Not even the most optimistic of Sheffield United supporters w0uld have believed at the start of the season that their side would be within touching distance of automatic promotion with just eight games to play.
Yet, after their dramatic victory at Elland Road on Saturday against Leeds United, the Blades have put themselves in a fabulous position in the Championship table.
Currently second and one point ahead of the Whites, Chris Wilder’s side are now in control of their fate and know that a continuation of their recent form will all but guarantee Premier League football next season.
However, in order to achieve this goal, the former Oxford United boss will have to sacrifice the experiment of playing central defender Chris Basham in the heart of midfield.
Although the 30-year-old was responsible for the winner at the weekend, his inclusion in an unfamiliar role affected the usual attacking prowess which has propelled United into the promotion hunt this season.
With the Blades facing Bristol City, Birmingham City and Preston North End over the course of the next month, Wilder will know that he needs more creativity in his midfield to ensure that the club’s momentum continues and therefore either Kieran Dowell or Mark Duffy should return to the starting eleven in place of Basham.
Also, it is extremely unlikely that United will surrender as much of the ball in any of their remaining fixtures compared to their approach against Leeds and so there will be more of an emphasis of controlling the tempo rather than setting up to counter-attack.
A return to defence for Basham could suit United as he fits the unique mold of a centre-back who can provide an attacking threat However, with both Martin Cranie and Jack O’Connell producing brilliant displays at the weekend, it may prove to be difficult for him to force himself back into his favoured position.
What do you think Blades fans? Is Basham good enough to keep his position in central midfield? Or should he return to his usual role in defence to accommodate Duffy or Dowell? Let us know below.
Leeds United are currently on the verge of securing a return to the Premier League after a fifteen year absence. The Whites are in the automatic promotion places with just nine Championship fixtures still to go.
They could give their hopes a huge boost on Saturday when they take on fellow promotion-hopefuls Sheffield United at Elland Road.
It’s a potentially season-defining encounter for both clubs and the pressure is very much on. Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is remaining calm in the build up to the game though and has given his views on how well equipped his side are to handle the occasion.
What he said
As quoted by the club on Twitter, Bielsa has asserted his opinion that Saturday’s match is not the be-all and end-all, saying: “No win is more important than any other at this stage.”
It is undeniable, however, that his team will be aware of the significance this match holds in the eyes of the fans.
Centre-back Pontus Jansson has already referred to the upcoming fixture with the Blades as “the biggest game of our lives”. It is vital that the Argentine coach doesn’t let the occasions overwhelm his squad.
He is confident that his team can rise to the challenge though, saying: “For me the emotion you get from big games is important, and our players have enough experience to manage this kind of situation.”
Are fans being priced out of the Championship as well as the Premier League? The angry Bolton fan in the video below certainly believes so…
Will they crumble?
Bielsa has only said what you’d expect a manager to say ahead of a big game. However, Leeds’ ability to cope with such pressure can legitimately be called into question.
Earlier in the campaign, when they faced a similarly pressurised match against title-chasing Norwich City, they crumbled. Leeds slumped to a 3-1 defeat against the Canaries at Elland Road which allowed Daniel Farke’s side to gain on them in the table. Norwich now hold top spot ahead of then-leaders Leeds.
There are certainly grounds for concern there, as pointed out by some fans in response to Jansson’s aforementioned tweet.
Leeds fans, are you feeling calm and confident like Bielsa ahead of Saturday’s clash? Have you got any fingernails left? Drop us your verdicts in the comments below…
West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has been speaking about midfielder Manuel Lanzini ahead of his side’s clash against Manchester City on Wednesday night, and the signs are that the Argentine star won’t be making his first start for the club since May.
What did he say?
After a long injury absence, the 26-year-old finally made his long-awaited return to action as a substitute in the 3-1 win against Fulham at the London Stadium on Friday, and no doubt Irons fans will be hoping to see their man back in the XI as soon as possible now.
Speaking prior to the perhaps daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium, Pellegrini looks to have dampened those hopes by telling whufc.com: “We must be careful with [Manu].
“He did very well in his 15 minutes and the important thing was that he was not afraid and remembering his knee, so we will see what the best way is to get minutes in every game. You must be careful when you give more minutes.”
Will he definitely not start?
