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Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group are set to continue backing manager Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Out-of-character season

The Reds recently crashed out of the FA Cup after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Brighton before following that up with a heavy 3-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, in what’s proving to be a difficult period for the boss.

The Merseyside outfit are sitting 11 points outside the top four following an out-of-character campaign that has seen the 55-year-old receiving chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ by opposition supporters, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be leaving anytime soon.

The Latest: FSG’s stance on Klopp

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, FSG will ‘continue to back’ Klopp despite being ‘under-fire’ for Liverpool’s poor run of results.

The Reds owners are having ‘no doubts’ regarding the German’s position at the helm nor his ability to turn it around and are set to ‘stand’ by him no matter what happens during the rest of the season.

The Verdict: Correct decision

Klopp will of course be under pressure as the man expected to change his side’s fortunes, but FSG sticking by his side is completely the right decision given what he’s achieved over the years.

The Stuttgart native has lost just 73 of his 411 matches in charge, winning a staggering 254 and drawing 84, and he’s currently averaging 2.06 points per game (Transfermarkt).

Liverpool’s boss has also twice been the recipient of the world’s best club coach and he knows his group of players better than anyone, so if someone is going to bring out the best in the squad again, he’s the perfect man for the job.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is ‘struggling’ in the race to be fit for the FA Cup game vs Arsenal on Friday, according to Pep Guardiola.

The Lowdown: Unexplained absence

The England international was replaced during the Premier League derby vs Manchester United earlier this month, but at the time, there was no suggestion that it was due to injury.

The Sky Blues playmaker, however, was an unused substitute in the following fixture against Tottenham and was also absent from the match-day squad vs Wolves, where an update on his situation has now been provided.

The Latest: Guardiola’s update

Speaking post-match after the 3-0 victory at the Etihad on Sunday, Guardiola confirmed that Foden sustained a knock during the United clash and revealed that he’s a major doubt for this week’s tie vs Arsenal.

Quoted by Manchester Evening News, he said: “It was an action in Old Trafford, jam with [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka.

“When he falls down he has a problem in his feet. He’s struggling so far. Painful, two or three days rest, gets better, then down. We decide with the doctors to stay to recover well.

“We will see if he arrives to Arsenal, if he’s not fit we wait until the next game at Spurs. Otherwise, he doesn’t train well, he’s a bit uncomfortable. That’s why we decide with the doctors to have two or three days off and see if he gets better.”

The Verdict: Potential blow

Foden is an integral member of City’s first team having been hailed a ‘word-class’ player by scout Jacek Kulig, so it would be a huge blow should Guardiola not have him available for selection for such an important game.

The Stockport-born talent has already made 13 goal contributions in 27 games across all competitions this season and offers plenty of versatility with the flexibility to operate in six various positions (Transfermarkt).

City do have plenty of other options at their disposal to face the Gunners so there’s definitely no need to panic about cover, but the boss will of course be hoping that Foden stages a return as soon as possible.

Jon McLaughlin may have replaced Alan McGregor as the Rangers number one goalkeeper, Sky Sports contributor Alan Hutton has claimed.

What’s the word?

McGregor has been the Rangers number one since returning to the club in 2018, but the 40-year-old has spent some time on the bench with McLaughlin starting, and was on the bench for the Gers’ 2-0 win away at Dundee United.

McLaughlin, 35, received a 6/10 rating as Rangers kept a clean sheet, and Hutton believes that Michael Beale may prefer him for his style.

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton claimed that the Rangers manager may start to pick McLaughlin going forward.

“Normally when you look at teams in general, I know it is slightly changing now, the back four and goalkeeper used to stay the same” Hutton claimed.

“You build up those partnerships, you know when the keeper is coming out, what he is going to do with the ball.

“I did listen to Beale and his explanation. He obviously thinks McLaughlin is slightly better at coming for cross balls, he thought that was going to be a target for Dundee United to get the ball into the box.

“You have to take him at his word. We will soon find out in upcoming weeks if he has decided to change his mind long-term but he did give and explanation for it.“

A long-term solution needed?

Given that the two goalkeepers have a combined age of 75, it is likely that neither will be the first choice over the coming years, and the club will have to find a solution.

McGregor is out of contract at the end of the season, and if he is replaced as the number one by McLaughlin, then the club will have a tough decision to make on whether to keep him on or let him leave.

