival opposition make their way through the Anfield tunnel. They've won the Champions League six times, the Europa League three times, and they've added a further four Super Cups to their continental trophy cabinet to extend their lead as England's most successful football club overseas.

In this chant, to the tune of The Beautiful South's earworm 'Rotterdam', the Kop relives memories of their Champions League trail to Kyiv and Madrid in 2018 and 2019, which finished with the hoisting of their sixth European Cup.

The melody was curated as a replacement for the Istanbul versions that outlined their fifth triumph back in 2005, so it's plausible that this one will stand the test of time until a permissible seventh Old Big Ears is upraised.

5

Every Other Saturday

A timeless classic

Lyrics (excerpt): "Every other Saturday's me half-day off, And it's off to the match I go, I like to take a stroll along the Anfield Road, Me and me old pal Joe. I like to see the lasses with their red scarves on, I like to hear the Kopites roar, But I don't have to tell you that best of all, Is when we see Liverpool sco-o-o-ore! sco-o-o-ore!"

What starts as a simple recounting of a matchday up in the north west – a description likely to resonate with many – eventually turns into another way of showing off their history and ends with a reverence to the great King Kenny Dalglish.

''Every Other Saturday' has been sung since the 70s, and it is unlikely that it will ever cease. The song excellently captures the meaning of a matchday to the red half of Merseyside and urges the Kopites to approach a singalong with more melody than other entries in this list.

4

Allez, Allez, Allez

The 80s-inspired anthem sweeping terraces across the land

Lyrics: "We've conquered all of Europe, We're never going to stop. From Paris down to Turkey, We've won the f*cking lot. Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly, The Fields of Anfield Road. We are loyal supporters, And we come from Liverpool. Allez, Allez, Allez (Repeated x4)."

Jamie Webster's greatest musical achievement was taking the snippets of this song, commonly sung around stadiums in Italy and further afield, and make it what it is today. Whereas it was first sung by a smattering of Liverpool supporters in Porto, Webster, a Scouse musician revered for his 'BOSS Nights' in the city, opted to flesh out the verses and make sure the wider fanbase could join in.

"I’d heard murmurs of it at Anfield before," he told the New York Times. "But in Porto, there was a group of lads singing it. People didn't know the words, but they were trying to follow them. I wanted to get it out there."

Again, it is another song that aims to illustrate the club's glittering history sitting on the continent's throne. And again, it succeeds in shaking the seams of Anfield's four walls on European nights when bellowed at full tilt.

In the video below, it's not hard to see why 'Allez, Allez, Allez' has earned its permanent place in the Anfield songbook.

Manchester City have been dealt a blow ahead of their Champions League tie with Real Madrid as they will be without two key defenders for the game.

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• City travel to Madrid for Champions League clash
• Guardiola without two key defenders for first-leg
• First quarter-final game played on Tuesday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The reigning Champions League title holders travel to the Spanish capital to take on Carlo Ancelotti's side for the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Tuesday. However, two important defenders – Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake – have not been named in the 21-man squad.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City captain and right-back Walker has not featured in any of the team's last three matches since he sustained an injury during England's international friendly against Brazil at the end of March. Ake, meanwhile, picked up an injury less than 30 minutes into the 0-0 draw against Arsenal on March 31.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The defenders have played an integral role in City's battle to defend their treble of trophies this season. Walker has featured 38 times in all competitions for Guardiola's team, one more than Dutch defender Ake.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

  City and Madrid drew 1-1 when they met at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals last season before Guardiola's team ran out 4-0 winners in the return fixture in Manchester. The reigning European champions will hope to pick up a positive result this week despite the absence of Walker and Ake.

Vitesse Arnhem have been docked 18 points and relegated from the Eredivisie after an investigation uncovered financial links with Roman Abramovich.

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• Vitesse relegated in one fell swoop
• Now have -1 points
• Abramovich reportedly financially linked with Vitesse

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Vitesse have been docked 18 points, and their relegation has subsequently been officially confirmed, after an investigation from The Guardian and The Bureau of Investigative Journalism discovered alleged financial ties between the Dutch club and Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea.