While West Ham will want to finish in seventh position and as the best of the rest this season, taking a risk on a player of the calibre of Lanzini away against City would be a huge risk given he has only just returned, and his manager seems to acknowledge that.
Yes, Pep Guardiola’s men may have played 120 minutes in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and could be a little leggy just a few days later, but Pellegrini can’t risk potentially aggravating the injury given the South American ace isn’t 100% match fit.
Irons supporters will need to be more patient in their bid to see the London Stadium hero back in the side, and they now have the squad depth for that to be an acceptable thing.
Arsenal made just one signing on deadline day – bringing in Denis Suarez on loan from Barcelona.
The cash-strapped Gunners were forced to look for temporary deals given the lack of funds at Unai Emery’s disposal. Having managed to secure Suarez’s services, Arsenal also targeted Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco and Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic; Arsenal also attempted to sign Christopher Nkunku from Paris St Germain. However, the London club were unable to get the deals across the line in time.
Instead, their attention will now turn to the summer window where a larger budget should be available for new recruits. Finishing the season in a Champions League place would make their summer recruitment drive a lot easier. Given their recent injury problems, adding defensive reinforcements should be a priority for Emery.
One man he could target is Borussia Monchengladbach starlet – Nico Elvedi. Valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, the Switzerland international has blossomed into a key player for the Bundesliga side since joining from FC Zurich back in 2015. Elvedi has made 17 appearances in all competitions this season and has been one of the club’s most impressive performers.
The 22-year-old primarily operates as a centre-back but his versatility means he is also comfortable at both right and left back making him the ideal summer recruit. Elvedi is excellent on the ball and displays a wonderful range of passing, completing 92% of his passes in the Bundesliga this season. The youngster is also a dominant force in the air, winning 2.4 aerial duels per game this season, meaning he will have no issues adapting to the physicality of the Premier League (WhoScored).
Still developing and improving, this would be an astute piece of business from the Gunners.
Journalist Manu Lonjon says that Southampton are interested in signing Club Brugge man Emmanuel Dennis.
The Eurosport reporter says that a number of clubs are interested in the forward, including Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen.
He adds that the striker should leave the club in the summer, and the above sides have been in contact to enquire about the conditions for a potential transfer, as have Southampton. However, he indicated that Dortmund were at the front of the queue and said that they had even started discussions with the Belgian club.
Dennis has caught the eye this term thanks to his brace against Real Madrid in the Champions League for his current club. However, he has managed just nine goals in 35 games in all competitions despite being a centre-forward – not exactly prolific.
In fact, his best tally so far during his career came in the 2017/18 campaign, when he managed 12 strikes in 38 games. That is not miles better than Shane Long. The former Republic of Ireland forward has managed three goals this campaign in all competitions, but his five last year was just two behind Dennis, and the 10 he mustered up during the 2015/16 Premier League term is more than Nigeria international has ever managed.
Considering that he is being courted by so many top clubs and has a Transfermarkt value of £12.15m, he would likely not come too cheap. What would be the point of signing a player who does not have too much more to offer than what they already have? Matt Crocker can do better than this, surely.
Should Saints sign Dennis? Let us know in the comments!
Wolves return to Premier League action this afternoon as they look to get back on track following several weeks of disappointment.
The west Midlanders crashed out of the FA Cup in midweek after Juan Mata’s second-half strike was enough to secure a victory for Manchester United.
It means Nuno Santo’s side are now on a run of five straight games without a win in all competitions, stretching back to their Christmas triumph over the blue side of Manchester.
Here’s how we predict Wolves will line up today…
Nuno could make two changes as he looks for an improvement to their fortunes, although, his hands are somewhat tied with injuries to players and a lack of options to step up to the plate.
He named a full-strength side on Wednesday evening and the majority of those players will remain.
One change is between the sticks as first-choice goalkeeper Rui Patricio takes the gloves from John Ruddy while a defensive reshuffle may be in order.
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Ruben Vinagre came on as a substitute and picked up a hamstring injury, which has resulted in Ryan Giles being recalled from Shrewsbury Town, he’s expected to be named on the bench.
Both Romain Saiss and Conor Coady keep their places in the back three while central midfielder Leander Dendoncker is dropped from his centre-back role with Max Kilman coming in to deputise.
The two wing-backs, Jonny and Matt Doherty remain as there are no suitable alternatives to replace them, and likewise in midfield, Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho keep their places.
