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Southampton have been willing to allow either Angus Gunn or Fraser Forster to leave the club before the end of the transfer window, but the pair’s wages have been a stumbling block.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has been keen to allow one of his back up goalkeeping options to leave the club, with Alex McCarthy firmly established as the club’s first-choice between the sticks. However, it could be that it will be fourth choice stopper Harry Lewis who is allowed to leave on loan, as per the Daily Mail.

Hasenhuttl facing choice over Saints number two

The Saints have been in talks over the prospect of allowing either of one of their main back up keepers to leave the club before the window shuts, as per the Daily Mail. Forster spent last season out on loan at Celtic helping them pick up their ninth successive league title. Gunn, meanwhile, has seen himself drop down the pecking order despite starting last term as number one.

Southampton were considering making a swoop for Stoke City’s Jack Butland in a move which could have seen Gunn head in the other direction. It now seems unlikely that deal will go ahead with time running out before the window slams shut, as per the Daily Mail.

Although, Gunn could still potentially move to the Potters if Butland’s move to Crystal Palace goes through, as per The Athletic reporter Dan Sheldon.

Forster still has two-years remaining on his £70,000-a-week deal, per Spotrac, and he has been the Saints’ number two behind McCarthy so far this term. Gunn, meanwhile, still has three years left to run on his deal worth around £40,000-a-week, per Spotrac. Those wages have put off some potential suitors.

Gunn and Forster too good to be sitting on the side-lines

Gunn was once called up by England ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, while Forster has been capped six times by the Three Lions. That type of pedigree suggests both are too good to be stuck as third or second choices behind McCarthy.

For Gunn in particular after being labelled as a player with a ‘big future’ by Hasenhuttl to be now third choice is a major blow. However, he did concede 2.5 goals per game in the Premier League last term (via Sofascore). The 24-year-old would potentially benefit from a move to Stoke if it can go through before the deadline.

Saints fans, who should be the backup behind McCarthy? Let us know your thoughts below!

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to continue their good start to the new campaign by picking up another result this evening.

Nuno Santo’s side welcome Manchester City to Molineux and for the visitors, it’ll be the first match of their season whilst Wolves defeated Sheffield United last week.

The Midlands outfit then lost to Stoke City in the EFL Cup second round but several fringe players featured, so what sort of XI will the Portuguese boss put out later?

Here’s what we are predicting…

Nuno could make as many as six changes as several first-team stars come back into the fold.

John Ruddy is out between the sticks as Rui Patricio returns whilst the back three of Romain Saiss, Willy Boly and skipper Conor Coady keep their starting places.

However, both wing-backs are swapped with Marcal replacing the young Ruben Vinagre and Adama Traore moving back into the role after playing alongside Fabio Silva in midweek. It means academy prospect Oskar Buur drops to the bench.

Leander Dendoncker is another player to keep his spot but this time, he’s paired with Joao Moutinho in Nuno’s engine room. Therefore, there’s no place for Ruben Neves or Vitinha.

Leading the line should, of course, be the prolific Raul Jimenez and following the departure of Diogo Jota to Liverpool over the weekend, both Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence could be granted a start playing slightly off the £36m-rated Mexican talisman.

The £17m winger could now thrive following Jota’s exit, especially as he’s able to play on either side of Jimenez.

It’s unlikely that Ki-Jana Hoever is involved after a £10m switch from Anfield just a few days ago.

AND in other news, Wolves in the race to sign former PL man whose defending is a “madness”…

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has revealed the club already have a couple of deals in the works.

What did he say?

The Magpies of course are still awaiting confirmation of whether their proposed takeover has gone through or not, with the Premier League yet to ratify the Saudi consortium’s bid.

Despite that, Bruce has claimed that the Tyneside club are already working on transfers ahead of the start of the new season in September. He said (as quoted by The Chronicle): “As soon as the window opens, we’ll go to work. Things are not on hold. We need that (takeover) decision to be made, but the only thing I can do, along with Lee (Charnley, Newcastle’s managing director), is to keep planning as best we can, and that obviously includes the transfer market.

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“I think, even without the takeover, a lot of clubs will be taking stock of the situation. When I say business as usual, we’ve got one or two irons in the fire right now – let’s hope we can pull them off. We’ve got competition, but I think that’ll be the case right through the summer.”

