Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked to a midfield talent ahead of the summer transfer window in a player with Premier League experience.
Julen Lopetegui will have a number of obstacles to overcome in the break, however, the Spaniard could ease the woes surrounding the expected departure of Ruben Neves in a rumoured loan deal.
The former Real Madrid boss faces the uphill challenge of improving his side while balancing the club’s finances following the emergence of FFP issues.
Seeking quality with lower price tags is essential this summer, with the latest link being easy on the club’s wallet.
What’s the latest on Fabio Carvalho to Wolves?
As reported by transfer expert Ben Jacobs for CaughtOffside, Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho is admired by a number of clubs including Wolves.
The report states that Liverpool have no interest in selling the midfielder, however, could see the 20-year-old depart on a loan deal.
The £32k-per-week ace could be a strong talent for Lopetegui to borrow in a beneficial move for both parties, with the Portuguese itching for game time.
What could Fabio Carvalho bring to Wolves?
Playing predominantly as an attacking midfielder in the heart of the pitch, the former Fulham gem worked his way through the Londoners’ academy before signing for Liverpool last summer.
Having made just 13 appearances and four starts this campaign, the “magic” attacker – as dubbed by pundit Jack Collins – could bring a new lease of life to Wolves’ attack.
Neves was Molineux’s top provider in attack this campaign, highlighted by his six goals and a single assist.
However, despite being the shining light in a lacklustre season, the Portuguese midfielder’s numbers are far from mindblowing and amid the pending disappointment of his departure, Lopetegui could replace and upgrade the squad’s creative outlet by capturing Carvalho.
In his final campaign at Fulham, the youngster had 18 goal contributions, scoring ten himself and assisting eight – as per WhoScored – in a year that solidified his status as an academy graduate turned first-team player.
Wolves are lacking inspiration, being the Premier League’s lowest-scorers and are expected to lose a host of attacking talent this summer, so a reshuffle is essential at Molineux this summer.
Carvalho could provide a streak of danger to the clubs’ attack, as highlighted through his numbers over the past year, in a period that has seen the youngster starved of game time.
As per FBref, the attacker averages 0.39 non-penalty goals per 90, ranking him in the top 1% of his position in Europe’s top five leagues, based on his minutes played.
The youngster also excels in being progressive in midfield, as highlighted through his 2.73 progressive carries per 90.
Despite not playing as much football, which can be detrimental to a player’s development, Carvalho has continued to showcase a high level of his quality, particularly in comparison to Neves.
The Wolves captain averages 0.09 non-penalty goals per 90, as well as flagging when carrying the ball making an average of 0.83 of progressive carries per 90 – as per FBref.
A reshuffle in personnel and formation could allow the youngster to blossom and enjoy his football again under the watchful eye of Lopetegui, but only time will tell if Jurgen Klopp will allow the 20-year-old to depart.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag holds a "serious interest" in signing Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount this summer, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.
Will Mason Mount leave Chelsea?
Despite reports at the end of April indicating that Mount would be willing to commit to a new long-term deal at Chelsea, there has seemingly been no progress in that regard, and he could well be on the move this summer, with a number of teams interested.
Football Insider report that Man United are now confident they will win the race for the England international, despite interest from Liverpool, who are said to be keen on agreeing a deal, while Arsenal have also been named as potential suitors.
There is still a chance the 24-year-old remains at Stamford Bridge, as new manager Mauricio Pochettino has made it clear he wants him to stay, however with the Red Devils said to be "pushing", it remains to be seen whether he is willing to extend his stay.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, Crook has now claimed that Ten Hag has been a fan of the £80k-per-week Chelsea star for quite some time, which could potentially open the door for a summer move to Old Trafford.
The talkSPORT reporter said: "I think ten Hag has serious interest. I think he's been an admirer of Mount since he played in the Netherlands at Vitesse and the midfield is an area that still needs some surgery."
Should Man United sign Mason Mount?
There may be some understandable concern about Man United making a move for the Englishman, as his 2022-23 campaign was not his best by any stretch, registering just three goals and two assists in 24 Premier League appearances.
That is a considerable drop-off from the previous season, during which he recorded a remarkable 11 goals and ten assists in the top flight, reaching double figures for goals for the first time in his career.
