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Manchester United are trophy winners once again. It has been six arduous years since the club last tasted silverware but on a brisk Wembley afternoon, Erik ten Hag’s men reigned supreme.

Not since 2017 when Jose Mourinho took the Europa League home have they had success like this but it feels like a glut could follow in the coming years.

The new regime hasn’t all been plain sailing, however, with United now having come what feels like a long way since that 4-0 defeat to Brentford in the early stages of the campaign.

Though, leaders have now emerged and several players have stood up when it really matters with the Red Devils beginning to look like a force to be reckoned with once again.

In truth, it never looked in doubt with Ten Hag inspiring his team to a 2-0 win over the underdogs Newcastle United.

Casemiro was once again crucial, with the midfielder more than justifying his price tag and hefty wages in recent months.

He looks every bit the Champions League winner they thought they were signing, even adding goals to his game.

Throughout 2022/23, the Brazilian has found the net on five occasions, with the latest of those coming today in the Wembley showpiece.

He steered home Luke Shaw’s free-kick expertly before Marcus Rashford’s deflected strike – eventually awarded as an own goal by Sven Botman – sealed things.

Who was Man United’s best player in the Carabao Cup final?

Casemiro was undoubtedly one of the heroes throughout but a special mention should be reserved for his fellow South American; Lisandro Martinez.

Another of the most eye-catching transfers last summer, the Argentine has fought back against the critics who labelled him ‘too small’ upon his entrance in English football.

He has since become “an absolute warrior” – as dubbed by reporter Jon Dunham – for Ten Hag, emerging as one of the pivotal cogs and figureheads in what this revolution has been at Old Trafford.

A pitbull on the pitch, his never-say-die attitude and bullish approach to the game marks him out as an old-school defender but he is very much the modern package too.

In essence, he is the perfect centre-back and despite his height, never gets bullied.

That shone through during the final on Sunday with the “mad man” – as labelled by writer Mitch Wilks – winning three out of his four ground duels, via Sofascore.

Martinez produced three tackles in total, while making five clearances and blocking two shots during an afternoon where the likes of Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron rarely had a sniff.

Also boasting a pass success rate of 82% from his 38 touches of the ball, the former Ajax man oozed class when in possession.

His partnership with Raphael Varane was imperious and is very quickly becoming of the best in the country.

They are physical, classy and huge pillars of this team. Indeed, if anyone embodies the changing culture at United, it is Martinez. The World Cup winner certainly deserves every bit of the success he has achieved in the last few months.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been slammed by Dermot Gallagher following his antics on the sideline during their victory on the weekend.

What did Mikel Arteta do?

The Gunners were able to snatch all three points on Saturday in the early kick-off away to Aston Villa after two late goals sealed the 4-2 victory.

This win saw them return to the top of the Premier League table after a turbulent run of games which saw them arrive at Villa Park without a win in their last four in all competitions.

However, the Arsenal boss was spotted on the sidelines mocking the referee, Simon Hooper, as he signalled for a substitution to be made.

And speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Gallagher has condemned the Spaniard’s actions claiming he could have been carded for his actions:

“If the fourth official had felt it was untoward he’d draw it to the referee’s attention and probably a yellow card but it’s not a good advert so we don’t want to see that.”

Why wasn’t Arteta booked for this?

This is not the first time the Arsenal manager has been thrown into the limelight for his actions on the side of the pitch this season.

Indeed, last month Arteta was slammed for his actions in their victory against Manchester United for his over-the-top behaviour during the game.

“I was here a couple of weeks ago for the Newcastle game and he was at it all game, Mikel Arteta, which is fair enough, but on occasions where it wasn’t called for,” said Gary Neville.

“He charged about 15 yards down the touchline and that was what he was shown a yellow card for.”

There is certainly an argument to be made suggesting the Spaniard’s recent actions are purely out of his passion on the sidelines for his side to take home all three points.

However, in this case, it does seem as if he has been slightly petulant with his mocking of the referee perhaps uncalled for.

And as Gallagher suggested, had the fourth official, John Brooks, spotted Arteta doing that then maybe he would have been shown another yellow card.

Although Arsenal fans may not be too bothered when their side sitting top of the table and showing signs of getting back to their best form.

But the manager is beginning to build a bit of a reputation for himself on the sidelines which may make him more susceptible to being shown a yellow card in the future.

