Tag Futebol

Journalist Jacque Talbot has claimed that Aston Villa may have a slight chance of landing Joao Felix due to now having Unai Emery in charge but a transfer remains unlikely.

What’s the word?

It seems as though the Atletico Madrid forward will be allowed to leave on loan this January with The Athletic explaining that the Spanish side are seeking €21million (£18.6m), to cover a loan fee plus his salary.

While Arsenal and Manchester United seem like possible destinations, the Villans have also been linked with a move. Indeed, transfer insider Dean Jones has insisted that they are ‘genuinely in the picture’.

Amid all this, Talbot how now claimed that it’s hard to see a Felix singing for Aston Villa but ‘world-class coach’ Emery could give the club an outside chance of landing the Portugal star.

He told GiveMeSport: “They’ve got a new manager now who is very, very competent, so there is that as well.

“That is a bit of a pull because he is a world-class coach. But, personally, I can’t see that happening for Villa.”

Another Coutinho?

Having won La Liga with Atletico and established himself as a regular in the Portuguese national team – playing four times at the World Cup and scoring once – at just 23 years of age, Felix certainly is a top talent.

For that reason, however, a more to Villa seems a little fanciful. Even so, former manager Steven Gerrard did manage to use his ‘pull’ to land former Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho.

With that in mind, it’s not as if the club don’t have a past record of making some high-profile deals. Even so, it still feels as though an awful lot would have to happen to see Felix ending up in Birmingham as a Villan any time soon.

But perhaps he will be keen to work for Emery who has impressed in Spain and France – winning the Europa League with Sevilla and Villarreal, and Ligue 1 with PSG.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has been showering plaudits upon his young stars during the club break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with one talent in particular dazzling.

Omari Hutchinson, signed from the Arsenal academy last summer after seven years in north London, rejoined the club he commenced his youth career with at a very early age. 

And now the 19-year-old is bearing semblance to former Blues icon Eden Hazard, with coaches at the Cobham academy even likening his skill set to that of the Belgian, who left Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid in a seismic £130m deal in 2019.

Last week, the Blues played out a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Challenge Cup in Dubai, maintaining fitness levels and fluidity ahead of the forthcoming return for competitive club action. 

Against Villa, Hutchinson sparkled among his senior peers, with Potter lauding the young ace for his contribution. 

Despite the defeat, the starlet had success soaring up and down the flanks and terrorising the Villans with his marvellous blend of pace and tricky that belies his inexperience on the senior stage.

Potter said: “He was really good, dangerous, and asked a question all the time.

“Throughout the game he showed his quality but he wasn’t the only one. It was a spirited performance with a lot of young players so it was good.”

The talented forward, who is still yet to make his professional debut, has flourished at youth level regardless, scoring six goals and six assists apiece for the Chelsea youth team in just 15 appearances.

His talent is starting to shine through, and his shot to impress is seemingly just around the corner, and with his manager now increasingly drawn to the player, he might just set the Premier League on fire in the near future. 

And with the recent ACL injury to Armando Broja, who is reportedly set to be sidelined for over six months, Hutchinson might find himself at the centre of more frequent opportunities in the Blues team, with Potter still seeking the answer for a free-flowing offence.

With Chelsea’s academy known to thrive, yet fail to present a platform for success in the first-team, Hutchinson certainly took a gamble in departing from the Gunners, where he was regarded as one of the hottest prospects at the outfit, and attempt to break through the ice at Chelsea.

It was a bold move, but the teenage sensation is – rightfully – confident in his abilities and his growing potential, and when unleashed, he might just ascend to the very front of the pack, emulating Hazard in his football on the pitch. 

Former Glasgow Rangers defender Alan Hutton has backed his old club in their reported move to bring Josh Onomah to Ibrox in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Onomah move plotted

As per Football Insider, new Gers manager Michael Beale is ‘plotting’ a move for Onomah in January, and is a ‘long-term admirer’ of the Fulham central midfielder.

A number of Championship clubs are also thought to be ‘weighing up’ a move for him, as his contract at Craven Cottage expires in the summer.

With just 14 minutes of Premier League football played so far this season, Marco Silva’s side could look to offload him in January for a suitable transfer fee.

