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West Ham United have been dealt a major injury blow regarding Jarrod Bowen ahead of their upcoming Europa League fixture.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to David Ornstein’s recent report for The Athletic, in which the journalist revealed that, after picking up a heel injury in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend, the right-winger now looks set to miss out on Thursday evening’s trip to Sevilla for the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 clash, as well as the weekend’s fixture against Aston Villa.

Regarding the 25-year-old’s knock, Ornstein writes: “David Moyes’ side could be without him for a handful of games after the 25-year-old picked up a heel injury in the defeat at Liverpool. Although the club yesterday confirmed that he had suffered no significant damage, this week’s Europa League trip to Sevilla and the weekend’s home game against Aston Villa are likely to come too soon.”

Hammers will be seething

Considering just how impressive Bowen has been for West Ham in the current campaign, the news that the winger now looks as if he will be unavailable for what is undoubtedly the club’s biggest game of the season is sure to have left the London Stadium faithful seething.

Indeed, over his 28 Premier League appearances this term, the £58m-rated forward has been in spectacular form for the Hammers, scoring eight goals, registering eight assists and creating eight big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.4 shots and making 1.3 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the £96k-per-week attacker average an extremely admirable SofaScore match rating of 7.09, ranking him as David Moyes’ second-best performer in the top flight of English football.

As such, with a trip to the side who currently occupy second place in the LaLiga table already having been something of a daunting task, the fact that the Irons will now have to face Julen Lopetegui’s outfit without both their leading goalscorer and assist-maker in all competitions this season is sure to put a major dent in West Ham’s chances of securing a positive result at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

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Indeed, the unavailability of Bowen not only comes as a huge blow to the Hammers’ hopes of progressing to the next round of the competition, but it also shines further light on the club’s failure to bring in attacking reinforcements in the January transfer window.

In other news: £14.5m wasted: Pellegrini’s £75k-p/w “shocker” has been rinsing West Ham for 191 weeks

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For the first time in years, Liverpool are well-equipped to challenge for the Premier League title.

Jurgen Klopp has shaped an exciting and scintillating team that can score goals from all areas of the pitch.

In the summer, the Merseyside outfit bolstered areas that needed strengthening and they have started the season perfectly by winning all seven of their matches so far in all competitions.

It would be understandable if the fringe players at Liverpool were worried about their chances of making it into the first team.

However, 21-year-old Harry Wilson is one of those talents who could be pushing for a regular spot next season.

The winger was sent to Derby County on loan in the summer and he has impressed so far by making six appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals.

One of those hits was netted on Tuesday night in the form of a stunning free kick against Manchester United in the third round of the EFL Cup.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”300259″ player=”12034″ title=”Mo Salah’s “7th Best Goal” Wins FIFA’s Puskas Award”]

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Wilson was a major factor in Frank Lampard’s side progressing into the next round via a penalty shootout after the clash finished 2-2 in normal time.

Plenty of Liverpool fans were impressed, which has led us to ask you whether the young winger should be considered for the first team next season.

Let us know by voting below.

Aston Villa fell to a 2-1 defeat yesterday against West Ham United thanks to goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and Pablo Fornals after winning their three previous league games prior to the clash at the London Stadium.

What’s the latest?

As well as the disappointing result, the Midlands club were handed a potentially major injury blow during the match after left-back Lucas Digne was forced off the pitch with just ten minutes on the clock with a suspected injury.

In a Twitter post from Villa journalist Ashley Preece after Sunday’s clash, he revealed that the French defender is apparently set to “have an MRI scan to determine severity of his hamstring injury.”

Gerrard gutted

Since arriving at Villa Park back in the previous January transfer window from fellow Premier League side Everton in a deal worth a reported fee of £25m, the left-back has immediately made himself a key player for Steven Gerrard by appearing in all but one of the nine league games the Villans have played.

In the eight league games he’s played in for his new club, the defender has managed to rack up a higher average of crosses per game (1.3) than any other Villa player, highlighting just what he’s capable of offering Gerrard’s side and what they will be missing if his hamstring injury keeps him out of action for a significant period of time.

In addition to this, the 28-year-old has also picked up an average of 1.4 key passes per game, the joint-second highest alongside Emi Buendia and John McGinn, showing just how much of an attacking threat he is as well as his crosses, meaning that the Villans will not only have to deal with having a defensive option out of action but also someone that can be an attacking threat for the team.

With all of this in mind, it would be safe to suggest that the 41-year-old Villa boss will be gutted if the results of Digne’s MRI scan come back with a negative diagnosis and the full-back could be facing some time on the sidelines while his team look to secure a top-half finish in the league table.

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Looking ahead, having replaced the former Toffees star at the London Stadium on Sunday, Ashley Young could be in for a run in the team if Digne isn’t likely to be back on the pitch anytime soon.

