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According to journalist Matt Maher, who writes for the Express & Star, Aston Villa will be without Jack Grealish for tonight’s EFL Cup game with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 24-year-old had to be replaced in the latter stages of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City having picked up a calf issue.

However, according to Maher, whilst the Englishman will miss out against Wolves, he could be fit to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

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Grealish has been in impressive form for Villa at the start of the 2019/20 campaign – scoring four times and contributing four assists in 12 appearances.

And the midfielder had not missed a minute of Premier League action for Dean Smith’s side until he was replaced in the final exchanges against City.

Find out what happened when a world-record-holding freestyler attempting skills with the worst pair of boots available on eBay in the video below…

It is doubtful whether Grealish would have been included against Wolves even if he were fit, but it would be big news if the skipper missed out against Liverpool.

A selection of the Twitter reaction to the injury update can be seen below:

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Times, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino wants five players gone in January as he bids to rescue the club’s season, and chairman Daniel Levy has a big part to play.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Times report that Pochettino plans to accelerate a clear-out of underperforming Spurs in January following their dismal start to the 2019 campaign, which has seen them knocked out of the Carabao Cup, lose 7-2 at home to Bayern Munich and lie 13 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after just eight games.

The Argentine wants rid of Eric Dier, Christian Eriksen, Serge Aurier, Victor Wanyama and Danny Rose – all of whom the report adds the north London outfit wanted to sell during the previous summer transfer window.

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The Times says that the negative atmosphere around the squad this term has stemmed from players being told they weren’t wanted, but remaining at the club beyond the deadline.

Levy needs to deliver

The Tottenham chairman is reportedly right behind the man he appointed in 2014, and now he needs to make sure he fulfils his January wish.

It is clear to see that something hasn’t quite been right with Spurs, their players and the manager this season, and if The Times is right it could be down to unwanted players ending up staying in north London.

In that sense, Levy must not let Pochettino down when it comes to moving these players on in January, and should already be exploring avenues of possibility so that they can go for the best possible deal as early in the New Year as they can.

Doing that would also allow the 47-year-old to get in any players he wants at that point, with what is a bloated squad surely needing to be cut before new signings can be brought in.

This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.

There was only one natural right-back in the Crystal Palace squad after Aaron Wan-Bissaka departed, a certain Joel Ward. The 29-year-old only featured seven times in the league in the 2018/19 season thanks to the former’s terrific form, so perhaps the idea of him replacing a man who had just been sold for big money seemed a little optimistic.

Still, eight league games on and Palace haven’t buckled without the youngster. In fact, the Eagles have started terrifically, recording 14 points from their opening eight matches – winning four, drawing two and losing two.

Ward was brought to the club for just £400k (per the club’s official website, via Web Archive) back in 2012 and has since been on quite the ride with the Eagles. In his first season, he was a vital figure in the club’s surprise promotion from the Championship, he has represented the club in an FA Cup Final, and is also in the history books as Palace’s most ever capped Premier League player.

His commitment to the club hasn’t gone unnoticed. This time last week, chairman Steve Parish said that the former Portsmouth man epitomises everything about the club.

The Palace supremo said (via Football.London): “Joel Ward to me epitomises everything we have got in the football club. You can spend £45m on a striker, or £42m on a left-sided player, or £27m on a right-sided player, as it was at the weekend [against West Ham], but Joel Ward was £400,000 from Portsmouth.

“And is there a better servant to the club at the moment?

“People talk about giving 100 per cent, and has anyone ever seen Joel Ward give anything other than everything? To me, he is absolutely everything about Crystal Palace.”

Frankly, it’s hard to argue with Parish.

Ward stayed true to Palace despite being put on the back-burner for a year, coming up trumps again when his team has needed him. It could have been very easy for the player to throw his toys out of the pram and leave the club after he was made the second choice pretty much instantly after Wan-Bissaka had to step up for him when he was injured during the 17/18 season.

Now in his eighth year at the club, Joel Ward is doing what Joel Ward does: churning out consistent performances while putting his body on the line every week. So far this campaign, he has been one of the better players at the club without really standing out. Indeed, he has played every league game this season for Palace with the sixth-highest average rating in the whole squad (6.88, according to WhoScored), as well as the most amount of tackles per game and interceptions per game, with 2.9 and 2.3 respectively.

