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Aston Villa are in the race to sign a new central player in January, but they aren’t the only club hoping to bring him to the Premier League.

Aston Villa transfer news

Ahead of 2024, NSWE, Monchi and Unai Emery will be assessing their options in the market and have most recently been linked with moves for Palmeiras defender Joaquin Piquerez and Sporting CP forward Pedro Goncalves, but they are also looking to bolster their ranks in the centre of the park.

The Midlands outfit already have Douglas Luiz, Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Tim Iroegbunam as their options in central midfield, but that hasn’t stopped the boss from wanting to increase his numbers in that position during the upcoming window.

Over in Germany, Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios has firmly established himself as Xabi Alonso’s second best-performing defensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Bayer Leverkusen statistics), and the 25-year-old’s impressive form seems to have caught the eye of the hierarchy at Villa Park.

Aston Villa interested in Exequiel Palacios

According to TEAMtalk, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacios is of interest to Aston Villa in January, and his club are "fearing" possible bids from England's top flight.

“Bayer Leverkusen are fearing bids in January for their midfield star Exequiel Palacios, with a host of Premier League clubs checking on the Argentina international, according to TEAMtalk sources.

"Bayer, though, are insistent that they don’t want to lose any of their star men in January as they are making a real push for the Bundesliga title.”

Whilst Palacios is naturally a central midfielder, Bayer’s star is much stronger in the defensive aspect of his game where he currently ranks in the 97th percentile for interceptions and the 96th percentile for tackles, highlighting his desire to get stuck in and win back possession for his team (FBRef – Palacios statistics).

When Argentina’s international does retain the ball, he’s extremely calm and composed, recording a 91.9% pass success rate (WhoScored – Palacios statistics), form which has seen him described as a “fantastic” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

The BayArena’s £28k-per-week earner (Bayer Leverkusen salaries), is also capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch having posted 28 contributions in the final third, 20 goals and 18 assists, in 184 appearances since the start of his career (Transfermarkt – Palacios statistics).

Palacios already knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured seven trophies throughout his professional career, the most notable being winning last year’s World Cup with Argentina, so he would be able to match and even improve the winning mentality of the current squad who are already at Aston Villa.

Liverpool took a quick lead against Sheffield United after a blunder by keeper Ivo Grbic.

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• Grbic clearance hits Nunez
• Ball roles into the Sheffield goal
• Liverpool stand atop the Premier League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  In the 17th minute of the clash at Anfield, Grbic tried to clear the ball in his own box, however, his clearance hit a charging Darwin Nunez's back and bounced back into Sheffield's net to give the Reds the lead.

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  With the goal, the Uruguayan striker has now reached a total of 30 goal contributions this season for Liverpool in all competitions. In the context of the title race, as it stands, Liverpool stand atop the Premier League table two points over Arsenal and three points over Manchester City.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NUNEZ?

  Nunez has become an important part of the club for Jurgen Klopp who has deployed him as one of the major goal threats up front with the injury to Mohamed Salah having ruled him out for the last couple months.

Cristiano Ronaldo is considered to be boast an “endless skillset”, with Al-Nassr looking to the Portuguese for inspiration in another trophy bid.

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• Portuguese icon still going strong at 39
• Has broken through the 40-goal barrier again
• Determined to get his hands on more medals

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Saudi Pro League outfit will be in Saudi Super Cup action on Monday when taking on domestic rivals Al-Hilal. That semi-final showdown has plenty riding on it, with two ambitious clubs determined to earn another shot at landing major silverware.

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  Ronaldo has grown accustomed to collecting winners’ medals on a regular basis over the course of his illustrious career, and will be hoping for more of the same in 2024. He remains a talismanic presence for Al-Nassr and an on-field leader at 39 years of age.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ahead of a crunch clash with Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr have been quick to talk up the “endless” qualities of their evergreen No.7, who is showing no sign of slowing down in the current campaign. Ronaldo has plundered 42 goals through as many appearances this season.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  CR7 will need to step up again if the Super Cup is to remain in Al-Nassr’s sights, with Al-Hilal set to present the toughest of tests. The Saudi Pro League leaders boast the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic within their star-studded ranks.

Tottenham Hotspur are keeping close tabs on an exciting new attacking player, but there are two other clubs who are also looking to bring him to the Premier League.

Tottenham's season so far

Ange Postecoglou’s side have made a remarkable start to the new top-flight campaign having won eight and drawn two of their opening ten fixtures, meaning that they find themselves at the very top of the table on 26 points.

