A few Aston Villa fans were left questioning their club’s decision to keep Tom Heaton and Bjorn Engels injuries under wraps ahead of facing Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
There is also growing uncertainty among the Villa Park faithful over Jack Grealish’s fitness after the Villans captain was forced to sit out another Premier League fixture after failing to shake off the knock to his calf suffered at Manchester City.
Dean Smith was without Heaton and Engels for Sunday’s clash with Wolves after the pair sustained calf and hip injuries respectively, and were replaced by Jed Steer and Ezri Konsa.
Heaton’s injury has seen the former Burnley goalkeeper withdraw from the England squad for the Three Lion’s upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers, and is expected to see his place taken by Sheffield United’s Dean Henderson.
Smith’s injury woes were not over once the ball began to roll on Sunday, either, as Villa lost back-up ‘keeper Steer in the seventh-minute when the shot-stopper developed an Achilles issue while clearing the ball and needed help leaving the field.
The Villans would again be forced into a first-half substitution through injury, when Matt Targett was replaced shortly before half-time after going down following a blow to the face from Matt Doherty.
Villa now have the international break to nurse their ever-growing injury list back to full fitness, before facing Newcastle United on November 25.
Here are some of the messages shared from concerned Villa fans when news broke of Heaton and Engels’ injuries…
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Newcastle’s clash with Bournemouth promises to be an exciting affair after both teams won last weekend, and for Steve Bruce it is an opportunity to really kickstart their season.
The Magpies are yet to record consecutive victories but with a settled team now in place there are positive signs that they could be set to go on a decent run.
Eddie Howe’s side have performed well on the road, though, and boast a defensive record of 13 goals conceded in 11 league games, and that means the Newcastle front-three will need to be at their best.
In the first half against West Ham last week they were explosive, particularly Allan Saint-Maximin who missed two good opportunities to score, but Miguel Almiron also posed a threat, as he has so often this season.
Unfortunately for the Paraguay international, his stats – as per WhoScored – don’t tell the full story.
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He may still be without a goal or an asisst in Newcastle colours, but his pace makes him a constant threat for the opposition, and in recent home games against Manchester United and Wolves he has used that to his advanatge.
On both occasions he made intelligent runs and had chances on goal, and if he manages the same against the Cherries, whilst adding a clinical touch, he may just break his duck.
However, coming up against Sergio Rico will make that a difficult task, and the hard work he will have to get through to prevent the left-back’s influence in attack may mean his own threat is nullified somewhat.
Rico’s 1.9 key passes per game, according to WhoScored, underline his effectiveness, and even more concerning for Almiron is his respective tackling and interception rate per game, as they mean the right-winger could struggle to get on the ball.
Steve Bruce may have to rely on long balls from players like Jonjo Shelvey to ensure Almiron has an influence on the game, therefore, as so far he has been unable to put his pace to good effect on the ball, achieving only 0.9 successful dribbles per game.
If that takes effect, Newcastle should be able to pin down the opposition whilst keeping things tight at their own end, but if the Cherries sit deep then Bruce’s side may have a frustrating afternoon.
There was a lot of excitement heading into this season for Manchester United fans, as while their Premier League form was dreadful last year, the club had a busy summer in the transfer market.
Unfortunately, Erik ten Hag’s side have already burst that bubble of hope. After winning their first game against Fulham last month, they proceeded to lose back-to-back games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.
There were plenty of poor performers in both games, but Casemiro was notably off the pace, as he was last season, and while Manuel Ugarte should hopefully be his long-term replacement, the manager has claimed he won’t be match fit for some time.
However, there might just be a solution to this problem: one of the club’s own should come in to replace the Brazilian for the game away to Southampton.
Casemiro's recent form
Casemiro’s tenure at Manchester United has been a strange one, as when he arrived from Real Madrid for £70m in the summer of 2022, there were already some doubts about his age.
