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TalkSport pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor has slammed Manchester United supporters for their supposed underwhelming support in the Carabao Cup final.

What’s the latest on Man Utd and the Carabao Cup final?

Last Sunday was a great day for the club with regard to their modern history. Indeed, goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford saw the Red Devils’ win their first major trophy win in six years.

Not only that, but it was also the first piece of silverware lifted by new manager Erik ten Hag who looks to have Man Utd heading in the right direction after years of underperformance.

However, it seems as though not all were convinced that fans of the Premier League club truly showed their best support against Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium

Indeed, while speaking on the TalkSport YouTube channel, pundit Agbonlahor said (0:04): “Watching the final on the weekend after Manchester United had won, the celebrations weren’t ecstatic.”

He continued (0:16): “I had a friend that was there – he’s a Man United fan, my friend, he took his son –  and he said that the Newcastle fans were 10 times better in the stadium than the Manchester United [support]. That’s the fact.”

“I’m just saying. I’m just saying they’ve got a big fan base Manchester United, but they weren’t great in the stadium on the weekend.”

Were the Newcastle fans louder in the Carabao Cup final?

Man United were last in a cup final when they lost in the Europa League following a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal back in 2021.

As for Newcastle, they last played on such a big occasion in 1999 and have not lifted a major trophy since 1955. The Red Devils have won a number of titles since then, so it’s no shock that fans of the Magpies caught the eye a little more with their displays of support. After all, thousands of fans seemed to take over London for the day of the final.

Even still, it’s not as if there aren’t plenty of examples of Man Utd supporters and their team wholeheartedly enjoying the cup win and so it feels as though Agbonlahor’s perhaps making something out of nothing with his observation.

Leeds travel to Craven Cottage on Tuesday evening as they face Fulham in the fifth round of the FA Cup and new manager Javi Gracia must consider ditching Luke Ayling.

Why should Ayling be dropped vs Fulham?

Despite the summer arrival of Rasmus Kristensen from Red Bull Salzburg, Ayling has kept his regular starting spot at right-back in Leeds’ side so far this campaign, with Jesse Marsch often alternating between the two.

The former Bristol City man has made 17 appearances in the Premier League so far this term, ten of which have been starts, and he has earned a disappointing 6.61 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

This ranks him as the tenth-best performer at Elland Road this campaign, while Kristensen is rated as the fourth-best with a 6.73 average rating, so it is perhaps something of a surprise that Ayling has featured so often.

Gracia opted to start the 31-year-old in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Southampton, in which the Whites earned a rare victory and clean sheet, although his performance was little to write home about, as he earned a 6.67 rating from WhoScored for his performance.

Despite being a regular in defence, Ayling fails to score in the top ten Leeds players for blocks and interceptions this season, while he also ranks just seventh for tackles.

Why should Kristensen start for Leeds?

Kristensen has registered better scores in all of these defensive metrics, which suggests that he should be given his chance to impress the new manager for the trip to Craven Cottage this evening.

The Danish defender is just 24 so the Whites should surely start to put their faith in the right-back as the main starter at Elland Road if they want to best prepare for the future.

Although Ayling has been an excellent player for Leeds over the years, making 238 appearances across his seven years with the Yorkshire outfit, he has been defensively suspect during his time in the Premier League.

Jamie Carragher labelled him an “idiot” after a sending-off against Arsenal last season, while Shaun Wright-Phillips criticised him for “falling asleep” for Nottingham Forest’s winning goal earlier this year.

That’s a quote that could be aptly applied to several incidences since promotion, with the full-back having made a “hospital pass” – in the words of Beren Cross – towards Liam Cooper against West Ham United earlier this year.

While Ayling did impress in the recent fixtures against Manchester United – earning Sofascore ratings above 7.5 – he has managed above a 7/10 rating from WhoScored on just five occasions this season, which suggests that he is nowhere near consistent enough to be a regular starter in this side.

Therefore, with the focus very much on remaining in the top flight this season, Kristensen deserves to start in the FA Cup on Tuesday night, where an impressive performance could see him reclaim his regular starting spot ahead of Ayling in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Jordan Pickford is ‘one to look out for’ in the summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Lloris past it?

Hugo Lloris has been a vital player for Tottenham since arriving at the club in 2012, making 442 appearances in a Spurs shirt, but he has recently received criticism for some poor performances.

Graeme Souness slammed the Frenchman after the New Year’s Day defeat to Aston Villa by declaring that he is ‘past his sell-by date’, while Jamie Carragher labelled him a ‘liability’ live on Sky Sports after the recent 4-2 defeat at Manchester City.

As such, the Lilywhites now appear to be thinking about a long-term replacement for the 36-year-old…

The Latest: Pickford in Levy’s sights

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Bridge claimed that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy could capitalise on a poor season from Everton in order to sign Pickford.