The Latest: Hutton backs move

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton has backed the Light Blues in their pursuit of Onomah, singing his praises after playing with him at Aston Villa:

“I know him, I played with him at Aston Villa so I know what kind of player he is, what kind of character he is.

“He is very good. I think he has been unfortunate that he has gone to a team and not played. He is that type of guy that you need to play week in week out so that you can see the best of his ability.

“There is no doubting his talent, I have seen it with my own eyes. He is more than capable of coming to a place like Rangers and handling it. I think he would be a good addition to the team.

“Getting a player of that quality, although he has not been playing regularly in the Premier League this season, I know he would be able to handle the task.“

The Verdict: Get it done

Onomah is clearly a player with ability, but has perhaps not been able to show it often enough.

At Villa, he scored four goals and made a further three assists in 37 games in total over all competitions (1-0 to Fulham.

He is still only 25 years of age, not reaching his prime yet, and with Beale seemingly keen on a move, he could really mould Onomah into a key player for the Teddy Bears for the second part of the season.

Aston Villa skipper John McGinn is likely to retain the captaincy after his improved form this season, according to ex-Villans striker Gabby Agbonlahor.

The Lowdown: McGinn under Emery

The Scot had a tough start to the Premier League season after being given the captaincy in place of Tyrone Mings, struggling to enjoy his usual influence.

McGinn was on the bench in Unai Emery’s first game in charge, however, he returned to the starting line up against Brighton prior to the international break.

There had been doubts over the midfielder’s role as captain and even future but he appears to have silenced his doubters after helping Villa to a 2-1 win at the Amex.

The Latest: Scot backed to remain as captain

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor, who contributes for talkSPORT, talked glowingly about McGinn as a player, also saying he should remain as skipper:

“For me, McGinn looked like a man possessed. He was everywhere and looked like the old McGinn that we are used to. He was aggressive and made the run for the penalty.

“He deserves a lot of plaudits because he’s had it hard recently. He’s a player that I like.

“It was a captain’s performance for him. As much as people are saying that the captaincy should go back to Mings or to Martinez, Unai Emery will probably think from that game ‘That was a captain’s performance. I’m in no rush to decide, let’s just see how the players go’.

“The break will do a lot of players favours. It will be nice for them to get a holiday, a bit of sun and back for a little pre-season.”

The Verdict: Correct decision

Emery may have been impressed by what he saw from McGinn prior to the World Cup break and it would be a surprise if he suddenly stripped him of the captaincy.

To make such a decision so soon after he took on the mantle from Mings would feel needless, potentially affecting the player’s confidence when he is still new to the role.

McGinn’s more recent form suggests that he may have turned a corner and there is no reason why cannot be a strong captain for Villa for a number of years to come.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will embark on a new era following the World Cup, with newly-installed manager Julen Lopetegui facing his first matches in charge of the side.

The 56-year-old will require all of his managerial know-how in order to maintain the Old Gold’s stay in the Premier League, with the side currently rooted bottom of the table.

Imminent thoughts turn to the transfer window, however, with the Spaniard keen to stamp his authority on his side and build a squad that will secure top-flight status come the end of the season.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Wolves have made an enquiry over Racing Club midfielder Carlos Alcaraz, with Inter Milan also keen on the Argentinian.

The report claims that the player is valued at a mere £10m and this may be enough to tempt Lopetegui in making a move and it isn’t the first time the club have been linked with the midfielder.

Alcaraz could be an ideal Joao Moutinho upgrade, with the 36-year-old’s influence waning in the current Wolves starting XI.

His last three performances have seen him receive SofaScore ratings of just 6.5, 6.5, and 6.7 while he hasn’t contributed with any goals or assists in the league this season.

In 19 league matches this season, Alcaraz has three goals, created one big chance, and made 0.8 key passes per match, proving that he can be extremely effective going forward.

At such a tender age, Alcaraz has already made 83 senior appearances, chipping in with 12 goals and he would be able to slot into a midfield three alongside side Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes to great effect.

His displays in Argentina have been described as “flourishing” and it’s no wonder he is attracting interest from Europe.

Lopetegui will surely be aiming to secure the midfield dynamo’s services in the January transfer window and integrate him into the team, especially with Moutinho’s poor form.