Good news

Whilst the takeover eventually going through will surely be worth the wait, the fact of the matter is, that Newcastle simply cannot afford to stand still and be passive this summer.

The quick turnaround from the end of this season on Sunday afternoon, and then the restart in early September, means the Magpies will have to be working flat out over these coming weeks to ensure their transfer targets are secured nice and early.

Waiting around for the Premier League to give the green light to the takeover would just waste unnecessary time, and even leave them in limbo. It’s exactly why Bruce’s claim that they have “one or two irons in the fire right now” should make for welcome reading.

According to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder, there is still a confidence that Newcastle’s proposed takeover will eventually go through.

What’s the word?

Despite an agreement being reached for PCP Capital Partners to buy Newcastle back in April earlier this year, the green light for everything to be formally ratified and confirmed has yet to be given.

The Premier League are continuing to do their due diligence on some of the opposition raised to the Saudi consortium’s bid, including the top-flight’s chief executive Richard Masters insisting in June that they would “fully consider” Hatice Cengiz’s objections.

Now, Ryder has said: “At the end of the day Richard Masters calls the shots. He’s the man in charge. The Premier League played down it was a decision for a committee. I’m sure there will be meetings but Masters is the face of the league and he will be the one who eventually has to talk in public about it one way or another.

“I have spoken to people close to the deal and they maintain – as they always have – that the would-be buyers still believe they can do it. But it’s really a Premier League thing.”

Clarity

As Newcastle boss Steve Bruce said just last month, a bit of insight into where the whole thing stands on the part of the Premier League, would be very welcome.

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Bruce urged: “For everybody, we need a bit of clarity. If I’m led to believe it’s the Premier League that is holding these negotiations, then they have got to come and make a decision sooner or later because it’s not healthy for anybody.”

Ryder’s suggestion that those close to the deal are still confident of it going through, is encouraging, but that of course does nothing to settle the nerves of those Newcastle fans who have been waiting patiently to finally see Mike Ashley’s tenure come to an end.

A recent update into Newcastle United’s prospective takeover has angered many supporters at St James’ Park this week.

The Independent’s chief football writer, Miguel Delaney, wrote an article claiming that a decision could be made in “mid-June” and that the entire process continues to “unsettle many” involved.

And this hasn’t gone down well with sections of the Magpies faithful with some opting to slam the reliable reporter on social media, calling him a “rat” as well as suggesting that he knows very little himself.

Many believe that Delaney has some sort of agenda against the club after he voiced his concerns over Saudi Arabia’s influence.

Other fans were quick to aim their frustrations more generally, rather than at Delaney, as the length of time this has already taken is clearly starting to grate on some.

It’s been over two months since reports first emerged linking Mike Ashley with the sale of the northeast outfit to a Saudi-backed consortium, and since then, there has been a wrath of claims putting doubt on the situation.

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The most recent of which came from the Guardian, who revealed a report from the World Trade Organisation into pirate TV service beoutQ. They claim that the Saudi state is behind the illegal streaming of sports events, including the Premier League, but the public investment fund, who is behind the Magpies’ takeover bid is a different entity to the government.

It’s all a bit complicated, which is why supporters have simply had enough.

In addition to their annoyance has been anxiety and worry. This latest piece from Delaney hasn’t helped matters at all with a couple of fans believing that the deal could be rejected.

If his claims are accurate though, the United fanbase will soon learn their fate.

AND in other news, Newcastle fans react to neutral venues claim…

As Newcastle United await official ratification from the Premier League, The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has provided supporters with realistic transfer targets that could kickstart a new era at the club.

The Saudi Arabia-backed consortium is currently undergoing the PL’s owners and directors test after agreeing a £300m deal with Mike Ashley to purchase the northeast outfit – and they have big long-term plans.

Steve Bruce’s Magpies squad lacks serious quality across the pitch as seen in where they find themselves in a mediocre 13th as well as them ranking bottom for expected goals (xG).

Andy Carroll, Dwight Gayle and £40m club-record man Joelinton have bagged just one goal between them, so a striker would be a good place to start and Waugh has tipped up Lyon striker Moussa Dembele, a striker who the club have scouted ‘extensively’.

