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Manchester United have been one of the most heavily represented clubs at the ongoing World Cup, with the Red Devils having seen 16 players called up by their respective countries for the tournament.

One man who has notably made an impact for his nation in Qatar is summer signing, Lisandro Martinez, with the aggressive centre-back having played his part in helping to steer Argentina into the quarter-finals.

Despite only starting one game in the tournament thus far – having been unable to dislodge the first-choice pairing of Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi – the former Ajax man caught the eye during the recent, hard-fought triumph over Australia in the round of 16.

Having been thrust into the fray just after the interval, the 24-year-old’s most notable contribution against the Socceroos came late on as he brilliantly denied what would have been a stunning solo goal for Aziz Behich with a crucial, sliding block.

Such a timely impact has typified the form that the diminutive defender has shown since his arrival at Old Trafford back in August, having even been dubbed the Red Devils’ “player of the season” so far by journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

While Martinez’s displays on the international stage may have been no surprise as far as Erik ten Hag is concerned, the Dutchman may well have been intrigued by the performances of another United asset in the form of Facundo Pellistri.

Bizarrely, the 20-year-old starlet has emerged as a key figure for his native Uruguay in recent times – with ten caps to his name to date – despite having never featured for the Premier League side in a competitive game since joining from Penarol back in the summer of 2020.

Following that deadline day capture – for a reported fee of around £9m – the winger has since been on the periphery at the Theatre of Dreams, albeit while also spending 18 months on loan at La Liga side Alaves.

While the youngster hardly pulled up any trees in Spain having failed to register a single goal or assist in 35 games, he has showcased his quality with his displays on the world stage, with the hope being that Ten Hag has sat up and taken notice.

The pacy forward featured in all three of his nation’s group games in the competition, having looked particularly “lively” off the bench in the defeat to Portugal, in the words of commentator Ally McCoist.

The £20k-per-week gem also played his part in what proved to be an ultimately futile win over Ghana in the final group encounter, notably seeing his whipped cross fall to the feet of Luis Suarez in the build-up to Giorgian De Arrascaeta’s opener.

That performance was notably lauded by the Daily Mail’s Max Matthews, who stated that ‘Manchester United could have a player on their hands’ with Pellistri having been a ‘threatening outlet’ down the right flank.

That role has been something of a problem area back at Old Trafford with arguably only Brazilian ace Antony a comfortable fit on that side of the attack, with the Uruguayan menace seemingly deserving of a chance to prove his worth at first-team level.

On the evidence of his displays over the past few weeks, United could well live to regret it if they allow Pellistri to move on, rather than giving him the opportunity to stake his claim for a more prominent role in the side.

Chelsea continued their poor Premier League form with a defeat away to Newcastle United that will give Graham Potter much to ponder over the winter break.

It means the London side have not won in the league since a 2-0 win over Aston Villa on 16 October and the hiatus for the World Cup comes at the perfect time.

Newcastle – backed by a boisterous home crowd – started the brightest, and although Chelsea created a few chances themselves in the first half, Potter’s side were far too passive.

Conor Gallagher came closest to opening the scoring with a great effort that drew an even better save from Nick Pope and it proved to be a crucial moment in the match, with Joe Willock scoring a few minutes later.

That was all Newcastle needed as they secured a win that takes them to third place in the table and the feel-good factor around the club continues to grow.

Chelsea, on the other hand, were poor, with players such as Kalidou Koulibaly – who lost possession 16 times – putting in performances far below their best last night.

It was perhaps a Blues star who is heading to Qatar that was Potter’s weak link, however, as Mason Mount flattered to deceive up against Eddie Howe’s side.

Mount received a SofaScore rating of just 6.7 and he even had fewer touches of the ball than Edouard Mendy (29 to 52), showing just how far off the pace he was – something doesn’t bode well with England’s first World Cup match just nine days away.

Usually so creative in attack, the 23-year-old struggled to assert his authority in the match, having no shots and completing just 12 passes, although he did succeed with his only dribble attempt. With four goal contributions in his previous 13 matches, more would have been expected of the player and he let Potter down.

There’s no denying the club are going through a rough patch at the moment, yet quality players like Mount should be stepping up and contributing more in tight matches such as these.

