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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk isn't ready to say the club are in the Premier League title race until the end of the year.

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• Liverpool sit top of Premier League
• Lost just once under Arne Slot
• Van Dijk not admitting to title race yet

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Reds soared to the top of the Premier League last weekend after beating Wolves and Manchester City dropped points away to Newcastle. Arne Slot's men have only conceded two goals in the first six games but defender Van Dijk says it is not possible to tell if his side are in a race for the crown just yet.

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  WHAT VAN DIJK SAID

  Speaking after the win at Wolves, Van Dijk said: "We have a very good squad – a mixture of experience and talent – and players who are at a very good stage of their career. So it is good to see the way we are playing. Mo [Salah] was many times in the box and heading balls away and stuff and that is the kind of commitment we need from everyone.

  "So far, so good. But it is only one game and we all realise that. Now we focus on the Champions League. Do I pay attention to the table now? No. December is always a crucial month. The teams who go through that well, winning games and having no injuries, have a big chance to be successful. Let's see."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Liverpool's new manager bounce is in full flow and the only frustration fans will have so far is throwing away points at home to Nottingham Forest. The Reds have quickly bought into Slot's ideas and philosophy, which was tipped to be the big stumbling block following Jurgen Klopp's departure.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  Liverpool return to Champions League action on Wednesday when they host Bologna. Following that, they will travel to Crystal Palace in the Premier League as they look to keep their place at the top of the table.

With Everton looking to stay within their financial means this summer, the Toffees have reportedly set their sights on a former Premier League full-back who is now a free agent.

Everton transfer news

Whilst John Textor could yet rescue the club following the collapse of 777 Partners' takeover, Everton look set to avoid an FFP risk this summer by spending wisely rather than excessively. Of course, if that takeover doesn't come, then those at Goodison Park could be left in a dire position and the futures of Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana, among others, may come into serious doubt.

Everton eye £20m Calvert-Lewin upgrade who does "things Lukaku can do"

The club will look to improve their forward line this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 5, 2024

The aforementioned duo have particularly attracted interest, with Real Madrid even mentioned when it comes to Branthwaite. The young defender was a standout under Sean Dyche last season, more than earning the reported interest in his signature, and could now have a vital decision to make in the coming months. But whilst concerns continue to mount regarding potential departures, the Toffees have commenced planning for fresh faces this summer.

Reports have already linked those at Goodison with the likes of Bobby Decordova-Reid in a free deal upon the expiry of his Fulham contract, whilst a similar deal has hit the headlines more recently.

According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Everton are eyeing a deal to sign Max Lowe, who is set to leave Sheffield United as a free agent at the end of the month. Part of the same agency as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lowe has reportedly attracted the interest of one other unnamed Premier League club, as he takes an important step to remain in the top flight this summer.

The left-back certainly represents the type of deal that the Toffees could be looking for in the summer window, but it remains to be seen whether Lowe will set his own sights on Merseyside.

"Great" Lowe could replace Young

At 38 years old, it's very much possible that Ashley Young is heading into his final season as a player, meaning that Everton could be wise to land Lowe in an attempt to replace the veteran in the coming months. With Vitaliy Mykolenko also competing for a place, Dyche would suddenly have healthy competition down his left-hand side between two players who could both make a case to start.

Whilst Lowe's campaign was disrupted by injury last time out, he earned the praise of former Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom when fully fit during the summer of 2022. Heckingbottom said via The Star, ironically speaking on exit rumours regarding Lowe at the time: "Lowey has been great. I have had conversations with him.

“It [transfer speculation] can get messy but the only player who generally suffers is the player. Football is simple. If you are playing well enough, someone will come and pay money for you. Someone can't tell you that you are the best player in the world and then offer peanuts for you, it doesn't add up."

Alas, two years later, no transfer fee is set to be involved to potentially hand Everton a bargain deal this summer.

Lee Carsley admitted that England were the "second best" team as they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Greece on Thursday.

