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Although Stuart Armstrong scored the goal that secured the three points for Southampton against Newcastle United, ensuring that the Saints would go top of the Premier League table, the Scottish international’s overall performance, at least from a stats point of view, was perhaps not as good.

The former Celtic man earned a 7.6 rating from SofaScore for his performance against the Toon but other than his late goal, where he fired a left-footed shot past Karl Darlow in the Newcastle net, it could be said that he struggled with his final product on Friday evening.

As per SofaScore, the 28-year-old had a pass success rate of just 73% in the game against Steve Bruce’s side, completing just 27 of his 37 attempted passes. Armstrong also managed just one key pass during the game suggesting that creatively, he was not at his best.

As well as this, the Scotsman lost possession on no fewer than 18 occasions, which was the most of any Southampton player on the pitch, so you could argue that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side were fortunate that Newcastle were not able to take advantage of the midfielder’s slack passing on the night.

Considering the attacking-midfielder has registered just seven assists in 72 appearances for the Saints, you could certainly argue that his final ball is an area which he could improve on, although two of those assists have come in the top-flight this season, so maybe we are beginning to see signs of his attacking output improving.

Armstrong has been a regular for the Saints so far this season, having made six appearances in the Premier League, in which he has contributed one goal and two assists, averaging a solid 6.97 rating (per WhoScored).

This has only been enough to rank him as Southampton’s eighth-best player across the Premier League season so far, perhaps demonstrating the excellent start to the season a lot of Hasenhuttl’s side have enjoyed.

With Southampton’s next game against an in-form Wolves side at Molineux following the international break, Armstrong may need to ensure that he is more successful with his passes and more confident in keeping possession, otherwise, he may be punished by Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing Porto and Colombia star Luis Diaz, reports say. 

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is plotting a transfer swoop for the Porto winger this summer. The Colombian has impressed in Portugal ever since he arrived at the Estadio do Dragao from Juniors for £6.5m last year.

Diaz, 23, has scored 14 goals and supplied seven assists for Porto in all competitions so it is hardly surprising he has caught Mourinho’s attention.

Record claim, as relayed by Ricky Sacks, Spurs are interested in the 13-time Colombia international and could be about to launch a bid in the summer.

Mourinho is preparing for his first summer transfer window in charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

After finishing in the top six on the final day of the Premier League season, he is paying close attention to the transfer market as he seeks to improve his squad in time for the start of next season.

Despite his best efforts, Spurs failed to qualify for the Champions League, which has been a big blow to his budget.

Daniel Levy has borrowed £175m from the Bank of England to cover the costs of these uncertain times. However, Mourinho has made it clear he will be backed by the board in the summer.

The Portuguese publication didn’t mention an asking price in their report, but Diaz is currently valued at £8.1m via Transfermarkt. He would certainly be a cheaper option to some of Mourinho’s other targets like Lucas Vazquez and Ivan Perisic.

The Spurs boss has moaned about the lack of depth in the midfield before and Diaz could provide injury cover and competition to Son Heung-min, Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura, among others.

His contract with the Blue and Whites is set to expire in four years time so Levy may have his work cut out in the transfer market.

Tottenham fans, should Levy sign Diaz this summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Liverpool are yet to make a marqueeÂsigning ahead of the new season, but exciting links continue to bounce around.

The Reds have signed just one senior player so far this window – left-back Kostas Tsimikas who arrived from Olympiakos last month for £11.7million (via BBC Sport). However, they are still interested in several big names, with one being Adama Traore.

The Wolves winger has attracted a lot of attention following his impressive 2019/20 campaign. Despite coming off the bench ten times out of the 37 Premier League appearances he made, Traore contributed four goals and nine assists for the Midlands side (via Transfermarkt).

Whilst Liverpool aren’t lacking goals from the wings, they are still fond of the Spanish playmaker. A recent update from Ian Doyle (relayed via @LFCTransferRoom), claims Jurgen Klopp is a big admirer of Traore, but his asking price would prove too expensive to make a move this window.

Indeed, a SoccerLink report from January (via TEAMtalk), claims Wolves would be looking for about £75million for the 24-year-old.

The news has divided the Liverpool fanbase, with many not even surprised to hear that the club is lacking funds to make a move for Traore. One supporter has remained hopeful however, and has admitted they ‘want him over Thiago’.

Thiago Alcantara is another big target on Klopp’s radar, but an official bid for his services is yet to be made.

Read more replies from the Twitter selection here:

Do you think Liverpool could sign Adama Traore? Join the conversation in the comments below!

According to a Foot Mercato journalist, Tottenham are working on the signing of Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer, with discussions between the club and the midfielder’s representatives having already started.

What’s the word?

The Denmark international has been the subject of intense speculation over these past few weeks, with reports that he had made it clear to the Saints that he has no interest in signing a new deal with them.