Gareth Southgate will more than likely thrust the 23-year-old into his starting XI against Iran in their first World Cup fixture, yet he will need to drastically improve if he hopes to make a positive impact in the tournament.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch is set to be given time to turn things around at Elland Road, according to a reliable journalist.

The Lowdown: Marsch under growing pressure

The Whites were beaten 2-0 away to Leicester City in the Premier League on Thursday in what was a limp performance from start to finish.

The disgruntled travelling supporters made their feelings known during and after the game, with pressure now increasingly growing on Marsch.

Despite the American clinging to his job a little, it looks as though his sacking isn’t yet on the cards, following a new claim.

The Latest: Leeds show faith in Marsch

According to The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Marsch will have a few games to prove his worth and improve Leeds’ fortunes, rather than being relieved of his duties now.

It is noted that he was ‘jeered’ by his own fans at the Leicester game, but the Elland Road hierarchy have faith in him to get the Whites out of their current slump.

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The Verdict: Fulham game feels huge

Sunday’s visit of Fulham to Yorkshire feels absolutely massive for Marsch, especially with a daunting trip to Liverpool on the horizon next Saturday night.

Failure to beat the Cottagers will surely lead to many dissenting voices inside Elland Road, and if another defeat ensures, the Whites’ hierarchy may feel that it is time to part ways with the 48-year-old.

That may not be in keeping with McGrath’s update, which suggests that Marsch may have at least until the World Cup break to prove his worth, but dropped points at home to Fulham, despite their improving form, could be too disappointing to ignore.

Glasgow Rangers will be without Ryan Jack as well as Connor Goldson for the long-term through injury.

The Lowdown: Injury woes

Both Jack and Goldson were forced off injured in the 7-1 loss at home to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.

It is not an ideal situation for Giovanni van Bronckhorst given the other high-profile injuries that he has in his squad, and so there is now pressure on the rest of the players to deliver in their absence.

The Latest: Long-term injuries

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match away at Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, Van Bronckhorst has now confirmed that both Jack and Goldson have suffered long-term injuries, with the latter set to be out for ‘several months’:

“Goldson and Jack have injuries, they both have muscular issues and won’t be back in the short term.”

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The Verdict: Big blow

It is certainly a big blow for the Ibrox outfit to lose Goldson for such a long time, and losing Jack as well is far from ideal.

Hailed as a ‘game-changer’ by former SPFL striker Frank McAvennie, the central midfielder has ranked highly among his team-mates in terms of average interceptions, key passes, through balls and pass success per game in the division (WhoScored), starting the last four matches in all competitions.

Jack has a history of injury problems at the club, and the Gers will be praying that this latest setback will not keep him out for too long.

Manchester United spent almost the entirety of the recent window chasing Barcelona midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, with the Dutchman having emerged as a top target following Erik ten Hag’s appointment at Old Trafford at the end of last season.

The former Ajax boss had appeared keen on a reunion with a player who had starred under his watch during their time together in Amsterdam, notably lauding the playmaker as the “conductor” in his side back in 2019.

As it proved, however, despite the Red Devils’ continued pursuit of the 25-year-old – which included striking an agreement with the La Liga outfit for a fee of around €85m (£72m) – no such move came to fruition, with the player having seemingly been reluctant to make the switch to Old Trafford.

Having been left somewhat humiliated by that lengthy failed approach, United ultimately turned to serial-winning Real Madrid star Casemiro to help bolster their midfield ranks, with the Brazilian icon joining in a £70m deal.

The 30-year-old offers a different profile of player to that of De Jong, however, due to his strengths as a defensive-minded colossus in front of the back four, while the Netherlands international is a more creative and dynamic presence who can “make the difference”, in the words of Ten Hag.

The new United boss had suggested over the summer that he would mould a current player at the Theatre of Dreams into a De Jong-esque asset if the club were unable to sign the 5 foot 11 gem, with summer signing Christian Eriksen having somewhat taken on that role in recent weeks.

There is another who could do the job on a more long-term basis, however, with academy prospect Zidane Iqbal a potential solution, with the 19-year-old said to have been studying the Camp Nou star’s game even prior to Ten Hag’s arrival.

The highly-rated teenager – who has been dubbed a “special talent” by Hesham Bilal-Hafiz – was handed his senior bow last term by interim boss Ralf Rangnick, entering the fray alongside friend and fellow debutant Charlie Savage in the Champions League dead-rubber against Young Boys back in December.