He said:

“Meanwhile, Moussa Dembele is among the strikers who Newcastle’s recruitment staff have watched extensively. The Lyon forward has scored 16 league goals this season, despite getting into worse positions than the previous campaign according to his xG. He has boosted his scoring statistics by taking more penalties, scoring four of five in Ligue 1. Nevertheless, at 23 he is about to come into his prime and is coveted across Europe.”

The 23-year-old has been in emphatic form for the Ligue 1 side this campaign having scored 22 goals in 42 appearances and while he didn’t score in the competition, he has featured in seven Champions League matches which bodes well for the prospective owners’ long-term ambitions.

It speaks volumes when the Magpies’ top goalscorer is central midfielder Jonjo Shelvey and that four centre-backs have combined for eight goals themselves, via WhoScored.

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Someone like Dembele can be exactly the sort of signing that signals the intentions from the Amanda Staveley-led consortium. It would be a superb addition to kickstart a squad overhaul.

AND in other news, Newcastle fans react over Mark Douglas tweet… “classic Ashley”…

According to Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold, Tottenham would consider selling Erik Lamela this summer if a “decent bid” came in for him.

What did he say?

The Argentine has struggled with injuries during his time in north London, whilst he has found himself in and out of the starting line-up in the past few games of the Premier League season – since the end of December, Lamela has completed the full 90 minutes just once in the top-flight.

Now, Gold has claimed that with Spurs well-stocked in the attacking positions, there could be a chance a player could be moved on to help raise finances to spend elsewhere. And the journalist has revealed Lamela could be the man on the chopping block.

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He said: “The prime candidate for such a departure would appear to be Erik Lamela. The Argentine has always served Tottenham well when he’s been fit and has impressed Mourinho this season.

“However, getting him out on the pitch regularly has always been the biggest issue and despite Lamela’s love for Spurs, if Tottenham received a decent bid – with Serie A sides always looking at bringing him back to Italy – then Levy would no doubt consider it for the 28-year-old.”

Priorities

The attacking midfield positions just behind the lone striker is an area in which Spurs have plenty of options to choose from, Lamela included.

But with other areas of concern for Jose Mourinho, namely the likes of a centre-forward, full-back and even in goal if Hugo Lloris leaves, Spurs could do with better refining their squad.

Cashing in on Lamela to help fund a move for a proven back-up to Harry Kane would be the kind of astute business that Daniel Levy must pursue in the summer.

Lamela – valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt – may be one of the more high-profile casualties of the upcoming transfer window as Mourinho looks to rebuild and reshape the Spurs squad in his own image.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans reminisce about this former star’s time in north London.

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…

Sheffield Wednesday’s season has ticked like an erratic metronome.

There were majorly positive signs when Garry Monk finally took the reins in September, losing just one game in eight matches, but his tumultuous tenure so far has seen continuous problems arise.

Some in his control, some not.

Maybe the January transfer window will be his saviour, should they go relatively unscathed from the EFL.

At the start, the 40-year-old was faced with his skipper Tom Lees being out injured alongside a lengthy six-game suspension to two-time top scorer Fernando Forestieri.

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Reliance on this season’s goal-getter Steven Fletcher then became the next issue, not that it has even been resolved yet while in the grand scheme of things, the Owls have the oldest squad in the division, so giving youth a runout every now and then can’t exactly hurt, can it?

Now the club have been charged by the EFL for financial misconduct over the sale of Hillsborough to owner Dejphon Chansiri as he tried to offset any debts during the 2017/18 season accounts.

One football finance expert believes that a 12-point deduction will be the minimum punishment dealt by the Football League, which would turn Wednesday’s season from being in with a chance of reaching the playoffs into a relegation dogfight.

As of right now, it would sink them to second-bottom in the division.

Meanwhile, Monk heads into this weekend without two key members of his defence as Liam Palmer, and now Julian Borner, are suspended – failure to pick up all three points against a Charlton Athletic side that will struggle to field a competitive team would be inexcusable.

The former Swansea City legend inherited this squad in its entirety from his predecessor Steve Bruce and then caretaker manager Lee Bullen, and given the circumstances off the field, he should be cut some slack.

January could see him bring in some players of his own, which may allow him to set up his side exactly how he wants, while later this summer, a vast rebuild task could be on his hands as over ten first-team players see their contract expire at the end of the season.

Give Monk time, see how the EFL play things out, and then reassess his impact around this time next year. Perspective.