  In March of 2023, the newspaper reported that Abramovich, according to documents, secretly bankrolled Vitesse for years and loaned the club €117m (£100m/$124m).

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  Vitesse were bottom of the Eredivisie already but are now confirmed to have dropped out of the top-flight, where they had been playing for 35 years. The KNVB – Dutch football's governing body – said the points deduction came about because of the "exceptonal seriousness and extent" of rule violations by the club. They are alleged to have both withheld information and provided "incorrect information" during the investigation.

• WHAT DID KNVB SAY ABOUT ABRAMOVICH?

  The KNVB claimed there were "indications" that Abramovich either still controlled Vitesse or had controlled it for a period of time. Vitesse have been unable to prove that the oligarch did not have an impact, and they have said that the deduction was "inevitable", showing that they have no desire to fight the sanction.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Vitesse still have four games to play but they only have pride to play for. They will face Fortuna Sittard, Utrecht, Heerenveen and Ajax before the curtain comes down on the campaign.

Manchester United’s season slumped to a new low in midweek as they lost 4-3 to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, despite leading both 2-0 and 3-2 during the tie.

Erik ten Hag is now a man under serious pressure, as the result at Old Trafford means United have won just one of their opening four matches in Europe’s premier competition.

With games against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray to come in the coming weeks, their hopes of securing qualification to the knockout phase are on a knife edge.

Not only that, but the Red Devils are also out of the EFL Cup, while they currently occupy eighth spot in the Premier League table – losing five of their first 11 matches – and this run of form has been United’s worst start to a season since the 1962/63 campaign.

The club could count on Denis Law and Bobby Charlton back then, yet who in this current United side is going to make the step-up to salvage something from this woeful term so far?

Ten Hag has been besieged by injury problems while the likes of Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes have struggled to replicate the form they displayed during his first season in charge, one in which the club won the EFL Cup and finished third place in the league.

With his job looking increasingly on the line with every poor result, is could be time for Ten Hag to drop some of his underperformers and unleash some young talent in the squad, with Malachi Sharpe currently impressing in the academy.

Malachi Sharpe’s youth statistics

The 17-year-old joined the Red Devils from Derby County in 2021 and his promise was clearly noticed by the United hierarchy as he signed his first-ever professional contract in 2022, thus committing his future to the club.

The right-winger was just 15 at the time and moved straight into the U16s squad, but he even went on to play for the U18s, showcasing his incredible potential.

The youngster made three appearances for the U18 side during his first season in Manchester and while last season offered him no opportunities at that level, the current campaign has been much more profitable.

Across just five games in the U18 Premier League and the UEFA Youth League, Sharpe has scored three goals and he looks like a dangerous threat on the right-hand side of the attack.

Although born in Nottingham, Sharpe has gained five caps for the Scotland U17 side, managing to score on his debut against Northern Ireland back in October 2021 and his next step will be to make the jump up to U19 level.

Previously hailed as an “exciting talent” by one source, there is no doubt his future looks promising, and Ten Hag could unearth United’s next Alejandro Garnacho by giving him some experience around the first team squad in the near future.

Malachi Sharpe could be Man Utd’s next Alejandro Garnacho

The Argentinian winger arrived in Manchester from Atlético Madrid back in 2020 as a highly thought of 16-year-old and across the last three years, he has emerged as a regular in the senior setup.

He made his debut during the 2021/22 campaign and really began to make people sit up and take notice last term, as the youngster featured 34 times for the first team under Ten Hag, and it looked as though they had a new star in the making.

Garnacho netted five times during his breakthrough campaign, and he shares a similar goalscoring eye with Sharpe, who is always looking to create opportunities for himself.

Another 15 appearances have followed this season and while he has only scored once, the winger is still a teenager and has plenty to learn during his journey.

Sharpe could certainly take confidence from the fact that Garnacho has made such a positive impression in the first team over the previous 18 months, and he could be the next one on the conveyor belt to make the step-up under Ten Hag.