Considering £400k has earned Palace 226 appearances over eight seasons, there is no doubt that Palace will feel like they have got their money’s worth.

Are you a fan of Joel Ward? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, John Hartson has said Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is essential to Arsenal’s hopes this season. 

The Gabon international had a wonderful campaign last time out as he bagged the Premier League Golden Boot along with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

In Europe, too, he was in stellar form, netting eight strikes in 12 games on the road to Baku.

If the Gunners are to make it to Gdansk for this term’s showpiece, Hartson believes the 30-year-old will need to be at the top of his game.

He said, “He’s massive, massive for them. He came in, took a bit of pressure off Lacazette and then they started linking up together brilliantly, especially in the Europa League. 

“He’s a tremendous finisher, he’s quick, he’s bright, he’s alert, he’s the full package really.”

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However, despite his obvious talent, the former Celtic forward believes he still needs help from his teammates if the north London outfit are to put a strong run together.

“But also as well, he needs a bit of help, he can’t do it on his own. He needs the likes of Ceballos and Ozil to help him out. I’m a huge fan but he can’t do it all. Other players have to step up around him as well.”

Indeed, Aubameyang’s importance to Arsenal cannot be understated. His record since joining from Borussia Dortmund is impeccable, with him scoring 47 times in 71 appearances. None of his teammates have been able to come close during his time at the club.

However, as Hartson says, he will need help along the way. He is a finisher, but he needs someone to provide him with the chances to tuck away. 

If he can strike up a partnership with one of the more creative players behind him, though, there is no reason why Arsenal can’t enjoy a truly successful season. 

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…Â

West Brom’s unbeaten run to life in the Championship under Slaven Bilic finally came to a halt as Leeds United were victorious at Elland Road on Tuesday evening.

Left-back Ezgjan Alioski bagged the only goal in the 1-0 win as he rifled an effort home via a Kyle Bartley deflection less than ten minutes before half-time.

The home side were made to work for their three points as the Baggies mounted an onslaught of serious pressure throughout the second half, recording 67.3% possession.

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But their dominance came to no avail as Marcelo Bielsa’s side leapfrogged them to take sole possession of the league’s lead.

For the most part, Bilic named an expected starting XI though there was the surprise inclusion of Hal Robson-Kanu, a player Football FanCast tipped to start this very match earlier in this week.

It’s fair to say that experiment didn’t work out as the veteran forward managed just one shot at goal before he was replaced after an hour.

West Brom could also count themselves lucky that they didn’t lose the match by a wider margin – even despite being on top for large spells as Leeds still had their chances.

Sam Johnstone, the man between the sticks, was their saviour at times on Tuesday night.

Per SofaScore, the 26-year-old made eight saves, five of which were inside the penalty area – including this outstanding double stop…

He also managed one punch and one high claim as he asserted his authority in the Baggies’ box.

The former Manchester United shot-stopper has received flack for his performances on Twitter over the course of the season while some have even called for Jonathan Bond to replace him. However, this latest showing is sure to silence his critics.

Bilic brought in a third keeper early last month in Ali Al-Habsi, but Johnstone has managed to keep hold of his number one spot, and with matches like this one, that’s no surprise to see.

It could well have been a different, and far greater scoreline had the shot-stopper not been on the top of his game.

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Newcastle are reportedly eyeing a summer move for Hoffenheim striker Joelinton, and it looks like something that the club has been working on for quite some time.

What’s the story?

According to Florian Plettenberg, chief reporter for Sport1, Newcastle are set to land Joelinton this summer for a whopping €60m (around £52m).

He even goes so far as to claim the Magpies have been in negotiations with Hoffenheim for “weeks” and that those talks are close to a conclusion.

The full report also claims that the move depends on Newcastle staying in the top flight, though that is seemingly obvious anyway.

The 22 year-old has scored ten times this season, and if the move comes to fruition then Mike Ashley and the Magpies’ transfer team deserve immense credit.

Rondon upgrade?

West Brom named their price for Salomon Rondon recently, telling the Magpies they must shell out £16m to make his loan move permanent this summer, per The Northern Echo.

The powerful Venezuelan got on the scoresheet again on Saturday in the win over Huddersfield, taking his tally to seven league strikes this campaign, and he is adored by both Rafael Benitez and the Toon Army.

