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New Wolves signing Matheus Cunha has taken to social media to say it’s ‘mad’ to be part of the club after attending his first game at Molineux.

What’s the latest?

With the January transfer market now officially open, the Premier League outfit have officially managed to land the Atletico Madrid player on loan for the rest of the season, with an obligation to buy for a fee that could rise to £35m?

And the forward has shown his keenness to be part of things after he was spotted in the stands as Wolves hosted Manchester United at Molineux on December 31.

After the match, Cunha took to Instagram to share a picture of himself at the match, while he also wrote: “My first time at Molineux!! Thanks for the care, mad to play for you guys.”

Big talent arriving?

Sadly, he could not be registered to play in the match as the winter market wasn’t open at the stage and so had to watch on as his new teammates slumped to a 1-0 defeat against the Red Devils with Marcus Rashford netting the only goal of the game.

However, Cunha could be in line to make his first appearance for Wolves in their next game as Julen Lopetgui’s men travel to play Aston Villa in the Premier League.

While things didn’t work out for the Brazilian in Spain as he fell out of favour this season, and started just two La Liga games for Diego Simeone, his potential shouldn’t be questioned.

After all, he is still only 23 years of age and even netted in the final of the 2021 Olympics as Brazil won gold in Tokyo. It certainly looks as though Wolves have an interesting talent on their hands.

Leeds United have reportedly made the first steps towards signing Sampdoria attacking midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri.

The Lowdown: Sabiri profiled

Sabiri is primarily an attacking midfielder and made a permanent move to Sampdoria over the summer following a successful loan spell.

The 26-year-old has scored 45 senior goals for club and country and is currently away with Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar.

He scored a penalty in the shootout win over Spain earlier this week and is now preparing for a quarter-final clash with Portugal, with links of a move to Elland Road now emerging.

The Latest: Leeds approach

According to La Gazzetta Express, Victor Orta and co want to sign Sabiri in January and have already made an approach over a possible move.

Leeds aren’t alone in their pursuit, though, with Lyon and Real Betis also thought to be keen, with a loan with an option to buy transfer mooted.

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The Verdict: One to watch?

Leeds appear to primarily be on the hunt for a centre-forward and a young left-back in January, but a move for Sabiri could still be one to watch.

He can play in a number of positions but is mainly an attacking midfielder, an area you could say Leeds are short in with just Brenden Aaronson and youngster Sam Greenwood the available options to Jesse Marsch at this moment in time.

Therefore, Sabiri could be a smart signing by Orta and potentially a cheap one with his current €3m Transfermarkt valuation.

Some parts of the media were left criticising Bruno Fernandes for his part in Fulham’s equalising goal against Manchester United in the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Bright start

United and Fernandes made a bright start to the game when his pass was put on a plate for Christian Eriksen to tap in the opening goal with just 14 minutes on the clock.

However, his performance seemed to dip in the second half, as he was partially at fault for the equaliser for the hosts scored by former Red Devil Dan James before Alejandro Garnacho netted a dramatic late winner.

The Latest: Fernandes criticised

Taking to Twitter, Manchester Evening News reporters Samuel Luckhurst and Tyrone Marshall were both critical of Fernandes for losing the ball cheaply which directly led to Fulham’s equaliser.

Luckhurst claimed that he was ‘really timid’ as he was dispossessed, while Marshall called his ball ‘poor’.

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The Verdict: The good and the bad

Fernandes showed moments of brilliance in the first half, but was not at his best in the second. The attacking midfielder lost out on eight of his nine duels in total, a staggering 89%, and failed to record a single shot on target or dribble. He maintained just a 67% pass accuracy, the joint-lowest in the side, and gave possession away a total of 16 times. (SofaScore).

Fernandes will now be heading to the FIFA World Cup with Portugal, where he can shift his focus away from club football until the league season resumes again.

Liverpool are already in contact with Jude Bellingham’s representatives and will be in the race to secure his services, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: England call up

Bellingham got the nod from Gareth Southgate last week and will be representing England at the World Cup. The 19-year-old already has 17 international caps to his name and was part of the squad which made the Euro 2020 final last year.

