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Many Wolves fans have been left fuming as the confirmed line-up for their game away at Southampton in the Premier League emerged.

As per the club’s official Twitter channel, Bruno Lage has stuck to a five-at-the-back formation, as Hwang Hee-chan gets a chance to impress from the start.

However, a lot of big names have been dropped to the bench, and some fans seem especially angry that stalwarts Adama Traore, Ruben Neves and Willy Boly have all been left out of the team to face the Saints at St Mary’s this afternoon.

Nonetheless, Lage has clearly picked the line-up which he thinks will give them the best possible chance of getting all three points, and it will no doubt be interesting to see how the match plays out.

Wolves fans on line-up

These Wolves supporters fumed as the line-up was shared on Twitter, with one fan describing the starting XI chosen by the Portuguese as ‘insane’:

“Neves and Adama dropped but Coady still manages to keep his place”

Credit: @WittoWWFC

“No Adama, we are finished”

Credit: @hxpkins_

“Our two best players dropped”

Credit: @wwfc_brad_

“Why’s Neves been dropped?…..”

Credit: @emilyy8x

“Dropping Neves, Traore and Trincao? Seems insane. Still not bringing Boly into the starting side, probably an even worse decision. Should go to bed and save myself the inevitable pain”

Credit: @HockingBen

“Neves and Boly dropped but Coady and Moutinho keep their place?”

Credit: @JoeManns2

In other news, find out what Lage comments have left these Wolves fans fuming

When Rafa Benitez first stepped foot in Merseyside again, he wasn’t exactly greeted very nicely by some Everton supporters.

Banners were hung outside his home and there were considerable protests against his appointment.

Therefore, the Spaniard needed to start quickly and impress from the off. The club’s transfer window wasn’t exactly a fair indication of what Benitez can do but their form has been superb.

Everton have taken seven points from their opening three league games but they do now have a problem on the cards.

On the chalkboard

That issue happens to revolve around James Rodriguez.

The Colombian looked a dead certainty to leave Goodison Park behind this summer and his lack of action in the opening few weeks of the season indicated that he was heading for the exit door.

Rodriguez hasn’t played a single minute of competitive action under the new manager but a move unfortunately fell through on deadline day.

Everton were confident of agreeing a swap deal with Porto to bring Luis Diaz to the club in exchange but Rodriguez ultimately didn’t move. His agent Jorge Mendes tried to engineer a move to Italy but he ended up staying in Merseyside.

Benitez has a dilemma on his hands now. Rodriguez has made his feelings clear and doesn’t exactly want to play for the Toffees again. He wasn’t even aware of who their opponents were a few weeks ago, for instance.

That being said, he clearly possesses immense talent. The former Real Madrid star contributed to ten Premier League goals last term and provided more key passes per match than anybody else in the Toffees’ squad.

However, their new signings look ready and raring to go. Demarai Gray has opened up his Everton account with two goals and a Player of the Month nomination after signing from Bayer Leverkusen.

Alongside Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the Everton attack looks vibrant.

Add Anthony Gordon into the equation and their forward line could become even more mouth-watering.

The 20-year-old has very rarely started for the Everton first team, featuring on just 21 occasions since breaking through. That being said, he’s clearly in Benitez’s plans, with the youngster earning minutes from the bench against Southampton on the opening day of the season.

Possessing the ability to play behind the striker and on the flanks, he feels like a player who is more deserving of game time in Rodriguez’s role. Although he’s not scored a senior goal yet, the future is bright for Gordon.

Greg Cunningham, his teammate on loan at Preston last season, said that the youngster was set for an “exciting” career, while David Unsworth was even more complimentary.

Speaking to The Athletic, he commented: “His balance sprinting with the ball and his balance going past people is something you don’t see every day. He’s got unbelievable pace and he’s a Scouser too, so he’s tough.”

With a rare set of traits in Gordon’s armoury, Benitez would be foolish not to unleash him.

AND in other news, “Being monitored”: Journo makes Celtic transfer claim, their next Ajer may arrive soon…

Leeds United have superior one-on-one attackers to Maxwel Cornet, says Ligue 1 expert Adam White.

Cornet was heavily linked with a move to Leeds before his transfer to Burnley, with The Sun reporting earlier this summer that the Yorkshire club were keen on the former Lyon man.

Cornet is capable of playing both as a left-back and left winger, but White believes his best position is probably somewhere in between.

However, when it comes to attacking from that left wing-back position, the Get French Football News writer is not too convinced about the 24-year-old’s ability, suggesting Leeds have players who can do a much better job.

“At Leeds, he could’ve played somewhere in between,” White told FFC. “But I would expect someone [else] to be better one-on-one. Beating a defender isn’t necessarily Cornet’s style.”