Can you name every one of Spurs’ top goalscorers from the past 15 seasons? It’s a tricky one…

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That prompted Ralph Hasenhuttl to strip the 24-year-old of the captaincy at St Mary’s, and as per Foot Mercato’s Santi’ FM on Twitter, talks between Hojbjerg and Spurs are well under way ahead of a potential move come the end of the season.

Upgrade on Ndombele

Whilst Hojbjerg is having his issues with Southampton, Tanguy Ndombele has been going through some difficult at Tottenham too.

The Frenchman has had a nightmare debut season in north London, with form and fitness seeing him make just 27 appearances across all competitions. His most high-profile moment in a Spurs shirt was no doubt when Jose Mourinho delivered a stinging criticism of his performance after the clash against Burnley earlier this year.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher questioned his desire and work ethic, even going so as far to say “his performance was nothing short of a disgrace”. But whilst the former Lyon man isn’t one to get stuck in, Hojbjerg absolutely is, and just the kind of player Mourinho can rely upon.

As per Sofascore, he wins 6.8 total duels per game, and makes 2.6 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per match in the Premier League this season. And speaking earlier this month, former Spurs midfielder Michael Brown insisted that Hojbjerg is a “top-class player”, and judging by his defensive stats, is the kind of powerhouse that would provide everything that Ndombele has failed to bring.

It’s exactly why Daniel Levy shouldn’t hesitate to bring him in this summer.

Tottenham ace Danny Rose has had quite a dramatic turn in fortunes ever since Spurs broke Manchester City’s hearts at the Etihad Stadium in 2019. 

Rose was part of the side who knocked City out of the Champions League en route to the final last season. This week, he suffered the ignominy of being battered as Newcastle United were subjected to a 5-0 defeat at the venue yesterday evening.

His old teammate and close friend Kyle Walker lined up against him as City ran riot over the Magpies, rubbing salt in the wound even further. At one point, the pair formed a formidable partnership at White Hart Lane, but their careers have headed in opposite directions ever since they left north London.

According to The Athletic, Rose’s exit from Tottenham is “inevitable,” as neither side wants the other. The 30-year-old and Jose Mourinho have been in constant communication via text, although there isn’t any love lost between their pair.

Spurs are open to offers for the defender, which they hope will arrive in the summer, while Rose is looking for a long-term deal.

Questions still remain over where he will end up next as he feels he still has plenty to offer. Spurs valued him at £50m several years ago, when he was at the peak of his powers and the subject of interest from Manchester United.

However, it is hard to imagine they will be able to find someone willing to spend such a substantial amount of money on the 30-year-old, given the unprecedented market circumstances.

The Lilywhites have accepted that his market value has plummeted and are prepared to sell him for £5m as he is not expected to play for the club again. Watford, Paris Saint-Germain and Schalke are some of the clubs that have been interested in the past.

Rose signed an extension to stay at Newcastle United until the end of the season. The 30-year-old, who is best friends with former Arsenal star Danny Welbeck, will soon enter the final year of his contract at Spurs and Steve Bruce is eager to tie him down to a permanent deal on Tyneside.

A move to St James’ Park seems most plausible, as he has spent the past few months there, but Spurs should not rule out other potential suitors if the right offer arrives.

The Lilywhites will want to cut their losses as quickly as possible, as they will want to turn their transfer attention elsewhere, so fans should not expect a protracted transfer battle for Rose.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sell Danny Rose in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

It was another good month in November for Liverpool.

The Reds played six games, winning five and drawing one. Those victories included a 3-1 triumph against Manchester City at Anfield, as well.

There were several stand-out performers during the month, which should make the latest edition of the Player of the Month award a hard one to call for the fans.

It appears that the supporters are split as to who should win it.

Surprisingly, Dejan Lovren is receiving a lot of love. He has been slammed in the past by portions of the fanbase, but it appears that many would like him to receive recognition for his performances.

Indeed, the Croatia international did well after stepping in to replace the injured Joel Matip. He started five of the six matches during the month, and even scored the all-important equaliser against Napoli in the Champions League as the Reds picked up a 1-1 draw.

Despite picking up an injury in that match, Fabinho is another who is being backed to win the award.

Fabinho was again imperious in the middle of the park, starting four matches. Against the Citizens, he was at his best, picking up a 7.53 WhoScored rating whilst also netting a cracking strike.

Finally, there are some who want to see Sadio Mane get the credit.

Like much of the season, Mane stood out once again in November. He scored three goals and provided one assist, and was generally a nuisance for the opposition teams.

We wouldn’t like to call this one!

Meanwhile, one Liverpool man shows his versatility against Brighton.

It has been speculated that Aiden McGeady could earn a short-term deal at Middlesbrough or move on loan following the announcement last week that he would be placed on the transfer list.