Considering how poor United have been on the wing this term, a senior chance might not be a million miles away, especially as he does have more goals than Antony during 2023/24.

Malachi Sharpe has scored more goals than Antony this season for Man Utd

As previously mentioned, the Scottish youth international has scored three goals in just five matches so far, while Antony has failed to get on the scoresheet at all for the senior side.

The Brazilian cost United a staggering £81.3m from Ajax during the summer of 2022 and given he had registered 22 goal contributions for the Dutch side – 12 goals and ten assists – combined with his age, it looked as though the club had signed a wonderful talent who was yet to hit his peak.

He did score eight times last season, but his form has nosedived during the current campaign, as the 23-year-old has failed to score or even grab an assist across 11 matches in all competitions, a woeful return given just how big a financial outlay was spent on him.

The right-wing position is becoming a bit of a problem for Ten Hag recently. Marcus Rashford was even deployed there in midweek but ended up being sent off and with Antony failing to live up to the hype, it could give some youngsters a chance to show the Dutchman what they are made of.

Sharpe is not only outscoring Antony, but also Jadon Sancho, Rashford and Garnacho this season, demonstrating how impressive he has been in front of goal for the U18 side in recent months.

Of course, he isn’t an immediate fix to a much wider problem and throwing him in the deep end could harm his development. Having the teen sensation around the matchday squad, however, could prove to be an invaluable experience and make the transition from the academy to the senior side that much easier.

Sharpe has plenty of qualities which could see him emerge as the new Garnacho at United in the coming years and, at his current rate, he could soon be outscoring every single player at the Red Devils.

Might the supporters see him make his first-team debut before the end of the season? Only time will tell, but it will be worth the wait for when it does happen.

Hollywood actor Anne Hathaway received a surprise message from Arsenal star Leandro Trossard which left her gobsmacked.

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• Hathaway left stunned by Trossard's message
• Hollywood star an ardent Arsenal fan
• Celebrated Trossard's goal against Wolves

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The American star, who is known to be an ardent Arsenal fan, received a surprise message from Gunners attacker Leandro Trossard while being on the Today Show which left her short of words.

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• WHAT TROSSARD SAID ABOUT HATHAWAY

  Hathaway and her co-star Nicholas Galitzine were promoting their upcoming movie on the Today Show when the host interrupted the interview and showed the actors a surprise video message from Trossard where the Belgian says, "Hi Anne, I really loved your celebration the other day for my goal. Keep supporting us and I'll hopefully see you soon at the Emirates."

• WATCH THE CLIP

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  Earlier a video of Hathaway and Galitzine went viral where the two actors were seen celebrating the Gunners attacker's goal against Wolves in a Premier League clash, in between an interview where she was heard saying "I love you".

West Bromwich Albion will face off against Ipswich Town hoping they can unsettle the Championship entertainers on home soil, Baggies boss Carlos Corberan eager to see a response from his players after narrowly losing 2-1 to Southampton last time out.

Corberan's men weren't resoundingly taken apart by Russell Martin's Saints by any means and were unlucky to lose on the South Coast, the Baggies bettering Southampton in the shots department with West Brom notching up 14 shots in total but the West Midlanders ultimately came away empty-handed despite their best efforts.

This time around, Brandon Thomas-Asante could be sacrificed for a fresh pair of legs up top after a toothless performance at St Mary's, as could Matt Phillips who was regularly thwarted by Southampton defenders when attempting to create a decisive opening for his team.

Southampton's defenders nullifying one of West Brom's main attacking outlets helped them on their way to a slim victory, stretching their unbeaten run in the division to eight.

Matt Phillips' season in numbers

Phillips has been on-song for his side this season more times than he's underperformed, registering three goals and two assists which included a strike in West Brom's last home match which saw them get the better of Hull City in a convincing 3-1 display.

However, with Phillips now 32 years of age, it won't be long before his manager starts opting for fresher and hungrier options over the ex-Blackpool man to start planning for the future.

