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Leeds United have a break from Championship action this weekend as they prepare to host Harrogate Town at Elland Road in the third round of the FA Cup.

The Whites have an opportunity to hand chances to some of the fringe players in the group, to see if any of them can give Daniel Farke a selection headache ahead of the upcoming league matches.

Karl Darlow, after Illan Meslier’s mistakes against Hull City last time out, as seen in the highlights below, will get a game to showcase his ability between the sticks.

The former Newcastle United goalkeeper will be keen to show that he has what it takes to step up in the Championship, if Farke decides to make a change between the sticks.

Mateo Joseph, with Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe missing through injury, could also get an opportunity to lead the line from the start against the League Two side.

A big performance from the Spain U21 international could be needed, amid talk that Leeds are interested in adding another number nine to their squad during the January transfer window, which opened for business last week.

Leeds eyeing striker deal

According to Sky Sports journalist Ben Heckner, the Whites are pursuing a deal to sign Hoffenheim centre-forward Mergim Berisha to bolster their attacking options for the second half of the season.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The reporter claims that Leeds and German side Werder Bremen are both interested in the former Germany international, which means that the Championship outfit may need to fight to secure his services before the end of the transfer window.

He adds that any deal could be structured in a way that would see the striker move to Elland Road on an 18-month loan deal, with an option to make the move permanent in the summer of 2026.

That would provide Leeds, or Werder Bremen, with a chance to run the rule over Berisha for the best part of two seasons before deciding whether or not they want to keep him in the long-term.

However, there is no mention of how much money Hoffenheim are set to demand for the permanent option, or how much they would want as a loan fee for the initial 18 months, which means that it is hard to gauge how viable a deal is, financially, for the Whites at this moment in time.

It is a move, however, that could make a lot of sense for Leeds and it would be one that would allow them to finally wave bye-bye to Joe Gelhardt, who has been linked with an exit from West Yorkshire this month.

Why it could be the end for Joe Gelhardt

Speaking ahead of the clash with Harrogate, Farke made it clear that Gelhardt is free to speak with other clubs but that he has not made a final decision on whether or not the forward will be allowed to leave in the current window.

With Bamford and Piroe out injured, Joseph and the English attacker are the only two senior centre-forward options for the German head coach for this weekend, which may be why he is slightly hesitant to sanction a transfer at this moment in time.

However, bringing in a seasoned number nine like Berisha would provide the former Norwich City boss with another quality option in that position, allowing him to send Gelhardt on his way without worrying about what it would do to the strength of his squad depth.

Championship strugglers Hull City are one of the clubs reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old dud, who has been unable to force his way into Farke’s plans over the past 18 months or so.

Joe Gelhardt (Championship)	23/24	24/25
Appearances	10	2
Minutes	205	9
Goals	0	0
Big chances created	0	0
Assists	0	0
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Gelhardt has rarely been used by the Leeds manager and has made little-to-no impact on the pitch in the limited time he has had, with zero goals, zero assists, and zero ‘big chances’ created.

Therefore, it would appear to be best for all parties involved to wave bye-bye to the former Wigan man, either permanently or on loan, this month, and signing Berisha may be their way to do that.

What Mergim Berisha could bring to Leeds

As well as the requisite squad depth to be able to part ways with Gelhardt, the German centre-forward could be an excellent addition to the squad for a number of reasons.

At the age of 26, Berisha is a reasonably experienced forward, who has played in the Bundesliga and for Germany at international level, and could come in as a fantastic mentor to Joseph, 21, to help him continue his development and fulfill his potential.

It would be a bit of a gamble for Leeds, though, as the forward has struggled for game time since suffering an ACL injury in November 2023 that kept him out for 251 days.

Berisha, who has been described as being a “clinical finisher” by analysts Football Chatters, has previously showcased his quality at the top level in German, however, prior to that long injury lay-off.

