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Newcastle United have received a big blow before their game away at Leicester City in the Premier League on Friday night.

The Lowdown: Newcastle are not safe yet

The St. James’ Park faithful may feel as if they are safe in the Premier League for one more season, but it is still mathematically possible for them to drop into the relegation zone at the end of the 2020/21 term.

Both West Brom and Fulham can still catch them with four games left to play, and it does not get any easier for the North East club as they play Manchester City after the Foxes.

The Latest: Schar red card stands

As per the official website of the Tyneside club, the red card that was given to Fabian Schar against Arsenal in their 2-0 home loss last time out in the top flight still stands after an appeal, in what will come as a huge blow to Steve Bruce.

The Verdict: Schar loss a big blow

The loss of Schar not just for the match against Brendan Rodgers’ side, but for the next three fixtures in total will be a big blow to the Magpies as they look to clinch one more win to guarantee their safety.

The Switzerland international ranks high among his teammates for both clearances (2.9) and blocks (0.7) so far in the division this season (Whoscored), showing he is a leader at the back for them.

A character like his would have been useful in the run-in, but the Toon will have to try and find a way to cope without him, while Jamaal Lascelles also remains out through injury.

In other news, find out what enticing transfer claim has been dropped by one Magpie here!

After serving his one-match suspension against West Brom last week, Matty Cash should come straight back into the starting line-up for Aston Villa’s trip to Everton on Saturday night.

The right-back was sent off for two bookable offences in the defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League, and Dean Smith made no secret of just how disappointed he was with the summer signing.

Speaking in his post-match press conference that night, the Villa boss said: “He will be down, especially with the earful he got off me in the dressing room after.

“He will learn. He is a young lad in his first Premier League season and I think he will be a super player. But he was reckless and stupid. We won’t have many better chances of going and beating a team like Manchester City.”
Ahmed Elmohamady came in for Cash in the 2-2 draw against the Baggies last time out in the Premier League, and while he didn’t exactly make any meaningful errors or mistakes, the latter simply has to come back in tonught.

The right-back’s pace and energy on the flank has arguably rendered him Villa’s unsung hero this season, and with an Everton side full of movement and power up top in the likes of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, having someone like Cash to deal with that threat could be crucial.

It’s no surprise that former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips has dubbed him “sensational”, while adding: “Cash has come in and he has been flawless. He has taken to the club like a duck to water. You have to give credit to the player and the recruitment department. They have obviously done their homework. He has been one of their shining lights this season.”

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When Villa take on the Toffees tonight, the £65,000-a-week defender simply has to be one of the first names on the team sheet, and he could well be a game-changer for Smith as they look to pick up some much-needed momentum after their recent stutters.

Meanwhile, Villa are eyeing a summer move for this star who “doesn’t stop running”…

Bundesliga expert Daniel Pinder has told The Transfer Tavern that Jadon Sancho’s future will be inextricably linked with Borussia Dortmund’s bid to qualify for the Champions League amid interest from Manchester United.

United reportedly made a bid for the England international last summer but no move materialised.

United have again been linked this week with the £90m-rated winger amid the news that Ed Woodward is stepping back from his role as executive vice-chairman.

That could open the door for a new pursuit this summer amid Dortmund’s struggles in the Bundesliga.

They are currently fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt and 19 behind leaders Bayern Munich.

It means they face a fight to qualify for the Champions League and Pinder thinks that both Sancho and striker Erling Haaland could leave the club if they don’t make it.

This season, Sancho has scored six goals and laid on 11 assists in his 22 games.

And Pinder, editor-in-chief of Get German Football News, told TT:  “I think it’s that thing of whether Borussia Dortmund qualify for the Champions League. If they do, then he could stay but if they fail to qualify for the Champions League then Haaland could leave, Sancho could leave, we’re just touching upon his stats for this season.

“While they haven’t been what they were previously, still six goals and 11 assists in 21 games, he’s missed five games through injury, and when he hasn’t been playing for Borussia Dortmund it’s been noticeable.

“They’re a much poorer side without him.”

Patryk Klimala sealed a permanent move away from Celtic on Thursday, and details have now emerged which could be a big boost for new Hoops chief Dominic McKay.

The club confirmed that the striker has joined MLS side New York Red Bulls, ending his 15-month stay at Parkhead.

Klimala joined last January from Jagiellonia Bialystok in a deal worth £3.6m, scoring just three times in 28 appearances.

No finances were shared by the Hoops in their official Thursday statement on the forward, however, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph shared the fee on Twitter.

Joseph revealed Celtic will be receiving £3.5m for the 22-year-old.