Beale should target a keeper who he can rely on for the next few seasons, as he looks to make his mark on the squad.

West Ham United could land the next N’Golo Kante, as David Moyes is eyeing a move for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo in January.

That’s according to the Daily Mail, which claims that the Hammers are interested in luring the 21-year-old to east London as a potential replacement for Declan Rice, although any such move could cost the Irons a staggering £85m.

Caicedo starred for Ecuador at the World Cup, even scoring against Senegal in their final group match, but it wasn’t enough to see the South American side qualify for the knockout stages.

The youngster has been likened to Kante, and Moyes could land his own version of the combative Frenchman. The two midfielders are quite similar when it comes to playing styles and South American football expert Tim Vickery has lavished praise on Caicedo while making that comparison with the Chelsea star.

Speaking to talkSPORT last year, the journalist said of the Ecuadorian: “A year ago he was saying that Kante of Chelsea is his role model but he is already more than that. He already offers more in the final third.

“That kind of box-to-box midfielder that’s very much in the tradition of the England game. Strong, quick, intelligent, and cool. He really does look like the genuine article.”

Ecuadorian football historian Enrico Castro-Montes also sang Caicedo’s praises while speaking to Het Niuewsblad (via Sport Witness), saying: “In his own country, he is really seen as the crown jewel of a new generation.

“Caicedo really has everything to become the best Ecuadorian footballer of all time. I think that off the ball, he is indeed somewhat reminiscent of Kante, but on the ball, he resembles Paul Pogba with his flair and his technique.”

Caicedo’s form this season has been impressive to say the least, with the midfielder averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.12/10 while making 1.1 key passes, averaging 67.8 touches and winning 3.1 tackles per match in the Premier League.

This embodies the qualities that Kante displays on a regular basis, and Caicedo certainly has the talent to become a newer version of the Frenchman.

The aforementioned £85m asking price seems ridiculously high, but with Rice seemingly having his sights set on leaving West Ham, Moyes can demand a high transfer fee for the Englishman, which in turn can be spent on signing the Ecuador international from Brighton.

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Joao Felix and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Atletico Madrid star’s agent Jorge Mendes is pushing for a move to Aston Villa.

As per the report, Mendes has a strong relationship with Villa’s ownership after completing the club’s appointment of his client Unai Emery and now a deal could be done to sign Felix.

It’d be a huge coup

There is no doubt that the signing of Felix would be a seismic coup for Aston Villa, given his talents and immense value of £86m, so would be a huge statement for Emery going into his first transfer window at Villa Park.

The Villans are currently 12th in the Premier League after an improvement of form over their last two league games ahead of the World Cup break beating both Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion in the new manager’s first outings in charge.

Emery will surely want to make his own mark on his new team to improve their performances and add players who fit his philosophy over the second half of the season.

As a result, if Emery could acquire the services of Felix in the new year it could be a great opportunity to strengthen the attacking threat and encourage more goal contributions in the forward line.

The Portuguese ace – who was hailed an “elite talent” by La Liga sports writer Andy West – ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers over the top five European leagues for assists and interceptions, as well as ranking in the top 15% for dribbles completed and progressive passes.

Not only that, Felix has been representing his country at the World Cup in Qatar, helping Portugal progress to the quarter-finals with his outstanding performances in the attacking prowess of the team.

Over four appearances, the Atletico star scored one goal, registered two assists and created one big chance, as well as averaging one tackle, 2.8 shots on goal and winning 4.3 duels per game.

Felix is being pursued by a number of clubs including Manchester United, Newcastle United and Chelsea who will all hold further talks with Mendes alongside Aston Villa according to reports.

With that being said, the powers at Villa Park will need to come up with a tempting offer to make sure they can secure Felix’s signature over their competitors.

Talented Aston Villa youngster Rory Wilson is expected to sign his first professional contract at the club, according to reliable journalist Ashley Preece.

The Lowdown: Wilson impressing at Villa

The 16-year-old is making a name for himself at Villa Park with some eye-catching performances at youth team level, having joined from Rangers back in July.

Wilson has scored four goals in just five appearances for the Under-18s, leading the line in expert fashion despite not yet turning 17 years of age.

Once he hits that birthday milestone, he will be able to sign his first professional deal as a footballer, and it looks as though it is on the cards.

