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When Liverpool released goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi on a free transfer in the summer of 2013, few would have predicted how his career would’ve turned out.

The Hungarian joined Austrian side RB Salzburg, where he spent two years, in which he made 100 appearances before making the predictable move to RB Leipzig in 2015 (per Transfermarkt).

This was already impressive for a man who’s time at Liverpool was dominated by loan spells to the likes of Hereford United, Tranmere Rovers and Hull City but in his five years at Leipzig, he has established himself as one of the best in the business.

The 30-year-old, who is valued at £9.9 million, has made 189 appearances for Die Roten Bullen ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, in which he has conceded 221 goals and kept 57 clean sheets (per Transfermarkt).

Gulacsi has also made 36 caps for his country and showed his class in the Bundesliga last season, as Julian Nagelsmann’s side conceded just 34 goals in 32 games while he was in net, with him also keeping 10 clean sheets (per Transfermarkt).

The former Liverpool man, who earns €30,000 (£27,000) a week at Leipzig, also helped the Bundesliga side reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they were eventually defeated 3-0 by PSG, so he now has experience at the very highest level.

Considering Liverpool’s goalkeeping struggles in recent years, with Loris Karius’ Reds career ended in one fell swoop after a disastrous performance in the Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid, whilst Adrian has earned a lot of critics since joining as a back-up to Alisson, it could be argued that the Merseyside club would have been better served by putting their faith in Gulacsi when he was younger.

Back in 2009, Rafael Benitez was full of praise for the shot-stopper, calling him “fantastic” and suggesting that he was very happy with his development (per HITC) but eventually the club decided that he wasn’t worth keeping in 2013, in a decision which they must surely now regret.

Brighton defender Bernardo is attracting interest from three clubs amid rumours of a potential loan exit from the Amex Stadium.

Sky Sports reported that the Seagulls are in talks with Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir over a possible season-long loan for the 25-year-old, with Premier League duo West Ham and Newcastle also looking at the left-back as a potential recruit.

Left-back Bernardo has made 43 appearances in two years at Brighton but, having started 19 Premier League games in his first season at the club, he made just seven league starts last term, with Dan Burn often preferred by Graham Potter on the left flank.

With the ex-Wigan defender more conventionally a centre-back, Bernardo is actually the only natural left-back in the Seagulls’ first team squad, although it is perhaps an indication of his current standing that Potter would rather play a central defender at left-back than the Brazilian, who is a natural fit for the role.

The 25-year-old’s place could come under further threat from the potential arrival of Rico Henry, with Albion considering a move for the Brentford left-back and the Bees expecting the 23-year-old to leave the Championship club in this transfer window, as per Sussex Live.

In 2019/20, Bernardo actually won more tackles (1.9 to 1.5) and headers (2.2 to 1.9) per game than Henry, so some may argue that the Brentford defender mightn’t necessarily be an upgrade on the Brighton left-back.

It would be understandable if Bernardo wishes to try his luck on loan elsewhere, given that he has struggled for game-time under Potter despite being Brighton’s only genuine left-back.

However, if a loan exit is sanctioned, that leaves the Seagulls manager potentially sweating on getting a deal done for Henry. Otherwise, he will have no option but to utilise Burn at left-back for another season and pray that he doesn’t fall victim to injury or suspension.

Brighton fans, do you think Bernardo should be loaned out or would that be a risky move? Join in the discussion by commenting below!

It may not have been the end result West Ham wanted, or even deserved, but there is no questioning that their performance against Arsenal on Saturday evening was like chalk and cheese compared to their showing against Newcastle.

The Hammers looked like a completely different team to the one that surrendered meekly to Steve Bruce’s men last weekend, and were unlucky not to come away with all three points at the Emirates, let alone just one – they had double the amount of total shots Arsenal managed in the 90 minutes (14-7).

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And one man who looked in inspired touch in David Moyes’ revamped system for the clash, was Arthur Masuaku. The 26-year-old started the game as a left wing-back as West Ham looked to match the Gunners tactically, and he constantly caused Hector Bellerin major problems down the flank.

As per Sofascore, he completed four of his seven attempted dribbles (the rest of his team combined managed just one), delivered five crosses, created one big chance, and won eight duels.

One Hammers fan meanwhile admitted that whilst they’ve been critical of Masuaku in the past, they would be eating “some humble pie” after his performance against Arsenal.

And after seeing his impressive display, West Ham fans took to Twitter to share their reactions.

Despite the defeat, there were plenty of positives for West Ham to take from the game.

One of the big things for Moyes to decide over these coming days is whether the Hammers stick with this three-at-the-back formation.

It seemed to get the best out of Masuaku’s attacking instincts in particular, and they seemed to be a lot more solid at the back, with the Gunners registering just seven shots on goal.