“UPDATE: We’ve had confirmation from the US that New York Red Bulls are paying $4.8m (£3.5m) for Celtic striker Patryk Klimala.”

Transfer Tavern take

McKay, who arrived at the club on Monday, will surely be delighted at this update – not because the club desperately needed to move Klimala on, but due to the finances involved in the transfer.

Klimala’s Transfermarkt valuation dropped by half to £1.8m during his time in Scotland, so it could be seen as great news that the Hoops will be receiving close to double that figure.

He struggled to make an impact at Parkhead, but recouping the majority of the fee they forked out for Klimala in 2020 may allow McKay to put that money towards summer acquisitions, making the new Hoops chief’s job that much easier as the club enters what is sure to be an intriguing summer.

In other news: Edouard transfer saga takes another twist, could be more good news for McKay, find out more here. 

Rangers’ decision to cash in on left-back Declan John in August 2018 looks to have paid off, with the Welsh defender enduring a dramatic fall from grace since leaving Ibrox.

The former Welsh international was signed on a permanent basis from Cardiff City in January 2018, having spent the first half of the season on loan in Glasgow.

However, after making 31 appearances for the club, in which he contributed three goals and four assists, he was sold to Swansea City for £800k in the summer of 2018 following the arrival of Borna Barisic.

Since then, he has managed just 18 appearances for the Swans in all competitions and has quickly fallen down the pecking order at the South Wales club, whilst he also failed to make a single appearance on loan at Sunderland in League One last season, although the campaign was ended early as a result of the current viral outbreak.

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After making no appearances in the first half of the season for Steve Cooper’s side in the current campaign, John was sent out on loan to League Two side Bolton Wanderers, which represents an unfortunate decline since his Ibrox exit.

Although the 25-year-old is impressing in Ian Evatt’s side and has been a big part of their upturn in form, contributing two goals in his 14 appearances so far and averaging a solid 6.83 rating, it seems clear that Steven Gerrard was right to allow him to leave in 2018 despite his brief spell at the club.

The left-back has unsurprisingly also seen his market value decline during the past few years, as having once been valued at £900k following his move to the Liberty Stadium, he is now valued at just £360k.

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Therefore, you could definitely argue that Rangers did very well to sell him for as much as £800k in 2018 and his fall from grace since then emphasises that the Gers made the right decision in getting rid of him.

And, in other news… Rangers handed huge transfer boost over £2.7m-rated beast, Wilson must deliver

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Premier League midfielder Lee Hendrie has suggested that Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and Danny Ings are very alike.

Ings, who is currently being linked with a move to Manchester City, could be brought into the Etihad this summer to replace Aguero.

The 33-year-old’s contract is up at the end of the season and, according to Sky Sports, the Citizens have identified the Southampton No.9 as a potential successor.

Ings was in brilliant form last term, finishing the 2019/20 Premier League campaign with 22 goals, and Hendrie believes going to Manchester City would be a fabulous move for him as he drew comparisons between the England international and the man he could be replacing.

Discussing the speculation surrounding Ings’ future with FFC, Hendrie said:

“I think this is where Man City are sort of looking at. You compare him to Aguero and there’s a lot of likeness between them. They score goals, creativity. I’ve seen Danny Ings this season and he’s dropped into areas where, you know, he’s almost been in the 10 at times and gone into wide areas, sort of like a free role with [Che] Adams. It’d be a fabulous move for him.”

On the same topic, the former Aston Villa player added:

“Man City, it would be a fabulous signing and obviously for Ings it would be. But, again, it’s just whether he’d get as much game time as what he was getting at Southampton, and that’d be my only question mark.”

Should Aguero indeed leave Manchester City in the summer, one possible destination could be Chelsea. According to the MailOnline, the Blues, as well as Barcelona, are weighing up a move for the Argentina international.

Many Everton fans have been left to slam an update from Patrick Boyland on the fitness of both Ben Godfrey and Tom Davies.

As per a tweet from The Athletic journalist, both players failed late fitness tests which meant that they could not play for the England U21s in their crucial game against Croatia on Wednesday evening.

Aidy Boothroyd’s team managed to win the match 2-1 in the end without them, but the Young Lions still went crashing out at the group stages of the European Championships.

Nonetheless, the fitness of both Godfrey and Davies has now become a big concern for several members of the Goodison Park faithful, as they play Crystal Palace at home in the Premier League on Monday evening.