The reporter said: “I think if Everton get relegated, Daniel Levy would like the England goalkeeper, maybe as an option. People throw names at me and I don’t think I’d rule anyone out at this stage, I think they will all be considered, so it’s one to look out for in the summer.”

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Micky Gray, the 50-cap England international has usually shone for his country and was particularly impressive at Euro 2021, a tournament in which he picked up two more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper.

While Everton have had a very disappointing 2022/23 campaign, their ‘keeper has prevented them from finding themselves in an even more perilous position, displaying that he is a big-game player with an incredible performance against Liverpool in September.

The 28-year-old was handed a remarkable 9.2 match rating by Sofascore for a display in which he made a total of seven saves from inside the penalty box, helping to seal what could prove to be an important point at the end of the season.

Given his age, Pickford could be first choice between the sticks for several years to come, and if the Toffees are relegated, then a move to Tottenham is likely to be a very attractive proposition for him so that he can continue playing top-flight football.

Chelsea have signed Wesley Fofana from Leicester City for £75m, Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for £33m and Benoit Badiashile from AS Monaco for £35m since Todd Boehly assumed the ownership role at the club last year, but could find the catalyst for defensive security in homegrown talent Levi Colwill.

Indeed, the precocious rising star is thriving out on loan at fellow Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion, undoubtedly gifted to the Seagulls on a temporary basis to pave the foundation for a successful career in the English top-flight, with eventual plans to incorporate the 19-year-old into the first-team fold at Stamford Bridge.

If weaselling his way into contention on the South Coast was the test, Colwill passed with flying colours.

With the 2022/23 season roughly at its midpoint, the ace has made 12 appearances across all competitions, initially playing a peripheral role before indeed earning the trust of Roberto de Zerbi and starting the past five league fixtures.

The “rising talent” – as hailed by The Athletic’s Simon Johnson – has completed 90% of his passes in the Premier League for Brighton, as per Sofascore, while also making 0.9 interceptions and 2.0 clearances per game, and appears to be cementing his stature as a regular name on the team-sheet.

Arguably his most impressive performance came in his last outing, where the outfit monumentally dispatched Liverpool 3-0 at the AMEX Stadium.

Recording a match rating of 7.5, Colwill was integral in rebuffing the flimsy Reds attack, completing 93% of his passes, making two clearances and winning three of his four duels, also displaying a creative sheen to his arsenal that will leave Potter impressed, creating one big chance.

With Chelsea’s perilous position in the Premier League this term, having plummeted to tenth place and fallen to defeat across seven of the past 11 matches across all competitions, Colwill is demonstrating his aptitude with a Brighton side that actually perch above the Blues in the table, sitting within European contention in seventh place and having previously drubbed Chelsea 4-1 in what was Potter’s managerial debut for the west London outfit after departing from Brighton, who exacted revenge in devastating fashion.

And as per FBref, he ranks among the top 3% of centre-backs for attempted passes, the top 12% for aerials won and the top 19% for shot-creating actions when compared to those plying their trade within Europe’s big five leagues, despite his inexperience.

He is comparable to Arsenal’s rising star William Saliba, who ranks among the top 3% of defenders for pass completion and the top 6% for dribbles completed.

With the French Saliba earning plaudits for his role in Arsenal’s brilliance this season – the Gunners perch atop the Premier League table and look the most arresting outfit in the season, regarding the slick, seamless style of their play – Colwill can continue to rise into his own with the Seagulls, perhaps earning a shot at Stamford Bridge in the future and biding his time, much like his peer across London in Saliba.

While certain members of the Chelsea fanbase might yearn for an exciting young star such as Colwill at present, allowing him to continue his development at Brighton is a move that will bear eventual fruit; Chelsea are rebuilding with a wealth of fresh faces, and while targeting high-profile names often works out, it would be a travesty to ignore a burgeoning teenage talent such as Colwill, who must one day be allowed to don the Chelsea shirt and cement his legacy at the club.

Celtic have been dealt a huge blow in their attempts to bring Gue-sung Cho to Parkhead in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Record, who claim that Ange Postecoglou and his side now find themselves behind Mainz in the race to land the Jeonbuk centre-forward this winter, with the Bundesliga outfit said to have submitted an official £3m bid for the 24-year-old.

The report adds that, with Mainz already having Cho’s South Korean team-mate Jae-sung Lee in their first-team squad, the German club are hoping that this will help to convince the 20-cap international of a move to the MEWA Arena ahead of the Premiership champions in the January market.