All things considered, Leeds will not be losing any sleep over not signing Cornet during the summer transfer window.

They have still been able to strengthen the positions on the flank, bringing in Junior Firpo from Barcelona to fill that left-back role and Dan James from Manchester United to add more quality to the attack.

You would think that Marcelo Bielsa would be happy with that, especially with James being a long-term target.

Sunderland have reportedly edged closer to sealing a deal to sign Spurs left-back Dennis Cirkin, with a medical taking place this weekend, according to Football Insider. 

What’s the story?

Sunderland will have been looking to add additional strength in depth to their defensive options before the summer transfer window reaches a conclusion.

The Black Cats have lost Callum McFadzean after he was released at the end of his contract with the League One side, after making 33 appearances in total for them.

Dion Sanderson also returned to his parent club after his loan spell at the Stadium of Light, which meant that Lee Johnson has found strength in depth hard to find in defence at this moment in time.

Football Insider have reported that Tottenham Hotspur youngster Dennis Cirkin is close to joining Sunderland as they look to add much-needed depth to their defensive options, with a six-figure deal reportedly being agreed.

‘Kid with a lot of quality’

Cirkin has clearly made a good impression whilst playing for the Tottenham Under-23s, and even though his lack of experience in senior football might be a slight concern to some supporters, the prospect of him improving every week should make it an exciting signing for the Black Cats, if the formalities of the move are finalised in the near future.

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho labelled Cirkin as a ‘kid with a lot of quality’, as he trained with the first-team squad earlier in his career.

“OK, he’s 17, but he’s a kid with a lot of quality, and I look forward to bringing him to train with us and to help his development.”

Cirkin has also had comparisons with Chelsea full-back Ben Chilwell in the pas, and will be hoping he can further his knowledge in senior football at the Stadium of Light with Sunderland.

The Athletic have also stated that Cirkin is ‘energetic’, and ‘strong in the tackle’ in previous reports, and Lee Johnson will be hoping he can see some of those attributes whilst with Sunderland this season.

If Cirkin can hit the ground running with the Black Cats, then Sunderland could have made a shrewd addition in signing the youngster on a permanent basis this summer.

Sunderland beat Wigan Athletic in their first match of the new League One campaign and will be hoping they can go from strength to strength moving forwards.

Lee Johnson’s side are set to return to action on Tuesday evening, when they take on Port Vale in the EFL Cup, in what could potentially be a tricky test for the Black Cats at Vale Park.

An update has emerged on RC Lens fullback Jonathan Clauss, regarding Everton’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to French outlet HommeDuMatch, Everton and West Ham have both made enquiries over a potential deal for RC Lens right-back Jonathan Clauss this month.

The report claims that the Ligue 1 club, however, is not interested in parting ways with the defender at this moment in time.

Coleman 2.0

Whilst it is stated that Lens are not looking to sell Claus, that does not mean that a transfer is impossible for Everton. If Marcel Brands is able to offer the French club an attractive financial package then that could potentially change their mind and convince them to sell.

Why should Everton be looking to do this? Rafa Benitez has a glaring problem in his squad and that is the right-back situation. Seamus Coleman turns 33 in October and Carlo Ancelotti was forced to play the likes of Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey at right-back at times in the Premier League last term.

This shows that the Toffees are in dire need of a succession plan in that area of the pitch. Coleman was limited to 18 league starts in the 2020/21 campaign, which means that bringing in a new first-choice right-back could allow him to play a reserve role and come in when needed at the back.

Clauss, 28, has a fair few years on the Irishman and could come in to be Benitez’s right-back for the next four or five years if all goes well. His form in France was impressive last season, with three goals and six assists for RC Lens in Ligue 1. Coleman’s highest assist tally in a Premier League campaign is five as it stands, which suggests that Clauss could add a similar level of creative threat down the right if he finds his feet in England.

The Everton stalwart has a career average of 2.7 tackles and interceptions and 0.8 key passes per game. Clauss’ career average, meanwhile, is 2.5 tackles and interceptions and 1.3 key passes per game. This suggests that they are fairly similar in quality defensively and offensively, although it is difficult to say for sure with the difference in quality between England and France/Germany.

Rafa Benitez would love for the club to essentially bring in a younger version of Coleman for him to work with. That would then mean that he has two, potentially, quality options at right-back for the 2021/22 campaign and would stop him from needing to worry about life after the former Sligo Rovers man.

AND in other news, Everton ready bid for versatile £27m-rated “revelation”, Benitez needs him at Goodison…

Nottingham Forest midfielder Fouad Bachirou is edging closer to an exit from the City Ground this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Cypriot media outlet Sport FM, who claimed that Omonia Nicosia have identified the 31-year-old as their primary transfer target for an addition to their midfield, with the website dubbing the Comoros international as the Protathlima Cyta side’s “chosen one” this summer.

