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Rob Lee has exclusively told Football FanCast that Callum Wilson could be the key to Newcastle’s survival chances.

Newcastle slipped further into trouble following their defeat at Brighton on Saturday, leaving Steve Bruce’s team just two points above the bottom-three heading into the international break.

That result was the Magpies’ sixth Premier League game without victory, which has coincided with the injury to top scorer Callum Wilson.

The former Bournemouth striker sustained a hamstring problem during Newcastle’s win over Southampton last month, which was the last time Bruce’s men tasted victory.

Prior to his setback, Wilson had scored 10 Premier League goals this season, which is more than 30 percent of the goals they’ve netted in the league.

And Lee told Football FanCast that Wilson’s return can’t come soon enough for the St James’ Park oufit:

“You get him back after the international break, he’s the one that can save the season because he’s the guy that can score goals out of nothing.

“Even when we’re not playing well, which is a lot, he can still score. And that’s the different between somebody staying up and going down.”

Newcastle have won seven Premier League games this season, with Wilson scoring in five of those. So if Bruce’s men are to finish above the dotted-line, Wilson is certainly going to play his part.

According to a report by Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur, led of course by chairman Daniel Levy, are plotting to sell Serge Aurier this summer – with coaching staff even said to regard him as ‘uncoachable’ behind the scenes.

Aurier, who enters the final 12 months of his current deal this summer, with talk previously touting a bumper new contract (Football Insider), now looks more likely to leave north London at the end of the season as Levy and co plot a sale.

Tottenham plotting Aurier sale

Indeed, a Tottenham source has explained to Football Insider that talk surrounding a fresh contract appears unlikely at this stage – with Spurs now plotting to offload the 28-year-old despite a much improved season at points.

He has mostly kept summer signing Matt Doherty out of the side when it comes to Premier League appearances – evidenced by the defender starting 14 league matches compared to his counterpart’s 9.

Speaking to Football Insider at the end of last year, pundit and former Arsenal star Kevin Campbell even hailed him as a ‘top class player’ for some of his showings this season.

Transfer Tavern take

Despite this, Tottenham are keen to offload Aurier in the summer given his contract situation coupled with the danger he could leave as a free agent upon it’s expiry.

The coaching staff are even said to regard him as ‘uncoachable’ despite Aurier featuring regularly for Mourinho.

Time will tell what comes of this report or who could lodge a bid for the right-back this summer, but Levy and Spurs are said to be eager for a summer sale.

In other news: Alasdair Gold has lifted the lid on this ‘phenomenal’ Tottenham youngster, find out more here.

Former West Ham United player Rob Lee has told Football FanCast that David Moyes has done an “unbelievable” job at West Ham United this season and deserves to be in the conversation to win Manager of the Season.

The Hammers are within touching distance of the Champions League qualification places and are in with a genuine shout of qualifying for European competition this season.

Moyes, of course, is in his second spell at the club, having kept them up in the 2017/18 campaign.

Lee, who played for the Hammers in the 2003/04 season, thinks Moyes should be lauded for the job he is doing in east London.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “David Moyes, I thought he did a good job the season he kept them up. I think his remit then would have been to keep them up, which he did, and they got rid of him.

“They’ve realised their error and got him back and he’s done an unbelievable job there. They’re good to watch, they’re exciting to watch now, they score goals, they seem to have sorted it out at the back and they’ve got half a chance of certainly getting into Europe.”

Nevertheless, Lee believes that the more likely recipient of the award is Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

The Catalan boss has enjoyed a phenomenal season with City, who have won 21 games in a row.

They are currently 14 points clear at the top of the table, but Lee admits that they should be expected to win the competition, given that Guardiola is working with the biggest budget in the league.

He added: “I don’t know how they do this Manager of the Season thing but they’ll probably give it to Pep because he’s won 21 games on the trot.

“He’s a great manager, sometimes you’ve got to look at how Pep would have done if he’d have gone in at West Ham, I think he said himself he’s always had the most money to spend. He’s very honest about it. To get the best team you need the most money, that is true.”

According to The Express, Arsenal are monitoring Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

What’s the story?

Mikel Arteta’s side currently have a number of strikers on their books, but with Alexandre Lacazette’s contract coming to an end in the summer of 2022, the Gunners may be on the look-out for a new centre-forward.

And, according to The Express, one man who is attracting interest from the Premier League side’s recruitment team is Toney.

