Month: January 2023

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Bruno hails Pope as world’s best

Nick Pope was hailed as the “best goalkeeper in the world” after his 10th successive clean sheet put Newcastle on the brink of a Wembley appearance.

The England international pulled off two stunning second-half saves from Southampton striker Che Adams as the Magpies secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie through Joelinton’s strike.

And Toon team-mate Bruno Guimaraes believes yet another inspirational display cements the 30-year-old as a world-class stopper as they take a one-goal advantage back to St James’ Park ahead of the second leg next Tuesday.

The Brazilian midfielder told Sky Sports: “One goal is important, we could score more but most important was to be one goal in front of Southampton. 

“I want to thank Nick Pope, I think he’s the best goalkeeper in the world. Let’s keep it going.”

Manager Eddie Howe added: “Nick made some big saves today, especially the first one from Adams [which] I thought was a big moment in the match.

“He stood up tall for us, as he has done all season.

“It [10 clean sheets in a row] is a brilliant thing for Nick. I think he deserves that accolade. He’s been excellent on and off the pitch in every respect since he signed for the club.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him, I can’t praise him enough and I can’t rate him highly enough. He’s a brilliant shot-stopper and I think he’s in a very good place currently.”

Moshiri sticking with Toffees

Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri insists the club have not been put up for sale but are seeking investment to help fund their new stadium.

The Toffees sacked Frank Lampard on Monday and are embroiled in a fight against relegation this season.

There has been widespread fan unrest and numerous demonstrations against Everton’s board in recent weeks, with chiefs advised not to attend their clash with Southampton on security grounds.

Moshiri insists he remains fully committed to the Merseyside club but wants to secure financial support ahead of their planned move from Goodison Park to the new site at Bramley Moore Dock.

In an interview with the Everton Fan Advisory Board, Moshiri, 67, said: “The club is not for sale, but I’ve been talking to top investors of real quality to bridge a gap on the stadium.

“I can do it myself. The reason I want to do it is to bring top sport investors into Everton. We are close to having a deal done.

“It is not selling the club at all, it is just bringing more expertise in terms of global sponsorship, commercial development.

“A lot of specialist sport investors have this pool of knowledge and it is to secure that for Everton.”

Oh what a feeling

Celtic have completed the signing of striker Hyeongyu Oh from South Korean side Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

The 21-year-old has signed a five-year deal at Parkhead after joining for an undisclosed fee.

Hoops boss Ange Postecoglu named the one-cap international as his top January target and believes he is a great fit for the Scottish Premiership leaders.

The Australian coach said: “He is a young, talented striker with great attributes.

“I have watched Oh for some time — a player who is hungry, eager to develop and to achieve success and who is ready to take the next stage in his career.

“Really importantly, I know he had his heart set on joining us too and his own perseverance has been crucial in making this deal happen, so his determination to join Celtic has been very clear.”

Anthony Gordon’s days at managerless Everton look to be numbered.

Uncertainty surrounds Goodison Park after Frank Lampard’s sacking with the 19th-placed Toffees deep in relegation trouble. 

The boyhood Evertonian is being linked with a big-money move despite an underwhelming season so far.

With Newcastle reportedly set to beat Chelsea to his signature, we look at what is next for the 21-year-old forward.

Turning heads

Gordon’s pivotal role in helping Everton survive relegation despite being a relative newcomer was enough to attract interest from sides higher up the Premier League table last summer.

Namely free-spending Chelsea, who were strongly linked with a £60million move.

The switch failed to materialise, with Lampard seemingly playing a part in convincing the promising youngster to continue his development at Goodison Park for another season.

Amid the transfer speculation, he said in August: “He’s a huge player for us, it’s as simple as that. 

“We are getting to the end of the window now but Anthony is a huge player for us and will be this season.”

Dark times without Lamps

But now that Lampard is no longer in the Goodison Park hotseat, uncertainty over the Finch Farm graduate looks to be resurfacing once again.

The bond between the player and the manager was clear to see, with Gordon penning an emotional farewell to his former boss when the news was confirmed.

He wrote on Instagram: “To the gaffer and his staff, thank you for everything. I had a personal relationship with everyone of you and it was a pleasure to learn from you all.

“I appreciate all the time you put in to helping me grow as a player and a person. Good luck.”

Downing tools?