Tom Fellows could well be West Brom's next star from down the channels in Phillips' left-wing spot, the 20-year-old has excited fans of the West Midlands club with brief cameos off the bench in the second tier recently.

West Brom may have their next Louie Barry in 20 y/o starlet

West Brom could have another Louie Barry situation on their hands, if this top young prospect isn’t given more first team chances.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 20, 2023

He could be drafted into the line-up soon to replace the ageing winger if Phillips' display versus the Saints is anything to go by, the experienced midfielder way off the pace before being substituted off for the aforementioned promising number 30.

Phillips would only send one accurate cross into the opposition box all game at St Mary's, as per Sofascore, seven of those crosses going nowhere near their intended target.

The Baggies' number ten also lost possession 22 times in the contest to the detriment of his team, with Stuart Armstrong only losing the ball 11 times down the flanks for the hosts in contrast.

Corberan will consider dropping his usually dependable midfield option off the back of this below-par showing, Fellows eager to impress in his place to potentially displace the EFL veteran in the long term.

Fellows as Phillips' replacement

Linked with a move away to the Bundesliga in recent times according to reports – Werder Bremen just one of the German clubs interested in the Baggies prospect – West Brom will hope they can convince Fellows to stay by giving him more first-team opportunities in the weeks to come.

Scoring 12 goals at U18 level for his boyhood club before being promoted to the senior ranks, the 20-year-old starlet has shown flashes of brilliance in the Championship this season when substituted on.

A 15-minute cameo against QPR got West Brom fans talking, nearly setting up Jed Wallace for a goal in that contest with a ball into the box.

West Brom were comfortable on the day with a 2-0 win, but Fellows would have loved to have played a part in a goal to make the victory even more convincing.

West Brom's number 31 will have to remain patient for chances to impress in the starting eleven, but he could be gifted a start against Ipswich if Corberan decides to completely drop Phillips after an off-day versus the Saints.

With Thomas-Asante's place also potentially uncertain having failed to score in either of his last two games, there could well be a fresh feel to the Baggies' attack later today.

Wolves have denied that the two Premier League footballers arrested in connection with an alleged rape relate to anyone at the club.

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• Two Premier League players arrested over alleged rape
• Released on bail pending further enquiries
• Wolves release statement after 'online speculation'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , two footballers, who are both 19 and reportedly play for the same Premier League club, were released on bail after being interviewed by police over the alleged incident. Amid online speculation about the identity of the individuals, who allegedly carried out the attack on Friday, Wolves have released a statement saying the allegations do not pertain to anyone at the Midlands outfit.

• WHAT WOLVES SAID

  An official statement posted on by the club reads: "A newspaper article published yesterday (Tuesday) has triggered inappropriate online speculation over the identities of two individuals reportedly under police investigation. Whilst we would not typically comment on ongoing police matters, in order to protect the welfare of our young players, we feel it is necessary to confirm that the allegations do not relate to anyone at Wolves."

• POLICE STATEMENT

  On Tuesday, a police spokesperson said: "Officers have arrested two men following a report of a rape. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and aiding and abetting a rape. A second 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape. Both men have since been released on police bail.”

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• PREMIER LEAGUE RULES

  In 2022, the Premier League introduced mandatory sexual consent training for footballers and staff following high-profile incidents involving top-flight players. It is not currently known if the accused players have been suspended pending the outcome of the police's investigation.

Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to bring an overseas defender to the Premier League in January, according to a fresh report.

Postecoglou's centre-back options

The Lilywhites currently have Micky Van De Ven, Ashley Phillips, Cristian Romero and Eric Dier as their four natural options at centre-back as it stands, but this season has proven that Ange Postecoglou needs to enter the market to find further reinforcements.

Both Van De Ven and Phillips are undergoing a spell on the sidelines due to injury, whilst Romero is suspended and Dier is expected to leave having fallen significantly out of favour, and the manager already appears to have highlighted a potential replacement.

Latest Tottenham transfer news: Striker search latest; defender nears exit

Ange Postecoglou is looking to strengthen his side in the summer market once again.