In other news: Forget Coutinho: “Outstanding” 75-tackle sensation has been Gerrard’s Villa catalyst – opinion

While the atmosphere around the club might be a little dour at the moment, this season is still shaping up to be a special one for Arsenal.

As things stand, Mikel Arteta’s side sit top of the Champions League and Premier League tables, despite enduring an absurd number of injuries.

Moreover, there is a sense that many of the Gunners’ most important players, such as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, still have more to give.

One player who has been at their best so far this season, though, is Declan Rice, so fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal to another international midfielder who has been compared to him.

Arsenal target Rice-esque star

Arsenal went unusually big in the summer, signing eight first-team players, including Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard.

Transfer Focus

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

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So, some might argue that the Gunners do not need any more midfield reinforcements.

However, if the last season and a bit has made anything clear, it’s that the North Londoners need to have serious cover all over the pitch.

So, to ensure the likes of Zubimendi and Rice do not get overplayed, it would make sense for the club to target someone of decent quality who could cover for them, especially if Mikel Merino is now more of a forward.

Interestingly, this seems to be an opinion shared by the North Londoners, at least according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Arsenal are one of a few teams interested in Davide Frattesi.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are all keen on the Italian international.

While the competition is not ideal, the good news is that Inter Milan would reportedly be open to letting the 26-year-old leave if the right offer comes in.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Frattesi’s ability, it’s one Arsenal should pursue, especially as he’s been compared to Rice.

How Frattesi compares to Rice

Now, while Frattesi isn’t quite on the same level as Rice in terms of quality, few players are; he still shares several similarities with him.

Firstly, and this is a relatively straightforward one, he is currently plying his trade for one of the top teams in a top-five league at Inter.

Moreover, like the Englishman, he’s also a regular for his national team, having won 33 caps for Italy so far, in which he’s scored eight goals and provided three assists.

That also highlights another shared trait: the ability to contribute with goals and assists from midfield.

For example, in 47 appearances last season, he scored seven goals and provided two assists.

The final obvious similarity is that, like the former West Ham captain, the Rome-born star is someone who can play in central midfield but has also done a job in the ten and deeper for his team.

Add all these traits together, and it’s not hard to see why former Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni dubbed him “one of the best midfielders in Europe.”

Subscribe for deeper transfer insight on Arsenal Unlock detailed transfer analysis by subscribing to the newsletter – get deeper breakdowns on targets like Frattesi, Rice comparisons, tactical fit and scouting stats to better understand Arsenal’s midfield plans. Subscribe Subscribe for deeper transfer insight on Arsenal Unlock detailed transfer analysis by subscribing to the newsletter – get deeper breakdowns on targets like Frattesi, Rice comparisons, tactical fit and scouting stats to better understand Arsenal’s midfield plans.

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However, with all that said, the most concrete comparison between Frattesi and Rice stems from FBref, which ranked the Englishman as the seventh-most similar midfielder to the Italian in the Champions League last season.

Frattesi & Rice

Statistics per 90

Frattesi

Rice

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.26

0.27

Shots

1.63

1.62

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.36

0.36

Shots Blocked

0.36

0.36

Interceptions

1.27

1.35

Clearances

1.27

1.26

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 UCL

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is to take a look at the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked closely.

In this instance, the metrics included non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, shots blocked, interceptions, and clearances, all per 90.

In other words, the Inter ace was able to replicate some of the £105m man’s attacking and defensive qualities.

Ultimately, while it might not be the most exciting of transfers, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Frattesi, as his experience and ability to cover for players like Rice could prove invaluable in the longrun.

Related Arteta must bin £40m star who was "Pires-like" in his first years at Arsenal

It’s time for Arteta to take the frustrating Arsenal star out of the team.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes

Transfer insider Dean Jones has now dropped some Leeds United news on Raphinha from sources close to the Brazil international, revealing he could ignore the interest from ‘big clubs’ and stay put.

The Lowdown: Barcelona bound?

As per Italian football journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, FC Barcelona are now in advanced talks with Raphinha’s agent, Deco, over personal terms ahead of a potential move to the La Liga giants in the summer.

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They could allegedly sign him for as little as €25m (£21m), should Jesse Marsch’s team end up getting relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.

The Latest: Jones update

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has revealed that those close to Raphinha are ‘not ruling out’ him staying at Elland Road, despite interest from some ‘big clubs’:

“The people around him say, ‘We’re not ruling that [Elland Road stay] out at all.’ But obviously he has some big clubs looking at him.”

The Verdict: Would be remarkable

With all due respect to the extremely impressive project Leeds have been building in recent years, it would be remarkable if they were able to keep Raphinha for another season.

He has been their standout player this term, with none of his teammates scoring more than his nine goals in the top flight, while only Dan James can match his three assists (WhoScored).