Even before the former Chelsea midfielder’s departure, questions had arisen over Gordon’s commitment to his boyhood club’s fight against relegation.

The winger has just three goals and no assists this season, with the last of those contributions coming in October in a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace — incidentally the last time Everton tasted success in the league.

Despite his former boss often backing him to the hilt, Gordon was only handed one start in Lampard’s final seven games, suggesting even he was looking for more from his No10.

The Liverpool native was one of the players who felt the brunt of supporters’ anger earlier this month following a 2-1 defeat to relegation rivals Southampton, with furious fans filmed surrounding his car as he left Goodison Park.

Interest still there

But despite claims of an attitude problem, interest seems to remain high in the talented forward with Newcastle now the reported frontrunners.

Toffees chiefs appear willing to cash in on their academy graduate at this stage and are still said to be demanding upwards of £60m, though it remains to be seen whether the Toon are willing to part with that much.

A report in the Telegraph suggests there is a willingness on both sides to get the deal done, with Gordon also said to be keen on the switch to the third-placed outfit.

It would, of course, be foolish to count Chelsea out of the race but it looks as though the Geordies have stolen a march on their top-flight rivals as the January transfer window enters its final week.

The right fit?

High-flying Toon are enjoying an incredible season and have the financial muscle to match their lofty ambitions, though boss Eddie Howe has so far been selective over who he brings in.

With the interest appearing pretty concrete at this stage, the former Bournemouth manager clearly thinks the forward will not be a disruptive figure among his close-knit group in the North West.

And given the success of their high-energy approach, it is easy to see why the Magpies boss would see the versatile and pacey talent as a useful addition to his side.

When at his best, Gordon is a tireless attacker who loves taking players on and fashioning chances for both himself and team-mates when featuring either out wide or through the middle.

Since the start of last season, his 3.17 take-ons attempted per 90 mins is bettered by only dazzling winger Allan Saint-Maximin among Newcastle’s current crop.

What is more, only the Frenchman, Joelinton and Kieran Trippier can beat his 43 chances created in that time period, suggesting he could be a very handy addition to Howe’s options in attack.

Still, with a transfer fee as high as what is reported, Gordon will not be short of doubters to prove wrong if he does make the move — not least from supporters of his current club.

Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie has reportedly agreed terms with Premier League side Leeds ahead of a January move.

USA star McKennie, 24, played a prominent role in his country’s run to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup and has since been strongly linked with a move away from the Old Lady.

He has made 15 appearances in Serie A this season but now looks set to depart the Italian giants, who are currently under investigation for inflating transfer fees in recent years.

Though the 41-cap international has no shortage of admirers, it appears the opportunity to work under his countryman Jesse Marsch at Elland Road has proved to be a decisive factor.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reports that McKennie has accepted a proposal from the Whites and that the deal now rests on the two clubs reaching an agreement on a fee.

The Daily Mail also suggest a move is close, with the Premier League side supposedly offering to take McKennie on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy the player at the end of the season.

The Texas-born enforcer would jlink up with his USMNT team-mates Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson, who have both quickly become fan favourites in West Yorkshire.

He would become Leeds’ third signing of the January window following their captures of FC Salzburg defender Max Wober and the club-record acquisition of Hoffenheim forward Georginio Rutter.

In other news

According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham are optimistic that they can finally close a deal for Sporting Lisbon defender Pedro Porro, 23, today.

Arsenal could rival Chelsea for 21-year-old Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo in the summer, with the Evening Standard suggesting a January deal is starting to appear unlikely.

Reports from The Telegraph suggest that Leicester are targeting Leeds winger Jack Harrison, 26, as they look to strengthen their squad in January.

European champions Italy will face Spain in the last four at the Nations League Finals in June, with hosts Netherlands drawn against World Cup semi-finalists Croatia.

Italy, who were absent from a second consecutive edition of the World Cup in Qatar last year, reached the Nations League semi-finals by edging out Hungary for top spot in a group which also contained Germany and England.

Standing between Roberto Mancini’s men and the final are Spain – who beat the Azzurri 2-1 at the same stage of the competition in 2021 before losing the final against France.

Spain, who saw off Portugal to win Group A2, will be led by new head coach Luis de la Fuente after Luis Enrique departed in the aftermath of their surprise World Cup exit against Morocco.

The Netherlands, who were beaten finalists at the inaugural 2019 Nations League Finals in Portugal, will face Croatia in a home semi-final at De Kuip in Rotterdam.