Leeds United may be on the verge of signing Illan Meslier to a long-term deal, but they appear to have their eyes on another goalkeeping option, according to emerging reports.

What’s the word?

AlAireLibre claim that Marcelo Bielsa is lining up a move for Manchester City veteran Claudio Bravo, who is out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

The 37-year-old has won the Premier League, two League Cups and two Community Shields since he joined the Citizens in 2016.

His deal at the Etihad Stadium is reportedly a whopping £80k-per-week, which puts him earning more than first-choice stopper Edersonm Phil Foden and the same as Joao Cancelo, as per Spotrac.

Repeat mistake

Leeds and overpaid veteran goalkeepers, we’ve been here before right?

This feels all too similar to the swoop for former Real Madrid man Kiko Casilla, in the end, it has cost the club £40k-a-week in wages and it probably hasn’t been worth it.

Throughout the season he was lambasted for mistakes before it culminated in an eight-match ban for racial abuse, leaving many, including The Athletic’s Phil Hay, believing his time is done at Elland Road.

During his absence, Meslier stepped up and proved worthy of the number one jersey, managing to keep six clean sheets in nine appearances, per Transfermarkt.

Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta must be smart with their transfer business this summer as Leeds simply cannot afford to follow the same path of the likes of Fulham and Norwich in recent seasons.

Their move for Casilla was a financial gamble, just the same as it was with Jean-Kevin Augustin and his obligatory £19m fee.

A move for Bravo just doesn’t make any financial or footballing sense whatsoever.

AND in other news, Phil Hay reveals how many players Leeds CEO thinks they’ll sign this summer…

Leeds United must land Marcelo Bielsa one man in particular if they are to succeed in the big time next season…

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, Brentford striker Ollie Watkins was “a name mentioned” to the reliable Whites correspondent this week, meaning he could be someone that the Yorkshire giants are indeed taking a look at.

Elsewhere, it has been reported that the Bees value their leading talisman in excess of £25m following their failure to gain promotion in the Championship playoff final.

Aston Villa, who are managed by Watkins’ ex-coach Dean Smith, are also keen on landing the impressive forward.

Exactly what Bielsa needs

The striking position is an interesting headache for Bielsa, he clearly likes Patrick Bamford but he shouldn’t sniff away from upgrading that position now they’re back in the top-flight.

Despite hitting 16 goals for the season, Bamford was hugely wasteful and was one major cause of Leeds ranking inside the bottom five for chance conversion – the title-winners scored just 12.5% of their opportunities per Transfermarkt.

Watkins scored a whopping 26 goals in the second tier last season, averaging only 2.7 shots per game as well as 1.5 key passes and 0.8 dribbles, via WhoScored.

Meanwhile, United’s number nine scored ten fewer goals yet averaged 0.5 more shots each appearance. The difference is staggering.

It’s no wonder Trevor Sinclair described him as “lethal” before likening him to Jermain Defoe. His former Exeter boss Paul Tisdale believes he “has the ability and the perfect attitude”.

These are just further ticks next to his name on the scouting list.

His ability to run defences ragged is exactly what Bielsa needs in a striker next season, and the club should absolutely pay up to clinch him.

AND in other news, Leeds mustn’t hand a second chance to £10m flop…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that defender Juan Foyth is unlikely to leave the club on loan in January, per Sky Sports.

What’s the word?

The central defender made his first appearance under the Portuguese against Bayern Munich in the Champions League earlier this week.

The Athletic have also reported that Foyth could leave the club if he is not given regular first-team football throughout the campaign.

And Mourinho has now confirmed that he will not be sending the Argentine out on a short-term deal.

He said: “At the moment, the players that went to Munich with us are part of our squad, so I don’t think there will be many doors open for players to get out on loan.

“If you want to be more direct like some media that was saying Foyth was one of them – I can kill it now. No chance.

“If you want to speak about some of the other younger players, let’s analyse the situation. We will make the best decisions (on loans) for the players and for us too.

“Foyth was very stable, solid, calm (against Bayern). He played very well. Is he going to start Sunday? No. But I am really happy with his performance.”

Money talks: How much did Levy pay for each of these Spurs stars?

Necessary depth

Foyth is a promising defender and remains a remarkably young presence.

At the age of just 21, he has already made 30 appearances for the club and is a valuable option as a back-up.

The club have three other senior defenders in Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez.

Depth, then, is required and Foyth is adept at playing at either centre-back or right-back.

Mourinho clearly knows that and the youngster now appears set for more chances in the starting XI, particularly if neither Belgians can be convinced to put pen to paper.

These quotes hint at a bright future for the defender, particularly under a manager who sees his value in the side. Keeping him around is the only option.

