Newcastle United have been handed a bleak injury update on Kieran Trippier and his chances of potentially returning before the end of the Premier League season…
What’s the story?
The full-back underwent an operation on his broken foot after picking up a metatarsal injury in a 1-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this calendar year, and now, injury expert, Ben Dinnery, has cast serious doubt about him returning this season.
He said: “We need to understand that this is a serious setback. Yes, he went under the knife early and the surgery went well. That’s all true. But it doesn’t matter about the advances in technology, we’re still looking at an eight to 10-week period before the bone begins to heal.
“Typically, the data indicates that the return date is between 80 and 85 days. There are very few instances in which players return in a 70-day period. That shows that we’re looking at the higher end of the return-to-play timeline. By then, we’ll be approaching May.”
Body blow for Newcastle
After signing from Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window, Trippier quickly set about leading the Magpies away from the relegation zone and dragging them to some much-needed, morale-boosting victories.
His trademark free-kicks have already made him a cult hero at St James’ Park, and journalist Pete O’Rourke recently admitted that being without the England international for a significant amount of time would be a major blow for the Magpies.
He said: “I think it would be a big blow to Eddie Howe. Trippier has come and really slotted straight into the team. He has been a big improvement on what they’ve got.”
One man who’s a big fan of the 31-year-old is Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate himself, who has said previously: “He (Trippier) is a very underrated player. People are still looking at the player from a few years ago and not at the one who is at Atletico Madrid and playing like a warrior in the last few seasons. He is a big part of what we’ve done over the last few years and he gave a really good performance.”
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News that Trippier may only be able to come back in May – at which point the Magpies will only have three games remaining in the Premier League – is a body blow for Newcastle and Howe, and one that will surely leave them gutted after seeing him get off to such a good start.
Meanwhile, Newcastle could find their Shelvey heir in this star…
Wolves have had a fairly solid season so far in Bruno Lage’s debut campaign in charge of the Midlands club, having won 12 of their 26 league games, drawing four and losing 12.
One aspect of their season that could be addressed when the next summer transfer window opens is their lack of goals scored (24) compared to the other teams around them in the top half of the table, with a significant number of clubs in the bottom half of the division also finding the back of the net more times than the Old Gold have.
Specifically, having played in 24 league games, striker Raul Jimenez has only managed to score five goals.
With that in mind, one thing the Molineux outfit could do if their goalscoring fortunes don’t improve by the end of the campaign is look to bring in some extra attacking reinforcements when the transfer window opens for business.
One figure that could spark a bit of life into Lage’s attacking force is Benfica winger Rafa Silva, who has been mentioned with a move to the Midlands club recently.
Having racked up a total of 392 senior appearances for Benfica, Brage and Feirense, the 28-year-old has managed to score 93 goals and provide 66 assists, showing how much of a threat he can be going forward when it comes to scoring and creating goals.
With seven strikes and 15 assists under his belt for his current club so far in this campaign, the Portuguese international has more goal contributions than Jimenez, Hwang Hee-chan and Daniel Podence have managed to deliver in the Premier League combined.
The £25.2m-rated gem has also managed to earn himself an overall performance rating of 7.5/10 from WhoScored, which would also make him the highest-rated player in Lage’s squad by the same metric.
Known as “the Portuguese Eden Hazard,” the Benfica star could be a sensational addition to Wolves’ team if they manage to secure his signature in the coming months.
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Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, if the Old Gold receive a suitable transfer fee from Barcelona for Adama Traore and don’t end up signing Francisco Trincao permanently, they could potentially use the money to launch a move for Silva to see if he can replicate the same sort of attacking form that he’s shown in Portugal in the Premier League.
If this were to happen, he could be just what Wolves need to bring a bit of life to their attack and potentially help the likes of Jimenez to get back to scoring goals on a regular basis, creating a deadly forward duo at the same time.
In other news: “I’m told…”: Journalist drops exciting Wolves transfer claim, Lage would love him – opinion
Wolves are looking to tie down ‘other star players’ after committing Pedro Neto to a new contract.
