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West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice will be walking a tightrope in the first leg of the Irons’ Europa League clash against Lyon this Thursday.

The Lowdown: Hammers’ European run

David Moyes’s men will be over the moon with their run in this season’s Europa League as they prepare for Thursday night’s quarter-final tie against Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.

After losing 1-0 in the opening leg of the round 16 to a strong Sevilla side, who are the record six-time winners of the competition, Hammers fans waited in angst for the return leg at the London Stadium.

Following a first-half equaliser by Tomas Soucek, West Ham took the game to extra time, before Andriy Yarmolenko scored an emphatic winner, sending his side through to the quarter-finals.

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The Latest: Rice’s dilemma

As per club insiders Claret & Hugh, Declan Rice will be walking a tightrope in West Ham’s opener against Lyon.

The England international will be aware that if he receives a yellow card in either leg of the quarter-finals, this would result in him being suspended for a game, which would either come in the second leg or a potential semi-final first leg.

After the last eight, Rice’s disciplinary record will be wiped, meaning that he has to get through both legs of the Lyon tie without being booked in order to avoid a suspension.

The Verdict: Crucial for West Ham

Given this possibility, David Moyes will be very wary of pushing Rice too hard throughout the tie in case he makes a challenge warranting a yellow card.

However, Rice will be crucial if West Ham are to reach the next round of the competition. According to SofaScore ratings, the 23-year-old has been the Irons’ best player in the Europa League thus far.

Holding the midfield together, his ability to intercept opposition attacks, for which he ranks in the 94th percentile among players in Europe’s top five leagues (via FBRef), could prove to be pivotal for West Ham’s style of countering on the break.

In other news: West Ham interested in signing this Bundesliga beast

Vice-captain, loyal servant and arguably a club legend, Leeds United defender Luke Ayling is something of a hero around Elland Road.

But having amassed 217 appearances and secured a Championship winners medal during his time at the west Yorkshire outfit, it could be time to move on.

There’s no denying that this season has been appalling – stopping just short of disastrous – as it appears as if new manager Jesse Marsch has steered the Whites to safety, having been involved in the relegation dogfight for the past few months.

A four-game unbeaten run, which includes wins over basement boys Norwich City and relegation rivals Watford, has seen Leeds move nine points clear of Burnley with six matches left to play.

They may have just done it.

However, the team is still the leakiest defence in the Premier League, having conceded a whopping 68 goals from their 32 outings – an average of 2.1 goals let in per game.

And when you’re having to score three goals every week to stand a chance at winning – without last season’s top goalscorer Patrick Bamford too – then it’s no wonder the Yorkshiremen have found themselves in a precarious position at times.

It’s a backline that has largely been unaltered since promotion from the second flight and there have to be question marks over whether big players like Ayling can consistently cut the mustard at this level.

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Marsch ought to be ruthless this off-season by trying to secure a better option and that’s not through any fault of his own but Ayling has looked out of his depth at times.

During the recent win over the Hornets, commentator and former Wales international David Phillips described the 30-year-old’s defending as “awful”, whilst his seasonal 6.56 average WhoScored rating is bettered by eight other Leeds players right now.

No one is dribbled past more than Ayling either, letting his man run by 1.6 times per game and when you’re coming up against some of the best left-wingers in the division – ranging from Heung-min Son to Sadio Mane and Raheem Sterling – it’s going to cause plenty of trouble for his defensive counterparts.

Former manager Marcelo Bielsa was a big admirer of the full-back, especially as he could often slot in at centre-half for him. He even once waxed lyrical about his talents in this regard. He told reporters:

“He was quick, he was agile, he defended well, he headed well, he used the ball well, he transmitted serenity to the rest of the team.”

Just because he has been at the club for the best part of six years, doesn’t mean Marsch owes him anything. If a better option can be secured, then he must look to axe the Leeds favourite for the benefit of him becoming a successful manager at Elland Road.

The £35k-per-week ace just isn’t good enough for the big time, at least in a team that shouldn’t be fighting to keep their place in the division. A ruthless decision, but the right one.

AND in other news, Phil Hay drops Robin Koch update amid Leeds exit rumours…

Jack Harrison, Raphinha and Pascal Struijk stood out as star performers in Leeds United’s crucial 3-2 win away to West Ham on Sunday afternoon.

The Whites picked up an enormous Premier League victory in east London, battling their way to a priceless three points after a thrilling game.

Harrison scored a hat-trick against the Hammers on a memorable afternoon for the winger, as the visitors dug deep amid more injury problems.

We’ve delved into the numbers from statistical website Sofascore to analyse the Whites’ three best performers from those to have played at least 45 minutes of action. No prizes for guessing who one of them was, but who else stood out against the Irons?

