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Chelsea owner Todd Boehly appears to be wasting no time in his search for a new manager at the club following the recent sacking of Graham Potter, with Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim on his list.

What’s the latest Chelsea manager news?

According to Fabrizio Romano, Amorim is “also appreciated” by the club and could be a contender for the vacant managerial position amid interest in Julian Nagelsmann.

Boehly may find he has competition from Tottenham Hotspur for the Portuguese manager, as they have also been linked with him since sacking Antonio Conte last month.

The 38-year-old has a contract at Sporting until 2026 and could cost the Blues a big compensation figure should they wish to prise him away from Portugal.

Could Ruben Amorim take over at Chelsea?

Although the likes of Nagelsmann and Zinedine Zidane have been linked with the Chelsea manager's job, Amorim would perhaps be a surprise candidate. However, his credentials may work in his favour and he could be an upgrade on Potter.

He has been in charge of Sporting since 2020, having previously had spells at SC Braga – where he won a Portuguese League Cup during his 13-game stint – and with Casa Pia.

Across 149 matches during his tenure as Sporting coach, Amorim has won 2.21 points per match, which is higher than Potter’s spell at Brighton (1.28) and Ostersund (1.71) in clubs where he has managed over 100 matches.

The 38-year-old has also won five major honours in his managerial career, suggesting he is perhaps best placed to lead Chelsea to success compared to just the one Swedish Cup for the Englishman.

Amorim led Sporting to a sensational title triumph in the 2020/2021 season, ending a 19-year title drought as they lost just once all campaign – when the title was already wrapped up – and conceded just 20 goals, propelling the manager into cult hero status.

This success led Daily Telegraph journalist Matt Law to label him as “highly rated” following their victory over Spurs in the Champions League last year, while the Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke went as far as to describe the tactician as "the most exciting young manager in European football."

Chelsea have had mixed success with Portuguese coaches over the years, with Jose Mourinho leading them to glory and Andre Villas-Boas enjoying a rather underwhelming few months in charge.

Yet, if the club were to delve back into that market again, this would surely have all the hallmarks of another Mourinho, rather than his discipline in Villas-Boas.

It could be an unorthodox choice given the two heavyweights previously linked, yet his youthful exuberance in the dugout and fresh tactical ideas would be incredibly exciting for those at Stamford Bridge.

Journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke outlined his surprise that both Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason have remained in charge of Tottenham Hotspur after Antonio Conte was sacked.

What's the latest on Cristian Stellini and Spurs?

On Sunday night, Spurs officially announced that the club's now former head coach would be leaving by mutual agreement as they thanked him for his contribution.

In the statement, chairman Daniel Levy said: "We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place. We all need to pull together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our Club and amazing, loyal supporters.”

On top of that, it was explained that Stellini and Mason would remain in charge of Tottenham for now with the 48-year-old Italian working as acting head, coach while the Englishman would be his assistant.

While speaking about this development on TalkSport, Pitt-Brooke explained why he was somewhat taken aback by the news that both men would remain with the club.

Indeed, he explained (1:16): “Well, it's very unusual, isn't it? Off the top of my head. I can't think of any other examples of a manager leaving and his two assistants stay in place.

"I mean, I think the presumption was that Ryan Mason would stay on which of course is what he did after Mourinho was sacked in 2021. But not many people expected Stellini to stay on as well.

“I think in part, it reflects the fact that they don't want a complete repeat of 2021 when Ryan Mason had the last few games. Equally. I think it's also just an acknowledgement of what a good job Stellini and Mason did.

"I mean, frankly, that was his best run in the season when Conte was recuperating from surgery at home in Italy. And Stellini and Mason helped them beat Manchester City and Chelsea. But you're right, it is very odd. It's not something that would normally happen."

How did Ryan Mason do as Spurs manager?

As Pitt-Brooke mentions, Mason was of course in charge as the club's interim for seven games back in 2021 after former coach Jose Mourinho was sacked.

Promisingly, for fans, he actually managed to win four of these games. However, he lost the other three and in that period even managed to squeeze in a Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

He has remained as a coach at Spurs ever since and so it's safe to assume he'll remain in that position when the club do hire a permanent replacement.

As for Stellini, though, it remains unclear if he will remain in north London when a new man comes in. After all, he was hired by Conte and so is very much connected to the Italian's tenure – which explains why there is some surprise that he too hasn't now departed.

TalkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino has slammed Graham Potter and claimed that the Englishman will not survive the increasing pressure as he struggles at Chelsea.

What’s the latest on Potter at Chelsea?

Potter’s struggles continued as his side fell to a home defeat against bottom club Southampton, and Chelsea now have just one victory in their last ten games.

Boos rang around Stamford Bridge, and the heat is turning up on Potter, who has also had to handle a chaotic transfer window with a lot of incoming players during his time in charge so far.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, (5.00) Cascarino claimed that the Chelsea job is too big for him to handle, and that he will not survive much longer in the role given this run of form.

“Graham Potter, under the previous owner, would have been sacked three times already on what’s happened,” he stated.

“Chelsea is a massive job in world football. It has become even bigger in recent years because of the money they spend, how the structure of the club’s been built and the money that’s been paid for this football club by the owners.

“There’s no way on earth that he can survive, even if they keep saying it’s a long-term project. He won’t. Things change really quickly in football. And unfortunately, Graham’s got into a situation with his team where none of it is convincing. Everything that happened is like Groundhog Day again.”

Does he deserve more time?

Although his role is an incredibly tough one given the number of players that have arrived at the club, as well as arriving after the season has started, the current run of results are unacceptable given the quality he has available to him.

Chelsea have scored just one goal in their last five games despite signing four attacking players in David Datro Fofana, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk in January.

Fan dissent towards Potter could push him closer to the exit door, despite the Chelsea board being adamant that he is the long-term man for the job.

Results have to improve immediately, and if they are knocked out of the Champions League against Dortmund, their hopes for silverware this season would be over, and the dissent amongst the fans could increase further.

Celtic breezed into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup following what was a ruthless, 5-0 demolition of second-tier outfit Morton on Saturday afternoon, with Ange Postecoglou’s side continuing to look rather imperious on all three domestic fronts.

A vital figure in that latest triumph – and in the Old Firm outfit’s rampant form in general – was summer signing, Aaron Mooy, with the experienced Aussie having again made his mark in the centre of the park.

The classy midfielder bagged a brace in that brutal thumping at Parkhead, with journalist John McGinley stating that the 32-year-old was simply “enjoying himself” as the creative hub in the side.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion man has good reason to be ‘enjoying himself’ at present having secured a regular role in the side since the World Cup, having previously been “unbelievable” for his country in Qatar, as per pundit Mark Schwarzer.

The 57-cap maestro now has four goals and five assists in 29 games in all competitions this season, notably providing four goal involvements in his last five Scottish Premiership outings.

Now a “key contributor” to the team – according to his manager – it does appear that Mooy will be a mainstay of the side moving forward, having been truly “outstanding” of late, as per Postecoglou.

The title-winning coach could potentially be able to form a commanding midfield partnership if he is to pair the one-time Huddersfield Town man with reported target, Aissa Laidouni, with the Tunisian international having been linked with a move to Glasgow prior to the start of the window.

The towering 26-year-old – who could reportedly cost in the region of €4m (£3.5m) – is facing an uncertain future at current side Ferencvaros, with just six months remaining on his existing deal with the Hungarian outfit.

That could well allow the Hoops the chance to pounce this month, with the France-born menace having proven his credentials after also enjoying a “tremendous” World Cup, as per journalist Sam Tighe.

Although Tunisia were not able to make it out of the group stage, the African nation did still pick up four points from their three outings, with Laidouni averaging one tackle and 1.3 interceptions per game, while also winning a solid 75% of his aerial duels.

The 6-foot machine particularly impressed as a result of his energetic and relentless presence at the base of the midfield, having covered “every blade of grass” for his nation in Qatar, according to journalist Lorenzo Kohler.

Also praised for being “absolutely everywhere” by Tighe, Laidouni could seemingly be the perfect foil for the more measured Mooy in Postecoglou’s side, with the current Bhoys ace a figure who “controls the tempo” of the team – in the words of club legend Stiliyan Petrov – rather than being somewhere who steams into tackles and intimidates the opposition.

With the Ferencvaros ace able to take on that later role at Celtic Park, it could well allow Mooy the freedom to continue to make an impact creatively for the Scottish champions, as such leading to the formation of a simply tremendous partnership in midfield.

Wolves return to Premier League action on Saturday as they take on fellow strugglers West Ham United at Molineux, and Julen Lopetegui should unleash Daniel Podence in this afternoon’s clash.