Given the calibre of clubs thought to be interested in him, it would be very difficult for Raphinha to turn down a chance to potentially play in the UEFA Champions League.

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Nonetheless, he will not want to be involved in another relegation battle should the Peacocks stay up, and at 25 years of age, probably knows he is at the perfect age to make that one big move.

In other news, find out who LUFC have now entered new talks with over signing here!

Tottenham Hotspur source John Wenham has slammed Sergio Reguilon after the Spaniard’s display in Sunday’s 3-1 win against West Ham.

The Lowdown: Reguilon’s performance

The 25-year-old played 88 minutes at the weekend, but in spite of a reasonably decent 7.1 SofaScore rating, he failed to produce a single accurate cross or successful dribble attempt from a left wing-back position. He also had two big chances to try and test Lukasz Fabianski, but he failed to hit the target with either of them.

This added to a list of wasted chances in recent weeks, including those from the games against Brighton and Manchester United in recent weeks.

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The Latest: Wenham’s verdict

N17 ‘insider’ Wenham claimed that, despite a number of poor performances recently, Reguilon’s display against West Ham was the worst of all.

Speaking with Football Insider about the Spurs defender, he fumed: “He’s so average it’s untrue.

“I always go back to these constant rumours about Barcelona or Real Madrid being interested in him. There’s always stuff about them paying a premium for him, it’s nonsense.

“He’s just not that good. He’s the best of the full-backs we have but that’s not really praise at this point. Against Man United, he didn’t offer anything, against West Ham was the same.

“For me, he is the worst of the bunch. He wasted so many chances against West Ham. You can absolutely see why Conte kept playing Sessegnon over him until he got injured.

“He wastes so many good crossing opportunities. He was very, very poor yesterday. It’s probably his worst game for Tottenham.”

The Verdict: Damning verdict by Wenham

Wenham’s damning verdict suggests that Antonio Conte is not playing Reguilon out of choice, but is instead being forced into the starting XI due to Ryan Sessegnon’s hamstring injury. This rendered the 21-year-old out of action for Spurs’ last four games, and with an unknown return date for the ex-Fulham starlet, it appears that Reguilon is going to receive more game-time over the remainder of the season.

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Whilst Wenham claimed that the Spaniard is “the worst of the bunch”, this is arguably an unfair assertion. According to WhoScored, the 25-year-old has been Tottenham’s fifth-best player this season, so perhaps the £68,000-per-week defender is merely in a momentary rut and could come good again during the final weeks of the campaign.

In other news: Dean Jones makes Harry Kane claim amid Paulo Dybala speculation

Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold has made a claim over the possibility of Gareth Bale returning to north London in the summer.

The Lowdown: Pre-contract reports

Bale spent last season on loan at Spurs, scoring 16 goals in 34 appearances. He returned to Real Madrid over the summer, where he has once again been surplus to requirements, despite Carlo Ancelotti taking over at the Bernabeu.

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The 32-year-old has played just 270 minutes of La Liga action this season, with reports last month claiming Tottenham have already reached a pre-contract agreement with Bale when he becomes a free agent in July.

The Latest: Gold’s comments

Gold ran a Q&A on football.london on Thursday lunchtime and was asked by one Spurs supporter about the possibility of Bale making a return under Antonio Conte next season.

This is what he had to say, admitting he was ‘intrigued’ over Bale’s next move.

“As much as I’d like to see Gareth Bale have a last hurrah in front of full crowds at Spurs I just can’t see how he fits Conte’s team with the workrate and pressing required for an older player with his injury nightmares of recent seasons.

“I’m as intrigued as anyone to see what the Welshman does next.”

The Verdict: Look elsewhere?

Bale once again showcased his world-class talent for Wales on Thursday, scoring twice to help his country take a step closer to the World Cup later this year.

However, going off his injury issues in recent years, along with Conte’s physical demands, it could be a wise move to avoid a reunion with Bale.

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He may not be able to cope with the Italian’s methods and would be on a big wage, so going after a younger more central attacker to rival Harry Kane looks to be the smarter option.

In other news: ‘A big deal’ – Gold drops ‘behind the scenes’ claim at Spurs on ‘brilliant’ forward. 

Rangers will be looking to make their way through to the next round of the UEFA Europa League as they return to action at Ibrox tonight.

Gio van Bronckhorst’s side head into their second-leg clash with Borussia Dortmund with a two-goal lead after beating the German outfit 4-2 away from home last week.

The Gers come into this game off the back of a disappointing result against Dundee United. They were held to a 1-1 draw in the Premiership and the Dutch head coach could look to freshen his side up.

How many changes will he make to the team? Here is our predicted XI…

We are predicting that he will make three alterations to the side, with Fashion Sakala, Leon Balogun and Glen Kamara all coming in.

