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Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has torn into the state of the Reds’ midfield – revealing that he has ‘never been a fan’ of star man Thiago.

The Lowdown: Liverpool set for squad overhaul in transfer market

Jurgen Klopp’s side have been one of several underachievers this term, with the Reds heading into this weekend outside of the European places.

A Champions League spot may still be in reach, but there are perhaps issues that need to be resolved in the summer to avoid a repeat of this year’s disappointing campaign to date.

Liverpool’s form had even led to questions being asked of Klopp’s future at Anfield, and while he does not appear close to saying goodbye just yet, Hamann feels the German may well do if they are unable to regain their competitiveness in the transfer market.

The Latest: Hamann lays into Thiago and his Liverpool teammates

Speaking on TalkSport, Hamann addressed the current make-up of the Reds’ midfield, slating a number of Reds players in that area of the pitch.

While he is by no means alone in dishing out such criticism, he may be in his take on Spain international Thiago as he let rip on several Liverpool players.

Speaking prior to Liverpool’s trip to Crystal Palace, he said: “All the players they’ve got in midfield – who are you going to keep for next season? Because obviously the ones who have got a contract, I’m not sure somebody will take them.

“But if you look at midfield now, you look at Bajcetic, who has done well, he’s a young kid – of course you’ve got to keep him. Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones – they have progressed.

“Thiago, I’ve never been a fan of. I don’t think Liverpool is good enough to have a Thiago in the team at the moment. Fabinho hasn’t been the same. Milner is coming to the end, has been a brilliant player.

“Then you’ve got Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain, who have been very disappointing since they’ve come, so you probably need three or four midfielders alone, and that takes a lot of money.

“Anfield Road Stand is getting extended, that costs an awful lot of money. So I just wonder how much money they’ve got in the summer, because if they’re not remotely competitive, I’m not sure the manager will stay.”

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The Verdict: Thiago made a Liverpool scapegoat

While a lot of Liverpool’s midfielders faced Hamann’s wrath, we feel his words on Thiago are especially harsh.

It is clear that Klopp rates the Spaniard, as he has started every game he has been available for in the Premier League, with the German also labelling him ‘sensational’ in the past.

But with the Reds having only won four of the eight games without him prior to this weekend’s clash, it hardly seems as though he is the problem.

Thiago has certainly had his low moments this term – he gave away the penalty for the decisive goal that sealed defeat against Arsenal back in October, while he came in for criticism following his display in Liverpool’s 3-0 reverse against Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this year.

But it is surely too simplistic to say he is not a good fit for the team while the Reds are out of form when he was a common presence throughout last season’s quadruple tilt; Liverpool lost just one league game with Thiago in the side last term – which was their 3-2 loss at West Ham United, where he had only made a substitute appearance.

We would argue that as a high-profile name in the current Liverpool midfield, he is something of an easy target – and ex-Liverpool players like Hamann should take a step back and realise this is merely a top-class team playing themselves out of their prolonged slump.

Manchester United are rolling along just nicely at the moment. Fresh from winning their first trophy in six years, the Carabao Cup, Erik ten Hag’s side are still in with a chance, albeit a small one, of winning four competitions this term.

Since Christmas, the Red Devils have lost just once across all competitions and this momentum has gone a long way to claiming silverware and improving their Premier League position.

The Dutchman is slowly building a team to be reckoned with, although there is a gaping weakness, he doesn’t have an out-and-out striker who could guarantee him 30 goals a season.

Marcus Rashford has been in sensational form this term, scoring 25 goals in all competitions, yet he is usually deployed on the left wing with on-loan frontman Wout Weghorst or Anthony Martial leading the line, yet they have failed to showcase form that suggests they will be the answer for Ten Hag.

If only he could travel back 20 or so years, one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s finest signings would complete his side – Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Imagine Ruud van Nistelrooy and Marcus Rashford

The Dutch hitman was signed for a then British record fee of £19m in the summer of 2001 from PSV Eindhoven as one of the continent’s best strikers and should have completed a move to United the season before, however, injury delayed the move for 12 months.

