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Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch is set to be given time to turn things around at Elland Road, according to a reliable journalist.

The Lowdown: Marsch under growing pressure

The Whites were beaten 2-0 away to Leicester City in the Premier League on Thursday in what was a limp performance from start to finish.

The disgruntled travelling supporters made their feelings known during and after the game, with pressure now increasingly growing on Marsch.

Despite the American clinging to his job a little, it looks as though his sacking isn’t yet on the cards, following a new claim.

The Latest: Leeds show faith in Marsch

According to The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Marsch will have a few games to prove his worth and improve Leeds’ fortunes, rather than being relieved of his duties now.

It is noted that he was ‘jeered’ by his own fans at the Leicester game, but the Elland Road hierarchy have faith in him to get the Whites out of their current slump.

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The Verdict: Fulham game feels huge

Sunday’s visit of Fulham to Yorkshire feels absolutely massive for Marsch, especially with a daunting trip to Liverpool on the horizon next Saturday night.

Failure to beat the Cottagers will surely lead to many dissenting voices inside Elland Road, and if another defeat ensures, the Whites’ hierarchy may feel that it is time to part ways with the 48-year-old.

That may not be in keeping with McGrath’s update, which suggests that Marsch may have at least until the World Cup break to prove his worth, but dropped points at home to Fulham, despite their improving form, could be too disappointing to ignore.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has shared that Kylian Mbappe spoke to Liverpool over a potential transfer before signing his new deal at PSG last summer.

The Lowdown: Wants to leave…

It was reported by The Daily Telegraph earlier this month that Mbappe wants to leave PSG, following a breakdown in relationship with the Ligue 1 giants.

However, the report states that he could cost as much as £300m, which would easily surpass the world-record fee paid by the Ligue 1 giants to sign Neymar from Barcelona.

The Latest: Spoken in the past

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has shared that Mbappe ‘spoke’ to Liverpool about a potential move before signing a new contract at PSG, adding that they are ‘keeping tabs’ on his situation in France.

He outlined: “Liverpool are obviously going to be keeping tabs on the situation with Kylian Mbappe because of his current situation with PSG, with reports suggesting he wants to leave the club after broken promises.

“Mbappe has spoken to Liverpool in the past. He spoke to them just before he signed his new contract at PSG last summer.”

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The Verdict: Unlikely

Given how much Mbappe is likely to cost, and the fact that Real Madrid are reportedly favourites for his signature, it seems unlikely that Jurgen Klopp’s side would be able to secure a move for the France international next summer.

The 23-year-old has recently claimed himself that he has ‘never asked to leave’ PSG, so despite the reported tensions between player and club, it seems as if that relationship can still be repaired.

Nonetheless, if the Reds fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, which could well happen as they are eighth in the Premier League table at the moment, then it could be a foregone conclusion that Mbappe does not make the move to Merseyside anyway.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has described Celtic duo Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley as ‘below par’ in the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Lowdown: Celtic held by Shakhtar

The Hoops knew that only victory would do in the Champions League on Tuesday night, in terms of having a chance to qualify for the Europa League.

Unfortunately, Ange Postecoglou’s men fell short of that objective, taking the lead but being pegged back in the second half, ensuring they will finish bottom of their group.

Too many individuals failed to show up at Parkhead, with Celtic left to rue some poor finishing and a disappointing group stage overall.

The Latest: Joseph critical of Hoops duo

Taking to Twitter, Joseph singled out Hatate and O’Riley for criticism:

“O’Riley & Hatate were below par tonight – neither seemed to have the same drive about them.”

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The Verdict: Harsh on O’Riley?

Admittedly, Hatate failed to stamp his authority on proceedings against Shakhar, losing possession 12 times, but the assessment of O’Riley’s performance feels harsh.

The 21-year-old always looked like making things happen with his creativity, completing all three of his attempted dribbles and winning seven out of 11 ground duels (SofaScore).

Granted, O’Riley’s finishing left a lot to be desired, with chances coming his way and being wasted, but he was arguably the player who seemed to be the biggest attacking threat for Celtic.