Filip Helander will be taken out of the XI as he has not been registered to play in Europe. He made his first Premiership start after returning from injury at the weekend and looked as rusty as you would expect a player to be after so long out of action. The defender was caught out for the opening goal and made a few clumsy mistakes throughout.

Van Bronckhorst will now have to replace him and could go with Nigeria international Balogun alongside Connor Goldson. The centre-back has confirmed that he is available for selection and has been a machine in the Europa League this season, averaging a sublime SofaSsore rating of 7.25.

FFC published an article explaining why Sakala should be unleashed from the start. He has the pace to cause problems on the counter and that could result in £16k-per-week dud Scott Arfield being axed after a couple of disappointing displays in recent games.

Finally, Kamara could come in for Sunday’s goalscorer Joe Aribo in what may come across as a surprising change. Rangers have a two-goal lead to protect at home and there is no need for them to come flying out of the blocks to extend their advantage, with Dortmund now chasing the game from kick-off.

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It could benefit the Gers to start off with a more defensive midfield three and look to hit on the counter with the pace of Kent and Sakala out wide. Kamara can sit just behind Ryan Jack and John Lundstram and provide a screen for the back four, instead of having Aribo in the number 10 role to facilitate attacks.

The ex-Charlton man could then be brought on in the second half to boost the forward line if Dortmund pull themselves back into the match and van Bronckhorst’s side need an injection of quality on the ball.

AND in other news, Forget Amad: Gvb must unearth “exciting” 18 y/o Rangers dynamo who impressed Murty…

Wolves centre-back Max Kilman could sign a new-and-improved deal with the club at the end of the season, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Kilman excelling this season

Bruno Lage’s side have largely impressed this season despite a dip in recent weeks, with numerous players shining throughout the team.

Kilman has surely been one of Wolves’ strongest performers, starting 27 Premier League games and being described as ‘outstanding’ by team-mate Conor Coady.

While the 24-year-old’s current deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2026, it could be that he signs another contract in the near future.

The Latest: New deal in the offing?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that Kilman could become one of Wolves’ highest earners following his dominant displays at the back.

The journalist said: “I’m sure there will be contract talks, maybe in the summer, just to improve his terms and bring him more in line with the other top earners at Molineux. It would show his reward for the progress that he’s made for the club as well.”

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The Verdict: Makes complete sense

Kilman has shown this season that he deserves to be recognised as one of the most important players at Molineux, averaging 3.4 clearances per game in the league and enjoying a 95.7% pass completion rate in the Carabao Cup.

Signing a new deal will also put Wolves in a strong bargaining position moving forward, should there be interest from one of the top clubs in the country. Indeed, talkSPORT reported last month that Chelsea have been considering a move for the 24-year-old, a boyhood fan of the Champions League holders.

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The hope is that Kilman remains at Molineux for many years to come, but if he is to move on, it is imperative that the club receive an appropriate transfer fee which can then be put towards top-quality signings.

In other news, Tim Spiers has shared a worrying observation regarding one Wolves player. Read more here.

Pundit Frank McAvennie has been reacting to updates on Newcastle duo Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Trippier and Wilson updates

The Magpies have headed to Dubai during the international break for a warm-weather training camp.

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Wilson has been out since December with a calf problem, while Trippier has been sidelined since February following a metatarsal fracture, although both players made the trip to Dubai along with another long-term injury victim Federico Fernandez.

Eddie Howe is hopeful that both Wilson and Trippier will return to action before the end of the season after making returns to training.

The Latest: McAvennie reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie labelled the pair’s return to training as ‘incredible’, adding that it is an ‘exciting time’ for both players. The 62-year-old said:

“Newcastle have done so well to keep winning without those players.

“Tripper was so, so good before his injury and we all know how good Wilson is on his day.

“He’s still their top scorer. It’s incredible to see them both working to be back and Newcastle have a decent end to the season.

“I think they just need one or two more wins to really secure their safety.

“Then you are looking at how high they can finish, getting into the top 10 is not out of the question for me.

“It’s an exciting time for them and I’m sure the fans can’t wait to see those guys back.”

The Verdict: Almost safe for another year

Newcastle have enjoyed a fine start to 2022, picking up 20 points from a possible 30 to leave them nine points clear of the bottom three with nine games remaining.

They have coped without Wilson, but having him back to challenge Chris Wood in attack will be a huge boost. Trippier’s return will also be a welcome one given his impressive early impact, but Howe will need to be cautious with the pair in the final weeks of the season given how long they have been sidelined.

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Hopefully the Magpies will be all but safe before the two players make full recoveries, but only time will tell whether or not that proves to be the case.

In other news – Deal agreed: Lee Ryder now drops big Newcastle update during international break on ‘hard-working’ gem