Tag Futebol

Wolverhampton Wanderers have endured a largely inconsistent season that saw them languish at the bottom of the Premier League, prior to the appointment of the brilliant Julen Lopetegui, who has guided them to 13th position and relative top-flight safety.

The Midlands club has an average age of 26 and has shown far more reliance upon academy products than it has in the previous seasons.

Controversially, last summer the mercurial and talented Morgan Gibbs-White, who had been tipped as the indomitable future of the club, departed for Nottingham Forest in search of more regular minutes.

Since then, the playmaker has cemented himself as one of the Reds’ most important players, and with Wolves lacking a creative spark in midfield, perhaps offering this player more game-time could have propelled them even further up the table.

In Hugo Bueno, Lopetegui possesses another gifted prodigy, who he must continually integrate into the first team to avoid losing in a similar and regrettable circumstance to Gibbs-White.

Who is Hugo Bueno?

The left-back joined the Wolves youth academy in 2019 and in 49 appearances for the U21s, he registered 15 goal contributions.

His pace, close control, and ball recovery led to his promotion to the first team, and he made his Premier League debut in October 2022, as a late substitute against Forest in a feisty 1-0 victory at Molineux.

Then in his second top-flight outing, caretaker manager Steve Davis decided to start the Spaniard against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Although his side eventually ran out as 2-1 losers, Bueno produced an admirable and mature display. As per Sofascore, the defender recorded three clearances, interceptions, and blocks, as well as 91.7% pass accuracy, one key pass, and the creation of a big chance.

To cap off this impressive performance, the full-back also delivered his first – an inviting delivery for Adama Traore to head home.

As a result, Davis showered the youngster with praise and said:

“I thought he was excellent, didn’t let anyone down. He felt we trusted him, we know him, as a character we know what he’s capable of, and he’s ready. He was ready for that moment and I thought he took it really well.”

In total, Bueno has made appeared 17 times for Wolves in the Premier League and is maturing into an accomplished and well-rounded defender.

The former CD Areosa youth player is brimming with potential and showed himself to be a left-back with a strong offensive will to get forward.

Although fellow full-back Toti Gomes has also stepped up at various moments this season, Wolves will need to monitor Bueno’s minutes and be sure to not allow him to depart in the same unceremonious manner as Gibbs-White.

Everton yet again find themselves fighting for survival in the Premier League this season and Sean Dyche has now been tasked with the challenge to ensure they don't fall into the Championship.

The Toffees are just two points clear of the relegation zone in 15th and just like last season, the club faces a real threat of falling into the second tier if the tide doesn't turn over the remaining ten fixtures.

There are several variables that can be pinpointed to Everton's struggles over the last 18 months with Richarlison's exit in the summer particularly playing a huge part in the side's lack of goal contributions this term.

Everton have the joint-worst goal tally in the entire Premier League with summer signings Neal Maupay and Dwight McNeil failing to convert enough chances in front of goal to compensate for the Brazilian's departure. That is further made worse by Anthony Gordon's shock move to Newcastle United in January.

However, it's not just poor transfer business that has been plaguing the performances at Goodison Park as the Merseysiders racked up the worst injury record in the entire top flight last season with numerous players unavailable for selection for months at a time.

It is without a doubt that the most impactful injury concern has been Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the striker constantly picking up injuries ever since he suffered a toe fracture and quadriceps injury back in August 2021.

How much has Dominic Calvert-Lewin cost Everton?

The 26-year-old has become one of the Premier League's most recognisable number nines over his career at Everton and even earned a place in the senior England squad after impressing Gareth Southgate with his performances under Carlos Ancelotti's guidance back in 2020.

However, in the last two seasons, the striker's injury troubles have put his promising career on a downward spiral with the player only making 30 appearances and scoring just six goals in all competitions since the beginning of the 2021/22 campaign.