Atalanta want to cash in on Premier League riches by attracting big fees for two star players this summer.

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Atalanta keen to cash in on Premier League richesLookman and Ederson attracting interestEx-Man Utd transfer chief in chargeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Serie A club are aware that there is huge interest from English top-flight clubs in midfielder Ederson and winger Ademola Lookman. John Murtough, who left Manchester United last year and signed on as Atalanta's Director of Global Development this week, will be in charge of getting the fees as high as possible, report Il Giorno.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lookman finished 14th in the Ballon d'Or last year after a superb season in which he helped Atalanta win the Europa League. He has already featured for Premier League clubs Everton, Fulham and Leicester City, and Liverpool are said to be keen. Midfielder Ederson is known to be one of the best holding midfielders in Italy and is attracting interest from both Manchester clubs.

DID YOU KNOW?

Atalanta have already made good use of the finances in the English game in recent seasons, selling Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund to United, Cristian Romero to Tottenham, and Timothy Castagne and Calb Okoli to Leicester

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ATALANTA?

Atalanta are probably out of the Serie A title race – 10 points shy with six games to play – but have plenty of work to do to secure their Champions League qualification. They go to Milan on Sunday before a home game with Lecce the following weekend.

Nottingham Forest signed Renan Lodi on loan in the summer and so far it hasn’t worked out for the Atletico Madrid full-back. Now, a new update has emerged on his future.

What’s the latest?

According to AS (via Sport Witness), Atletico are hoping that Nottingham Forest trigger their €30m (£25.8m) option to buy Lodi before the end of his loan spell.

As per the report, the La Liga giants have found themselves in financial trouble after failing to qualify for the latter stages of the Champions League this season and have no need for the player to return to them next summer.

However, with Lodi hardly pulling up any trees at Forest, they should use Atletico’s financial situation to send him back in the hope they can find a better suitor for the player elsewhere.

Cooper must ditch Lodi

The Brazilian has shown glimpses of his talent but has largely been inconsistent in his performances since joining the Tricky Trees this summer, so it is fair to say that Steve Cooper should ditch Lodi if Atletico press for a permanent move over the coming months.

Nottingham Forest are currently rock bottom of the Premier League table and the left-back has been a contributor to the side’s inability to pick up points in the top flight.

Lodi is currently the third lowest-rated player (6.42) in the entire squad according to SofaScore, and it’s not hard to see why when you consider his output this season.

Over six league appearances, the 24-year-old – who was hailed a “nightmare” by sports writer Conor Keane – has failed to win possession, averaging just 0.8 dribbles, seven accurate passes in the opposition’s half and gives away 1.2 fouls per game.

Cooper will be massively disappointed and frustrated with many of the players that were brought into the largely newly-built squad this summer, and if an opportunity arises to offload some of these low-impact performers in January to make way for players who can make a positive impact on the team it should be a no-brainer for the club.

With that being said, Lodi has just a handful of chances to prove himself to Cooper before the market opens up again in January and if he can’t start to make an improvement on the pitch it could be time to go.

Newcastle United have been dealt a potential blow in their efforts to sign Real Betis midfielder Nabil Fekir, with reports from Spain claiming that the Frenchman is happy where he is.

The Lowdown: Fekir linked with Newcastle

Eddie Howe may be looking to make significant reinforcements to his squad in the January transfer window, with a top-four finish now feeling like a distinct possibility as the Magpies sit third in the Premier League table.

One player who has been linked with a move to St James’ Park is Fekir, who has been a key figure for Betis since arriving from Lyon in 2019. The 29-year-old has registered 25 goals and 25 assists in 129 appearances for the La Liga side, with his current deal not expiring until 2026.

The Latest: Transfer seems unlikely

According to Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo [via Sport Witness], sources close to the player have indicated that Betis ‘don’t feel any fear’ about Newcastle’s interest because Fekir is happy at his current club.