He soon made up for that lost time, netting an incredible 80 goals in his first two seasons, leading United to the Premier League title in 2002/2003.

Overall, his spell at Old Trafford yielded 150 goals from 219 games, and his natural instincts in the penalty area made him one of the most clinical strikers of his generation. Rio Ferdinand lavished praise on his former teammate, saying he was “the most devastating finisher I have ever played with” and his record in England certainly justifies this comment.

Rashford and van Nistelrooy would form an epic partnership right now at United. The Englishman is a major threat from the wing and would certainly provide plenty of assists for the Dutchman to feed off of every game – assisting nine goals so far this season.

Just imagine the pair of them punishing opposition defences with their lethal play in the box – it could have made United almost unstoppable at their best.

Martial and Weghorst aren’t the most clinical of players, with Rashford’s hard work usually going to waste, yet with the Dutchman leading the line, once the ball breaks to him in the box, there is a good chance that it will end up in the back of the net – based on his sensational record for the club.

There is no doubt Ten Hag will be using the summer transfer window to secure a striker that can take the club to the next level, it’s just a pity a prime van Nistelrooy isn’t available, as he could propel the club to wonderful heights.

Now it is time to find the new “devastating” striker to lead the line at Old Trafford…

Journalist Ethan Todd believes Sunderland youngster Pierre Ekwah should be starting for the Black Cats.

The Lowdown: Sunderland brought crashing down to earth

It wasn’t too long ago that Sunderland were riding the crest of a wave and sitting inside the play-off spots. However, fast-forward a few games and they have yielded zero wins from their last four matches and now sit six points off the top six.

The latest in their shocking run of results was the hammering at home to Stoke City and at the hands of former manager Alex Neil, with the result highlighting flaws in their squad.

Sunderland boast the youngest average age of any squad in the Championship and are without experienced stars such as Ross Stewart and club captain Corry Evans, but Todd wants to see more talented youngsters deployed to combat their absences.

The Latest: Ekwah to be thrown in at the deep end

Ekwah was recruited from Premier League side West Ham in the summer but has been afforded just 43 minutes of first-team action, and Todd argued on The Roar podcast that this should be changing.

He said: “It’s getting to the point where we’ve been putting square pegs in round holes and they’re no longer fitting, so I think personally, I would have had [Luke] O’Nien in central midfield.

“I know he’s not the greatest technically – certainly not as technical as [Dan] Neil – but just having that presence and a bit of [physicality] about him. I think it might be time to give Ekwah a go as well.”

The Verdict: Mowbray has a chance to experiment

While handing a first league start of the season to an inexperienced midfielder such as Ekwah away to Norwich City wouldn’t exactly be a baptism of fire with the Carrow Road atmosphere nothing to be intimidated by, the Canaries are a solid outfit and will prove to be tough opponents this weekend.

However, with Sunderland now looking like outsiders to make the play-offs and having a comfortable 17-point cushion to the bottom three of the Championship, they look set for a mid-table finish.

Therefore, these final games of the season will give Tony Mowbray an opportunity to look at his squad and try to figure out some new tactics heading into the forthcoming campaign, including finding out the best position for ‘brilliant’ ace Ekwah, who we feel they should be building their midfield around for the future.

Sheffield United forward Iliman Ndiaye is being monitored in the Premier League ahead of the summer window, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Standout performer

The Blades striker has now entered the final 18 months of his deal at Bramall Lane and being Paul Heckingbottom’s top-performing offensive player, has caught the eye of potential suitors.

The Yorkshire outfit are flying high in the automatic promotion places in the Championship, but should they fail to make the jump up at the end of the season, the 23-year-old could be tempted to look elsewhere.

The Latest: Ndiaye being scouted

According to The Sun, Everton, Newcastle United and West Ham have all sent scouts to watch Ndiaye in action in ‘recent weeks’.

The Premier League trio are all looking to add to their attacking ranks but it’s Sean Dyche’s side who are currently the ‘keenest’.

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The Verdict: Don’t let him go

Ndiaye has been dubbed a ‘talent’ by journalist Josh Bunting and being one of their most influential players, it’s important that Sheffield United don’t let him go even if they miss out on a jump to the top tier.