22/23 Bundesliga	Mergim Berisha
Appearances	23
xG	8.13
Goals	9
Conversion rate	16%
Big chances missed	5
Assists	4
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the striker caught the eye in the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign for his former club Augsburg, with 13 direct goal contributions in 23 matches.

Ahead of that season, in the summer of 2022, it was reported that Jesse Marsch – the Leeds manager at the time – bid to bring him to Elland Road to bolster his forward options at the time, as the gem had scored 14 goals and provided ten assists in 28 league games for RB Salzburg in the 2020/21 campaign under him.

Ultimately, the American boss was unable to secure a deal for his former star in Austria, but it could be second time lucky for the Whites this month.

Leeds could sign their next Archie Gray in "one of the best CMs" around

Leeds United could be about to land a new version of the talented youngster.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Jan 10, 2025

Whilst it would be a gamble, as Berisha has one goal and one assist in 11 Bundesliga games this term, signing the German ace on an initial 18-month loan could be a shrewd piece of business and one that allows Fake to wave bye-bye to Gelhardt.

Fifties for Beaumont, Lamb and Sciver make South Africa toil despite Kapp 73

Firdose Moonda15-Jul-2022

Sophia Dunkley drives during her career-best innings•Getty Images

Sophia Dunkley, promoted to No.3 in this series, scored her first ODI hundred to seal the series for England, with a game to spare. Dunkley’s three-figure knock, along with fifty-plus scores from the other three in the top four, gave England their second-highest total against South Africa, and asked their visitors to complete their highest-successful ODI chase to draw level in the three-match rubber. Despite Laura Wolvaardt’s fastest half-century in the format, the South African line-up lacked substantial partnerships and fell far short.England’s batters have dominated the contest so far and, on a good run-scoring surface in Bristol, inflicted more pain on a side they beat here in the World Cup semi-final five years ago, almost to the day. England had century-stands for first and third wickets, both the third-highest in their respective positions for England against South Africa which book-ended their innings and finished with 105 runs in the last 10 overs and 46 in the final five.They took advantage of another lacklustre performance from the South African attack who, even with pace spearhead Shabnim Ismail back, lacked intensity and control. Ismail (too full) and Kapp (too wide) struggled to find their lines and lengths and with the seniors struggling, the rest of the attack could only apply pressure in patches. They prevented England from breaching the boundary between the 21st and 34th over but allowed them to score freely on either side of that squeeze.England’s new opening pair, Tammy Beaumont and Emma Lamb laid the foundation with the team’s first century stand since December 2019. They were prolific on the offside, with the cut through point making several appearances, and raced to 58 without loss after the Powerplay and 93 at the first drinks’ break.Desperate for a breakthrough, South Africa reviewed an lbw shot against Beaumont off left-arm Nonkululeko Mlaba. It was a poor referral and ball-tracking confirmed it was missing leg stump by a distance. Beaumont was on 41 at the time, and the dominant partner in the stand with Lamb, who then shifted gears.Lamb cut Mlaba through backward point to bring up fifty off 54 balls, a strong follow-up from her century on Monday, and then made room for herself to hit de Klerk over midwicket, through point and drag Mlaba over the in-field to surge ahead of Beaumont. Her eyes lit up when South Africa introduced their sixth bowler, Chloe Tryon, whose second ball was a loopy full-toss. Lamb swept but top-edged to Mlaba at short-fine leg to give South Africa some reprieve.South Africa took the opportunity to quiet England after that dismissal and had an opportunity against Beaumont when she scooped Kapp straight to mid-on but Mlaba spilt a simple chance. By then, Beaumont was on 52 and the drop could have proved costly but Beaumont developed cramp in her hand and three overs later, chipped Tryon to Ismail at mid-off.Issy Wong bowled with pace and penetration on her ODI debut•Getty Images