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
However, the Cobham academy graduate offers a lot more than just attacking contributions, as he has also played a critical goal for Chelsea defensively over the course of the past year, averaging 1.98 tackles per 90, in the 88th percentile compared to his positional peers.
Hailed as a "superstar" by Rob Guest, Mount could be an excellent addition to Ten Hag's squad if he is able to reignite his previous form, and Man United should undoubtedly come forward with an offer this summer.
ScorecardAzharullah made significant inroads into Glamorgan’s top order•Getty Images
Northamptonshire ended the second day in Swansea with the advantage after Rory Kleinveldt clubbed 91 before reducing Glamorgan to 139 for 5.At one stage they lost 3 for 1 in five deliveries and will hope Nick Selman, who closed unbeaten on a career-best 79, can continue the impressive form he’s showed in the last three games, and also receive support from the middle and lower order. Azharullah was the most successful of the Northants attack finishing with 3 for 34.Earlier, Northants had continued their recovery from 38 for 4 to post 321 with their stand-in captain Kleinveldt leading the way with a furious attack on the Glamorgan bowlers.He scored 91 from 88 balls, with four fours and seven sixes – four struck in the space of six balls. Kleinveldt shared a partnership of 130 in only 24 overs with Saif Zaib – playing in only his second Championship game – before the captain departed attempting to hit his eighth six.Zaib was undefeated on a career-best 65, which complemented an earlier partnership of 97 between David Murphy and Laurie Evans for the fifth wicket. Murphy made 45, and Evans, in his first innings for Northants since joining as a loan player this week, a patient innings of 74 before edging David Lloyd to the wicketkeeper.The young and inexperienced Glamorgan attack stuck to their task, despite the seven bowlers used having not taken 100 first-class wickets between them.Selman and Mark Wallace gave Glamorgan a positive start, adding 52 at four an over, before Wallace was bowled in Azharullah’s third over. Will Bragg scored a single from the last ball of the over, but was leg before to the first ball of Ben Sanderson’s next over before Jacques Rudolph was caught behind two balls later.Selman was untroubled at the other end, reaching his third successive fifty from 67 balls with seven fours, but Glamorgan soon lost two more wickets when Aneurin Donald and Lloyd were both caught in the slip cordon, driving at Azharullah’s outswing.Both teams have suffered casualties, with Rory Smith unable to bowl for Glamorgan again in the game, while Northants had two players off the field for the final half hour, with the team’s strength and conditioning coach making a rare appearance as a sub fielder.
Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad, who had been left out of the side’s training camp on disciplinary grounds at the start of May, was omitted from 22-man preliminary squad for the England tour in July-August as well. ESPNcricinfo understands that Shehzad was left out on disciplinary grounds again, despite being the leading run-getter in the 50-over Pakistan Cup with 372 runs at an average of 74.40, including a century and three fifties.The selectors picked the probables mainly from the ongoing boot camp at the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad. After that camp, the selected players will report for a skills camp between May 20 and June 5.Mohammad Hafeez, who had missed the training camp because of a knee injury, and legspinner Yasir Shah who was undergoing rehabilitation for a knee injury of his own, found places in the list of probables.Hafeez underwent a medical test on Wednesday, which will determine his availability for the four-match Test series. Sami Aslam, Shan Masood and Khurram Manzoor were the other openers to be picked. Yasir, meanwhile, is expected to be fit in a week.The selection committee, headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq, called up two uncapped Karachi batsmen – Asif Zakir and Akbar-ur-Rehman. Asif had scored 791 runs in 10 first-class matches in 2015-16 at an average of 56.50, while Akbar-ur-Rehman made 761 runs in 10 first-class games at 58.53.Left-handed batsman Fawad Alam, who was picked in the squad for the England series in the UAE in 2015-16, was left out despite topping the fitness tests – he was joint top with Mohammad Rizwan and Masood. Instead, batsman Iftikhar Ahmed, who could bowl offspin, has been picked. Iftikhar, who is uncapped in Tests, had made his ODI debut against England last year.Inzamam said that Alam’s name was discussed, but Iftikhar got the nod because of his all-round ability. “We did consider him [Alam] for the selection, but we have a packed middle order with Younis Khan, Misbah, Asad Shafiq, and we have an option of Iftikhar Ahmed who can bowl offspin from which we can have an edge against left-hand batsmen.”Sarfaraz Ahmed, whose fitness has been a major talking point, also made the cut despite a poor showing in the fitness tests, with Rizwan as a back-up option. Zulfiqar Babar was the second specialist spinner in the squad, and Wahab Riaz, who is playing county cricket for Essex, was also named. Given Wahab is already in England, he will miss the skills camp but join the squad directly in England should he make the final squad. Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Sohail Khan, Junaid Khan and Ehsan Adil are the other seam-bowling options.Inzamam admitted that Pakistan were struggling to find genuine allrounders. “Since Abdul Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood, we haven’t found a real allrounder who can come and can maintain the balance of the team. But still we can make an XI without an allrounder,” he said.The list of 22 players will be trimmed to 16 next month.The selectors also named the final squad for the A team’s tour of England for the tri-series also involving the hosts and Sri Lanka A. Opener Sharjeel Khan, seam-bowling allrounder Bilawal Bhatti, and left-arm spinning allrounder Mohammad Nawaz made the cut. The players chosen for the A squad will also attend the skills camp with the Test probables.Batsman Haris Sohail and left-arm spinner Imad Wasim were left out of both squads because of injuries.Pakistan’s probables for the England tour Openers: Mohammad Hafeez (subject to fitness), Sami Aslam, Shan Masood, Khurram Manzoor Middle-order batsmen: Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah ul Haq, Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Zakir, Akbar-ur-Rehman Seamers: Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Sohail Khan, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Wahab Riaz Spinners: Yasir Shah (subject to fitness), Zulfiqar Babar Wicketkeepers: Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan Pakistan A players for the tri-series Openers: Sharjeel Khan, Farukh Zaman, Jahid Ali Middle-order batsmen: Saud Shakil, Babar Azam, Umer Siddique, Abdur Rehman Muzammil Allrounders: Mohammad Nawaz Seamers: Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Azeez Ullah, Bilawal Bhatti Spinners: Mohammad Asghar, Shadab Khan
Steve Davies’ first Championship hundred for a year carried Surrey’s fight until Yorkshire hit back strongly with a late flurry of wickets at Headingley
ECB Reporters Network08-May-2016
ScorecardStephen Davies is congratulated on a hard-won century•Getty Images
Steven Davies kept his cool in the sun to complete a solid century that held Surrey together on the first day of the Specsavers County Championship match against title-holders Yorkshire at Headingley.It was the 21st first class century of Davies’ career and his first in the Championship for almost exactly a year. He was eventually out for a defiant 117 off 163 balls with 20 fours and Surrey were bowled out for 330 after winning the toss. Yorkshire were left with two overs in which to bat and they closed on 15 without loss.”I have not got the wicketkeeping gloves at the moment, so it is all about scoring big runs,” Davies said. “There are a few spots there in the England side and I just need to keep knocking at the door. I just wanted to concentrate on my batting for a while and I didn’t want the gloves but I feel motivated and energised again and would like to wear them but so far the club have not gone down that route.”For much of the time, Surrey appeared to have the upper hand but Yorkshire rallied late in the day, six wickets falling in 20 overs and four of them to the second new ball.Many in the 1,803 crowd were not in their seats by the starting time, a half-marathon in Leeds causing roads leading up to the ground to be closed off from early morning until lunchtime.But those who did make it saw a first hour of fluctuating fortunes with 40 runs scored, two wickets going down and three catches being dropped.When Rory Burns nicked David Willey into Jonathan Bairstow’s gloves with the score on 14, Arun Harinath had already survived a sharp chance to Gary Ballance at fourth slip and he enjoyed two further lives, Jack Brooks failing to hold on at long leg and Adam Lyth putting one down at second slip.The latter escape came off the third ball of Liam Plunkett’s spell but his next delivery was miscued by Harinath and popped to Ballance at cover.Surrey were 38 for two but Kumar Sangakkara and Davies soon rattled along with the Sri Lankan in his most majestic form and finding the boundary with a succession of drives through the cover point region.Sangakkara was 45 and Davies 21 at lunch which arrived with Surrey on 96 for two but the third wicket pair continued to blossom in the afternoon as each batsman reached his half-century, Sangakkara off 78 balls with nine fours and Davies from 94 deliveries with eight