The lowdown
It emerged on Wednesday that Neto had penned a new deal, tying him to Wolves until the summer of 2027.
According to Transfermarkt, Neto is their second most valuable player at an estimated £31.5million, behind Ruben Neves (£36million).
It was only in November 2020 that the winger last signed a long-term contract extension.
The latest
Late on Wednesday night, Express and Star journalist Liam Keen relayed news on Twitter from Bruno Lage’s press conference.
‘Following Pedro Neto’s new contract’, he reports, ‘Bruno Lage says that Wolves are working hard’ on extending their other big names.
Indeed, the manager told the media that the ‘next move’ was to secure the signature of those players who ‘want to put the club on a different level’.
The verdict
So then, who should be next?
Well, Neves is under contract for another two years and three months, meaning there’s arguably no immediate pressure to bring him to the table.
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But Wolves may see it differently. Neto was under contract until 2025, and an early extension can ward off interest from suitors, or at the very least increase a player’s value to a ridiculous sum if they were to leave.
Arsenal were strongly linked with Neves last summer, and Wolves may be wary of fresh approaches this time around unless he signals his commitment to the club.
In other news, Tim Spiers reacts as footage of a loanee emerges.
Leeds United managed to secure a top-half finish in the Premier League table in their first season back in the division after a lengthy 16-year absence.
Despite this impressive feat, the Whites were susceptible to conceding goals throughout the campaign, with 54 in total, which is more than Fulham managed to who ended up getting relegated.
Things have been much worse for the Yorkshire club on that front this season, with 61 now conceded with 27 league games played.
They have now appointed Jesse Marsch as the new manager following the departure of Marcelo Bielsa, meaning there could potentially be some changes made by the American if he feels it’s necessary to help his side avoid relegation.
One possible change that could be made for a short-term and possible long-term benefit for the club is to give left-back Liam McCarron a chance to prove himself in the senior side.
Since joining the Elland Road outfit back in the 2019 summer transfer window from Carlisle United, the defender has made 32 appearances for Leeds’ U23 side, scoring four goals and providing one assist along the way.
Labelled as having an “unbelievable” work rate by Carlisle academy manager Darren Edmondson, the 21-year-old made his senior debut for the Whites back in December during their 4-1 defeat against Arsenal where he came on for a nine-minute cameo.
Even though Junior Firpo has played in the majority of Leeds’ league games this season, the fact that he has managed to rack up fewer interceptions (26), blocks (24) and successful tackles (26) than a fair number of his teammates, could sway Marsch into taking him out of the side to see if McCarron could be a better option.
While it could be a gamble to throw the youngster into the side at such a crucial stage of the campaign given his lack of senior game time, it may be a risk that heavily pays off for the team if he can impress defensively and offer something going forward.
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If this were to happen and McCarron was able to cement himself as a regular first-team player for Marsch’s side, he could potentially save Victor Orta millions in future transfer fees if they aim to secure big-money replacements for the likes of Luke Ayling or Stuart Dallas.
In other news: Major blow: Phil Hay reveals yet another Leeds injury setback, Marsch surely fuming – opinion
West Ham United are in a good place at this stage of the season as they are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League and in the chase to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.
However, looking beyond what happens this term, it seems as though the east London club could be in danger of entering an unwanted situation regarding the future of one of their key players.
What’s the talk?
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Paul Brown had this to say about the future of Declan Rice and the possibility of his signing a new contract at the east London club before his current deal expires in the summer of 2024.
He said: “I don’t think he is someone who is going to force his way out with a formal transfer request or any particular demands, but they’re at a point where he probably isn’t going to sign a new contract because he wants to test the water.”
Fans will rage if Rice leaves
Since making his senior debut for the Hammers back in May 2017 during a Premier League clash against Burnley under former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, the Englishman has gone on to make 183 senior appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing nine assists along the way.