The Latest: First professional deal expected

Taking to Twitter, Preece confirmed that Wilson is set to sign on the dotted line at Villa, committing his future to them:

“Rory Wilson – 9 goals in 11 apps this season for #avfc and Scotland – expected to sign first pro deal.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-updates-copy-2/” title=”Aston Villa latest updates! (Copy)” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”] The Verdict: One for the future

Wilson looks to be a hugely promising young player with a bright future, with his eye for goal already standing out at such a tender age.

The Villa youngster has also scored 12 times in 13 caps for Scotland’s Under-17s, which is a phenomenal return, and he is someone who will hopefully mature into a formidable first-team player eventually.

Planning for the years ahead is always vital for the Villans, as well as ensuring that there is a nucleus of homegrown talent, and Wilson ticks both of those boxes.

Crystal Palace are reportedly considering a move for Middlesbrough right-back Isaiah Jones in the January transfer window, and the youngster could prove to be the next Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Selhurst Park.

According to Alan Nixon, Palace are keen on bringing the 23-year-old to south London in the winter transfer window, having missed out on signing him in 2019 when he was with Tooting and Mitcham just five miles away.

Instead, Jones signed for Middlesbrough, where he has established himself as one of the most exciting young defenders in the Championship in recent years.

After loan spells with St Johnstone and Queen of the South, the latter of which saw him notch six assists in just 12 appearances, Jones returned to the Riverside Stadium and has been a key fixture in the Boro side ever since.

In 63 appearances for the Teessiders, the versatile right-sided player has contributed three goals and 12 assists, including two goals and three assists in 15 Championship appearances this season.

Despite a tricky start to the campaign which saw Chris Wilder sacked, Jones has still been on top form for Middlesbrough, with WhoScored ranking him as the squad’s top performer so far this season with an average rating of 6.9/10.

Patrick Vieira could well be in the market for a right-back considering he has just Joel Ward (32) and Nathaniel Clyne (31) as options in that role. The latter is currently out injured, while both are approaching the end of their careers at the top level.

Therefore, Jones could be an exciting young prospect for Vieira to have in his squad and would surely add some attacking quality in defence which the Eagles arguably lack at the moment, with the full-backs having contributed no goals and just one assist between them so far this season.

If the youngster does join Palace and become a hit, he could follow in the footsteps of Wan-Bissaka, who starred at Selhurst Park as a right-back before earning a £50m move to Manchester United in 2019.

While Jones’ main strength is in his attacking play and Wan-Bissaka’s was defending, there is little doubt that the 23-year-old could prove to be “fantastic” (in the words of Middlesbrough’s Dael Fry) should he join Vieira’s side in January, and he could be the next English youngster that Palace develop and sell on for a big fee.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has long been a man under pressure at Southampton, but the Saints could be heading for disaster by firing the Austrian.

It was reported earlier in the season that the 55-year-old had lost the dressing room at St Mary’s, and after a poor run of form, it seemed only a matter of time before the board pulled the trigger.

However, the Saints have picked up five points from their last three games, including a draw against Arsenal last time out, which has pushed them away from the relegation zone and emphasised why Hasenhuttl is the right man to take them forward this season.

In a recent interview with GiveMeSport, journalist Dean Jones has claimed that the former RB Leipzig boss is still facing the sack at the south coast club should results go against him.

He said: “It’s probably bought him a bit of time, but it’s probably bought Southampton as a football club some time too, because they will be seriously weighing up now, what they do after Hasenhuttl because the chances are it’s pretty rare that you go through a spell as bad as that and come through it and survive for a long time.”

Since taking over as Southampton boss in December 2018, the 55-year-old has overseen 171 matches for the Saints, winning 60 games, drawing 38 and losing 73, including embarrassing 9-0 defeats against Leicester City and Manchester United which could have had many fans questioning his future at the club.

This summer was a promising one for Southampton as they brought in a lot of promising young talents including Armel Bella-Kotchap, Gavin Bazunu and Romeo Lavia. That points towards a bright future at St Mary’s as they are more than holding their own in the Premier League despite their lack of experience.

A young squad is always likely to make mistakes but, given time, Hasenhuttl can get the best out of these youngsters. He is also currently coping without Lavia, Bella-Kotchap, Tino Livramento and Kyle Walker-Peters, with all four players on the sidelines through injury.