Jack Harrison – 9.0

There was no doubting who the best player was for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, as Harrison enjoyed arguably his best game for the club.

Aside from the headline-making hat-trick, the 25-year-old also won two tackles and four ground duels and played two key passes in a superb all-round display.

That’s now four goals in his last three appearances for Harrison, who appears to be returning to his best.

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Raphinha – 7.8

Raphinha has been Leeds’ best player so far this season and he was a constant threat to West Ham’s defence today.

The Brazilian was unfortunate to see a brilliant assist chalked off for offside but he still managed to play an incredible eight key passes against the Hammers.

Not only that, but the Brazilian created two big chances and hit the woodwork with a stunning free-kick, while also pitching in defensively by winning five ground duels and one tackle.

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Pascal Struijk – 7.3

Struijk has been limited to 10 league starts so far this season but he was excellent on Sunday, playing an important role in a huge win for Leeds.

The 22-year-old won all five ground duels that he contested at the London Stadium, summing up the dominant nature of his performance. The Dutchman also won five tackles and made one interception, not being dribbled past once in the whole game.

In other news, one Leeds player has been linked with a move away from Elland Road. Find out who it is here.

After listening to Victor Orta’s exciting comments about the academy last week, Leeds United supporters will no doubt be casting even more of a keen eye on some of the club’s brightest young talents.

The Yorkshire club’s director of football openly spoke about the need to have academy prospects in and around the first-team set-up, saying: “I believe in a project that is one of Marcelo Bielsa’s legacies – 18 professionals and the other four players always being under 21.

“If you believe in youth development, you need to prove (it). Our idea is to believe in youth development and to give belief to the Academy. (What) is better for me – the 450 minutes for a striker in Joey Gelhardt, or 450 minutes in a striker who is 31 years old? I believe in the first.

“Because it’s the only way Leeds United can grow. Because the other way, if I am going to buy careers, I always lose, because there are other teams in England with more money, with more investment. I need to build careers.”

Well, if Orta is looking at ‘building’ a career out of someone at Thorp Arch, then he should look no further than 18-year-old starlet Max Dean.

The teenage forward has enjoyed an impressive campaign with the club’s U23s this season, scoring five goals in 15 games at Premier League 2 level, including strikes against the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

It’s been no surprise then that Leeds’ former U23s boss Mark Jackson has previously waxed lyrical about the forward and his character, saying: “You don’t have to prepare it with Deano. Deano’s a fiery character, I don’t like to quash that in him. He’s got an edge to him and how he plays – and I like that in his personality.

“Yes he gets frustrated at times and we have to curtail it but his hunger to press and work hard and his hunger to score goals is really apparent.”

In late October, despite a 4-2 defeat to Arsenal, Jackson showered Dean with more praise, saying: “I spoke to Max before the game. When he first came to the club, he had a real intensity about his play, really aggressive style in how he pressed and how he competed – we have chats with the players all the time and there’s been stages where we think that’s sort of dipped off a little bit in recent games.

“We’ve had a few chats recently with Max, and particularly before the game, I said ‘listen, you need to try and get back to those moments when you were playing in the 23s last year’. I thought he took that conversation well and he took it on board today and he had a much more positive performance.”

If Leeds are looking to get more out of their burgeoning academy, then Dean could well be the next breakout star to come out of Thorp Arch.

AND in other news – Sold at £8m, now worth triple: Leeds had a nightmare over “fearless” 5 ft 9 magician

Celtic have been relatively busy in the transfer market this month by bringing four new players to the club, but a recent report suggests they were priced out of a deal for a more experienced figurehead.

Brendan Rodgers has clearly placed plenty of emphasis on bringing young players into the club this month, with all four of his new signings aged between 18 and 21.

Timothy Weah and Oliver Burke, aged 18 and 21 respectively, are two talents who have been predicted to enjoy a big future in the game, but Celtic were targeting a talent who is eager to impress for a different reason entirely.

Indeed, according to a report from the Irish Independent, Crystal Palace are set to sign Everton’s James McCarthy on loan before Thursday’s deadline after Celtic dropped out of the race for his signature.

McCarthy supported Celtic as a boy and would naturally have been enticed by the prospect of playing at Celtic Park, but the report claims that the Bhoys were priced out of a deal due to his £50,000 per week wages.

For a fanbase who are hoping their club can make the next step by competing on the European stage, the fact Celtic were priced out of a deal for McCarthy will be both concerning and frustrating.

Naturally, the January window is a time in which finances are not clear cut and plenty of clubs struggle to sign new players with wage structures already maximised and little room for further investment, but the McCarthy situation serves as an acute reminder of how financially limited Celtic are in comparison with the clubs they are often pitted against in the Champions League.

