Tottenham Hotspur captured the awe of the Premier League with their early-season exploits, but the resurgence under Ange Postecoglou took a hit before the November international break.
Injuries and suspensions were key factors in defeats against Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the potential under the Australian's wing speaks for itself with table-toppers Manchester City still just two points ahead.
Recent weeks have underlined that Spurs' weakness in depth now borders on threadbare, and could prove to topple the framework established over the past few months if the fold is not deepened in January.
Tottenham transfer news – Andre
While defensive reinforcement will likely take precedence in the forthcoming winter transfer window, Tottenham will aim to make moves across various departments of the field if the opportunity arises, and the chance to sign Brazilian midfielder Andre may be too good to turn down.
According to talkSPORT, the Lilywhites are willing to cash in on Denmark international Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to beat Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United to the signing of Andre.
Tottenham's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, reporter Ben Jacobs revealed that he could cost around £35m, but should Tottenham recuperate some funds from a possible sale of Hojbjerg, they may well have the means to present the Brazilian maestro with an enticing package.
Andre's style of play
It's worth noting that Andre is dynamic and has been featured at centre-back for Fluminense, which could be a valuable tool for Postecoglou to get his mitts on, offering protection across multiple positions.
One of the finest passers of the ball in South America, Andre, aged 22, has sparkled across his 26 starts in the Brasileiro Serie A this season, completing 95% of his passes, averaging 1.9 tackles and 7.6 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 71% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore.
Hailed as a "leader" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, he really does feel like a tailor-made option to deploy into the Spurs fray, and he could blossom into the finest midfielder at Postecoglou's disposal, perhaps even surpassing Yves Bissouma as the celestial star in the engine room.
morten-frendrup-andre-liverpool-opinion
Bissouma has been one of Tottenham's biggest success stories this season after flattering to deceive last year and has completed 92% of his passes, made 3.3 tackles and 5.5 ball recoveries on average in the Premier League.
But at 27-years-old, the Malian probably does not have as much scope for growth as his South American counterpart, who boasts all of the attributes to flourish at the highest level on the major stage in Europe.
How Andre compares to Declan Rice
Described as a "monster of a player" by journalist Fernando Campos, Andre is rightfully attracting the attention of some of the Premier League's big-hitters after a captivating rise in his homeland, and he could become a leading figure on English shores with management from a manager of Postecoglou's merit.
As per FBref, Andre ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across divisions similar to the Brasileiro Serie A for pass completion, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90 – showcasing his passing prowess and knack for progression.
Such qualities, blended with his robustness, could put him in good stead to rival someone of Declan Rice's calibre, with the esteemed England international thriving since making the £105m switch to Arsenal from West Ham United in the summer.
Rice is accepted as one of European football's standout centre-midfielders and has been incredible for the Gunners in the English top-flight, completing 92% of his passes, making 2.0 tackles, five ball recoveries and 0.8 key passes per game, posting two goals and an assist already.
The £240k-per-week machine offers similar passing assurance to Andre, and while he is not matching him for defensive output, it is probable that his numbers would decrease somewhat placed in the rigours of Premier League football.
Nonetheless, he is immensely talented and could prove to be a starring figure at the top of the game in years to come, and Postecoglou must ensure that he joins Tottenham to ensure that the seasonal revival solidifies into immovable first-class quality.
Former Premier League star Juan Mata has been spotted back in Manchester United gear in recent days.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Mata becomes free agent
Back in United gear
Promoted pre-season tour in US
WHAT HAPPENED?
Mata, who played for United from 2014 to 2022, has been spotted back in Red Devils training gear as he looks to promote the 2024 pre-season tour in the USA.
The Spaniard is currently in San Diego visiting schools and hospitals, while also conducting training sessions with youngsters and stopping to sign autographs.
Advertisement
(C)Getty Images
WHAT MATA SAID
“We are visiting some soccer schools, hospitals,” Mata told the official club website. “We are trying to do as much as we can in these three or four days that we will be here.
"Because it's very important for a football player to actually get to know where we are and connect with the soccer fans, and for Manchester United too, so it is a great opportunity for both the club and myself.
“I'm really excited about being in San Diego, which is a lovely place. I'm also looking forward to the game. It's always been great to play in front of the US fans for United.