To be exact, it has been 81 weeks since the Everton talisman – dubbed "frustrating" by Henry Winter – suffered the first major injury that left him in recovery for the rest of 2021 and has earned £100k-per-week or £8.1m in total since then, despite his lack of contribution and constant unreliability.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville recently slammed Everton's mentality for still depending on Calvert-Lewin to be their saviour in the relegation fight this season following the 2-0 loss to Liverpool:

"They’ve [Everton] got to stop talking about Dominic Calvert-Lewin, it’s as if they’re waiting for something to sort of save them – it might never come.

"For me, this idea that they always mention, ‘when we get Calvert-Lewin back we’ll be okay,’ no you won’t. You can’t wait for him. You’ll be relegated if you’re waiting for him."

Neville's comments present a harsh truth for the Goodison faithful and for Dyche when he assesses the next steps, should Everton survive relegation this season, as the club can no longer wait for the striker to make a comeback and instead must look at their options in the transfer market to ensure they can improve next season.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Everton finally accept that their beloved goalscorer could potentially never reach the heights he once and instead invest his wages or a potential transfer fee that could provide them with a prolific and reliable striker next season.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is unlikely to make a decision on his future in north London before the end of the current campaign.

How long does Harry Kane have left on his contract?

The 29-year-old is now nearing the final year of his contract in north London which could leave Spurs vulnerable this summer if there are teams interested in the striker.

There is a belief Manchester United are eyeing the England captain as their number one target for the summer with Erik ten Hag leading that pursuit.

Reports earlier in the year had suggested the striker was open to the idea of putting pen to paper on a new deal to extend his stay at his boyhood club.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, Alasdair Gold has now claimed no decision is likely to be made before the summer on Kane's end of the deal:

(45:10) "Everything I kind of was hearing from people around him a couple of weeks back was more kind of just focus on the now, let's get this done. And then we'll kind of have a look and obviously see what Spurs offer and all that sort of stuff as well."

Could Harry Kane leave Spurs this summer?

Tottenham's recent disappointment in the FA Cup and Champions League did feel like a potential setback in their bid to keep their starman at the club for next season.

Spurs' trophy drought has meant the England captain is still yet to get his hands on a piece of silverware with the north London side.

But there may be serious question marks as to who would be in the market for Kane in the summer given his age and his expected price tag.

Manchester United have been mentioned as a seriously interested party with Bayern Munich also believed to be in the market for the 29-year-old.

However, whether Kane would be willing to move to another country is a massive question and whether he would be keen to uproot and move up north two years on from his proposed move to Manchester City is also up for debate.

And it seems as if Spurs fans could be in for a summer of speculation if Kane does not surprise them by signing a new deal before the end of the summer.

From the player's side of things, waiting until the summer is probably his best option with Spurs by no means a guarantee to qualify for the Champions League next season.

It has to be said this could also be the case of United who only sit two points ahead of Tottenham in the table – albeit with a game in hand – but the clubs are set to play each other next month.

A lot could still unfold in the remaining games of this Premier League campaign and it will be interesting to see how it could affect Kane's future in north London.

Manchester United defeated Barcelona last night in what was a match that proves Erik ten Hag is the man ready to bring back the glory days at Old Trafford.

Down 1-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate as the second half got underway, United showed a resilience that hasn’t been displayed since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson to finally prevail through to the next round and this will give the Dutchman major confidence that they can end their six-year drought for silverware.

With the EFL Cup final against Newcastle United to come on Sunday, that drought may come to an end sooner rather than later, although he may have to tinker with his starting XI ahead of the tie.

Marcus Rashford was uncharacteristically poor last night, taking just 30 touches while having just two shots the entire evening and they were both off target, yet it was striker Wout Weghorst who once again, underperformed in a United shirt.

How did Wout Weghorst play against Barcelona?

Statistically, he wasn’t United’s worst performer on the night, that goes to Rashford who received a Sofascore rating of 6.1/10 and having scored 15 goals since Christmas, the Englishman is entitled to have the odd game where he is below par.