However, he will turn 30 towards the start of next season, and the 22 year-old Joelinton represents a much better investment.

Able to play anywhere across the front three but at his best through the middle, the Brazilian youngster is an excellent dribbler, and will get fans off their seats every time he has the ball.

He has excellent pace, good link-up play and you won’t find many strikers around Europe that press and harass the opposition defence quite so intently.

£52m would blow the record-breaking Miguel Almiron fee out of the water, but if the pair can form a long-term pairing packed with pace, creativity and goals, it would be worth every penny.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Before you’ve even started reading this article, it would be easy to guess what you’re thinking.

How on earth could Roy Hodgson possibly be forced to break Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins apart?

The duo helped Crystal Palace keep the sixth-best clean sheet record in the Premier League last season, combining steely defensive work with a calmness on the ball to come out of the 38-game campaign with 12 clean sheets under their belts – averaging a shutout every 3.7 games, which isn’t bad at all.

As per The Athletic, Sakho and Tomkins have played 37 games alongside each other since the Frenchman’s debut in February 2017, recording an impressive 45.9% win ratio while also conceding an average of just 1.1 goals per game.

The balance of the pair is also near perfect. Sakho combines physical strength with excellent composure and passing ability – he is also left-footed, which compliments Tomkins, a right-footed player, on the other side of him.

In the former West Ham man’s case, he is far more no-nonsense than the former Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain defender – some Palace fans may remember Sakho back-heeling the ball inside his own box in the dying minutes of a 2-1 win over Chelsea a few years ago.

So, that prompts the aforementioned question: how could Hodgson break the pair up?

Well, one man’s presence may be the trigger of such a bold move: Gary Cahill.

Having arrived on a free transfer following his departure from Chelsea, the 61-cap England international has been in imperious form since making his Crystal Palace debut.

Cahill made his Eagles bow at Old Trafford against Manchester United – not exactly a simple game to make your debut in.

However, the 33-year-old used all of his experience and know-how to marshal the south Londoners to a historic 2-1 win over the Red Devils, Palace’s first-ever Premier League victory over United.

Cahill made Garth Crooks’ Team of the Week as a result of his performance against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, and the Eagles supporters on Twitter were also extremely impressed with him after that win – additionally, the 33-year-old made The Mirror’s Team of the Week for his second Palace appearance against Aston Villa.

There is no denying the centre-back’s pedigree.

As much as the Selhurst Park faithful adore Tomkins and rate him, Cahill’s trophy cabinet speaks for itself: 2 x Premier League, 2 x FA Cup, 1 x League Cup, 1 x Champions League, 2 x Europa League.

Cahill has also captained the England national team under Hodgson’s tutelage, while he has made the PFA Team of the Year on three occasions.

Tomkins and Cahill are simply incomparable in terms of career achievements and despite the Palace No.5 performing admirably since arriving from London rivals West Ham, it would be utterly foolish to drop Cahill.

At 33 years of age and on a two-year contract, it would be wasteful of Hodgson to remove Cahill from the XI when the former Bolton man is in the twilight of his career. He’s clearly been brought to the club with a purpose.

Palace should be doing their utmost to include Cahill at every given opportunity, and seeing as Sakho is the only left-footed centre-back at the club, Tomkins looks like the man to move aside.

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Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a late blow over one of their mooted January transfer window targets this week…

What’s the word?

There were reports suggesting that Spurs had agreed on a deal with AC Milan for midfielder Franck Kessie, who is out of contract in the summer, after sporting director Fabio Paratici tried to sign him immediately instead of waiting until the end of the season.

However, it appears as if he won’t be joining this month – if at all – as according to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari, the 25-year-old star has verbally agreed to join LaLiga giants Barcelona in June.

“Verbal agreement between #Kessie and #Barcelona for June when the contract with the midfielder’s #Milan will expire. No signature for the moment but the #Blaugrana aim to get to the definition of the details with the player’s entourage,” he tweeted.

Gutting blow for Conte

This will come as devastating news to Antonio Conte, who has previously been said to have requested Kessie’s signature heading into this month – and it’s easy to see why.

The £25m-rated Ivory Coast powerhouse would be an instant upgrade to the bulk of the Italian’s options, especially as the likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso are free to leave before Monday’s deadline.