By
Brogan Clasper

Aug 1, 2024

Sao Paulo’s Lucas Beraldo has worked his way up through his club’s various academy ranks to get promoted to their first-team, where he’s since gone on to make a total of 49 senior appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Beraldo statistics).

Brazil’s former youth international has already been linked with Liverpool, Newcastle United and Wolves in the top-flight, but with a deal yet to come to fruition for his three potential suitors, the 20-year-old is now also wanted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs keen on deal for Lucas Beraldo

According to The Sunday Mirror (via The Boot Room), Tottenham are interested in Beraldo, but they aren’t alone in their pursuit to secure his services. Both Jurgen Klopp and Eddie Howe are still chasing their target, who is rated at £20m, and it's believed that he is a player who will soon be leaving his league to join the highest division in England.

Spurs chiefs have the defender "on their radar", but with Chelsea and Manchester United also hovering in the background, it will be a difficult deal to get over the line in January.

Ange could land "fearless" defender in Beraldo

Standing at 6 foot 1, Beraldo provides a real physical presence at the heart of a defensive backline, which he’s proven this season at Sao Paulo as he’s currently averaging 3.4 clearances and 1.7 aerial wins per game in the Serie A (WhoScored – Beraldo statistics).

Postecoglou’s target is also attack-minded – he ranks in the 95th percentile for progressive passes by defenders, highlighting his desire to push his team as high up the pitch as possible to give them the best opportunity to create chances (FBRef – Beraldo statistics).

Sponsored by Nike, the left-footed star has even had a taste of success having been named the 2023 Brazilian Cup winner, so he will possess a winning mentality that will match that of the current squad who are already playing their football in N17.

According to football scout Jacek Kulig, Beraldo is a “fearless” defender, and with the boss’ style of play being all about taking risks and pressing the opposition, he could be the perfect addition in the new year and someone who could slot straight into the starting line-up dependent on the other options available to the Australian.

Manchester United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly has an exciting new hire in his sights as he lays the foundations for his expected arrival at Old Trafford.

Manchester United's takeover latest…

Following a long drawn out saga regarding the ownership situation at Old Trafford, Ratcliffe is edging closer to taking control of 25% of the Premier League giants' affairs and he is said to have plans to shake up their recruitment structures once he enters the fray at the Red Devils.

According to The Daily Mail, Ratcliffe plans to urge his recruitment team to target homegrown talent as he aims to introduce a more domestic feel within the core of Manchester United's side, which has dwindled in recent years due to a focus on shopping in foreign markets for new players.

The 71-year-old is said to believe that the previous experience of the English game gained by prospective signings from the Premier League would prove to be beneficial at Old Trafford despite the market becoming inflated in comparision to other avenues for recruitment around Europe.

Looking ahead to January, Erik ten Hag is keen to add a right-sided central defender, defensive midfielder, number eight and striker to his squad; however, his January wishlist may depend on the timescale as to which Ratcliffe is installed in the North West, as per The Guardian.

Financial Fair Play concerns will also dictate the Red Devils' mid-season transfer activity, with Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial potentially on the chopping block.

Now, a fresh report has indicated that Ratcliffe could make an exciting appointment at Manchester United to help put his stamp on matters at the club.

Dougie Freedman now top Director of Football candidate

According to Football Insider, Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman has emerged as a leading candidate to take up the position of Director of Football at Manchester United.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton man Paul Mitchell was believed to be in the frame for the role, but a twist has seen Ratcliffe focus on the Palace transfer guru instead, with Mitchell slipping down the pecking order of potential contenders for the role.

Brought to Selhurst Park in 2017, Freedman played a significant role in the acquisitions of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise and has previously been labelled "brilliant" by Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish on The Rest is Football podcast.

Undoubtedly, Manchester United have slipped behind their rivals Manchester City among others over the last decade or so as a potential destination for players, with part of this reality being down to the differing appeal of both clubs in regard to silverware.

Nevertheless, Ratcliffe's prospective tenure is likely to offer some hope to disgruntled elements of the Red Devils' fanbase and the initial signals coming from his end look to be encouraging ones.