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Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the hunt and one of their targets, Football Insider exclusively reports, is Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips. This young defensive midfielder is one of the key pieces of Marcelo Bielsa’s jigsaw and he could indeed pen a big new contract with the Whites.

However, looking solely from the Wolves’ point of view, this is a chance they should definitely not miss and if there’s a possibility the midfielder is available, they should be doing everything they can to bring him to Molineux. Here are two key reasons why Wolves should push hard for Phillips this summer…

Quality signing

Bielsa has a knack for acquiring great talents and then grooming them until they are ready to become superstars. Phillips is one of his key players and one of the more consistent pieces at Leeds United. Last season, he totalled 44 appearances for the club which made him the player with the third-most appearances in all competitions. Moreover, even though he is just 23 years old, Phillips is very much showing his immense quality on the pitch. Statistically speaking, he was the team’s best defensive performer, topping the per game stats in some key categories, such as tackles (1st) and interceptions (3rd).

It’s safe to say that Bielsa knows how vital Phillips is, otherwise the club wouldn’t be keen on giving him a new and improved contract. In terms of the end product, the defensive midfielder is not involved as much. But still, one goal and three assists in the Championship while mainly being tasked with defending is still a pretty decent return and should not be disregarded. When given the chance, Phillips is no stranger to the opposition’s net.

Wolves could use a player of his skill set

Wolves were solid defensively in the Premier League last season. In terms of goals allowed, they were in the upper part of the table with 46 netted against them throughout the campaign and are right in the middle of the pack in terms of defensive stats. This suggests that a defensive player might not be an absolutely crucial signing but Phillips still justifies their reported interest, especially considering he’s already closing in on their own players while only being 23 years old.

Midfielders Joao Moutinho and Leander Dendoncker boast slightly better stats than Leeds’ talisman but they are also older and more experienced, while operating within a better overall team. Still, the difference is hardly noticeable and with a lot of room for improvement, as well as the right environment for development, Phillips has all the makings of a future star.

Bielsa has used Phillips in two capacities this season, both as a midfielder and a defender, and while the former is certainly his forte, the youngster’s defensive qualities could make him an ideal fit for Wolves’ back three as someone who can step into the engine room when required.

In Aubameyang’s first full season he has illuminated exactly why Arsenal paid £56m to sign him from Dortmund in January 2018.

Many fellow players congratulated the Gabon international on his achievements, such as Samuel Umtiti and Deco, but it was the comment from football-league-legend Adebayo Akinfenwa which stood out.

Nicknamed “The Beast” for his huge frame, Akinfenwa has had an interesting career playing for nine clubs – including six in the football league – whilst scoring 164 goals.

The 37-year-old clearly recognises a fantastic striker when he sees one and Aubameyang is certainly that, as evidenced by his goal scoring record at Arsenal, which currently stands at 41 in 64 appearances across all-competitions.

He and Alexandre Lacazette have formed a deadly partnership up-front which in many ways has masked a lot of Arsenal’s short comings in other areas of the field.

Just like the vast majority who have seen the Gabonese international in action this season, Akinfenwa has clearly been impressed by his goal scoring exploits.

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Reports have emerged from Italy that Gennaro Gattuso has met up with super-agent Jorge Mendes in relation to possibly taking the Newcastle United job if Rafael Benitez leaves.

Why might he be needed?

The reason Gattuso might be required at Newcastle is because Benitez’s contract expires at the end of June and there has still not been an agreement reached between the Spaniard and Toon owner Mike Ashley.

Negotiations have dragged on and yet still Benitez says they are no closer to an agreement, with the main issues appearing to be the transfer budget and internal upgrades such as training facilities.

Things are also not going too well for Gattuso in Milan either as he and Director of Football Leonardo are said not to see eye-to-eye, and if the Rossoneri miss out on Champions League then that could be the end of his reign at the San Siro.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

How would Gattuso change Newcastle?

If the former World Cup winner were to take over on Tyneside then expect a change in formation, Newcastle currently play 3-4-2-1 and last season they played 4-2-3-1.

Gattuso though plays 4-3-3 almost exclusively with AC relying on Tiemoune Bakayoko to break up play and then distribute it to Milan’s box-to-box midfielders.

These are usually Giacomo Bonaventura and Franck Kessie playing as a all-action midfielders and it is these two that are crucial to everything the side do.

If the Italian were to take over Newcastle it would likely mean that Ki Seung Yeung or Sean Longstaff would play in front of the back four and then Gattuso would need to buy at least two box-to-box midfielders, such is the importance of their role in his system.

This is because Isaac Hayden will most likely leave and Jonjo Shelvey is not suited to a box-to-box role due to his low work-rate.

