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Wolverhampton Wanderers have enjoyed a very successful 18 months or so under the hair-raising stewardship of manager Nuno Santo, but he could be about to walk into a major mistake this summer – if reports are to be believed.

According to Fanatik, the west Midlanders retain an interest in Galatasaray centre-back Christian Luyindama, who stands at a colossal 6 foot 3 inches tall.

It’s claimed that Premier League rivals Everton are the front-runners to secure the 26-year-old and Wolves would be better off letting him flop at their fellow European contenders instead of causing disruption to their phenomenal journey.

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Either there or Aston Villa, that would certainly hand Nuno’s side the bragging rights next term.

The DR Congo international has been restricted to just 15 appearances this campaign are tearing a cruciate ligament against the Gambia back in November, and while an ACL injury is no longer a career-wrecker, it will undoubtedly have a considerable impact going forward.

An article from the Guardian claimed that above-average American football players regressed below the mean standard on their comeback from the injury while only the very best could top the middle ground.

In addition to this, Luyindama has hardly set the ground alight on the elite stage this term – playing against European heavyweights Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stages.

But this change-up in competition merely exploited the centre-back’s weaknesses.

On average, his fouls doubled from one per game to two whilst he was dribbled past three times as much, going from just 0.5 times each match in the Super Lig to 1.5 times in the UCL, via WhoScored.

He also dropped off aerially despite being a monstrous presence, managing to win only 1.3 duels in the air compared to 4.4 in his domestic league.

This only spells trouble for Wolves as they have lofty ambitions to become a regular feature in the big time with chairman Jeff Shi even touting them for the title in the future.

Nuno simply must swerve any advance for Luyindama this summer. It’s truly a no-go.

AND in other news, could this Serie A star be the next Adama Traore for the Wolves chief?

Dwight Gayle’s future remains unclear but his lack of opportunities this season suggest Newcastle wouldn’t be against moving him on in January if the deal was right.

West Brom, where the striker enjoyed a successful year-long loan spell last term, could be ready to make an approach for him, with another loan move on the cards to make up for the lack of success from summer recruits Charlie Austin and Kenneth Zohore.

So far this year Bruce has relied heavily upon Joelinton, with both Andy Carroll and Yoshinori Muto both being used sparingly, which suggests they too aren’t fancied much by their manager.

With Gayle in a similar scenario, and likely frustrated at only playing five minutes this term, he may well be willing to move on.

His lack of involvement is somewhat of a surprise since he struck 24 times in all competitions last year, and since the team lack someone of his poaching instinct it may be best if they retained his services.

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Our Football FanCast writers discussed whether the club should hang onto him for the rest of the season, here’s what they had to say.

Lewis Blain

“Steve Bruce would be making a catastrophic error by allowing Dwight Gayle to leave and not giving him a chance this season.

“The tricky little striker may have had his injury troubles, but once he gets past those he should be raring to go. He’s able to provide the sort of threat that no other forward can provide.

“In the last three seasons Gayle has netted 53 goals, which is good going considering he started no more than 34 games in any one campaign. In the last campaign he managed 2.4 shots per game while he was fouled on average 1.5 times a match – not one Magpies player betters the first figure while it is only Miguel Almiron out wide that is felled more often.

“If Bruce thinks he is a good manager, then he should look to get the best out of Gayle instead of selling him on.”

Danny Lewis

“Newcastle should be ensuring they keep Gayle rather than loaning him out. He scored plenty last season and considering they aren’t exactly free-scoring, it is only a matter of time until he gets a bit more action.

“Steve Bruce has tried to sign Gayle various times throughout his managerial career, so it would be a waste to loan the striker out when the boss finally has him at his disposal.

“Gayle has been unlucky with the calf problem that has plagued his season, as he even had to have a period of complete rest. With that in mind, it is natural that he is being eased back into things very slowly. Bruce will just need to hope that having him back in the team is worth the wait.”

Charles Jones

“Dwight Gayle should be given a chance before he’s allowed to leave on loan.

“Newcastle have struggled for goals their strikers as they’ve largely relied on goals from their midfield and defence to get them over the line – as shown by the fact Ciaran Clark and Jonjo Shelvey are the side’s joint-top goalscorers.