The Oranje are also under new management, with Ronald Koeman returning to the role in place of Louis van Gaal after their World Cup quarter-final loss to eventual champions Argentina.

While it’s all change for Spain and the Netherlands, there will be a familiar look to Croatia’s side in June, with talismanic midfielder Luka Modric pledging to continue his international career after helping the team win bronze in Qatar.

The semi-final fixtures will take place on June 14 and 15, with the third-place play-off and final being held on June 18.  

Newcastle United are reportedly confident they will be able to secure Everton forward Anthony Gordon before the end of January.

Gordon, 21, has been with Everton since arriving as an 11-year-old back in 2012, and he broke into the first team this last season with 25 starts among his 35 Premier League appearances.

He appeared to be in the midst of a stellar campaign after scoring in back-to-back matches in August, but along with Everton, he has tailed off dramatically, finding the back of the net just once in his past 11 league fixtures.

Despite his recent lack of success – having only made one league start since the beginning of November – the young Englishman still has his fans, although he still carries a hefty price tag.

TOP STORY – NEWCASTLE PUSHING FOR GORDON MOVE IN THE NEXT WEEK

According to Goal, Newcastle believe they are in “pole position” to land the England Under-21 representative, with Gordon reportedly missing training on Tuesday as speculation builds.

The report states Everton will hold firm at £50million as their asking price, and with his contract tying him to the club until 2025, there is little incentive to budge from that figure for the time being.

With Frank Lampard fired as Everton boss, it remains to be seen if his replacement would like to feature Gordon prominently, but if not, he could provide the club with some much-needed spending power and manoeuvrability.

ROUND-UP

– The Guardian is reporting 21-year-old Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson will undergo a medical at Bournemouth on Wednesday ahead of confirming a £20.3m (€23m) signing.

– After missing out on Nicolas Jackson, Southampton will now focus their attention on 22-year-old Marseille winger Bamba Dieng, per the Daily Express.

– According to The Evening Standard, Arsenal will join Chelsea in the pursuit of 21-year-old Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo at the end of the season, while The Times adds the Seagulls are valuing him at £100m.

– Aston Villa were prepared to break their club-record signing and activate the £45m (€50m) release clause in the contract of Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams, but the Spanish international rejected their advances. The English club will instead turn to 22-year-old Real Betis forward Luiz Henrique, who is believed to cost £20m (€22m), per the Daily Mail.

– The Daily Mail is also reporting Nottingham Forest are investigating a potential loan deal for 36-year-old Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas after an injury to first-choice shot-stopper Dean Henderson.

Nick Pope was described as the world’s best goalkeeper by Bruno Guimaraes after his 10th consecutive clean sheet helped Newcastle United put one foot in the EFL Cup final.

Pope recorded yet another shutout as Newcastle earned a 1-0 win in the first leg of their semi-final tie against Southampton on Tuesday, with Joelinton scoring a second-half winner before Saints had Duje Caleta-Car sent off.

While Newcastle dominated for long periods, Pope made two crucial saves to deny Che Adams when the game was goalless, the first an excellent one-on-one stop with his legs.

Pope has now kept 10 successive clean sheets across all competitions – a feat not managed by any other Premier League goalkeeper in records dating back to the start of the 2012-13 season.

Guimaraes reserved lofty praise for his team-mate after the win, telling Sky Sports: “I would like to say thanks for Nick Pope – he’s been brilliant for us. 

“I think he’s the best goalkeeper, right now, in the world.

“We controlled the game but missed some opportunities which we cannot miss. But we are happy, it is just the first game. I’m proud of the team today.”

Newcastle also had a late VAR review to thank for their clean sheet as former Magpies striker Adam Armstrong was ruled to have bundled the ball home with his arm, leaving Pope relieved.

“A lot of work goes into it. I’ve let one in and VAR has helped us out,” the England international said.

“We’re really happy with that aspect of our game at the moment. We look really solid at the back and the boys work hard to make that happen.”

Newcastle have now kept 16 clean sheets in all competitions this season – more than any other team across Europe’s top five leagues, and boss Eddie Howe was delighted with Pope’s display.

“I can’t be critical of the team in any way,” Howe said. “I thought we defended well again, I thought Nick made a couple of really good saves near the end again.

