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Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan believes Raphinha will be fit to face Liverpool on Monday night, as the midfielder has had plenty of time to train at Thorp Arch this week.

The Whites face one of their most intriguing games of the season on Monday night, as the Premier League champions head to Elland Road.

The 2020/21 campaign hasn’t panned out the way many expected for the Reds, but they remain a top class side who have won their last three league matches.

Leeds will need to be somewhere close to their best in order to pick up a positive result, meaning key players being available is vital.

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Raphinha tipped to start against Liverpool

Raphinha left the pitch injured in stoppage time in the stunning 2-1 win away to Manchester City, making him a doubt for the game, but Whelan told Football Insider that he believes the Brazilian will start, claiming that he will have been light training all week at Thorp Arch:

“I am expecting him to shake it off. I mean, these are the games that big players love to play in. He has had a good week of recovery time and treatment. He has probably done light training, I would imagine, as well.

“I cannot, for the life of me, think of a game that he would rather play in. A Monday night game against Liverpool, the champions of the Premier League.

“It’s a game where he wants to go out there and prove himself again.”

Transfer Tavern take

Raphinha has arguably been Leeds’ Player of the Year, scoring six goals and registering the same number of assists in the league, as well as catching the eye with his dribbling skills and unpredictable nature.

The 24-year-old being passed fit would be a major positive for Bielsa, allowing him to cause Andy Robertson problems, with the Scot not at his best this season.

The threat that Raphinha poses could also make the left-back hesitant to go forward, especially with no Virgil van Dijk around to cover him, therefore costing Liverpool an attacking threat as well.

In other news, a former Premier League defender has explained why he thinks one Leeds player is ‘lucky’. Read more here.

Writing for football.london, Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold has relayed the progress of youngster Troy Parrott as he continues his loan stint at Ipswich Town in League One – with the reliable journalist sharing how he has steadily improved for the Tractor Boys. 

He is yet to score a goal for Paul Lambert’s side, with his latest outing coming on Tuesday night as the Tractor Boys took on Lincoln City in a 1-1 draw at Portman Road.

Gold relays Troy Parrott update

However, despite still not being able to chalk up his first strike for Ipswich, Gold has relayed that Parrott has been making steady progress in east Anglia.

Indeed, the football.london correspondent shared, before his half an hour cameo against Lincoln on Tuesday as a substitute, that Parrott has racked up a few starts under Lambert recently – playing 87 minutes during a 2-1 win at Accrington and then 68 minutes in a 3-1 defeat to Gillingham at the weekend.

As well as this, the 19-year-old was lavished with praise by the East Anglian Times for his display against Accrington – as football.london quote, they branded him a ‘workhorse’ with ‘plenty of quality’.

Transfer Tavern take

At the centre of a public Jose Mourinho scolding last year, with the Portuguese questioning his attitude, Parrott slowly becoming an ‘asset’ for Ipswich could come as good news.

This isn’t the first time he has been praised this season either, with Millwall boss Gary Rowett branding the Irish starlet as ‘excellent’ after his debut for the Lions on another loan before the new year.

A previous update by Gold highlighted that a decision over Parrott lingers at the end of the season for Tottenham – whether to send him back out on loan or give him a shot in the first team.

Lilywhites supporters will surely be hoping he can live up to his potential and notch that first goal for Ipswich soon.

In other news: Tottenham remain keen on this ‘shining’ attacker, find out more here.

Emmanuel Macron appeared to joke with Kylian Mbappe about his proposed move to Real Madrid after inviting the PSG superstar to a state dinner.

• Mbappe meets Macron at Elysee Palace
• French president seen joking with PSG star
• Forward set for summer move to Madrid

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe met with France president Macron and the Emir of Qatari at Elysee Palace on Tuesday after being invited to a state dinner. Macron appeared to joke with Mbappe when he arrived, according to RMC Sport. "You’re going to create problems for us," Macron is believed to have told Mbappe with a smile on his face in what is thought to be a reference to the forward's expected summer transfer to Real Madrid from Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe has been linked with a move to Madrid for a long time, with Macron having previously helped influence the France international's future. The president has admitted he advised Mbappe to snub Los Blancos in 2021 and stay in the French capital. Macron also said last summer he would try to ensure Mbappe stayed at PSG but may now have to resign himself to defeat, with the 25-year-old seemingly destined for a summer switch to the Santiago Bernabeu.

• WHAT EMMANUEL MACRON SAID

  Macron also spoke about the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which saw Mbappe and France beaten in the final by Argentina: The French president said: "There are also so many beautiful memories, in less serious but as vibrant moments as this 2022 World Cup. Kylian Mbappe’s extraordinary game, the memory of (Randal) Kolo Muani’s saved shot, which still remains bitter in French hearts. 