“Gayle knows where the net is, he scored 23 goals in the Championship, one in the play-offs last season, and even though the Premier League is a higher standard the art of goalscoring doesn’t really change all that much between the divisions.

“The Magpies would be foolish to ignore a player as talented as Gayle.”

Kealan Hughes

“This is a tricky one, as Gayle would provide something different to the Newcastle attack but at the same time he doesn’t fit in with the style Bruce has implemented, as he is not suited to holding the ball up and bringing others into play.

“While he could act as an impact sub when Newcastle are chasing games, Bruce may think that he can let him go in order to free up funds to bring in an additional striker.

“If fit, the striker at least deserves chances between now and January. That could make or break his Magpies career, but since Bruce has admitted he’s admired Gayle in the past, then it’s possible he’ll persuade his manager against letting him go.”

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Life seems to be going well at Anfield at the moment but Jurgen Klopp still needs to decide who is best placed to fulfil the role of third-choice centre-back.

On the chalkboard

The Reds have won nine matches from ten in the league and although clean sheets have been somewhat of a rarity this term, with only two in the league, the defence has still been a strong point with only eight goals conceded in the league.

However, with Joel Matip ruled out for up to six weeks the German boss suddenly has a big decision to make, and that is who should partner Virgil van Dijk in what could be a key period of Liverpool’s season.

During this spell the club will play an important Champions League match against Napoli which could decide if they storm to the top of the group or endure a nervy ending to the group stages, whilst also welcoming Manchester City to Anfield, and therefore Klopp has to be confident in his selection choice.

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Currently, there seems to be indecision. Matip was first sidelined after the Sheffield United match a few weeks ago, and after that both Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez have been rotated, with both failing to thoroughly convince in the Cameroonian’s absence.

Trust in the long-term

Though Klopp seems in two minds, the simple solution would be to place his trust in Gomez.

Not only is he younger than Lovren, but he is also a better defender, and his physical attributes alone mean that he is the more useful option and better partner for van Dijk.

The Croatian was exposed in that department against Tottenham on Sunday. A simple long ball by Paulo Gazzaniga was misjudged by the defender and Heung-Min Son was able to round the keeper, with Lovren and the Reds only escaping because his shot hit the bar.

The 22-year-old, by contrast, has the pace to deal with most opposition players, and if he can rediscover the form he showed before the severe injury he suffered last year then he could even rival Matip in an audition for the role of van Dijk’s sidekick.

Gareth Southgate’s remark that he is an England star of the future attests to the enormity of his potential, and suggests that Lovren isn’t the answer for Klopp – not now and certainly not in the future.

As a result, the German should begin to bed-in Gomez once again and restore the confidence he may have lost, as that will likely get him playing to his highest level once again.

This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.

Walter Zenga was a busy man in the summer of 2016, signing 10 players in one month for Wolves after he became their manager on July 30th (as per BBC).

Among the last batch to arrive just before the August 31st deadline (as per BBC) was midfielder Romain Saiss, who signed from French club Angers for a fee of £3.6m, according to TransferMarkt.

BBC reporter Mike Taylor wasn’t wholly unconvinced by Wolves’ scattergun approach in the market that summer, saying: “How much value they will get for their money will not be clear for some time. If things go well, Wolves could have a midfield full of continental flair, but it will be a challenge to get the best out of those players in the gruelling Championship once the days grow short.”

Zenga’s stay at Molineux was decidedly brief, with the Italian sacked after just three months in charge, but Saiss would have far greater longevity in the Black Country.

He was by no means a fixed presence in Wolves’ line-up in his first season at the club, starting 19 Championship games and coming on in five more, but once Nuno Espirito Santo pitched up at Molineux in the summer of 2017, the fortunes of club and player would accelerate rapidly.

Saiss made 42 league appearances (37 as a starter) in the 2017/18 campaign as Wolves romped to promotion back to the Premier League after a six-year absence, the Moroccan chipping in with four goals and impressing sufficiently to make his country’s World Cup squad, featuring in two games at the tournament in Russia.

In preparation for Wolves’ top-flight return, Nuno brought in a multitude of players that summer, including midfielders Joao Moutinho and Leander Dendoncker. [via TransferMarkt]

The heightened competition for places had an impact on Saiss’ involvement in the team, featuring in just half of their Premier League games last season and starting only 12.