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• England beaten 2-1 at home to Greece
• Visitors struck late after Bellingham goal
• Carsley's first defeat as interim boss

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Three Lions were sunk by two goals from Greece striker Vangelis Pavlidis, whose second came deep into stoppage time and minutes after Jude Bellingham scored what seemed to be a late equaliser.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The loss leaves England second in their Nations League group as Greece went top with a perfect record after three matches. After winning his first two games as interim England manager last month, Carsley has suffered his first defeat and conceded that the visitors were the better side.

• WHAT CARSLEY SAID

  "We were second best for a lot of tonight, it is disappointing. You are going to get set backs and it's important we respond," he told .

  "We tried something different and tried to overload the midfield. We tried it for 20 minutes yesterday, we experimented, and disappointed it didn't come off. It's unrealistic to expect too much and we will have to try again. All the goals were from mistakes, which is disappointing… We tried something different. It doesn't change anything. My remit is to do the three camps."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CARSLEY?

  England are in action again on October 13 when they take on Finland. With Carsley reportedly still in the frame to take the job permanently, he cannot afford another miserable performance in Helsinki.

Newcastle United are set to hand their first summer signing a ‘triple-your-money’ deal, it has recently been revealed.

Newcastle plan for “smart” transfer window

Eddie Howe and St James’ Park officials are seemingly already hard at work behind the scenes when it comes to incomings and outgoings, with the club already confirming exits for Ciaran Clark and Matty Longstaff when their contracts expire.

In regards to incomings, Howe said towards the end of the 2023/24 season that the Magpies will need to be “really smart” when it comes to player recruitment.

"I think with our current situation and the landscape of the financial position I am not sure we are able to recruit ready made elite players. The players you are trying to get across, I don't think we are in a position to do that and I don't think we were in a position to do that last year.

"So I think we have to be really smart with our recruitment. I think we have to be maybe different to some of the other clubs we are in and around. It is all about the individual player not what bracket they're in. And what they can do for us and how they can take the team or squad forward."

Taking advantage of the free agency market appears to be one way to work “smart” in the market, and it looks as if the club’s first signing won’t cost them a transfer fee.

Lloyd Kelly to Newcastle transfer details

The first senior signing for Newcastle this summer looks to be Lloyd Kelly, who is leaving AFC Bournemouth as a free agent. There has been plenty of speculation regarding Newcastle and Kelly, with the player set to pen a long-term deal at St James’ Park.

Now, Football Insider, reporting on Thursday, shared more details on a transfer, revealing that Kelly is set to land a “huge” signing-on fee and his Newcastle contract will be worth more than £100,000-a-week.

It is a ‘triple-your-money’ deal for Kelly from his previous terms on the south coast with Bournemouth, and it looks as if it is just a matter of time until a transfer is officially announced.

Kelly joins Newcastle after spending five years with the Cherries, making 141 appearances for the club during that time.

The 25-year-old helped Bournemouth win promotion back to the Premier League in 2022 and has turned out on 54 occasions in the top flight, playing as both a centre-back and left-back. He should therefore offer Howe a versatile defensive option, but to start with, he may well be required centrally due to the long-term injuries to current Magpies centre-backs Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.

Several U.S. internationals had big performances in the English Championship, including Aaronson and Wright

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• Aaronson scores wondergoal
• Wright breaks out of cold spell
• Duane Holmes scored against Josh Sargent's Norwich

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Brenden Aaronson brought his birthday party on the pitch as the U.S. international scored a wonder-volley in the seventh minute to give Leeds an early goal over Watford at home.

  Yet, the now 24-year-old wasn't the only American standout in the competition. Haji Wright got on the scoresheet, also in the seventh minute, for Coventry in their 1-1 draw against QPR.

  Meanwhile, U.S. striker Josh Sargent dropped the game-tying assist in Norwich's 2-2 draw with Preston North End – a match in which fellow American Duane Holmes scored to put the The Lilywhites up 2-1 before they would ultimately concede in the 61st minute, with Shane Duffy scoring.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Aaronson's resurgence has been one of the biggest storylines of the season in the Championship as he now has three goals and an assist in 11 matches from midfield.