The report claims that Arsenal are set to “keep a watchful eye” over the Brentford star, and that while there is nothing imminent in their interest, their scouts are going to continue monitoring his development with the Championship outfit.

Edu can get Lacazette’s successor

Despite Lacazette’s great form over these past few weeks – he’s managed four goals in his past four Premier League games – the fact he will turn 30 in May puts the Gunners in a difficult position.

The Mesut Ozil situation has no doubt left some major scars about handing an ageing player a big-money contract, and it remains to be seen whether his recent good form is worthy of shelling out a lot of money for someone like Lacazette.

Instead, if Arsenal make the tough but arguably logical call in selling the Frenchman to try and receive at least some sort of fee for him, then it could allow them to pursue a move for Toney, who has been a revelation over the past couple of seasons.

His 26 goals for League One side Peterborough last season earned him a high-profile move to Brentford, where he’s just hit the ground running, bagging 16 times in just 22 Championship games.

He’s already proven he can take one step up and handle the pressure well, whilst at just 24, has got plenty of time to develop into a fine Premier League striker too.

Speaking earlier last year, Peterborough’s director of football, Barry Fry, said: “He’s turned into a tremendous all-round footballer. It’s important to remember Ivan is not just an exceptional goal-scoring forward, he’s also an outstanding defender.”

Toney himself has the confidence that he could be a top-flight striker, saying back in November: “I’ve always liked Zlatan. I just love his confidence. Some people see it as arrogance but you must be like that to succeed. I’m similar to Zlatan in both my confidence and the way I play. When he wants to do something, he just does it. I have some of that in my game and personality. And I believe I’ll be a Premier League striker.”

Given Toney is backing up his words on the pitch, then there’s no doubting that he has got that element of Ibrahimovic in him. Someone who might talk the talk, but can walk the walk too. If Arsenal are looking for a striker to come in if Lacazette leaves, then the Brentford ace could be the player to turn to.

Meanwhile, Arsenal must sell this young English talent…

For Leeds United, their January transfer window has been a quiet affair. They have been linked with plenty of new faces but we know this is a period Victor Orta and Marcelo Bielsa generally ignore.

We’ve not seen any outgoings yet either, that’s despite pleas for Helder Costa to move on before the window commenced.

That being said, with contracts expiring in the summer, players are free to discuss terms with clubs abroad. That’s been the case for Gjanni Alioski and if you believe reports, he’s already wrapped up an agreement to sign for Galatasaray in the summer.

Leeds guru Phil Hay revealed the Whites are still discussing new terms for the left-back but if he does indeed leave, then Bielsa must begin to unshackle a player in the academy as his successor.

Now, Leif Davis may appear to be the most ready-made choice given he’s already appeared in the first-team, but we think the duty should be handed to another young player in Niall Huggins.

The 20-year-old has never made a senior appearance for the club but he’s made some important strides in recent months. The left-back penned a new deal in December and was Leeds’ 19th man in the squad when they faced Everton earlier this term.

Clearly, he’s a player that Bielsa likes and it’s unsurprising when you assess Huggins’ versatility. He has played at left-back, left-wing back, right-back and even further forward as a striker.

However, it’s in a more defensive role where he’s impressed the most. Kalvin Phillips is also a fan of the youngster, revealing he could be set for a first-team role in the not too distant future.

He commented last summer: “We’ve got a few younger lads called Niall Huggins and Alfie McCalmont. They’re really good young players as well. They’ll be in the team in the next year or so, definitely.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-leeds-news” title=”Read this week’s latest Leeds news!”]

Playing further forward, he once scored 12 times in 29 outings for the U18s across a single season but he’s now being deployed in defence for Mark Jackson’s U23s. This has significantly developed his understanding of the game and judging by his qualities, he’d make a perfect Alioski replacement.

FocusOnLeeds wrote last year: “His pace across a short distance combined with his tenacious attitude means that he’s a real problem for defenders.”

Those words have been backed up by his performances in 2020/21 for the academy. During the U23s 4-1 dispatching of Burnley a few weeks ago, Leeds Live reporter Joe Donnohue said: “Niall Huggins has been a constant thorn in Burnley’s side, sprinting all over the pitch, winning fouls and maintaining his balance well in challenges.”

Meanwhile, Joe Mewis of the same publication gave Huggins the following review after Leeds’ Papa John’s Trophy defeat to Blackpool in November: “Injected energy and pace to the side after his half-time introduction. Came in at left-back but was constantly trying to attack and move the ball forwards.”