boundaries.Yorkshire were beginning to wonder where a wicket would come from but after skipper Andrew Gale had temporarily left the field for treatment after diving on to the rope, two went down in consecutive overs.Sangakkara had looked invincible until he tried to guide Plunkett over the slips and was well caught by Alex Lees for 73 off 101 balls with 13 boundaries to take his runs tally for Surrey to 470 in seven knocks.Then Jason Roy departed to his fourth ball from Brooks, superbly held low down to his left at third slip by Joe Root. Roy hung around for a while, possibly feeling he had played the ball into the ground, and he responded gently to the jeers of the crowd as he left the field.At 161 for four, Surrey could have slipped further if Davies had not calmly held things together by following up his 122 stand with Sangakkara with another century partnership with Ben Foakes.Runs came steadily and without too much difficulty, Davies on-driving Root to complete a handsome century off 137 balls with 18 fours and at tea Surrey were well placed on 230 for four.But just as two wickets had gone down unexpectedly earlier on, the same was to happen again in consecutive overs from Steve Patterson as Davies drove gently to Root at short cover to end his 103 stand with Foakes who was caught by Lees at first slip for 45.Again, Yorkshire had the chance to make further inroads with Surrey on 273 for six but James Burke and Tom Curran kept the initiative with the visitors until Burke and Gareth Batty fell lbw at 309 to leave Willey on a hat-trick, the first ball of his next over being safely pushed out to gully by Ravi Rampaul.Yorkshire were hitting back in some style and Brooks comprehensively bowled Curran at 321 to bring the Champions maximum bowling points. The innings was wrapped up when Rampaul top-edged a high catch to Bairstow of Brooks who finished with three wickets, as did Willey.
Liverpool are interested in a swoop for Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who has been struggling to find his feet in the German Bundesliga.
What's the latest on Gravenberch to Liverpool?
According to The Athletic's James Pearce, the Dutch maestro is "under consideration" by Reds manager Jurgen Klopp and technical director Julian Ward, with a bid possibly forthcoming this summer.
The precocious midfielder joined Bayern in the summer for €24m (£20m) from Ajax, but has failed to make the impact desired thus far, subsequently linked with a move to Merseyside in January, though the player rebuffed the advances from Premier League suitors.
Valued at £44m by CIES Football Observatory, it is unlikely that the ace would be available for anything even close to cheaper than that fee, but with Liverpool interested in signing Jude Bellingham, who is rated at €125m (£110m), Gravenberch could be a shrewd alternative.
Should Liverpool sign Gravenberch?
Hailed as "one of the biggest talents in Europe" by Bavarian sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, Gravenberch made a resounding start to life in Europe, attracting attention from a plethora of top outfits before making the move to Munich.
With Ajax, the 20-year-old scored 12 goals and supplied 13 assists from 103 appearances in the maiden phase of his career, flourishing as indeed one of the best teenage talents on the globe.
His spell at Bayern has certainly been less fruitful thus far, having scored just one goal and assist apiece and starting only four times across all competitions, but given the imperious nature of Julian Nagelsmann's outfit and Gravenberch's tender age, this is hardly a detriment to his impressive skill set.
Liverpool transfer target Ryan Gravenberch.
The prowess of the Netherlands' "greatest talent" – as dubbed by former Ajax forward Wim Kieft – is evidenced through statistics provided by FBref, with the £156k-per-week phenom ranking among the top 11% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for total shots and the top 9% for progressive passes received, illustrating a transitional nature that would be a coveted asset at Anfield right now.
Frankly, Liverpool have been lacklustre and lifeless for large parts of the season, out of every cup competition and languishing six points off Tottenham Hotspur who occupy fourth spot.
And with the ever-reliable David Ornstein recently revealing that the Reds' prospects of clinching their top target, Bellingham, hang by a thread after concerns over the price involved and affluence of rival suitors, Klopp might be wise to make contingency plans.
The £27k-per-week "superstar" – as lauded by Rio Ferdinand – ranks himself among the top 11% of midfielders for shot-creating actions and progressive passes received per 90, also ranking among the top 1% for successful take-ons and the top 6% for progressive passes, and Bayern's prodigy seems to mirror the skill set; perhaps not quite refined, Klopp could mould the gem to his clay nonetheless.