Having played through the entirety of all but two of West Ham’s 30 league games in this campaign, the 23-year-old has racked up more minutes than any other outfield Hammers player, highlighting how crucial he is to David Moyes’ side.
The midfielder has also earned himself an overall performance rating of 7.13, making him their second-highest rated player according to WhoScored, with the joint-highest number of interceptions per game (1.7) alongside Tomas Soucek as well as the second-highest number of tackles per game (2.3) behind Arthur Masuaku.
Taking into account how important Rice is for the team, it would be nothing short of a disaster for everyone connected to the club if the Englishman were to reject a new deal and instead make a move away from the London Stadium.
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With that in mind, GSB’s top priority should be to avoid risking the wrath of the West Ham fans, who would undoubtedly be fuming to see the player leave, and make sure that the England international puts pen to paper on a new deal with his current club.
In other news: Forget Benrahma: “Special” West Ham gem with 97% pass success was Moyes’ shining light
Journalist Pete O’Rourke has now dropped some Newcastle United injury news involving Callum Wilson.
The Lowdown: Injury worries
After Fabian Schar was forced to withdraw from the Switzerland squad for their upcoming friendlies against England and Kosovo due to an adductor problem, the injuries seem to be piling up for Eddie Howe and his team.
Aside from Wilson, Kieran Trippier has also found himself sidelined, but it looks as if he is now stepping up his recovery, while Isaac Hayden is out long-term and Martin Dubravka is reportedly suffering from angina.
The Latest: O’Rourke on Wilson
Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke has now given an update on Wilson’s fitness after he joined his teammates in Dubai, claiming that he is ‘making good progress’:
“He’s gone away with him on this trip to Dubai just to work on his fitness as well.
“He’s been out since December with his injury but making good progress.”
The Verdict: Big boost
Of course, the fact that Wilson is making good progress is a big boost for the St. James’ Park faithful.
It was expected that he would not return until the end of April, but now it looks as if he could come back much sooner.
Wilson still remains the North East club’s top scorer in all competitions so far this season, despite being out injured since January, and he is more than capable of providing the goals that could guarantee their safety.
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Nonetheless, should he, Trippier and Schar all return within the next couple of weeks, it should give everyone on Tyneside a huge lift.
In other news, find out which ‘spectacular’ talent NUFC are now ‘interested’ in here!
Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has relayed a new injury concern for Jesse Marsch regarding Luke Ayling.
The Lowdown: Late substitution
Ayling, who has been key under Marsch since the American replaced Marcelo Bielsa, was forced off against Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
The 30-year-old, who Jermaine Jenas labelled as ‘quick’ and ‘agile’, scored the winner against Wolves prior to the international break but missed his first minutes under Marsch. The right-back called for treatment and was taken off for Pascal Struijk late on in a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.
The Latest: Hay’s post
Hay relayed comments from Marsch on Twitter on Saturday evening, with the Leeds boss addressing a mix up on the touchline.
Captain Liam Cooper was supposed to come off for Struijk, however, Ayling was the man to make way due to a ‘little (injury) situation’.
The Verdict: Fingers crossed
The Whites received a major double boost with Cooper and Kalvin Phillips making their first appearances since December, so it would be typical of Leeds’ season if they now have a new injury concern with Ayling.
He has already missed nine games this season with a knee problem, so hopefully, his withdrawal was only as a precaution, as Marsch suspects it will be ‘fine’.
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Ayling’s presence at right-back is needed in a crucial trip to Watford next weekend, especially with Stuart Dallas covering Junior Firpo at left-back.
In other news: Leeds may now lose another star alongside Raphinha and Phillips; he stunned a club employee.
Manchester United have become known for splashing the cash in the transfer market over the last few years, but it’s not resulted in any success in the Premier League.
Over the last three years alone, the hierarchy have invested over £800m on new additions, but no manager has been able to make use of the money spent.
The Red Devils have now gone over a decade without a league triumph, something which was unimaginable after Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure at Old Trafford.
