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It would be hard to describe this season as anything other than a car crash for Chelsea, as back-to-back hammerings from Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League have all but ended the Blues' chance of European qualification.

There is still the League Cup final to come, but with the Anfield outfit as their opponent, it is hard to see how they'll be lifting that come full-time.

While there are plenty of problems at the club, one of the biggest is their frontline's inability to finish their chances.

Nicolas Jackson has become infamous for his myriad of misses this season, and what makes it worse is the club's failure to sign a replacement they were heavily linked with last month, a man who would've given them a chance at Wembley and formed a brilliant partnership with Cole Palmer.

Close but no Cigar

Now, clubs like Chelsea are often linked with a multitude of players every transfer window, and while a significant portion of these stories are nothing more than rumours, the links to Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres last month seemed genuine.

Things looked even more real when it was revealed that the Blues had made a £73m bid for the Swedish international halfway through the window.

However, with a release clause worth closer to £86m, the Portuguese giants were unwilling to accept the offer, so Todd Boehly and Co appeared to call it quits.

While this decision to walk away might have been wise from a financial point of view, considering the reluctance to spend from English clubs, it also seriously handicapped what the club could achieve on the pitch for the rest of the season.

Gyokeres could have turned Chelsea's season around

Now, unfortunately for Chelsea, their season has gone so poorly this year that in this case, 'turning it around' would likely just mean qualification for the Conference League and potentially winning the League Cup at the expense of Liverpool; while you may think that's unlikely, Gyokeres' goal record speaks for itself.

In 25 appearances for Sporting across all competitions this season, the former Coventry City ace has scored a remarkable 21 goals and provided nine assists, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 0.83 matches.

What makes it more impressive is that he is not being flooded with chances either, as his 15 league goals have come from an expected goals figure of 10.9, and his 12 non-penalty expected goals come from a non-penalty expected goals figure of 8.5.

In short, the dynamic "powerhouse", as described by data analyst Ben Mattinson, has been consistently overperforming his expected goals figure this season. In contrast, Jackson has seven league goals from a figure of 10.8, which would explain why he has picked up a reputation for being profligate.

Had the Blues just pushed the boat out that little bit more last month and signed the "unplayable" 25-year-old, as former teammate Maxim Biamou described him, then the talismanic Palmer would have had a genuine poacher to work with at the top of the pitch.

The former Manchester City gem has been one of the few bright spots in the Pensioners' bleak season, but his creative numbers have been impacted by his teammate's inability to finish the chances he creates.

Cole Palmer's Creative numbers
Expected Assists	5.4
Assists	4
Progressive Passes per 90	7.20
Progressive Carries per 90	3.31
Shot-Creating Actions per 90	4.51
Successful Take-Ons per 90	1/66
All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

For example, he only has four assists in 20 league appearances this season, but an expected assists figure of 5.4 demonstrates that he could be even more involved in Chelsea's play with a clinical frontman.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Feb 5, 2024

Ultimately, this could be a transfer miss that really comes back to bite the Blues and potentially even cost Pochettino his job. After all, goals win games, and Gyokeres brings goals.

West Indies’ T20I captain Carlos Brathwaite will lead St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the upcoming Caribbean Premier League, taking over from Chris Gayle, who will turn out for Jamaica Tallawahs this season.The allrounder has been part of the franchise for four successive seasons, since the introduction of the team in the CPL, and has been among the side’s leading run-getters since then. He said his focus this year would be to ensure Patriots end up in the top four for the third consecutive year: in 2017, they finished runners-up, losing to Trinbago Knight Riders in the final, and in 2018, the side finished third.”I think we had a good last couple of years where we challenged really well on the field, we went to the final and then we made it to the playoffs as well,” Brathwaite said. “So, this year is about trying to continue that same thought process, that same set of game plan and try to be as attacking as we could potentially be. Obviously, we had Chris [Gayle] and Evin [Lewis] at the top,”Chris is now gone so we need to find a replacement for Chris, probably not in the same style that he would play, but with the results that he would normally bring to the team. Obviously, that’s another big character gone in the dressing room as well, so we have to manoeuvre slightly differently, but we need the same results where we challenge for the top four and then once we get to the top four, we challenge for the title.”Brathwaite credited Gayle for his calm presence as captain over the last two seasons, apart from his run tally of 659 runs in 23 matches in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.”I think people look for the shouting and the ‘hurrah’ and Chris is not necessarily that. He’s more calm, collective, cool. He leads by example. He has the respect of everyone in the dressing room, so whenever he speaks you know his words are worth the weight in gold. I think a lot of people take his coolness and his calm persona for granted but there’s very much a whole heap of respect in all the dressing rooms I’ve been fortunate enough to play alongside him in, everyone in the dressing room gives him maximum respect”The Patriots squad for this season includes four players from West Indies’ World Cup squad – Brathwaite, opener Evin Lewis, left-arm spinner Fabien Allen and fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell – while the international contingent includes Sri Lanka quick Isuru Udana and Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez. The latter replaced South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen, who withdrew from the tournament due to international commitments. Patriots will play the opening match of CPL 2019, against Trinbago Knight Riders in Port of Spain on September 4.