Just as South Africa gained some ground, Dunkley redirected the innings by hitting Ayabonga Khaka for back-to-back fours. England entered the last 10 overs on 232 for 2. Dunkley brought up her fifty off the 61st ball she faced and there was no stopping her from there. She took 16 runs off Ismail’s eighth over, reached her century off 87 balls and ensured England had a match-winning score.If they doubted that, it was only for 14.2 overs that Wolvaardt threatened. With two debuts in the XI, Lauren Bell and Issy Wong, Heather Knight chose to use Nat Sciver to open the bowling and her first four overs cost 32. Wolvaardt 21 runs off 12 deliveries she faced from Sciver, most of them full but one so short she pulled through mid-wicket. South Africa had a better Powerplay than England and scored 67 and Wolvaardt brought up 50 off 41 balls and an epic contest was brewing. But Wolvaardt’s 87-run stand with Andrie Steyn ended when she tried to clear the in-field off Charlie Dean and picked out Wong at mid-on.South Africa lost their next five wickets for 51 runs, including three to Wong. She had Lara Goodall caught at mid-on, Tryon caught behind and Nadine de Klerk caught by a diving Sciver at short cover. Ironically, the short ball that failed South Africa worked well for Wong.Kapp scored 50 off 46 balls, her 10th in ODIs, but had scant support. She was dismissed for 73 as South Africa entered the last 10 overs on 223 for 8, only nine behind where England were at the same stage, but six wickets adrift and with little chance of even batting out their overs. They were bowled out in 41 overs. Dean finished with the third four-fer of her career.

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O São Paulo enfrenta o Red Bull Bragantino neste sábado (23), às 16h30, no Nabi Abi Chedid, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, buscando vencer o adversário pela primeira vez como visitante desde que o clube de Bragança Paulista se juntou com a Red Bull, em 2020.

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Presidente do São Paulo vira meme após montagem com Roberto Carlos

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​> Veja tabela do Brasileirão 2022 e simule os próximos jogos

De lá para cá, foram três jogos do São Paulo em Bragança Paulista contra os donos da casa, sendo que em todos o Tricolor foi derrotado. Na primeira, vitória do Massa Bruta por 4 a 2, pelo Brasileirão, no fatídico jogo da discussão do então treinador Fernando Diniz com o meia Tchê Tchê.

Depois, em duelo válido pelo Brasileiro de 2020, mais uma derrota, desta vez pelo placar de 1 a 0, com gol de Luan Cândido. Para fechar a trinca, o São Paulo foi derrotado por 4 a 3 na segunda rodada do Paulistão desse ano. O Tricolor saiu atrás, virou o marcador, mas levou a virada no final.

Além deste jejum fora de casa, o retrospecto do São Paulo contra o Red Bull Bragantino no Morumbi também não é muito bom. Desde a junção, foram quatro jogos, com uma vitória (1 a 0), um empate (1 a 1) e duas derrotas (3 a 2 e 2 a 1).

VEJA TODOS OS JOGOS DO SÃO PAULO CONTRA O RED BULL BRAGANTINO FORA DE CASA

Red Bull Bragantino4 x 3São Paulo – Paulistão 2022
Red Bull Bragantino1 x 0São Paulo – Brasileirão 2021
Red Bull Bragantino4 x 2São Paulo – Brasileirão 2020

It’s been something of an up-and-down season for Arsenal this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been incredible in the Champions League and have a League Cup semi-final to look forward to, but in the Premier League, they have been subpar.

As things stand, the Gunners find themselves in third and nine points off league leaders Liverpool and have scored ten fewer goals, leading to fans and pundits suggesting they need offensive reinforcements next year.

1

Liverpool

45/17

45

2

Nottingham Forest

26/19

37

3

Arsenal

35/16

36

4

Chelsea

38/23

35

5

Newcastle United

21/11

32

So, it should come as no surprise, then, that recent reports have linked the club to one of the most exciting attackers in the league, someone who could spell trouble for Kai Havertz’s long-term place in the starting lineup.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal have a concrete interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha.

The report has revealed that the Brazilian ace is considered a more realistic target for the summer transfer window but that there is a world where he could join next month.