Casemiro
That said, over the course of that season, the Brazilian was fantastic and proved his doubters wrong. In fact, he was even named the signing of the season by Gary Neville.
However, for whatever reason, the legendary midfielder suddenly and dramatically regressed at the start of last year, and instead of being a monstrous defensive midfielder able to stop attacks before they began, he became a cumbersome liability who regularly got his side into trouble.
It got so bad towards the end of the campaign that former defender Jamie Carragher gave him the now-famous advice to “leave the football before the football leaves you.”
Unfortunately for the five-time Champions League winner, and United for that matter, his calamitous form has continued into this season, and so far he’s made two errors leading to a goal in just three games.
Appearances
3
Shots
6
Shots on target
1
Crosses (Accurate)
3 (1)
Fouls
1
Offsides
2
Tackles (Succesful)
10 (6)
Duels Won
16
Duels Lost
11
Aerial Battles Won
3
Aerial Battles Lost
3
Errors Leading to a Goal
2
In all, it’s time the club moved on from the 32-year-old star, and while Ugarte will likely play in his place for most of the campaign, Ten Hag has a youngster in the squad ready to step up.
Why Toby Collyer should start vs Southampton
Yes, the youngster in question is 20-year-old Toby Collyer, who joined United from Brighton in March 2022.
By then, the then 18-year-old prospect had already captained England’s U16 and U17 sides and has since gone on to make 28 appearances for the Red Devils’ U21 side and three for their U18 side.
However, it was at the start of this month that the 5 foot 11 gem caught the attention of the wider footballing world as he made his Premier League debut, coming off the bench to replace Casemiro at half time against Liverpool.
It was a trial by fire for the inexperienced Worthing-born midfielder, and while he couldn’t help the team come out with any points, he did look more assured than the Brazilian veteran and was given a 6/10 by the Express’ Amos Murphy, while the 32-year-old got a brutal but fair 1/10.
Now, it’s hard to fully judge a young midfielder off of 45 minutes in a derby and half an hour in the Community Shield. Still, the early signs are encouraging, and those in the know are incredibly excited about his future prospects.
For example, in March 2022, former Brighton U18 coach Mark Beard described him as someone “who plays like two men” and said that managers would “want 11 of these type of players in the team.”
Lastly, while no game is easy in the Premier League, Southampton will probably be one of the weakest teams United play this season, so if Ten Hag wants to hand out more minutes to promising youngsters, then today is the day.
He's like De Jong: Man Utd have already sold their next Gomes for just £850k
The talented midfielder looks promising.
1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 12, 2024
Ultimately, fans should not expect the world from Collyer just yet, but with Ugarte supposedly not fully fit and Casemiro all out at sea, the 20-year-old deserves to start today.
Despite the summer transfer window coming to a close in England, Manchester United could still lose one of Erik ten Hag's midfielders amid interest from a European side.
Man Utd transfer news
The Red Devils, on paper at least, can dub this summer a success, having welcomed defensive reinforcements in the form of Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazaroui and Matthijs de Ligt; an attacking addition in Joshua Zirkzee; and a potential solution to their midfield problem in Manuel Ugarte. Arriving on deadline day, the Uruguay international could make an instant impact to end United's Casemiro issue in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, on the departures front, the Red Devils' two major exits were Scott McTominay and Jadon Sancho, who left for Napoli and Premier League rivals Chelsea respectively.
Jadon Sancho in action for Man United in the Premier League.
However, that could yet change, with Belgium's extended transfer window compared to England's potentially resulting in yet another Old Trafford exit. According to Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg (via Sport Witness), Anderlecht CEO Jesper Fredberg now wants to make a "persistent attempt" to sign Christian Eriksen before Belgium's deadline on 6th September.
Eriksen's exit after England's deadline would be quite the twist, of course, given that Manchester United reportedly rejected Real Betis' attempt to sign the Dane on loan late in the window due to his place in Ten Hag's plans.