  And Wright might be joining in him in picking up form. The Coventry forward was a breakout star last season, scoring 16 goals and six assists in 44 appearances. Wright hasn't been as prolific this campaign and has experienced lengthy spells without a goal or assist.

  After scoring two goals in Matchweek 2 on Aug. 16, Wright did not score or assist again for club or country until Oct. 1 against Blackburn. He had another four-game drought in scoring until getting on the board Tuesday.

  Holmes' story is interesting as the Georgia-born midfielder has bounced around the EFL over the past 11 years, and internationally, has two USMNT appearances. It was his first goal of the season and the 31st of his career.

  Sargent, meanwhile, is on four goals and five assists in 11 appearances for the Canaries this season

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Aaronson has tripled his career goal tally at the English club in 2024. During the 2022-23 season, he scored just one goal at Elland Road before being loaned out the following campaign. Now, in 2024, he's bagged three, turning a new leaf at the club.

  Leeds are now second in the Championship after Tuesday's results, while Norwich are seventh. Preston are 14th and Coventry are in danger of relegation, sitting in 22nd.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Leeds clash with Bristol City in the English Championship on Saturday, while Coventry take on Luton Town. Norwich, meanwhile, play Middlesbrough while Preston meet Plymouth Argyle.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has insisted that he was not the main cause of Manchester United's luck turning as they demolished Leicester in the Carabao Cup.

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• United scored five goals to progress
• Van Nistelrooy earned victory in debut as interim
• Dutchman insisted United finally found 'luck'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Van Nistelrooy was announced as the interim coach of Man Utd following Erik ten Hag's sacking this week and he celebrated his first game in charge with a 5-2 win over Leicester at Old Trafford. The result sent United into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, with the Red Devils' finally finding their scoring feet in front of goal after wasting a number of chances in recent games.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes scored twice, with Alejandro Garnacho also netting as United won in Van Nistelrooy's debut in the Old Trafford dugout. The Dutchman is likely to be replaced by Ruben Amorim in the coming weeks once the Sporting CP coach finalises his deal to take over from Ten Hag.

• WHAT VAN NISTELROOY SAID

  Speaking to , Van Nistelrooy said: "I have to say we had some luck as well, I am so happy for Casemiro though and [Alejandro] Garnacho and Bruno [Fernandes]. Five goals but the chances against West Ham and Fenerbahce, we created so much and couldn't finish., All of a sudden we had some luck on our side and that made it a great night.

  "It is always the target to react and attack. The reaction of players after the Leicester goals were excellent and they deserve the credit. I am glad the crowd go home happy."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VAN NISTELROOY AND MAN UTD?

  United had been hoping to have had Amorim in charge by their next Premier League game against Chelsea this weekend but talks are still ongoing with Sporting CP and Van Nistelrooy is now expected to be in the dugout at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Despite leaving in 2018, Chelsea have still not replaced the brilliance of Diego Costa up front.

Many centre forwards have tried to replicate what he provided, including Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku, but neither of those were anywhere near as impactful.

In his 120 appearances for the Blues, the Spain international netted 59 times and provided 21 assists, while also lifting the Premier League trophy twice.

With Todd Boehly’s aim being to achieve that feat once again, it’s no surprise to see that he’s attempting to sign Chelsea’s next Costa this summer.

Chelsea’s hunt for a new centre forward

According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Chelsea are extremely keen on signing Samuel Omorodion.

After failing to secure the signature of Benjamin Sesko, it’s said that the centre forward is now their ‘first-choice’ target.

The Blues have already reportedly submitted a bid in the region of £34m, but it’s unfortunately been rejected by Atletico Madrid.

Nevertheless, Chelsea will continue to work on a deal to secure the 20-year-old, who enjoyed an excellent breakthrough campaign in La Liga last season.

Why Omorodion could be the next Diego Costa

Omorodion is a new name to have taken La Liga by storm recently while spending his debut season on loan at Alaves.

After only being promoted last campaign, the Spanish side exceeded all expectations, finishing tenth, with the Atletico loanee playing a huge role.

Across the season, the number 32 made 35 appearances in La Liga, starting 22 of those as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 system.