While something of a forgotten affair due to the nature of the game, Iqbal’s entrance caught the headlines as it saw him become the first South Asian footballer to have played for the club, with the youngster now something of a “trailblazer”, according to Bilal-Hafiz.

Although that remains his only first-team outing to date, the Iraq international did catch the eye during the Red Devils’ pre-season tour, notably impressing in the victory over rivals Liverpool in Bangkok.

That second-half cameo saw the Manchester-born starlet produce one moment of quality, in particular, as he brilliantly turned away from opposition powerhouse Fabinho in the centre of the park, showcasing impressive confidence despite his tender years.

Reports have even suggested that Ten Hag was left surprised that the two-cap gem had not been utilised more in recent seasons after seeing his talent first-hand in training, with that a possible indication that he could be handed a more prominent role moving forward.

Not only is it always a joy to see an academy gem thrive, but it could also save the Premier League outfit millions if Iqbal can end the need for De Jong’s arrival.

Newcastle United are currently riding high under manager Eddie Howe, with the Englishman having overseen a drastic change in fortunes since his appointment back in November.

After the doom and gloom under his predecessor Steve Bruce, the former Bournemouth boss – as well as the club’s new owners – have helped to revive the positivity surrounding St James’ Park, with the Magpies finally beginning to look up rather than over their shoulder.

The 44-year-old had walked into a club that had endured a winless start to the 2021/22 campaign under Bruce, with the Tynesiders five points from safety after 11 games played amid very real fears of a return to the Championship.

While aided by heavy backing in the winter window, Howe was also able to spark a notable improvement among those already at the club, eventually guiding Newcastle to a respectable 11th place finish.

That strong form has continued in the early weeks of the new season with the club having picked up seven points from their opening six league games, notably going toe-to-toe in a barnstorming 3-3 draw with champions Manchester City.

While his tenure thus far has not been perfect, the one-time Burnley boss has instilled new life into what is something of a sleeping giant, having been praised for his “top-class job” by Pep Guardiola.

It could all have been so different, however, had the club potentially gone for a more glamourous, yet flawed, appointment in the form of Paulo Fonseca, with the Portuguese coach having seemingly been a concrete candidate for the role last year.

One report suggested that the former Roma boss even thought that he was going to be named as Bruce’s successor, only for PIF to instead turn to former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, before eventually settling on Howe.

A figure without Premier League experience, it could well have proved disastrous had the 49-year-old been handed the top job, particularly at a time when the club were in the midst of a relegation dogfight.

It only requires a look at Aston Villa’s ultimately doomed appointment of Remi Garde in 2015 to see that it could well have been a nightmare scenario for Newcastle, with the Frenchman having ultimately steered the Midlands side out of the division after struggling in his first taste of English football.

As for Fonseca, while he has been praised for his dressing room demeanour, European football expert Andy Brassell suggested that he can struggle when under pressure, having endured a difficult spell during his time at the Stadio Olimpico.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano also suggested that the one-time Shakhtar Donetsk coach had a “problem” against the bigger sides during his time in Italy, having somewhat failed to deliver when the scrutiny was at its highest.

His shortcomings have also been laid bare at current side Lille, with the French outfit notably having been on the receiving end of a 7-1 hammering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain earlier this season, showing a worrying inability to compromise despite the onslaught from the Parisien outfit.

In the case of Howe, the typically forward-thinking coach somewhat rowed back on his progressive philosophy in order to get results upon his appointment, understanding that it takes time to implement a new style of play in such a competitive league.

At present, appointing the Amersham-born visionary has proven a real masterstroke, while opting against that man Fonseca appears to be a bullet dodged.

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a last-minute move for Willy Boly following an injury to Moussa Niakhate, and after a bid was rejected by Wolverhampton Wanderers a new update has emerged.

What’s the latest?

According to The Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest are set to make a second bid for the Wolves centre-back worth £2m after a £1m bid was rejected over the weekend.

As per the report, the newly-promoted side are likely to make another offer for Boly before the transfer window slams shut, however, Wolves are keen to find a replacement before letting go of their player.

Imagine him & McKenna

Forest have already made 16 signings this summer but in terms of Premier League experience in their centre-back positions and quality, there is definitely room for improvement, especially with Niakhate’s injury.

