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Newcastle United forward Miguel Almiron has “returned” to training and could be available for Saturday’s Premier League game against Aston Villa, according to journalist Jordan Cronin.

What's the latest on Almiron's injury?

The Magpies came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Brentford and keep their top-four dreams going last weekend, but were without the services of Almiron, who has recently been enduring a spell on the sidelines.

The St James’ Park winger last featured in the 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, where he soon after picked up an unfortunate thigh injury in training, which meant he has missed the last four top-flight games.

Last month, Eddie Howe initially stated that his talisman could be ruled out of action for up to six weeks, which would have been concerning for supporters to hear, though a positive update on his fitness has now emerged.

Taking to Twitter, Cronin revealed that Almiron has pulled his boots back on and staged his comeback to the training pitch much quicker than was anticipated in a massive boost for Newcastle. He wrote:

“Miguel Almiron has returned to NUFC training ahead of schedule, despite Eddie Howe previously doubting that would be the case. The Paraguayan could come back in contention for Saturday lunchtime's trip to AVFC.”

Is Almiron's injury return positive news for Newcastle?

Journalist Josh Bunting previously labelled Almiron as Newcastle’s “key player”, and being Howe’s top goalscorer so far this season despite missing a run of fixtures, it’s hard to argue otherwise, so it’s definitely positive news for the boss that he could be available for selection again this weekend.

The Asuncion native has clocked up 12 goal contributions (11 goals and one assist) in 25 Premier League games this term, but is also a real standout performer apart from when he gets on the scoresheet.

The left-footed forward has recorded 50 shots since the start of the season, which is higher than any other member of the squad, alongside 66 shot-creating actions – at a rate of three per game, ranking him second just behind Kieran Trippier (FBref).

The Magpies have just eight matches remaining to secure their place in the Champions League, and we think the return of Almiron, who has evidently been one of the most important players in their success, will only increase his side’s chances of achieving their goal as we head deeper into the run-in.

West Bromwich Albion ended the 2022/23 campaign just shy of the play-offs in the Championship as Carlos Corberan's side finished three points off the top six.

The Baggies missed out on a play-off place to Sunderland and the club should use the upcoming summer transfer window to bolster their side with a view to making a better fist of a promotion push in 2023/24.

One area in which they could improve is centre-forward as their top scorers – Brandon Thomas-Asante and Daryl Dike – ended the season with just seven goals in the division.

West Brom were recently linked with a possible £4m swoop to sign Blackpool striker Jerry Yates and the Englishman could come in as a big upgrade on current forward Thomas-Asante.

How did Jerry Yates perform this season?

The 26-year-old forward enjoyed a strong campaign with the Tangerines in spite of their relegation down to League One and he could be the club's missing link at the top end of the pitch.

Indeed, Yates plundered 14 goals and missed eight 'big chances' in 41 appearances for Blackpool in the Championship proving himself to be a serious threat in the final third.

The attacker, who averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.87, also scored eight goals in 23 starts in the league in 2021/22, indicating that he is a reliable scorer at that level.

As such, he could well be an upgrade on Thomas-Asante who averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.66 across 33 appearances in the division. He only scored seven goals and missed a whopping 12 'big chances', demonstrating that the 24-year-old was poor in front of goal, failing to make the most of the opportunities provided to him.

The misfiring marksman also failed to offer much in the way of creativity as he averaged 0.5 key passes per game and created three 'big chances' for his teammates in the Championship. Whereas, Yates produced nine 'big chances' in total and 0.8 key passes per game for Blackpool.

These statistics indicate that the 26-year-old would come in and provide more quality in the build-up than Thomas-Asante as the ex-Rotherham man has the ability to set up opportunities for others as well as being able to finish off his own.

As a result, the "immense" Yates – as dubbed by reporter Sean McGinlay – could be a big upgrade on the current West Brom number nine as his form for Blackpool proves that he could offer more in the way of goals, chance creation, and general standard of performance.