According to the story, the Old Gold would only sell their star attacker in January if an ‘astronomical offer’ was put on the table, which would be around the £90m mark.

Regardless of when the North Londoners make their move, they should be looking to sign Cunha, as he has been sublime for Wolves and could be a dream Havertz upgrade.

How Cunha compares to Havertz

Now, at this point in time, it’s Gabriel Jesus who is leading the line for Arsenal.

Yet, based on his poor form over this year and the fact he failed to put the ball in the back of the net against Ipswich Town on Friday, we would expect Havertz to find himself back in the starting striker role soon enough.

Therefore, were the Gunners to complete the signing of Cunha next year, it’s the German who would be his primary competition for a starting berth up top, but who comes out on top when we compare them.

Well, the first port of call for any centre-forward is their raw output, and this is where things get interesting.

For example, so far this season, the former Chelsea ace has scored 12 goals and provided three assists, whereas the “sensational” Wolves star, as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, has scored ten goals and provided four assists.

Appearances

20

25

Minutes

1582′

2022′

Goals

10

12

Assists

4

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

0.60

Minutes per Goal Involvement

113′

134.8′

However, the former did so in 25 appearances while the latter did so in just 20, meaning they averaged a goal involvement on average every 1.66 and 1.41 games, respectively.

Okay, how about their underlying numbers, then? Is it another narrow victory for the former Atlético Madrid forward when we take a look under the hood?

Indeed, it is, as in practically every relevant metric, he comes out ahead, and by quite some way.

For example, the “world-class” talent, as dubbed by writer George Lakin, produces more non-penalty goals plus assists, more progressive passes and carries, more shot and goal-creating actions, more successful take-ons and more shots and shots on target, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.56

0.61

Actual Non-Penalty G+As

0.81

0.55

Progressive Passes

4.10

2.99

Progressive Carries

3.93

1.52

Shots

3.12

2.37

Shots on Target

1.21

0.97

Passing Accuracy

71.4%

79.4%

Key Passes

1.85

0.85

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.97

0.49

Shot-Creating Actions

3.98

2.31

Goal-Creating Actions

0.46

0.12

Successful Take-Ons

2.25

0.43

Ultimately, Havertz has proven himself to be an incredibly useful player over the last season and a bit, and it seems unlikely he’d be totally jettisoned from the squad anytime soon.

However, Cunha appears to be quite comfortably the superior player, so if Arsenal have the chance to sign him next year, they must take it, even if that means decreasing the German’s importance to the team.

Jesus upgrade: Arsenal lead race for "outstanding" £60m goal-machine

The prolific forward would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 31, 2024

Sir Alex Ferguson was spotted celebrating an emotional winner at Cheltenham Festival alongside TV star Alan Halsall.

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• Ferguson's horse Caldwell Potter won at Cheltenham
• Ex-manager bought it for £620,000 at an auction
• Claimed £65,000 for winning the race

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 83-year-old former football manager was seen beaming with joy as he celebrated his horse Caldwell Potter’s impressive victory. Caldwell Potter competed in the Jack Richards Novice Limited Handicap Chase and, under the guidance of jockey Harry Cobden, secured a significant win at the prestigious festival.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The horse, which was purchased for £620,000 at an auction last year, had initially struggled to deliver on expectations. However, this victory marked a major breakthrough for Ferguson and his group, earning them a £65,000 prize.

  The victory at Cheltenham was particularly poignant for Ferguson, as it came just months after the passing of his close friend and co-owner John Hales. Hales played a key role in purchasing Caldwell Potter, and his absence was deeply felt during the celebrations. As a tribute to Hales, jockey Harry Cobden wore the late owner's distinctive yellow and red racing silks, honoring his contribution to the team.

• WATCH THE CLIP

  Among those celebrating the win with Ferguson was television actor Alan Halsall, best known for playing Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street since 1998. Last year, Ferguson and Halsall were also spotted enjoying the festival alongside football manager Sam Allardyce.