The Senegal international has clocked up 18 goal contributions in 36 second-tier outings this season and currently ranks in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons by players in his position.

The Blades talisman has also operated in six various positions throughout his career so is a valuable member for Heckingbottom to have at his disposal should any injuries occur.

Finally, Ndiaye has received six man-of-the-match awards this term, highlighting the positive individual impact he has on the side, so the thought of losing him is a massive blow.

Manchester United are growing increasingly confident that they may be able to beat the likes of Real Madrid to the signing of Jude Bellingham in the summer.

What’s the latest news on Jude Bellingham?

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is expected to be one of the summer transfer window’s potential big movers with an exit from the Bundesliga side potentially on the cards.Bellingham has earned the interest of the likes of Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool ahead of the summer but there is a belief at Old Trafford that they could beat all of them to his signature.This comes at a time when the Red Devils are awaiting the answer surrounding the future of the Glazers with the club currently awaiting the final bids on Wednesday evening.The 19-year-old is currently away on international duty with England where he will be among the likes of Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire.And the report from ESPN was relayed on Twitter which saw fans share their thoughts and opinions with the best of the reactions included below…

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is refusing to back down from his scathing comments made in his fiery post-match press conference on Saturday.

What did Antonio Conte say in his Southampton rant?

It was a dismal weekend for the north London side as they saw their grasp on the top four slip following Newcastle United's victory on Friday night.

And it seems as if Spurs were unable to handle the pressure put on them by the Tynesiders as they allowed their 3-1 lead over Southampton slip with just 15 minutes to go.

But the biggest drama potentially came after the game as Conte unleashed a furious rant which covered a lot of people within the club.

Now, days on from the rant, speaking on Sky Sports, reporter Kaveh Solhekol has claimed the 53-year-old is not looking to back down from his comments:

"My information is Conte stands by what he said [on Saturday]. He believes what he said and I'd be very surprised to see him backtracking or apologising for anything he said."

Was Conte right?

There is certainly some truth behind what Conte had to say on the south coast with the north London club having failed to lift a trophy since 2008.

However, his rant did feel like a method to cover his responsibility on the back of what has been a dismal campaign for the Lilywhites.

Spurs have struggled to get over the line over the last decade in cup semi-finals/finals under the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and that has been an issue for the club.

However, Spurs have come nowhere near the line with Conte who has seen his side beaten by Sheffield United in the FA Cup and then knocked out of the Champions League by a blunt AC Milan.

The Italian had the opportunity to make a real charge for the FA Cup this season, instead, he fielded a weakened side and took the gamble which clearly did not pay off.

And now the best he could potentially achieve with the Lilywhites is a spot inside the top four and he is seemingly taking his frustration out on others at the club.

That being said, the likes of Daniel Levy have to take some blame for his handling of the club over the years, but money has been spent since Mauricio Pochettino's sacking.

Regardless, when Spurs look to the likes of Newcastle who have Eddie Howe extracting the absolute best out of players like Dan Burn it seems as if there is a lot more Conte could be getting out of his players.

With the end of the campaign looming large, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will likely have plans in place for the upcoming summer transfer window, with the Dutchman no doubt keen to continue his Old Trafford revolution by securing quality new additions.

As Manchester Evening News reported at the end of the January window, as well as securing a long-term centre-forward solution, the former Ajax boss is also said to be keen on bringing in a 'younger midfielder' ahead of next season, in order to complement the senior figures such as Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.

That hunt has reportedly led United to look at Red Bull Salzburg starlet, Maurits Kjaergaard, with 90min having revealed earlier this month that the Premier League side sent scouts to watch the 19-year-old – and a handful of his teammates – in action during the recent, 4-2 victory over Austria Wien.

After arriving from FC Liefering back in 2021, the teenager has since established himself as a regular fixture at the Bundesliga outfit, with his standout form this season having unsurprisingly attracted the attention of those at the Theatre of Dreams.

What is Maurits Kjaergaard's style of play?