Steve Cooper confirmed the injury blow to the newly-signed centre-half after a scan revealed the worst:

“He is out for a few months. He had a scan in the week and it didn’t come back too good,” the manager explained.

As a result, the singing of Boly could be a great addition to not only cover Niakhate’s position in the back three but he could also offer a fantastic centre-back partner to Scott McKenna.

The Scotsman joined Forest back in 2020 and has been a consistent and reliable performer in the back-line for his club in the Championship, taking the recent step up to the Premier League in his stride so far.

McKenna has played in all three of their top-flight fixtures so far proving that Cooper clearly trusts him to perform at the level required to challenge comfortably, and when it comes to defensive play the defender has been solid.

The 25-year-old has completed 3.3 clearances per game, winning the majority of both his aerial and ground duels combined (64%) and has been successful in completing the large majority of his dribble attempts too (67%).

Boly has been out-of-favour in the Wolves team so far and has been on the bench for all three of their Premier League fixtures so far after Bruno Lage switched to a back four. However, despite his injury issues last season the 6 foot 5 centre-back offered ten influential performances in the league.

The Ivorian defender, who has been dubbed a “monster” and labelled as “scary” by Conor Coady certainly showed that, making 1.4 interceptions, 2.5 tackles and 3.5 clearances per game, winning the majority of his duels combined (56%). That said, he did also show that he has an element of grace to his game, completing 91% of his passes inside his own half.

In terms of how the pair can complement each other with their talents, Boly appears to be much more successful than McKenna in winning ground duels (60% v 44%), however, McKenna is much better with aerial duels than his position peer (77% v 50%), so combining those strengths could give Cooper an incredibly hard to break partnership in the backline.

With that being said, the signing of Boly would be a great piece of business for Forest, but the powers at The City Ground must act fast as there is not long left in the transfer window to maintain a back and forth with Wolves over the signing and the Reds need a centre-back urgently.

Nottingham Forest have had three bids rejected for Morgan Gibbs-White so far this summer, but a new claim from a reliable source has injected some hope into the club’s pursuit of the 22-year-old.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Jacque Talbot, the Reds’ proposed deal for the Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder “will get done” this summer.

He tweeted: “Nottingham Forest fans – feeling is that Morgan Gibbs-White will get done now. As reported a couple of months back, this one would go to the wire. Player is eager to join, may push it through. No info on bid, etc, as of yet.”

Cooper surely frustrated

Steve Cooper will surely be frustrated that Forest haven’t been able to secure the 22-year-old’s signing yet, especially as they are now underway in their Premier League campaign, but Talbot’s update does give Forest some hope despite Gibbs-White starting for Wolves yesterday.

It was reported earlier this week that the Garibaldi had a £35m bid rejected (£25m transfer fee with £10m in add-ons), but Forest are showing no signs of giving up on their number one transfer target despite already signing 12 new players over the transfer window so far.

The Forest boss is no stranger to the young midfielder after managing Gibbs-White in the World Cup-winning England under-17 side and signing him on a six-month loan spell at Swansea City, showing that the manager is clearly a huge admirer of the player and experienced in getting the best out of him.

Gibbs-White has gone from strength to strength in his career so far, and most recently impressed over a season-long loan with Sheffield United in the Championship last term.

The 22-year-old scored 11 goals, delivered nine assists and created a whopping 16 chances, making 1.6 key passes, winning 4.9 duels and completing 1.3 dribbles per game over 35 appearances as Sheffield United’s promotion push ended on penalties in the play-off semi-finals against Nottingham Forest.

Gibbs-White has two years left on his current contract and has so far refused to extend that despite Wolves reportedly being keen to secure the midfielder’s future at the Molineux, and Bruno Lage has made it clear that the player is part of his plans by starting him this weekend and speaking out ahead of the new season.

Lage revealed in his pre-match press conference ahead of their clash against Leeds: “We keep Morgan – how much would you pay for Morgan? £50million. Tell me one player who can play like Morgan and how much do you pay for him?

“Since the first day I have seen a top player. When I want to find a player like him, I need to spend £50million. We have a strong team and with patience we will create a strong squad.”

The powerbrokers at the City Ground will need to present something special for Wolves to part ways with their rising star, but if Forest can somehow secure a deal before the transfer window shuts in a few weeks, it would be a major coup for the Garibaldi and a reward for their persistence.