Leeds United are reportedly planning to trigger Nuno Espirito Santo’s release clause.

The Lowdown: Interview already held

The Whites have had Nuno on their managerial radar after parting ways with Jesse Marsch last week. Reports have suggested that the former Wolves and Tottenham manager has already been interviewed for the Elland Road vacancy but is yet to be offered terms in Yorkshire.

He appears to be a popular choice amongst Whites supporters, and it seems as if Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises are ready to make their move for the Al-Ittihad coach.

The Latest: Nuno update

According to a Spanish outlet on Thursday morning, Leeds plan to pay Nuno’s €5m release clause.

The Portuguese coach will be able to leave the Saudi side if that payment is triggered, with reports previously suggesting he is open to a return to the Premier League.

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Gary Lineker hailed Nuno for his “fabulous job” at Molineux, and he seems to fit the bill in Yorkshire at this moment in time.

Leeds currently find themselves in a battle to avoid the drop, with the 49-year-old having plenty of experience in the Premier League, guiding Wolves to back-to-back 7th-place finishes in the top flight.

He would arrive full of confidence after winning his last six games in charge of Al-Ittihad, so may get an immediate impact out of the Leeds squad, who lasted picked up three points in the league in November.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Josko Gvardiol to the Premier League this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by German publication BILD (via Sport Witness), who claim that Spurs ‘want’ to secure a deal for the RB Leipzig centre-back this summer, with the report suggesting that an offer of €100m (£88m) should be enough for the Bundesliga side to sanction the 20-year-old’s departure.

However, BILD go on to state that Tottenham’s Premier League rivals Chelsea are also in the race for the Croatia international’s signature at the end of the current campaign, with the Blues said to be ‘fighting’ Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte for the signing of Gvardiol next summer.

“Gladiator”

Considering just how much ability Gvardiol already possess, coupled with the 20-year-old’s exponential scope for future development, it is easy to see why Paratici and Conte would be interested in a deal to bring the Leipzig starlet to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next summer.

Indeed, over his 29 Bundesliga appearances last season, the £115m-rated talent was in imperious form in the heart of the Leipzig defence. He helped his side keep seven clean sheets, in addition to making 1.8 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and 1.9 clearances and winning 5.9 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per game.

The £19k-per-week defender also impressed in an attacking capacity in 2021/22, scoring two goals, providing two assists and creating four big chances for his team-mates, along with averaging 3.4 long balls, 1.3 dribbles and 59.3 passes – at a success rate of 84% – per match.

These returns saw the player who Ivica Olic dubbed “extraordinary” average a sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.10, not only ranking him as Leipzig’s fourth-best performer in the league but also as the 36th-best player in the entire German top flight in 2021/22.

The 20-year-old also caught the eye for all the right reasons over his seven appearances at the World Cup this winter, helping Croatia to keep two clean sheets, in addition to making 1.3 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 5.3 clearances and winning 2.7 duels – at a success rate of 51% – per match.

The 19-cap international also chipped in his for his country going forwards, scoring one goal in Qatar, along with averaging 3.4 long balls and 66.1 passes – at a success rate of 90% – per game.

These metrics saw the youngster – who journalist Ryan Taylor labelled a “gladiator” – average a breathtaking Sofascore match rating of 7.16. That ranked him as Zlatko Dalić’s fifth-best performer in the tournament, with Gvardiol playing a crucial role in Croatia going on to secure a very impressive third-place finish in the most prestigious competition in world football.

As such, considering just how exciting a prospect the 20-year-old evidently is, it would undoubtedly represent an extraordinary coup for Paratici and Tottenham if they manage to beat Chelsea to the signing of the Leipzig sensation this summer, as Gvardiol is very much one of the biggest defensive talents in world football at present.

Arsenal are reportedly one of threee clubs in the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who could potentially depart the Amex Stadium in 2023. 

The Lowdown: Mac Allister’s season so far

This season has seen the 24-year-old score five goals in 14 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls. More recently, the Brighton star netted one goal and provided one assist for Argentina in their World Cup-winning campaign.

As things stand, Mac Allister has found himself in the middle of a transfer tug-of-war involving two of England’s biggest clubs, along with a well-known European power.

The Lowdown: Arsenal in Mac Allister transfer race

Argentine journalist Gaston Edul took to Twitter to share an update on Mac Allister’s future amid this three-pronged transfer interest.

