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Leeds United winger Raphinha has been praised for his call to be substituted against West Ham United last weekend by injury expert Ben Dinnery.

The Lowdown: Injury setback

Raphinha has started the 2021/22 campaign in sizzling form with three Premier League goals in six games, half of the tally from his debut top-flight season in England already.

The Brazilian winger picked up a hip injury in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United two weeks ago and was a doubt for the defeat to David Moyes’ side last Saturday, but he lasted 70 minutes and opened the scoring with a brilliant left-footed strike.

Following the game, Bielsa claimed that the 24-year-old made it known it was becoming difficult to continue and the Leeds manager duly replaced him with Tyler Roberts.

The Latest: Right call

Speaking to Football Insider, injury expert Dinnery has insisted that Raphinha made the right decision to alert the Leeds backroom staff that he wasn’t right to continue.

He said of the White winger: “It’s the right thing to do, absolutely. If you aren’t feeling 100 per cent, do you push on and risk potentially suffering a more serious setback?

“Or do you do the sensible thing and flag that to the medical team and ask to be removed.

“We know Raphinha had problems going into the Newcastle game. There were question marks about whether he would be involved at all.

“He had missed large parts of training due to what Marcelo Bielsa referred to as a ‘hip issue’.

“if he isn’t getting those sessions in on the training pitch, fatigue could be a factor.”

The Verdict: Important for Leeds

With Leeds in the relegation zone in the Premier League and one of five teams without a win in the top flight, having Raphinha fit will be vital for their upcoming games against Watford, Southampton and Wolves.

Last season, the winger created 12 big chances and completed 21.1 passes (72%) and 1.9 dribbles per game in his first season in England (Sofascore), highlighting the importance of his contribution and availability to Bielsa.

If Leeds are to exit their current rut, they will need Raphinha to keep hitting the heights that he has done so far at Elland Road. Dinnery is right to praise the 24-year-old for admitting that he had to come off last week, as playing on could have further aggravated the injury and possibly being ruled out for a lengthy spell.

In other news: Dinnery made a less than encouraging claim about one of Raphinha’s Elland Road team-mates

Newcastle United are reportedly now among ‘suitors’ to sign FC Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele.

The Lowdown: On his way?

With Barcelona having a lot of financial difficulties, encapsulated when they had to let Lionel Messi go to PSG in the summer transfer window (The Guardian), it would not be a surprise to see them try to sell some of their players on in January, especially their highest earners.

Dembele is currently earning a whopping £212,000-per-week at the Nou Camp, and given injury problems have kept him out for most of the season so far, next month may be the best time for them to cash in.

The Latest: Newcastle have a chance

As per Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), the St. James’ Park faithful are now among a list of ‘suitors’ to take Dembele, and are making it ‘difficult’ for Barca to keep hold of him.

They still have to pay Borussia Dortmund €27m (£22.9m) as the rest of the instalments that both clubs agreed when the transfer was made, and he has not agreed a new deal yet, with his contract up next summer.

To risk not losing Dembele on a free transfer, January could be an ideal time for the Catalan giants to sell and make back some of that money.

The Verdict: Avoid

With 18 goals scored in the Premier League so far this season, attack is not really the Magpies’ main problem – that is more than Wolves and Tottenham for example, who both sit comfortably in the top eight.

Of course, Dembele is a quality player on his day, a World Cup winner who Barcelona president Joan Laporta claims is even ‘better than Mbappe’, however, he is very injury-prone and on big wages.

Thus, the money available to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium would be better off improving a leaky defence instead, at least as the immediate priority in January.

In other news, find out what huge transfer offer NUFC have made to sign this ‘force of nature’ here!

Celtic saw many players make the move to Parkhead during Peter Lawwell’s reign as the club’s chief executive.

As tends to be the case with a lot of clubs across Europe and beyond, not every deal that gets completed ends up being particularly successful.

One example of this happening at Celtic was their 2013 move for striker Teemu Pukki.

Signed during the 2013 summer transfer window on a four-year deal from Schalke worth a reported fee of £3m, the Finnish international ended up making just 38 appearances for the Hoops across all competitions.

Finding the back of the net just nine times, the centre-forward then joined Brondby on loan in 2014 before signing on a permanent deal in 2015.

With 26 league appearances in the 2013/14 season, the centre-forward could only register 13 shots on target, the same number as midfielders Scott Brown and Joe Ledley.

Having started just 14 of these league fixtures, the £15k-per-week attacker failed to really nail down a place in the team, particularly towards the end of the campaign.

Described as being “unplayable” by former Norwich City manager Daniel Farke, Pukki failed to repay the transfer fee that the Hoops shelled out for him.

Speaking about the striker’s time at Celtic Park, former Hoops boss Neil Lennon had this to say on the matter.

