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Despite a late fightback, Fulham fell to a 3-2 defeat against Everton at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon.

A double from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and one from Abdoulaye Doucoure were enough to earn the Toffees all three points, despite goals from Bobby Reid and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, whilst Ivan Cavaleiro also missed a penalty for the hosts.

One man whose performance will have disappointed Scott Parker is left-back Antonee Robinson.

As per SofaScore, the USA international lost possession 21 times, which was the joint-most of any Fulham player on the pitch, along with Ademola Lookman.

The former Wigan Athletic man also posted a fairly poor pass accuracy rate of 76%, with just 44/58 of his attempted passes finding their mark.

He struggled to cope with Alex Iwobi’s direct running on the right-hand side, with the Nigerian getting the better of him on a number of occasions during the match.

Although the left-back, who earns £60k-per-week at Fulham, has made a fairly positive start to his life with the Cottagers, having averaged a solid 6.90 rating for his performances in the Premier League, he has earned disappointing match ratings in both of Fulham’s last two matches.

Parker’s side have also kept just one clean sheet in the Premier League so far this season, and it looked as if they might ship a lot more than the three they did against Everton, particularly in the first half.

Although this cannot be attributed to Robinson completely, perhaps the Fulham manager should consider starting Joe Bryan there in their next fixture, as defending does not seem to be the 23-year-old’s strength.

Either way, Robinson will have to improve on this performance against Everton in the future if he wants to keep his place in the team, as the Cottagers face another tough game in their next fixture, as they travel to the King Power Stadium to face high-flying Leicester City.

Phil Parkinson has confirmed Sunderland forward Benjamin Kimpioka is expected to miss four months through a hamstring injury with surgery planned for next week, per the Sunderland Echo.

The 20-year-old has started the season in sublime fashion with six goals for the Black Cats’ Under 23s, leading to his nomination for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month Award for October.

Kimpioka’s brace helped secure Sunderland their first U23s league win of the season in a 4-0 triumph over rivals Newcastle United, before another double in a 5-3 win over Fulham.

Sunderland’s U23s lead coach Elliott Dickman failed to see Kimpioka turn the ball home against Aston Villa, though the talented youngster provided an assist in the 2-0 victory before needing replacing through injury.

Initial assessments suggested the blow would deny Kimpioka any further involvement before the New Year, but further tests have revealed the need for surgery, ruling the academy product out deeper into 2021.

“Benji is going to have an operation on his hamstring next week,” Parkinson said. “Unfortunately, the specialist feels that it needs surgery.

“It’s a real shame for him because he had been playing well and had got goals in the U23s. As you can imagine, he’s pretty down about it, but we’ve just got to make sure he gets the best possible treatment so that he can come back ready to go again in three to four months.”

The blow will deny Kimpioka the chance of featuring in Tuesday night’s Papa John’s Trophy clash with Fleetwood Town, having been in line for his 15th first-team appearance and first of the current campaign.

“He would certainly have figured,” Parkinson added. “That was in our mind, to give him an opportunity. He’s done really well in the U23s, I watched the game against Aston Villa last week and he showed a good understanding of his role.”

Kimpioka’s form came after the talented Sweden U21 international penned a new one-year deal at the Stadium of Light, with an option of a further 12-months, after his previous terms expired in the summer.

Parkinson had hoped to see the 20-year-old kick on with the transfer sage now in the past, having urged the Black Cats product to put his undivided attention into his football.

“He’s got to start showing that he can be a player,” said Parkinson, via quotes by The Northern Echo. “Maybe the people advising him haven’t quite been giving him the right advice, but he’s a decent lad so let’s see if he can start running about and putting the ball in the back of the net.

“I said to him yesterday, there’s been a lot of talk about him – too much, in my view. I want Benji to let his football do the talking now. If he can push his way into the first-team picture, then great. If not, we’ll look to loan him out and do what we did with Jack Diamond last year, where he got that first-team exposure elsewhere.”

Kimpioka had certainly done enough to earn a look into the first-team, but that chance has now faded away through an injury he and Parkinson will hope does not put a dent in his development.

The major blow will come as a marginal bit of relief for veteran forwards Will Grigg and Danny Graham, though, knowing they have less competition for places after slack starts to the season.