Over these appearances, the 6-foot-4 “monster,” as dubbed by football scout Jacek Kulig, netted an impressive nine goals, four more than Alaves’ next-highest scorer.

As you can see by the stats, Omorodion is the definition of a true number nine; he’s a handful in the box due to his physicality, which sounds rather similar to the style of play Costa used to adopt, both winning a high-volume of duels.

The Atleti youngster has excellent movement, which often means he finds himself in brilliant positions, as shown in the clip below, but work has to be done on his finishing, as he missed 19 big chances last season.

For some, that statistic may be a huge concern, but it can also be viewed from the perspective that he knows how to get into great goalscoring positions, which, at his stage of development, is arguably more important.

Now, it’s quite clear that his overall statistics aren’t exactly eye-catching; in fact, they’re rather poor, but it’s important to include environmental context.

For example, Omorodion plays for a side that has just over 40% possession per game while also scoring less than one goal per match, which is a huge reason why his touches, passes completed, and overall involvement are low.

But how exactly could Omorodion become the Blues’ next Costa?

Well, on top of both the centre forwards being target men strikers from Spain, the ex-Alaves would also arrive at Chelsea from Atletico Madrid, just like Costa.

As shown by the statistics above, they’re both dangerous strikers who know where the back of the net is, and they won’t allow the opposition any rest.

Overall, it’s clear that signing Omorodion for such a huge fee is a massive risk, especially considering he’s had just one year of experience, but his goal tally indicates that in a more creative side like Chelsea, he has the potential to explode.

No Jackson, £226m trio sign: Enzo Maresca's dream lineup at Chelsea

Chelsea are set for a busy summer with plenty of signings expected.

By
Tom Lever

May 29, 2024

Newcastle United have made an approach for an "incredible" Premier League player alongside Max Kilman, according to a new transfer update.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies could be looking to strike some early summer transfer business in the coming weeks, as Eddie Howe looks to strengthen his squad well before the 2024/25 season gets underway.

One player who has been linked with a switch to Newcastle is Wolves centre-back Kilman, with defensive additions badly needed next term, following injury problems in that area of the pitch, with both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles expected to be out for many months with serious knee issues. A player-plus-cash bid was even submitted by the Magpies and then rejected by Wolves.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been mentioned as a potential signing for Newcastle numerous times in the past, and he is again being backed to seal a move there at some point in the near future, with a transfer thought to be close. The Englishman only has one year remaining on his current deal, so the Blues may feel that now is the last realistic chance to earn good money for him.

The Magpies are also reportedly in talks to sign Sporting CP central defender Ousmane Diomande, following a successful season that saw the youngster clinch Primeira Liga title glory.

Newcastle make contact with "incredible" ace

According to HITC, Newcastle have made contact with Wolves over winger Pedro Neto and a move to St James' Park in the summer transfer window. It is stated that Wanderers want around £50m for arguably their most prized asset.

The Magpies are one of a number of clubs who are "keeping tabs" on the Portuguese, with fellow Premier League sides Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United all mentioned in the report, too.

Neto could be a spectacular signing for Newcastle ahead of next season, with the winger arguably one of the most exciting attacking players in the Premier League on his day. In 2023/24, the 24-year-old bagged nine assists in just 18 league starts, outlining his productivity in the final third, and manager at Molineux Gary O'Neil once said of him:

"He has been absolutely incredible for the six or seven weeks I have been here. I am really pleased with where Pedro is at. He has given absolutely everything and showed a big moment of quality [at Luton] which sums up how he has been for me for the last six weeks."

The one standout question mark against Neto is his injury record, however, with consistent spells on the sidelines often coming his way, so there could be a risk in Newcastle making a move for him.

Newcastle bid for "outstanding" star ace alongside Calvert-Lewin

An offer has been tabled for the player in question.

By
Henry Jackson

Jun 23, 2024

He is such a special talent that it could be worth the gamble, however, and if he can rid himself of his fitness woes, he may well be the next attacking hero at St James'. His combination of pace, dribbling and devilish end product could get even more out of Alexander Isak, too, who would no doubt thrive off his delivery from out wide, and at 24, Neto is still a young player with so much more to offer.