That’s a massive plus point for Bielsa, someone who loves his full-backs to bomb forward.

If Alioski does indeed leave, Huggins would represent a cut-price way of replacing him. He simply has to be readied for first-team action.

AND in other news, Leeds could have their ready-made Pablo heir in 17 y/o gem who possesses a “dying art”…

Not a week goes by without Wilfried Zaha being linked with the Selhurst Park exit, but that doesn’t mean that Steve Parish should forget about Vicente Guaita.

The veteran goalkeeper’s contract with Crystal Palace is set to expire at the end of the season and his recent heroics have warranted a new deal.

Guaita was beaten from 25 yards out after Harry Kane gave Tottenham Hotspur the lead with a long-range effort which he should have saved comfortably.

But, following Wayne Hennessey’s injury and after Jack Butland tested positive for Coronavirus, the 30-year-old should be allowed a margin for error. After all, what choice does Roy Hodgson have anyway?

And Guaita atoned for his early mistake as he moved to deny Eric Dier in stoppage time with an incredible one-handed save to ensure Palace leapfrogged Newcastle and Wolves into 11th place in the Premier League.

It’s hard to deny the fact that it would be a real shame to see him leave Selhurst Park at the end of the season, as he has become such a reliable asset for Hodgson, which is more than can be said for Nathaniel Clyne, who struggled to get into the game on Sunday.

Palace have several players who are out of contract at the end of the current campaign, including former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, but Parish must tie Guaita down to a new deal.

Valued at £3.6m via Transfermarkt, in 71 appearances for Palace, the Spaniard stopper has saved 21 clean sheets and conceded just 85 goals in all competitions. Not bad, not bad at all.

Hennessey has never really shown that he can be relied upon, but Guaita has continued to prove his worth time and time again at Selhurst Park. Sunday night was no different. Parish must secure his future at all costs or face serious consequences.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne was a total liability vs Spurs…

Southampton right-back Yan Valery doesn’t seem to have much of a future with Southampton with him said to be considering an exit according to the Daily Mail, having failed to make a single appearance for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side this season.

The Frenchman was a regular under the Austrian last season in the last two seasons but was dislodged by the loan signing of Kyle Walker-Peters last season, with a bout of glandular fever also contributing to him slipping down the pecking order.

Walker-Peters joined permanently during the summer and has clearly won over Hasenhuttl with his displays, having started every single Premier League game for the Saints this season, helping them to seven clean sheets in the top-flight.

Southampton have also been credited with an interest in Manchester United full-back Brandon Williams recently and considering he can play as both a right-back and a left-back, it seems unlikely that Valery will be starting another game for Southampton anytime soon.

Whilst a loan move might help Valery rediscover his form and confidence, the fact that he has been demoted to David Horseman’s B team at times this season suggests that Hasenhuttl doesn’t trust the 21-year-old to be part of his first-team.

Since joining from Rennes in 2015, the defender has gone on to make 36 appearances for the Saints, contributing two goals and one assist.

One of those goals was a superb strike in a 3-2 defeat against Manchester United in 2019, which led Hasenhuttl to praise the defender after the game, saying:

“That’s something you demand from a young player. He gets the trust from us and then I want to see a brave player who is believing in himself and Yan made a fantastic development until now.

“Defensively he is better now and also offensively that’s exactly the way we want to go.

“I’m very happy for him that he scored for the first time, it was a fantastic goal and to shoot like this at Old Trafford shows how confident he is.”

However, he has struggled to push on from this and with Walker-Peters in such superb form, you struggle to see how he could re-establish himself in the Saints team any time soon, so it may well be best for the South Coast club to cash in on him this month.

And, in other news, Hasenhuttl must axe Saints flop who’s stealing a wage following manager admission…

Worrying pictures have emerged of Tottenham star Gareth Bale wearing an ice pack after he was taken off against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

Bale injured?

The £22.5m-valued 31-year-old (Transfermarkt) played 78 minutes at the Hawthorns against the Baggies, with him coming off when the score was 0-0. Harry Kane’s late strike gave Spurs all three points.

Unfortunately, when he was sat in the stands, Bale was seen with an ice pack strapped to his ankle. It is unclear whether the issue was serious or if it was just a precautionary measure.

Worry for Mourinho

Bale was almost the perfect no-risk loan signing for Jose Mourinho. He loves the club, having burst onto the scene at White Hart Lane, and his record of over 100 goals and four Champions League trophies shows just how good a player he can be.