“The two saves he’s made are big saves in the game. Adams’ one-on-one was at a huge time in the game when Southampton were beginning to get on top.

“Nick stood up for us and made a great save, and then he made one shortly afterwards as well. He’s been outstanding for us this year. Whenever he’s needed, he’s produced the goods for us.”

Howe was also asked about Newcastle’s pursuit of Everton’s Anthony Gordon, amid reports suggesting the Magpies are working on a deal worth £40million for the winger.

However, Howe insisted he was purely focused on guiding Newcastle to their first EFL Cup final since 1976, responding: “I can tell you absolutely nothing. I’ve been focused on preparing for this game for the last two days.”

Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic scathingly branded Serge Gnabry “amateurish” for using a day off to attend Paris Fashion Week before turning in a disappointing performance on Tuesday.

The Bundesliga champions were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Koln, with Joshua Kimmich’s 90th-minute screamer salvaging a point.

Gnabry started the match after finding himself in the media spotlight, with Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann saying his players can use their free time as they see fit, even if he hinted a degree of frustration with the winger going to Paris on Sunday.

But the Germany international was withdrawn at half-time following an underwhelming first-half display.

After the game, Salihamidzic was not shy about letting his thoughts on the matter be known.

“It’s amateurish,” Salihamidzic is quoted as saying by Kicker. “That’s exactly what I don’t like. It’s exactly what Bayern Munich isn’t.

“A day off is there to rest so that you can step on the gas again in the next game. We’ll talk about that.”

Nagelsmann was keen to clarify that Gnabry’s extracurricular activities had nothing to do with him being withdrawn, however.

“Now, I’m not one for these tabloid issues. I evaluate what I see on the field, and I evaluate what I have on the bench for outstanding players,” he told reporters.

“I had the feeling that we needed a breath of fresh air, also because of the changed basic structure at Koln, because it opened up a little more distance for the wide players.

“That’s why we switched. It had nothing to do with everything else. I evaluate what I see and then try to make the right decision.”

The result means Bayern’s lead at the top of the table is four points – it was six heading into Tuesday, before second-placed RB Leipzig crushed Schalke 6-1.

Bayern resumed their season last week by drawing 1-1 with Leipzig, leaving them on two points from a possible six in 2023.

And captain Kimmich felt it was necessary to question the attitude of his team-mates following this latest setback.

“The second half was a bit better,” he told Sat1. “The first half…we certainly have to talk about that in terms of approach, our willingness, our attitude.

“It’s relatively easy to change – it’s not that it’s a matter of tactics or technique or fitness, it’s just the willingness. I expect that we can get that changed relatively quickly.”

Bayern are next in action on Saturday when they play host to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Maurizio Sarri was pleased to be able to help out former club Napoli as his Lazio side’s 4-0 thrashing of Milan on Tuesday gave the Serie A leaders another boost in their title charge.

Sarri was born in Naples and managed the Partenopei between 2015 and 2018, who under Luciano Spalletti now look set to end a 33-year wait for Scudetto success.

Napoli’s lead at the top was 12 points heading into Milan’s game with Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, and that remained the case following a rampant display from the hosts.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Mattia Zaccagni had Sarri’s men cruising at the break, and Luis Alberto and Felipe Anderson added second-half goals as Milan’s bid to close the gap to the Serie A summit to nine points fell woefully short.

While Sarri was keen to focus on his team’s performance, he also said he found pleasure in assisting his old club, telling DAZN: “We mainly gave ourselves a gift. We cared a lot for the standings and to show how much we have grown.

“If Napoli are well placed in the standings, for me it’s nothing but a reason for satisfaction.”

The sparkling display against Milan was Lazio’s second straight league win and hoisted them from sixth up into third, just a point behind the reigning champions.

Aside from their impressive attacking performance, Sarri’s men picked up an 11th clean sheet in 19 Serie A games so far this campaign, equalling the club record for clean sheets at this point in a top-flight season.

Former Chelsea boss Sarri was delighted with how his team performed and suggested it may have been the best they had played under him since arriving at the club in 2021.

“In terms of technical, tactical enjoyment, today was one of the best,” Sarri added. “Perhaps the best.

“This group has always given me total availability and we can do well if we remove the flaw of not picking up away points against inferior teams on paper.”

The victory moved Lazio above top-four rivals Inter and Roma on goal difference, after their bid for Champions League qualification already received a big hand on Saturday with Juventus’ 15-point deduction for alleged false accounting.