The other key change would be the role of Newcastle’s wingers, for Milan the wingers play on the opposite side to their strong foot with over-lapping attacking fullbacks, allowing the defenders to race into the gaps that open up when they cut inside.

At the moment Matt Ritchie is playing left-wing-back but he is most suited to playing on the right wing and cutting in on his favoured left.

Suso currently plays that role for Milan and though Ritchie is not as talented as the Spaniard he could certainly fulfill the same role in any Gattuso Newcastle side thanks to his excellent delivery.

A change to 4-3-3 however, may not be ideal for Miguel Almiron or Ayoze Perez as they are both not natural wingers or inverted wingers and both have operated well in their free roles behind Rondon. If they were shifted out wide it would probably reduce the effectiveness of both.

If Gattuso were to arrive, figuring out how to get the best out of Almiron and the red-hot Perez must be his top priorities, because his current system simply would not allow them to thrive.

Leeds United have produced their fair share of brilliant academy products over the years, haven’t they?

The likes of James Milner, Fabian Delph and Danny Rose all came through the ranks at Elland Road before going onto be regulars in the Premier League.

With the Whites ushering a new generation of talent this season, Jack Clarke, Jamie Shackleton and Bailey Peacock-Farrell have all experienced first-team football under Marcelo Bielsa.

Looking to follow in the footsteps of this trio in the not too distant future is the former Barcelona youngster Kun Temenuzkhov.

A regular for the club’s under-23 side this season, the Bulgarian forward caught the attention of the Leeds faithful by firing in a stunning strike against Coventry City in the Professional Development League-National Cup semi-final last month.

Although Temenuzkhov has only made one appearance for the senior side during the 2018/19 campaign, it may be worth Bielsa taking the risk to include him in the match-day squad for Saturday’s showdown with Derby County.

When you consider that Leeds will be without Patrick Bamford for the play-off semi-final first leg due to suspension, they will need someone to fill his void at Pride Park.

Whereas, Tyler Roberts is expected to play in a deeper role at the weekend if he is passed fit for the clash, Kemar Roofe is expected to lead the line for the Whites despite his worrying lack of form in-front of goal.

Although it would be naïve to suggest that the club’s top-scorer should be dropped for Temenuzkhov, by using the forward as an impact substitute against Derby, Bielsa could be unleashing a secret weapon that their rivals will know very little about.

With the teenager’s attributes being likened to those possessed by Luis Suarez (via The Guardian), by continuing his development over the coming years, there is no reason why he cannot become a hero for the Whites.

What do you think Leeds fans? Should Bielsa consider using Temenuzhkov in the play-offs? Or should the Argentine wait until next season to embed the forward into the senior squad? Let us know below.

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Tottenham Hotspur opened their glistening new stadium two weekends ago, as their Under-18s team took on Southampton and won 3-1.

On Saturday, another match was played, this time from the other end of the era spectrum as a legends team took on Inter Forever.

The likes of Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Darren Anderton all took to the pitch, and all took the time to give their take on the ground, which was home to 45,000 fans against the Nerazzurri.

Take a look at their verdicts below!

Darren Anderton – Long-serving former midfielder

Anderton, who played for the club between 1992 and 2004, believes the club are now well-positioned to bring in some of the best players in the world, saying:

“The club wants to be one of the best clubs in the world and to do that you have to have one of the best stadiums in the world, that’s exactly what we need and you want the best players to want to come and play for you and who wouldn’t want to play out there every week?

“The wall was unbelievable. Even in the warm up it really was a different sort of sound and it reverberated around there, it was amazing. I can’t wait to hear Wednesday night, when it’s a full stadium.”

David Ginola – A free-scoring dribbler in his heyday

Ginola insists that Spurs are now well-placed to enter something of a golden era, adding:

“For the club it is a massive step forward because playing away from your home is not something that you want and it’s been for a long time now.

“First of all, they deserve to play at their home ground and now it’s over, the wait is over and Wednesday is going to be the start, hopefully, of something really, really interesting and I think it’ll be fantastic.

“The stadium is part of the whole project, there’s the training ground, the new stadium, everything is going forward, so I think the future of Tottenham Hotspur is really bright.”

Steffen Freund – cult hero and former coaching staff member

Freund enjoyed a five-year spell at the club before returning in 2012 as assistant head coach, and believes the club have sent a message to the entire footballing world, claiming:

“It’s a special place and you can see the difference to other new stadiums, like Arsenal, the Etihad, supporters are closer to the pitch and the south stand is a bit like the south stand at Borussia Dortmund. Everything, from the whole staff here at Tottenham was well organised.

“I came in 2012 as assistant coach, I saw the plans of what they could do and now the stadium is even bigger, that time it was 55,000, now 62,000, the second biggest in London. That’s a message to everyone in England, and to the world, that you can build a nice stadium with a nice atmosphere and still have over 60,000 supporters.”