After promising displays in cup games against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest over the last week, the Old Gold return to the bread-and-butter of the league with a hugely important clash against David Moyes’ side.

A win for Lopetegui’s men would see them leapfrog the Hammers and potentially move out of the relegation places, so three points should be considered a must for the home side at Molineux.

After featuring for just 31 minutes against Forest in midweek and not at all at Anfield seven days ago, the manager should consider reinstating Podence to his starting line-up today.

The former Olympiacos man is Wolves’ current joint-top scorer for the season alongside Ruben Neves and has impressed since Lopetegui’s arrival, earning 7.33 and 7.86 ratings from WhoScored for his recent performances against Everton and Aston Villa respectively.

Former Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards was full of praise for the 27-year-old and what he could offer to the team.

In a column for the Express and Star, the Welshman wrote: “I like him, he tries that hard pass which will score you a goal or create you a chance, but he will give it away at times, he never plays safe, and he is always looking to affect the game.”

Sky Sports co-commentator Alan Smith has also praised Podence after his winning goal against Leicester last season, stating: “He’s shown us some delightful touches out there. And to get the winner. Great work ethic and a brilliant performance from him.”

Podence ranks fourth for shots, third for key passes and joint-sixth for dribbles per game among Wolves’ squad, so it is clear to see the quality that he brings in the final third when starting.

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While things have improved under Lopetegui, Wolves are still the lowest goalscorers in the Premier League so far this season with just 11 to their name, so they need as much creativity as possible if they are to find a way past West Ham’s defence this afternoon.

After being omitted from the last two starting XIs, it seems clear that the in-form winger should get the nod to start today, as his ability in the final third could be the difference between victory and more dropped points.

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Julen Lopetegui is reportedly set to target a score of January signings to bolster the squad and stave off the threat of relegation…

What’s the word?

Having evicted Bruno Lage from the managerial role and replaced him with the esteemed Lopetegui in November, Wanderers owner Jeff Shi is moving with conviction to secure the club’s future in the Premier League, having already completed the signing of Matheus Cunha on loan with the obligation to buy for £44m from Atletico Madrid. 

And now, according to French reporter Saber Desfarges, the Midlands outfit could be set to swoop for OGC Nice midfielder Mario Lemina.

He said: “Wolverhampton would like to secure the services of Mario Lemina (OGC Nice) this winter.

“First offer, of nearly €5m (£4.5m), refused by the Gym.”

Neves heir

Having previously played for Southampton in the English top-flight, the 29-year-old Lemina boasts a wealth of experience already, and could provide security and stability within the Wolves midfield, making a marked improvement on performances that have left the club 18th in the division after 17 matches.

Having made 52 appearances for Saints since arriving at the outfit in a club-record deal of £18m in 2017, the ace enjoyed two seasons at St. Mary’s before falling out of favour, earning a couple of loan moves including a successful spell with Fulham in the 2020/21 campaign.

During that term, the Gabonese gem recorded an average rating of 6.85 despite the Cottagers falling foul to the drop-zone to the Championship, excelling in his industrious role and completing 84% of his passes, averaging 2.2 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per match, while also succeeding with 70% of his dribbles and 54% of his total duels. 

And as per FBref, the 25-cap star ranks within the top 4% of midfielders across Europe’s major leagues for tackles, the top 6% for clearances and the top 7% for blocks, while also perching within the top 13% for pass completion – indicating a vigorous mentality that will serve the relegation-threatened Wolves very well.

He could adopt the responsibilities of Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, who has etched his name into Molineux folklore since arriving while the club still plyed their trade in the second-tier, arriving from FC Porto in a £15m deal.

Neves may be more of a maestro with the brilliance of his passing and the innovation of his transitional play, also a brilliant striker of the ball, but with Lopetegui looking to bring in signings to boost the offensive ranks, Lemina could prove to be a shrewd acquisition, sweeping the opposing advances away like a broom, dispatching the attackers like litter.

Reports in recent months state that Neves could be set for a January exit, and while he would demand a high fee, a move for Lemina could remedy the hole left in the Portuguese ace’s wake and leave coins in the purse for further moves.

The assurance of the “powerhouse” in the centre – as once lauded by BBC Sport’s Garth Crooks – would act as a centrepiece for positivity to stretch its clutches into enemy territory, consequently giving Wolves the requisite tools to return to prominence in the Premier League once again.

Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Real Valladolid winger Gonzalo Plata in recent times, with manager Eddie Howe seemingly keen to bolster his wide options.

What’s the word?

That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who suggested that the Ecuadorian international could well be an attainable target for the Magpies, having been linked with his signature of late.

The transfer insider stated: “It is a position that Newcastle would like to add to, they do want to bring in [a winger]. He’s a pacey winger who can play wide on the left.

“I think he could be somebody who could be very gettable this January transfer window. Especially with his price tag, I don’t think Real Valladolid would be in any position to turn down any sizable offer for his signature.”

The Tynesiders may well face competition to sign the 32-cap gem – who made the move to Spain on an £8.5m deal in the summer after an initial loan move – amid reports that the likes of Leeds United, Atletico Madrid and Roma have all tracked his progress previously.

Newcastle’s answer to Zaha

The former Sporting Lisbon man is currently shining on the international stage, having played “impressed” in Ecuador’s promising start to the World Cup in Qatar, in the words of journalist Ben Jacobs, playing the full 90 minutes in the South American nation’s opening two group games.

That impact has come amid the youngster’s encouraging displays at club level in recent times, having chipped in with two assists in ten La Liga outings this season, after previously registering 11 goal involvements in the second tier last term.

While not prolific, the winger would certainly add real flair to Howe’s attacking ranks were sporting director Dan Ashworth to get a deal wrapped up, with the highly-rated “trickster” – as described by Adrian Blanco – a truly dynamic asset in attack.

That is certainly the verdict of transfer insider Dean Jones, who described Plata as a ‘game-changer’, while also stating: ‘He’s got pace to burn, he’ll mesmerise people with his trickery and he’s got a finish on him as well. Plata is one of those players you could watch for hours on end.’

Bringing the explosive talent to St James’ Park could well see Howe and co find their answer to Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, with the skilful Ivorian also offering a real direct and dangerous prospect from his wide berth.

The two men are not only alike as a result of their somewhat maverick talent, but the pair also share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref, with Plata notably ranking in the top 7% for dribbles completed in Europe among those in his position, while the Eagles ace ranks in the top 13% for the same metric – albeit with the latter man having recorded more minutes.

Such a comparison will have piqued the interest of those back at Newcastle such has been Zaha’s impact in the Premier League in recent years, with the 30-year-old – who has been linked with the Magpies of late – scoring 67 goals and 29 assists in 291 games in the competition to date.

To be able to secure a new, more youthful addition in the mould of the Selhurst Park star would surely be a mouthwatering prospect for the Champions League hopefuls, with Ashworth seemingly needing to do all he can to get a deal secured.

The World Cup means different things to different people. While fans will be studying the latest Unibet 2022 World Championships betting odds and following their team hopefully all the way to the final, the tournament means something else entirely for managers, club scouts, agents and the players themselves. Not only is playing on the biggest stage in world football the pinnacle of anyone’s career, it is also a place for players yet to get an opportunity at one of the biggest clubs or leagues to really put themselves in the shop window.

First a word of warning. Basing a buying decision on two or three performances in a situation and under conditions vastly different from the weekly grind of club football does not come without risks, as managers have learnt to their cost before. That said though, the tournament is a fantastic opportunity for players and managers alike. So who are some of the hottest prospects who will be strutting their stuff in Qatar and likely to be watched with the most scrutiny?

Noah Okafor – Switzerland

The Swiss forward has a lot going for him. First of all, he is able to operate as both a wide forward player – with the three up front favoured by many of the top clubs in Europe, this is a huge plus – and in the middle. Secondly, he is at Red Bull Salzburg, a club with a track record of producing and nurturing top young talent, a certain Erling Haaland for one. Not a definite starter for Switzerland, but will get game time, and though he is already receiving interest from Premier League clubs, this tournament could take that to the next level.

Ao Tanaka – Japan

This Japanese midfielder has found a new lease of life since being pushed further upfield, and as such was largely the reason Japan are going to Qatar. More and more Japanese players are making it into the major European leagues, and though currently at Fortuna Düsseldorf, Tanaka’s ability to find space and create chances from nothing will not go unnoticed.

Garang Kuol – Australia

Electrifying pace is a huge part of the modern game, allowing teams to break and transition with speed and precision. This Australian international has that in spades. Likely to be used as an impact sub to attack tired legs in the last twenty minutes, the Central Coast Mariners winger will get his chance against France and Denmark two of the tournament’s fancied teams. If he passes that test, it may not be long before he is plying his trade in Europe.