However, at 32 years old and with just one year left on his current Old Trafford contract, it's now or never for the Red Devils to cash in, potentially presenting Anderlecht with an opportunity to get their man.
With options such as Mason Mount, Casemiro, Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes all ahead of Eriksen in the pecking order, the argument could be made that United are better off cashing in on the veteran midfielder in the coming week.
Man Utd should cash in on "Incredible" Eriksen
There was once a time when many believed Eriksen's career in football was over after his on-pitch collapse at Euro 2020, only for the midfielder to make an extraordinary comeback at Brentford and earn his way back to the top in a move to Manchester United. The Dane has been at the centre of one of football's most admirable stories in the last four years, but it is a story that he can tick off as complete in the Premier League.
At 32 years old, United would be wise to cash in amid Anderlecht's reported attempts, in a move that would see Eriksen become one of the main men one last time in Europe.
The former Tottenham Hotspur star earned the praise of Thomas Frank during his short but impressive Brentford spell. The Bees boss said after Eriksen made his comeback (via talkSPORT): "I would say incredible, I would say the 90 minutes [was] fantastic.
"As I said earlier and in some of the press conferences, it would take him some time to get up to that top level. But you still saw three, four, five top actions, I think the delivery for the first goal, I think there were some balls in behind for his teammates where you could just see 'wow, that’s another level'. But also in situations where he could have done a bit better, done better on the ball, which is good."
The transfer window may be closed, but Leicester City and Steve Cooper still have their eye on strengthening the team, as they hold an interest in a free agent.
European club now working to hijack Leicester player for £0 before deadline
The Foxes have so far failed to cash in…
ByTom Cunningham Sep 5, 2024 Leicester City transfer news
The summer transfer window was a mixed one for Leicester after their return to the Premier League, as the Foxes spent large sums of money on players such as Oliver Skipp and Bilal El Khannouss, but the club also lost key players such as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who joined Chelsea and left a gaping void in the attacking midfield role at the King Power.
The Foxes brought in nine players over the course of the summer, but the additions haven’t done much to help them make a strong start in the league, as it is just one point from a possible nine so far.
Cooper now has to wait until January before he can make any more significant changes to the squad, but with the Turkish transfer window still open, it appears a player could still leave the King Power Stadium. It was reported last week that Turkish giants Galatasaray made contact with Leicester over the signing of Boubakary Soumare.
The report stated that Galatasaray were looking to sign the midfielder on loan for the remainder of the campaign. The Frenchman spent last season on loan at Sevilla and could now be set for another temporary exit, as his contract at the King Power Stadium runs until 2026. The Foxes signed the midfielder for a reported £17 million, but he has struggled to make an impact since he joined the club, with him appearing once so far in this campaign.
As well as possibly looking to move Soumare on, Leicester are also said to be holding significant talks in a bid to sign a free agent.
Leicester in advancing talks to sign a 45-cap international
According to French outlet Jeuns Footeux, Leicester City are interested in signing current free agent Yusuf Yazici. The 27-year-old is looking for a new club after leaving French side Lille at the end of last season, and the Foxes are said to be keen on signing the 45-cap Turkey international.
The report states that the Premier League side have started discussions with the player’s agents, with the hope being that they can reach an agreement soon. Leicester face stiff competition, as Premier League duo Everton and AFC Bournemouth are also keen on signing the midfielder, but it is Cooper's side in pole position and said to be working to conclude a deal "quickly".
Apps
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Goals
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Assists
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The 27-year-old spent five years with Lille, as he joined the club in 2019 from Trabzonspor. Yazici played 135 times for the French club, also spending time on loan at CSKA Moscow and Trabzonspor during his time in France. The midfielder left Lille having scored 12 goals in all competitions last season, so could provide an injection of end product from midfield in the absence of Dewsbury-Hall.
Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun this summer in an attempt to solve their striker conundrum.
Crystal Palace transfer news – could they sign Folarin Balogun?
According to the Express, Balogun is prepared to leave Arsenal this summer to pursue regular first-team football after a successful loan spell in France last season.