• WHAT FERGUSON SAID

  After securing victory, Ferguson told : "I think the jumping won it. What can I say? Great horse, it was a bonus. Winning here last year with two was fantastic, and doing it again this year is fantastic. Thank you very much."

Chelsea could reportedly send Jadon Sancho back to Manchester United in a stunning reversal of their loan deal by paying a "financial penalty".

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• Chelsea have obligation to buy Sancho
• Yet the Blues could bypass this clause
• Man Utd return still possible

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sancho moved to Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan following a breakdown in his relationship with former United boss Erik ten Hag last season. The agreement includes an obligation to buy if Chelsea finish 14th or higher in the Premier League, triggering a fee between £22-25 million depending on their final position. With Enzo Maresca's side currently sitting in fourth place, well clear of 14th-placed United ironically, the conditions for a permanent transfer appear likely to be met.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to thethere remains a possibility that Sancho could return to Old Trafford this summer if Chelsea decide to back away from the deal, though this would come at a 'significant financial cost' as per the terms agreed with United. The west Londoners are said to be scouting several wingers, with Real Betis talent Jesus Rodriguez emerging as a potential target for the summer transfer window.

  Another factor complicating the situation is Sancho’s contract negotiations. Typically, when a player joins a club on loan with an obligation to buy, personal terms are agreed in advance to ensure a seamless transition. However, the report claims that the 24-year-old has not yet reached an agreement with Chelsea regarding long-term wages and other terms.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United are still feeling the financial burden of Sancho’s £73m transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 with club chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who name-checked the winger as one of several signings from the previous regime INEOS are having to put up with, confirming that another £17m of the transfer fee was due to be paid this season. Sancho, who has 16 months remaining on his lucrative five-year contract, earns a reported £250,000 per week, with United currently covering a portion of his wages while the Blues paying £100,000. If he were to return to Old Trafford, the club would once again be responsible for his full salary, creating further financial headaches for United’s new ownership group.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR SANCHO?

  Sancho’s potential return would present a major challenge for INEOS, as the club would be forced to find a new buyer for yet another high-earning player who is no longer part of their plans. With the summer transfer window approaching, Chelsea must soon decide whether to keep Sancho or cut their losses, while United face the risk of being stuck with an expensive and unwanted asset.

Big picture

Two matches in to the series, it seemed like Sri Lanka were going to make Australia sweat. In both those games their bowling restricted an explosive Australia middle order, and the second game went to a Super Over. Since then, though, Sri Lanka have lost key players to either injury or Covid-19, and Australia have cruised home twice. Sri Lanka’s main problem is their batting. With Charith Asalanka struggling to produce the sorts of innings he lit up the T20 World Cup with, and several of the other top-order batters struggling, Sri Lanka are frequently losing matches inside the first ten overs of their innings.Australia, meanwhile, have showcased their depth – several fringe players producing excellent performances. Josh Inglis, who had not previously played for Australia, is the leading run scorer in the series, while with the ball Kane Richardson, Jhye Richardson, and even Ashton Agar have kept Sri Lanka’s batters under pressure. They’ve won the last two matches so convincingly they’ve barely needed their finishers.Related

• Josh Inglis right at home on international stage

• Agar, the opener, wants to 'thrive than survive' as Australia seek right balance

• The Ashton Agar puzzle for Australia

If the hosts win on Sunday they will have recorded their first whitewash in a five-match T20I series. It’ll take Sri Lanka’s batters raising their game substantially to prevent that.