"I remember many fantastic stadiums and many fantastic memories with them, so hopefully it's going to be one of those.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
During the pre-season tour in the US, United will play Arsenal, Real Betis and Liverpool. San Diego is one of the cities Erik ten Hag's side will play in, as they face Betis on August 1.
The friendly will be held at the Snapdragon Stadium, which has a capacity of 35,000, which is also the same sponsor that will feature on the front of United's kit for the 2024/25 season.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty
WHAT NEXT FOR MATA?
The former United playmaker is currently without a club after leaving Japanese side Vissel Kobe in January.
According to MEN, Mata had previously stated that he would like to become an ambassador for United once his playing days were over – which could now be occurring given the role he has taken on in San Diego.
USMNT star Weston McKennie has revealed his future hope amid contract talks with Juventus and links to the likes of Manchester United.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Approaching final year of deal
Snubbed renewal offers so far
Interest from England & Germany
WHAT HAPPENED?
The United States international is approaching the final year of his current deal in Turin. Fresh terms have been offered to the versatile 25-year-old, but he is yet to put pen to paper. Discussions regarding an extended stay at the Allianz Stadium are continuing.
Advertisement
Getty
THE BIGGER PICTURE
There are also plenty of rumours to be found regarding a move elsewhere, with the former Leeds loanee – who suffered relegation out of the Premier League in 2023 – seeing a return to England speculated on. McKennie could also be reunited with fellow countryman Gio Reyna at Borussia Dortmund if reports of interest from Germany prove to be correct.
WHAT MCKENNIE SAID
McKennie insists that his preferred option would be to remain in Italy, telling when asked about his future on the back of a 1-1 draw with Roma: “I have a year left in my contract, and my agent is speaking with the director. I’d like to stay, obviously, but we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, we can work it out. As for the team, we have the same goal we’ve had for the past three years. We want to win the Scudetto and play a big role in the Champions League; we want to return Juventus to the glory days, how it was before. Juventus are a team with a lot of winning history, and this team wants to show that we belong in that history as well, so hopefully, we can win the Coppa Italia, at least a trophy this season and finish the season strong and for the future put Juventus where we belong.”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty
WHAT NEXT FOR MCKENNIE?
McKennie has enjoyed a remarkable reversal in fortune during the 2023-24 campaign, with seven assists recorded through 33 appearances in Serie A. He is up to 132 outings in total for Juventus, scoring 13 goals, and has rebuilt a reputation that is once again seeing him become a key figure for club and country.
After rebuilding his Liverpool side during the summer transfer window, Jurgen Klopp will hope that the need for such a drastic turnaround doesn't take place in the coming years, as the Reds look to prepare far better for an ageing squad. Their midfield rebuild has at least gone to plan, however, with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all playing their part to help Liverpool go within five points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand ahead of the festive period.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, meanwhile, the Reds have reportedly turned their attention towards reinforcements, with an approach made for one particular gem.
Liverpool transfer news
Liverpool spent all of the summer adding to their midfield, whilst other positions remained without additions. If Klopp's side are to get back to their best and sustain it though, they may need to bolster other areas of their squad, be it through future stars or those ready to step straight into Premier League action. Given that Mohamed Salah is now 31 too, they would be particularly wise to welcome a future replacement for the Egyptian, which could see them land a Benfica gem.
luis-diaz-mohamed-salah-liverpool-opinion
According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Liverpool have made an approach to sign Kyanno Lorenzo Silva, who has just six months left on his current deal. Liverpool scouts have reportedly been impressed by the 18-year-old after his performances for Benfica's U23s side this season. The Reds may have to act fast if they want to land the teenager, however, with Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta also reportedly making contact with the Portuguese club about the forward.
Reliable reporter issues injury update on "outstanding" Liverpool star
This could damage Liverpool’s title hopes…
By
Tom Cunningham
Dec 6, 2023
Playing on the right of the frontline in a similar fashion to Salah, Silva could be a shrewd long-term replacement for the current Liverpool star, as those at Anfield prepare for the future.
"Starlet" Silva could solve future Liverpool problem
Planning ahead could be the key for Liverpool when it comes to replacing Salah. As things stand, it's difficult to see a player capable of producing what the winger does when arriving at Anfield within Liverpool's price range, meaning that looking at future stars could be the way forward. And that could open the door for Silva, who is still only 18.