McCarthy has spent a lengthy spell on the sideline following a gruesome leg break, but the form he has showcased down the years suggests he would have been an excellent addition to the squad and he will be desperate for a return to regular football as soon as possible.

The Ireland international’s approach is epitomised by his high-energy in the centre of the park, relentlessly harrying opponents and demanding the ball into his feet when his side are in possession.

His impact at Celtic Park would have given the club a valuable asset in their bid to cement their supremacy at the summit of Scottish football, and he’s a player Rodgers should return for in the summer if and when the club’s financial situation changes.

Celtic fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

Manchester United are on the hunt for their next manager, with Erik ten Hag the current frontrunner to take over at Old Trafford, although new information has emerged from Amsterdam on the potential appointment of the 52-year-old.

What’s the word?

Dutch journalist Freek Jansen revealed that he has spoken to Ten Hag, and it seems that there are still many obstacles for United to overcome in order to secure the signature of the Ajax coach.

Jansen spoke on the latest episode of De Pak Schaal Podcast (quote via Ajax news account @TheEuropeanLad on Twitter) and said: “This week I spoke to several people including Erik ten Hag. My information is that the only way he will join Manchester United is when everything fits right. His management is working on it, he has a huge list of demands (sporting wise).”

Bad news for Man United

This new update on Ten Hag will surely be bad news for United as they attempt to secure their new manager, with reports suggesting that the club want the deal done by the end of April.

Currently, the exact roles on the board at Old Trafford are unclear to a degree, with Richard Arnold taking over the responsibilities held by Ed Woodward, who stepped down from his executive director role in February. With interim manager Ralf Rangnick set to join the board in a consultancy role at the end of the season, football director John Murtough is expected to take a more active role in transfers.

This uncertainty on the board’s direction moving forward could go one of two ways for Ten Hag, possibly putting him off the project due to the lack of clarity on the involvement in transfers. Alternatively, the club could offer the Dutchman a chance to become much more involved in that aspect, something on which he is reportedly very keen.

If Jansen’s comments are to be believed, United will need to work much harder to identify exactly how they can convince and offer Ten Hag the role he wants in order to make sure that they get the deal over the line in time for the 52-year-old to get to work this summer.

However, with other clubs speculated to be interested in his services, the Red Devils could miss out on their favoured appointment of a coach with an impressive CV, something which would be another blow to United fans in what has been a dismal season.

In other news: Man Utd now plot bid to sign £60m “special talent”, he’s miles better than Rashford

Joe Gomez has been a key member of the Liverpool squad ever since signing for the Premier League club in the summer of 2015 from Charlton.

Following his arrival, the 24-year-old has gone on to represent England, as well as winning multiple titles for Liverpool, including a Champions League crown and Premier League title – and he still arguably hasn’t reached his peak years yet.

Gomez has made 139 appearances for the Reds in all competitions, and this is despite suffering major injuries which have ruled him out for significant periods of time – missing practically the whole of the 2015/16 season and undergoing ankle surgery twice.

In his 85 appearances in the Premier League, he has kept 32 clean sheets and has a 73% tackle success rate. Add to this the fact that he hasn’t made an error leading to a goal in these 85 matches and the stats show Liverpool have an extremely solid defender at their disposal.

This even led manager Jurgen Klopp to label him a “sensational footballer” during the side’s title-winning campaign in 2020.

His market value has soared in his seven years as a Liverpool player. The £3.5m signing now has a Transfermarkt value of a whopping £19.8m, showing just how impressive he has been for the team.

In March 2020, as Liverpool stood on the cusp of glory, his value sat at a staggering £37.8m while he was just 22. And, although it has slipped since then – largely due to injuries and Klopp rotating his squad – Gomez is still to enter his peak as a defender.

While Klopp is constantly trying to evolve his side, with his recent recruitment being excellent with attackers such as Luis Diaz and Diego Jota settling in extremely well, he won’t need to sign a centre-back for some time.

The £75k-per-week Gomez is at the perfect team in order to continue developing and you wouldn’t bet on him adding to his 11 England appearances in the near future too.

AND in other news: Klopp could unearth next Konate by unleashing “incredible” £450k-rated gem

This latest January transfer window has highlighted just how capable Aston Villa are in the transfer market at being able to bring new players to the club.

Having brought in the likes of Robin Olsen, Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho, the Midlands club have been able to strengthen their squad to give manager Steven Gerrard the best chance of ending his first season at Villa Park on a high note.

However, it seems as though the Villans have not stopped their attempts to add more players to their ranks before the window closes.

What’s the latest?