Dream Giakoumakis heir

Considering just how impressive Cho was for both club and country in 2022, coupled with Giorgos Giakoumakis reportedly being tempted by a move away from Parkhead this winter, the argument that Postecoglou simply must do everything in his power to beat Mainz to the signing of the striker this winter is a very easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 31 K League 1 appearances this season, the £2.2m-rated talent was in devastating attacking form, scoring 17 goals, registering five assists and creating five big chances for his team-mates. He also averaged 3.3 shots – 1.5 of which hit the target – made 1.2 key passes and completed 0.5 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the 24-year-old average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.33, not only ranking him as Jeonbuk’s best performer in the league but also as the fourth-best player in the South Korean top flight as a whole.

The centre-forward also impressed over his four appearances at the World Cup this winter, scoring two goals and taking 2.3 shots – 1.3 of which hit the target – per game. These metrics saw the player nicknamed “Worldstar Guesung” average an eye-catching Sofascore match rating of 7.03, ranking him as South Korea’s second-best player at the tournament.

As such, should Giakoumakis indeed move onto pastures new this month, it would very much appear as if Cho would represent something of a dream replacement for the Greece international at Parkhead, leading us to believe that Postecoglou simply must better Mainz’s offer for the Jeonbuk hitman.

Manchester United are one of the elite clubs that have been linked with a move for Joao Felix in 2023 and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Man United are set for “new talks” in their efforts to secure the Atletico Madrid and Portugal forward’s signature.

Romano wrote in his column for CaughtOffside:

“Both Arsenal and Manchester United have had discussions with Jorge Mendes about Joao Felix, also Chelsea and Aston Villa have been approached.”

“They are informed on conditions of the deal, but still waiting to understand final decision by Atletico Madrid on potential loan as they always asked for €100m (£87m) fee. I’m told this week there will be new talks to find a way for Joao Felix.”

Imagine him & Rashford

There is no doubt that Erik ten Hag will be keen to strengthen his forward line following the shock departure of Cristiano Ronaldo earlier this month and Edison Cavani leaving in the summer.

Indeed, the top priority is likely to be a pure number nine but the signing of Felix could offer the Red Devils boss versatility in the final third.

The Atletico Madrid ace has a wealth of experience in many positions in the final third as a second striker, centre forward, and left and right winger, offering Ten Hag a player who can add depth to various roles.

Felix – who was hailed an “immense talent” by Yannick Carrasco – has scored four goals and delivered three assists this season in all competitions with a goal contribution every 116 minutes.

Not only that, the 23-year-old ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers over the top five European leagues for assists and interceptions, as well as ranking in the top 20% for non-penalty goals, shot-creating actions, progressive passes and dribbles completed.

Ten Hag could form a formidable attacking threat between Felix and Marcus Rashford, as the boyhood Man United star has been in fine form this season already – scoring 10 goals and delivering four assists over 21 appearances so far.

Combining Rashford’s goal-scoring form with Felix’s versatility and talent for moving the ball into dangerous positions could be deadly for opponents over the second half of the season.

With that being said, although Felix is not the traditional striker many will expect Man United to sign in the new year, he could improve the threat in front of goal with both goal contributions and delivering attacking opportunities.

Some members of the media were bemoaning the injury suffered by Teden Mengi as Manchester United lost 1-0 to Real Betis in a friendly on Saturday evening.

The Lowdown: Preparations underway

Preparations are now underway for Erik ten Hag and his side to return to Premier League football, having arranged friendly games during the break for the World Cup in Qatar to get themselves back up to match fitness and sharpness.

The Old Trafford outfit went down 1-0 thanks to a Nabil Fekir goal early in the second half, but the fixture gave an opportunity for Ten Hag to look at some of the youngsters in the academy, as well as first-team squad members not at the World Cup.

The Latest: Mengi injury

Mengi was forced off with a hamstring injury early in the first half, which The Times journalist Charlotte Duncker labelled as ‘bad news’.

Manchester Evening News reporter Rich Fay described the injury as ‘awful’, citing that Mengi has had ‘rotten luck’ in that regard having had to be carried off on a stretcher, adding that the 20-year-old defender was ‘set to leave on loan’ in the January transfer window.

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The Verdict: Not ideal

The revelation that Mengi was set to leave on loan means that this latest injury is certainly not ideal for him or United.

The youngster has gained valuable experience on loan at Derby County and Birmingham City previously and has also played 79 times at youth level with the Red Devils, but he has only made two competitive appearances for the senior team (Transfermarkt).

The problem that Mengi has had is being able to keep himself fit, and the fact that he has had hamstring issues in the past makes this latest setback all the more worrying.

He will likely see the clash against Betis as a missed opportunity to impress Ten Hag going into the second part of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur have been told to sell Ryan Sessegnon by club expert and pundit John Wenham.

The Lowdown: Tottenham’s leaky defence…

Antonio Conte’s side currently have the leakiest defence out of any team in the Premier League top eight. No team above Chelsea have conceded more goals than Spurs, who have let in 21 over their 15 top-flight matches so far in 2022/23.