The midfielder will be hoping to make Southgate’s first-choice XI after playing just 55 minutes at the European Championships, and his domestic future looks set to be a hot topic of conversation throughout the upcoming tournament in Qatar.

The Latest: Romano’s comments

Romano was speaking to GiveMeSport regarding Liverpool and Bellingham, saying that the Reds will 100% be in the race to sign the Borussia Dortmund star in an exciting new claim.

The Italian stated: “Liverpool will be in the race, 100 per cent. They’re already in contact with people close to Jude Bellingham, so Liverpool will be there.”

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed

You’d expect that a move for Bellingham in 2023 won’t be straightforward, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United also keen on his services.

However, the Reds could do with a marquee midfield signing given the age profile and injury-prone nature of some of their current options, so Bellingham would tick a lot of boxes both in the short-term and long run.

Hopefully Liverpool can persuade the 19-year-old to move to Anfield and the ongoing takeover saga doesn’t have a negative impact on their pursuit of Bellingham.

Leeds United correspondents Phil Hay and Graham Smyth have relayed news of an injury to Pascal Struijk before the trip to Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Top-rated player

Struijk has been a regular so far this season, playing every minute of Premier League action.

The 23-year-old has been turning out as a left-back due to Junior Firpo’s injury issues and has excelled in the role. As per WhoScored, Struijk is currently Leeds’ top-rated performer in the league and is the only player to average a match rating over 7/10.

However, he looks set to sit out the trip to Leicester as Jesse Marsch looks to get Leeds’ season back on track.

The Latest: New injury

Both Hay and Smyth were at Thorp Arch for Marsch’s pre-match press conference.

Hay stated that Struijk has a ‘minor injury problem’ and will miss the game this evening, while Smyth described it as a ‘fresh injury blow’, hailing Struijk as ‘very good’ this season.

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The Verdict: Not ideal

Marsch confirmed that Firpo will make his first Premier League start of the season at the King Power in Struijk’s absence. The Spaniard has played just 32 minutes of first-team action this season, making just two match-day squads.

Therefore, the news regarding Struijk isn’t ideal, especially as it will mean Marsch using Firpo from the off earlier than he may have liked.

However, Firpo has plenty of experience and has been backed at Elland Road over the summer with the club not adding to their left-back ranks, so now is the perfect time to repay that faith.

Crystal Palace’s hopes of defeating Chelsea on Saturday have been given a huge boost, with Graham Potter confirming that two important players will miss the trip to Selhurst Park.

Patrick Vieira’s side have been out of Premier League action for nearly a month, with the Queen’s death and the international break making the 0-0 draw with Newcastle United seem like a lifetime ago.

The Eagles have started the season in decent fashion, given that they have already faced the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, and their fixtures do not get any easier with the visit of Chelsea this weekend.

Graham Potter is taking charge of his first Premier League game as Chelsea’s new manager but he looks set to be without two key players for the game, as he revealed in Friday’s pre-match press conference.

He said:

“N’Golo is doing fine in terms of coming through the rehab stages. He has been on the grass with the team but he’s not in full training.

“We have a bit of illness with Marc Cucurella and also Carney Chukwuemeka. Apart from that everyone is fit.”

It is undoubtedly a big boost to Palace’s chances that both Kante and Cucurella will be missing on Saturday, and Vieira will be hoping to take advantage.

Kante is undoubtedly one of the top players in Chelsea’s squad, having been integral to title wins with both Leicester City and Chelsea in his Premier League career.

The “world-class” midfielder averaged a 7.01 rating from WhoScored for his performances last season, which ranked him as the seventh-best player (of those to make at least 10 appearances) in the squad, which emphasises how important he is at Stamford Bridge.

Cucurella meanwhile, would win player of the season at Brighton and will undoubtedly excel now that he has been reunited with Potter at Chelsea, but his absence will force Potter to re-think his defensive lineup from the draw against RB Salzburg in his first game at the club.