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Wolves and Bournemouth both sacked their managers early in the season and neither have appointed a new permanent boss, with Steve Davis and Gary O’Neil still in respective caretaker charge, which suggests that the grass isn’t always greener after getting rid of a coach prematurely.

Therefore, Southampton fans should give Hasenhuttl some leeway when considering the age of his signings and the injury problems he is currently dealing with.

Once his young players have time to gel and gain experience, there seems little reason why the Saints won’t push themselves up the Premier League table.

A worrying transfer claim has emerged on Sunderland central defender Dennis Cirkin ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing up a swoop to bring the youngster back to the club after selling him to the Black Cats last year.

The report claims that Spurs are set to scout him ahead of the January transfer window with a view to re-signing the gem just 18 months after allowing him to leave for an undisclosed fee.

It has previously been reported that the top-flight outfit have a £6m buyback option that is valid until 2024 and The Sun now claim that Tottenham could snap him up before instantly selling him on to a rival for profit.

Nightmare scenario

Black Cats sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is on a crash course for a Sunderland nightmare as losing Cirkin would be a big blow to Tony Mowbray’s squad.

If the earlier reports of a buyback clause are accurate then there is nothing the club can do to stop the defender from moving back to the Premier League giants beyond trying to convince him to reject the transfer.

Speakman agreed the £6m option with Tottenham and may now be left with egg on his face if it comes back to bite him in the January window. Spurs could simply activate the clause and sign him from the Stadium of Light before selling him to another top-flight side, provided there is enough interest, for profit.

In that scenario, Sunderland would be missing out on the full potential of Cirkin’s value and would be losing a key player within their Championship squad.

Journalist Josh Bunting described the 20-year-old dynamo as “difficult to replace” and a “standout” for Sunderland this season, shortly after he picked up an injury in September. He has not played since the 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough and recently made his return as he sat on the bench for the 2-1 loss to Swansea but has started eight of the club’s 13 league matches.

Cirkin has averaged 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game in the second tier, which is a tally only three players in the Black Cats squad with at least one start have bettered, which highlights his impressive defensive ability and why his exit would be a blow for Mowbray

At the age of 20, he also has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player and this means that his value will surely only increase as he gains more experience and hones his skills.

Therefore, losing him for a pre-set fee of £6m this winter, only to watch Spurs sell him on for more than that would be a nightmare for Sunderland and a scenario that Speakman set himself on a crash course for when he agreed the buyback clause in 2021.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou’s head could end up being turned by a move to the Premier League, according to former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Sutton makes Postecoglou claim

The 57-year-old is doing a magnificent job at Parkhead, not only getting great results and playing good football but also carrying himself with real dignity and winning the Premiership title in his first season in charge.

Earlier this week, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton admitted that he could see the Australian moving south of the border to manage a Premier League club, given his current stature in the game.

That sentiment has now been echoed elsewhere, at a time when Brighton are currently without a manager after Graham Potter’s move to Chelsea

The Latest: Whelan feels the same way

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan admitted that Postecoglou could find the lure of England’s world-famous top flight too good to turn down in the near future, given his success at Celtic.

The ex-Aberdeen striker said of the current Hoops boss:

“He’ll find it difficult to leave Celtic right now. He’s got them back into the Champions League and enjoying success, but I think you can safely say that he’ll find it hard to turn it down.

“Going to the Premier League would be a step up. Celtic are a massive club – and he’s won trophies, assembled a fantastic team, brought in a great style of play.

“His style probably suits Brighton. It’s very hard to see him turning that opportunity down if it does come about. I’m sure he wants to test himself against the best, and it is the best league in the world.”

The Verdict: Potential massive blow

Postecoglou has been an incredible appointment by Celtic, guiding the Hoops to title glory last season and getting them back into the Champions League group stage, playing some magnificent football along the way.

He is adored by many Hoops fans because of the way he connects with them and gets the most out of his players, so the idea of him moving on is hugely worrying, given the negative effect that it could have on the entire club.

Indeed, it’s a road that the Bhoys have been down before, having seen Brendan Rodgers up sticks to Leicester in the middle of the 2018/19 season after the manager’s job became available at the Premier League club.

It would be ironic if Celtic went and lost their current managerial hero to Brighton, at a time when their recent idol Potter has moved to the briefly vacant job Chelsea. The hope is that Postecoglou is still just getting started at Parkhead, though.