The teenager is yet to play a game for the senior side at Benfica this season, but given the amount of interest in his signature, Silva's time may well be on its way in Portugal. With six months left on his contract, however, the Dutchman could find himself at a crossroads at the end of the season, when he could have his biggest career decision yet to make.
Silva has earned plenty of praise already throughout his career, including from O'Rourke of Football Insider, who described the forward as a "starlet" when speaking about the interest of various clubs. When his contract in Portugal does come to an end, we may well get a glimpse into the potential that Silva has if he decides to pick Liverpool over other potential suitors elsewhere in Europe.
Manchester United have cancelled their end-of-season awards dinner as the club want the players to remain focused on the FA Cup final on May 25.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Man Utd cancel end-of-season awards dinner
Club wants players to focus on FA Cup final
Dinner was scheduled for May 25
Getty Images
WHAT HAPPENED?
Man Utd are looking to end what has been a rather disappointing season with a win in the FA Cup final against local rivals, Manchester City, and therefore they have decided to call off the yearly ceremonial dinner which was scheduled for May 20, as per The Athletic. The club reportedly consulted for the same with the under-pressure Erik ten Hag, whose job could very well hang in the balance depending on the result of the final.
Advertisement
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The awards dinner is attended by the entire squad of the men's, women's and academy teams, as the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award is handed out and recognition is given to the breakthrough young talent for the season. However, the poor form of the club this season, and the looming FA Cup final have prompted the cancellation.
Getty
DID YOU KNOW?
The same had also happened during the 2021/22 season when the Red Devils suffered from a similar catastrophic down-turn in form under Ralf Rangnick when they barely managed to finish sixth in the Premier League despite winning just twice in the last nine league matches of the season.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
The club can still achieve success at the end of the season if they somehow manage to jump Newcastle United and Chelsea to achieve the European-playing spots in the Premier League. Another and the main objective will be to beat Man City in the FA Cup final on May 25.
This summer, all Wolves eyes were on Ruben Neves. With just a year left on his contract, the Portuguese midfielder had collective blood pressures on the rise at mid-table prone Molineux after publicly claiming he wanted to play Champions League football.
Acceptance of their captain's departure came gradually, yet Neves' eventual move to the money pit of Saudi Arabia instead of the more assumed Barcelona – likely sparked frustration among the fanbase. European aspirations were simply traded away for dollar signs. That said, while Neves might've left on a relatively sour note – it's hard to forget the times when the former Porto man was truly on song in the West Midlands.
Winding the clock back even further, Football FanCast takes a look back at Ruben Neves' Wolves debut and the team around him. So, let's look back to 5th August 2017 – where new boss Nuno Espirito Santo rolled out his opening day line-up as Wolverhampton Wanderers aimed to get back to the Premier League for the first time since 2011/12.
In a game that Wolves eventually won 1-0, Espirito Santo went for a five-man defence against a tricky Middlesbrough side freshly relegated from the Premier League. Here's the XI, of which seven were summer acquisitions, and a little bit about where each of the players are now.
John Ruddy
Goalkeeper
Between the sticks back on this opening day, John Ruddy had just made the switch from Norwich City. Over seven years there, he'd amassed a great 242 appearances as well as a reputation for fine shot-stopping. All in all, with the Canaries, Ruddy kept 60 clean sheets, got promoted twice – and would repeat this trend with Wolves in this very term as the Old Gold marched to the title.
At Wolves, Ruddy would tot up 72 appearances and keep 36 clean sheets before moving to Birmingham City in 2022, where he still resides.
Barry Douglas
Left wing-back
Barry Douglas Wolves
Contrary to his goalkeeper's previous loyalty to one club, fellow new signing Barry Douglas was a relative journeyman up to this point. Following formative spells with Queen's Park and Dundee United in his native Scotland, the left-back went to Poland with Lech Poznan between 2013 and 2016. After that, he went to Turkey with Konyaspor before settling with Wolves for a term in 2017/18.
Although he helped them get automatic promotion, he couldn't stay still and moved on to Leeds, Blackburn Rovers and then back to Lech Poznan in 2021, where he remains to this day.
