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Manchester City have hired renowned barrister, Blackstone Chambers’ Lord Pannick KC, to defend them against their Premier League charges.

The Lowdown: City charged…

The Sky Blues have recently been charged with over 100 counts of alleged English top flight breaches with the governing body publishing it’s accusations on Monday morning.

City supporters have since been informed of the possible punishments if found guilty, sentences which range from  points deductions and fines to expulsion.

Unlike their UEFA case in 2020, there are zero time-bars when it comes to alleged breaches and the champions cannot appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Nevertheless, City are reliably believed to be ‘confident’ in their position as their war with the Premier League begins.

The Latest: City make big behind-scenes ‘hire’…

According to The Lawyer, City have now turned to prestigious barrister Lord Pannick as they ‘hire’ the leading silk.

It is believed Pannick is ‘set to defend’ them in court after the Premier League’s charges – coming after he also leapt to their defence against UEFA during their 2020 appeal.

 The Verdict: Bold move…

The lawyer has amassed quite a reputation for his work in court – even advising former British prime minister Boris Johnson in relation to the Party-gate inquiry.

Lord Pannick is described as ‘one of the best barristers of his generation’, and that’s reflected in his potentially lucrative pay packets.

This report claims he could be paid up to £80,000-per-day for a case of this magnitude, which is around the same as star City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne earns at Eastlands.

Pannick’s presence representing City could not be a more ambitious move by the club going by his huge reputation and past clients.

Above all, this move signals City’s seriousness in fighting these charges and proving their possible innocence.

Newcastle United are interested in a deal to bring Youri Tielemans to St. James’ Park in the January transfer window.

What’s been said?

That’s according to Pete O’Rourke, with the journalist revealing in a recent interview with Football FanCast that, having been heavily linked with a move for the Leicester City central midfielder this month, Eddie Howe is indeed keen on a move for the Belgium international this winter – with the Foxes believed to value the 25-year-old around the £20m mark.

When asked whether he felt Newcastle could make a move for Tielemans in January, O’Rourke said: “Yeah. I think Eddie Howe is in the market for a central midfielder. James Madison was the top target, but he looks like he’s out of their range in this window. I’m sure Youri Tielemans, Maddison’s teammate, is on their radar.”

“Unreal”

Considering just how impressive Tielemans has been in a below-par Leicester side this season, should Howe manage to get a £20m deal over the line for the playmaker this winter, it would certainly represent an unreal signing for the Magpies.

Indeed, over his 20 Premier League appearances this term, the £45m-rated talent has been in fantastic form going forwards, having already scored three goals – outperforming his xG of 2.29 – provided one assist and created seven big chances, as well as taking an average of 1.2 shots, making 1.1 key passes and completing 0.6 dribbles – at a success rate of 73% – per game.

The £35k-per-week midfielder has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, playing an average of 2.6 long balls, 2.4 chipped passes and completing 46 total passes – at a success rate of 84% – per match, in addition to making an average of 2.1 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, regaining possession 0.6 times and winning 4.2 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per outing.

These returns have seen the 25-year-old who talkSPORT’s Jack Johnson dubbed “unreal” average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.17, not only ranking him as Brendan Rodgers’ second-best performer in the league but also as the joint 33rd-best player in the top flight of English football as a whole so far this season.

As such, considering Tielemans has achieved these metrics while playing for a side that currently occupy 14th place in the Premier League standings, the thought of the Belgian plying his trade alongside Newcastle’s Champions League-chasing squad will certainly be an extremely tantalising one for all involved with the club.

And, with the midfielder looking to be available for a fee roughly £25m less than his current market valuation, the argument that the playmaker would be something of a steal at £20m is an extremely easy one to make – leading us to believe that Howe simply must do everything in his power to get a deal over the line for Tielemans prior to January’s transfer deadline.

Newcastle United do not have any transfer deals which are anywhere close to completion currently on Tyneside – albeit just a matter of days into the window.