Speaking on Sky Sports News’ Transfer Show (24/01/22 – 5pm), journalist Kaveh Solhekol had this to say on what the current situation is regarding Villa’s reported interest in signing Rodrigo Bentancur from Italian club Juventus.

He said: “Negotiations are ongoing for Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur. A sell-on clause included in the club from Boca Juniors is complicating a deal.”

This update was also shared earlier in the day by Sky Sports where their interest in the Uruguayan was also claimed.

The midfielder left Boca back in the 2017 summer transfer window for a move to Juve where he has since gone on to make a total of 181 appearances for the Serie A giants across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing 18 assists along the way.

Fans will be elated

With Gerrard reportedly wanting to add a midfielder to his squad this month, which will only have been made even more important due to the fact that Marvelous Nakamba picked up a serious knee injury in December, Bentancur could be exactly what the Villa boss is looking for.

After all, this is a player who is proven at the top level, winning 45 caps for his country and amassing some eye-catching statistics in Serie A.

For example, he has won an impressive 1.7 tackles per game in the Italian top-flight and then a whopping 2.8 per match in the Champions League. Only John McGinn at Villa Park has won more than that.

With that in mind, it should elate fans that they’re interested in a player of this calibre, especially when you consider that Bentancur has plenty of experience playing in Serie A and in Europe’s top competition. However, they will undoubtedly have some concerns regarding the apparent sell-on clause from Boca that could complicate things.

Moving forward, with only a few days left until the window closes, Villa will have to work quickly to negotiate a suitable deal for the Uruguayan that will satisfy all parties so that they can integrate him with the rest of the squad as soon as possible.

In other news: Forget Coutinho: Gerrard can raise roof as Villa plot bid for “exceptional” £33m gem – opinion

Newcastle United could rival Manchester United in the race to sign Amadou Haidara from RB Leipzig, according to The Mirror.

The lowdown

Newcastle have splashed out £39m so far on two January additions in right-back Kieran Trippier and striker Chris Wood. The Athletic’s David Ornstein recently claimed that they could have as much as £100m to spend this month.

Haidara is predominantly a central midfielder who is occasionally been deployed as a number 6 or out wide. He is currently representing Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations alongside another reported Newcastle target in Yves Bissouma.

The latest

According to The Mirror, Haidara is apparently high on Ralf Rangnick’s wish list at Old Trafford, adding that the German has already ‘put in calls to his old club’.

Leipzig were willing to listen and ‘verbally agreed’ a fee of £33m, but the Red Devils appear to be reluctant to back Rangnick in the transfer market given that he has only been appointed until the end of the season.

The situation has duly ‘caught the eye’ of Newcastle’s PIF ownership, who are now ‘eager to muscle in on a deal’ during the January transfer window.

The verdict

Haidara appears to be a very well-rounded midfielder. When compared to positional peers in the top five European leagues, he ranks in the 85th percentile for both shots and shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (via FBRef).

Beyond that, his numbers for progressive passing (93rd percentile), progressive carries (85th) and blocks (93rd) also stand out, while his playing profile is similar to Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham and Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans.

What’s more, Leipzig’s technical director Christopher Vivell has marvelled at Haidara’s ‘irrepressible will to win’, in addition to his ‘technique and understanding of the game’.

The Mali midfielder could be a difference-maker on Tyneside if Newcastle take full advantage of Man United’s dithering.

In other news, Keith Downie has an exciting transfer update for Newcastle fans 

Aston Villa are interested in signing Rangers defender Filip Helander in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Helander’s season over

The 28-year-old is currently sidelined with a foot injury picked up earlier this month and he is not expected to play again for the Gers this season.

It has been an injury-plagued campaign for Helander, who has been limited to just six Scottish Premiership starts, failing to play much of a part in proceedings.

Now, a new report is claiming that the Swede may have played his last game for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

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The Latest: Villa keen on move

According to Football Insider, a Villa source claims that Steven Gerrard is a big admirer of Helander and wants to sign him, having worked with him at Ibrox.

The former Rangers manager is thought to be ‘closely monitoring his situation’, with the player’s current deal expiring at the end of next season.

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The Verdict: Hard to say no

Helander would be a big loss for Rangers, having averaged a colossal 4.3 aerial duel wins per game in last year’s title-winning season, not to mention three per match in 2021/22.

The lure of linking up with Gerrard again and also playing in the Premier League could be too good to turn down, however, in what are the peak years of his career, especially if the Gers miss out on Champions League football.

The hope is that Helander recovers from his injury problems and remains at Ibrox but it is easy to envisage a situation where he is in a Villa shirt next season, where Gerrard is expected to replace Tyrone Mings.

In other news, another Premier League are also eyeing up a Rangers player. Read more here.