The Danish playmaker could well represent something of a dream heir to compatriot Eriksen in United's midfield ranks, with the pair both able to provide a creative, cutting edge from their deep-lying roles.

In the case of Kjaergaard, the youngster already boasts two goals and nine assists in 32 games in all competitions so far this season, with that a remarkably similar record to that of his £150k-per-week compatriot, who also racked up two goals and nine assists in 31 games across all fronts, prior to his recent injury blow.

The latter man had been a regular fixture in Ten Hag's side prior to that alongside the aforementioned Casemiro, notably averaging 1.3 key passes per game and creating five big chances from his 19 Premier League outings, while the Salzburg man has also averaged 1.3 key passes per game and created nine big chances in the Austrian top-flight.

Much like Eriksen – who has been hailed as a player who "plays with intelligence" by club legend Paul Scholes – Kjaergaard is also seemingly a clever and progressive midfield asset, having been lauded for his "sublime touch" and "extraordinary vision" by former Lyngby coach, Jonathan Hartmann.

The 6 foot 4 gem also offers the benefit of his ball-winning prowess as he ranks in the top 3% among his peers in Europe for tackles made, as well as showing brilliance on the ball as he ranks in the top 10% for progressive carries, with that ability to simply glide forward from deep perhaps stemming from the teen's admiration for Brazilian icon, Kaka.

To be able to secure such an all-rounder could represent a real coup for United, with there likely to already be thoughts about how to replace Eriksen – who recently turned 31 – in the years to come.

Leeds United return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon as they look to continue their resurgence in form under new manager Javi Gracia.

Vital wins against relegation rivals Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers have lifted the Yorkshire outfit up to 14th in the top flight but they face arguably their toughest ask of the season thus far when they face league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates later today.

However, Gracia has instilled a new belief at Elland Road and there is little pressure on his squad for the game against Mikel Arteta's side, so they could just sneak a result against an Arsenal side who will also be desperate for three points in their ongoing title race.

If the Spanish manager wants to give his side a fighting chance against a fearsome Arsenal attack, he should consider reinstating captain Liam Cooper, after the centre-back made his return from injury in Scotland's impressive 2-0 win against Spain in the international break.

Should Liam Cooper start for Leeds against Arsenal?

Cooper, who earns £25k-per-week at Leeds, has endured a frustrating season with injuries, making just 13 appearances in the Premier League so far this campaign, yet he is ranked as the seventh-best performer in Leeds' squad according to WhoScored, earning a strong 6.67 average rating.

No player in Gracia's squad has averaged more interceptions per game this season, while he also ranks third for clearances and sixth for tackles, which emphasises the defensive qualities he can add and against one of the league's best attacks, he could be crucial to Leeds' hopes of coming away from the Emirates with a point or more.

Journalist Dean Jones was full of praise for the 31-year-old earlier this year in an interview with GiveMeSport, labelling him a "leader," while former manager Jesse Marsch also spoke highly of the defender's attitude and mentality at Elland Road.

The departed American said:

“Liam is going to play a big role in the team no matter what. Diego and Robin have done well. I told Liam before yesterday he hasn’t trained much but when he does return from injury, he plays flawlessly.

“In terms of mentality, a professional, a leader, he is the best I’ve ever seen. He will be used, he will be needed."

After making his return to action during the international break as a substitute during Scotland's 2-0 win over Spain, Gracia should consider bringing his influential monster back in from the start against Arsenal, in the hope that he can inspire a strong performance in north London.

Tottenham Hotspur have made Julian Nagelsmann their top candidate to become their next permanent head coach, according to reports…

Tottenham manager news – Julian Nagelsmann leading the race

Football Insider claim Spurs are 'huge admirers' of the 35-year-old and are willing to wait until the summer to appoint him as he is assessing his options before next season.

It's thought that the German, who was recently sacked from Bayern Munich, does not want to take a new job until the end of the current campaign, with Antonio Conte's assistant Cristian Stellini left in charge on an interim basis until then.

The Lilywhites do face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea, having sacked Graham Potter earlier this month. They have brought in club legend and ex-manager Frank Lampard to see them through until the summer.