The Lilywhites and their North London rivals Arsenal are the only two teams to remain unbeaten in the division, so they will be full of confidence that they are able to achieve big things this season, but that doesn’t mean that the hierarchy won’t be looking at new players who they believe could improve their squad.

Sporting CP’s right-winger Geny Catamo has been brought onto the radar in the capital having worked his way up through his club’s various academy ranks to get promoted to their first-team, where he’s been unable to nail down a regular place, making just 14 senior appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Catamo statistics).

Since permanently arriving at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, Mozambique’s international has been sent out on two development loans to Vitoria Guimaraes SC and Maritimo in order to increase his game time and experience, but there’s a chance that the 22-year-old could find a new permanent home in the top-flight in England.

Spurs interested in Geny Catamo

According to Football Transfers, Tottenham have set their sights on Catamo, but they are far from alone in their pursuit, with Arsenal and Aston Villa also keen to strike a deal at the start of next year if possible.

“Arsenal are closely watching Mozambique international Geny Catamo of Sporting CP, FootballTransfers has been told. We understand that the 22-year-old is being monitored by a number of clubs ahead of 2024, including the Gunners, Tottenham, and Aston Villa.

"Our sources have informed us that the player could leave the Portuguese club as soon as the January transfer window, with a number of Premier League clubs watching the youngster in the Primeira Liga.”

Spurs will know that Catamo hasn’t yet got much senior experience under his belt, but having clocked up nine involvements (six assists and three goals) in 36 outings since the start of his career, he could be a fantastic recruit for the long-term future of the club.

Ruben Amorim’s left-footed ace also currently ranks in the 99th percentile for both successful take-ons and shots, showing that he loves to use his pace, dribble past his marker and take aim at the opposition’s goalkeeper (FBRef – Catamo statistics).

Additionally, Catamo only pockets £4k-per-week (Sporting CP salaries), so he would be a more than affordable option for chiefs to recruit because that would make him the lowest-earner on their books (Tottenham salaries), making this a deal definitely worth pursuing should the opportunity present itself.

Manchester United owners the Glazers and likely new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe are in agreement regarding the future of manager Erik ten Hag.

Man Utd's worst start to a season since…

The Red Devils have endured an extremely frustrating start to the season, losing 3-0 to Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening in the EFL Cup. In total, Man Utd have now lost eight of their first 15 matches in all competitions this season, a feat they last suffered in the 1962/63 campaign. Speaking after the cup exit, Ten Hag said he feels sorry for Red Devils supporters.

"We know it's not good enough. We have to take responsibility for it. I have to take responsibility for it. I feel sorry for the fans. It was below our standards and we have to put it right. We have to recover from it and we have to do it quickly. Saturday is the next game [against Fulham] and we have to raise our standards. This is not good enough."

The Dutchman appears to be under pressure due to the club’s woeful form, and one report in the last 48 hours have claimed whether or not Glazers and Ratcliffe could sack Ten Hag. According to 90min reporters Graeme Bailey and Scott Saunders prior to the defeat to the Magpies on Wednesday, Ten Hag’s job is viewed as safe by both the Glazers and Ratcliffe. They say Ten Hag ‘retains the full backing of the Manchester United hierarchy’, whereas ‘Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford and those soon to assume control also remain confident in Ten Hag's position’.

Man Utd's upcoming fixtures

The Red Devils need to turn things around soon, otherwise, you’d expect the pressure will only continue to mount on the manager. Up next for United is a trip to Fulham in the early kick-off on Saturday, where defeat could see them drop into the bottom half of the Premier League.

As can be seen, following the next international break, the games come thick and fast until the end of the year, by which you’d expect Ratcliffe could have completed his investment to take control of sporting decisions. It’ll be interesting to see how much patience he has with the Dutchman, should results not improve, but by the looks for things, his job is safe for now.

Roma boss Daniele De Rossi has spoken out about the tactical plan that helped him steer Roma to Europa League victory against Milan.

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• 2-1 home win secured 3-1 aggregate victory
• Roma through to semi-finals
• Will play favourites Leverkusen

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following an impressive victory over fellow Serie A side Milan – who reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season – the Giallorossi head coach has explained some of the tactics that helped secure the win. Speaking to Sky Sports Italia, he praised his team's stoic defending and said "I am really proud to be the coach of a team like this."

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  De Rossi took over from Jose Mourinho in January, midway through a disappointing Serie A season for Roma. His legendary status at the club has certainly helped his case, and in his first three months he's lifted the mood around the place and now brought them within touching distance of European silverware.