Nottingham Forest's most recent game was a 2-1 home defeat to Arsenal, which kept them 16th in the Premier League.

However, their next match should see Nuno Espirito Santo field a new-look side, with the club's transfer activity never-ending.

That said, the boss only has one position on his mind, as he is desperate to sign a goalkeeper on Deadline Day.

A goalkeeper transfer is the priority

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Strasbourg have accepted that Matz Sels will be leaving the club, amid interest from the City Ground outfit.

It is believed that the 31-year-old is currently on his way to England to undergo his medical.

This morning, it was rumoured that a fee of just over £5m was offered to the Ligue 1 side.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 Sels could be the perfect Aaron Ramsdale alternative

Aaron Ramsdale has been displaced as Arsenal's number one by summer signing David Raya. The 25-year-old has played just five Premier League games this season, with all but one of those being before the Spaniard's debut.

The confidence of the former Bournemouth keeper has clearly taken a hit, and with his lack of involvement in the Gunners starting XI, Forest previously asked about the potential signing of Ramsdale. Unfortunately, the Tricky Trees failed in their attempt, but they could have discovered the perfect alternative, who's classed as a similar player to the England international by FBref's similar player model.

The £18k-per-week ace has been a mainstay in Ligue 1 over the last six years, starring for Strasbourg. The Belgian has been the first-choice keeper since his arrival, and he's played every game over the last two seasons, including this campaign, where he's kept three clean sheets in 19 games.

Nonetheless, the table below shows statistics from the last year across Europe's top leagues, which highlights the similarities between Sels and Ramsdale.

Save %

62.9%

60%

Touches

34.9

31.6

Passes received

18.2

16.8

Pass completion %

73%

74.8%

Errors leading to goals

0

0

Firstly, from a pure goalkeeping perspective, Sels and Ramsdale have very similar shot-stopping statistics, with the duo both averaging a save percentage of around 60%, with the former Gent player performing marginally better in that metric. It's vital for Forest to have a good shot-stopper in goal due to the number of attempts they face each game.

From an in-possession standpoint, Sels is also similar to the Arsenal man. The 6 foot 2 keeper averages slightly more touches and passes received than Ramsdale, which proves that his defenders trust him on the ball. They also have a very similar pass completion percentage, which proves they aren't wasteful, unlike current Forest number one Matt Turner, who has made three errors leading to goals this season.

Overall, Forest signing one of the closest profiles to Ramsdale is a smart move, and Sels' experience could prove to be priceless during their relegation scrap.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are on a wonderful run of form that has seen them secure three Premier League wins in a row following their defeat to West Ham United prior to Christmas, along with progression to the next round of the FA Cup.

Gary O’Neil has got his side playing well and getting results, but it is clear he will need to add another forward or two to his squad over the next couple of weeks.

Fabio Silva and Sasa Kalajdzic have been loaned out, while Hwang Hee-Chan is at the Asian Cup with South Korea and their forward options are looking sparse, to say the least.

There have been a fair number of players linked with a move to the Old Gold, yet the latest name rumoured to be on their radar is a player who is currently thriving in the Championship…

Wolves’ search for a new striker

According to Football Insider, Wolves are among a handful of teams showing Bristol City striker Tommy Conway with regard to making a potential swoop for the youngster.