Translated from Spanish, he tweeted: “There are three teams interested in Alexis Mac Allister: Chelsea, Arsenal and Atletico de Madrid (in that order).

“It is difficult for him to leave Brighton in this transfer market. He can only leave if the club wants to sell him and its intention is to retain him. His departure may take place in June.”

The Verdict: He’d be a great signing

In addition to his goals for Brighton this season, a tally which doesn’t include a disallowed strike that journalist Charlie Haffenden described as “extraordinary”, Mac Allister has shown in other areas of his game just how impressive he has been in 2022.

Along with having the fourth-highest number of shot-creating actions (31) and passes into the final third of the pitch (65) at the Amex Stadium, he also has the second-highest combined total of tackles and interceptions (64) and has made more ball recoveries (124) than anyone at the south coast club.

His efforts in Qatar earned the Brighton star an overall tournament rating of 7.11/10 from WhoScored, making him the third-highest rated player in Argentina’s squad.

Taking all of that into account, we feel that the midfielder would be an excellent addition to Mikel Arteta’s ranks and that Arsenal should do all they can to sign him in the summer.

Leeds United have are interested in a move for Boulaye Dia in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Tutto Salernitana (via Sport Witness), who claim that, having been heavily linked with a move for the centre-forward in recent weeks, Victor Orta has now expressed interest in a winter move for the 26-year-old.

However, the report goes on to state that Leeds are not alone in their pursuit of the Senegal international – who is currently on loan in Italy from CF Villarreal – with the likes of Everton, Leicester City and West Ham United also believed to be keen on a move for the striker in the January transfer window.

Absolutely fantastic

Considering just how impressive Dia has been for club and country so far this season, it is not difficult to understand why Orta would be keen on a deal to bring the Salernitana sensation to Elland road this winter.

Indeed, over his 14 Serie A outings – only ten of which have come as starts – this season, the £17.5m-rated forward has been in devastating form, scoring six goals, providing two assists and creating one big chance for his side, in addition to taking an average of 1.1 shots, making 0.9 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £30k-per-week talent average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.88, currently ranking the striker as Davide Nicola’s joint fourth-best performer in the top flight of Italian football.

The 26-year-old has also impressed at the Qatar World Cup this month, with Dia particularly catching the eye during Senegal’s 3-1 victory over the host nation last Friday.

Indeed, over his 90 minutes on the pitch, Dia proved a constant thorn in the Qatar defence’s side, taking two shots at goal, completing one dribble and making one key pass, as well as making one interception, one clearance and winning five duels.

However, it was undoubtedly the striker’s 41st-minute opener that made the biggest impact for his county, with the 20-cap star picking up a loose ball after some shocking defending by Qatar, before unleashing a furious drive beyond a helpless Meshaal Aissa Barsham between the home side’s sticks.

These metrics saw the Villarreal loanee earn a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.3, ranking him as Senegal’s best performer in the meeting, as well as seeing him pick up the Man of the Match award in the fixture.

As such, with Dia having proven he can perform on the biggest of stages this month, coupled with the centre-forward having also been on fire in Italy, it is easy to see why Leeds would be keen on €17m (£15m) talent, as Dia would undoubtedly represent an “absolutely fantastic” – in the words of Marlon Harwood – addition to Jesse Marsch’s current attacking options at Elland Road.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in signing New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long. 

The Lowdown: Forest’s previous transfer business

The Reds showed during the summer transfer window just how capable they are of bringing new players to the club, with more than 20 new faces joining Steve Cooper’s squad following their promotion from the Championship.

The Midlands club have not had the easiest of campaigns so far, though, as they find themselves in the relegation zone with just 10 points on the board from 14 games played.

Having also conceded 30 goals across those games, it appears that the club have already identified someone to sign in January who may help them to tighten up at the back.

The Latest: Transfer interest in Long

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Forest are joined by Premier League duo West Ham United and Bournemouth in plotting moves to sign Long during the upcoming January transfer window.

The report also states that, with Long’s contract at the American club set to expire at the end of next month, he’s able to negotiate over a potential free transfer to one of those English top-flight clubs, something that the player is reportedly ‘considering’.

The Verdict: Potentially smart move for Cooper

Across Long’s 29 MLS games for New York Reb Bulls in the 2022 season, the 30-year-old posted the second-highest number of clearances (76) and fifth-highest number of interceptions (27) at the club, also racking up 23 blocks and 13 successful tackles.