The Lilywhites have also leaked 11 goals in their last five league matches before the World Cup break, potentially ringing alarm bells to the manager that some defensive players need to be dropped.

Their recent record has prompted links with the likes of Alessandro Bastoni, but according to pundit Wenham, Conte may need to bin certain assets before thinking of major signings at the back.

The Latest: Spurs told to bin Sessegnon…

Speaking to Football Insider, the club ‘expert’ has told Tottenham to sell Sessegnon, who hasn’t quite established himself as a star player in N17 since joining from Fulham in 2019.

Injuries have played a big part in that, although there have been some bright moments for him under Conte.

Spurs’ head coach has even called him an ‘important player’ whilst praising him recently, yet Wenham still believes it is time for the club to call time on Sessegnon as a Tottenham player.

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He explained: “Someone who you might think this is harsh, Ryan Sessegnon. You can talk about potential but he signed in 2019 and has now played under Poch, Mourinho, Mason, Nuno and Conte.

“At what point does it stop being potential? I remember reports a while ago that we were going to offer him a new contract.

“It’s interesting that all of that talk has now gone away. He has a deal until 2024 so we have a decision to make there, I would move him on.

“He’s not at the level to play in a system where the ability for the wing-backs to offer you creativity is imperative.”

The Verdict: Right call?

The 22-year-old has excelled at points since Conte took over at Spurs, and we believe that he could still have a role to play for Tottenham.

Sessegnon’s presence also helps to fill the club’s homegrown quota, an ever-important aspect of the club, so selling him right now could be detrimental in that respect.

Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui is interested in making a move for Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz, according to transfer reports from Spain.

The Lowdown: Diaz out of favour at Madrid

The 29-year-old finds himself in a star-studded Galacticos squad currently brimming with world-class attacking players such as Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior.

For that reason, Diaz has been limited to just four appearances in La Liga this season, all of which have been short cameos as a substitute.

With Wolves manager Lopetegui likely to be looking for new signings in January, it could be that the striker is offered a route out of Madrid.

The Latest: Lopetegui keen on Diaz

According to Spanish reports [via Sport Witness], Diaz ‘could put an end to’ his time in Madrid and ‘could be heading’ to the Premier League; and it may be Wolves who bring him there, with Lopetegui wanting to ‘start a revolution’ with his squad.

A January transfer is mooted, with Los Blancos team-mate Nacho Fernandez also mentioned as a potential signing for the Old Gold. The report states that the new Wolves manager ‘has a fixation’ on both players.

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The Verdict: Could be a great signing

Diaz could be a really shrewd prospective signing by Wolves if they can get a deal over the line, with the promise of more regular playing time surely appealing to him, and he may be open to exiting the Bernabeu given his peripheral role there.

With both Raul Jimenez and Diego Costa seemingly past their prime, the Real Madrid attacker could add some much-needed firepower at Molineux, having scored 21 goals in 48 appearances during a spell at Lyon.

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Diaz also has 12 goals to his name for his current club, which isn’t to be dismissed given their status as European champions – he has won the Champions League twice – and the fact that his current contract expires next summer means that Wolves could get him on the cheap in January.

Newcastle United have been hit with a frustrating selection setback ahead of their trip to face Southampton at St. Mary’s in the Premier League next weekend.

What’s the latest?

Central midfielder Joelinton will be unavailable for selection against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign in the 4-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

Five yellow cards in the Premier League before the midway point of the campaign leads to a one-match suspension and the Brazilian’s caution against Villa means that he will now be watching on from the sidelines for the next match.

Fabian Schar is the only other Newcastle player on the verge of a suspension, with four bookings, as every other player has been booked twice or less.

Big blow

This is a big blow for Eddie Howe as Joelinton has been in fantastic form this season and will be a miss for the match against the Saints.

The midfield machine put in a fantastic performance in the win over Villa as he got himself on the scoresheet, won three of his four aerial battles and created two chances for his teammates – as per SofaScore.

He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.08 in the Premier League across 12 appearances so far this season. Only six outfield players have averaged a higher rating than the former Hoffenheim man and this shows that he has been one of the top performers in the side this term.

Joelinton has been a monster in the centre of the pitch as he has averaged 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game. This shows that he is consistently cutting out opposition attacks and providing a shield in front of Fabian Schar and Sven Botman at the back for the Magpies.

He has also shown off the creative side of his game as he has made 1.1 key passes per match and created one ‘big chance’ this season in the top flight. The Brazilian is proving that he can make an impact at both ends of the pitch as a superb box-to-box midfielder.

Therefore, losing him is a frustrating setback as he has been consistently brilliant in the middle of the park and out wide on the left for Howe. He is a versatile, strong and quality option for the manager to call upon and he will now have to do without him for the clash with Southampton.