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Ralph Hasenhuttl has enjoyed a fairly successful period as Southampton manager since arriving at the club in December 2018.

He has helped to keep the Saints in the Premier League in three separate seasons and is hoping to make it four this term.

In that time, he has helped to sign and develop some impressive talent at St. Mary’s. One player who he has helped thrive in England is Polish centre-back Jan Bednarek, who was one of the players he inherited upon taking over in 2018.

The season before Hasenhuttl’s arrival, the centre-back played five Premier League matches and struggled to maintain his place in the side. He is now up to 103 career appearances in the English top-flight, showing how he has become a regular under the Austrian head coach.

Southampton paid a reported £5.4m to Lech Poznan in 2017 to sign Bednarek. Transfermarkt now values the Poland international at £22.5m. This means that his price has soared 317% in the intervening period between his signing and today.

Hasenhuttl has made Bednarek a key cog in his defensive unit and the defender has been able to help his side remain in the division each year. The Austrian head coach has pulled off a masterstroke with the defender as he has been able to develop a player, who was out of the first-team picture when he arrived, into one who is now worth over £20m.

Last season, Bednarek started 36 of Southampton’s 38 Premier League matches and averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.7. He made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game in the division, showing off his defensive qualities at centre-back as he regularly cut out opposition attacks.

Hasenhuttl has shown that he has the ability, as a coach, to help his players progress and this is a valuable asset to have in a manager. It means that Martin Semmens can bring young players to the club in the transfer market with faith that the ex-Leipzig man will be able to get the best out of them and potentially get the player to a point where he can be sold on for a huge profit further down the line.

AND in other news, Ralph masterstroke: Southampton flop has seen value plummet 64% since St. Mary’s exit…

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba put in an excellent performance over the weekend as France secured their maiden UEFA Nations League title.

Les Blues saw off Spain 2-1 in an entertaining final after well-taken goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe cancelled out Mikel Oyarzabal’s opener.

The two goalscorers understandably took the majority of the acclaim after the final whistle, but Pogba’s influence over proceedings was arguably overlooked amid the celebrations as Didier Deschamps’ charges secured another piece of silverware.

Just after the hour mark, the 6 foot 2 gem went on a typical surging run, slaloming his way through two challenges before picking out a Mbappe, with the move eventually ending up with Theo Hernandez hitting the crossbar.

It was a sign of things to come for the engine room operator as Pogba then played his part in Benzema’s emphatic equaliser just minutes later, linking the play from midfield to attack as he does so well at club level.

Although he didn’t record a goal or an assist, the Red Devils gem was instrumental in France’s victory, and his control over proceedings from the centre of the pitch was pivotal to his side’s success.

Pogba’s impressive display saw him awarded a match rating of 7.9 out of 10, the highest total for any player on the pitch, as per SofaScore.

And it’s easy to understand why when taking a closer look at his underlying numbers. Pogba completed all six of his attempted dribbles, won a whopping 13 duels and made one key pass throughout the 90 minutes.

The 28-year-old also made a telling contribution defensively too, making three tackles, two clearances and one interception for his national team.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping Pogba can maintain this sort of form when the Old Trafford outfit take on Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday, inspiring them to a much-needed three points.

And, in other news…Solskjaer could unearth Man Utd’s Juan Mata heir in “jet-heeled” 16y/o prodigy

With Southampton having only managed to create five big chances in the Premier League so far this season, the joint-second lowest out of any team in the top flight, it’s safe to say Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have struggled to create goalscoring opportunities in the league.

However, it seems as though the club have their eye on signing a player who could help them in that regard.

What’s the news?

It has recently been reported by Spanish media outlet Fichajes that Southampton, alongside fellow Premier League clubs Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion are interested in signing Real Betis attacking-midfielder Rodri Sanchez.

Sanchez joined Betis’ youth academy from Deportivo’s youth academy back in the 2016 summer transfer window.

Since then, the 21-year-old, who is currently valued at £1.35m according to Transfermarkt, has worked his way through Betis’ youth levels before eventually making his senior debut in  November last year in a 5-2 defeat against Barcelona in La Liga.

Overall, Sanchez has made a total of 26 appearances for Manuel Pellegrini’s side across all competitions in which he has managed to score two goals and provide two assists along the way, showing just how creative he can be on the pitch.

The missing piece

In terms of a potential move to Southampton, given the attacking talent Sanchez has shown for Betis in front of goal, he could well be an important player for the Saints. That’s judging by how they’ve only managed to score five goals in their opening seven league games of the season.

With his young age, there’s every possibility that Sanchez could well be Southampton’s next James Ward-Prowse given they occupy similar positions in the final third. Both can play out wide, while their awareness allows them to dictate play from central areas as well.