Former FC Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is also in the running for both London vacancies, whilst a return for Mauricio Pochettino is also possible, with supporters singing for his return in Tottenham's recent win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Should Daniel Levy hire Nagelsmann over Pochettino?

After things ended on a sour note, it would be a surprise to see stubborn chairman Daniel Levy see the error of his ways and organise a sensational comeback for the Argentine coach and there is reason to believe that things wouldn't be too different under him anyway.

A lot of the same underperforming squad still remains in place, with players like Eric Dier, Hugo Lloris and Ben Davies still starting every game when fit, whilst others like Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele are still technically on the books.

Nagelsmann, who was once hailed as a "mastermind" by Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinz, could add some fresh impetus to a club in dire need of a drastic shake-up. His renowned attacking playing style is the complete opposite to some of the negative dross served up by his possible predecessors in north London, namely Conte, Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho.

"The mixture of possession and high-intensity counter-press was the key," says Hinze. "It was very difficult to play against," Hinz added.

As an innovator, we've seen plenty of different formations from the 35-year-old, ranging from a back three at both Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig to a 4-2-3-1 at the Bundesliga champions.

Speaking about his philosophy, Nagelsmann once said:

"I like to attack the opponents near their own goal because your own path to the goal is not as long if you get the ball higher up. I like the way Villarreal play and they have a great way of coaching young players. I also like Barcelona and Arsenal as well as the work of Arsene Wenger."

The German left the Bavarian giants with an impressive win rate of 71.4%, having lost just ten of his 84 matches in charge, and unlike Pochettino back then, he has some silverware under his belt prior to being appointed as Spurs boss.

If Levy wants to bring the good times back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, then it could be well worth waiting for Naglesmann, who could transform the club in the same way he did at Leipzig – by playing expansive, progressive and exciting football.

Arsenal have made few blunders under Mikel Arteta, who has endured plenty of trials during his short spell as a head coach. Dealing with various issues born of previous regimes, the Spaniard was calm and calculated in his decision-making, which culminated in the success they hope to achieve.

However, no manager can get every decision right.

Whether it be a tactical blunder to lose a game, or the wrong substitution to surrender control, arguably few mistakes are as frustrating and long-lasting as selling a player and watching them go on to thrive.

That has certainly been the case with Matteo Guendouzi, who admittedly struggled to outline himself as a star central midfielder for the new boss. It seemed like the 24-year-old remained rash and often thoughtless in his displays, which led to his eventual exclusion from the team.

Former Gunners player Jeremie Aliadiere had suggested that his compatriot hadn't "grown and matured" enough to stake his claim. As was the case with Mesut Ozil and Piere-Emerick Aubameyang, if they did not fit the system, Arteta would let them go.

So, for a fee of just £9m, the Frenchman departed – after being banished from the squad by Arteta.

How much is Matteo Guendouzi worth now?

Having featured 82 times for the North London outfit, his 21 yellow cards during that period certainly support the earlier suggestion of a rash play style.

However, as a youngster joining, Guendouzi came with a big reputation and was expected to be the future of the club's midfield. When he made the final shortlist for the Golden Boy award, this was only further cemented.

Featuring heavily in his first full season, the £41k-per-week stopper acted as a steady presence at the base of midfield. This culminated in an unspectacular 6.79 rating, which would improve just slightly the year following to 6.84. Either way, it marked progression.

However, the eventual sale of such a promising talent was deemed a must to continue progressing as a club, even if journalist Aaron West had suggested there was "something special" about the young destroyer.

Since moving to Marseille, as performances have improved, so too has the valuation of the 6 foot 1 star. Boasting a 7.00 rating last campaign, in which the French international seemed to finally be growing into his potential, CIES Football Observatory clearly took note.

They suggested that Guendouzi's value had rocketed, and from that £9m initial sale the midfielder was now worth €35m (£31m).

At the tender age of just 24 too, this is a figure set to only increase with each passing year of improvement.

As aforementioned, Arteta has not made many errors during his reign. But this decision to offload their former star youngster might well be turning into a mistake.