Wojciech Szczesny has revealed what it is like to be a more senior member in Hansi Flick's youthful Barcelona squad.

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• Szczesny joined Barca on a free transfer
• Played for Arsenal back in 2009
• Lamine Yamal was just two years old at the time

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Szczesny has revealed that he doesn't expect the likes of Lamine Yamal and Barca's younger players to remember the fact that he'd even played for Arsenal. With the Catalan club's starting line-up in the league averaging just 23.8 years old, Hansi Flick has been capitalising on Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, something which the club's coaches of the past five years have had to do frequently due to financial issues at the club. Indeed, Yamal would've only been two years old when Szczesny made his Gunners debut in September 2009.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barcelona have seen many youngsters come and go down the years, but this season seems different. Teenagers, such as centre-backs Sergi Dominguez and Pau Cubarsi and, of course, Lamine Yamal are starting regularly for the Spanish giants, alongside the likes of Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde.

  And they aren't just there to make up the numbers. Ten games into the Liga season, Barca are comfortably sitting on top of the pile, with nine wins and just one defeat. Szczesny, meanwhile, who came out of retirement to join Barca, fears some of the younger players won't remember his past achievements as a goalkeeper.

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  WHAT SZCZESNY SAID

  Szczesny, who was brought in to help fill the void left by an injury to No.1 goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, has explained that having so many young players in the squad takes some getting used to.

  He said: "I have to tell you, it's strange! Some of these players probably haven't seen me playing for Arsenal, and I feel like that wasn't a long time ago! But it is a big point of why I decided to come because I think I can give something to this team."

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• WHAT PEDRI SAID

  Speaking to reporters, Pedri added on the subject of Barca's young squad: "It's very important [to develop young talent]. The confidence that the coach gives to all the young players who are coming up, they give it back with good play. This allows them to gain confidence and have more freedom to dare to try out things."

Arsenal lost 1-0 to Inter Milan after Hakan Calhanoglu converted his penalty in the first half and Mikel Arteta is not happy with the refereeing.

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• Arsenal lose 1-0 to Inter Milan
• Arteta fumes about penalty decisions
• Backs side to beat Chelsea on Sunday

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal were the dominant side at San Siro during their Champions League clash, however, the Gunners were unable to avoid defeat to Inter Milan after Calhanoglu converted a penalty in injury time in the first half. Referee Istvan Kovacs pointed to the spot after Mikel Merino was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. However, Arteta has revealed that he feels his side were hard done by the refereeing for a contentious penalty as he also claimed his side should have been awarded a penalty early in the first half after Merino was caught by Yann Sommer on the head as the keeper attempted to punch the ball.

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  WHAT ARTETA SAID

  Speaking to the media, Arteta said: “I don’t understand. There is no danger at all. You cannot react because the ball is very close. We were told at the start of the season that wasn’t a penalty. That was clear. Today it was a different story. But OK. They decide that is a penalty.

  “But if that is a penalty then the one on Mikel Merino where he punches him in the head has to be a penalty, 1,000 per cent. These are the margins in this game and it’s very, very difficult to accept. I am extremely frustrated because these are two decisions that marked the course of the game. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do. We have to accept it and move on.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal very much dominated the proceedings at San Siro as the Gunners gathered 63% possession on the night and took a total of 20 shots compared to Inter's seven shots. The Nerazzurri only had one shot on target, which came from Calhanoglu's penalty. As such, Arteta praised his side's dominance on the night and said: “This is the way I want to see my team. Of all the big games we have played in Europe, this is by far the best one that we have played in the last few years…

  “I haven’t seen them play in Europe in the manner they have today. And we are very disappointed because we didn’t get what we wanted out of the game that’s for sure.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  The Gunners will be in action next when they take on London rivals Chelsea on November 10 as they look to dump their three-game winless streak in the Premier League. Arteta has revealed that he is confident about the Gunners taking the win at Stamford Bridge, saying: “If we play the way we played here we have a good chance to win against Chelsea. I told them I’m proud of them."