A fee of around £10m represents a bargain and the Spaniard will surely be looking at spending money wisely as opposed to throwing it away, and Alcaraz may well prove to be a shrewd investment.

Arsenal welcome FC Zurich tonight safe in the knowledge that they have qualified for the next round of the Europa League.

That said, they still need to better PSV’s result against Bodo/Glimt in order to ensure they don’t have to play an extra set of games in the new year by finishing top of the group.

Fortunately, the Gunners have a near fully fit squad in order to combat that quest, with Bukayo Saka shaking off a knock to his ankle in the thrashing of Nottingham Forest.

Mohamed Elneny has also been back in training while Oleksandr Zinchenko has taken part at Colney too after a period on the sidelines.

With Chelsea at the weekend, it would be rather foolish for Mikel Arteta to select a full-strength starting XI, so he could opt for a blend of his usual first-team stars and those on the fringes.

Should Arsenal find themselves in a promising position during the tie then it would be the ideal chance to hand some minutes to those who usually reside in the academy.

Ethan Nwaneri has already made his debut this term, albeit in the Premier League, but we could see further bows for the likes of Catalin Cirjan, Bradley Ibrahim and Amario Cozier-Duberry tonight.

The most likely debutant could be the latter, with Saka in need of rest and Emile Smith Rowe still out injured.

Whether or not he does get a slice of the action vs Zurich, it’s clear that the 17-year-old is a phenomenal talent.

Along with the aforementioned trio, he has already been on the bench in Europe this term and it’s clear to see why when you consider his statistics.

He has scored three times and assisted twice for the U21s this term, with one of those goals coming against senior opposition, Northampton Town, in the EFL Trophy.

Clearly already adept in a more physical environment, the teenager has been causing “lots of problems” – in the words of Kaya Kaynak – for a while now.

This is his first full season at U21 level, a chance he more than deserves after contributing towards eight goals in the U18 Premier League during 2021/22.

A dangerous and energetic threat from out wide, the teen certainly has similarities to the aforementioned Saka and for that reason alone, is an exciting talent for Arteta.

It is surely only a matter of time before he gets an opportunity in the first team

CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Amazon want to do an ‘All or Nothing’ documentary series with Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: ‘All or Nothing’ success

It has been reported that Chelsea are considering making an ‘All or Nothing’ documentary, after the popularity and success of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City’s own series.

Cameras captured City’s record-breaking 100-point season, followed Spurs throughout the initial COVID-hit summer of football, including the appointment of former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, and also showed the Gunners’ journey last season as they failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Supporters were able to see behind-the-scenes footage from match-days, training and key discussions at clubs, with some of the most controversial topics being filmed.

The Latest: Newcastle lined up

Taking to Twitter, Jacobs has revealed that Amazon now want to do a series with the St. James’ Park outfit, but the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) ‘have some reservations’ over a potential documentary:

“Amazon also want to do a series with Newcastle, which could well come first. But there is no agreement yet in place. PIF have some reservations and want guarantees there will be no anti-Saudi angle.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

After the successes of the previous documentaries, the North East club should really consider making one of their own.

They recently celebrated their one-year anniversary since the Saudi consortium’s takeover on Tyneside, and the mood around the stadium has been lifted by the signings of big names like Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak, as well as them climbing up to sixth place in the Premier League table through some impressive performances.

Thus, it would be so interesting to know what exactly is going on behind-the-scenes in the new regime, and how much the owners are actually directly involved in helping the club get back to where they feel that they belong.

TalkSPORT pundit Stuart Pearce believes that Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard still has ‘a lot of trust’ from club officials.

The Lowdown: Manager speculation

Villa have struggled so far this season, which has led to rumours over possible replacements for Gerrard in the Midlands. Reports towards the end of September claimed that Unai Emery and Mauricio Pochettino have been sounded out as potential successors.

There have reportedly been ongoing discussions when it comes to Gerrard’s future, with some Villa fans booing the side following Monday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.

The Latest: Pearce’s comments

Pearce, talking to talkSPORT, relayed by Birmingham Live, said that he’s heard Gerrard ‘has a lot of trust from the Villa ownership’ and urged the club to give him more time to develop.

“He’s been in management for a couple of years and I think he served his purpose well by working with the academy at Liverpool first. It shows an element of humbleness from his point of view.