Speaking about his talent last term after he found the net, La Liga and Spanish football writer Andrew Miller said: “One of the real bright spots this season has been the emergence of Rodri in the Betis first team. Such a gifted young player and caps off an incredible effort with his first senior goal. Always brings a real injection of energy into the team.”

That final line is incredibly similar to Ward-Prowse, somebody who charges around the engine room with his imperious fitness.

However, it’s that lack of a creative spark that really makes Rodri such an attractive proposition. He makes 45.4 progressive carries of the ball per 90, meaning he’d get Southampton up the pitch quicker. That stat also ranks him second among those already at St Mary’s.

Furthermore, he has produced 3.47 shot-creating actions per 90, a statistic that outranks everyone at Hasenhuttl’s disposal.

Looking ahead to the upcoming January transfer window, the Saints should definitely consider making a move for Sanchez to see if he can turn their season around from its current state. At the moment, they are devoid of creativity but that could change with the Betis star in their team.

However, with both Everton and Brighton supposedly interested in signing Sanchez as well, the Saints could have a fight on their hands to get him as both clubs are currently above Southampton in the league table.

In other news: Hasenhuttl could save Saints from relegation by signing “important” £7.2m-rated beast – opinion

Flocking to Twitter, these Sheffield Wednesday fans were left less than impressed with the performance of defender Chey Dunkley as their side succumbed to a 1-1 draw away to Cambridge United.

Darren Moore’s side, looking to get back into contention for a Championship promotion spot, haven’t exactly got off to the best start this season and currently lie ninth in League One.

Indeed, they sit eight points off second and an automatic qualification spot with Sunderland also holding a game in hand over The Owls.

If Wednesday are to regain their English second tier status, a swift turnaround is surely needed, with some supporters feeling Dunkley was one of the main culprits to blame from their side’s draw at the Abbey Stadium.

Despite racking up a 7/10 rating on SofaScore, the 29-year-old also lost possession 14 times and won just two out of his five ground duels up against Cambridge last night.

Taking this into account, some Wednesday fans feel he certainly didn’t have his best night overall.

Find all of their verdicts on Dunkley’s display down below.

Wednesday fans hammer Dunkley display…

“#swfc drop down to 9th in

table after tonight’s 80 minutes drab performance. Came alive in last 10 but overall poor. Glad to finally come back from losing to gain a point. We need Hutchinson back ASAP. Dunkley was a liability at times.”

Credit: @VitalWednesday

“Awful. Players look like they’ve never met. No idea of the style or system. Dunkley is terrible. Moore isn’t a football manager. Awful.”

Credit: @EndeavourFP

“Wing, Johnson, dunkley not good enough, just to name a few”

Credit: @Coa17Jor

“I’ve genuinely seen U10s pass and control a ball better than Dunkley, Iorfa, Patterson, Wing and Johnson. How can they be so poor as pros??? I mean Dunkley and Iorfa can barely kick a balk straight and keep it in play!”

Credit: @RocketOwl1986

“Iorfa & Dunkley… not a patch on Hutchinson. Both donkeys who can’t even play the ball out the back.”

Credit: @bensaavage

“Just gonna say: Defence needs sorting. Either Hutch or Gibson when back fit need to replace Dunkley. Donkey of a player Relieved to get a point from a debut goal from FIZZ. top class player. On to the next. P.S – demand Moore to be sacked all you like – it ain’t gonna happen.”

Credit: @BreeseCallum

West Ham face intense competition for one of their mooted transfer targets, and as a result, it could hand new head of recruitment Rob Newman his first disaster in east London…

What’s the word?

According to Sport Mediaset (via Sport Witness), the Irons’ top-flight rivals Southampton are the latest club to be linked with a move for Genk striker Paul Onuachu, joining the likes of Arsenal, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in the long list of potential suitors.

Interestingly, West Ham face the Belgian outfit in the Europa League later this week, so Newman and manager David Moyes will see firsthand the threat the 6 foot 7 giant can pose.

Just last month, Sport/Voetbal magazine journalist Peter t’Kint claimed that a good performance from the Nigeria international would practically seal his move to the London Stadium, but going by these latest developments, there are plenty of other teams now keen on him.

It’s thought that Genk would like around €26m (£22m) for his signature.

January disaster?

With so many clubs seemingly keen on the 27-year-old talisman, the Hammers may find it a hard task to seal any move, particularly amid interest from Atletico and Inter, who can offer Champions League football.

It would therefore be wise for Newman and the club’s recruitment team to act fast if they are to stand a chance at sealing Onuachu – and they should very much want to do so, given his goalscoring record.

During the 2020/21 campaign, the £19.8m-rated colossus scored 35 times and he has continued that lucrative form into the current season, where he has bagged 11 goals in just 14 appearances, as per Transfermarkt. In total, he has bagged 56 goals in just 84 games for the Belgian giants.