What’s the latest?

Eddie Howe’s men continued their quest for a spot in next season’s Champions League with a seriously impressive result in their first game of 2023 away to Arsenal on Tuesday night.

On the back of the point picked up in north London, journalist Craig Hope took to his YouTube channel where he addressed the result and a number of news topics.

One of them was Dan Ashworth’s early work in the January transfer window, in which Hope suggested there is nothing close to being done at St. James’ Park just yet:

“I think Eddie’s [Howe] just said in his post-match interview that nothing is imminent transfer-wise. And that’s certainly the message that we’re getting back at the moment.”

Steady Eddie

What Newcastle have shown this season has been nothing short of stunning with just one defeat – which came in dramatic fashion – to their name having now played 18 games in the Premier League.

Almost halfway through the 2022/23 campaign, Howe’s men are showing themselves to be serious contenders for a spot in the top four as they sit just nine points off the top of the table.

There is the notion this impressive start to the campaign has put forward a big opportunity for Newcastle to strengthen whilst they are ahead this month to bolster their hopes to finish inside the top four.

And we do think that is certainly something which should be considered by the Newcastle owners who have backed Howe more than sufficiently since his arrival in 2021.

However, from what we have seen so far this season, there are very few signs shown by Newcastle to suggest that they need to act fast in this January transfer window.

Yes, the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool are looking to improve, but the Toon have more than shown their ability to compete with the best the Premier League has to offer having already taken nine points away from the ‘big six’ this season.

Given the Magpies have suffered from a few injury setbacks and there is some concern surrounding FFP limiting their spending, we don’t think there is much of a need to do much more than bring in a couple of options to boost the squad depth.

Howe should be boosted by the return of his £63m signing Alexander Isak who will feel like a potential boost given he has only played three games since signing back in the summer.

If Newcastle can get the Swede back on the pitch at some point soon, then this could feel like a new signing in itself and provide some relief up top with Callum Wilson having his own issues of late seeing him benched against Leeds.

Newcastle United continued their impressive unbeaten run in the Premier League after holding league leaders Arsenal to a goalless draw on Tuesday evening, with the Magpies’ only loss this term having come away to Liverpool back in August.

The Magpies had more than held their own in what was a fiercely contested encounter in north London, with referee Andy Madley having notably dished out five yellow cards prior to the interval as a sign of the ferocious nature of the battle.

On a night in which the Tynesiders were at times forced to dig deep in order to repel their rampant hosts, a rare opening did fall the way of Brazilian powerhouse, Joelinton, only for the midfielder to inexplicably header wide just before the break.

As it proved, Eddie Howe’s men were ultimately left thankful for the goalkeeping heroics of Nick Pope to help keep the Gunners at bay, with the Englishman superbly denying Eddie Nketiah from the angle in the closing stages.

That commanding outing – in which the summer signing made four saves – saw the former Burnley stopper rack up his tenth league clean sheet of the campaign, while also recording a solid match rating of 7.9, as per Sofascore.

The only Newcastle figure to better that figure, however, was Kieran Trippier, with the 32-year-old recording an 8.4 match rating after yet again proving something of a hero for the northeast side from his right-back berth.

The “relentless” ace – as lauded by journalist Dom Smith – was typically dominant defensively as he won five of his seven total duels, having notably been “exceptional” in dealing with opposition winger, Gabriel Martinelli, according to the Telegraph’s Sam Dean.

The 53-touch maestro – who made four tackles in total on the night – also offered a real threat in an attacking sense as he recorded a respectable haul of three key passes, with that the joint-most of any player for either side.

Trippier – who produced a ‘superb captain’s display’ according to the Chronicle’s Lee Ryder – was ultimately crucial in helping to maintain the away side’s truly imperious defensive record, having shipped just 11 goals in 18 league outings thus far this term.