Call yourself a Wolves expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?
In attack, Wolves’ only senior striker in Raul Jimenez continues to lead the line alongside Pedro Neto and Adama Traore.
The Portuguese winger will be hoping to continue his rich vein of form, he should have three goals in his last four matches but two have been ruled out through VAR intervention.
And in other news, this 2009 promotion hero has been urging the club to sign rival 16-goal frontman this month…
West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice shone in his side’s 2-1 win against Southampton at St Mary’s on Thursday night, and his performance didn’t go unnoticed by Liverpool fans on Twitter.
The 19-year-old Republic of Ireland international spent the majority of his time playing as a centre-back under David Moyes at the London Stadium last season, but Manuel Pellegrini has used him effectively as a defensive midfielder in recent months.
The teenager, who extended his stay with the east London outfit on Friday, is strong and clearly has a reading of the game well beyond his years, and he snuffed out plenty of Saints danger on the south coast.
While Liverpool look to have plenty of depth in central midfield right now, James Milner is getting no younger and Jurgen Klopp could soon look to replace Jordan Henderson, and the Anfield faithful are clearly impressed with what they saw from Rice in his latest showing.
Reds supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the Irons star, and while one said “can see him in a LFC shirt”, another said “I’d be signing him in the summer to replace Milner”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
Has Alisson been Liverpool’s most important signing of the season? Check out the video below to find out why Jurgen Klopp thinks so…
Liverpool had the ideal start to the season as they won seven games in a row in all competitions.
For the first time in years, Jurgen Klopp’s side have looked capable of launching a serious title challenge.
At the moment, the Reds sit at the top of the Premier League table with a two-point lead and have the upper hand in their Champions League group, but they suffered their first defeat on Wednesday night.
Klopp fielded a new-look starting XI to take on Chelsea in the third round of the EFL Cup, but they were unable to keep the Blues at bay.
For the majority of the game at Anfield, Liverpool were in control and they were rewarded with the lead when Daniel Sturridge struck just before the hour mark.
Emerson managed to find an equaliser for Chelsea, and Eden Hazard ended up being the hero for the visitors as he scored the winner in the 86th minute.
Liverpool will have to recover quickly as they take on the West London outfit at Stamford Bridge this Saturday in what is arguably a more important fixture.
Despite the midweek loss, there is plenty of optimism among some Liverpool fans.
Comment from discussion Klopp – “I’m disappointed, but not bitter. We learned something more about Chelsea, for the weekend’s match.” (post-Chelsea interview).Comment from discussion Klopp – “I’m disappointed, but not bitter. We learned something more about Chelsea, for the weekend’s match.” (post-Chelsea interview).Comment from discussion Klopp – “I’m disappointed, but not bitter. We learned something more about Chelsea, for the weekend’s match.” (post-Chelsea interview).Comment from discussion Klopp – “I’m disappointed, but not bitter. We learned something more about Chelsea, for the weekend’s match.” (post-Chelsea interview).Comment from discussion Klopp – “I’m disappointed, but not bitter. We learned something more about Chelsea, for the weekend’s match.” (post-Chelsea interview).Comment from discussion Klopp – “I’m disappointed, but not bitter. We learned something more about Chelsea, for the weekend’s match.” (post-Chelsea interview).Comment from discussion Klopp – “I’m disappointed, but not bitter. We learned something more about Chelsea, for the weekend’s match.” (post-Chelsea interview).Comment from discussion Klopp – “I’m disappointed, but not bitter. We learned something more about Chelsea, for the weekend’s match.” (post-Chelsea interview).
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Especially in a World Cup year, sometimes it takes one big-money move to truly spring the transfer window into life, causing a chain reaction throughout Europe.
And amid talk of movement between two Premier League clubs and a giant of the Bundesliga, that’s exactly what could happen in the coming weeks. Involving Crystal Palace and West Ham, Football FanCast take a look at how this transfer triangle could quickly unfold…
West Ham sign Andriy Yarmolenko
Yarmolenko reportedly arrived at West Ham’s training camp in Switzerland on Monday for a medical, so that deal looks like it’s become a mere formality. London Evening Standard reckon the transfer fee will be £17.5million which seems like a decent sum for a winger who didn’t exactly set the Bundesliga alight, scoring just thrice during his single season in the German top flight, but boasts a preceeding reputation from his potent spell prior with Dynamo Kiev. It also frees up another player in West Ham’s squad for a summer departure, which we’ll come onto shortly.