Akram Afif – Qatar

The star of the Qatar team may sound like damning with faint praise, but Afif is a real star, capable of playing all across the front line, and equally happy and able to create goals as well as finishing them himself. Though playing in Qatar, he does have European experience, and will be seeing this tournament as a stepping stone. Whether he will get more than three games in which to demonstrate his talents is debatable however.

Kamaldeen Sulemana – Ghana

Sulemana’s ability to run with the ball and dribble at pace is a nightmare for any defender. Usually played wide on the left, he is a key part of Ghana’s offensive threat, and has firmly established himself in Ligue 1’s Stade Rennais.

Jonathan David – Canada

Athletic, strong and intelligent, this US-born Canadian international has shown during his time at LOSC Lille he has what it takes to perform at a good level in Europe. David’s nine goals in qualification were crucial in securing his nation’s first World Cup since 1986. Drawn in a group with Belgium, Croatia and Morocco it will be a tough ask to qualify, but it won’t be just Les Rouges fans watching with interest to see how he fares against some of the best defences in world football.

Photo by Unsplash

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is set to start for the Reds in tonight’s Carabao Cup clash against Derby County. 

The Lowdown: Liverpool in action

Following their 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League over the weekend, the Merseyside club begin their defence of the Carabao Cup as they welcome League One side Derby to Anfield for their third round clash.

This is Liverpool’s penultimate match before the World Cup break, which will commence following this weekend’s round of league fixtures, including the Reds’ home game against Southampton.

Looking ahead to this match, it appears that one rarely-seen figure in Liverpool’s squad is set to be in the starting XI to take on the Rams.

The Latest: Kelleher to start against Derby

Speaking to the media ahead of tonight’s game, Liverpool’s assistant manager Pep Lijnders was asked if Kelleher will start against Derby.

He replied: “Yeah, Caoimh deserves it. If you shoot the last penalty in [in the final], it would be a disgrace if we took him out now!

“I think, honestly, one of my proudest moments in football was after the game when we won this cup.

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“Caoimh, if you see a talent grow and you see talents turn into men and if you see men with personality and braveness and you go into a final and he takes the last penalty… and after the game we have this moment together, it means a lot.

“So, if nothing happens today he will start for us.”

The Verdict: Time to shine

Despite not making an appearance for Jurgen Klopp’s side so far this season, everyone at the club will know what the 23-year-old is capable of as he played in four of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup games last season, including the final.

As Lijnders referenced, Kelleher had the honour of scoring the decisive penalty at Wembley that day as the Reds prevailed against Chelsea after a marathon shoot-out.

Across those four games, the Irishman faced 17 shots on target and made 15 saves in total, highlighting how capable shot-stopper he is when called upon.

Taking this into account, it’s easy to see why the Reds have seemingly decided to put Kelleher in the starting XI for tonight’s clash against the League One side.

Manchester United look to be edging towards the signing of PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo, with journalist Rudy Galetti saying talks are ‘progressing quickly’.

The Lowdown: Gakpo a long-time United target

The Dutchman is enjoying a sensational season for PSV, registering 11 assists and scoring nine goals in just 12 Eredivisie appearances.

Gakpo has continually been linked with a move to United, as Erik ten Hag looks for some top-quality additions, but they missed out on signing him in the summer. A January move could still be on the cards, however, especially after a fresh update.

The Latest: Exciting update emerges

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Galetti claimed that talks are moving quickly regarding Gakpo’s possible move to United:

“Talks between PSV and ManchesterUnited for Coady Gakpo are progressing quickly and positively. The feeling is that an agreement for the left-winger – highly requested by Ten Hag – could be reached already in the coming weeks.”

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The Verdict: What a signing he would be

Gakpo is exactly the type of player who could give United’s attack an extra injection of magic and end product, in what could be a hugely exciting signing. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed his ‘absolutely crazy numbers’ this season, with the winger delivering at such a relentless rate.

New additions could be needed in that area, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Martial not long-term solutions and doubts arguably remaining over the consistency of individuals such as Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga.

At just 23 years of age, Gakpo already has 104 goal contributions (55 goals and 49 assists) in just 157 appearances for PSV, while three goals in nine caps for the Netherlands proves that he can do it at international level, too. The World Cup later this month could be a great chance for United fans to see his quality close up, too.