According to the Birmingham Mail, Steve Bruce has identified Southampton striker Shane Long as a potential solution to the ongoing striker crisis at Villa Park.
Jonathan Kodjia has started the club’s first three Championship matches up top, with academy graduate Rushian Hepburn-Murphy getting the nod from Steve Bruce in the Carabao Cup win over Yeovil.
But with injuries a problem for Bruce, the Birmingham Mail reports that he is desperate to sign another striker before the loan window shuts on August 31. The same publication reports that Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham is his number one target, with Shane Long also being considered.
Mark Hughes left the 31-year-old Irishman out of the Saints squad on the opening day of the season before giving him 30 minutes as a substitute against Everton.
Villa fans on Twitter were buzzing with the rumours and were urging the club and Bruce to sign him. Check out some of the best reactions from fans below.
With the international break fast approaching, Gareth Southgate is preparing to name his England squad, and one player who will be waiting in anticipation is Alex McCarthy.
The Southampton goalkeeper is being touted to make Southgate’s selection, and his club manager Mark Hughes is backing him to get the nod.
The Breakdown
Speaking on McCarthy’s chances of making the next England squad, Hughes told the Southern Daily Echo: “He’s in good form and if he’s picked he won’t let anybody down.
“Technically Gareth will know he’s a very accomplished keeper so if he gets the call I see no reason he won’t impress people once he gets there.”
After his exploits in the recent World Cup in Russia, Everton’s Jordan Pickford will be England’s undisputed No.1 going forward.
However, with Nick Pope injured and Jack Butland underperforming massively in the Championship with Stoke City, there is a passage into the England set up for McCarthy.
McCarthy has improved leaps and bounds since dislodging Fraser Forster as Southampton’s No.1 last season having initially arrived at St. Mary’s from Crystal Palace back in 2016 to provide cover.
McCarthy, though, is now firmly ahead Forster in Hughes thinking and looks set to stay there having so far seen off competition from Angus Gunn, who signed from Manchester City in the summer to give the former Stoke City manager another goalkeeper option.
Competition for a goalkeeper spot in the England squad is set to be fierce both now and in the future but, in this moment of time, McCarthy is definitely an option Southgate should be considering.
All things considered, it’s been a difficult start to the season for Rafa Benitez and Newcastle. The Magpies have just one point from four Premier League games so far this term and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Championship side Nottingham Forest last week.
There have also been rumours of unrest during training sessions, with the Daily Mail reporting that captain Jamaal Lascelles and winger Matt Ritchie had to be separated by fellow players during a session and in the dressing room after Lascelles had expressed his disappointment over Benitez’s tactics for the Chelsea game.
It was these tactics that will have also irked Newcastle fans after they supported the Spanish boss so vocally during pre-season in his public battle with owner Mike Ashley. Benitez went with one up front, handing Salomon Rondon his first start, and replaced his usual number 10 with an extra central defender.
The Magpies lost 2-1 and had just 19 per cent possession at St. James’ Park, with Rondon’s lonely role posing the question of just who Benitez should be starting as either a pair or lone striker up top. Here at Football FanCast we’ve had a look at the options.
Salomon Rondon – Lone striker
The big Venezuelan joined Newcastle on loan from West Brom this summer, with Dwight Gayle heading the other way in a temporary swap deal. His first appearance came from the bench against Spurs on the first day of the season where he struck the crossbar late on.
The 28-year-old was then deployed from the start by Benitez as a target man against Chelsea and Manchester City, but he failed to hold the ball up and bring others into the games, despite seemingly being the best fit for the Spaniard’s system.
Rondon netted his first goal in the Carabao Cup against Forest but the Chelsea loss seemed to prove that he will need a strike partner to work with in the future.
Joselu – Lone striker
It’s unlikely that Benitez will ever start Joselu up front with Rondon, but the 28-year-old has certainly made his case to start ahead of the new signing recently.
After netting just four goals in 30 Premier League appearances last season, the former Spain U21 international now has two already in this campaign, both of which were headers that came against members of the top six.
Joselu + Ayoze Perez
Soccer Football – Premier League – Cardiff City v Newcastle United- Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain – August 18, 2018 Newcastle United’s Ayoze Perez in action with Cardiff City’s Neil Etheridge Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Plea
This season will be Perez’s fifth in the North East and the Spaniard will be hoping that he is deployed in his favoured position just off a recognised striker. When Rondon plays though, it seems as though Perez has almost always been shifted out onto the left-hand side of the midfield.
During the first two games of the season against Spurs and Cardiff though, Perez was given the nod by Benitez to start alongside his compatriot Joselu and this could well be the Magpies’ best current combination based on their form at the beginning of this campaign.