It is believed the Gunners are due to hold talks with Balogun’s agent, Eddie Bonsu, after the current international break in which the 21-year-old striker has starred for the United States.
Soccer Football – Ligue 1 – Paris St Germain v Stade de Reims – Parc des Princes, Paris, France – January 29, 2023 Stade de Reims’ Folarin Balogun in action with Paris St Germain’s Fabian Ruiz and Sergio Ramos REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
The striker has insisted he will not be sent out on loan again by Arsenal and demands regular first-team football at the Emirates or to be sold to somewhere he will get that playing time.
"I'm not sure what's going to happen. But I'm just committed to now; I try to stay present. I obviously want to enjoy the moment with my team and my family” Balogun told reporters after the USMNT defeated Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League final.
"What I can say is that I definitely won't go on loan again."
Is Balogun the man to fix Crystal Palace’s woes up front?
There’s no doubt the quality Balogun can bring to a new team, as shown by his stellar season last year in France.
The youngster signed for Stade Reims on a season long loan deal back in the summer window of 2023 and grew into one of the best strikers in the league.
In 37 appearances, Balogun hit the net 21 times and registered 3 assists, which made up 53% of his sides’ goal contribution.
His eye for goal saw him finish as the fifth top goalscorer in Ligue 1 behind the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Canadian star Jonathan David.
Balogun didn’t want to wait for an England call up either, recently committing to the USMNT and starring in their CONCACAF Nations League triumph. ‘Flo’ even notched his first goal for the U.S in the 3-0 stuffing of Canada in the final.
Former American international striker and current CBS football pundit Charlie Davis told the Los Angeles Times that Balogun can be a ‘game changer’ for the USMNT.
“If you score 20-plus goals in a top European league, you’re bringing something different to the group.
Sunderland, Black Cats, Arsenal, Lee Johnson, Mikel Arteta, Folarin Balogun, Charlie Wyke,
“This could be a massive game changer because of his runs, his ability, his tactical knowledge to open up space. But it’s all potential. You’ve got to bring it to the pitch.”
Palace haven’t had an out-and-out goalscorer up front since the Glenn Murray days when the former Brighton striker helped catapult the club to promotion in 2013.
Palace’s top goalscorer last season was midfielder Eberechi Eze with 10 goals. He was the only player to reach double figures.
Former Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard was signed to be the club’s main number nine back in 2021, but he managed just seven goals this season and started just over half of the clubs Premier League matches.
Palace’s other forward options, Jordan Ayew and Jean-Phillippe Mateta, managed just four and two goals this season respectively.
Balogun could be the missing piece in a Palace team that will be pushing for a top half finish next season, but they will face competition from European heavyweights like RB Leipzig to secure his signature, per the Express.
Chelsea could be about to launch a bid to try and bring Aurelien Tchouameni to the Premier League, having already seen one effort snubbed, according to Spanish sources, via Chelsea News.
Is Aurelien Tchouameni joining Chelsea?
The 23-year-old has only been with Real Madrid for one season but has already become a regular member of their first-team squad despite his age. In a team packed with talent, the young Frenchman has been able to feature 33 times for the club in La Liga and has also produced four assists along the way. It hasn't been enough to help the Spanish outfit to the league title – they finished as runners-up – but he has already gone a long way towards establishing himself as a key player.
That is also backed up by his stats when compared to other players who play in midfield amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. His pass completion rate of an astonishing 92.9% for example puts him within the top 1% of players for that figure, showing just how excellent he is at getting the ball around the field with pinpoint accuracy and precision.
In addition, he also ranks in the 99th percentile for his interception rate per 90 of 1.98. It shows that he is also fantastic at reading the play and breaking up opposition moves.
With such superb performances and stats to back it up, it is no surprise that Chelsea are now lining up bids to bring him to England. According to a report via Chelsea News, the Blues are eager to bring him in, with Mauricio Pochettino working hard to bring in the players that he wants this summer.