However, he applied himself very diligently whenever he was on the pitch – only three Wolves players won more aerial duels per game last season than the Moroccan’s 3.2, while he was also in the top five for tackles (2.1) and interceptions (1.4) per game. [via WhoScored]

Despite those impressive figures, he appeared to be on his way out of the club at one stage this summer, with Turkish journalist Sercan Dikme tweeting in August (via @sercan_dikme) that representatives from Besiktas were negotiating a potential transfer with Wolves.

The 29-year-old stayed put, though, and is on course to feature more prominently this season, with six Premier League starts and six Europa League starts (between qualifying and group stage) to his name already, as per TransferMarkt.

Saiss has made his mark in the latter competition, scoring the equaliser in last week’s 2-1 win away to Slovan Bratislava, and is one of only four players still at the club from the first half of the 2016/17 season. He has again displayed his aerial ability this term, winning 2.9 headers per game – only Willy Boly has a better average, as per WhoScored.

Zenga may have barely had time to organise his desk at Wolves, let alone build a legacy, but his fleeting era has left behind a lasting presence in Saiss, who has repaid his reported £3.6m transfer fee with eight goals in 110 appearances following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle.

The most recent of those helped Wolves to an away win in Europe, something that would have seemed rather far-fetched when he came to a club that finished 14th in the Championship the season before his arrival.

Wolves fans, do you think Saiss has proven to be excellent value at a reported fee of just £3.6m? Have your say by commenting below!

Manchester United fell fractionally short of ending Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the 2019/20 Premier League season on Saturday after an 85th minute strike from Adam Lallana gave the Reds a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, but the performance of one United player has got some fans singing his praises after a battling display against the club’s North-West rivals.

Andreas Pereira, 23, was making his sixth successive Premier League start under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and an impressive performance saw the 5 foot 10 midfielder named Man of the Match by The United Stand.

The midfielder’s performance saw him receive a rating from WhoScored of 6.68 – his highest-rated performance for over five weeks since the club’s victory over Leicester City (7.02) – but some of the club’s fanbase appear to be holding his latest display in much greater regard.

Solskjær will be looking to build on the promising performance and result given United’s precarious start to the current campaign that has seen them win just two Premier League games so far, and these United fans will certainly be hoping that Pereira is able to deliver a similar level of performance in the club’s upcoming domestic and European fixtures.

Here are some of the best reactions to Pereira’s impressive display against Liverpool on Sunday.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, John Hartson has questioned whether Newcastle can truly rely on Andy Carroll this season, and spoke about the decision to sell Aleksandar Mitrovic.

As well as signing Joelinton in a club-record deal from Hoffenheim, the Magpies also succeeded in bringing Carroll back to St James’ Park this summer.

Having only made three appearances this season, and all of them coming off the bench, Hartson has voiced his concerns over Steve Bruce’s side relying on a centre-forward who has had a chequered history with injuries.

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He told Football FanCast: “Andy’s a fantastic striker, you get him fit and you’ve got a real asset but how much can you trust him?

“I know Andy, he’s a great guy. He only came on a free transfer and his contract will probably be based on appearances so he’ll want to get himself fit, but you can’t really rely on having one centre forward who’s been injury prone.”

And with the club having sold fellow target man Mitrovic a year earlier, Hartson admitted he is a big fan of the Serbian’s talents.

He added: “He got sent off a few times and showed a bit of lack of discipline, but he’s thrived at Fulham. They went down last season but he was pivotal to them the year before (when they earned promotion), getting them into the Premier League, he scored an awful lot of goals.

“He’s big, strong, leads the line well and I think he’s got better with his discipline, so I was a big fan.”

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As Joelinton looks to adapt to the pace and intensity of English football, having a second-choice striker who can deputise when needed is a major necessity for Newcastle.

Add to that Mitrovic’s outstanding start for Fulham this season, in which he has scored eight goals in 11 games, and it really shines a light on Newcastle’s struggles up front.

The 25-year-old was hardly the most prolific of strikers for the Magpies, scoring just 17 goals in 72 matches, but his battle-hardened approach and strength at leading the line made him a valuable asset for the side – when he didn’t get himself sent off that is.