Rondon + Yoshinori Muto
Japanese international Muto joined the club from Mainz this summer in one of the rare moments that Ashley allowed Benitez to spend money. His goalscoring record in the Bundesliga was certainly impressive, although like Perez he may be considered too lightweight to play as a lone striker by Benitez.
The 26-year-old is yet to score for his new side and may have to settle for substitute appearances alongside Rondon if the Spanish duo of Perez and Joselu keep up their form.
So, Newcastle fans, who would you like to see upfront against Arsenal after the international break? Let us know by voting in our poll below.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”289180″ player=”12034″ title=”A Futsal Player Walks Into A Denmark Squad…”]
Celtic’s elimination from the Champions League soured the mood at Celtic Park recently and the potential departure of Moussa Dembele could further contribute to an atmosphere of growing frustration at the club.
The Hoops’ struggle in Europe has been a consistent feature of the past half-decade and their failure to make an impact on the continent continued against AEK Athens in the 3rd qualifying round as they were dumped out of the competition before the group stages.
After expressing such imperious domination in the SPFL, the next step in Celtic’s development has focused heavily on their European performance so naturally it was a huge disappointment when they were dumped out by the Greek outfit.
Celtic took a step towards redemption on Thursday night as they ran out 3-0 winners against FK Suduva, sealing their place in the group stages of the Europa League in the process.
But the Dembele saga which has emerged in the past 48 hours has served to restore a sense of frustration at the club, although a recent report from the Evening Times suggests there could be some good news on the horizon for the club.
Indeed, the report claims that Celtic are working on a new deal for Olivier Ntcham (valued at £4.5 million by Transfermarkt) following his impressive opening to life in Scotland.
To label him as a lynchpin at this moment in time would exaggerate his importance, but he has demonstrated the potential to blossom into an indispensable talent in the future with his commanding performances from central midfield.
Ntcham is something of a rare breed in the sense that he can legimitately label himself as a box-to-box midfielder during a football era when specialisation of positioning is becoming increasingly important.
The 22-year-old’s ability to sit deep in midfield, dictate proceedings, break up play in front of the back four, carry the ball forward and provide a touch of class in the final-third enable him to influence the game at both ends of the field.
With interest in Celtic’s star players beginning to intensify across Europe it’s vital that the club react to events by tying down some of their most sought-after players to new deals, even if only to increase their transfer value.
Ntcham’s growing influence at the club is only likely to increase this season so the club’s move to agree fresh terms over a new contract is certainly a shrewd move to make, particularly in the context of their poor summer.
Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring Leicester City starlet Ben Chilwell as they mull over a swoop for the highly-rated left-back, according to The Telegraph.
What’s the word?
After a frustrating period over the course of the summer transfer window saw Tottenham fail to complete a single signing, Mauricio Pochettino appears to have already begun work for additions in January as he eyes a new defender.
The Telegraph states Spurs are eyeing a move for Leicester City starlet Chilwell, who has played in all four of the Foxes’ Premier League matches so far this season and earned a senior call-up to the England squad following Luke Shaw’s injury against Spain.
Both Arsenal and Liverpool are reported to have seen bids previously rejected for the 21-year-old, which makes securing a move a challenge for Spurs, but Pochettino could raise funds for a deal by offloading players he believes are surplus to requirements.
Rose replacement?
Danny Rose was widely linked with an exit from the North London side over the course of the summer and while a move did not materialise, it appears that the writing is on the wall for the 28-year-old as Pochettino has favoured Ben Davies down the left side this season even though the England international started the 3-0 win against Manchseter United at Old Trafford.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”289180″ player=”12034″ title=”A Futsal Player Walks Into A Denmark Squad…”]
With Chilwell in Spurs’ sights, an exit for Rose looks extremely likely to occur and Tottenham would complete a tremendous piece of business if they were to secure the Leicester talent ahead of rivals Arsenal and Liverpool.
However, any move is likely to be delayed until next summer and Spurs are also said to hold long-term interest in Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon – although the Championship Player of the Year looks set for a future in a left wing position.
If Spurs could pull off a move for both Chilwell and Sessegnon, rated at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, the Lilywhites would boast the most exciting pairing down the left side in the Premier League, and one that could provide the platform for success for Pochettino’s side and the England squad in the coming years.
Arsenal fans are thrilled after manager Unai Emery confirmed that goalkeeper Bernd Leno will make his first competitive appearance for the Gunners on Thursday night when they host Vorskla at the Emirates in the Europa League.
Leno has been watching on from the bench for all of the club’s first five Premier League matches with the experienced Petr Cech starting and captaining the side, but Emery said on Wednesday that the new man will get the nod ahead of Petr Cech on Thursday, presumably to give the 36-year-old a rest ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Everton.