Proclaimed to be a future "world-beater" by De Telegraaf journalist Marcel van der Kraan, Gravenberch holds the acumen and wields the tools to be a superlative midfield force over the coming years, and with minutes hard to come by at the Allianz Arena, Klopp must instigate a swoop and replenish Liverpool's midfield.
A lot of players can go under the radar at Manchester City. Simply put, Pep Guardiola’s system isn’t designed for individual standouts. It is designed for every player to play their role to perfection, both on and off the ball. And this naturally leads to a number of underrated, yet important figures emerging.
Such is the genius of Guardiola, some may believe that the former Bayern Munich manager could hand pick a number of players for each role in his starting 11. But, this isn’t the case; certain players deserve credit for the job they do; jobs that not many others could take on with such success.
With that said, we’ve ranked Manchester City’s most underrated player of the Premier League era.
10) Oleksandr Zinchenko
Oleksandr Zinchenko is one of the biggest victims of Manchester City’s constant spending on improvement. The left-back has always performed well in his role, but has still seen that same role taken by other players as soon as they walk through the door.
As a result, he left for Arsenal in the summer, and they’re now top of the Premier League table; coincidence? We think not.
Indeed, Zinchenko never made more than 20 appearances in one Premier League season during his time at City.
That feels like a ridiculous stat when you think about it, but it just shows the riches City have at their disposal.
9) Samir Nasri
An increasingly controversial character as his career went on, Samir Nasri often went under the radar at Manchester City.
The silky Frenchman played an important role in City’s first ever Premier League title win in 2012, recording 14 goal involvements in the league.
Nasri totalled 176 appearances for City during his time at the club and one has to say that the club had the best version of him.
After leaving, Nasri endured a nomadic period, playing in Turkey, as well as featuring for West Ham and Anderlecht.
He’s not remembered as he should be.
8) Mario Balotelli
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Speaking of controversial, not many have a bigger track record of that exact trait than Mario Balotelli. And that’s perhaps why his time at Manchester City went under the radar.
Whether he was putting the ball in on the goal-line with his shoulder, or scoring against Manchester United and unveiling the famous ‘why always me’ shirt, the Italian was superb at times. To this day, he remains the only Italian to win the Premier League title.
Balotelli may have seen his legacy somewhat dimmed by the fact that he never recaptured the City form anywhere else.
But he’s one of the most mercurial players we’ve ever seen at City.
7) Pablo Zabaleta
Pablo Zabaleta was unfortunate enough to feature in an era when full-backs were not quite as appreciated as they are today.
The Argentine right-back was as good going forward as he was defensively, and was a huge part of Manchester City’s Premier League title wins in 2011/12 and 2013/14.
He made over 300 appearances, and often wore the captain’s armband.
He left City with two Premier League titles under his belt, as well as two League Cups and one FA Cup.
6) Edin Dzeko
When it comes to underrated forwards in Premier League history, Edin Dzeko is right near the top.
He was a key part of City’s title-winning sides in 2011/12 and 2013/14, and, by the time he left city, he had scored an impressive 72 goals in 189 appearances.
Many seem to forget, too, that it was his goal that put City level with Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 11/12 season.
It took a long time for City to find another striker who was as selfless and brilliant as the Bosnia and Herzegovina international.
5) Ilkay Gundogan
The Ilkay Gundogan fan club may have increased in numbers recently, but he still goes far too much under the radar for our liking.
The final day of last season epitomised the German as a player, with his brace helping to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Aston Villa to win the game 3-2 and seal the Premier League title.
Where there is an important moment, there seems to be a Gundogan goal.
He’s played over 280 times for the club and if he does leave soon enough, he will be sorely missed.
4) Aleksandar Kolarov
Like Zabaleta, Aleksandar Kolarov was unlucky to enjoy his best years in an era outside of the full-back popularity that we so often see today.
That does not take away just how good he was, however, with his rocket of a left foot making the difference on more than one occasion at The Etihad, clocking up 247 appearances.
He was a regular during the time that City were becoming a truly immense force in English football.
Defensively brilliant and an attacking threat too, Kolarov was a truly world-class left-back.
3) Raheem Sterling
A player with 131 goals and 95 assists shouldn’t be able to warrant a place on this list. But, the fact is, Raheem Sterling is nowhere near appreciated enough at Manchester City and in the Premier League as a whole.