The likes of Glasgow Rangers and Celtic are keen on taking him north of the border, while fellow Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest and Brentford are monitoring the player who has starred for the second-tier outfit recently.

The player still has 18 months left on his current contract, yet this could be the final chance for City to really rake in a big transfer fee for the centre-forward.

O’Neil needs someone who could arrive in the Midlands and contribute goals straight away and Conway might just be the ideal candidate for the job.

Related Latest Wolves transfer news: £60m Neto claim, exciting replacement eyed

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Posts ByBrogan Clasper Feb 11, 2024

Not only that, but he could even be an upgrade on Kalajdzic, who struggled this term following his recovery from a serious knee injury.

Sasa Kalajdzic’s progress at Wolves

The Austrian titan was looked upon as a solid piece of transfer business by former manager Bruno Lage when he joined for a fee of £15.4m from German club Stuttgart in the summer of 2022.

The striker netted 22 Bundesliga goals in just 52 matches for the club, and it looked as though £15m was going to prove a bargain should he replicate these figures in England.

Missing the entirety of his debut season was not in the script, however, after he suffered a serious knee injury on his first start for the club.

The 26-year-old managed to recover and went on to make 13 appearances for the Old Gold before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt on loan, scoring three times, yet he only managed to start three games during the first half of the season, and it was clear O’Neil did not place his full trust in the striker.

Hopefully, he can recapture the magic which saw him become such a big hit at Stuttgart, and he returns to the Midlands in the summer ready to challenge for a berth in the starting XI.

Conway, however, could be a big upgrade on the Austrian, while five years younger, meaning the manager could have plenty of time to develop the raw frontman.

Tommy Conway could be an upgrade to Sasa Kalajdzic

The England-born Scotland U21 international not only has more goals than Kalajdzic this season (eight vs three) but he has also taken more shots per game (1.6 vs 0.4) and a higher expected goals stat (5.34 vs 1.07) as the youngster has clearly proven his clinical nature in the penalty box.

According to WhoScored, both Conway and Kalajdizc are excellent in the air, excelling at headed attempts and finishing, which indicates that the City striker could be a similar sort of player to the former Stuttgart forward should he join the club this month.

His prowess in the opposition penalty area has been wonderful recently, and he has even been hailed as the next Jamie Vardy by his former manager Nigel Pearson following his excellent start to life in the Championship.

A move to Molineux could see him improve further, especially as he would be playing with far better players and O’Neil could certainly bring out the best in the 21-year-old who is surely destined for the top sooner rather than later.

What Tommy Conway can add to this Wolves team

The main answer is goals, and plenty of them if he is given enough chances in the penalty area.

The young sensation enjoyed a breakthrough season during 2022/23, scoring 12 goals and grabbing four assists across 38 matches, proving that he could be a standout in the City team.

Conway was even lauded as being on “absolute flames” by the Sky Sports commentary team during the early stages of his breakthrough season, and he has since carried this form into 2023/24.

Tommy Conway's Championship statistics

2022/23

2023/24

Goals

9

6

Assists

3

0

Shots on target per game

0.6

0.8

Scoring frequency (minutes)

213

204

Successful dribbles per game

0.3

0.2

Via Sofascore

He did miss nine matches due to a hamstring injury earlier this season, but Conway has still contributed with eight goals, enjoying his biggest success in the FA Cup against West Ham United recently.

He scored against the Premier League side in the first tie, which ended in a 1-1 draw, before netting the winner in the replay at Ashton Gate earlier this week and his performance was hailed as “clinical” by Statman Dave.

Conway even has three international caps for Scotland at U21 level – qualifying through his grandfather – and has managed to open his account already, netting against Norway in a game where he was even made captain, and his future looks bright, to say the least.

Wolves could bring him to the Premier League this month and give him an ideal platform to continue developing, and it could be a shrewd move for all parties.

City will secure a decent fee for a player they have helped nurture, while the Old Gold will land one of the brightest attacking talents in the second tier and potentially go on to rake in a profit on him in the coming years.

O’Neil may have to move a player or two on this month in order to fund a move for Conway, but in the long term, it could prove to be a smart investment by the club.