Robbie Keane – The club’s 11th-highest goalscorer

Keane scored a genuinely brilliant goal during the legends game, having played for the club across two spells, and was especially impressed with the south stand, the largest of its kind in England. When asked about the atmosphere, he said:

“In terms of atmosphere, yeah. You can see it tonight, the atmosphere was fantastic.

“It’s certainly a historic moment for Tottenham Hotspur and it’s a credit to everyone at the club, certainly that big wall at the back there will put shivers down their spine.”

David Howells – A 13-year veteran

Howells, at the age of 51, completed the entire 90 minutes against Inter, having played as a midfielder for the club between 1985 and 1998, and believes Spurs have replicated the feel of the old White Hart Lane, claiming:

“The first thing I noticed was the noise. When we went out, the crowd, just when they were cheering the names as they were read out, it was ‘oh my god, that is noisy’. We all noticed it.

“It feels like home, it really does, I know it’s brand new and the standard of the whole building is absolutely phenomenal but it feels like home, it feels like you’ve come home, which is amazing. I suppose because the journey’s the same, we’re in the same area, but it does still have that feeling.”

Dimitar Berbatov – Former striker

Berbatov played for the club between 2006 and 2008 before earning a major move to Manchester United and was impressed with the facilities in north London, saying:

“It’s going to be a big step to getting Tottenham even bigger, in the world, as a club. They have everything now.

“I think this is one of the best stadiums I’ve been in, if not the best one. So now it’s down to them to show on the pitch how good they are.”

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Sunderland are one of a number of teams chasing a deal for 16 year-old Conner Rennison.

What’s the story?

Well, according to TEAMtalk, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Leeds, Bristol City, Barnsley, Hull and Portsmouth are all eyeing a move for Rennison.

The Black Cats were already linked with a move for free agent defender Luca Murphy, so the club is clearly desperate to add some young talent.

Rennsion is an attacking midfielder who is yet to feature for current side Hartlepool United.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

A worthwhile signing?

It’s impossible to judge the impact Rennison could have at Sunderland as the youngster is yet to even make his debut in senior football, but this is the type of signing the Black Cats should definitely be pursuing.

For far too long under Ellis Short the club pursued expensive “marquee” signings from European leagues, such as Didier Ndong, and of course big club rejects like Jack Rodwell.

To see the new leadership targeting young hungry players who will arrive at the academy with a point to prove is hugely refreshing.

If Jack Ross and Stewart Donald can convince the likes of Rennison and Murphy to join their Wearside revolution, it bodes very well for the future.

Under Ralph Hasenhuttl, not only are Southampton getting results, but they are getting them against some very big teams with some very big performances.

Even after his side’s victory against Tottenham, though, the Austrian will still have some concerns with his current centre-forward options being just one of them.

Danny Ings, for example, continues to struggle with injuries, which was likely one factor behind Southampton’s reported interest in RB Leipzig’s Jean-Kevin Augustin back in January (Sky Sports).

How, though, do the two No.9s match up?

Jean-Kevin Augustin

Having worked with Augustin during his time as Leipzig manager, it comes to no surprise that Hasenhuttl would be interested in a reunion with the 21-year-old at St. Mary’s.

Hasenhuttl is obviously aware of Augustin’s strengths, suggesting his former player is perfect for his “high-pressing methods” (Sky Sports).

The France U21 international is quick, explosive and a good finisher. As well as that, he has a great touch, which enables him to turn so well before accelerating and taking the ball past his opponent.

Considering all of that, Augustin might just be the signing in the summer to take Hasenhuttl’s St. Mary’s revolution to the next stage.

An expensive transfer in all likelihood, but one worth pursuing for Southampton who need a more reliable centre-forward.

TT Grade: B+ Danny Ings

On the subject of reliable centre-forwards, as harsh as it may sound, that is something Ings is struggling to prove he is.

When fit and on his day, the 26-year-old is certainly a capable front man. He can be deadly in the box, generally taking his chances well when they fall to him.

However, that is just it. Ings is struggling to stay fit, which has given Hasenhuttl some real selection headaches since he has been at the club.

As a result, at times, the Southampton boss has used Nathan Redmond, who has found some form in recent weeks, up front as a short-term fix.

Going forward, though, Hasenhuttl needs a more permanent solution be it Ings or a new striker like Augustin.

TT Grade: C+ TT Verdict:

After a fairly strong start to the season, Ings looked like he would be the man to solve Southampton’s centre-forward crisis.

Unfortunately, due to injuries, that no longer appears to be the case, leaving the Saints needing the addition of a new No.9 when the summer transfer window opens.