“I still feel as though he has a lot of trust from the (Villa) ownership, that’s what I hear.

“I think he needs time to develop as a manager, I really do. I certainly wouldn’t pull the rug from under him at this moment in time. I think there’s a long way to go.”

The Verdict: Pressure

Villa have struggled in the final third this season, scoring just seven goals in nine Premier League games.

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There have been improvements at the back in recent weeks, but Gerrard’s overall record at Villa Park doesn’t come in for good reading, with the 42-year-old winning just 13 of his 38 games in charge.

His one-year anniversary in the Midlands is fast approaching, but if things don’t improve before the break for the World Cup, NSWE may feel they have no choice but to make a change in the dugout.

Aston Villa’s signing of Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal has proven to be a masterclass as his value has rocketed since swapping the Emirates Stadium for Villa Park in 2020.

After impressing late on in the 2019/20 season for the Gunners, Villa made their move for Martinez, signing the Argentinian shot-stopper in a deal worth £17m.

The goalkeeper started his senior career at Arsenal but was rarely afforded first-team opportunities, spending time out on loan with the likes of Wolves, Reading and Getafe.

In nearly 10 years with the Gunners, Martinez was limited to just 38 appearances, the majority of which came in his final season for the club after an injury to first-choice Bernd Leno.

In those appearances, Martinez would keep 16 clean sheets and concede just 41 goals, which was enough to convince Villa that he would be a solid first-choice for them, and the move has certainly paid off, as he has established himself as one of the top shot-stoppers outside of the top six, while he is also a regular for Argentina.

When he joined the club, his value according to Transfermarkt was just £10.8m, but now it stands at £25.2m, which represents an eye-catching 133% increase.

This emphasises just how good a deal it was by Aston Villa’s sporting director Johan Lange, who had only joined the club a couple of months prior to Martinez’s signing.

During his time at Villa, the ‘keeper has made 82 appearances, in which he has conceded 106 goals and kept 26 clean sheets. He has averaged a solid 6.97 rating from WhoScored for his performances this season, which ranks him as the top performer in Steven Gerrard’s side so far this campaign, where he has also been a ‘leader without the armband.’

Martinez caught the eye in Villa’s only league win of the season so far against Everton, with teammate and right-back Matty Cash singing his praises after the game.

He said:

“He (Martinez) normally buzzes off clean sheets. The first thing he said to me in the dressing room was: ‘I’m gutted we conceded’. He’s unbelievable. One of the best goalkeepers in the world. To have him there is really good for us. He has made so many big saves for us.”

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At 30, Martinez still has plenty of years left at the top level, and Lange deserves a lot of credit for bringing him in on such a cheap deal two years ago.

Liverpool are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes to help ease their midfield crisis, according to a new transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Reds’ midfield crisis

The Reds were beaten 2-1 by rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday night, in what was a putrid performance from start to finish.

The midfield was arguably the biggest issue, with Jordan Henderson and James Milner out of sorts, and the likes of Thiago, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all out injured.

The need for a new midfielder to come in this summer is increasing all the time and it looks as though Jurgen Klopp could be addressing the problem.

The Latest: Paredes linked with move

According to Calciomercato, Liverpool see Paredes as a potential option this summer, with the 28-year-old not a guaranteed starter at PSG and playing just 49 minutes of Ligue 1 action so far this season.

Keita’s injury is thought to have altered the Reds’ decision about a new signing and Paredes is seen as the replacement.

Roma and Juventus are also eyeing the Argentina international.

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The Verdict: Panic buy or shrewd signing?

Paredes is an interesting target, with the midfielder possessing a huge amount of experience in his career, winning 44 caps for Argentina and making 117 appearances for PSG.

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At 28, the reigning and three-time Ligue 1 champion is not a young player and injuries have hampered him in the past, however, so there would be a clear risk element in bringing him into an already fitness-plagued Liverpool squad.

Paredes’ quality isn’t an issue, though – former PSG man Fabrice Pancrate has said his ‘tempo is perfect’, suggesting a coolness and composure on the ball that may remind Reds fans of Thiago.

Indeed, he ranks in the 99th percentile amongst midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for passes and pass completion, also coming in at the 89th mark for progressive passes, suggesting he isn’t just taking the easy option (FBRef).