Praised by Chris Armas for the “big voice” that he has in the dressing room, Long will undoubtedly be looking to put that voice to use for his country in the upcoming World Cup, in which he is likely to feature given how often he has played for the USA this year.

Should the centre-back make it to Qatar, this would give Forest and Steve Cooper a good chance to evaluate the player and see if he’d be a worthy addition to their squad.

In our view, based on his defensive credentials, potentially signing Long as a free agent in January could be a very smart move from Forest and possibly help to get them out of danger in the Premier League.

Leeds United want Jack Harrison to sign a new contract ‘as soon as possible’, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Harrison rumours

Harrison has less than two years remaining on his current Elland Road deal and was linked with a move to Newcastle United over the summer.

Reports last month suggested that Leeds chiefs wanted to finalise a new contract before January, with speculation mounting over a new double-your-money deal.

As we know, fresh terms in West Yorkshire have yet to materialise for Harrison, and Jones has been giving his thoughts on the situation.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

Jones, talking to GiveMeSport, said that Leeds have ‘intent’ when it comes to Harrison’s contract and would like him to officially sign a new deal ‘as soon as possible’.

“Obviously, Leeds do have some intent around this and want to persuade him to put pen to paper as soon as possible.”

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The Verdict: Worrying times

Leeds and Harrison started the season in fine form, with the winger contributing to four goals in the opening three Premier League fixtures.

However, the Whites and Harrison have struggled since, so the player may feel wary of extending his stay, with the club currently in the relegation zone.

He may hold off signing a new deal with Leeds in danger of dropping back down into the Championship, so this could be one to keep an eye on heading into the new year.

Jurgen Klopp's poetic license at the Anfield helm has allowed the German to grow in influence, expand in power, and stand as Liverpool's principal string-puller across a range of important technical duties.

It is for this reason, in part at least, that Michael Edwards stepped down as Liverpool's sporting director in 2022 despite a concerted effort from FSG to keep him.

But Klopp is now leaving; Edwards has returned in a bigger, bulkier role as FSG's CEO of Football. Liverpool's sharpness in recruitment has been heralded throughout Klopp's illustrious tenure but it has taken a hit over these past few years – now, though, there is growing hope that the Merseyside outfit are to enjoy a summer of shrewd and purposeful transfer activity.

Arne Slot's first team will be shaped to the blueprint of Edwards' many-faceted vision, to a degree, and this shift in power will be an interesting narrative to keep an eye on as things develop into the 2024/25 campaign.

Core leadership group – Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah – are all out of contract at the end of next term and this is indeed the glaring issue at present, but there are other areas in need of redress.

One such problem stems from left-back Kostas Tsimikas, who signed a new long-term deal with the club last year extending his contract to 2027. Might that have been a mistake?

Why Liverpool signed Kostas Tsimikas

Liverpool completed the £12m transfer of Tsimikas from Greek side Olympiakos back in 2020 to provide cover to first-choice star Andy Robertson, who had been lacking in that department for several years, forcing Klopp to frequently field the versatile James Milner in the full-back role.

Across his nearly-four-year stay in England, Tsimikas has now amassed 86 appearances under Klopp, failing to score but racking up 16 assists.

This season, following Robertson's shoulder injury suffered on international duty in October – ruling him out for a number of months – the dynamo enjoyed a string of games in the Premier League, starting eight of ten matches throughout October until December, but he has been limited to just three top-flight outings, all cameos, over the second half of the season, highlighting Klopp's lack of trust in his skill set.

23/24

13

8

3

22/23

20

9

4

21/22

13

9

2

20/21

2

0

0

As per Sofascore, the left-sided ace has averaged only 2.5 successful duels per match in the Premier League this season at a win rate of just 43%.

Indeed, while he's played more frequently across cup competitions, Tsimikas was branded with a shocking 3/10 match rating by GOAL's Mark Doyle during Liverpool's painstaking 3-0 Anfield defeat against Atalanta in April, with the reporter noting that he was "put out of his misery" after a half-time substitution.

As per FBref, Tsimikas ranks among the top 8% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for passes attempted, the top 16% for progressive passes and the top 7% for progressive carries per 90.