  "But that’s the thing with the king of sports. They have had a fantastic tournament, with what I think was the most spectacular final in history. France was there with its fans, its security forces, its companies like RATP and its footballers."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE AND PSG

  Madrid are yet to officially announce Mbappe's signing but are expected to do so as soon as it is confirmed Los Blancos can no longer meet PSG in this season's Champions League. Mbappe is expected to receive a world-record signing on fee when he moves to the Spanish giants on a five-year contract. Meanwhile, PSG will look for a replacement and have already been linked with a host of players, including Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford.

David Moyes could look to upgrade Angelo Ogbonna at West Ham United in the summer transfer window with a successful swoop for ACF Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic.

What’s the word?

According to Fabrizio Romano, while speaking on the Here We Go podcast via Football-Italia, the Irons have seen a €25m (£21.5m) approach for Milenkovic turned down.

It is not stipulated when the offer was tabled, though co-owner and Chairman David Sullivan revealed to talkSPORT last October that a deal to sign the Serbian had fallen through after talks between West Ham and Fiorentina broke down.

The Hammers targeted Milenkovic with boss Moyes desperate for defensive reinforcements before the arrival of Craig Dawson on loan from Watford, and are expected to again target signings to improve the London Stadium backline this summer.

Moyes and Sullivan would face strong competition in any attempt to revive interest in Milenkovic, with Manchester United now considered the favourites to sign the 23-year-old.

Milenkovic is out of contract at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in the summer of 2022 and is currently unlikely to pen new terms with Cesare Prandelli’s side, though Fiorentina will still hold out for the right fee in the next off-season.

La Viola President Rocco Commisso considers the 26-cap international to be worth €40m (£34.5m), yet it is anticipated that the Serie A side will have to accept a lesser sum given Milenkovic’s contract situation.

The defender, valued by TransferMarkt at £25m, has started all 21 of his Italian top-flight appearances this season while helping toward each of Fiorentina’s six clean sheets.

Should West Ham repursue Milenkovic?

West Ham could face a tall ordeal trying to sign Milenkovic in the next transfer window with Manchester United now considered the favourites for his signature, but Moyes can land a potential Ogbonna upgrade in the €29,000-per-week (£25k-p/w) defender.

Moyes lauds the impact Ogbonna brings to east London, having described the Italian as a “magnificent” and “really important” player following his high ankle sprain sustained in the FA Cup defeat to the Red Devils earlier this month.

Ogbonna had also started all 23 available Premier League fixtures this season and only failed to play the full 90 minutes during November’s 1-0 win over Fulham, having been forced off with half an hour remaining due to a feared groin injury.

Yet the 32-year-old’s efforts in the top-flight lag behind Milenkovic’s Serie A performances to date this term in a number of ways, to suggest that the younger Fiorentina star would be a very useful pick-up if the Irons were to repursue the former FK Partizan Beograd enforcer.

While Ogbonna has offered 0.9 successful tackles per game in the Premier League this season, Milenkovic has produced 1.6 for Fiorentina in the Serie A, per SofaScore.

The Serbian also provides a higher number of interceptions (1.4) than the Italian (1.0) and is more successful in the air, with 3.5 duels won to 2.2. He further retains possession and plays the ball more adequately after winning it back, with 47.2 accurate passes (86%) to the Hammers ace’s 28.8 (80%).

Ogbonna’s only true leading trait over Milenkovic is in clearances (4.4 to 3.2), suggesting Moyes would not only land an upgrade in winning the ball back in the Manchester United target, but one who would see West Ham improve their ability to play out from defence as well.

It remains to be seen how willing Commisso is to lower his valuation and reduce the €15m (£13m) difference between his asking price and West Ham’s rejected offer.

Yet the Irons should at least return to the table to express their interest again.

AND in other news, David Moyes can discover West Ham’s next Dimitri Payet in a 24-y/o whose protected by a £258m release clause…

The Portuguese is struggling to weave his magic despite the team's resurgence and urgently needs to start firing again

When Manchester United were at their lowest ebb earlier in the season, they had to thank their lucky stars they could at least rely on the brilliance of Bruno Fernandes. It was the captain who pulled them out of a hole against Nottingham Forest, when they conceded two goals in the opening four minutes. The Portuguese set up Casemiro's equaliser, earned the foul from which Forest captain Joe Worrall was sent off, and then bagged the winner from the penalty spot.

Fernandes was also pivotal to their narrow 1-0 win at Burnley, scoring a stupendous volley which halted a run of three successive defeats. And after facing fierce criticism from Roy Keane after the dire defeat by Manchester City and calls to be stripped of the captaincy, it was Fernandes who stepped up in stoppage-time at Craven Cottage, firing United to a much-needed victory at Fulham.