Everton fans on Godfrey and Davies fitness update

These supporters of the Merseyside club slammed the update from Boyland on Twitter, with one Toffees fan even going as far as to claim that it was ‘unbelievable’:

“Hope that’s not true”

Credit: @nikkiharg

“No. Hope they are fit for our match especially Ben is a must”

Credit: @Efc_sai

“Oh no”

Credit: @jonesyefc

“Unbelievable how can that be at their age ?????????”

Credit: @brougham_kevin

“Eugh.”

Credit: @Phoenix20387

“:( Bad News Boyland”

Credit: @_lauraaj96

In other news, find out what Liverpool dig from one Blues star has been lauded by fans here!

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee, who made 280 Premier League appearances, believes Anthony Martial has a problem with himself if he can’t get motivated to play for Manchester United.

It has been reported by EuroSport that Man United are ready to sell Martial, who reportedly earns £250,000-a-week, as they eye up a squad reshuffle ready to challenge Manchester City next season.

Since he arrived as the most expensive teenager in history, Martial has featured 258 times for Manchester United, scoring 78 goals and registering 49 assists in that time, however Lee believes Martial may have an attitude problem as he never seems bothered when playing.

Speaking on Martial’s future at Man United and why the Red Devils should look to cash in on the 25-year old, Lee told FFC exclusively:

“Martial has just been an enigma. He’s got all the talent in the world but he just looks like he can’t be bothered.

“If he can’t be bothered playing for Man United, then I think you’ve got something wrong with you.”

It’s been a difficult season for Martial who has found himself playing all across the front line with very limited success in each position.

The French international has found the net just seven times in 36 games and has only scored four goals in the Premier League this campaign.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former West Ham striker Marlon Harewood has hailed Tomas Soucek as the “best signing” the Premier League has seen in the last two years.

Soucek, who originally joined West Ham on loan from Slavia Prague last January, signed permanently in the summer of 2020 and has not looked back, playing an instrumental role in his side’s Champions League push.

Despite being a holding midfielder, the 26-year-old has managed to score an impressive eight goals in English football’s top flight this season, though that is not the only thing to have caught the eye of Harewood.

Discussing the impact £27m-rated Soucek has had since arriving at the London Stadium, the ex-West Ham player told FFC:

“Hands down the best signing in the Premier League in the last two years, I would say. He has been absolutely phenomenal. I was watching the game [West Ham v Leeds United] last night and his stats, you really overlook stuff like that because obviously you got the elite players that you look at week in, week out, but his stats and how he’s performed this year has been absolutely fantastic. 

“He is an absolute pleasure to watch. His passion, his dedication… I love football and I’ve missed that.”

On the topic of recent Premier League signings, Bruno Fernandes’ impact at Manchester United since joining the club has been massive; the Portuguese attacking midfielder is the Red Devils’ top scorer in the Premier League this term with 16 goals. Understandably, not as prolific being a more defensive player, but Soucek has arguably become just as essential to West Ham.

As well as the goals he has been providing from midfield, the Czech Republic international has also done a great job sweeping up for the Hammers. Averaging 1.9 successful tackles per league game, the second-highest average in David Moyes’ squad (via WhoScored), Soucek is proving to be the complete package.

Southampton can get their season back on track with a win against Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday, with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side having struggled immensely in the league since the turn of the year.

The Saints have won just one of their last 12 Premier League fixtures but have triumphed in FA Cup ties against Shrewsbury Town, Arsenal and Wolves in that time.

Last weekend’s 2-1 defeat against Brighton dragged Hasenhuttl’s side back into a relegation battle in the top flight but the Austrian will be hoping that his side put their league form behind them when they travel to the Vitality Stadium to face the Cherries, who are challenging for a play-off position in the second tier.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Hasenhuttl to line his side up in the FA Cup, with three changes from the side which started against Brighton last time out…

Fraser Forster continues as first choice after Alex McCarthy’s poor recent form for the Saints, with the former Celtic loanee having kept clean sheets in all three of his appearances in the competition this season.

There’s one change in defence as Ryan Bertrand drops to the bench after some disappointing displays of late, with Mohammed Salisu replacing him at left-back, which should allow Kyle Walker-Peters to push further forward on the right.

Takumi Minamino is unfortunately cup-tied having featured in the competition for Liverpool earlier in the season, so Moussa Djenepo is likely to replace him on the left-hand side.

Finally, Nathan Redmond comes in for Nathan Tella in the attack, with the youngster ineffectual against Brighton following some strong performances, so the Austrian should go for the experience of the £16.2m-valued 27-year-old to partner Che Adams if he wants his side to go all-out for the FA Cup this season.

In other news… Southampton signing 11-goal beast could be bad news for 22 y/o gem Ralph loves