Weghorst’s 6.3/10 rating via Sofascore summed up his time at the Red Devils so far – ineffective.

His game only comprised the first half, as Ten Hag hooked him at the break in order to bring on Antony, who changed the side’s attacking dynamic and added some much-needed urgency.

The Dutchman took just 12 touches in 45 minutes, which was 20 fewer than David De Gea, who had 32 during the tie, it shows how little he offers in a central role.

Weghorst only completed two passes during the match while winning just one duel from eight contested, having zero shots or attempted dribbles, and losing possession seven times.

Overall it was a dreadful performance and writer Kyle Bonn even described him as “useless” following his abject display.

It is a testament to just how well-drilled Ten Hag has gotten this United side that they can still perform well despite having passengers like Weghorst on the pitch.

Of course, the tide turned when he was substituted but ahead of the cup final on Sunday, a solution will need to be found that limits his game time so as to not destroy the Old Trafford side’s trophy ambitions.

Sunderland were knocked out of the FA Cup in a thrilling match at the Stadium of Light as they were beaten 3-2 by Premier League side Fulham on Wednesday night.

The away side took the lead in the opening ten minutes as Wales international Harry Wilson found himself free on the edge of the area and brilliantly picked out the far corner with the outside of his left foot.

Amad Diallo came agonisingly close to equalising early on in the second half as he brilliantly jinked past a defender in the box before his strike was cleared off the line by a Fulham defender.

The Black Cats were then hit by a sucker punch as Andreas Pereira was on hand to tap the ball into an empty net after a clever cutback from Aleksandar Mitrovic.

However, Jack Clarke pulled one back with around 15 minutes left to play as the former Tottenham forward curled a beautiful strike into the far top corner from just inside the box.

Layvin Kurzawa extended the away side’s lead back to two goals in the 82nd minute but substitute Jewison Bennette then made it 3-2 by pouncing on a mistake at the back to smash the ball into the top corner of Bernd Leno’s net.

It was an open and entertaining match from start to finish and one of the reasons behind that was that Sunderland’s midfield was far too open.

Edouard Michut and Dan Neil were caught out of position and bullied physically at times by the Premier League side, with the former – in particular – struggling in the middle of the park.

The Paris Saint-Germain loanee was dominated by the opposition as he lost a whopping 75% (9/12) of his individual duels, including 100% (2/2) of his battles in the air, and this shows that the youngster was not strong enough to deal to win the challenges that he was competing in.

As per Sofascore, Michut did not win a single tackle but did commit four fouls with that an indication that the lightweight’s defensive technique was not up to standard, whilst the midfielder only made one interception and one block and failed to make any clearances.

The 19-year-old did complete 97% of his attempted passes, from 49 touches of the ball, but did not create a single chance for his teammates and did not attempt any long passes or crosses, which indicates that the teenager was playing it safe and not progressing the play with his passes.

Michut struggled badly throughout the match and was substituted in the 72nd minute, with Sunderland scoring twice to Fulham’s one in the remainder of the game, after making very little impact on the match.

Manchester United have been making considerable progress under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag, who arrived at the club last year after departing AFC Ajax, and could find the perfect Cristiano Ronaldo replacement in Marcus Thuram.

Having indeed left his Netherlands homeland to take the reins at Old Trafford, Ten Hag oversaw a lucrative summer spending surge to put a new glint on the club’s sheen, and the adjustments certainly seem to be working.

While progress is immensely promising, there is more that must be done to return the club to its former glory, and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Thuram could indeed fit the bill to assume the talismanic role this year.

Out of contract with his German Bundesliga outfit at the end of the current season, Thuram has been subject to heavy speculation over his next move, with Bild reporting that his outfit could grant his departure this month for as little as £10m.

The Premier League giants are flying, with ten victories from the past 12 fixtures and the Carabao cup final a whisker away following the 3-0 first-leg victory over Nottingham Forest in the semi-final.