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In other news, Wednesday fans have slammed one surprise member of the starting line up….

Real Valladolid have only conceded two more goals than league leaders Barcelona so far this season, with the main man to thank for that statistic being defensive wonderkid Mohammed Salisu, but is it worth the effort to bring him to Tyneside? 

According to Pucela Fichajes, a host of top clubs, including Newcastle United, are tracking the 20-year-old with a view to bringing him to the Premier League – but Valladolid have put a £10 million release clause in the way of any interest.

Salisu’s ceiling is clearly high, with the youngster having contributed immensely to Valladolid’s solidarity this season, averaging 4.8 clearances and 1.2 tackles per game whilst also amassing an 82.8% pass success rate in La Liga, as per WhoScored.

One to watch for the future, that may be true, but is he really worth the effort at this point in time? The answer, at least from Newcastle’s perspective, should be a resounding no.

The last position Steve Bruce’s side need any cover in is their resolute backline – with unlikely stars Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez shining in their last two outings for the club and even getting on the scoresheet for Newcastle’s first back-to-back wins this season.

Meanwhile, that’s not even taking into account Jamaal Lascelles’ recent absence, with the Englishman having been ruled out until after the New Year, but once he returns, there will be no room for another addition when you consider the likes of Paul Dummett and Fabian Schar are also viable options.

Of course, one or two injuries could change the narrative entirely, but it’s also highly unlikely the Magpies will be short on defensive cover by January – with it definitely not being a high enough priority to shell out £10m.

From the view of the St. James’ Park board of directors, this could be a fruitless endeavour, with more focus seemingly on the Magpies’ miss-firing forward line.

Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron – for all their effort – have a combined total of one goal since the start of the new season, perhaps highlighting the club’s need to invest in that department.

Next summer, when Newcastle have potentially avoided the drop and are looking at options, Salisu could be a sensible acquisition, but at this point in time, the limitations far outweigh the potential benefits.

Would you back this move? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Mauricio Pochettino made a mistake on Sunday as he benched Tanguy Ndombele against Liverpool.

On the chalkboard

The Frenchman was curiously missing from the starting XI when the teams landed before the encounter, having played against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League in midweek.

He did come on as a substitute in the 63rd minute, though, replacing Harry Winks, and enjoyed an excellent cameo performance.

However, one has to wonder why he wasn’t included initially; Spurs struggled to exert any measure of control on the game prior to his introduction, as evidenced by the final possession tallies. Liverpool had 68% to Spurs’ 32%.

During his time on the pitch, Ndombele registered a total of 19 touches, per WhoScored, one shot and two key passes and a passing accuracy of 77%, higher than all but two of Spurs’ starting XI.

And his statistics so far this season are enlightening too, painting Pochettino’s decision in an even darker light.

He has played twice in the Champions League, along with seven times in total in the league, and his performances in Europe have been genuinely exceptional.

Per WhoScored, he has registered two assists, one shot per game, two key passes per game and 1.3 dribbles in the Champions League.

Defensively, he has also won two tackles per game, 1.7 interceptions and 1.3 fouls. He also has a passing accuracy of 89.1% from an average of 43 passes.

In the Premier League, he already has two goals to his name, one assist, 0.8 shots per game, 0.8 key passes and 1.1 dribbles. He also makes 2.3 tackles and has a pass completion rate of 83.1% from 29.5 passes.

Baffling call

Ndombele was signed for a club-record fee in the summer but here he was, on the bench, against perhaps the best team in the Premier League and technically speaking, the best team in Europe.

Per WhoScored, Ndombele is better than Moussa Sissoko in every attacking area bar dribbles, in both the Premier League and the Champions League, and is also a more assiduous defensive presence.

Both Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier have struggled for minutes this season and are not really direct competitors to his spot, while Harry Winks, meanwhile, makes more interceptions than Ndombele but is outperformed in every offensive category, even though his pass accuracy is higher.

The stats show that the Frenchman is better than the majority of the players he has been bought in to play alongside and yet, he was not introduced until the game was slipping away.

He should have been on the teamsheet from the outset, and while that is not to say he would have rescued his side from an Anfield defeat, he could well have had an impact on them keeping the ball an providing some sort of counter-attacking threat when 1-0 up.

That he wasn’t able to is the result of a poor Pochettino decision.