This can only be good for Vieira and Palace, and the Frenchman will be hoping that his side can exploit any weaknesses in Chelsea’s midfield and defence due to the absence of Kante and Cucurella on Saturday.

Newcastle United are reportedly keeping tabs on Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, should the Scotland international come available this summer.

What’s the word?

Recent reports had revealed that the 25-year-old had been the subject of interest from a host of Premier League clubs – including the Magpies – following the Old Trafford outfit’s capture of Casemiro.

The feeling is that the arrival of the Brazilian could see the United academy graduate cast aside by manager Erik ten Hag – hence the mounting interest – albeit with the Red Devils yet to make the 34-cap gem available.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke – in an interview with Football FanCast – has now offered his verdict on the 6 foot 4 colossus making the move to St James’ Park, stating that it could well prove to be an astute purchase for the Tynesiders.

The transfer insider stated:

“If McTominay is not playing regularly in this Man United team he might be looking to move on in search of first-team football as well. So yeah a big few days ahead to see what happens with the future of Scott McTominay, but if he does become available I think he could be a real shrewd piece of business by Newcastle.”

Shrewd signing

The addition of the Lancaster-born ace may not prove a wholly popular one in the northeast such is the criticism he regularly faces at his current club, although the number of interested parties circling for his signature would indicate that such critique isn’t always fair.

Dubbed a “physical monster” by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, McTominay – who has racked up 173 appearances for his current side – offers a real commanding presence in the centre of the park, showcasing a willingness to carry out the less glamorous side of the game to allow his more technical teammates to thrive.

While the £28.8m-rated man’s ability in possession has come under scrutiny – as he ranks in just the top 32% for pass completion among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues – his dogged defensive is no doubt impressive, as he ranks in at least the top 10% for clearances made and aerial duels won.

Also something of a “leader” – in the words of Thierry Henry – the £60k-per-week brute could well be astute addition in the centre of the park for Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, with the 44-year-old having previously allowed a key midfield figure to depart in Isaac Hayden.

Not just a physical “beast” – as also described by Solskjaer – the rampaging midfielder also has a keen eye for goal, notably chipping in with seven goals in all competitions during the 2020/21 campaign.

As Howe has managed to do with the previously maligned Joelinton, the former Bournemouth boss could well help to shape McTominay into something of a world-beater, with the towering midfielder potentially set to be a ‘shrewd’ signing, as O’Rourke suggested.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola’s head has been turned by Everton star Anthony Gordon, according to reliable reports.

The Lowdown: Big season ahead…

The Premier League champions have seen a real summer of change at Eastlands with big name players moving on to pastures new and blockbuster signings coming in to replace them.

Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fernandinho no longer sport Sky Blue despite many faithful seasons with the likes of Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Stefan Ortega, Julian Alvarez and now Sergio Gomez arriving for Guardiola.

City have started the 2022/2023 season very brightly with two routine victories as they seek to retain their domestic crown yet again.

The Latest: Guardiola’s head turned by Gordon…

Guardiola has been candid in explaining that his side are unlikely to any more business before September 1, but according to The Times, he is a real admirer of one player.

Indeed, Toffees ace Gordon is said to have turned the Spaniard’s head and City’s manager is apparently ‘understood to be a fan’.

The marquee forward, who Everton value at around £50 million, is also said to be attracting real interest from Chelsea after both Spurs and Newcastle eyed moves earlier in the window.

The Verdict: Make a move?

A seriously talented homegrown asset, Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard has even called Gordon ‘frightening’ after his side came up against Everton in the FA Cup last season.

As per WhoScored, the 21-year-old starlet completed his side joint-fourth most successful take-ons per 90 in the top flight last year with Gordon also attempting their fourth-highest rate of attempts at goal every game.

He was also indispensable at Goodison Park with him and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford being the only two Everton stars to play 35 league games over 2021/2022.

Indeed, Gordon could well be one to watch if Guardiola is taking a liking.

Leeds United are eyeing a deal to bring Ismaila Sarr to Elland Road as their ninth signing of the summer.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Santi Aouna, with the Foot Mercato journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that Victor Orta may well be close to reaching a verbal agreement with Watford regarding the transfer of the 24-year-old, while contract negotiations between the forward and the Whites are also believed to be progressing well.