• WHAT DE ROSSI SAID

  "It was not easy, as Milan are a very strong team who play good football," De Rossi told the press after the game. "We saw yesterday even Real Madrid sat back and defended, we did too when it was the right moment to do so. To beat this Milan, we needed excellence. We needed great heart, as once we were down to 10 men, we had to play with intensity, but with intelligence and tactical knowledge. Just running around is not sufficient."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  During his 18-year playing career at Roma, De Rossi cemented his status as a bonafide legend of the club, racking up a total of 63 goals and 60 assists in his 616 appearances for the Giallorossi.

Manchester United could be set to lose one of their first-team stars next summer, with a fresh report revealing that he’s set to receive an offer alongside Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes – Saudi Arabia links

According to reports, Fernandes has emerged as a target for some of the biggest clubs in the Saudi Pro League who are keeping close tabs on his situation, with the same outlet claiming that his admirers are willing to offer up to £87m to prise him away from Old Trafford at the end of the season.

The Red Devils midfielder’s entourage are expected to hold talks with representatives from the wealthy division to discuss what a potential switch would look like upon the conclusion of the current campaign, but if the following update is to be believed, he might not be the only senior squad member heading for the exit door.

At the start of the season in the Premier League, Harry Maguire looked to have fallen significantly down the pecking order, but having started the past five consecutive games in the top-flight (Transfermarkt – Maguire statistics), Erik ten Hag appears to have handed the centre-back another lifeline.

West Ham United were heavily linked with a move for England’s international over the summer, whilst Everton also had a proposal rejected, and despite a deal failing to come to fruition for either club before the previous deadline, the 30-year-old is now attracting interest from a new potential suitor in the Serie A.

Juventus plotting swoop for Harry Maguire

According to JMania (via Sport Witness), Juventus are considering tabling a bid for Maguire next summer. The Allianz Stadium outfit are preparing a “monstrous offer” thought to be in the region of €30m (£26m) for their target, but with no further information available, it remains to be seen whether these claims are completely accurate.

Maguire has become "undroppable" under Ten Hag

Standing at 6 foot 4, Maguire is able to provide a real physical presence with his height at the heart of the defensive backline, and since being brought back into the team, he’s more than proved why he deserves to keep his place in the starting line-up at Man United.

The Sheffield-born talent is currently averaging 3.1 clearances and the same amount of aerial wins per game in the Premier League (WhoScored – Maguire statistics), but he’s also capable of posing a threat to the opposition when it comes to the action in the final third.

Sponsored by Puma, Ten Hag’s colossus has clocked up 54 goal contributions (29 goals and 25 assists) since the start of his career, so not only is he effective in his own position, but he can even help the side be successful at the top end of the pitch.

Since he’s returned to the team, Maguire has been described as an “undroppable” player by journalist Josh Bunting for the leadership qualities and the determination that he’s shown, so whilst a summer exit initially seemed likely, it might be a good idea to keep him in the building beyond next summer.

Leeds United will be hoping that the most recent international break hasn't spoiled their momentum ahead of tonight's Yorkshire derby clash against Rotherham United.

The Whites make the short trip to South Yorkshire in impressive form, winning six of their last seven matches while the hosts are winless in five and were thrashed 4-0 by Watford last time out.

If Daniel Farke's side needed any further incentive to pile more misery onto their county rivals, an opportunity to go five points behind the automatic promotion places with victory is the prize awaiting them.

In his recent press conference, the German tactician provided a disappointing update as striker Georginio Rutter is flagged as a "major doubt" while it's unlikely that Farke will risk left-back Sam Byram, who has just recovered from his injury.

The Englishman has played a starring role down the left flank this term and will be a huge miss if he is left out.

Sam Byram's season in numbers

When an academy graduate returns to the club where they began their career, there's no guarantee it works out, however, Byram has been a revelation since returning to West Yorkshire and has made that left-back spot his own.

Hailed for his importance to the side and possessing "quality" in abundance by Farke, the 30-year-old has started in 13 of their 16 Championship matches and has impressed with his energetic, tenacious and tough-tackling ability.

Byram's aggressive attacking displays and incredible defensive work have stood out this term, striking up a strong partnership with the Dutch dynamo Crysencio Summerville, while providing exceptional support down the left flank.

In a supremely attacking Leeds side, orchestrated by the German's tactical expertise, Byram is thriving in a similar role that Stuart Dallas played in their 2019/20 promotion campaign.

A driving force at both ends of the field, as delineated by the table above, the former Norwich City man is a threat in the final third and is difficult to beat down the left flank.