One of those appears to be Tchouameni, with the Blues having already seen one bid turned down for his services. It came to a total of 60 million Euros (£51.3m), but with that snubbed, it appears as though they are now potentially preparing to make a fresh bid and up their amount by 20 million Euros, so around £68.4m.
The midfielder has a deal with Madrid until 2028 and they won't want to let him go before that comes to an end. It also means that any fee would probably have to equate to an amount that could buy him out of those remaining five years of his deal – and Chelsea will be hoping that fresh bid can tempt them into a sale.
If the Blues did land him, they would be getting themselves a player who has already showcased his talents to many. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig for example called the player "out of this world" prior to his Madrid move and he has only continued to grow and get better. The Blues then would have a real boost in their midfield if they did seal a deal for Tchouameni this window.
Arsenal have been linked with a host of players ahead of the transfer window, as Mikel Arteta aims to bolster his squad this summer.
The Spaniard fired the Gunners back into the Champions League as well as posing as serious title contenders for the majority of the season, and will look to take his side one step further next campaign.
The latest talent linked with a move to the Emirates is one of the most exciting wingers in Europe, and a gem that could add more than just depth to north London.
What’s the latest on Moussa Diaby to Arsenal?
As reported by the Mail Online last month, Arsenal are one of the clubs interested in Bayer Leverkusen forward Moussa Diaby.
A separate report from Evening Standard said that the Bundesliga club are expected to price their star at £65m, a fee that has derailed fellow Premier League interest from Newcastle United, via The Athletic.
It has since been suggested that the Gunners remain interested in the winger, with Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor telling GIVEMESPORT that Diaby could ‘reach a new level’ at the club.
"He ticks that under-25 box and is a player that can reach a new level at Arsenal," he said.
What could Moussa Diaby offer to Arsenal?
Having been lauded as “electrifying” by journalist Aaron Stokes, the 23-year-old dynamo could elevate Arsenal’s attack with his deadly ability in the final third.
Being primarily deployed as a right-winger for Leverkusen, the Frenchman contributed to 17 goals in the Bundesliga this season, scoring nine and assisting eight in 33 appearances, via FBref.
While the Gunners have their own monstrous wide man in Bukayo Saka, the north London outfit could show their commitment to competing with the best of the best by signing Diaby as a player that could compete with the 21-year-old.
Saka’s place in Arsenal’s line-up is unchallengeable, predominantly because there isn’t an individual that could apply pressure on the Englishman to perform consistently well.
As per FBref, the Frenchman averaged 4.04 progressive carries per 90, placing in the top 20% of wingers in Europe in that area showing his ability to progress with the ball, Saka was marginally ahead of the 23-year-old with 5.04.
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring a goal.
The Paris-born whiz could challenge Saka in a position that, at present, is comfortably his, in an area of depth that Arsenal must introduce to challenge against the best.
With a statement contract freshly signed, it’s integral for the club to not allow the Englishman to grow comfortable in his surroundings, as was seen prior in the drop-off of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang’s form after extending his stay.
The Gabon international’s place was safe in the squad, and when performance dipped there were no repercussions to his role other than the negative influence it had on the club’s results.
Signing Diaby could present Saka with a competitive partner in his position, as well as someone that could influence Arteta’s attack, bringing rotation into the equation, something that could be key with Champions League football on the horizon.
As per Sofascore, the Leverkusen gem averaged 1.1 shots on target per game in the Bundesliga, with the Arsenal star averaging 0.8 in an area that highlights the added threat the transfer target could offer the Gunners.
With Paris Saint-Germain also said to be monitoring the movements of Diaby, Arsenal must act fast this summer if they are to snatch the £50m-rated target's signature.
Manchester United have intensified contacts with FC Porto over goalkeeper Diogo Costa, and they are currently trying to lower the price, according to recent reports from Portugal.
What's the latest on Diogo Costa to Man United?