Willy Boly
Centre-back
Willy Boly for Wolves
Arriving on loan from his manager's old club, Porto, Willy Boly didn't take long to become a fan favourite at Molineux. A towering and physical defender, Boly got his debut in this game against Middlesbrough before eventually scoring his first goal in against Norwich City in late October. He played 37 games on loan at Wolves before all parties involved ensured the big man stayed on a permanent deal.
He plied his trade with Wolves for another three years and earned international call-ups for Cote d'Ivoire before moving to current club Nottingham Forest in September 2022.
Conor Coady
Centre-back
Wolves defender Conor Coady.
It's fair to say that Conor Coady and Wolves have been a near-synonymous partnership in recent years. Clearly from his formative career steps, the defender had the ability and leadership to impact any XI he was in. Any, except, his first club, Liverpool. After a successful loan spell with Sheffield United in 2013/14 and another solid year at Huddersfield Town, Coady had his taste for leading a group without necessarily finding the right place to lay his hat.
Wolverhampton was an ideal match in 2015, and over 300 appearances later, the centre-back had certainly made his mark before departing for Leicester City in July. Poignantly before leaving, Coady scored the only goal in Wolves' 1,000th top-flight win.
Roderick Miranda
Centre-back
Although his stint at Wolves didn't see a lot of game time with a mere 17 league appearances, Roderick Miranda was on the books for four years. The Portuguese defender signed for Espirito Santo in 2017 after impressing with Rio Ave. However, he gradually fell out of favour and ended up on loan moves to Olympiacos and Famalicao before leaving Molineux by mutual consent in 2021.
Since then, Miranda briefly played for Turkish side Gaziantep, but can now be found in Australia with Melbourne Victory.
Matt Doherty
Right wing-back
Matt Doherty Wolves
Matt Doherty rounds off this XI's defenders at the right wing-back position, and he's a player whose career path took a sudden surge upwards for a brief spell.
Back in 2017, Doherty had already been at Wolves for ten years. Part of the furniture since developing in the youth ranks, the Irishman's excellence on the right played a big part in Wolves not only staying in the Premier League since they re-emerged in 2018/19, but also their League One title back in 2013/14. Such was the case, that after 302 appearances in all competitions, he joined Tottenham in 2020 for £13.4m.
While outings in Spurs white were relatively hit-and-miss and dampened by an MCL injury in 2022, Atletico Madrid still took a chance on Doherty. Spurs terminated his contract and off he went. However, after just two appearances for Diego Simeone's side, he came back to England and re-joined Wolves this summer for free. A loyal servant, for nothing? Nicely done, Wolves…
Ruben Neves
Defensive midfielder
Of course, the titular character in this article – 20-year-old Ruben Neves came into this game fresh from Portugal. He was the division's record signing at the time, as Wolves picked up the high-flying prospect for £15.8m, and that season, he truly hit the ground running, showing all the tenacious early signs of a defensive midfielder that was soon to be on the radar of Europe's biggest clubs.
Now, some could say he only scored six goals and got one assist – but from the deeper role, that's not bad at all. Not bad, especially when you consider this strike against Derby County, which was very much a typical Neves goal…
Romain Saiss
Defensive midfielder
Romain Saiss for Wolves
Lining up alongside the soon-to-be imperious Neves was French-born Morocco international Romain Saiss. Adept defensively, as well as chipping in with the odd aerial presence at set pieces, this enforcer played in midfield and at centre-back following his arrival from Angers in 2016. In the next six years, Saiss became an established Premier League battler, charting 110 league appearances with nine goals – out of 206 all-competition outings.
In 2022, Saiss moved on to Besiktas before a recent foray further east with Qatar's Al-Sadd and the Saudi Arabia's Al-Shabab. Qatar is perhaps where Saiss' best recent memories lie, after brave performances helped inspire Morocco to a historic World Cup semi-final: a run which left Ruben and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in their wake.
Diogo Jota
Left-forward
Individually the most successful player out of this fledgling Wolves side, Diogo Jota has seen his career go from strength to strength since leaving the West Midlands. Back in 2017, this start against Middlesbrough came as his first game on a season-long loan from Atletico Madrid.
It's safe to say that the 17 goals in 44 Championship matches (fifth in the league's scoring charts) played a huge part in the side's promotion. Wolves made the deal permanent for the ex-Pacos de Ferreira man for a reported €14m before he transferred his ability to two great seasons in the Premier League that brought another 16 goals in 67 games. In his first season, the then-22-year-old netted nine and assisted five in 33, before his second term saw seven goals in 34.