And for Hasenhuttl, there are probably few better options out there than Augustin.

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West Ham United fought back from having conceded an early goal to emerge as 3-1 winners over struggling Fulham at the London Stadium on Friday. 

Goals from Javier Hernandez, Issa Diop and Michail Antonio cancelled out Ryan Babel’s opening strike. Whilst the Hammers generally performed well and deserved all three points, Manuel Pellegrini will be concerned by how poorly his side defended in the opening exchanges. Plenty of poor marking led to Babel’s goal, but centre-back Angelo Ogbonna was particularly culpable for failing to track his man.

However, after this early error, the 30-year-old proceeded to produce an assured, disciplined performance. With Fabian Balbuena still out with injury, the 13-cap Italy international has been handed a run in the starting XI in east London and is generally impressing. When Balbuena returns to full fitness he may even find it a struggle to get straight back into the team.

After the match on Friday, plenty of Irons fans took to Twitter to discuss Ogbonna’s contribution…

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West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is officially eligible to represent England, after FIFA rubber-stamped the decision.

FIFA have confirmed that his eligibility has switched from the Republic of Ireland to the Three Lions and he is subsequently available for selection by manager Gareth Southgate.

A spokesman for the world governing body told BBC: “Fifa can now confirm that the change of association of Declan Rice from Republic of Ireland to England has been approved.”

Having played three friendlies for Ireland – they do not count against a player changing his eligibility if he is of dual-heritage – the 20-year-old already has international experience.

And at West Ham, he has blossomed into perhaps the best defensive midfielder in the country.

His performances against Arsenal and Liverpool certainly suggest that he is more than ready to jump into Southgate’s XI.

That would likely mean that Eric Dier is shunted to the side but that is no bad thing in the long-run; Rice’s manager, Manuel Pellegrini, certainly believes that he should be in the starting XI sooner rather than later.

Football.London quote him as saying at the end of February: “I think that he is ready to play for England and I think that we are just starting the development of him as a player but at this moment his performances is better than every holding midfielder [in England].”

The Chilean is not wrong and, with the international break looming, the time for Rice’s debut is nigh.

Southgate will name his squad next week. It would be an aberration if the midfielder is not included in it.

The Three Lions’ talent pool is as perhaps as deep as it has ever been but Rice is a young player who has the ability to make a genuine impact at that level.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

England’s weakest position is inarguably defensive midfield – Dier is immobile and prone to lapses in judgement, while Jordan Henderson, of Liverpool, is an old-fashioned water carrier. Rice is more than that, he is dynamic, an excellent passer of the ball, and clean in the tackle.

Bringing him in for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro is a low-risk-high-reward strategy.

England should win both games – they are, after all, one of the four best teams in the world – and Rice will surely improve them.

His versatility will appeal too; he can play at centre-back and effectively fills two spots in one call-up.

If it doesn’t work immediately, it can be put down to growing pains as Rice continues to improve week-on-week.

It would be remiss of Southgate to ignore him at this stage, and England will surely be all the better for his selection.

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Hugo Lloris’ knack for the occasional goal line howler has long drawn the ire of Tottenham supporters in North London, and their anger has not come without cause.

In the Premier League, the Spurs captain has gifted goals to the likes of Alvaro Morata and Mame Biram Diouf among others in recent seasons. There, of course, was also Lloris’ near-infamous gaffe this past summer against Croatia in the World Cup Final.

Perhaps though, Lloris’ record of regrettable goals conceded should not be taken at face value, but rather seen as based on the club he plays for and what he’s asked to do for them.

Appearing on this week’s edition of the Fixture in Focus Podcast, former Watford and Brentford goalkeeper Richard Lee touched on the oft-overlooked intricacies regarding the trade and credited Lloris for his vision on the pitch, while providing context on the World Cup winner’s penchant for the occasional blunder.

“[Hugo Lloris] reads the game very well,” Lee said. “He comes for more through balls than any other keeper. He’s come for 37 this season, I think David De Gea has come for four. So the law of averages states that Lloris is going to make more mistakes coming for through balls than David De Gea.

“So when Lloris does come for one and doesn’t get there, he’s then labelled as rash and as a poor decision maker. No, it’s because of the way Tottenham play. They have a high line so he has to play high. He is very good at reading the game.”

Don’t tell the angry Spurs fan pushing for Paulo Gazzaniga to become the first-choice keeper, but maybe, just maybe, Lloris’ recurring errors aren’t as significant as they seem and ultimately come as the product of something much larger – the demands of Tottenham’s style of play.

Want to hear more from Lee on goalkeeping? Check out this week’s episode of the Fixture in Focus Podcast in full below – and if you like what we do, be sure to subscribe on your preferred podcast platform by clicking here.

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