Corberan must now swoop for the Englishman and take advantage of his team's relegation from the Championship to find the Bagges' new prolific marksman for next season.

Aston Villa have been linked with another newly relegated Premier League star after confirming an agreement to sign Youri Tielemans from Leicester City.

The Villans have had a host of talent on their radar early into the transfer window and with Monchi and Unai Emery at the wheel, it’s set to be a busy summer in the Midlands.

The latest speculation ties the club with another ace that’s Championship bound, should he not be released from his shackles.

What’s the latest on Rodrigo to Aston Villa?

As reported by journalist Ben Jacobs last weekend on the Leeds United Ultras Youtube channel, Aston Villa hold an interest in Leeds United forward Rodrigo.

Jacobs revealed (21.19) that the Midlands club are watching the 32-year-old “very closely”, with Paris Saint Germain and Brighton & Hove Albion also listed as interested clubs.

Signed for £26m in 2020, Leeds are expected to offload the £100k-per-week talent to transition to the financial difference between the top and second division.

What could Rodrigo offer to Aston Villa?

Hailed as an “absolute top talent” by Leeds managing director Angus Kinnear, the Spaniard has been an integral member of the club’s short journey in the Premier League.

The 32-year-old has contributed to 30 goals in 88 appearances in the top division, scoring 26 and assisting four across three seasons via Transfermarkt.

His highest goal tally came this term where he netted 13, however, his contributions were not enough to keep the Whites from relegation on the final day.

Villa could snatch themselves a versatile forward in the Rio de Janeiro-born star, in a talent that is capable of playing wide as well as through the middle as a traditional centre-forward.

When speaking to The Athletic in April, Emery revealed his desire to sign a second striker to add depth to his squad, in a role that could see the favoured individual partner Ollie Watkins or rotate with the Englishman.

With European competition due next season, it’s imperative that the Spaniard recruits to add depth to his squad which is what he could do by capturing Rodrigo.

The 32-year-old has significant experience playing in Europe, including a standout season in La Liga in the 2017/18 campaign in which he recorded 23 goals and assists to show his capabilities in the final third.

When comparing the Spaniard and the Villa star, the numbers suggest that they could become an influential pair at Villa Park whether playing together or in rotation.

As per FBref, over the past year the Leeds gem averaged 1.86 progressive carries to Watkins’ 1.44 per 90 as well as 0.56 non-penalty goals per 90 to the Englishman’s 0.40, showing his ability to match the Villa favourite if called upon in his absence.

While their similarities are declared through their numbers, their differences suggest that they could form a strong partnership together, with the 27-year-old falling short of the Spaniard in terms of progressive passes, registering 1.12 to his 2.05 per 90.

The Leeds star shows strengths in his ability to link play as highlighted through his numbers of progressive passes in comparison to Watkins, suggesting he could act as an encouraging option to feed the 15-goal Villa star.

Monchi could land his first signing at a low price in securing Rodrigo, who could be a strong introduction for Emery’s plans to add depth to his squad.

Newcastle United are actively looking for new additions who can improve their already impressive squad this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Federico Chiesa?

According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are competing with Liverpool for the signature of Juventus winger, Federico Chiesa.

As per the report, both Premier League clubs are monitoring the player's situation with the Serie A giants, as it is claimed that Chiesa is one of the assets that could be moved on to bolster funds and invest in Max Allegri's tactical philosophy – a 3-5-2 set-up that is ill-suited for the forward.

How good is Federico Chiesa?

There is no doubt that Chiesa is a talented forward who could be a revelation at St James' Park if he could emulate his impressive output in the Premier League, however, his injury record casts a dark cloud over his undeniable ability.

During the 2022/23 campaign alone, the Italy international – hailed a "wizard" by Liverpool insider DaveOCKOP – has had seven separate injury and fitness issues amounting to 75 days in recovery which left him unavailable for selection in 14 fixtures for the Old Lady, which follows almost an entire year out of action due to an ACL injury sustained in January 2022.