Form guide

Australia WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LLLLW

In the spotlight

Josh Inglis’ scoops, rasping pull shots and crunching drives have brought him 132 runs at a strike rate of 150 this series, prodding Australia forward through the early middle overs. He hadn’t exactly set the recent Big Bash League on fire with his batting, so this is a well-timed coming to form. He has been so impressive Australia will struggle to displace him once their first-choice top order returns.Maheesh Theekshana rarely seems to stray far from his tight wicket-to-wicket line•Gallo Images/Getty Images

With or without Wanindu Hasaranga in the XI, fingerspinner Maheesh Theekshana has continued to be quietly impressive. So far in his international career, he hasn’t been a big wicket-taker, though in four matches this series he has managed five dismissals. He provides consistently cheap powerplay overs and rarely seems to stray far from his tight wicket-to-wicket line. He has not had the attention of some of the other emerging players, but he has been one of Sri Lanka’s best finds of the past 12 months.

Pitch and conditions

Expect the MCG surface to be good for batting again. The forecast suggests rain will not interrupt play.

Team news

With Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all rested, and Steven Smith out with concussion, Australia don’t have a lot of scope for changing their XI. Though they may just think about giving either Moises Henriques, or Travis Head, or both a game, as those players have not yet appeared in this series.Australia (probable): 1 Ashton Agar, 2 Ben McDermott, 3 Aaron Finch (capt), 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Josh Inglis, 6 Moises Henriques/Marcus Stoinis, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Daniel Sams, 9 Jhye Richardson, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Kane RichardsonSri Lanka, similarly, don’t have a lot of options, as Avishka Fernando, Binura Fernando, Hasaranga and Ramesh Mendis are all unavailable. They may think about bringing in Janith Liyanage for the misfiring Danushka Gunathilaka.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Kusal Mendis, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Janith Liyanage, 5 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Chamika Karunaratne, 8 Dushmantha Chameera, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Jeffrey Vandersay, 11 Lahiru Kumara

Stats and trivia

• Sri Lanka have now lost their last eight T20Is in Australia. They had also been whitewashed 3-0 in 2019.
• Pathum Nissanka is by a distance the top scorer of the series so far, with 171 runs. Those runs have come somewhat slowly, however – his strike rate is 113.
• Although clearly one of the best T20I teams on the planet, even a win on Sunday is not enough to lift Australia into the top five on the team rankings table. Sri Lanka languish at tenth.

The Real Madrid star's competitive streak makes him one of the best in the world – but has also occasionally got him in trouble

It is Jude Bellingham's job to be competitive. Talent is certainly part of his excellence, but athletes don't get that good that young without a certain drive. It's something that he himself has mentioned repeatedly in the past.

"Working at Real Madrid requires a certain level of quality and mentality, and to have this responsibility feels like a huge privilege to me. Every day I come I try to work hard to be the best," Bellingham said in January 2024 after his hot start to life at Santiago Bernabeu .

At times, though, that will to win has boiled over. Bellingham made headlines for the red card he received against Osasuna on Saturday, and although he may argue over the semantic difference between different offensive statements, it was not the first time Bellingham's competitiveness has landed him in hot water.

Indeed, as GOAL outlines below, Bellingham's temper has already got the better of him on several occasions during his fledgling career…

GettyDressing room disagreements

Bellingham, by most accounts, is an excellent team-mate. He seems to have good relationships with his fellow Madridistas, and is close with England competriot Trent Alexander-Arnold. But he hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with his colleagues on the pitch.

There were scattered reports of his presence in the Dortmund dressing room proving detrimental towards the end of the 2022-23 season, and in April exchanged words with Emre Can as his side collapsed in the final stretch of the Bundesliga title race.

Can would later argue that the midfielder "has a lot to learn" about being a pro.

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But that incident wasn't Bellingham's only Borussia bust-up. He made headlines with an emotional interview after Dortmund lost to Bayern Munich in December 2021, as a controversial penalty decision made by referee Felix Zwayer handed the Bavarians a win they barely deserved.

Bellingham made his sense of injustice clear in his post-match interview: "You can look at a lot of the decisions in the game, you give a referee that has match-fixed before the biggest game in Germany, what do you expect?"

Then-Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn was irate, and dubbed Bellingham's words "a step too far." He was handed a hefty fine, and narrowly avoided a ban.