While it may not have been pretty at times, that latest result has illustrated once again the great strides that the St James’ Park outfit have made under Howe this season, with the visitors having fought tooth and nail to earn a point that keeps them firmly in the top-four race.

For all the plaudits that will flood in for the aforementioned Pope following that clash, it is also worth noting just how influential Trippier was once again as the real leader in the side.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has backed Sunderland in their reported pursuit of Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Registered interest

As per Football Insider, ‘sources’ have revealed that the Stadium of Light outfit have ‘registered their interest’ in a potential deal for Archer in January.

The striker has been limited to just 51 minutes of first-team football at Villa Park so far this season, and so could seek a move away in order to get more game time.

The Latest: ‘No-brainer’

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson has claimed that Archer would be a ‘great signing’ for the Wearside club, and that a dela in January for him is an ‘absolute no-brainer’:

“Archer has proven he can do it in the Championship.

“He would be great signing for them. He is a different profile of a striker to what Tony Mowbray has currently got. I could see that one happening.

“Look at where Sunderland are. Archer is more than capable of scoring goals at that level. If they can attract him it would be an absolute no-brainer. I really think he would do well there.

“It would be a good move for the player as well. Sunderland are a massive club with a great stadium and great support. There is potential for him to grow there as the club does. It is a move that would make sense.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Tony Mowbray’s side are in need of sufficient cover for both Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms, who have each suffered from injury problems this term, with the former being out since seven games with a toe injury between September and October.

When he was on loan at Preston North End last campaign, 21-year-old Archer managed an impressive seven goals and one assist in 20 matches in the Championship (Transfermarkt), showing that he can play at that level despite his relatively young age.

Nonetheless, the Englishman would surely relish getting more game time at the Black Cats, and so this is a deal that could work out for all parties.

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has been described as ‘dreadful’ by journalist James Pearce, following Senegal’s 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands.

The Lowdown: Mendy poor in Senegal defeat

Mendy was looking to overcome his poor form for the Blues this season, as Senegal came up against Holland in their 2022 World Cup opener on Monday.

Instead, the 30-year-old had a nightmare, finding himself in no man’s land for Cody Gakpo’s headed opener, before making a limp save in the lead-up to Davy Klaassen’s tap-in.

It was a bad start to the tournament for Mendy, who may now find himself further under the spotlight in the coming matches.

The Latest: Pearce criticises Chelsea man

Taking to Twitter during the game, Pearce made it clear what he thought of the Chelsea ‘keeper’s performance:

“Mendy dreadful for both goals.”

The Verdict: Sums up his season

This was a performance that Chelsea fans may feel they have seen too often of late, with Mendy’s stock falling dramatically after a great start to life at Stamford Bridge.

He has now lost his place in the starting lineup to Kepa Arrizabalaga and displays like this one won’t be changing Graham Potter’s thought process any time soon.

For Mendy, he now needs to produce a response in Senegal’s group games against Qatar and Ecuador, as he looks to rebuild his reputation.

Journalist Robin Bairner has provided his thoughts on Newcastle United’s potential interest in RC Lens midfielder, Seko Fofana.

What’s the word?

Reports over the summer had suggested that both the Magpies – as well as fellow Premier League side Arsenal – were eyeing a move for the Ivory Coast international, with the Ligue 1 outfit said to be demanding a fee of around £34m for his services.

As it proved, no such deal emerged as the 27-year-old signed a new contract extension with his current side, while those at St James’ Park ultimately ended the window without a new midfield addition, despite reported interest in the likes of Ibrahim Sangare and Edson Alvarez.

Whether the northeast side make an approach for the eight-cap gem in the near future remains to be seen, although the aforementioned Bairner – speaking to GIVEMESPORT –  has talked up the benefits of a move, stating:

“I think he’d fit really nicely with Bruno Guimaraes. Fofana’s been a sort of revelation in Ligue 1 since he moved from Udinese a couple of years ago, he’s been undoubtedly one of the best central midfielders.