He said: “He is a quiet boy. He had a few injury problems as well and at a club like Celtic, when you’re brought in for money, you have to score goals.

“And he wasn’t really an out-and-out goalscorer. He played within himself a little bit, I thought. He didn’t really show his capabilities. He’s very quiet. I don’t know if it was too big for him because he had been at Sevilla and Schalke, so he had been at big clubs. 

“He was never prolific but we felt he had the qualities we wanted but he would maybe say he never got the chance to show that on a consistent basis.”

Taking all of this into account, as well as the fact that the Hoops only got a fraction – £608k, to be exact – of the transfer fee from Brondby that they originally paid to bring him to Celtic Park, it’s safe to say that Lawwell and the club had a nightmare on this particular deal.

AND in other news: Ange must now revive Celtic swoop for £2.7m-rated “rocket”, he’s a “massive talent”

According to Calciomercato.it, there has been another development in Tottenham Hotspur’s chase to sign Juventus forward Dejan Kulusevski in January.

The Lowdown: Kulusevski on the radar…

Tottenham transfer chief Fabio Paratici and manager Antonio Conte have seemingly been targeting a move for the Sweden international for quite some time.

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Indeed, there have been rumours of contact for the 21-year-old and a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday indicates that Paratici could indeed bring him to north London next month.

This comes amid the winger’s lack of game time in Turin as The Old Lady reportedly contemplate a sale.

The Latest: Spurs could table bid…

According to Calciomercato.it, a promising update has emerged involving Kulusevski and Spurs as the Lilywhites enter pole position to sign him in the winter window.

As well as this, it is believed that Tottenham ‘could put an offer of €35 million (£29.4m) on the plate’ for his signature, an amount which would make Juve ‘falter’.

The Verdict: Promising claim…

If Juventus are willing to sell for £29.3m, with Spurs favourites to sign the Swede, this truly comes as an exciting claim.

Still very young at 21 and already proven in the Italian top flight, his best season with former club Parma showcases exactly what he can do when given the opportunity.

Bagging 10 goals and eight assists in 33 Serie A starts over 2019/2020 for his ex-team, Kulusevski also averaged an impressive 2.2 key passes per 90 in the final third over that campaign – more than any Spurs man has managed in the Premier League this season (WhoScored).

Called an ‘excellent player’ by none other than footballing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, he very well could be a brilliant addition to Conte’s side.

In other news: ‘Wow’, ‘Statement’…Tottenham pundit thrilled as Paratici eyes ‘big signing’, find out more here.

Tanguy Ndombele’s future at Tottenham Hotspur is by no means certain.

The 25-year-old midfielder, who cost a club-record £55m two-and-a-half years ago, has not featured for the club since being withdrawn early during their FA Cup third-round victory over Morecambe.

He slowly trudged off to a chorus of boos and jeers with his side down by a goal at the time. Since then, it has emerged that the club are trying to move him on and that he has reportedly been training alone at Hotspur Way.

“Tottenham are looking for a solution to sell or loan out Tanguy Ndombele in January,” revealed Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

It’s hard to put up a case for Spurs keeping hold of their big-money signing as he’s been nothing short of a flop – as per Transfermarkt, he has delivered only ten goals and nine assists across 91 appearances.

If they are to move him on, however, manager Antonio Conte will be in need of a new central midfielder but perhaps he already has the answer at the club, somewhat.

Sarr solution?

During the summer, sporting director Fabio Paratici sealed the signature of promising Ligue 1 gem Pape Matar Sarr, who has remained on loan at Metz, for around €17m (£15m).

The 19-year-old midfielder has played in pretty much every role in the engine room for the French outfit this season, where he has made 19 appearances across all competitions.

Now valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, the Senegal international has struggled for consistency, averaging a rating of just 6.43, though there have been signs of encouragement and he is a player with undoubted potential.

“I am told this guy is really more than an interesting talent. He has real potential, [he’s a] fantastic talent,” claimed Romano to his YouTube channel in September.

“One of my sources told me he could become one style of [Paul] Pogba player. He has style, he has potential, he has skills, so we will see what happens with this guy.”

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A Pogba-like midfielder? That should be right up Conte’s street considering he managed the France superstar across 78 matches at Juventus before he rejoined Manchester United.

Sarr is certainly looking to contribute at both ends of the pitch, having averaged 2.2 dribbles, 1.7 successful tackles, one shot and 0.9 key passes per 90 minutes in the French top-flight, via WhoScored.

“Pape Matar Sarr is elegance in the midfield, it’s talent, it’s making others play.” once claimed Metz coach Frederic Antonetti.

So come the summer, Conte may not need to look far to find Ndombele’s replacement, thanks to Paratici’s decision in the summer. He seems primed for a shot in Spurs’ first team, especially under the stewardship of the Italian, who has already worked wonders with players like Oliver Skipp and Sergio Reguilon.