Getty ImagesStamford Bridge strop

Dortmund and Chelsea engaged in a heated contest in the Champions League in March 2023. Bellingham's side took a 1-0 lead to Stamford Bridge, and were favoured to beat a team languishing in mid-table in the Premier League. But it proved to be a testy night.

Bellingham missed a good chance, and Kai Havertz was handed a controversial penalty retake – his conversion proving decisive in a 2-1 aggregate win. Bellingham had every right to feel aggrieved after the result, but still lost his temper after full-time. The midfielder shoved a cameraman who stalked him around the west London turf, and engaged in a heated conversation with Marc Cucurella.

He didn't mince words after full-time, either: "I don’t want to get in trouble, I’ve paid enough to them lot. That was disappointing and the fact they’ve had a retake is a joke."

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'You're f*cking sh*t!'

Perhaps the most concerning outburst of Bellingham's time in Germany came in February 2022, when the Dortmund midfielder screamed at his left-back, Nico Schulz.

It did, admittedly, come at a crucial juncture of a testy contest. Dortmund were trailing Rangers 6-4 in aggregate in the second leg of their Europa League knockout tie whe Schulz overhit a pass that was aimed at the feet of Bellingham, who couldn't control the pinged ball. Bellingham's outburst, though, was of little justification, as he turned to Schulz, and unleashed a range of expletives.

"You can't get one f*cking pass off, you're f*cking sh*t! Every f*cking time!" he was heard saying. Don't sit on the fence, Jude…

West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui is going into this weekend’s Premier League clash against Everton knowing he’s a man under serious pressure.

The Hammers lost their last outing 3-0 against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, currently sitting in 14th place and only six points clear of the drop zone.

His side have only claimed three wins out of their ten league outings this season, but they have all come at the London Stadium, with the Spaniard hoping to add to that collection this afternoon.

After utilising a 3-4-2-1 against Nuno Espírito Santo’s side last time out, it’s highly likely that Lopetegui will revert to his usual 4-2-3-1 system, allowing more players to feature in a more natural role.

However, he will be without one player for the visit of the Toffees, with a real question mark as to who could come in to replace the absent first-team member.

Edson Alvarez’s absence vs Everton

Mexican holding midfielder Edson Alvarez arrived with real promise from Ajax in the summer of 2023, seen as the perfect replacement for Declan Rice by many.

However, his move to the Premier League has failed to take off as many envisaged, with his start to the current campaign nothing short of a disaster.

The 27-year-old was sent off in the 5-1 Carabao Cup thrashing by Liverpool at Anfield back in September, before receiving his second dismissal last weekend.

Alvarez was initially booked for a deliberate tug on Murillo, preventing the Brazilian from leading a counterattack, before a needless lunge on Anthony Elanga saw the Mexican receive his second booking, which ultimately led to his sending off.

As a result, he’s unavailable for today’s clash against Sean Dyche’s side, with Lopetegui likely to operate with yet another different two-man pivot at the base of the midfield.

Guido Rodriguez has been a constant figure in that role in recent weeks, looking set to be joined by another body later on today – but Lopetegui could consider putting a player in that role despite it being an unfamiliar one to the West Ham star.

The player who could star in an unfamiliar role against Everton

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta has featured in numerous different roles already this season as the Hammers boss looks to extract more tangible rewards out of the 27-year-old.

He’s often played in a number 10 berth, or wide left and also featured as an advanced playmaker off the right-hand side against Forest last weekend, but he could be considered for a more deep-lying role this afternoon.

Whilst on the face of it, it may seem a bold call to drop one of your most creative players into a slightly deeper position, Paqueta has all the qualities to star in such a role – potentially providing the difference to end the club’s current rotten form.

In the Premier League this season, Paqueta, who’s previously been dubbed a “magician” by journalist Robbie Mustoe, has averaged 3.6 long balls completed per 90, having that eye for a forward ball into attacking areas – allowing him to find the runs of Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen.