Meanwhile, Daniel Levy may be standing in the way of one thing at Spurs.

Glasgow Rangers have received a huge blow ahead of the new season as it has been revealed by the club that Nikola Katic will be out for the foreseeable future.

The 23-year-old was an important part of Steven Gerrard’s side last term, appearing in 19 Scottish Premierships before the season was brought to a premature close. However, an injury sustained in pre-season training will keep him on the sidelines for a while.

The £1.44m-valued defender – as per Transfermarkt – will therefore leave a hole in the middle of Gerrard’s back four, but it now gives one of the former Liverpool midfielder’s other options the chance to shine and make the spot alongside Connor Goldson their own.

That man could well be Filip Helander. The Sweden international was signed for £3.5m last summer, but injuries in the previous campaign meant he played just eight times in the league and 17 matches overall. Now, back to full fitness and with just George Edmundson to compete with for a starting XI spot, it could well be his chance to shine.

After spending that seven-figure sum on the centre-back, Gerrard will certainly be hoping he steps up to the plate. It remains to be seen, however, who the boss chooses at the heart of the defence.

Let us know what you think below!

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he is unsure when Joel Matip will be available for selection once again.

The 28-year-old has not turned out for the Champions League holders since the 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League on October 20.

Indeed, the centre-back has missed his team’s last four Premier League matches, which has opened the door for Dejan Lovren to gain some valuable minutes.

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Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Napoli, Klopp revealed that Matip would undergo another scan on his knee this week, although the German could not put a timeframe on the defender’s potential return.

Lovren has recently been praised by the Liverpool fans for his performances at the heart of defence.

However, it would be fair to say that the club’s supporters are missing Matip, with many wanting the 27-time Cameroon international to return as soon as possible.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Meanwhile, one highly-rated Liverpool youngster could be on his way out of the club during the January transfer window.

Steve Bruce has put smiles back on faces at Newcastle, stringing a run of good results together after a poor start to the season. A win over Manchester United as well as a spirited draw with Manchester City are two highlights of his reign thus far after taking over the reins from Rafael Benitez in the summer.

Despite the positives, there are still problems for Bruce to solve at St. James’ Park before the Magpies head into 2020, hoping to ensure their Premier League survival. With that in mind, here are three of his biggest issues:

Get Joelinton firing

Since his big-money move from Hoffenheim, Joelinton has failed to deliver on his promise thus far. The Brazilian has just one goal and one assist from 16 appearances, 15 of which have been starts. His only goal came in the win over Tottenham back in August, but Bruce retains trust in his number nine, not yet giving that spot to the likes of Andy Carroll or Dwight Gayle. The Magpies need his output to improve, as only bottom-placed Watford and Crystal Palace have a poorer attacking record than Newcastle’s 17 goals in the league this season.

 Right-back selection headache

Bruce has settled on a five-at-the-back system to get the best out of his defensive players (as shown on WhoScored), while utilising pace on the counter-attack by deploying Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron.

On the right side of the back five, DeAndre Yedlin, Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth have all had opportunities and have all made a similar number of appearances. One of those three making a statement and nailing down that spot could be key to their defensive stability heading into the new year.

Injury crisis

As the fixtures pile up, Bruce is having to utilise all of his squad to cope with injuries. Captain Jamaal Lascelles is expected to be missing until the new year, while both Yedlin and forward Saint-Maximin have both suffered injuries of late. Centre-backs Fabian Schar and Florian Lejeune are just returning to the fold after lay-offs as well, so keeping them fit could be key to their progress in 2020. The injury to Saint-Maximin comes at a particularly frustrating time, just one game after he found the net for the first time in Newcastle colours.

A few Rangers supporters have been lauding Joe Aribo on social media for his “stunning” goal which opened the scoring against Livingston on Sunday.

Aribo began the affair as the left-hand option in Steven Gerrard’s three-man midfield line, partnering Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara in the Gers’ engine room.

It was the 23-year-old’s tenth start in the Premiership this season, and first across all competitions since the end of October when Aribo played the full ninety-minutes against Ross County.

He had been resigned to a seven-minute cameo against FC Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night, but rewarded Gerrard’s renewed faith with the go-ahead goal at Livingston in the 33rd-minute on Sunday.

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Rangers worked the ball forward in the Livingston half with a direct pass into the feet of Alfredo Morelos, who found Scott Arfield while under pressure. The Canadian moved the play onto Aribo who’s left-footed effort flew past Matija Sarkic.

Aribo’s strike ensured Rangers entered the break in the lead, and saw that he earned the praise of the Ibrox faithful on social media.

It was the summer signing from Charlton Athletic’s first goal for the Gers in the Scottish Premiership, following Aribo striking thrice in the Europa League qualifying stages and once in the League Cup.

Here are some of the messages shared…