The midfielder was often made the scapegoat by pundits for United's troubles due to his body language and his penchant for complaining to referees, but he was never the problem. However, a curious thing has happened in the last two months: United have made huge strides in 2024, winning six out of their last seven matches, but their revival has not been down to Fernandes. If anything, it has been in spite of him.

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  No league goals in 13 games

  That decisive strike against Fulham on November 4 was Fernandes' last league goal for United. He has failed to strike in 13 matches since, while contributing just three assists.

  He has scored in the FA Cup matches against Wigan and Newport County – one of which was a penalty – and in the Champions League at Galatasaray, but he has largely been on the margins of United's best attacking moves of late.

  Instead, Alejandro Garnacho has taken a step forward, notching five goals and three assists in the league since Fernandes' last goal. Scott McTominay has also come to the fore, scoring four goals and adding an assist despite starting just four league games since December and having to make the most of substitute appearances.

  Rasmus Hojlund has also been in the mood after his quiet start to life with United, becoming the youngest-ever player to score in six consecutive Premier League games.

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  In his favourite position

  And the worrying thing about Fernandes' dip in goalscoring statistics is that he is now playing in his favoured position as a No.10, where he should be at the heart of United's best moves. He has also played more minutes than any outfield player, only missing the match with Liverpool at Anfield as he was suspended.

  The injury to Casemiro had left him with more defensive duties, but the Brazilian returned to action in late January, forming a solid double pivot with Kobbie Mainoo which has given United more stability in midfield and a solid platform for Fernandes to weave his magic. He has been unable to do so.

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  Wasting chance after chance

  It is not for want of trying, as the midfielder has fired off 14 shots in his last five Premier League outings, but he has only hit the target three times. He is also carving out plenty of opportunities for his team-mates.

  Fernandes ranks third in the Premier League for chances created per match, only trailing James Maddison and Martin Odegaard. But he ranks fourth when it comes to wasting chances, sitting behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Nicolas Jackson and Darwin Nunez.

  Fernandes has an expected goals total of six per this season, but has only managed to score three times, one of which was the penalty against Forest.

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  Alarming drop off

  Fernandes' struggles are even more alarming when you contrast his low numbers with the way he began his career with United. The midfielder posted a stunning eight league goals and seven assists in his first 14 matches after his move from Sporting CP in January 2020, dragging United to finish third as they gained more points than anyone else in the league following his signing.

  Fernandes followed his debut season with even better numbers in his second, scoring 18 times and providing 11 assists. His contributions started to fall when Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the club, but he still scored 10 times in the 2021-22 season and eight times last season, his lowest tally for United.

  He is now on track for his lowest scoring season yet, and urgently needs to build on his measly three goals so far.

Liam Kennedy has dropped a reassuring claim on the potential takeover of Newcastle United after a fan questioned him on Twitter.

The Shields Gazette journalist has claimed that the £300m deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group is ‘still live, and possible’ in what may come as a much welcome relief to some members of the St. James’ Park faithful.

What next for the potential Newcastle takeover?

The KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) still need to come back onto the table if the original bid from the consortium is to be revived.

There is also the issue of a pending arbitration hearing between the North East club and the Premier League in order to settle their legal disputes, which if the Tyneside club were to get the better of could spark a kickstart back into the proposed takeover.

However, there are some fears that relegation from the English top flight could end up scuppering the deal, as the Magpies would surely not be seen as much of an attractive club if they were down in the EFL Championship.

Steve Bruce’s team are currently a mere six points ahead of the dreaded drop zone in 17th spot in the table (BBC Sport), and relegation may dent the Toon Army’s takeover hopes.

In other news, find out what inside claim on Mike Ashley has been dropped by one former NUFC man here!

Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney says he would jump at the chance to join Pep Guardiola's coaching staff at Manchester City.

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• Rooney on lookout for new coaching role
• Admits he would join Guardiola's staff
• Ex-striker sacked after 15 games at Birmingham

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The ex-United and England striker has already started his career as a head coach, but he would not hesitate if offered the opportunity to study under Guardiola, even if it meant joining his old team's arch-rivals. The 38-year-old highlighted Mikel Arteta's progress at Arsenal after a spell as Guardiola's assistant to justify his claim.

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  WHAT ROONEY SAID

  Asked if he would accept a job as an assistant, Rooney told the podcast: "It depends. If Pep Guardiola comes in and asks me to be his assistant, you’d walk there! But you see what Arteta is doing now and I strongly believe a lot of that is from learning what Guardiola was doing and so it depends on what the situation is.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rooney has had three stints as a manager since ending his playing career. He started with a year-and-a-half spell at Derby before heading to MLS to take over as D.C. United boss, winning just 14 of the 53 games they played in that time before he left in October last year and ended up at Birmingham. Rooney's period with the Championship side was a dismal one, though, as he was sacked by NFL legend Tom Brady and his fellow Birmingham board members after just two wins in 15 games.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ROONEY?