Onuachu has been described as a “goal king” by former Wimbledon star John Fashanu, whilst his towering presence makes him “impossible to stop,” according to his one-time FC Midtjylland teammate Alexander Scholz.

It was already a major risk to not sign another forward during the summer, so it would be inexcusable to not land one in January.

West Ham currently remain in all domestic cup competitions and are looking more than likely to advance in the Europa League, so their fixture list is going to remain hectic well into 2022.

With just one senior striker in 31-year-old Michail Antonio, who has dealt with plenty of injury problems over recent seasons, it’s a worrying prospect.

A move for the Genk sensation would not only provide much-needed cover for the Hammers talisman but could also offer a new threat, given his aerial qualities.

Newman must look to win the tussle for Onuachu, as otherwise he faces the prospect of making his first mistake at the London Stadium.

AND in other news, Moyes could save West Ham millions with 17 y/o gem who “could be the next Declan Rice”…

Arguably the best way for Crystal Palace to compete with their more affluent rivals is to maximise the abundance of talent available to them on their south London doorstep.

And it appears as though the Eagles outfit are finally starting to capitalise on the local prospects that have so regularly slipped through their fingers in the past.

Despite the likes of Jadon Sancho, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Emile Smith Rowe growing up within close proximity of Selhurst Park, they have all learned their trade elsewhere due to the below-standard facilities at Palace.

However, with the capital club now being awarded a Category 1 status for their academy following significant investment, a new era is just around the corner.

One potential star who could play a pivotal part in Palace’s next chapter under Patrick Vieira is 19-year-old Malachi Boateng.

The versatile midfielder was named the club’s Under-23 Player of the Season last term, and earned high praise from academy coach Shaun Derry.

“This young player has brought so many highs to this training group; he is a pleasure to work alongside. Hopefully, he can develop more and more as the years go by, and we can hear a lot more about him,” said the 43-year-old.

Boateng’s eye-catching performances for the youth teams have seen the versatile youngster regularly train with the first-team squad, too, and Derry went into further detail regarding what makes him such a special player.

“A midfielder who has so many strings to his bow… He shows aggression, he shows quality on the ball, he can get around the pitch – wins the second ball and can dictate play.

“He’s a fine young man and one that represents the football club in a way we want the football club represented,” Derry concluded.

The club’s official website describes the Englishman as a “central player with a good range of passing” who is also “comfortable with both feet”, giving Palace supporters ample reason to be excited over his future prospects.

With current midfielders Luka Milivojević, Cheikhou Kouyaté and James McArthur all in their 30s and approaching the twilight of their careers, Vieira may be tempted to reward Boateng with his first senior appearance for the Eagles, potentially discovering yet another gem in the process.

And, in other news…Imagine him and Olise: Parish must revive Palace interest in £18m-rated magician 

An update has emerged on Manchester United defender Phil Jones, regarding Newcastle’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Magpies are one of the teams eyeing him up as a possible target for the January transfer window.

The report names Watford as one of the other clubs interested in the English centre-back, whilst Championship side Derby – managed by Wayne Rooney – are also in the running.

Blunder

Eddie Howe, who is reportedly close to taking over at St. James’ Park, could make an early blunder by signing Jones from United. The ex-Bournemouth coach must avoid making a major mistake in his first window by opting against a deal for the Englishman.

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Put simply, there is no need for the club to take such a risk with Jones when they can look elsewhere. If Newcastle are looking to sign players to help them avoid relegation then availability and reliability are two factors that must be closely considered and Jones’ track record suggests that he is a dud who will not be able to provide what they need.

United legend Rio Ferdinand once blasted him as a ‘waste of time’ for remaining at Old Trafford despite his lack of minutes on the pitch. He said:

“He’s done well. Listen, good luck to him if you can get it. Staying at Man United is a great gig, but I look at him as a person, are you really going to be happy sitting there all these years.

“There are players who are happy to just sit at clubs and not play and just chill. Winston Bogarde did it at Chelsea for about three or four years. Signed a big deal and commuted in from Holland.

“If I was in the squad with someone like that I wouldn’t talk to them. They are a waste of time, why would I chat to you and give you any energy, taking that away from my other teammates who are here to play and go into battle for 90 minutes every week.”

The defender is said to be on £110k-per-week at the club and has made eight appearances since the start of the 2019/20 campaign. Jones has suffered 22 separate injuries for United, with his latest one keeping him out for 78 competitive matches.

This shows how unreliable he is due to his injury situation and Howe should not be trying to take a risk with the dud in January. Instead, the Magpies should try to sign a player with recent first-team involvement so that they can hit the ground running in the second-half of the season.

AND in other news, Forget Hayden: Newcastle gem with 9 duels won was Jones’ real hero vs Brighton…

Manchester United have not contacted former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane over possibly replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

And, as to be expected, a number of United fans have been reacting to the update on social media.