Sarri hopes his side can maintain their momentum and continue their assault on the top four against Fiorentina on Sunday, saying: “At the final whistle, I thought that in a few days we have a very difficult match against Fiorentina.

“We must not think about the long term, but keep the adrenaline seen tonight also in the next matches. Unfortunately, this has sometimes been our flaw.

“We do the maximum of what we can do, then at the end of the season we’ll sum up. There are teams that are better equipped for me [to finish top four], but we still take it one game at a time and see what comes of it.”

Erik ten Hag wants Marcus Rashford to commit his future to Manchester United, who the Dutchman is aiming to turn into the best team in world football.

Rashford has scored eight goals in the last eight games and is United’s top scorer this season.

The England international is averaging a goal every 124 minutes, having netted 17 in 28 appearances from 12.8 expected goals (xG).

Rashford’s deal is up in 2024, but Ten Hag is confident a new contract will be agreed.

“This is the best place to be because we want to construct the best team – first in England, then Europe, then the world,” said Ten Hag ahead of Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest.

“It is confidential, talks between clubs and players, [but] he understands Manchester United is his club and also in this environment, this team, he is playing his best football.

“He is improving, he is giving 100 per cent.

“He can bring his qualities and this team can help him be in the right position to score goals. The team is constructed so that his qualities come to the fore.

“He knows he is important for us and if we want to succeed, we need him.”

While Rashford is thriving on one side of United’s attack, Antony – a big-money signing from Ajax last year – has struggled after a fast start to his career in England.

Ten Hag is not concerned, though.

“He is not losing games,” the Dutchman said of the Brazil winger.

“He is playing and the team is winning and that already gives a message of how well he is performing.

“He can do better. I see space for improvement, and we want him to be more direct.”

Jurgen Klopp says the chance to lead a “necessary” rebuild at Liverpool was a key motivation behind his decision to sign a new contract last year.  

Klopp committed his future to the Reds – with whom he has won seven trophies including the Premier League and Champions League – until 2026 when he penned a new deal last April.

Having gone close to winning an unprecedented quadruple last season, Liverpool have disappointed this term, sitting 10 points adrift of the Premier League’s top four in ninth place. 

With Liverpool stalwarts such as Jordan Henderson and Fabinho struggling this season, many onlookers have suggested the Reds’ side must be refreshed, and Klopp concurs.

“I’m not saying it’s the biggest challenge, but it’s a challenge, and it was one of the main reasons why I signed a new contract, because I knew it was necessary [to rebuild],” Klopp said during an appearance on BT Sport’s Football People podcast.

“It will not go overnight, and imagine the situation now with another coach in the chair. I would be somewhere on holiday and everybody would shout my name, ‘with him it would not have happened!’ 

“I’m obviously not a miracle worker. That’s why it’s good how it is, because of all the problems you have in a transitional period – we have an awful lot of injuries and that makes life really complicated. 

“I have no problem with that because obviously I know the majority of the outside world are just interested in the short term, but we have to be long-term focused as well.”

Liverpool are not the only giant marooned in mid-table this season, with Chelsea below them on goal difference after the sides played out a dismal goalless draw on Saturday.

While Chelsea have spent big to attract Mykhaylo Mudryk and Benoit Badiashile in the current transfer window, Klopp insists Liverpool cannot afford to conduct business in the same way.

“There are obviously plenty of different ways you can do it, but it’s all based on the situation you are in,” he said.

“Chelsea with the new ownership obviously… nobody knows exactly how they do it, how they can spend this much money. 

“Nobody likes me talking about other teams, but transition needs time if you don’t have endless money, otherwise you can change it overnight pretty much, by bringing in 10 players.”

While Klopp will have spent 11 years at Anfield if he sees out the remainder of his contract, he does not believe he will stay in the game as long as some other coaches have.

“I know I dream of football, so that’s not cool… the job is incredibly demanding, it is, but it’s great as well,” Klopp added.

“When Roy Hodgson came back again [to Watford last season], I saw him and asked him, ‘do you have a wet flat? You go again?’ He says, ‘no, I love it’.

“I cannot see myself beyond 70 and still standing in the dugout in every weather, and especially each weather for training, two hours standing there in the wind. I can’t see that. 

“I hope other things are that interesting to me that I am really fine with not being involved anymore.”