While such metrics highlight Tsimikas' creative and progressive strengths, they masquerade over an all-round level of performance that has left Liverpool weakened when he has been deployed.

Why Liverpool should sell Kostas Tsimikas

True enough, Tsimikas serves primarily as a backup and he is content with that role, but Liverpool have other existing options at their disposal and have a rumoured interest in Brest left-back Bradley Locko, according to Football Insider, set to lock horns with Aston Villa and West Ham United for the 22-year-old's signature.

The 5 foot 9 defender – who was dubbed "woeful" by reporter James Dodd – is days away from his 28th birthday and if Liverpool do wish to cash in for maximum value, now would be the time to do so.

Football Transfers' player valuation model marks the 34-cap Greece international at just £7m, and given that he's not going to rise to the club's No. 1 on the left flank of the backline any time soon, further depreciation is likely forthcoming in the years ahead.

Considering that, moreover, Tsimikas is earning a pretty penny at £75k per week, there's definitely no reason why he should continue as a part of Slot's squad, taking home greater weekly earnings than the likes of Luis Diaz (£75k-per-week) and Harvey Elliott (just £40k-per-week).

Ibrahima Konate

£70k-per-week

Luis Diaz

£55k-per-week

Wataru Endo

£50k-per-week

Harvey Elliott

£40k-per-week

Stefan Bajcetic

£40k-per-week

Diaz and Elliott have been two of Liverpool's most influential players this season, both growing in importance over the past several months and while Elliott is only 21 years old and his Colombian peer has yet to sign a new deal since joining from Porto for an initial fee of £37m in January 2022, Tsimikas' hefty salary is illuminated, especially so for a player of bit-part significance.

While, as aforementioned, Tsimikas featured regularly during Robertson's layoff, Joe Gomez proved himself invaluable in an inverted full-back role on the left and he must be prioritised over his 27-year-old teammate.

Incidentally, Gomez is rumoured to be considering a departure from Liverpool this summer and the kitchen sink must be thrown at ensuring that does not happen.

Slot could replace Nunez by sealing £111m signing for Liverpool

This awe-inspiring forward could be the “mastermind” behind Slot’s system at Anfield.

ByAngus Sinclair May 7, 2024

Tsimikas might have signed a new contract on Merseyside at the start of the season but tuned-in figures such as transfer expert Dean Jones have speculated that he might be facing an exit sooner rather than later.

Edwards and Liverpool's new sporting director Richard Hughes need to make it happen, unleashing a ruthless approach to lift Liverpool back to the top of their game under new management.

Celtic made a winning return to Scottish Premiership action on Saturday afternoon following the recent international break, securing a narrow 2-1 victory over Motherwell in what was an eventful encounter at Parkhead on Saturday.

The Hoops had succumbed to a first defeat in 38 top-flight games away at St Mirren two weeks ago, although were able to maintain their two-point advantage over Glasgow rivals Rangers at the top of the table following the win over the Fir Park outfit.

Goals from Japanese duo Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate helped to steer Ange Postecoglou’s side to all three points, with the hosts surviving a late scare following captain Callum McGregor’s dismissal to make it seven wins from eight in what appears to be a relentless defence of their title for the Old Firm giants.

A key performer in yesterday’s clash was that of the aforementioned Hatate, with the 24-year-old once again proving his worth to the Hoops boss after netting a stunning second-half strike to seal the win, after Josip Juranovic’s calamitous own goal had drawn the visitors level midway through the first period.

The one-cap gem – who arrived in Scotland for a bargain fee of just £1.4m last summer – picked up the ball just outside the box before unleashing a fierce effort past a helpless Liam Kelly, with that the midfielder’s tenth goal contribution in just 29 games for the club to date.

The diminutive ace had warned the away side prior to that fabulous effort having seen another fierce strike canon off the woodwork from distance, with the £2.25m-rated playmaker developing something of a knack for a long-range stunner, having produced similar heroics in the win over the Gers back in February.

The 5 foot 8 machine recorded a stunning 7.6 match rating as a result of his performance, as per SofaScore, with that by far the highest of any player for either side, despite squandering possession on 19 occasions.

As that latter metric showcases, there is still perhaps improvement to be made in the player’s game – with Postecoglou suggesting that there is still a “lot more to come” from his star asset – albeit with this recent triumph showcasing yet again just what a key figure he has become at Celtic Park in such a short space of time.