As such, he could also save the clubs millions as Sarr seems like the perfect replacement for the struggling flop.

AND in other news, Alasdair Gold drops exciting Hugo Lloris claim at Spurs…

[ad_pod ]Tottenham Hotspur have been rocked by news of yet another injury blow.Ben Davies limped out of the club’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea on Thursday, and the club have confirmed that he will now miss this weekend’s FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace.Moussa Sissoko, who made his comeback from a groin injury against the Blues, sustained a knee injury in that game, and may also be unavailable, with further assessments to take place this weekend.Spurs are already without striker Harry Kane and midfielder Dele Alli, while Son Heung-Min is still with South Korea on international duty. However, his side lost to Qatar on Friday and have been eliminated from the Asian Cup, meaning he will soon be available for selection.CheekySport’s Joel claims Spurs badly need to invest in January after not having “the balls” to beat Arsenal. Check out his uncensored opinion in the video below…The news of Davies and Sissoko’s injuries will come as a major disappointment to manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is already working with the bare bones of a thin squad.He may well be able to deploy Victor Wanyama against the Eagles after his return to fitness, but that may prove scant consolation, particularly given Sissoko’s excellent displays thus far this season.And Spurs fans have called on the club to finally dip into the transfer market to reinforce the squad, having seen the side fail to add a new player for the last two windows.

West Ham United have received a massive boost in their pursuit of mooted transfer target Andrea Belotti this week…

What’s the word?

The Irons were linked with a move for the Torino talisman throughout the summer as David Moyes searched for new frontline additions, and they could be able to sign him for nothing come to the end of the season.

Belotti’s contract is up at the Serie A outfit and it has since been revealed that the 27-year-old centre-forward will not be signing an extension in Turin, according to quotes relayed by Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

“Italian striker Andrea Belotti is prepared to leave Torino as [a] free agent in June. Torino manager Ivan Juric confirms: ‘Belotti won’t sign the contract extension,'” he tweeted.

“‘Andrea is not gonna leave in January. He’ll decide his future in June’, Juric added.”

Door opens

The Hammers did not go and sign Belotti during the summer but the problem still remains. Michail Antonio (31) is Moyes’ only senior option in the striker position and he has been rather injury-prone for many a season now.

It’s a risky game to play considering that his side are unbeaten in the Europa League, where they seem sure to go on and progress into the knockout stages.

An injury or setback to Antonio could seriously curtail their chances of success in that competition, as well as the Premier League, where they are currently in fourth place.

Considering that Belotti is valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, getting him on a free transfer would be an absolute steal from Rob Newman in his new role as West Ham’s head of recruitment.

Similarly, the Euro 2020 winner has a very prolific goalscoring record, having bagged double figures in every season since 2015/16, including a career-best of 28 goals in 2016/17.

Former Irons shot-stopper Joe Hart enjoyed a loan spell at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino and waxed lyrical about Belotti’s ability, claiming that he was like no other striker in Europe.

“Andrea is similar to all the great strikers, English and not,” he told Gianluca Di Marzio. “It’s hard to compare him to someone else because he’s special. He’s Belotti and that’s it. He has instinct for goals, personality and he’s a team player: he’s always focused on his team and plays hard to help it.”

It would be inexcusable for the east Londoners to not try and secure Belotti in 2022. He could well be a very cheap but reliable fix to their attacking depth issues.

AND in other news, Moyes could unearth West Ham’s next Joe Cole in 19 y/o gem “similar to Jack Grealish”…

Wolves came within inches of signing Lille midfielder Renato Sanches in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Sanches constantly linked with move

Bruno Lage was linked with bringing in a host of players during the summer, but few were tipped to move to Molineux more often than Sanches.

The 32-time capped Portugal international ended up staying put at Lille for the time being, but he has only started five Ligue 1 games so far this season.

It appears as though Wolves came closer to snapping up Sanches than some may have realised, however.

The Latest: Spiers makes big claim

During a Q&A for The Athletic on Thursday [via Molineux.news], Spiers claimed that the 24-year-old could easily be a Wanderers player but his injury record held him back, also not ruling out a deal happening in the future:

“(I) was told a couple of weeks ago that with Sanches they were as close as you could be to signing a player without it actually happening.

“And that if they’d known how quickly he would have returned to action (early October) they probably would have gone through with signing him.

“Ultimately it came down to his injury and a fear that he could have been out until late October/early November, plus the games he’d then have taken to get up to speed, meaning you might not have him properly match sharp until, what, now kind of time? And then you’re paying his wages in full, plus a hefty loan fee.

“So it was considered too big a risk. And this is a player who’s never completed more than 60 per cent of a season before. Very injury prone. We’ll see what happens going forward but he’s not going to be short of offers. I hope they can resurrect it because a fit Renato Sanches would bring such a different dynamic to this team.”