  Rooney is still on the hunt for a new club and has indicated he would accept a job at a lower level in order to work his way up, adding: "Of course, my playing experience will help me, but I’m right at the bottom from a managerial point of view, and I want to work my way up. I’m not relying on what I’ve done as a player to get me into places that I shouldn’t be."

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a stunning move to bring Adam Armstrong back to St. James’ Park once the summer transfer window opens.

The Lowdown: Newcastle need Wilson back-up

It is clear that the North East club need sufficient cover for Callum Wilson up top, especially when the former AFC Bournemouth ace finds himself injured for long spells like he has done at times so far in the 2020/21 term.

Wilson has scored no fewer than 12 goals in total over all competitions this season, while between Joelinton, Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle, they have eight (Transfermarkt), showing that the Tyneside club need to find a player much more reliable in front of goal.

The Latest: Newcastle consider Armstrong

As per The Sun, Steve Bruce’s team are considering signing Armstrong after he was let go by the Magpies a few years ago.

However, they face competition from West Ham United, Everton, Brighton and Hove Albion and Fulham to sign the Blackburn Rovers striker, who is valued at £25m.

The Verdict: Newcastle must sign Armstrong

The Toon must be looking to sign Armstrong at all costs, as they desperately need better cover in the forward area.

Although he has been playing in the EFL Championship, Armstrong’s stats are still very impressive, with 34 goal contributions in 43 games in total across all competitions this campaign (Transfermarkt).

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Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has been full of praise for his prized asset, calling him a ‘brilliant’ player back in April after netting a hat-trick in a heroic performance, and at 24 years of age, he still has a lot of potential to improve.

Nonetheless, given that Armstrong knows what it means to play for NUFC, they should have no qualms in bringing the Englishman back home.

In other news, find out which ‘eloquent’ manager Newcastle are chasing here!

Newcastle United are set to be restricted in this summer’s transfer market because ‘the club remains in limbo’.

That’s according to Chris Waugh, a journalist for The Athletic.

The lowdown

A £300million deal involving Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben brothers was agreed with Mike Ashley in April 2020 (via BBC Sport).

But the group pulled out after running out of patience with the Premier League’s lengthy scrutiny process.

Ashley, described as ‘desperate’ to move on by sources close to the 56-year-old, has not given up on the deal and hopes to resurrect it.

An arbitration panel will now assess the validity of the league’s concerns in what could be a decisive battle.

The latest

The report states that, because ‘reluctant custodian’ Ashley remains in his post and is still waiting on the takeover, the club’s transfer budget will be limited.

As a result, a ‘much-needed squad overhaul’ will have to wait, so Steve Bruce – or whoever else may be in charge – will be forced to deal with a quiet summer window.

It appears Ashley has the perfect excuse not to spend money this summer.

The verdict

It’s dispiriting news for Newcastle fans. The Magpies flirted with relegation this year and, though recent form suggests they’re too good to go down when Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson are fit and available, they looked completely out of touch with the rest of the league when those two star men were out.

You can understand why Ashley wouldn’t want to commit huge sums when he sees his future elsewhere, but the Toon is desperately short of squad depth.

On the other hand, he did sanction a £20million deal for Wilson last summer in the aftermath of the takeover’s apparent collapse, so maybe one or two exciting signings could still be made.

In other news, read finance expert Kieran Maguire’s reaction to this Mike Ashley development.

Daniel Pinder, the editor-in-chief of Get German Football News, has exclusively told Football FanCast that Erling Haaland would be the perfect Sergio Aguero replacement for Manchester City this summer.

The Argentine has already announced that he’ll be leaving the Etihad at the end of the season, with the Borussia Dortmund striker reportedly top of Pep Guardiola’s wish list.

Haaland has already proved himself as one of Europe’s most feared frontmen by scoring 53 times in 56 appearances for the Bundesliga giants following his move from Salzburg last January, whilst laying on 16 assists for his teammates.

City face competition from rivals Manchester United for Haaland’s signature, whilst Guardiola has previously said it’s impossible for the Premier League champions-elect to sign another striker this window due to financial difficulties.

Despite those comments, Pinder believes that should the Norwegian swap the Bundesliga for the Premier League, he’d be a great addition for City to continue their domination of English football.

He told Football FanCast:

“I think if Man City were to go after him then he would be the man to replace Sergio Aguero – leading the line, being that threat in the box.

“He’s obviously shown he can play at the highest level and Man City, they challenge on all fronts, Premier League, Champions League and all the cups, it will be a big task to replace Aguero, but I think Haaland would be that player.”