But on his day, Carroll can be a far bigger handful for defenders than Mitrovic, as proven by the fact he has won 6.2 aerial duels per game over his career, compared to the latter’s 3.7. However, as Hartson alludes to, his poor record with injuries means the Tyneside club simply cannot trust him to be firing on all cylinders for the entire season.

Leeds haven’t been able to produce some of the most positive news this week.

Injury updates in recent days have seen the likes of Liam Cooper and Jamie Shackleton ruled out while Pablo Hernandez and Adam Forshaw will again be absent on Saturday afternoon.

The Whites face Millwall this weekend and it’s a match that could see the ever-improving Stuart Dallas move position. Marcelo Bielsa suggested that he could slide into central midfield with Luke Ayling returning at right-back.

As he detailed that, the 64-year-old labelled Dallas’ qualities.

It was a glowing indication of what the Argentine thinks about the 6-foot utility man who also earned plaudits in response from fans.

They were quick to rave over how good he’s been as one said he’s turned into a Premier League quality player under Bielsa.

Dallas was branded a machine, as well as being described as Leeds’ player of the season so far.

The Northern Irishman ended last term playing at left-back but has since made the right side of the defence his own by featuring in all ten matches in the Championship so far.

Here’s the best of the reaction to Bielsa’s comments.

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Liverpool fans are up in arms over the FIFA Best awards, and it’s not because Virgil van Dijk missed out on the top prize.

Instead, they are angered by the fact that Sadio Mane and Mo Salah missed out on the Best XI, with Kylian Mbappe chosen ahead of them despite the fact he won fewer points than both players in the individual voting.

Many have labelled the awards ceremony a “joke”, also citing the fact the Egyptian missed out on the team last year despite finishing third overall in the rankings.

Fans are also puzzled by the inclusion of Eden Hazard, and they have a right to be bemused as the Liverpool pair scored more than the Belgian last year, and were crowned European champions in the process.

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The FIFA Best XI:

Other fans have called it a fix, accusing FIFA of being corrupt, and considering there are just two Premier League players included, with none from Manchester City, you can see why they feel aggrieved.

Here is some of the reaction to the exclusion of Mane and Salah.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

With West Brom leading the Championship heading into the international break, the spotlight will quite rightly be on them – will they keep it up going into the festive period, or will they falter?

Their fate may well be out of their control, especially if they continue to dazzle on the pitch – as weird as that sounds.

Grady Diangana has been an integral part of the exciting, pacy, and possession-based brand of football that manager Slaven Bilic wants to play.

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The winger has scored four goals while laying on three assists in just six starts so far this campaign, per WhoScored. On two occasions his impact has practically won Albion the game – think of Luton away and more recently against Huddersfield.

He is currently the joint-top goalscorer amongst the squad, but given he is only on loan, a huge problem may arise come January.

The 21-year-old’s rich vein of form could result in his parent club, West Ham, wanting him to contribute to their Premier League exploits this season – that has to be the reason why they installed a recall clause as part of the deal.

If that did happen, it would be an absolutely killer blow to their title hopes considering the impact Diangana has had already in just six starts.

Young Kyle Edwards would have to step up as fellow Albion winger Oliver Burke was sent out on loan while Chris Willock seems to only be an option for the U23 squad as he is yet to feature in the league despite joining from Benfica for a temporary stint of his own.

Edwards has scored just one goal in ten appearances, so there’s nothing to suggest he could fill Diangana’s void.

It would likely also cause unrest amongst the Hawthorns faithful considering a year ago the very same thing happened with Harvey Barnes.

The Leicester City ace scored nine goals and provided six assists in 26 appearances, per WhoScored, before the Foxes recalled him to feature for the senior side.

Ultimately, the point of these loan deals has paid off, but it does still leave West Brom hanging in the mire.

With sporting and technical director Luke Dowling putting a two-year timeframe on the club returning to the top-flight, losing Diangana would only put a dent on such hopes.

Whether the Baggies would have gained promotion with Barnes still at the club post-January remains to be seen, but you’d imagine he would have undoubtedly helped their cause.

Milner hasn’t let his head drop after losing to Napoli. The midfielder has seen this sort of thing before, as he was playing for Manchester City in the 2014/15 campaign when the club failed to win any of their opening four group games and ended up qualifying for the next round in second place.

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This type of mental strength and experience could prove invaluable for the Reds as some players could take a serious knock after losing their Champions League opener.