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The Verdict: Still a chance?

It is a shame to lose out on a player as gifted as Sanches – he won the prestigious European Golden Boy award in 2016 and has been hailed as ‘incredible’ by Kevin Campbell – but all hope may not be lost.

The midfielder’s lack of playing time for Lille could suggest he may move on in January or next summer, at which point Wolves may choose to swoop.

Granted, Sanches has had an injury-plagued career but he could bring something different in the middle of the park, having averaged two dribbles per game and a 91.6% pass completion rate at Euro 2020 with Portugal.

In comparison, Ruben Neves (0.5) and Joao Moutinho (0.3) have averaged far fewer dribbles in the league this season, suggesting that Sanches could complement their more measured style nicely.

In other news, some Wolves fans have flocked to a Wanderers transfer claim. Read more here.

According to Spanish source Estadio Deportivo (via Sport Witness), West Ham United may have discovered the price required to sign Sevilla forward Lucas Ocampos. 

The lowdown: Ocampos a wanted man

The 27-year-old has previously been linked with a move to Liverpool and Leeds United, having impressed in Spain following a €15m (£12.5m) switch from Marseille in 2019 (Goal).

A recent report from Calciomercato claimed that the Hammers, along with Wolves, are interested in the Argentine winger ahead of the summer transfer window.

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A fresh update from elsewhere in Spain has informed Premier League suitors of the potential fee required to land the 27-year-old…

The latest: GSB eyeing lucrative swoop for Ocampos

As per Estadio Deportivo, as translated by Sport Witness, Sevilla are ‘about to close’ an extension on the Argentina international’s contract to extend his stay for a further year until 2025.

The report claimed that the new deal for the 10-cap forward will include a release clause of €80m (£66m).

Furthermore, despite the mention of West Ham and GSB specifically holding Ocampos as a ‘favourite’ to bolster the attack at the London Stadium, any summer exit is regarded as ‘unfeasible’ under the new terms.

The verdict: Sign him at all costs

Equally adept on either wing, the skilful Argentine – who has been described as ‘electric’ by football journalist Fede Praml – would provide an alternative to Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen and therefore would be a smart piece of business from West Ham, even at the mooted price point.

If the Irons are to continue their improvement, adding players of this calibre to their ranks is a must; and with mooted admiration from GSB, the board should be willing to sanction the fee and allow recruitment chief Rob Newman to pursue a possible deal.

So far this season, Ocampos – who has previously likened himself to Cristiano Ronaldo – has scored eight times and provided four assists in 35 appearances across all competitions this term. With only three West Ham players finding the net more regularly in 2021/22, adding a player of his potency seems a no-brainer for GSB and co.

In other news: Italian source delivers update on West Ham transfer hunt; find out more here

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their interest in Watford attacker Ismaila Sarr…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, PIF are plotting a summer bid for the Hornets attacker in a potential £35m deal at the end of the season.

The report claimed that he is set to leave the Hertfordshire club irrespective of their divisional status, as they fight to remain in the Premier League. Liverpool are also believed to have sent scouts to watch him in action and may rival the Magpies for his signature.

Saint-Maximin 2.0

Newcastle can find their new Allan Saint-Maximin by bringing Sarr to St James’ Park as, just like the Frenchman, he is an exciting wide player who is capable of getting fans off their seats.

The Watford gem has the ability on the ball to beat opposition defenders with his dribbling and is capable of lighting up matches with his goalscoring quality. He has netted five goals in the Premier League this season whilst completing 1.8 dribbles per game.

In the Championship last term, he completed 1.9 dribbles per match and created a whopping 11 ‘big chances’ for his team-mates. He also found the net 13 times in the second tier as he showed that he can score and set up goals from out wide.

Saint-Maximin has produced five goals and three goals in the top flight this term, whilst averaging 4.3 dribbles per game. He attempts more take-ons than the Watford winger, although both players can contribute in the final third and have the ability to dribble past opponents.

Former Manchester United defender and current Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville previously showered Sarr with praise, saying: “He’s a big, big talent, honestly he really is. I always think, particularly as a wide player, what would I have not wanted to have played against? The first thing is pace.

“And then you’ve got to think about, can he use his pace? Well, yes, he can, because he makes really good quality runs: the spin in behind, straight, but also the run inside in between full-back and centre-back – which I always think is the most difficult to mark.”

These comments from the retired full-back illustrate exactly why Sarr would be an exciting player for the Newcastle supporters to watch, which is why he would be Saint-Maximin 2.0 for the Magpies. The flyer can get fans excited with his direct play on the wing, and PIF must now ensure that they can get a deal over the line for the Senegalese wizard.

AND in other news, NUFC can find a new Andy Carroll in £60m “nightmare” who Shearer dubbed “magnificent”…