More impressive was his Europa League tally. Diogo notched six goals in eight games as Wolves reached the quarter-finals before defeat at the hands of Europa League kings Sevilla.
Diogo may have been gutted, but it wasn't to be the final time the ever-developing dynamo would experience European football. Liverpool came knocking in 2020, and the Portuguese has flown into the hearts of all in red. His 47 goals in 126 all-competition matches since 2020 has had Scousers on strings with an FA Cup and EFL Cup to boot.
Leo Bonatini
Centre-forward
Leo Bonatini For Wolves
Leo Bonatini was, of course, the sole scorer back in 2017's 1-0 opening-day win over Middlesbrough. With a fine finish past Darren Randolph, the 23-year-old striker, on loan from Al-Hilal, had pounced on a sloppy pass and ultimately hinted at what kind of season he was going to enjoy poaching in the Championship. In his first term, Bonatini scored 12 goals in 43 games. This, paired with Jota's exciting exploits, kept Wolves flying in the right direction.
After promotion from the second tier, Bonatini struggled for game time at Wolves, as Raul Jimenez coming in up top eventually showed the gulf in class between the Premier League and Championship. Although Bonatini had made his move to Molineux permanent, he was sent out on unsuccessful loans to Nottingham Forest and Vitoria Guimaraes before affiliate club Grasshopper in Switzerland brought him back in the goals between 2020 and 2022. In this two-year loan, he scored a goal every three games. However, it wasn't enough to impress Wolves, and the 29-year-old now finds himself enjoying similar form with Atletico San Luis in Mexico.
Harry Kane “second to no-one” in the finishing stakes, says Victor Wanyama, with the Bayern Munich star becoming the world’s best in that department.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Three Lions striker is a record breaker
Has maintained remarkable standards
Still looking for elusive major silverware
WHAT HAPPENED?
The England international striker has been able to maintain a prolific strike rate since bursting onto a senior stage at Tottenham. He is now Spurs’ all-time leading scorer, with 280 efforts to his name, while also boasting a record-breaking haul of 62 strikes for his country.
Advertisement
Getty
WHAT WANYAMA SAID
Kane has worked tirelessly to reach the very top of the game, with former Spurs team-mate Wanyama telling FIFA’s of what makes the fearsome frontman truly elite: “Harry’s finishing is second to no-one. You saw it in training, he is so clinical. I have not seen another striker like him. He's also a very professional player. He does all the right things. His game understanding, his movements, his runs – they are just top.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Kane is now on the books at Bayern, with 44 goals registered for them this season. Major silverware has once again proved elusive, with Wanyama adding on failing to break that duck when playing alongside the Three Lions superstar in north London: “My only regret from that era is that we did not win a big trophy. We had everything to do it, but just couldn’t pull it off. We had a great team and a great coach in Mauricio. We showed we could beat anyone. I remember one season (2016-17), we didn't lose one home game. That's how good our team was.”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty
WHAT NEXT?
Kenya international Wanyama is now plying his trade in MLS for CF Montreal, which is putting him in direct competition with Inter Miami talisman Lionel Messi, but he is still keeping an eye on European action and will be hoping to see Kane end his long wait for tangible success at some point in the near future.
Mikel Arteta will be pleased with how his Arsenal side hasn’t let the disappointment from last season negatively affect this campaign.
The north Londoners are currently second in the Premier League, yet they have the opportunity to return to the top against West Ham United on Thursday.
The Gunners already have a young squad, but the boss wants to add another exciting prospect to his side this January.
Arsenal transfers latest – Kenan Yildiz
According to Italian outlet, TuttoMercatoWeb, Arsenal are interested in signing 18-year-old Kenan Yildiz from Juventus.
Kenan Yildiz celebrates.
The Italian side is willing to cash in on the youngster if the right offer arrives, as they need to raise funds.
However, it would take a fee of £34m to sign the Turkish attacker this January, and Juve will only accept a permanent move with a loan off the cards.
Kenan Yildiz’s style of play
It is no surprise that at 18 years old, Yildiz is extremely inexperienced, but he has featured for his country twice and had seven cameos for Juventus this season. Despite averaging very few minutes per game, he has already scored for both his club and country.