As a result, Howe could be heading for an absolute howler if Chiesa is brought in as a replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin, as the Frenchman has a similar problem with injuries and has been an unreliable option in the forward line when needed.

Saint-Maximin – who has been recently speculated for an exit from Newcastle this summer – had four spells on the sidelines over last season; tallying up 81 days out of action and missing 13 fixtures for the North East club, demonstrating a similar recent injury record to Chiesa.

The signing of Chiesa would indeed pose risk on his availability and Howe will need to look at their options when considering whether the Italian's impressive output, versatility and experience in the Champions League will be a valuable asset that outweighs his troubling fitness record.

Over 287 club appearances so far, the 25-year-old Euro 2020 winner has scored 67 goals and registered 49 assists, with a goal contribution every 174 minutes.

Not only that, Chiesa ranks in the top 25% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for shots on goal, assists, progressive carries, successful take-ons, tackles and blocks, proving that he is one of the top all-action wingers in Europe over the last 12 month, as per FBref.

The Magpies are also extremely conscious of their Financial Fair Play constraints and with Chiesa commanding a reported fee of €60m (£51m) this summer, it would be a substantial investment for the club to commit to, that would see them edge closer to reaching their financial limits at present.

With that being said, there is no doubt that Chiesa would bring huge quality to the Tynesiders, but when considering his price tag and availability there may be other options worth investing in this summer.

Chelsea are attempting to complete a major midfield overhaul before their opening game of the season against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Blues have been relentlessly chasing Moises Caicedo all summer, and it is understood that talks have progressed well this week.

Last night, the 2021 Champions League winners submitted a £48m bid for Romeo Lavia and will await to see how Southampton proceed.

However, a storyline that has massively swooped under the radar is their interest is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

What’s the latest on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea?

According to the Guardian, Chelsea have been linked with the 24-year-old gem, but Leicester City do not want to sell the midfielder.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

Reputable journalist Simon Phillips provided an update on the situation, stating that contact with his agent has occurred. The player is reportedly ‘happy’ to stay at the King Power Stadium and help them get back to the Premier League, but if the west Londoners accelerate their attempts to sign the midfielder, he’s ‘likely to want the move.’

Phillips also revealed that ‘at least’ eight top-flight sides are keenly tracking Dewsbury-Hall, including Liverpool, who similarly Chelsea, are prioritising midfield reinforcements.

Would Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall be a good signing for Chelsea?

Since making his Premier League debut in August 2021, the £20k-per-week livewire has established himself as one of Leicester’s most consistent and effervescent assets.

During this time, he has become renowned for his intoxicating energy, industrious work-rate and intricate dribbling. Over the past 365 days, compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, the tenacious engine ranks within the top 12% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, as well as the best 1% for blocks per 90.

Ahead of Leicester’s unenviable task of targeting promotion, Dewsbury-Hall has already emphatically demonstrated that he is a key performer for Enzo Maresca. In the first game against Coventry, the 5 foot 10 dynamo netted twice in a 2-1 comeback victory with a towering header and a ferocious strike that nestled in the top corner.

He also completed three key passes, five accurate long balls, two tackles, and won 80% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

This performance generated huge praise from opposition manager Mark Robins, who said Dewsbury-Hall could be “one of the best players at this level” this season.

When assessing his style of play, Brendan Rodgers summarised it by saying:

“He is very honest to the game. He has great industry. He runs, works and presses, and he has quality. As a No 8, his job is to create goals and score goals. He’s made a real impact with his honesty and quality.”

As a hybrid between a box-to-box midfielder and an advanced eight, Mauricio Pochettino could develop Dewsbury-Hall in the same manner that Christian Eriksen gloriously flourished under the Argentine coach.

In 255 appearances under Pochettino in North London, the Dane was scintillating, recording 134 goal involvements.

Eriksen’s role was particularly important, acting as the link between the ruthless attacking triumvirate of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Son Heung-min, and the formidable defensive pivot of Moussa Dembele and Victor Wanyama.