“Bruno was a strong performer in Ligue 1, and Seko Fofana is kind of similar. Very strong attacking player, he does most of his best work going forwards, is known for his powerful runs, his excellent shooting, and he’s got a very good scoring record.

“His influence at Lens has been tremendous, it’s very difficult to overstate how good he’s been there.”

Imagine him and Bruno

New additions in the centre of the park appear something of a necessity for Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, with the Tynesiders currently still heavily reliant on the quality of January arrival, Bruno Guimaraes, with the Brazilian having laid on five goal contributions in just 11 league games so far this term.

As Bairner alluded to, adding Fofana into the mix could well be an ideal way to ease the burden on the club’s emerging cult hero, with the former Udinese man having showcased his talent in France of late, having been dubbed “arguably the best midfielder in Ligue 1 over the past 2 years” by journalist Zach Lowy.

The “phenomenal player” – as also described by Lowy – has two goals and two assists in the league so far this term, having previously recorded ten goals and two assists in all competitions during the 2021/22 campaign as a marker of his attacking talent.

That quality is also evident by the £26k-per-week man’s quality in possession as he ranks in the top 9% for pass completion among those in his position across Europe, while he has also showcased a willingness to drive his side forward from deep as he ranks in the top 13% for dribbles completed.

His potential midfield partner, Guimaraes, also ranks highly with regards to that latter metric (top 14%), while the former Lyon ace can potentially make up for Fofana’s shortcoming defensively, as he ranks in the top 2% for tackles made, as per FBref.

The Paris-born starlet – who was once on the books of Manchester City and enjoyed a brief loan stint at Fulham in the second tier in 2014 – has enjoyed a stunning rise in recent years, with Howe and co set to provide him with the platform to shine even brighter, as has been the case with Guimaraes.

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has provided an injury update on Lynden Gooch ahead of the Black Cats’ Championship clash against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night.

The Lowdown: Gooch’s injury

During the first half of the Wearsiders’ 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday, the 26-year-old sustained an injury to his foot early on in the game.

Despite carrying on until half-time, the midfielder did not make it back out for the second half, being replaced by Amad Diallo at the interval.

Having started all 14 of the Black Cats’ Championship games so far this season, doubts have arisen over the American’s availability to face Blackburn tomorrow night.

The Latest: Mowbray’s update

Mowbray shared an update on Gooch after the game, revealing that the player’s foot was trampled on, which was causing him severe discomfort.

However, the Sunderland boss was unsure as to the extent of the injury and whether the 26-year-old will be fit in time to play Rovers.

As quoted by Chronicle Live, Mowbray claimed: “I think the lad stood on his foot, really. I think he’s been trampled on, and he was really sore and bruised, and it twisted as well a little bit.

“He tried to carry on but at half-time he was in a lot of discomfort, so we brought him off. Whether he can recover in two or three days [in time to play at Blackburn], we’ll have to wait and see.”

The Verdict: Hope it’s not too serious

Having made Mowbray’s starting XI for every game during his tenure so far, Gooch’s importance to this Sunderland side is clear to see.

Surprisingly for a wide-playing midfielder, the 26-year-old has averaged 1.5 tackles and 1.5 clearances per game in the Championship, also contributing 1.9 long balls and 0.6 key passes per match (via WhoScored).

Having been dubbed a ‘quality’ player by Micky Lough during an appearance on the Wise Men Say podcast, Gooch’s possible absence would come as a blow for Sunderland.

Therefore, the squad will be hoping that he can make a swift recovery in time for tomorrow’s trip to Ewood Park, even if it means naming him among the substitutes initially and possibly throwing him on later if need be.

West Ham United take on newly-promoted Bournemouth at the London Stadium this evening, with David Moyes’ side looking to build upon their encouraging display despite defeat against Liverpool in midweek.