The slightly deeper role could allow him to see more of the ball, subsequently handing him more opportunities to unlock the Everton backline – with Dyche’s side likely to sit in a low block and try to counter.

Games played

10

Goals scored

2

Pass accuracy

78%

Long balls completed per 90

3.6

Dribbles completed

67%

Tackles won per 90

1.2

Recoveries made per 90

6

Interceptions per 90

0.7

However, the Brazilian has the ability to prevent such a case from happening, with his tallies of 1.2 tackles won per 90 along with six recoveries made – making him a great option for Lopetegui to consider.

It could allow for the likes of Carlos Soler to feature as a number 10 and finally start to demonstrate why the club worked so tirelessly to bring him in from PSG over the summer.

Today is another huge game for Lopetegui and his side, looking to go into the last international break of the year on a high and try to resurrect their early-season slump.

Undoubtedly, it will be a tricky ask against a well-drilled Everton side, but should the Spaniard utilise Paqueta in a slightly different role, it could allow for that added edge that his side has often lacked in recent weeks.

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Everton have enjoyed a much-needed resurgence in recent weeks, and it is all thanks to several of their players for taking that step up and performing when it matters.

Sean Dyche will be hoping this form can continue over the next few weeks as he seeks to take the Merseyside club further away from the Premier League relegation places.

If Saturday’s goalscorer Iliman Ndiaye can maintain his current form, then more wins should be on the horizon…

Iliman Ndiaye’s season in numbers

The forward joined Everton in the summer for a fee in the region of £15m, with the move looking like a wonderful piece of business by the manager already.

The Senegal striker has already notched two goals for the club this term, with the most recent one coming against Ipswich Town over the weekend, helping the Toffees to a simple 2-0 win.

Along with the goals, Ndiaye has also created a big chance, averaged 0.6 key passes per game and has succeeded with two dribbles per match, showcasing his talents in other areas.

He is swiftly becoming one of the most important players in the current squad, as Dyche is getting the best out of the former Marseille star who has already thrived in England with Sheffield United.

That said, there’s perhaps one player who has shown himself to be even more important to the Everton cause. Together with Ndiaye, they’re banishing any lingering regrets over Anthony Gordon’s departure.

Why Everton aren't missing Gordon

Gordon emerged from the Everton youth academy to make his debut during the 2017/18 season, before establishing himself as a first-team regular from 2019 onwards.

Before his move to Newcastle in 2023, Gordon had made 78 appearances for the Toffees, scoring seven times, but it was clear that an offer of £45m was too good to turn down for the youngster. So, who’s helping the club to forget all about him? Dwight McNeil, of course.

Despite Everton’s position in the table, they’ve had a number of high class performers and McNeil certainly fits into that category having taken his game to the next level in a bid to lead the club to the top half of the table.

McNeil has played 12 more games for Everton than Gordon, but he has double the number of goals (14 vs seven) and five more assists (13 vs eight), which suggests that the former Burnley man could end up being far better than Gordon ever was for the Goodison Park side.

Anthony Gordon vs Dwight McNeil – 2024/25

Metric

Gordon

McNeil

Goals

2

3

Assists

0

3

Big chances created

2

7

Key passes per game

2.3

3.1

Successful dribbles per game

1.6

1.3

Total shots per game

1.6

1.9

Stats via Sofascore.

Previously hailed as “magic” talent by journalist Joe Thomas, McNeil has stepped up when it matters this season, scoring three goals and grabbing three assists in all competitions for the club.

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The forward will turn 25 next month, and it certainly appears as though he is beginning to reach his peak years as a player, dominating the play from the middle of the pitch, rather than the wide positions we’ve become accustomed to.

If McNeil maintains these impressive showings of late, he could well garner some interest, which Dyche may find hard to ignore.

Having made a stunning profit by selling Gordon nearly two years ago, could the Toffees see another move like this occur shortly?

Dyche will be doing all he can to avoid selling McNeil. That much is for certain.

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