In total, he won four Premier League titles at the Etihad Stadium, along with five League Cups and one FA Cup.
He has left an immense hole in the City squad after moving to Chelsea, and it remains to be seen if the club can find a way to properly replace him.
Their form this season suggests they are struggling to do so.
2) Joe Hart
The arrival and subsequent performances of Ederson can make people forget about just how good Joe Hart was at Manchester City.
Of course, he didn’t suit the change of style under Pep Guardiola, but, prior to that, he was head and shoulders (pun fully intended) above many Premier League shot-stoppers. He remains a key figure in City’s recent history.
One of the best goalkeepers in Europe at his peak, Hart was also England’s No.1 at a variety of major tournaments.
At his best, there were few better in the world.
1) Fernandinho
Fernandinho was always going to have his place on this list.
He is one of the most underrated players in Premier League history. And, in a way, that’s exactly what you want from your defensive midfielder. If they’re in the spotlight then, chances are, they’ve made a mistake.
Fernandinho has successfully been the foundation of City’s success over the years, whilst rarely being exposed on the main stage.
He made 383 appearances in total, playing a key role in every season from 2013/14 right up until last season.
With the way that Pep Guardiola sets up his side, it would come as no surprise if more players went under the radar in the next few years. As a collective, Manchester City are the best team in the Premier League, and arguably the world. Meanwhile, if you shoved the majority of their players into the spotlight and forced them to play in a system which requires individual carrying jobs, they’d fit straight in.
It speaks volumes of the trust that the players have in Guardiola, that they have remained so disciplined over the years and stuck to their roles, whether that be in or out of the spotlight.
Chelsea legend Frank Leboeuf has defended Mauricio Pochettino by insisting that even Pep Guardiola couldn't have led the club to success this season.
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Leboeuf claims Chelsea were in shambles
Even Pep would have failed to guide them to success
Chelsea take on Liverpool in Carabao Cup final
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Leboeuf, who spent five years at Stamford Bridge between 1996 and 2001, has expressed his beleif that the club was in a "shambles" when Mauricio Pochettino took charge of the team ahead of the 2023-24 season. The Frenchman went on to claim that not even a manager of Pep Guardiola's calibre could have led the Blues to success this season.
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WHAT FRANK LEBOEUF SAID
Speaking to , the former defender said: "When Mauricio Pochettino signed for Chelsea, there was not a ‘right man’ for the job – the club was a shambles. You could have put anybody in there, even Pep Guardiola, and I don’t think they would have done anything special with this Chelsea team because an instant solution was impossible to find.
"Now we are starting to see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel after the games against Aston Villa and Manchester City, but it is all about consistency. We can see how Pochettino is working with the players and the confidence that he is building with them, but there is still a long way to go. I think Pochettino is the last person to blame for the situation at Chelsea. I’m not even sure that I would’ve taken the Chelsea job at the time he did, because although the money might be good it is hard to know where to even start with actually managing the team! He had the guts to take it on and he is doing well."
He added: "Sometimes the criticism of Pochettino is fair but he has not been without problems and injuries and he has done his best. Everybody was saying that Chelsea didn’t know how to defend without Thiago Silva, but then we saw against Manchester City that they are more than capable. Axel Disasi showed last weekend, against a cyborg in Erling Haaland, that he can handle it.
"When Pochettino puts his confidence in his players, they have shown that they can produce good performances like they have recently against Aston Villa and Manchester City. Hopefully, we are going to see the result of Pochettino’s hard work very soon."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Former Tottenham manager Pochettino did not have the best of starts to his journey with Chelsea as the club managed to register just eight Premier League wins out of 20 games in the first half of the season. They were plagued with multiple injuries, which certainly didn't help Pochettino, but he has still faced criticism for failing to bring the best out of a squad full of big-money signings. Chelsea have been performing more consistently since the start of the new year, though, and are on the verge of winning their first trophy this season as they gear up to take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
After facing the Reds on Sunday at Wembley, Pochettino's side will next take on Leeds United in an FA Cup fifth-round clash on February 28.
Jude Bellingham could face a suspension if proven guilty of aiming a slur at Getafe star Mason Greenwood during La Liga clash.