Jimmy Neesham, Tom Blundell and Will Young have been offered New Zealand central contracts as part of the 20-player group for 2019-2020.They replace Adam Milne, Corey Anderson and George Worker from the contracted names in the 2018-2019 list.Allrounder Neesham and wicketkeeper-batsman Blundell have been included in New Zealand’s World Cup squad. Young, the 26-year-old batsman, was set to make his Test debut against Bangladesh in March before the final Test was cancelled following the Christchurch terror attack.Tim Seifert, who narrowly lost out on a World Cup spot when Blundell was preferred, missed out on a contract.For Young and Blundell this is their first central contract while Neesham returns to the list having missed out last year following a struggle for form. He revealed last month that he came close to quitting the sport before being talked around and he made a successful return to the New Zealand one-day side last season.”Jimmy had a very good season and made excellent progress with Wellington, New Zealand A and the Blackcaps. He’s made every post a winning one,” selector Gavin Larsen said. “Will receives an offer on the basis of the sheer weight of runs he scored last season, both for New Zealand A and the Central Stags.”Tom has acted as a back-up for BJ Watling on the tour of UAE, has recently played for New Zealand A and is in the World Cup squad as the wicket-keeping understudy for Tom Latham. We see this offer as a strong vote of confidence in his future.”Of those cut form the list, Milne and Anderson have continued to struggle with injuries which ruled them out of contention for the World Cup squad. Milne briefly returned to the New Zealand side in the T20Is against Pakistan in the UAE last year, but has managed just four matches since and pulled out of the IPL.Last year Anderson, who also played the T20Is against Pakistan, said he would be focusing purely on white-ball cricket to try and make the World Cup but couldn’t do enough to force his way back into the New Zealand one-day side and has recently undergone shoulder surgery.Players have until May 9 to accept to decline the contract offer.Players offered central contracts for 2019-20 Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, James Neesham, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

Premier League clubs are pushing for the 3pm blackout rule to be scrapped with an eye on the 2027 TV rights negotiations.

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• Premier League clubs want blackout scrapped
• Looking to make changes for TV revenue increase
• No broadcasts on Saturday between 14:25 and 17:25

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Daily Mail have reported that there is once again a growing wave of Premier League clubs that are pushing for the Saturday, 3pm blackout to be scrapped going forward in a bid to improve their financial gains from broadcasting rights, with TV negotiations set for 2027. The push is also coming after the EFL announced that all of their opening matchday games for next season would be broadcast including the Saturday, 3pm fixtures.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It is said that clubs with a majority American ownership are pushing for this change in an attempt to attract more revenue. They are reportedly interested in broadcasting 3pm kickoffs as mid-morning games would be highly appealing to US viewers during a period when there aren't any live sports occurring in the country.

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  The football blackout is the policy that prohibits live television broadcasts of Premier League, Football League, or FA Cup matches on Saturdays between 2:45 and 5:15 p.m. While games can take place on that day and at that hour, they cannot be aired. On Saturdays, kickoffs for televised matches typically take place at 12:30pm or 5:30p.m.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR THE BLACKOUT?

  The blackout is the responsibility of the Football Association (FA) and if it is to be scrapped, the FA will have to apply for the rule change to UEFA before the revision can be brought into effect.

Liverpool dropped off the top spot in the Premier League on Sunday as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Manchester United at Anfield.

The Reds were the dominant force in the match as they had 68% and ended the clash with 34 shots, which came to 2.38 xG, to their opponent's six.

They are now one point behind Arsenal, who sit at the top of the table, ahead of their clash with Mikel Arteta's side at Anfield next weekend.

Jurgen Klopp's side are in the title race, having failed to finish in the top four last season, but their chances of coming out on top may depend on the reliability of their attack in the business end of the campaign.

Darwin Nunez, in particular, has been erratic since his move to Liverpool last year and is not a player, at this moment in time, who can be trusted to turn up when it matters during the run-in.

Klopp could, however, unleash Mohamed Salah in a new role through the middle ahead of the Uruguay international by swooping to sign reported transfer target Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich.

Liverpool transfer news – Leroy Sane

Journalist Christian Falk claimed that the Reds have a 'concrete' interest in the Germany international as they eye up a move to bolster their forward line.

His current deal with the Bundesliga giants is due to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign and they are said to be keen to sit down with him to discuss an extension.

Last month, the former Manchester City star told reporters that he has not given a new deal any thought and confirmed that the club do want to have talks with him. However, the left-footed whiz wants to focus on the current season before making a decision on his future.