However, there is just one issue – Bale has a terrible injury record. During his time at Real Madrid, he missed 99 games due to a whole host of injuries. It has taken him a while to build up some fitness in north London during this second spell – this was his first start in the Premier League this campaign. All in all, he has played a grand total of just 301 minutes across six games in the English top-flight and the Europa League.

This is, at the very least, a reminder to Mourinho that Bale needs to be managed. As Danny Mills previously told Football Insider, Bale is “desperate” to be with Spurs. That being said, the staff at the Lilywhites must make sure he is ready to play whenever he is selected.

In other news, Tottenham are interested in this two-time Champions League winner.

Leeds United make the trip south later this evening as they look to build on their encouraging recent form.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side were unlucky to only draw 0-0 with ten-man Arsenal before dispatching Everton for three points last weekend, and across both matches, the Whites totalled a whopping 48 shots.

Now they head to west London to face third-placed Chelsea, who have a plethora of attacking talent at their disposal.

But this is what you get with the Premier League – some of the very best players to currently grace the game, and Bielsa will need to be at his best tactically to find a way past the division’s best attack. No team has scored more goals than the Blues.

It gives the Argentine plenty to ponder, especially in terms of defensive selection as he will need his men at their very best to compete with the likes of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and even both Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount.

Indeed, this encounter could be one or lost out wide and if you were Frank Lampard, you’d surely be targeting Gjanni Alioski despite his impressive form as of late.

Only two teams have conceded more goals than the Yorkshiremen this term, so it would be wise to consider an actual left-back instead of the attack-minded 28-year-old.

In the past, Alioski has often been dubbed a “liability” and a “weak link” by the Elland Road faithful, as seen here, which is a train of thought backed up by former Leeds striker Noel Whelan, who told Football Insider last season:

“His defending at time is very lacking in quality, he can be a liability. Alioski is a 100 per center who will run all day but when it comes to defending, he goes to ground and sells himself too often.”

Ziyech has already contributed to four goals in four starts in the English top-flight this season, building on his 48 goals and 82 assists across four seasons at Ajax.

Across his career, the North Macedonian international has averaged 1.2 fouls per game and has picked up more yellow cards at Leeds (25) than goals (20), so if he’s not careful the Chelsea sensation could devour him clean tonight.

Bielsa is better off trusting Stuart Dallas over the £55k-per-week livewire in the role. A ruthless but necessary call.

AND in other news, Leeds dodged a massive bullet in mooted Bielsa £20m target once dubbed “unplayable”…

Scottish giants Celtic are gunning for a historic tenth title in a row this season and they have every chance of doing so as Neil Lennon’s side remain unbeaten in the league so far.

But a serious lack of foresight could come back to hurt them later down the line.

Rewind to the summer of 2019, the Hoops made some solid deals in the transfer market – loan moves for Moi Elyounoussi and Fraser Forster from Southampton were regarded as quite the coup for the club whilst Christopher Jullien, Greg Taylor and Jeremie Frimpong have all cemented their names as first-team regulars now.

However, there was a disappointing departure amongst the Parkhead academy ranks as Liam Morrison rejected a deal to join Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, which has since turned out to be a grave mistake.

The 17-year-old had his sights set on a move to Germany as soon as Bayern entered the equation but the likes of Peter Lawwell and the youth setup should have done so much more to tie him down long-term.

This week, The Guardian named him among the top 60 ‘best young talents in world football’ sitting alongside the next Erling Haaland and the best Portuguese prospect since Cristiano Ronaldo.

They relay comments from Scotland youth coach Brian McLaughlin, who said: “He has all the potential to be a Champions League centre-back. I believe their academy people have likened him to a young Mats Hummels and I think it is a good comparison. You have a centre-back who is equally comfortable playing on the right or the left and has the ability to beat a man if he has to.”

Again, this comparison is made by Bundesliga.com, claiming the teenager is “the very definition of a modern centre-back, combining sentry-like qualities with cultured build-up play.”

And he’s already been impressing Bayern’s academy manager Jochen Sauer, who added: “He’s a robust and physical defender with a lot of quality.”

Given the dubious future of Kristoffer Ajer at Celtic Park and the fact that Shane Duffy is only signed on a season-long loan, the Bhoys could well live to regret their feeble attempts to keep a generational Scottish prospect at the club.

Lawwell and co only have themselves to blame.

AND in other news, Lawwell could land Celtic their next Broony with swoop for 5-goal monster…