Just a few days ago, it was reported that Man United were finalising an offer in the region of €75m (£64m) for Costa, as the board gave their approval to make a move for the goalkeeper, with Erik ten Hag unhappy with David De Gea.
Football Transfers report the player's agent, Jorge Mendes, is trying to get his client a move to the Premier League, amid recent links to United, and Porto are in need of urgent funds before the financial year closes on June 30th.
That could potentially open the door for a move to Old Trafford, despite the fact De Gea is likely to agree fresh terms, although the Portuguese shot-stopper has recently told the media he hopes to continue with Porto for the foreseeable future.
There still appears to be a good chance the 23-year-old moves on this summer, with reports from Portugal (via Sport Witness) detailing the Red Devils have intensified their contacts with Porto, as they target a new number one.
According to A Bola, Man United are unwilling to meet the goalkeeper's £64m release clause, and they are currently in the process of negotiating a lower fee, but Porto chief Pinto da Costa is unwilling to haggle on the price.
United have been following the Porto youth product since the January transfer window, and Ten Hag is said to be fascinated by his performances.
Should Man United replace David De Gea?
De Gea clearly still has a great deal of quality, winning the Premier League golden glove in the 2022-23 campaign, the second time he has won the accolade, last claiming it in the 2017-18 season.
However, the Spaniard has had no shortage of criticism in recent times, with Paul Scholes claiming that he "makes the whole team nervous" with some of his decisions, despite also adding that he is a "brilliant goalkeeper."
Diogo Costa
Considering he is now 32-years-old, Man United may need to look at signing a long-term replacement sooner rather than later, and Costa could be a fantastic signing, having been hailed for his "complete profile" by journalist Zach Lowy.
Last season, the Porto shot-stopper recorded 16 clean sheets, the second-highest figure in the Portuguese top flight, while he is also in the 95th percentile for his clean sheet percentage over the past year, when compared to players at a similar level.
Arsenal and Newcastle United have both made contact with the family of Arda Guler ahead of a potential move to the Premier League.
What's the latest transfer news on Arda Guler?
According to a report from Turkish Football, Arsenal and Newcastle lead the race to secure 18-year-old left-footed gem Guler from Fenerbahce.
Guler's family, who represent him in football matters, have been contacted by both Premier League outfits regarding a summer move.
Negotiations are at "an early stage" but Arsenal and Newcastle are preparing official offers after the forward's impressive displays in the Turkish Super Lig this season. In all competitions, Guler provided six goals and six assists, demonstrating the double threat he carries.
PIF and Newcastle are reportedly aware of the high interest in the teenager and so want to make their move early to avoid a summer transfer saga.
Guler is said to be keen on moving to one of Europe's top divisions while Fenerbahce are understandably reluctant to let their talented player go.
That said, they would sell him at the right price. A report from Turkish Football in March revealed that Guler's contract contains a €5m (£4.2m) release clause which will be activated if he does not play 1500 minutes this season.
With just two games to go, Guler has so far completed 1392 minutes. Fenerbahce are risking losing their bargaining power if they don't give the young attacker more game time.
How good is Arda Guler?
Andrea Pirlo, one of the most highly-regarded midfielders of all time, told Hurriyet newspaper in May that Guler has the potential to reach the very top.
He said: “Arda Guler is a very talented player. He has the potential to play anywhere in the world.
"He has quality, he can read the game well, and he has great technique. If he keeps developing his game, there is no limit to his potential."
Praise from an icon like Pirlo speaks volumes about the potential Guler has. It makes sense that clubs from the Premier League would be so interested in snapping him up.
Newcastle will need to invest in their squad if they are to make the most of playing in the Champions League next season. The demands on players' bodies will increase and so Eddie Howe may need extra players to handle the extra games.
If Guler were to join the Magpies, it's difficult to predict how much he will play but the domestic cup competitions can be a brilliant way for young players to become adjusted to the speed and intensity of football at the top level in England.