This could open the door for Liverpool to swoop in, whether that is in January or next summer, as Bayern may not want to run the risk of letting him run down his contract to leave on a free transfer in 2025.

If Klopp is able to secure a move for the exciting forward then that could allow Salah to move from the right wing and into a central position, as Sane could operate down the right flank, and this would leave Nunez on the bench.

Nunez's Premier League goal record

The former Benfica ace has not been reliable in front of goal for the Reds since his move from Portugal ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He made 29 Premier League appearances for the club last term and contributed with nine goals and three assists. In that time, the attacker missed a staggering 20 'big chances'.

Liverpool's "unplayable" academy star could soon usurp Gakpo and Nunez

Jurgen Klopp could soon unearth Liverpool’s next big thing…

ByRosie Tudball Nov 22, 2023

The 24-year-old whiz has followed that up with four goals and five assists in 16 top-flight outings this term. His finishing has left a lot to be desired, once again, as Nunez has spurned 15 'big chances' for Liverpool.

This means that he has scored 13 goals and missed an incredible 35 'big chances' in the final third for Klopp since the start of last season in the Premier League.

Mo Salah's goal record as a striker

Liverpool could, therefore, benefit from utilising another player as their focal point at the top end of the pitch and Salah could be unleashed in a new permanent role.

The Egypt international does have experience of playing as a number nine during his time on Merseyside, with a return of 28 goals and seven assists in 34 matches – a goal or an assist every 0.97 outings on average.

Whereas, the 31-year-old dynamo has produced 172 goals and 79 assists in 290 games as a right winger for the club – a return of a direct goal involvement every 1.16 clashes on average.

There is no doubt that Salah, who has scored 11 goals and missed seven 'big chances' in 17 top-flight matches this term, is a phenomenal right-sided attacker as he has proven himself over the course of almost 300 outings in that position.

However, his record from his relatively, in comparison to his appearances on the wing, short time as a striker for Liverpool suggests that his output could increase in this new permanent role.

He has outperformed his xG at league level by 9.57 throughout his career. Whereas, Nunez has underperformed his xG by a staggering 10.47 goals in two seasons at the club so far.

This shows that Salah is considerably more clinical than the former Benfica man and that is why he could thrive as a centre-forward and be an upgrade on the Uruguay international.

The statistics that show why Liverpool should sign Sane

Liverpool's left-footed superstar could be unleashed in that new role if Klopp is able to sign Sane, as the German whiz is a terrific right winger who can be an outstanding signing for the club.

In the Bundesliga this season, the 27-year-old star ranks within the top 2% of his positional peers for shot-creating actions (6.76), xAG (0.56), assists (0.59), and non-penalty goals (0.59) per 90.

He has produced eight goals, eight assists, and 11 'big chances' created in 14 top-flight appearances for Bayern during the 2023/24 campaign.

The £330k-per-week dynamo has also made 3.4 key passes per game for his side, which is 0.7 more per match than any Liverpool player has managed in the Premier League – Trent Alexander-Arnold leading the way with 2.7.

Sane, who manager Thomas Tuchel once described as a physical "machine", has showcased his ability to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch, whilst playing predominantly on the right flank.

He is an outstanding attacking talent who could be the chief creator for Klopp, based on his aforementioned creative statistics this season in comparison to Liverpool's current options, whilst also being able to carry a significant goal threat.

The German speedster would also come in with Premier League experience as he racked up 25 goals and 32 assists in 90 league games for City prior to his move to Bavaria.

Therefore, the Reds boss could bring Sane in and deploy him out wide on the right flank to consistently contribute with goals and assists, and that would also free up Salah to move into a new permanent role through the middle to be a big upgrade on Nunez.

Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong broke down in tears after being stretchered off against Real Madrid – just months before Euro 2024 begins.