It would seem unlikely that Dane Murphy will stand in the way of the Cypriot club’s potential move, as it has previously been reported that the midfielder is not a part of Chris Hughton’s first team plans ahead of the new Championship season, with the 62-year-old informing Bachirou that he is free to find a new club in the summer transfer window.

Get him gone

Having joined Nottingham Forest from Malmo in a £603,000 move last summer, with Sabri Lamouchi giving the midfielder a two-year deal on a reported £18k-per-week, it would be fair to say that Bachirou has neither justified his transfer fee nor his rather hefty weekly wage during his time at the club.

Indeed, while a hamstring injury didn’t help, the 31-year-old nevertheless made just three appearances in all competitions for Hughton’s side last season.

Only one of those came in the Championship, with the midfielder dubbed an “important” player by the Nordic Football Podcast when coming on as a second half substitute in a 0-0 draw with Barnsley, despite his performance in the fixture earning him a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.50.

As such, considering his lack of involvement within Forest’s first team squad, plus Hughton’s comments regarding the Comoran’s future in Nottingham, it would indeed appear wise for Murphy to cash in on the midfielder while the interest is there. To put it bluntly, Bachirou has been nothing but a waste of money for the Championship club thus far.

In other news: Imagine him & Johnson: Murphy could solve big Forest problem with swoop for 19 G/A ace

Everton’s academy is one of the very best in the country when it comes to integrating young players at senior level.

Whether it’s Wayne Rooney or the likes of Leon Osman and Ross Barkley, it’s rare to find an Everton squad that doesn’t include an academy graduate.

One of the most underrated players to come through the ranks is the aforementioned Osman.

He quietly went about his business in the middle of the park, being compared to Andres Iniesta and earning two England caps.

The midfielder was a loved figure at Goodison Park but they’ve been missing a tidy player of his character in their midfield.

That’s not to say their central areas aren’t strong, however. In Allan, they have a player of similar stature who also isn’t afraid to get stuck in.

Though, Marcel Brands and co could find a legitimate Osman heir in a young midfielder at Preston North End.

The Toffees have been linked with a move for 17-year-old Lewis Leigh this summer but they face plenty of competition with Arsenal, Leicester and West Ham also in the race.

He’s yet to earn his senior debut for Preston but has been included among the first-team squad previously.

Evidently very highly rated, the teenager has some of the key qualities that set Osman apart from his peers at Everton.

After starring in the FA Youth Cup last season, Leigh was given an outstanding review by Lancashire Live:

“Clearly a fearless midfield player who plays with his heart on his sleeve. When the tide of the game swung the way of Lincoln, Leigh stood up to the fight, maintained a high-level of energy in his play and got stuck in.”

Immediately you can see where the Osman comparisons come from. The diminutive midfielder won 2.4 tackles per game throughout the 2012/13 campaign, proving to be a combative force.

Lancashire Live added: “Not an overly imposing figure physically, he [Leigh] makes up for that with his aggression and hunger on the pitch. Not afraid of a tackle, to try the ambitious pass or take the shot on.”

Osman was by no means a tall figure but used his frame sensibly to dominate opponents before bursting forward into space.

Leigh very much appears to be a comparable player and although he’s not played any first-team football yet, the future looks very bright for him.

AND in other news, Everton handed ideal chance to sign “exceptional” £150k-p/w brute, Rafa must take it…

Sunderland fans are eager for the club to sign Alex Pritchard this summer after the club were linked with a move for the 28-year-old.

The Black Cats are preparing for the 21/22 campaign, one in which they will once again be targetting promotion to the Championship. However, despite losing a number of players such as Josh Scowen, Max Power, Grant Leadbitter and Charlie Wyke, they have so far made just one signing – a 20-year-old goalkeeper called Jacob Carney (safc.com).

However, it seems they are at least looking at several targets, one of which is Alex Pritchard as per Football League World. The £2.25m-valued attacking midfielder (Transfermarkt) is currently a free agent and struggled at Huddersfield, but he has plenty of talent and could be an astute signing for Sunderland if they can capture his services.

The Black Cats supporters, it appears, would be keen to take him to Stadium of Light, and they took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts on the speculation.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Pritchard link below

“Massive if true. Would rip up league 1 and proper statement of intent. Can’t see it, he’s too good for L1.”

Credit: @WW4__

“Instantly be the best player in League One by a mile.”

Credit: @kielwats0n

“Bang on exactly what we need especially with Maguire gone now”

Credit: @BenCra1g

“Would be a big statement if he joins!”