That clash at Anfield ultimately saw the Hammers fall short as Darwin Nunez’s first-half strike proved the difference on the night, with the visitors notably left to rue Jarrod Bowen’s failed spot-kick attempt, as well as Tomas Soucek’s squandered chance late on.

That late opportunity for the latter man may well have been expertly denied by the ever-reliable James Milner, although such a moment seemingly epitomised the Czech Republic international’s struggles at present, with his place in the side seemingly “at risk” – according to The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas – amid Flynn Downes’ growing status.

The 6 foot 4 colossus is not the only Irons asset under fire at present, however, with fellow midfielder Pablo Fornals also coming in for criticism as a result of his limited impact of late, having been on the periphery during the loss to Jurgen Klopp’s side last time out.

The playmaking Spaniard had looked to bolster his impressive record against the Reds heading into the match – with three goals in just meetings against the Merseyside outfit prior to Wednesday’s encounter – although the 26-year-old once again came up short in attack.

The former Villarreal gem – who arrived in east London back in 2019 – has scored only once and provided just one assist in all competitions this season, with that solitary strike having come against Aston Villa back in August.

With there now seemingly intense competition for places in the midfield and forward ranks, the £65k-per-week menace has seemingly not done enough to warrant a continued place in the side against the Cherries, as he’s “not offering much” at present, according to writer Luke Turner.

The six-cap sensation was notably hooked on the hour mark during that clash with Klopp’s men, having lost possession eight times from his 38 touches, while also failing to register a single key pass on the night.

Such an anonymous outing may well have left Moyes with an easy decision to make regarding his team selection this evening, with Fornals likely to have few complaints if he is ruthlessly axed from the starting lineup.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte could turn to Oliver Skipp after the international break.

At least, that is according to journalist Paul Brown, who suggested that the England youth international would get his chance in the coming weeks to GIVEMESPORT this week.

“I do, yeah. Conte is a big fan of Skipp; he’s played him a lot since he’s been there,” he said.

“He likes his drive, energy, and determination. I think he’s a player who does exactly what he’s told and fits the system quite well, because Conte knows he can rely on him.”

A string of injuries have curtailed the 22-year-old’s progress under the Italian head coach, having been one of his favourites to start in the early days of his tenure after arriving in N17 back in November last year.

Indeed, Skipp is yet to feature this campaign, having been named on the bench in five of their nine matches across the Premier League and Champions League.

The form of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur, combined with the £25m arrival of Yves Bissouma, has certainly tempered expectations around the young Hotspur Way gem.

But Brown’s remarks provide some hope that the rarely-seen talent could come back into the first-team fray in due course.

Back in April this year, Tottenham and Skipp committed to a new long-term £80k-per-week contract extension, taking his time at the club to potentially 2027, at least.

That shows the club and Conte’s devotion to the young ace, so it would be foolish to not see him more regularly when domestic football returns next week.

Skipp is a player that has been touted for big, big things around Spurs.

“I see this kid being one day a future captain here by his character, by his personality. I feel really happy that he signed,” once suggested his ex-manager Jose Mourinho (via the Evening Standard).

Whilst Conte has previously stated:

“He played with great intensity, great passion, with heart, with soul. I think it was important because, for me, he doesn’t care if he’s only 21 years old, who deserves to play,” before adding:

“I think that the present and the future depends on him. If he wants to become a top midfielder. He could become a top midfielder, but he has to continue to work. He has this will, this desire to become an important player for Tottenham and for the present and for the future.”

Primarily a defensively-minded midfielder in the engine room, Spurs could do with his ability to break up play and win the ball back, often living up to his tag of being an “absolute machine,” as once described by Opta’s Matt Hayes.

With fixtures still coming thick and fast after the break, it would be wise for Conte to turn to rotation in the middle of the pitch and as such, we should expect Skipp to be among those changes, given the evidence above.

AND in other news, Paratici heading for 1st big blunder with Spurs “sniffing around” £60m “fearless” gem…