And with areas of the pitch still requiring reinforcements, the work that has been swiftly made to bolster Old Trafford must not be understated, but with the inclusion of someone of the “world-class” Thuram’s ilk – as lauded by VFL Wolfsburg director Marcel Schafer – prospects will only be enhanced.

This season, the £82k-per-week France international has made 19 appearances across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and registering four assists, indeed one of Europe’s most prolific marksmen.

And with the nine-cap forward ranking among the top 11% of his positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals and total shots, and the top 5% for dribbles completed, there is an undeniable sense of transitional prowess that could further enrich the Red Devils’ ferocious frontline.

If United are indeed to sign the gem, he could be the perfect replacement for the recently departed Cristiano Ronaldo, who mutually terminated his contract with the outfit in November, with the 37-year-old falling out of favour under Ten Hag’s tutelage.

During his second spell with Manchester United, Ronaldo’s performance and efficacy within the Theatre of Dreams’ system created a schism among English football, with his goal tally laudable but overall contribution indeed creating a sense of polarity.

In the “beast“, as once labelled by Atul Kasbekar, that is Thuram, who certainly boasts all the acumen to both flourish in front of goal and contribute with ball progression in the attacking third, United could actually improve on the legendary Ronaldo’s, whose acrimonious departure will swiftly become but a distant memory.

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs has claimed that Nicolo Zaniolo is on the transfer shortlist of Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Lowdown: Zaniolo a wanted man

90min has reported that Tottenham Hotspur is getting closer to meeting the demands set by AS Roma for the Italian attacking midfielder.

This season Zaniolo has played 13 times in Serie A where he’s found the back of the net once and has yet to provide an assist.

The 23-year-old was previously on the books at Italian outfit Inter but he never featured for them at a senior level.

The Latest: Italian on Brighton’s shortlist

Speaking on the TogetherBHA YouTube channel, Jacobs claims that Roberto De Zerbi’s side would have to pay around £30 million for Zaniolo and said that he’s likely on a list of candidates should they want to move late in the January transfer window.

He stated: “Roma, at the moment, are saying it’s got to be a loan with an obligation, or it’s got to be a permanent sale. And that will maybe, if Spurs walk away, provide a window of opportunity. So Brighton may say, you know what? Were we to lose Caicedo now we are going to look at a player like Zaniolo.

“You have to pay, if it’s a permanent deal something in the region of £30m, though, which is quite a lot of money, quite a big chunk of the Caicedo fee, so I’d be surprised if Brighton went in that direction.

“But you’re quite right to say they’ve been linked, and usually there’s no smoke without fire, which means that he’s probably one of a series of names on a shortlist that they’re looking at in case they do have to move late within the market.”

The Verdict: A move is unlikely

We believe that a move for Zaniolo would be a great addition to Brighton’s squad, he’s certainly an improvement on Adam Lallana.

The Italian is 11 years younger than the Seagulls midfielder and has delivered a much better goal contribution rate in the last six seasons, Zaniolo tally is eight in 110 Premier League games.

Adding the 23-year-old would improve Lallana’s ability to create chances averaging 3.44 shot-creating actions a game from the last year, the Seagull midfielder only has 2.35  per 90 minutes from the last 365 days.

A move to Sussex would be unlikely due to Spurs’ current transfer position on the Roma star, likely due to the likelihood of European football being a possibility on a consistent basis.

Brighton has yet to feature in either the Champions League or the Europa League, Spurs have appeared in both competitions in 13 different occasions since 2010.

There may be only a two-point gap between the two clubs, but if you’re Zaniolo a move to Spurs would ensure a better chance of playing at a higher level for the long term.

Journalist Beren Cross has reported that Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has complained that the technical area was too small for him at Newcastle amid telling off from officials.

What’s the latest?

In their latest Premier League fixture, the Whites managed to pick up a decent point on the road against high-flyers Newcastle United.