For now, though, it’s nothing but frustration for Cooper in the Reds’ pursuit of the 22-year-old.

Wolves have been linked with a plethora of strikers so far this summer, including Edin Dzeko and Goncalo Ramos, and reports are suggesting that the latter is now more likely to arrive at Molineux.

What’s the word?

After a season which saw Wolves notch just 38 goals in the top-flight, a new striker was always going to be a priority for Bruno Lage.

Raul Jimenez finished as the club’s top scorer in the Premier League with just six goals, while young striker Fabio Silva has joined Anderlecht on loan after a barren 2021/22 campaign.

Reports from Italy have suggested that 36-year-old Dzeko could be the solution for Lage, while other reports suggest that Ramos could be the latest player in Wolves’ Portuguese contingent.

In a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, journalist Josh Holland has shared his thoughts on Wolves’ striker hunt, saying:

“A striker from the Portuguese league always seemed more likely than someone like Dzeko.

“I think the problem that Wolves are going to face is, a lot of teams are now venturing into the Portuguese division. You look at Arsenal with Fabio Vieira, PSG who got Nuno Mendes from Sporting, and PSG again with Vitinha, who Wolves should have signed.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While Dzeko would have offered Lage an excellent short-term option, Ramos would make the most sense from a long-term perspective.

The 21-year-old has been “incredibly prolific” in Benfica’s academy sides, scoring 27 times, and has shown glimpses in the first-team, so could offer Lage a more clinical option up front next season.

Although their last striker signed from the Portuguese league hasn’t worked out so far, Lage desperately needs a finisher in his attack if the Old Gold are to improve upon their shocking end to last season, which saw them earn just two points from their final seven fixtures.

The 21-year-old can also do a job as a target man at Molineux, as WhoScored suggests that he excels at holding on to the ball, dribbling and defensive contribution.

Supporters will be delighted to hear that Ramos is the more likely striker to join, and will be hoping to see the Benfica man join before the season begins.

AND, in other news: “I don’t think..”: Journo reveals big Wolves transfer claim, supporters surely gutted

Glasgow Rangers have enjoyed a busy few weeks in the summer transfer window as they have ramped up their preparations for the upcoming campaign.

The club have announced the signings of Antonio Colak, Tom Lawrence, and Rabbi Matondo this month, with Gio van Bronckhorst receiving attacking reinforcements to improve his forward options.

However, the Gers may not be done there as the window does not slam shut for another six weeks or so and the fans may yet see more fresh faces come through the door.

One player the club have been linked with a swoop for this summer is Everton centre-forward Ellis Simms, who spent last season on loan at Hearts in the Premiership.

They are said to be considering a deal to sign the attacker to bolster their squad and it remains to be seen whether or not they will meet the Premier League club’s £500k valuation of the gem.

A Rangers masterclass

The Light Blues would be sealing a masterclass if they can strike a deal to sign the Toffees predator at the aforementioned price.

He is a young and promising goalscorer who has already showcased his quality at first-team level and paying £500k to land him would be a bargain for the club.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has told Football FanCast that the attacker is a player who could have an instant impact on the team, saying: “I think he had a really good season in Scotland with Hearts last year, Ellis Simms. So, obviously, would be somebody who could come in and hit the ground running for Rangers if they were to make this signing in the summer as well.”

In the Premiership last term, the 21-year-old scored five goals in 11 outings for Hearts and provided one assist – settling in to life in Scotland immediately. This came after he fired in an outstanding ten goals in 19 League One starts for Blackpool in 2020/21.

He scored an astounding 58 times in 83 games for Everton’s U18s and U23s combined, leading to his youth team assistant coach John Ebbrell hailing him, saying: “What I do know with Ellis, if he ends up one-vs-one with the goalkeeper, he’s scoring.

“From experience, I know if you have time to think for that finish it can be difficult but Ellis is really calm and composed in those situations. He very rarely misses.”

At the age of 21, he also has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player as he gains more senior experience. This means that Rangers would be signing a proven goalscorer, who can make an instant impact in the Premiership, with the potential to grow over time – all for just £500k.

Therefore, bringing him in would be a masterclass of a deal for Rangers and is one that they must explore in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, GvB plotting Rangers swoop to sign £10m “wonderkid”, he could be an Arfield upgrade…