In the Argentine's current Chelsea set-up, Dewsbury-Hall, who has been described as “top-class” by Rodgers, could be afforded a similar role, whilst providing more defensive stability.

The next step of Dewsbury-Hall’s career is to pinpoint some elusive output, which could be unlocked in an exciting new era for the Blues.

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has shared how Tottenham Hotspur are planning to replace the out-of-favour Eric Dier in the January window.

Who have Spurs signed 2023?

Popular new Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou moved to bring in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker Maddison, winger Manor Solomon, striker Alejo Veliz and forward Brennan Johnson over the summer.

The aforementioned stars, while not all set to be an immediate part of the first team, come in as the first crop of new players tailored towards Postecoglou's new-look, open and attack-minded Tottenham system.

Thus far, Tottenham and Postecoglou's off-field decisions have proved totally justified, with Spurs currently sitting second in the Premier League table after a run of three wins over their opening four top flight matches.

In that time, the Lilywhites have racked up 11 goals over what has been a very impressive unbeaten streak; a run which showcases Postecoglou's exciting philosophy to devastating effect.

Who is leaving Tottenham?

Chairman Daniel Levy, before Chief Football Officer Scott Munn's arrival, also offloaded striker Harry Kane, Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon, Djed Spence, Harry Winks, Alfie Devine, Troy Parrott, Dane Scarlett, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele during what was a busy summer transfer period.

Other members of the Spurs squad face uncertain futures, as the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Hugo Lloris and Dier are all repeatedly linked with departures.

The latter defender, who is yet to play a single minute of Postecoglou's debut campaign, is reported to have even held talks with Levy over his future at the club.

This is despite being a previous favourite of ex-Spurs boss Antonio Conte, who lavished him with praise last campaign.

"What I can tell you is that Eric has improved a lot since I arrived," said Conte.

"I can also tell you he is a really good guy, with great will, desire to work and improve. He knows he has space for improvement and I see every day in his eyes the desire to become stronger, to become a top defender."

Dier's contract expires in 2024 and Spurs couldn't find a suitor before September 1, meaning they could look to January for a solution.

As per Football Insider and journalist O'Rourke, a transfer plan has come to light on how the club may seek to replace the Englishman.

Indeed, it is believed the north Londoners, and by extension Postecoglou, are "plotting to sell" Dier and sign Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo as a replacement.

Tottenham were interested in signing the 25-year-old this summer, O'Rourke writes, and are likely to revisit a move for him in January – on either a pre-contract agreement or there and then for a cut-price fee.

Adarabioyo's deal expires in 2024, meaning Fulham aren't exactly in a position to demand high figures for his signature.

How good is Tosin Adarabioyo?

Adarabioyo has played just a one solitary league minute under Marco Silva this season, but did stand out as one of Fulham's best performers by average match rating over 2022/2023, according to WhoScored.

He's even been called "magnificent" by members of the media for some of his displays over the years.

Jurgen Klopp will be hoping to end the season on a high note as Liverpool are on a four game winning run and with European football now looking like a real possibility, how they perform over the next few matches will determine which competition they will enter next term.

The summer will be one of transition for Liverpool, much like their season, with plenty of transfer activity planned in order to shape up a squad – midfield in particular – ahead of an assault on trophies next season.

One player who must be ditched is Naby Keita, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, it’s the ideal time to let him part ways with the club, especially after an injury-plagued time in Merseyside.

The £120k-per-week liability has missed 22 games due to injury already, making only 13 appearances during 2022/23 and an average Sofascore rating of just 6.47 certainly suggests that freeing up space in the wage budget by releasing him could allow Klopp to bring in a younger, more talented midfielder.

The Anfield side have spoken to Sporting CP behind the scenes regarding midfielder Manuel Ugarte according to reporter Bruno Andrade and it has been reported that he has a £53m price tag, which is more than affordable for the club.

What is Manuel Ugarte's playstyle?