Leno joined Arsenal in the summer for £22m from German side Bayer Leverkusen and was used by Emery in the club’s preseason matches. The club’s fans, however, believe Thursday night could be start of the 26-year-old’s hunt to become Arsenal’s first-choice keeper in the near future.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions by Arsenal fans:
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”298475″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch The FPL Show GW6 affordable strikers”]
Aston Villa supporters have been pretty downbeat in recent times after seeing their side suffer a second Championship defeat of the season at the weekend.
Steve Bruce’s men went into their encounter with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday off the back of beating Rotherham United 2-0 in their previous league game, and thus seeking to record back-to-back wins for the second time this season. Yet the Villans were unable to do so as goals from Marco Matias and Steven Fletcher either side of a John McGinn wonder-strike sealed a 2-1 success for Jos Luhukay’s Owls, thus prompting several boos from home fans at the conclusion of the match.
As such, there have been many disappointed and angry Villa fans up and down the country in recent times, several of whom are likely wondering what changes, if any, Bruce will make to his starting eleven for the tricky trip to Bristol City this evening.
Lee Johnson’s men currently sit eighth in the Championship table but have lost their last two league games, albeit they have emerged victorious in their previous two matches at Ashton Gate to underline the task facing Bruce’s side tonight.
But there is little doubting that the Villa chief has the armoury to come away from their trip to the Robins with all three points, especially if he gives loan signing Yannick Bolasie his first start since making the move from Everton last month.
The winger has so far made three appearances for the Midlands giants but all three have come from the substitute’s bench, with the 29-year-old netting his first goal for the club in the 2-0 success over Rotherham on September 18.
And with Bruce admitting in his pre-match press conference that Bolasie will start ‘imminently’, the Villa boss must throw him into the starting eleven this evening in a bid to snap out of their recent run of poor form.
The Villans have won just one of their last seven games in the league to slip to 13th place in the division, with it seeming that Bruce’s side have been missing that spark and creativity in the final third of the pitch – Bolasie can provide that.
Villa were seen to have pulled off quite the coup in luring the DR Congo international to Villa Park during the summer, and that’s because, when in-form and fully fit, Bolasie is a player who can produce the goods at Premier League level, let alone in the second tier.
And Bruce is in dire need of his big players performing given his team’s poor run alongside the pressure that is mounting on his shoulders, and there is little doubting that the 29-year-old has the ability to take the game away from an opposition, not least the Robins who shipped four at West Brom last week.
Thus, with Bolasie showing signs of promise in his three substitute cameos for Villa, Bruce must name the £13.5 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt) in his starting eleven if his side are to pick up three points at Ashton Gate this evening.
Rangers fans were crucifying Celtic fans last week after their defeat to Kilmarnock, and the Bhoys are returning the favour after this weekend’s results.
The Scottish Premiership is wide open this season, as both Celtic and Rangers have suffered two defeats from their opening seven games.
Brendan Rodgers’ side got back to winning ways on Saturday though, winning 1-0 in a hard-fought encounter wih Aberdeen.
Scott Sinclair replaced the injured Odsonne Edouard in the first half, and his genius backheel goal was enough to grab all three points.
West Ham have improved significantly in recent weeks under Manuel Pellegrini, bouncing back from four defeats at the start of the Premier League campaign.
The Hammers now stand with a record of four-matches unbeaten heading into Friday night’s trip to face Brighton at the AMEX, where another win would see the East London side pull level on points with Manchester United.
An upturn in form has resulted in increased confidence from supporters at the London Stadium, who have had to cope with two disappointing campaigns since leaving Upton Park, and we asked fans to predict where their side will finish under Pellegrini.
A vast majority of 67% stated they believe West Ham will secure a top-half finish this season, while a further 28% went even further and suggested the side could sneak into the European spots under Pellegrini’s guidance.
Rounding off the results were just 5% of supporters who believed the Hammers would finish in the bottom half of the standings and just 1% predicted a finish just outside of the relegation zone.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”303880″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Fixture in Focus Liverpool v Man City”]
Liverpool’s campaign for the Premier League title remains intact as they are currently third in the table.
Jurgen Klopp’s team have not suffered a defeat yet in the top flight, and they are only off top spot due to goal difference.
Chelsea are currently second in the standings, with Manchester City leading the way.
Despite Liverpool’s positive results, the team have not been playing at their best, with the front three in particular failing to reach the heights of last season.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have collectively struggled to make a significant impact, and in the last few appearances, the midfield has been disjointed.
The Reds’ defence has significantly improved, but there is a lack of creativity at the moment.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”305269″ player=”12034″ title=”Are Emery’s Arsenal Silently Gunning For The Title”]
With that in mind, we asked you if the club should make a move for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Julian Draxler, who has been linked to the Premier League before.
In the last few seasons, the German international has been in and out of the PSG team, but judging from our poll, plenty of Liverpool fans would be happy to have him in Klopp’s team.