Rumours emerged in recent days from Duncan Castles of The Times claiming United have stepped up their attempts to lure the Frenchman to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils hierarchy are reportedly ‘hopeful’ that his close relationships with Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane can help to convince him to join, however, Romano has a different take.

He claimed that United are yet to contact Zidane, who is enjoying his private life and isn’t desperate to work again during the current campaign without a pre-season under his belt.

This is of course not the news fans wanted to hear, given the former Real Madrid boss won a remarkable two league titles and three Champions Leagues during his time in the Spanish capital.

United fans react

@utdreport shared Romano’s update on Zidane on Twitter on Sunday lunchtime.

This is what these United fans had to say in reply, with many making their views known.

“Fabrizio hype. Di Marzio is the only Italian journo we trust these days soz”

Credit: @LaPiochey

“Make it happen @Cristiano”

Credit: @lenh0ff

“I knew it. We are getting Rodgers.”

Credit: @andromedaUtd

“All I know is pain”

Credit: @LethuTheLegend

“Ah sigh we can never have good things”

Credit: @UTDTrey

“Fabrizio is behind the curve he’s tier 5 these days”

Credit: @OIeOutNow

With the pressure on Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reaching boiling point, a disappointing result against Watford over the weekend could see his tenure come to a close.

The Red Devils have failed to put in a convincing display since their curtain-raising demolition of Leeds United, losing six games in all competitions – including a humiliating defeat at the hands of fierce rivals Liverpool.

Speculation surrounding Solskjaer’s future has continued to mount in recent days, with Brendan Rodgers appearing as the frontrunner to take over the Old Trafford hot seat unless things drastically improve.

It was meant to be the season that United moved away from their transitional period under the Norwegian and blossomed into a genuine title contender, but that ambition has now become as distant as ever before.

The 20-time English champions are currently sitting in sixth position in the Premier League table, nine points behind league leaders Chelsea as their hopes of a first top-flight crown in eight years lie in tatters.

But the solution to at least some of Solskjaer’s woes could be a relatively simple one. After a drawn-out two-year pursuit, United finally secured Jadon Sancho’s signature over the summer, splashing out £73m to prise him away from Borussia Dortmund.

And yet after his eventual arrival, it appears as though the 48-year-old tactician has no real plan of how or where to use the £350k-per-week earner.

Admittedly, the surprise arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo late in the window may have scuppered some of Solskjaer’s original plans for Sancho, but given time and a consistent run of games, there’s no doubt he will produce top-class displays week in week out.

During his time in Germany, the youngster contributed a quite ridiculous 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 appearances for BVB, claiming the DFB-Pokal along the way, leading to Owen Hargreaves claiming his “potential is off the charts.”

However, he’s failed to start more than two Premier League games in a row in the opening months of the current campaign, completing the full 90 minutes on just one occasion in all competitions for Solskjaer’s struggling side.

When players are adapting to a new set of teammates, a different league and a new style of play, it often takes time for them to find their best form before they hit the same heights they did so readily at their previous club.

For Sancho, it will undoubtedly be a similar process. Time is not something that Solskjaer currently has on his side, though, so the temptation to stick with tried and tested methods is a natural instinct.

Nevertheless, his ability to win a game with a moment of genius and truly world-class potential warrants a show of faith from the under-fire Scandinavian; he could just save his job in return.

And, in other news…”As things stand” – Romano delivers Man Utd update that’ll surely have fans gutted 

Patrick Bamford is likely to be out of Leeds United’s Premier League clash with Tottenham this weekend, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Bamford a key absentee

The 28-year-old was a standout figure for the Whites last season but his 2021/22 campaign has been stunted so far.

Bamford has been limited to just five Premier League starts because of an ankle injury and he hasn’t featured since the middle of September.

While the England international’s return appears to be edging closer, it looks likely that Sunday’s trip to Spurs will come too soon.

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The Latest: Hay provides update

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, the reliable Hay claimed that the striker would miss out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as his recovery continues:

“Not expecting Patrick Bamford to feature for Leeds at Spurs.”

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The Verdict: Desperately need him back

Bamford has been a huge loss for Leeds in the last few months and his absence has undoubtedly played a part in Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s struggles.

Admittedly, Leeds are now unbeaten in their last three league outings but they desperately need their attacking focal point back in the fold – Rodrigo has managed just nine goals in a Leeds shirt, while fellow back-up Tyler Roberts has found the net just once in 39 total appearances in the top flight.

Seventeen league goals and seven assists last season highlight Bamford’s influence in comparison to that duo, and if he could return in the next few weeks, he could turn the Whites’ campaign around.

In other news, one Leeds player is expected to be fit for the Spurs game. Find out who it is here.