However, Ruben Amorim will no doubt be hoping he can be the first manager to achieve such a success, but he will need a huge change in fortunes to achieve such a feat.
One player in particular has massively struggled under his guidance in recent months, with his big-money transfer now looking to be somewhat of a mistake.
How bad Sesko has been for United compared to PL strikers
In an attempt to land a new talisman during the summer transfer window, INEOS forked out a reported £74m for the signature of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.
Given the nature of the transfer fee, such a move generated huge excitement within the fanbase, but the move has been anything but successful during the last few months.
The Slovenian has already racked up 13 league appearances to date, only scoring on three occasions – subsequently showcasing his lack of impact under Amorim.
However, it’s his underlying stats that highlight his struggles in England’s top-flight, with many of his numbers ranking him lowly among other players in the division.
Sesko has only completed 0.2 dribbles per 90 to date, whilst also achieving a measly 16% success rate – subsequently putting him in the bottom 15% of all strikers in the league.
He’s also averaged just 3.6 touches in the opposition box per 90, whilst completing just 64% of the passes he’s attempted – again putting him in the bottom 15%.
It’s safe to say such numbers are way below what’s expected of such a big-money addition, with the player facing an uphill battle to ignite his career in Manchester.
The United star who’s becoming the next Martial
Spending big on a young striker hasn’t been alien to United, as seen with the move to land Anthony Martial from Ligue 1 side Monaco back in the summer of 2015.
The Red Devils forked out a reported £58m, including add-ons for the 19-year-old – with such a deal then being the most expensive ever paid for a teenager.
It looked to be a phenomenal piece of business at first, especially after the youngster came off the substitutes bench to net a superb effort on his debut against Liverpool at Old Trafford.
However, his stint in the Premier League was hugely inconsistent, as seen by his tally of just 90 goals within his 317 appearances over a nine-year period in Manchester.
Martial would subsequently depart on a free transfer at the end of his contract in the summer of 2024, subsequently showcasing his lack of impact given the mammoth fee paid for his signature.
In the present day, Amorim appears to have his own version of the striker in the form of Leny Yoro, with the Frenchman potentially mirroring his compatriot at Old Trafford.
He joined the Red Devils for a reported £52m in the summer of 2024, with the youngster having the potential to develop into a world-class talent in the years ahead.
The now 20-year-old made 33 appearances across all competitions last season, even scoring in the Europa League, which could have catapulted him to stardom.
However, this campaign has been a struggle for the youngster, which could see him follow Martial in failing to match expectations at the club after an impressive start to life after joining from Ligue 1.
Yoro’s showing against Aston Villa on Sunday was an example of his struggles, with the centre-back unable to help the side claim a crucial win in the Premier League.
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He was unable to stop opposition winger Morgan Rogers from cutting inside onto his favoured right foot on two occasions, with the Englishman’s two goals proving the difference in the contest.
Leny Yoro – stats against Aston Villa
Statistics
Tally
Minutes played
84
Touches
61
Passes completed
95%
Duels won
50%
Interceptions made
0
Aerials lost
100%
Tackles
1
Fouls committed
1
Stats via FotMob
The youngster also only managed to win 50% of the duels that he entered, whilst failing to make any interceptions – which no doubt contributed to the defeat.
Yoro also committed a foul, whilst losing 100% of the aerial battles he entered, subsequently being dominated by the inform Villans attack in the West Midlands.
Given his tender age, there’s no doubt he has time to resurrect his career at Old Trafford, but it’s clear he’s in danger of following in Martial’s footsteps at the club.
He’s currently as unreliable as Sesko for Amorim in the Premier League, with two of their big money additions undoubtedly struggling to meet expectations at present.
Better move than Semenyo: INEOS looking to sign elite £44m star for Man Utd
This Man Utd target could have a bigger impact than Semenyo
West Ham United will sanction the exit of Issa Diop in the summer amid heavy interest from Lyon, according to former Premier League striker Noel Whelan.