Supporters are split on the news. Some would be pleased to see him leave if there was a fee involved, while others would hate it if one of the club’s best players left.

There are even some who no longer care about his situation, which is likely the result of the apathy that exists around the club, particularly in regard to the manager, who is to blame for McGeady being frozen out.

Calling all Premier League experts: Who do these unique statistics belong to? Find out below….

Here are some of the reactions from fans who are keen to see the club bring in some money for the Irishman’s services, what with there being a need to add fresh faces to the squad.

Some fans have used the opportunity to take aim at Parkinson and have once again suggested he lacks the spine to deal with difficult situations in the squad.

Losing a player of McGeady’s quality – he won the Player of the Year last term – would be a significant blow for a team lacking in creativity, though his departure would at least close a chapter on the whole situation.

He could also go for a decent fee given his quality, money which would help Sunderland move in the right direction once more and possibly allow them to get back on track for promotion.

In other more positive news, a recent change by Parkinson has led to improved performances from some players, and could allow Sunderland to move back in the right direction.

Having arrived from Spanish side Villareal in a £30m deal back in the summer of 2016, Eric Bailly has had a wretched run of luck at Manchester United.

The Ivory Coast international has had his Old Trafford career blighted by serious injuries, meaning that he has played just 74 times for the Red Devils since joining. The 25-year-old has been out of action this season with a knee problem suffered against Tottenham in pre-season earlier in the summer, and there is a real question mark over his long-term future at United.

His current contract expires at the end of the campaign, and The Sun now claim Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will take up an option that will extend Bailly’s deal by an extra year. The report reveals that this is down to ensuring they do not lose the centre-back on a free transfer.

After hearing the update on Bailly’s contract, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

Many supporters of the Manchester side insisted they couldn’t believe the club would be thinking of extending the Ivorian’s deal, and insisted his injury troubles have proven that he wouldn’t be worth it.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below:

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…

Leeds have drawn Arsenal in the FA Cup in what is likely to be a bumper clash between two of the best-supported teams in England.

Of course, a matchup between two sides with this much history behind them will have numerous narratives and sub-plots alongside it, but there’s one present issue that Leeds could look to resolve in this upcoming cup tie.

A report from David Ornstein in The Athletic in October stated that Arsenal believe Leeds is the perfect place for Nketiah to prepare for life in the Premier League.

Since then, there have been reports that United are worried about the possibility of Arsenal recalling Eddie Nketiah this January. While the striker won’t be able to play against his parent club, there is a chance for Leeds to show the Gunners that Elland Road is the right place for the 20-year-old to develop.

This is a chance for the Whites to show the Gunners exactly what their style of play is all about and how good of a manager Marcelo Bielsa is.

Nketiah won’t be on the pitch at the Emirates when the Whites face the Gunners, but if Bielsa’s side plays their best football, then it will remind the chiefs at Arsenal why they shouldn’t consider recalling the striker.

Leeds’ style of play lends itself well to a big club in the Premier League, and Nketiah may develop more while playing sporadically at Elland Road than he would if he started every week elsewhere, and this is United’s chance to show Arsenal that very fact.

Meanwhile, Leeds fans have been expressing their disdain for the latest Elland Road trend.

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

Football Insider have been reporting that Eddie Nketiah’s injury will leave him out of action for three weeks.

Of course, this problem will hamper Leeds United’s chances in their upcoming fixtures as they’ll be without their top goalscorer, but the Arsenal loanee’s absence may hand one last opportunity to one man who has seemingly been out in the cold.

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Leeds’ ongoing dilemma

The Whites have had an ongoing dilemma all season due to the number of loan players they have in their squad.

EFL rules state that Championship sides can only have five loanees in a matchday squad, and with the Whites currently having six temporary players on their books one player has had to miss out each week.

This has usually been Jack Clarke as United have opted to have Nketiah, Jack Harrison, Helder Costa, Illan Meslier and Ben White in their 18 each week.

That was until Pablo Hernandez got injured and Marcelo Bielsa determined he needed Clarke as an extra option on the bench just in case.

Despite that, the teenager still hasn’t played a single minute in the Championship.

Why being the away goalkeeper at Leeds is the toughest job in football in the video below…

One more chance

Nketiah’s injury will open up another spot in the squad for a loanee over the next few weeks, and that means that Clarke may be given another shot to save his loan spell at Elland Road.

It’s likely that he will at least be given a chance among the substitutes, and with United having some more than favourable fixtures during the 20-year-old’s absence it may be time for Bielsa to give the winger a shot.

Indeed, the four games that the striker could miss are all against sides in the bottom half, so the Argentine may feel comfortable giving the 18-year-old a shot off the bench if the game is already won, something he’s failed to do so far.

If the teenager can impress in any cameo opportunities he gets, he may still have a part to play in Leeds’ season.