The Turkey prospect made his first start for the Old Lady last time out, and within 12 minutes, he had already scored his first goal for the club after skipping past three players in the box with one chop and firing a low, composed finish to the near post. A goal that was described as “wonderful” by Fabrizio Romano.
Yildiz is a skilful number ten by trade, with incredible vision and chance creation ability, which has earned him comparisons to Mesut Ozil. The ex-Bayern Academy star is also dynamic and thrives when receiving the ball on the half turn and driving at the opposition backline, where he stays composed and usually makes the right decision.
The 6 foot attacking midfielder is extremely agile and elegant for his height, and he has the ability to evade the press with ease. Yildiz is also extremely comfortable with both feet, which makes him far less predictable in and around the box. In short, he is simply a defender's nightmare, as they cannot get too tight or stand off him. Although he is a number ten, he tends to drift all over the field to find pockets of space, but he thrives on the left.
Despite having enough quality to be given minutes at the Gunners, it is safe to presume that he wouldn’t feature heavily under Arteta. Therefore, game time will be limited for the Turkish ace, who is simply desperate to play and develop alongside the very best.
The hope at Arsenal is that Yildiz could replicate what Ozil did at the club during his 184 Premier League matches, where he scored 33 goals and registered 59 assists. If the Juve attacker was able to live up to the standard of the World Cup winner, the move would be a success, but spending £34m in January on an inexperienced 18-year-old goes one of two ways: a masterstroke or a disaster.
With reports of Erik ten Hag's imminent sacking emerging on the eve of the FA Cup final, fans have taken jibes at the club for the timing of the news.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Ten Hag to be sacked regardless of FA Cup result
News emerges on the eve of the clash
Fans unhappy with the timing of media claims
Getty Images
WHAT HAPPENED?
Ten Hag's second season as the manager of United has been shockingly poor after a decent debut campaign at Old Trafford. As such, the Dutchman's future at the club was never a guarantee, and on the eve of the Red Devils' FA Cup final clash against Manchester City, news broke out that the former Ajax man would be shown the door regardless of the result at Wembley. The timing of the news has irked fans who have taken shots at the club.
Advertisement
WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING
British comedian and Red Devils supporter, @JustinMoorhouse said on X: "Disgusting. Joke of a club. I’m so embarrassed to be a United fan."
Another fan @mufc_dan87 said: "Whether you want Ten Hag gone or not, the fact this story breaks a day before the FA Cup final tells you all you need to know about the way United are being run. A cabal of absolute imbeciles."
Man Utd superfan, @AdamMcKola said: "INEOS massive w*nkers for this. Day before a cup final. Pr*cks."
Another X user @akomeahmessiah said: "24hrs before a crucial game… someone should be asking the leadership questions…. Ten hag is respectful and responsible… put in a resignation before the final..destabilize the dressing room and go…"
However, @RiddyMuppertiers felt, INEOS were being wrongly targeted: "Before anyone gets mad at Ineos there is about a 0% chance they leaked this. Steinberg is Chelsea's guy. Good chance he heard it from one of our managerial targets"
Getty
THE BIGGER PICTURE
United suffered from a horrendous second campaign under Ten Hag, as they finished in their lowest-ever position in the Premier League. They also ended their Champions League campaign with a group-stage knockout, coming in last in a group with Galatasaray, Bayern Munich and Copenhagen.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
The Red Devils will now take on local rivals City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 25. It is the second time in a row the Old Trafford side have made it to the final, having lost 2-1 to City last year.
It's upon us. Liverpool's clash against Arsenal in the Premier League last today is probably the most important fixture of the club's season so far.
Having put last year's struggles behind them, Liverpool are back in the ascendancy and are challenging for the title, with the first-placed Gunners just one point ahead at the peak of the festive period.
Liverpool must bench £55k-p/w "game-changer" alongside Gomez
Jurgen Klopp most boldly keep this star from the starting line-up today.
By
Angus Sinclair
Dec 23, 2023
Jurgen Klopp's side have been immense this season with a rekindled never-say-die attitude marrying with blistering offensive credentials.
At present, the Reds are nursing several injuries to key personnel and this will be at the forefront of Klopp's mind ahead of a glorious opportunity to take the lead in a compelling title race.