The Lowdown: Diop’s West Ham career
The 25-year-old arrived at the London Stadium in 2018 after the Hammers agreed a then-club record £22m fee with Ligue 2 outfit Toulouse. However, since arriving in east London, the defender has often struggled to adjust to life in the English top flight.
As a result, Diop has played just 11 Premier League games this season, with David Moyes favouring a centre-back partnership of Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson.
According to L’Equipe (via Get Football News France), Lyon are interested in bolstering their centre-half options with the addition of the £10.8m-rated defender.
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The Latest: Whelan’s claim on Diop
Whelan, who used to regularly feature as a pundit for the BBC, believes that West Ham will let the Frenchman go in the summer.
Speaking with Football Insider, the 47-year-old claimed: “I think they can afford to let him go.
“They have Zouma now and Craig Dawson has provided quality and consistency this season. He has been the standout player out of all of the centre-halves for me. David Moyes knows how important Dawson is at the back. He’s a leader and a competitor. He’s their rock at the back.
“Diop is not getting in the side so I think they’ll let him go and look elsewhere. It doesn’t surprise me to hear he might leave. I think they will let him if the right offer comes in.”
The Verdict: Time to sell
Given Lyon’s apparent interest in the player, this may be the time for West Ham and Diop to part ways.
Despite the huge promise he showed when he first arrived at the club, the move hasn’t really worked out for the Frenchman, given his sparsity of game-time this season despite the Irons being far from stacked in his position and the meagre impression he has made whenever called upon.
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The 6 foot 4 defender has displayed glimpses of brilliance during his four-year stay in east London, with Jose Mourinho even referring to him as “a monster” after one of his performances against the Portuguese’s Manchester United side in the early weeks of the 2018/19 season.
Therefore, whilst this news may come as a disappointment to some West Ham supporters, the move would probably be in the best interests of both parties, and it’s little wonder that Whelan is predicting that Diop’s four-year stint with the Hammers could soon reach its denouement.
In other news: Whelan has also made this transfer claim regarding a potential London Stadium incoming
Newcastle United could offer Miguel Almiron to Villarreal as part of a deal for Arnaut Danjuma, according to The Sunday Mirror.
The lowdown
Eddie Howe was in charge at Bournemouth when the Cherries paid Club Brugge £14.8million to sign Danjuma in 2019.
Amid injury problems, he made only 14 Premier League appearances (six starts) in his first season on the south coast.
Howe subsequently resigned, but Danjuma exploded into life in the Championship, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists in 2020/21.
That earned him a move back to the top level with Villarreal, for whom he’s made 28 appearances this season.
The latest
Howe has already been reunited with Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie and Ryan Fraser on Tyneside and, in addition to Danjuma, he’s also said to be keen on bringing Lloyd Kelly to St James’ Park.
Reliable reports on the south coast say Kelly will be the subject of a summer bid from the Magpies, with scouts allegedly attending all his games, and it appears he’s not the only former Howe student catching the eye.
The latest reports (via The Boot Room) state that Newcastle have identified Danjuma as a target ahead of the summer transfer window.
Almiron is one of the players the club are willing to sell this summer, and they could attempt a part-exchange with The Yellow Submarine.
The verdict
What would this deal look like? Well, there’s about a £30million difference in the two players’ Transfermarkt valuations (Danjuma £45million, Almiron £14.4million) and so, assuming Villarreal are interested in the Paraguayan, there may still need to be a negotiation over the fee.
It’s easy to understand why Newcastle are keen on Danjuma though, his team’s top scorer this season with 13 goals in all competitions.
Five of those goals have come in the Champions League, and the Dutchman is currently preparing for a quarterfinal meeting with Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
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Villarreal vice-president Jose Manuel Llaneza has dubbed him a ‘Rolex player’, while talent scout Jacek Kulig considers him ‘one of Europe’s best dribblers’.
It’s certainly a signing, then, that the Toon could get excited about.
In other news, Keith Downie shares an update on Shelvey.