If he is forced into sitting out for this clash, it's likely that Junior Firpo will come in for his first start of the season.

Junior Firpo's Leeds career in numbers

Firpo arrived from Barcelona as a highly-rated full-back, who was known for his electricity and explosiveness, but the Spaniard is yet to provide the spark that he promised to deliver down the left flank.

Leeds United predictions & previews for upcoming fixtures

Football FanCast looks ahead to Leeds United’s next 6 fixtures as they aim to bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt.

By
Mark Marston

Nov 23, 2023

He struggled in the early stages of his career to translate his sensational form from Barca to Elland Road as highlighted by some of his performances last term, one of which was against Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez.

Described by journalist Dean Jones as having "some difficulties" adapting to the Premier League following that battle with Mahrez, Firpo was unable to match the physicality required in the top division, although he did impress towards the end of that relegation campaign.

The £60k per-week star was dubbed as "immense" for his form by Connor McGilligan on the One Leeds Fan Channel after ranking in the top 8% against his positional peers in the top flight for interceptions and top 9% for tackles, as per FBref.

After spending the majority of this campaign recovering from a long-term injury to his knee, Firpo could finally get his chance to show Byram the level of talent he's competing against for a spot in the team tonight.

The Columbus Crew defeated Liga MX powerhouse Monterrey in leg one of their Champions Cup tie on the heels of another Cucho Hernandez goal.

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• Crew defeat Monterrey 2-1
• MLS side headed to Mexico for leg two
• Hernandez continues brilliant form

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Goals from Cucho Hernandez and Canada international Jacen Russell-Rowe saw the MLS side come out on top in leg one of the Champions Cup semifinal tie. The Colombian opened the scoring in the 25th minute, with the Rayados drawing level in the 58th through Argentine Maxi Meza.

  Russell-Rowe called game, however, heading home in the 72nd minute.

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  The Crew knocked out Liga MX powerhouse Tigres in the quarterfinals of the tournament in stunning fashion, pulling off a remarkable upset on the road in Mexico. The reigning MLS champions are in stunning form, and Hernandez is leading the way, with six goals and one assist across all competitions.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Monterrey knocked out Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the quarterfinals of the tournament. The Mexican side won the first leg 2-1 in Miami before taking the Herons back to Guadalupe and beating them 3-1 to secure a 5-2 aggregate victory.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The Crew are back in MLS action this weekend against CF Montreal before turning their eyes to leg two. They'll take on Monterey in Mexico next Wednesday for a chance at a berth in the Champions Cup final, where they would meet either Pachuca or Club America.

Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer jokingly revealed how he tricked Declan Rice to signing for Arsenal when he was still at West Ham.

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• Rice joined the Gunners last summer
• Starmer played his role in the transfer
• Politician is a huge Arsenal supporter

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal emerged victorious in the battle against Manchester City to secure the services of the talented England midfielder, sealing the deal for a reported fee of around £105 million ($137 million). Rice's transfer marked a significant milestone for Arsenal, making him the club's most expensive signing of all time, following his nine-year tenure at West Ham. And now, Starmer has claimed that apart from Edu Gaspar and Mikel Arteta, he also played a crucial role with his son at the London Stadium.

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  WHAT STARMER SAID

  Speaking to , Starmer said: "So, when we played away at West Ham last year and Declan was still a West Ham player I took my son. Mark Noble, Mr West Ham [now the club’s sporting director], took us down to meet Declan. And so my boy had his programme open ready for signing and obviously we put the contract [for Arsenal] in underneath! Declan signed it and thought he was signing the programme, but actually he was signing for Arsenal!"

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  With Arsenal setting their sights on clinching their first Premier League title in two decades, they face stiff competition from City. Currently leading by a narrow margin, the Gunners are aware of the challenges posed by their rivals, who have a game in hand that could potentially tilt the scales in their favour. But despite being a staunch Arsenal fan, Starmer is still not convinced that the Gunners can reclaim the English crown.

  “It depends on City,” Starmer admitted. “It’s the best title race for ages, this year, and I have been going every game home and away. City are good though. Look at [Kevin] De Bruyne. Look at [Erling] Haaland. These are great players.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  As Arsenal prepare for crucial encounters against Bournemouth and Everton, their ultimate challenge looms large with a pivotal fixture against Manchester United awaiting them in their penultimate game on May 12th. The outcome of this showdown could potentially determine Arsenal's fate in their quest for Premier League glory, with a defeat all but handing the title to City. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola will lead his troops against Wolves on Saturday. That will be followed by matches against Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham respectively.