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Dortmund sign Wilfried Zaha
Rumour has it Dortmund are already eyeing Zaha as Yarmolenko’s direct replacement, and it certainly makes sense in terms of style of play. Like the Ukrainian international, the Crystal Palace talisman is a powerful and physical forward who can play anywhere across the frontline.
With Zaha recently turning down an improved contract at Selhurst Park, a summer switch to one of Europe’s most illustrious clubs would surely appeal to the Ivory Coast star. But the only potential hitches are Palace’s valuation – a lofty £70million – and interest from rival clubs. Everton and Tottenham have both been linked, and the latter club are long-term admirers.
Crystal Palace sign Michail Antonio
Palace were strongly linked with Antonio earlier in the summer and the Yarmolenko-Zaha merry-go-round would naturally facilitate that move. Antonio isn’t quite at the same level as the Ukrainian or the Palace sensation but he’s a solid Premier League player who would seem to suit Roy Hodgson’s game-plan.
Like Zaha, he can carry the ball up the pitch on the counter-attack and he can score goals; in fact, he’s scored just two less Premier League strikes than the Eagles man in 53 less Premier League appearances.
Rated at just £13.5million by Transfermarkt, signing Antonio as Zaha’s replacement will leave plenty of funds for the south Londoners to strengthen elsewhere – but there’s no doubt he’s the lesser of the three players involved in this transfer triangle.
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According to reports in the Daily Mirror last week, Southampton are among a host of Premier League clubs eyeing a move for £7m-rated Norwich City and England U21 winger Jacob Murphy.
After enjoying a fine breakthrough season with the Canaries last term and then making an impact with his country at the European U21 Championships despite their semi-final exit, the 22-year-old is said to be attracting interest from the south coast outfit, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City according to the Daily Mirror.
New Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino is likely to want to add to his attacking options this summer with his new employers scoring just 17 goals in 19 Premier League home matches during the previous campaign.
Only last summer did they do business with Norwich when they brought Nathan Redmond to St Mary’s, and they may be ready to return with an offer for another City wide-man in the coming weeks.
Here are three reasons Southampton must win the race to sign Murphy…
His performances
Football Soccer Britain – Norwich City v Wigan Athletic – Sky Bet Championship – Carrow Road – 13/9/16Jacob Murphy celebrates scoring the second goal for Norwich CityMandatory Credit: Action Images / Peter CziborraLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your acc
Following a number of loan spells away, Murphy was finally given his chance to shine for Norwich last season and he grasped the opportunity with both hands.
The winger scored eight goals and provided a further eight assists in 37 Championship appearances to become one of the Canaries’ key men throughout the campaign.
That form will have impressed his suitors, and the fact that he made such an impact as substitute for the England U21 side this summer – assisting the equaliser against Slovakia and scoring the third against Poland – will have only reinforced that and shown that he can even make a difference from the bench.
The success of Redmond
Britain Soccer Football – Watford v Southampton – Premier League – Vicarage Road – 4/3/17 Southampton’s Nathan Redmond celebrates scoring their second goal with Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact
As we mentioned previously, Southampton signed Nathan Redmond from Norwich last summer in a deal worth around £10m, and he impressed during his first season at St Mary’s.
Having scored seven goals and provided one assist in 37 appearances there is certainly more to come from the 23-year-old, and Saints may feel that Murphy is ready to make a similar impact if he makes a £7m move to the south coast this summer.
While Redmond was a real threat on the left-hand side towards the end of last season, there was little pace on the opposite flank with James Ward-Prowse and that is something Murphy could certainly provide, as a starter or from the substitutes’ bench.
Fee/Potential
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One of Southampton’s philosophies in the transfer market is to sign players with potential and then develop them and boost their value if they are to be sold on at a later date – see Sadio Mane – and they will certainly feel that they could do this with Murphy.
The reported £7m fee could prove to be a bargain for a player that has made a huge impression in the Championship and for his age group at international level, and Saints would certainly give him the platform to improve in the Premier League as they have done with other young players like Redmond, Ward-Prowse and Jack Stephens.