AND in other news, Sunderland botched the chase of an “aggressive” £1.5m gem now winning nine duels a game.

Everton made easy work of coming away with victory against Fleetwood Town last night in the Carabao Cup.

The Toffees emerged with a 5-2 win thanks to goals from Richarlison, Alex Iwobi, Bernard and Moise Kean. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have now won all four of their matches so far this season and will be hoping to continue this fine form in their upcoming game against Crystal Palace.

However, not all of Everton’s players involved in the Fleetwood fixture have received praise. Defender Jonjoe Kenny has come under fire from many supporters on Twitter after his performance last night. Despite putting five past the League One side, the Blues conceded two goals and Kenny in particular has been blamed for some defensive errors.

According to Sofascore, the 23-year-old right-back lost possession of the ball a worrying 15 times and was unsuccessful in any of his attempted dribbles or crosses.

Some Evertionians have slammed Kenny for his seemingly weak performance in the defence. One fan in particular has taken aim at the defender, claiming he is ‘woeful’ and ‘nowhere near good enough’.

Read more replies from the Twitter selection here:

Do you think Jonjoe Kenny has a future with Everton? Have your say in the comments below…

The chatter over Kai Havertz potentially joining Chelsea this season still has many fans and professionals glued to the story. 

The move looks set to be announced any day now as a recent Sky Sports report claimed that the German wants to joins the Blues as soon as possible.

Havertz recently agreed terms with Marina Granovskaia, which will see him earn £7.3m per year – a weekly wage of £140,000. Only the final details remain to be confirmed as Chelsea look set to splash a further £90m on a new recruit in this window.

German football expert Raphael Honigstein has given his thoughts on Havertz as a player and what could be waiting in his future once he joins Chelsea.

“He’s in a position where he could dominate the German national team over the next decade, depending on his position,” he said on the Transfer Talk podcast (via Sky Sports). “Will he play in the No. 10 role and become the new Mesut Ozil or will he settle a bit deeper and become the new Toni Kroos? He’s got the ability to play almost anywhere in front of the defence.”

Indeed, Havertz boasts an exceptional goalscoring return so far in his career. The 21-year-old tallied 12 league goals and six assists last term, taking his total so far up to 36 goals and 25 assists in 118 Bundesliga appearances (via Transfermarkt).

Should he be announced over the next few days, he will become Lampard’s sixth senior signing of the summer and join fellow German and new addition Timo Werner in hoping to help the Blues challenge for silverware this season. They will undoubtedly want to build on their fourth-placed Premier League finish and push for the title instead – a goal which could seem more attainable if Havertz arrives at Stamford Bridge and fufils Honigstein’s prophecy.

Do you think Kai Havertz will be a game-changer for Chelsea? Have your say in the comments below!

Liverpool are on the verge of cashing in on castaway Anfield talent Harry Wilson after an official bid from Burnley was recently placed on the table.

However, Michael Edwards is sticking to his guns and indeed his £15million price tag set for the 23-year-old. The Clarets offered £3million short of the transfer fee but until they can make up the full amount, there’s a very slim chance they will get their man this window.

Darren Bent has urged Wilson to take a move away from the Merseyside outfit, after several loan stints have left him no closer to a permanent place in Jurgen Klopp’s starting lineup.

Harry Wilson’s future away from Liverpool

Despite Liverpool boasting an impressive number of academy graduate success stories, it seems Wilson is not set to join his youth teammates as part of Klopp’s plans. Edwards has listed the Wales international as part of a £50million planned sale involving fellow fringe players Marko Grujic and Rhian Brewster, who has already made a permanent move to Sheffield United.

Wilson’s first loan move got him noticed after shining for Hull City. He netted seven goals and assisted a further four in just 14 appearances (via Transfermarkt), setting him up for his next short-term move which was as Derby. The Rams welcomed him with open arms and it was there that he really found himself.

After contributing an impressive 18 goals and six assists in 50 appearances, it looked like Klopp would be unable to ignore Wilson once he returned to Anfield. However, yet another loan move later – this time to Bournemouth – and the 23-year-old is no closer to securing regular minutes in the first team.