Signing a midfielder is arguably top of Klopp’s priority list this summer, especially with the stagnation on show throughout this season. As such, Ugarte could be a wonderful signing.

The Uruguayan won't give Liverpool goals, as he has scored just once for Sporting in 87 games, however, that doesn’t matter as Klopp will be signing a combative player who can win duels in the middle of the park with ease as the 22-year-old has previously been dubbed a “midfield machine” by scout Jacek Kulig.

Ugarte’s influence in the heart of the Portuguese side's midfield is evidenced by the fact he currently ranks in the top 1% across the globe's next 8 best leagues (outside of the big five) for pass completion rate and tackles won, while ranking in the top 5% for aerials won, ball recoveries and interceptions, suggesting he could be incredible for Klopp as his midfielders this season have failed to show their usual bite.

That tackling stat is particularly appealing with Jordan Henderson (worst 17%), Naby Keita (51%), Fabinho (54%), Stefan Bajcetic (52%) and Thiago (top 8%) ranking below him when compared to positional peers in the top five leagues.

Statically, therefore, Ugarte is one of the finest defensive midfielders on the continent. £53m perhaps sounds a lot on the surface yet taking a look at his figures across the previous 12 months, this could represent a real bargain, especially considering he has just turned 22 years old.

This summer could be the most important during Klopp’s eight-year association with the club, and he will be under pressure to bring in the correct players ahead of next term.

Signing Ugarte would not only improve the midfield, but it would also allow the German to ditch the injury-riddled Keita in the process, thus giving the Reds a solid base to build their midfield around.

Julian Nagelsmann is on Chelsea’s radar after Graham Potter was sacked as Blues manager, according to a key update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Potter gets the boot

The west Londoners endured another dreadful day at the office on Saturday evening, losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League. The defeat leaves Chelsea languishing in mid-table, with the Champions League now essentially all they have to play for this season.

Pressure continued to build on Potter, who looked to have steadied the ship after some improved form, progressing to the quarter-finals in Europe. The loss to Villa was a big step in the wrong direction, and the Blues owner Todd Boehly is now eyeing potential replacements.

One individual who has been linked with taking charge at Stamford Bridge is Nagelsmann, who was recently surprisingly disposed of at Bayern, despite still being in the Bundesliga title race and the Champions League last-eight.

Now, a new update has emerged regarding Chelsea’s potential interest in the 35-year-old.

Will Nagelsmann replace Potter?

Taking to Twitter previously, Romano claimed that Potter is under big pressure and Nagelsmann is “one to watch” as a possible successor for him at Stamford Bridge.

Then, after confirmation broke of the former Brighton manager’s departure, the journalist reiterated that point, Tweeting the following.

While it had been refreshing to see the Blues give Potter time to prove his worth, despite an awful run of results, there does come a point where he simply had to reach the end of the road at the club, which has now come.

In Nagelsmann, Chelsea could have an ideal man to bring in, with the German harshly sacked by Bayern and a hugely exciting young manager who has a massive future in the game. It seems likely that he won’t make a decision over his future until the summer, however, as he enjoys some downtime before being handed a new challenge in his career.

Indeed, with Aston Villa overtaking the Blues in the table after securing the yesterday, you have to say that it’s no great surprise to see him gone, as at this point in a season, Chelsea supporters are used to fighting in and around the top four.

Mikel Arteta has been dealt an injury blow as he confirmed that Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah is still ‘a few weeks away’ from returning.

The Lowdown: Niggling issue

Arsenal reporter for GOAL Charles Watts confirmed on his YouTube channel (via FootballFanCast) that Nketiah had ‘limped off’ in their 4-0 win at home to Everton in the Premier League earlier this month, and that she has been struggling with an injury issue for ‘a while’:

“Eddie Nketiah limped off at the end of the game.