It is stated that the Magpies have a ‘very fluid relationship’ with the Frenchman’s agency, but they ‘do not plan to pay’ €45m (£39.2m) for the player, ‘nor do they bother to offer less’, which is likely to end any possibility of a move happening.

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The Verdict: Better options out there?

Hailed by ex-Barcelona forward Malcom as a “big player” who has “scored incredible goals”, Fekir seems a class act who would no doubt add quality and guile to this Newcastle side, but there is an argument to say that PIF can find better options.

The midfielder turns 30 next year, so he wouldn’t necessarily be considered a long-term acquisition, while apparent agent interference prevented him from joining Liverpool back in 2018, and his fitness record does not make for particularly great reading.

Newcastle would be better off looking to sign a younger alternative to Fekir – someone who can be a part of the Magpies’ continued rise for many years to come.

Tottenham Hotspur chief Fabio Paratici will look to finally end Antonio Conte’s absolute nightmare at right wing-back in January.

That’s according to 90min, who recently revealed that the Italian supremo will be targeting two key additions after the World Cup, of which one will be on the right flank.

Since the departures of Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier over three years ago, the north London outfit have struggled to find a reliable and trustworthy option in the role.

Kyle Walker-Peters and Juan Foyth were sold, Serge Aurier was regularly lambasted as a “liability” before the club cancelled his contract and now – as per the report – both Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty are available for transfer in 2023.

The inconsistent duo are Conte’s ‘go-to’ choices, with summer signing Djed Spence very much a ‘club signing’ rather than his own and he could even be loaned out after the World Cup.

Among the potential candidates to end the Italian’s suffering on the right is Norwich City gem Max Aarons, who 90min also claim is being monitored by Paratici and co.

He could be available for as little as £15m.

Whilst the 22-year-old is currently competing in the Championship for the Canaries, he has bags of top-flight experience, as is often expected with the Norfolk yo-yo club.

Two of the last five seasons have been in the Premier League and Aarons, despite his young age, has been a frequent presence no matter who is in the dugout. Indeed, he has racked up 70 appearances in the big time, which equates to 37.6% of his overall tally for Norwich.

The England U21 international is a typical modern-day full-back in the sense that he can get forward to contribute in the final third and that’s exactly what Conte needs.

Aarons currently ranked among the top 9% of his positional peers in FBref’s ‘next eight’ divisions for progressive passes (4.42), as well as the top 15% for dribbles completed (1.17) per 90. And that’s not at a detriment to his defensive qualities, having averaged 1.97 tackles and 1.60 interceptions per 90 over the last year too.

Therefore, if Paratici is to finally find the right wing-back that Conte desperately needs, then he should look no further than the 22-year-old, who his former boss Daniel Farke once dubbed a “special player” with an “unbelievable” future.

AND in other news, Forget Romero: £16m Spurs “animal” has been Paratici’s “pound-for-pound” best business…

Pundit Noel Whelan has slammed the decision by the matchday officials to not give a penalty against Aston Villa during their 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. 

The Lowdown: Villa beat Brighton 

In Villa’s final game before the World Cup, Unai Emery’s side secured all three points despite finding themselves 1-0 down in the first minute of the match at the Amex Stadium.

One big incident in the game saw Brighton denied a penalty after Lucas Digne appeared to have fouled Solly March in the box. On-field referee Chris Kavanagh didn’t give the penalty and VAR didn’t get involved, which prompted a reaction of disapproval from Whelan.

The Latest: Whelan bemused by penalty decision

Speaking to Football Insider, the 47-year-old criticised the officials’ role in that pivotal moment of the match.

He said: “There’s no misinterpretation, there’s no excuse – it’s a foul.

“If you get the ball nicked past you and you make contact with the player, it’s got to be a penalty. Whether the intent is there or not, March has worked hard to get there first and he’s been wiped out.

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“Digne has lashed out, and it’s a clean contact to his leg. I don’t see how they can misinterpret the rules in front of them like that. There’s no grey area – it’s black and white.

“This is what we’ve got VAR for. If we’re not going to overturn decisions like this, there’s no point in having it. They’ve got to get these decisions right, and at the moment the technology is not working.”