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Decision to be made in the Bellingham-Greenwood incident
Lip reader submitted report to the competition committee
Could face a four-match ban
WHAT HAPPENED?
The incident in question happened during a league encounter between Real Madrid and Getafe on February 1. Bellingham challenged his compatriot on the pitch before allegedly mouthing the word 'Rapist' towards the Manchester United loanee. Getafe had lodged a complaint with La Liga's representative who was present at the ground after which the league hired a lip reader to assess the incident.
Now according to Cope, La Liga have transferred the case to the competition committee. The lip reader has already informed the committee about the decision although the league remains tight-lipped on the final report. Bellingham could be hit with a four-game suspension if found guilty.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
As per some reports, the Real Madrid star did not utter the word 'Rapist' and had rather said 'rubbish' which was misinterpreted, although Getafe has demanded a proper investigation. The club have backed Greenwood in the entire episode who joined them on a season-long loan from the Red Devils after having seen charges of attempted rape, assault, and coercive control made against him dropped in February 2023.
DID YOU KNOW?
The English winger has been impressive for the Azulones in the ongoing season having scored seven times and provided five assists in 23 matches across all competitions. The Spanish club are considering making his loan move permanent in the summer.
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WHAT NEXT FOR JUDE BELLINGHAM?
If proven guilty, the England international could face some time on the sidelines. He is currently out of action with a sprained ankle and is expected to remain out of action for at least three weeks.
Everton are looking at strengthening their front line this summer, as Sean Dyche hopes to get the Blues firing to avoid a repeat of last season’s lows.
Recent reports have now revealed who they could target before the end of the transfer window, in a name that could significantly bolster the Toffee’s efforts in the final third.
Dyche confirmed his side’s survival on the final day last term, with it being vital that the Merseyside club move away from their form of being relegation candidates in the top flight.
Who could Everton sign this summer?
It’s clear that Everton are pondering making a move for a forward this summer, with links to Leeds United’s Wilfried Gnonto and Southampton’s Che Adams consuming recent speculation surrounding the club.
There has however been another name arise as a contender for Dyche to chase, with Troyes winger Mama Balde identified as a target for the Blues.
As reported by journalist Mike Minay, the 27-year-old has gained significant interest from the Premier League, with Burnley, Sheffield United and the Toffee’s named as those eyeing the Ligue 1 whiz.
Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…
Minay added that a deal for the Guinea-Bissau forward could be struck for a fee in the region of €8m (£7m), making him an affordable acquisition for the Blues.
What is Mama Balde’s playing style?
Deployed primarily as a right-winger, Balde is just as efficient on the left flank, making him a strong and versatile forward to have in the squad.
Identified for his “pace and power” by writer Liam Scahill, as well as being lauded as an “impressive attacking weapon”, the 27-year-old could be the perfect addition for Dyche to integrate into his squad.
In Ligue 1 last term, the versatile attacker netted 12 goals and recorded four assists for Troyes, who struggled in the top flight throughout the campaign, seeing them relegated to Ligue 2.
The Guinea-Bissau international’s contribution to playing within a side that was far from at their best highlighted just how much of a threat he is, showing up when his team needed him most.
Troyes forward Mama Balde.
Praised as being a “really strong” asset in the attack by former teammate Tristan Dingome, Balde could be the ideal player for Everton, in a talent that could compete with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Englishman has had a trialling couple of years, juggling injury with poor form at Goodison Park that has seen his goal tally take a bruising compared to 16-goal Premier League season of 2020/21.
Since then, the 26-year-old has netted just seven goals over the last two league campaigns, prompting that the introduction of some competition could bolster the striker’s performance.
Balde could not only add to the goals for the club, but promote a healthy rivalry with Calvert-Lewin, in a move that could positively encourage the Englishman to raise his game for the good of the club, and his confidence.
The Troyes forward has netted 15 goals over the last two seasons to the jaded Blues talisman’s seven, suggesting just how he could improve Dyche’s options in the front line.
On the other side, the Ligue 1 gem could be the perfect addition to accompany Calvert-Lewin in leading the line, with him being flexible in his ability to be deployed in various positions around the striker.
For a fee expected to be lower the £10m mark, the Blues could land themselves a strong acquisition that could finally improve their fortunes this season.
After all, having failed to score in their first two outings, they could certainly do with some added firepower.