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Kessie is capable of not only providing a physical presence in the engine room but also goals with his set-piece talents and ability to drive the ball forward into the final third.

Indeed, only Zlatan Ibrahimovic (15 goals) found the net more times than the AC Milan midfielder (13) last season, whilst he also averaged 1.4 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.2 dribbles per game, via WhoScored.

That sort of style has earned comparison to former Premier League star Yaya Toure after Antonio Cassano also dubbed him “devastating” to Bobo TV (via MilanLive).

Elsewhere, Kessie has been described as an “extraordinary player” by his ex-Milan boss Vincenzo Montella.

Therefore, Conte will be truly gutted to have missed out on a player that he’s asked for, one that has been regularly linked with the north Londoners in recent months.

It comes late in the window, so Paratici and co will have their work cut out to find an alternative with just a handful of days remaining.

AND in other news, “In talks”: Sky Sports journo drops huge Spurs transfer update, Conte will be buzzing…

According to journalist Gabriel Sans (via Managing Barca), Tottenham Hotspur are very interested in signing Barcelona forward Memphis Depay, having made an offer to the Catalan club.

The Lowdown: Depay’s Barcelona tenure

Upon the expiry of his contract with Lyon, the 28-year-old signed a two-year deal with La Liga giants Barcelona last summer. Since his arrival at Camp Nou, the Dutchman has netted an impressive 10 goals in 20 league appearances.

Whilst this suggests a strong start to life in Spain, Depay has suffered from multiple injuries this season, as a hamstring issue and Achilles problems saw him sidelined for 13 games. This has consequently raised general concerns over his fitness and availability.

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The Latest: Tottenham linked with Depay

As reported by Spanish journalist Sans (via Managing Barca), Spurs are very much interested in signing Depay in the summer. To that effect, they have already made an offer to Barcelona for the player.

Due to his injury issues and the club’s financial problems, it has been reported that the Catalan outfit are open to offloading the Netherlands international when the transfer window reopens at the end of the current campaign.

The Verdict: Would be a great signing

Spurs manager Antonio Conte could do with the addition of a forward alternative who can play in a different system to Harry Kane, who is the club’s only out-and-out senior striker.

Depay certainly has that killer instinct in front of goal – at Lyon he scored 76 goals in 178 games, while for the Dutch national side he has amassed a stunning 39 goals in 76 caps.

Hailed by former La Liga striker and Dutch compatriot Roy Makaay as a “quality” player, the Barcelona ace has even received plaudits from the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who would agree with Ronald Koeman’s assertion that the 28-year-old is “a joy to watch”.

Given such glowing praise and a fantastic goal record, along with being in the peak of his career at 28, Depay would no doubt be a brilliant signing for Paratici and Conte if they can pull it off.

In other news: Pete O’Rourke makes Paulo Dybala to Spurs claim

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Boubacar Kamara to the London Stadium.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that both West Ham and Newcastle United are leading the race to sign the Olympique Marseille defensive midfielder on a free transfer at the end of the current campaign, while AS Roma are also credited with an interest in the 22-year-old.

However, the report goes on to state that the France U21 international is extremely well-liked by a number of other Premier League sides due to his positional versatility and ability on the ball, meaning that, despite currently being in pole position, the Hammers and the Magpies will still have a battle on their hands to land Kamara’s signature this summer.

Imagine him and Rice

Considering the sheer amount of potential Kamara quite clearly possesses, it is easy to understand why David Moyes is believed to be interested in a move for the midfielder, as the prospect of the 22-year-old lining up alongside Declan Rice in the middle of the park at the London Stadium will have Premier League central midfielders up and down the country terrified.

Indeed, the £22.5m-rated man has become a mainstay in the Marseille side since 144 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, despite having only turned 22 last November.

However, it is not only the number of the £46k-per-week midfielder’s appearances that is impressive, but also his level of performance in them, with the player who Rolando dubbed a “phenomenon” having averaged a SofaScore match rating of 7.00 or above in each of the last three seasons.

As such, should West Ham be able to secure a deal for the French youth international next summer, especially on a free transfer, it would undoubtedly be a major coup for the Champions League hopefuls, as a midfield duo of Rice and Kamara is certainly a very scary prospect.

In other news: Huge West Ham January development emerges which will delight David Moyes