However, the reporter went on to state that the Senegal international’s arrival at Elland Road is dependent on the departure of a current player in their first-team squad, although it is not stated who this potential outgoing could be.

In his tweet, Aouna said: “Leeds and Watford are close to a verbal agreement for Ismaila Sarr. Contract negotiations between the former Rennais and Leeds are also progressing. But his arrival in Leeds remains conditional on the departure of a player.”

Imagine him & Sinisterra

With Orta having already added one tricky winger to Jesse Marsch’s attacking arsenal this summer in the shape of £21m forward Luis Sinisterra, the prospect of the Colombia international lining up alongside Sarr at Elland Road this season is sure to be an incredibly tantalising one for supporters and the 48-year-old manager alike.

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Indeed, both players are exceptionally talented with the ball at their feet, with Sarr completing an average of 1.5 dribbles per game over his 30 Premier League appearances last season, while Sinisterra completed an average of a whopping 3.6 carries per 90 over his 30 outings in the Eredivisie last time out – demonstrating how much of a nightmare the duo would be to defend against for opposition full-backs.

Furthermore, both wingers are also incredibly efficient in the final third, with the £24.3m-rated Sarr scoring five goals, registering two assists and creating five big chances in 2021/22, while the £22.5m-rated Sinisterra bagged 12 goals, provided seven assists and created nine big chances last term – with the pair’s potential link up at Elland Road sure to bring with it a gluttony of goals and assists.

Further still, with Sadio Mane dubbing the £71k-per-week Watford winger “rapid” – as well as stating his belief that “defenders will struggle” against the 23-year-old – while Joe Donnohue labelled Sinisterra both “explosive” and “quick,” it would very much appear as if the two attackers would be a pair of speed demons on the flanks – yet another string to their incredibly dangerous bow.

As such, should Orta manage to get a deal over the line for Sarr in the coming days, it would seem as if the Spaniard will have formed an exceptionally deadly attacking duo between the Watford sensation and Sinisterra – a thought that is sure to delight everyone involved with the Whites.

A big Aston Villa claim has emerged regarding Carney Chukwuemeka and his future at the club as the summer transfer window rumbles on.

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett has revealed that the midfielder is not willing to discuss putting pen to paper on fresh terms with the Midlands club.

The 18-year-old’s current deal is due to expire next summer and Villa risk losing him for nothing if they do not act before January, when he can sign a pre-contract with foreign clubs.

Dorsett tweeted: “Carney Chukwuemeka not interested in talking contracts with #avfc currently, as he decides future. Still part of Gerrard’s plans, but 18yr old wants more guaranteed 1st team football. Dortmund interest has waned, which Carney was keen on. Plenty of others still keen.”

Steven Gerrard will be gutted

This claim from the reporter will surely leave the Villa head coach gutted, as losing Chukwuemeka would be a major blow for the club.

His contract expiring next summer is a huge concern, as it means that the current transfer window may be their last chance to rake in a significant transfer fee for his services. In January, he will be able to pen a pre-contract with teams outside of England, and he will be free to sign for any club after his contract expires at the end of June next year.

This leaves Villa in a difficult situation in the present, as they must decide whether they want to cash in on him now and use the money to reinvest in the squad, or keep him and run the risk of losing him for a tribunal fee if they are unable to convince him to stay.

Whilst losing him would not make a significant impact on the team in the immediate future, as he has only made two Premier League starts, it could be a major blow for the future.

At the age of 18, he has the scope to become a great player, as he has been able to break into the Villa first team at such a young age. He has made 14 top-flight appearances in total and recently caught the eye for England at the European Under-19 Championships, scoring three goals in four games as they won the tournament.

Therefore, Gerrard will be gutted by the prospect of him leaving in the current transfer window or next summer, as he might not be able to help the gem to fulfill his potential.

AND in other news, Aston Villa handed big advantage in race to sign “relentless” £50m ace, Lange must act…