Indeed, the game ended all square as a goalless draw in what turned out to be a bit of a heated encounter, with the two sides caught up in a bit of a brawl towards the end of the game.

Only adding to the drama, it seems Marsch managed to get himself told off by fourth official Craig Pawson after he’d left his technical area to have a word with winger Jack Harrison.

Indeed, Cross noted as much for LeedsLive, writing: “Marsch ventured out of his technical area to give instructions early in the first half. Not to be shackled by the white paint on the grass, the American went a few yards down the touchline to get Jack Harrison’s attention.

“While he got his message across, fourth official Craig Pawson was not happy with his raid down the touchline and had words with him. Marsch was quick to comment on how small the area was and not fit for purpose.”

Marsch the rule breaker

Seeing as Harrison didn’t have the best of days – he was given a 4/10 for his efforts in the LeedsLive player ratings – it’s easy to understand why Marsch was keen to get some kind of message across to the player mid-game.

The American certainly hasn’t been shy of breaking the rules in the past either. For instance, earlier on in the season, he was hit with a touchline ban and a fine by the FA after using improper language during his side’s 5-2 defeat at Brentford.

However, seeing as how that incident resulted in a direct punishment he may have to be careful not to overstep the line – even if he might not be alone in thinking the technical areas in the Premier League are too small, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta frequently leaving his own one too.

Celtic signing Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder Tomoki Iwata for £828,000 in January would be ‘a steal’, according to journalist Sacha Pisani.

The Lowdown: Iwata deal complete?

The Japan international still has just over two years remaining on his contract in the J1 League but has been put on a shortlist of targets by Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou after showing impressive form under Kevin Muscat.

The Premiership champions have reportedly completed a deal to sign the 25-year-old over the last 48 hours for an initial loan fee of £828,000 with an option to buy included, although the club are yet to make any official announcement.

The Latest: Pisani’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Pisani reacted to claims that Iwata would play second fiddle to Callum McGregor at Celtic should he sign, suggesting that the Japanese ace would be a bargain purchase for the Hoops.

He wrote: “Central midfield and at the fee being talked about, it’s a steal!”

The Verdict: Potential advantage?

Celtic will already have a strong relationship with Marinos considering that’s where both Postecoglou and Daizen Maeda came from, so this could be an advantage when it comes to securing Iwata.

The Oita native is more of a defensive midfielder, which is shown in his numbers, having made a remarkable 97 recoveries and 51 tackles this calendar year (J League official website).

The Bhoys target has also posted seven goal contributions during his time at the Nissan Stadium, and this ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch makes him an excellent prospective signing.

Sheffield Wednesday attacker Josh Windass has been ruled out of his side’s FA Cup second round clash with Mansfield, journalist Joe Crann has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Windass enjoying good season

The 28-year-old is an undisputed key man for the Owls in their League One promotion push and he is enjoying a productive season for them to date.

Windass has registered four goals and assists apiece in the league, linking up well with the likes of Michael Smith and Lee Gregory, and he will continue to be an important figure.

Darren Moore’s side host Mansfield in the FA Cup on Saturday but they have suffered an injury blow in the lead-up to the game.

The Latest: Ruled out of Mansfield clash

Taking to Twitter, Crann confirmed that Windass will miss out at Hillsborough, although his absence isn’t expected to be a lengthy one:

“Josh Windass has a ‘little strain’, but there are no alarm bells regarding his fitness. Won’t play v Mansfield, but isn’t a bad one.”

The Verdict: Undoubted blow for Owls

Losing a player of Windass’ quality is always going to be a blow for Wednesday, with his eye for a goal or pass in the final third something that has been on show throughout this season and in the past.

The hope is that the attacker is back for the trip to Derby County in the league next Saturday, lunchtime, however, in what is truthfully a more important game for Moore’s men.

While the FA Cup remains a competition drenched in history, the sole aim of this season for the Owls is to get out of League One and be playing Championship football again.