Liverpool team news vs Arsenal
Ryan Gravenberch is expected to be available for Saturday's clash after the suspected hamstring injury he sustained during last week's draw against Manchester United was put down to muscular fatigue.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Diogo Jota and Alexis Mac Allister, with the influential pair still a week or two away from returning to fitness.
Andrew Robertson will return to first-team training in the new year but remains out; Spanish midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara are still long-term absentees and Joel Matip's season is over after rupturing his ACL against Fulham earlier in December.
Why Darwin Nunez must start at left wing
One player who will be expected to start is Darwin Nunez, with the fleet-footed Uruguay international impressing against West Ham United on Wednesday night having been shifted to the left wing.
The 24-year-old's goalless run stretched to 11 matches, concerningly, but he bellowed his worth to his manager with a creative and impactful effort, creating four key passes, succeeding with three dribbles and incredibly winning 11 duels.
Such a feat warrants another starting berth from the left today, replacing Luis Diaz, who has not been at his best recently.
It's important to note that while Diaz might not be in the richest vein of form, he is still a brilliant, mercurial winger with pace, trickery and incisiveness in abundance.
With reporter Charlotte Coates dubbing him a "game-changer" following his match-winning performance off the bench against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the season, the £55k-per-week ace could be a valuable weapon against a rock-solid Gunners defence.
It's just quite difficult to discredit Nunez right now after such an effective display against West Ham, and this connection with Cody Gakpo, who will be eager to sculpt some impressive form after scoring in midweek, must be allowed to bloom.
Since Diogo Jota is still injured, this is the move to make as Klopp looks to leapfrog Arsenal into pole position for Christmas Day, with high-flying Aston Villa dropping points at home to Sheffield United on Friday night.
As per FBref, the Uruguayan ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for shots taken, the top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 10% for aerial wins per 90.
This is all a roundabout way of stating that he is the man for the job on the left, which will enhance the hosts' offensive fluency and ensure that Liverpool have balance in their probes against Mikel Arteta's backline.
Important he may be, Nunez might not be the key component this evening, with Curtis Jones surely in line for a starting berth after his midweek masterclass.
"Truly special" Jones' time to shine
Jones was one of the most influential players during Liverpool's late-season purple patch before the summer, starting all 11 of the final Premier League fixtures, scoring three goals and supplying an assist, and impressing with his distribution and composure in the centre.
Pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has previously claimed that Jones is "not good enough", but then the ex-Aston Villa striker could not be wider of the mark, with the industrious and intelligent midfielder proving to be one of the most underrated players in Klopp's squad.
But he has been excellent this season and has scored two goals and provided three assists across all competitions this term, and must now start after starting the past four league encounters from the bench.
Curtis Jones: Key Characteristics
Strengths
Weaknesses
Passing
Aerial duels
Through balls
Tackling
*Sourced via WhoScored
The 6 foot 1 star ranks among the top 2% of midfielders for pass completion, the top 14% for goals scored, the top 5% for assists, the top 14% for progressive carries, the top 11% for successful take-ons and the top 16% for tackles per 90.
Very much the all-encompassing asset at the beating heart of Liverpool's system, Jones reannounced himself against the Hammers with two spectacular strikes, but while his innate eye for goal is a good tool for his side, it is the "phenomenal" level of his passing and ball retention that cements his standing at Anfield, as has been said by BBC Sport's Raj Chohan.
And it is because of this that he must start against Arsenal; Ryan Gravenberch is fit but does not seem to be clicking alongside Dominik Szoboszlai.
As per Sofascore, the 22-year-old complemented his two strikes with two key passes, success in both of his attempted dribbles and a 93% passing accuracy despite taking 89 touches, right in the thick of the action.
Curtis Jones.
With Wataru Endo likely to anchor the midfield in Mac Allister's absence, Jones has to start to counterbalance his Hungarian teammate's creativity, keeping it crisp and ensuring that Liverpool stay on top in a midfield battle against the sensational Declan Rice.
Described as a “truly special” talent by one analyst, Liverpool's chances of defeating Arsenal will only improve with Jones deployed from the outset, allowing the likes of Nunez and Salah to flourish further up the field.
It's a gargantuan contest, but it's one that Klopp and his squad will be confident of prevailing in, assuming the lead in the title race and pushing to establish a gap.