“He went down as soon as the full-time whistle went, he fell onto the ground and then he got up and he limped off.“He went down the tunnel straightaway with one of the fitness coaches at Arsenal. He has been suffering with an issue for a while now, Eddie, which is kind of why he was rested at the weekend against Leicester.”The Englishman has since missed Arsenal’s last three games in total over all competitions, ahead of their second leg at home to Sporting in their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie. The Latest: ‘A few weeks away’

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of the clash at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta has confirmed that Nketiah is still ‘a few weeks away’ from returning to first-team action, in what he describes as a ‘nasty injury’:

“He’s getting better. He’s still in the boot so still a few weeks away. We need to be patient – it was a nasty injury. It’s a challenge that Eddie’s got ahead of him, but thank God he could have been worse so he’s not in a bad place.”

The Verdict: Big blow

For Nketiah to be ruled out for another few weeks at least is a big blow for Arteta and his team.

Both Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard have only just come back from injuries themselves, and so the Spaniard will want as many options in the forward line available as possible, especially if they get through in the Europa League and continue to fight on two fronts.

Nketiah has not been the most prolific so far this season, but has chipped in while Jesus has been out injured, scoring nine goals and making a further two assists in 32 appearances in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt).

The 23-year-old offers so much more to the side though, with Arteta previously hailing his ‘incredible work-rate’.

Nonetheless, it is a blow for Arteta to be without Nketiah, as they look to beat Sporting before a potentially tricky London derby against Crystal Palace in the top flight on Sunday afternoon.

Liverpool's need for midfield reinforcements in no secret, even after they overcame the odds to defeat Newcastle United at St James' Park and extend their unbeaten run to start the season to three Premier League games.

The Reds were, of course, on their way to a fairly successful transfer window, with the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia threw a spanner in the works.

Since then, they have welcomed Wataru Endo, but it could be argued that a more high-profile name is still needed.

With that said, though, the club have reportedly ruled out signing one particular midfielder.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

As the summer transfer window edges closer and closer to slamming shut, Liverpool are scrambling for the extra reinforcements needed to ensure that Jurgen Klopp has a side capable of returning to the Premier League's top four, after missing out last season.

The name at the forefront of their current list of targets seems to be Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch, who the Bavarians could reportedly soften their stance on in the coming days.

As Gravenberch rises to the top of Liverpool's list, however, it is Sofyan Amrabat who has reportedly been ruled out altogether.

According to Manchester Evening News, who were reporting on Manchester United and Liverpool's interest in Amrabat, the Reds have clarified that they will not be making a move for the Fiorentina man this summer.

This news comes at a time when Amrabat has been frozen out at the Serie A club, with La Viola dropping the Morroco international from both first-team games, and training until his future is resolved, as per Fabrizio Romano.

Should Liverpool sign Sofyan Amrabat?

Liverpool's stance on Amrabat is a surprising one, given their need for midfielders, and Fiorentina's reported price-tag of just €30m (£25.6m) this summer.

Statistically speaking, too, the Moroccan would be an upgrade on the options that Klopp waved goodbye to this summer.

According to FBref, Amrabat outperformed Henderson in some key areas throughout the previous campaign.

Player

Progressive Carries Per 90

Blocks

Pass Completion Rate

Tackles Won

Sofyan Amrabat

1.62

23

88.8%

24

Jordan Henderson

1.61

21

83%

23

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old earned plenty of praise during the 2022 World Cup, as he helped Morroco to reach the semi-final stage, in the surprise of the tournament.

Alan Shearer praised the midfielder, saying on BBC's Match of The Day, via the Liverpool Echo: "He gets it and then he can feed the ball in, and you can see him go back there. He’ll be reluctant to get forward as he wants to protect, he’ll want to do that.

"He really enjoys that and he’s really good at that – ‘get off the ball, I’m having it’ – and he’s setting his team forward. He’s been key. He does that, he protects, he can get out there and help his full-backs, and that’s what he’s in that role to do – to stop, and be a spoiler – he’s excellent at it. Then he drives forward and they’re on their way. He’s been magnificent, he really has."

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Nonetheless, despite the praise and the stats, Liverpool reportedly remain unlikely to push ahead for Amrabat's signature this summer.