Credit: @lewygsafc

“Good signing if we get him”

Credit: @molej4mes

“If this is real it’s CLASS”

Credit: @Johnnnn31230606

In other news, Sunderland fans were far from happy with this club tweet.

Aston Villa could sign a real upgrade on Anwar El Ghazi this summer by landing Bournemouth star Arnaut Danjuma.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have suggested that Dean Smith’s side are one of the clubs interested in signing the Cherries winger this summer, with the Midlands club already making an enquiry.

According to the print edition of The Sun, 18/07, p61, (via Football League World), the Championship club are demanding a fee in the region of £35m to part ways with the Netherlands international.

Huge upgrade on El Ghazi

Given that he predominantly plays on the left, but is also capable of playing out wide on the right and through the middle too, as per Transfermarkt, Danjuma would presumably be most in competition with El Ghazi for a place in the starting line-up.

When you compare their numbers last season, it’s the Bournemouth man who comes out on top by far. Danjuma netted an impressive 17 times in 37 games for the Cherries across all competitions, while he also managed eight assists and was one of the key reasons behind his team making it into the play-offs – in his last 13 matches of the regular Championship season, he scored nine goals and set up another five.

El Ghazi, on the other hand, managed ten goals, and was very streaky in terms of his form, blowing hot and cold at varying stages of the season – not the kind of consistency that Smith will want heading into the new Premier League campaign.

As per WhoScored, the Cherries winger also averaged more key passes, dribbles and crosses per game than El Ghazi, while he was also fouled more times per match – a real indication of the kind of influence he had in trying to lead the Bournemouth attack.

Jonathan Woodgate, Danjuma’s former boss at Bournemouth, said: “He’s an exceptional player, in a really good place at the minute, Arnie. He’s another one who I’ve always done a lot of work on him at his previous clubs, so I knew all about him coming into this role, I knew what type of player he was.

“I know last season that he didn’t really get a run in the Premier League and he maybe found it a bit difficult to get game time, but this season he’s been outstanding. I can only talk of what he’s done under my reign, but at the minute, he’s playing some exceptional football, and what else he is doing is working for the team.”

The £35,000-a-week earner clearly showed with the Cherries last season that he’s more than capable of posing a real threat going forward, and given that Villa have already snapped up another exciting Championship talent in Emi Buendia, they could strike gold again by signing Danjuma.

Meanwhile, Villa must unleash this starlet in the Premier League…

An update has emerged on Southampton target Junior Firpo, regarding Leeds’ interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Leeds United have joined Southampton in the race to land Barcelona left-back Junior Firpo. The defender is looking to leave the Catalan giants in the coming months and does not want to join another side in La Liga.

The report claims Southampton and West Ham are also interested in Firpo, whilst Italian sides AC Milan and Napoli are said to be keen. Barcelona are open to either a permanent deal or a loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.

Must act swiftly

Southampton CEO Martin Semmens must now act swiftly in order to stand a chance of landing the Spaniard this summer.

With a host of sides in England and Italy competing for his signature it could be difficult for the Saints to to snap him up, which is why Semmens has to move quickly. If the Premier League chief can get in ahead of the other interested parties then he could be able to wrap up a deal before Leeds, West Ham or Napoli are able to prepare their respective offers.

A year ago, former Barcelona defender Eric Abidal said that the 24-year-old has the talent to become one of the best left-backs on the planet, highlighting the quality of player Southampton could potentially be signing ahead of next season.

He told Diario Sport, as transcribed by Tribuna:

“He’s a player with a lot of potential. He could be one of the best left-backs in the world. I always tell him that he must work hard and be aware of the (style of) play. He’s going to get better, for sure. It’s always difficult to get started at Barca.”

The Athletic have reported that Southampton are closing in on the signing of Romain Perraud from Brest in Ligue 1 and this should not have any impact on a deal for Firpo. Ralph Hasenhuttl wants to add at least two fullbacks to his squad and that opens the door to the Barcelona man arriving at St. Mary’s after Perraud to bolster the Austrian’s defensive options.

Therefore, Firpo could be a much-needed signing for the south coast outfit. the £105k-per-week beast has experience playing in La Liga and the Champions League for Barcelona, whilst Hasenhuttl’s current back-up left-back Jake Vokins was only able to play four times in League One on loan to Sunderland in the second-half of last season.

This suggests that the top-flight side will be able to make a sizeable improvement to their squad by bringing the Barcelona fullback in to compete with Perraud for a spot in the team, whether that be on loan or on a permanent basis.

AND in other news, Semmens must sanction Saints swoop for “exceptional” 24 G/A wizard, Ralph needs him…