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• De Jong suffers ankle injury in El Clasico
• Barcelona star breaks down in tears
• Setback occurs months before Euro 2024

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Barca midfielder grimaced in pain following a challenge from Madrid's Federico Valverde just before half time. It soon became clear the 26-year-old could not continue, with the former Ajax man not hiding his devastation as he was taken off the field. Before Pedri replaced him, both sets of fans applauded the Netherlands international.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While De Jong will be missed by Barcelona in the short-term this season, the Dutchman may be worried about whether or not he will be fit to play for his country in this year's European Championships – which start in less than two months' time.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Since joining Barcelona in 2019 for an initial £64.5 million ($80m), De Jong has played 212 times for the Blaugrana – scoring 17 goals in the process. In his time with the Spanish giants he has won La Liga once, the Copa del Rey once, and the Supercopa de Espana once.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  While De Jong may be set for a spell on the sidelines, second-placed Barcelona face Valencia after this Clasico encounter on April 29, whereas top of the table Madrid travel to Real Sociedad next Friday.

A BBC pundit has described a potential exit rumour surrounding one West Brom hero as "crazy", with his Hawthorns future up in the air at the moment.

West Brom's January transfer plans

The Baggies may have lost 2-1 away to Southampton in their last Championship game, but they still find themselves in a good position to finish in the playoff places this season. Granted, they have just slipped out of those positions and into seventh place currently, but they are only behind Sunderland on goal difference, and look primed to continue their good run for the rest of the campaign.

When the January transfer window opens in the New Year, there will be a chance for West Brom to bring in some new faces, with Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles seen as a transfer target. On the flip side, Baggies midfielder Tom Fellows has been linked with a move away from the club in January, with his contract at the Hawthorns expiring next summer.

Tom Fellows West Brom exit claim

Speaking to Football League World, BBC pundit and former England international Carlton Palmer described talk of Fellows potentially leaving West Brom as "crazy".

"Tom Fellows, West Brom's talented young forward, is attracting attention from elsewhere. West Brom are working hard to get Tom to commit to a new long-term contract and are hopeful of doing so.

"Tom's contract expires in the summer – I can't understand why West Brom have put themselves in such a difficult position before the January transfer window, it's just crazy. Before he commits to a new long-term contract, I'm sure Tom will want assurances about much-needed game-time.

"West Bromwich Albion need to do everything in their power to get him to sign a new contract – failing that they need to sell him in the January transfer window, which would be a huge blow for the club given he has come through the youth ranks and the academy and the money that's been invested in him.

"I really can't believe that clubs are still at this moment in time are not securing the services of talented young players on long contracts, and then putting themselves in the position that WBA have currently done."

Palmer is spot on in his assessment that West Brom have played the situation surrounding Fellows' future badly, with the 20-year-old now in a position where he could look for a new challenge and even leave for free at the end of the season, if he doesn't sign a new deal.

Tom Fellows' West Brom Under-18s record	Total
Appearances	35
Goals	12
Assists	9

The Englishman has been hailed as "very quick" by Baggies manager Carlos Corberan, and still has so much to give the team, even if Fellows' statistics so far this season show that he has only made seven appearances in all competitions, all of which have been from the substitutes' bench.

While the youngster leaving in January wouldn't necessarily be the end of the world in the short-term for West Brom, they should be looking to keep hold of their best emerging talent, so losing him would have to be considered a blow, especially if it was to a rival.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted that he wouldn't swap one of Paris Saint-Germain's players for his own.

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Laporta backing Barca to beat PSGTwo sides meet in Champions League quarter-final Kylian Mbappe expected to start for ParisiansWHAT HAPPENED?

Barca's outspoken president gave an impassioned speech prior to his side's Champions League quarter-final with PSG, in which he insisted that his side – considered underdogs for the tie – could get a result in Paris. The Blaugrana, he claimed, have a better squad than the Parisians.

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Laporta's statement notably avoided mention of Kylian Mbappe. The winger is set to join Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid this summer, and looks to be the Parisians' most apparent threat when the two sides meet. He should also be fresh after playing just 24 minutes of PSG's 1-1 draw with Clermont Foot at the weekend.

WHAT JOAN LAPORTA SAID

In a statement for his club's Twitter channel, Laporta rallied his Barca side: "I am prepared, fully prepared. I see the players very motivated and this motivates me. The message for our fans is to believe in our players and our coach. We have a great team. We are very focused and it is very important that they know I wouldn't change any of our players for one from PSG."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

The Blaugrana face PSG this evening, and then have La Liga action to worry about this weekend. Xavi's side face Cadiz on Saturday, where they will look to keep their slim hopes of domestic success alive.