Wilson should be a starter

As highlighted by 36-year-old pundit Bent, Wilson is now at the age where he should be part of a club’s starting line-up. His talent is too high to simply keep on the bench.

“Listen, Harry Wilson, I’ve watched him for the last few years – when he was at Hull City, he really impressed me, was very, very good,” the former striker told Football Insider. “He went to Derby, was superb at Derby that season. Went to Bournemouth, did okay-ish and then he’s here now and you think it’s got to a point now for Harry Wilson that he’s got to get out.”

With Liverpool signing Diogo Jota and integrating Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott into the first team, there isn’t a lot of wiggle room for Wilson to get himself some senior minutes. He has already proved he can dominate for both club and country and he deserves the chance to continue this form.

“The fact he’s had to bounce around here, there and everywhere, it isn’t good,” Bent continued. “For me, I would like to see him go somewhere, sign permanently, play week, in week out and then we’ll see the best of him.”

In other news, Liverpool have plan for Rhian Brewster’s potential Anfield return…

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.

Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…

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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.

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.

Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

“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.

With Arsenal struggling to pull the finances together to fund a deal for Thomas Partey, they are looking elsewhere and they now know the price they will have to pay if they want to acquire Danilo Pereira from FC Porto.

According to O Jogo (via Daily Mail), the Gunners will have to pay around £27m if they want to buy the 28-year-old. However, this valuation has not gone down well with the north London side, who only want to pay a maximum of £18m for the Portugal international.

Pereira featured 37 times in all competitions last season including in the Champions League and seems to be a solid defensive midfielder as he has managed 1.1 interceptions and 1.2 tackles per game, via WhoScored.

Pereira has experience of major competitions at both club and international level – indeed, he was a Euro 2016 winner with Portugal and has two league titles with Porto – which suggests that Arsenal would  get a very strong calibre of player if they were to sign him.

It is understandable, however, with the current financial struggles at the club that Mikel Arteta does not want to spend nearly £30m on Pereira; and despite his quality and experience, the Gunners might have to look for a cheaper alternative so that they have funds to spend on multiple players this transfer window.

They cannot afford to just splash the cash on one player despite winning the FA Cup, as they finished eighth in the Premier League this year and therefore require greater squad depth and quality if they are to push for a return to the Champions League.

Gunners fans, is Porto’s asking price for Pereira excessive or should Arsenal roll the dice and pay it? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

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.

£81,000 is pennies in today’s football market, even with the current financial crisis that is happening as a result of the global pandemic at the moment. It would not have seemed much either back on the 22nd August 2010, as this is exactly what Matt Doherty cost Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign him from Irish side Bohemians.

The fact that he is still a regular in the team currently is testament to how much of a servant he has been for the Midlands club, remaining with them from the EFL Championship right through to the UEFA Europa League.

However, Doherty’s Wolves career did not get off to the best of starts, having made just one appearance for the senior side in his debut season, according to Transfermarkt.

He was shipped out on loan to Scottish outfit Hibernian FC on the 31st January 2012, before returning to the club at the end of that campaign.

He was consequently loaned out again to Bury FC on the 4th October of the same year, before returning once again three months later.

However, since these two spells, Doherty has not looked back. He returned to play 13 games in the Championship that term, scoring one goal and producing one assist, as per Transfermarkt.

The 28-year old’s market value rose to £270,000 by the end of the season, already more than treble what WWFC paid for him.

Doherty helped the club climb from League One all the way to the Premier League and beyond. In Wolves’ first campaign back in the top flight since he joined, the right-back played in every match, netting a relatively impressive four strikes and making seven assists from defence (via Transfermarkt).

By the end of the term, his market value was £13.5 million, a huge rise on his transfer fee.

Doherty has made 39 appearances in all competitions so far this season, including eight in Europe, a sheer contrast from is time back in League One.

If the campaign resumes, then the Wanderers will have a chance to claim a European spot again, and it will be up to Doherty and co if they want to go one better with Champions League football. One thing is for sure, he has been an absolute bargain signing and is currently worth significantly more than the £81k they paid, with Transfermarkt now valuing him at a whopping £14.4m.

WWFC supporters, has Doherty been your biggest bargain ever? Comment below!

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.

Best of the Decade: Top scorers & creators – Can you name them?

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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”…