The Verdict: Villa’s lucky break

Speaking on the latest episode of Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher shared his verdict on the incident by saying that he was surprised VAR didn’t tell the on-field referee to review Digne’s challenge on the monitor.

The former top-flight official added that, if this had happened, the penalty would likely have been given to Brighton.

With that in mind, it seems that Villa can count themselves lucky that the officials on VAR did not get involved, as Emery’s side would likely have conceded a penalty, which may then have had a big impact on the game and the result, considering that it finished 2-1 to the visitors.

Glasgow Rangers face a crucial January transfer window if they hope to add some quality to their squad and improve after a woeful first half of the season.

With the Ibrox side lagging nine points behind Celtic in the race for the Premiership title and missing out on European football after Christmas with a dreadful Champions League showing, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked earlier this week.

Mick Beale appears to be the main target for Ross Wilson and it seems to be the most logical appointment, especially considering his history with the club and playing a big part under Steven Gerrard as the Light Blues won the title in 2021.

Rangers are struggling in front of goal, with just Antonio Colak hitting double figures so far this season (14) and this needs to improve going forward.

The club are interested in Blackpool forward Jerry Yates however and the new manager could well land a dream first signing by bringing the 26-year-old to Glasgow.

The Championship club are demanding a fee of £5m for anyone wanting to sign the player, with the Gers leading the chase and he could add some much-needed firepower to this Rangers side and take the weight of expectation from Colak’s shoulders.

Yates has scored nine times in 21 Championship matches so far this season and he is joint first in the race for the golden boot alongside a host of other names. This form has sparked interest not only from Scotland but the Premier League too, with Brentford and Bournemouth keeping tabs on the forward.

During his career, he has scored 66 goals and there is no doubt he could replicate his form in the second tier against the likes of Ross County and Dundee United.

Blackpool reporter Sean McGinlay dubbed the Englishman as “immense” following a 2-2 draw against Sheffield United and if Ross Wilson manages to get a fee for the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent – who are both out of contract at the end of the season – in January, the money should go towards a move for Yates.

He could certainly be a dream signing for Beale.

The January transfer window is less than a month away from opening for business and eyes will be on Aston Villa and what they do with Unai Emery at the helm.

Villa appointed the Spaniard to replace Steven Gerrard in the dugout and January will be his first chance to bring in his own signings to improve the squad heading into the second half of the season.

It also provides him with an opportunity to cast aside any players that he does not want to build the team around in the coming years and one dud who could be on the chopping block is Ollie Watkins.

The £75k-per-week marksman has endured a rough season in the Premier League and Emery could ditch him in order to free up space for another striker to come through the door.

Watkins has scored twice in 14 appearances in the English top-flight this term and has averaged a dismal Sofascore rating of 6.64 – a score that places him 17th in the squad for the Villans – which shows that he has struggled badly in front of goal and in his general play this term.

This comes after he managed 11 goals in 35 outings in the 2021/22 campaign with these statistics indicating that he has regressed this season, which is why it could be time to cut ties with him in January.

Who could replace him, though? Well, French publication Jeunes Footeux claimed in November that Villa are eyeing up Genk striker Paul Onuachu and that his club want at least €25m (£21.4m) for his services in the next window.

Emery must now push Villa to complete a deal for the Nigerian centre-forward as he has the potential to be a big upgrade on Watkins at the top end of the pitch.

The 28-year-old has plundered 13 goals in ten Pro League starts for Genk this season, after scoring 21 times in 30 starts last term, and has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25.

Onuachu, who was once dubbed a “goal king” by John Fashanu, has scored 82 goals in 127 matches in all competitions for the Belgian side and his impressive numbers over the last few seasons suggest that he would be a terrific signing for Villa if he can adapt to English football.

Therefore, the club must take a gamble on the prolific marksman in January and bring him to Villa Park as he could improve their attacking options and allow Emery to ditch the misfiring Watkins in favour of a striker who provides more of a goal threat.