USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams opened up about his back injury while setting a timeframe for his return to action for Bournemouth.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers returned to winning ways last weekend with a solid 2-1 win over Fulham in the Premier League.
The result leaves them occupying ninth place in the table. With ten games to go, Gary O’Neil has got his side firing at exactly the right time.
Not only do they have the same number of points at this stage as they accrued the whole of last season (41), but the Old Gold have scored 11 more goals than last term, showing how important a reliable frontline is to achieve success in the top flight.
They have been boosted by impressive showings from Pablo Sarabia and Pedro Neto, who have combined to provide 20 assists in all competitions, while forwards Hwang Hee-Chan and Matheus Cunha have been effective in front of goal.
The duo have scored 11 goals each and having two players in good form has been crucial for the Molineux outfit this season. The Brazilian in particular has been a wonderful signing.
The 24-year-old initially joined the Midlands side on a loan deal from Atlético Madrid in January 2023, before signing on a permanent deal that summer for a fee which may rise to £35m.
In his first six months in England, Cunha scored just twice in 20 appearances, and it looked as though they may have overpaid for the player.
|
Matheus Cunha: 2023/24 Premier League |
|
|---|---|
|
Goals |
9 |
|
Assists |
6 |
|
Key passes per game |
1 |
|
Big chances created |
7 |
|
Successful dribbles per game |
2.2 |
|
Via Sofascore |
|
This season has been a different story, however, as the Brazilian has adapted to the Premier League supremely well.
Not only has he netted nine goals and registered six assists in the top flight, which ranks him first among the squad for goal involvements, he also ranks first for shots on target per game (1.3), big chances created (7) and successful dribbles per match (2.2), along with ranking third for average key passes each outing (1), clearly demonstrating his vast attacking talents.
He has missed the previous five matches due to injury, however, and O’Neil will be desperate to see him return to action.
The forward pulled up with a hamstring injury against Brentford last month, and he has missed the previous five matches for the Old Gold.
O’Neil has stated that the forward could return to the squad following the upcoming international break which runs at the end of this month, and this could give them a major boost.
“If I talk about what I hope for, I hope he’s available straight after the international break,” said the manager when discussing Cunha’s injury.
“There’s a lot of things that can go well or not so well between now and then. But in an ideal world we would have him back and around the group after those internationals.
“If it doesn’t go quite so well, obviously time can be added to that. There will be no risks taken but as soon as the medical team are happy and as soon as Matheus is happy, he will be back.”
The former Bournemouth manager will be praying he is back sooner rather than later, especially with the fact Hwang is set to miss a few games because of a hamstring injury.
Combine these two injury layoffs with the fact Neto may also miss a number of matches due to being subbed off with a hamstring issue in the win against Fulham, and it is clear that O’Neil is light up top.
They may have been able to fix the Cunha blow, however, with a player who is currently shining whilst out on loan; Daniel Podence.
The right-winger was sent on a season-long loan to Greece for the 2023/24 campaign, and he is certainly making the most of his exile.
In 34 matches for the Greek giants, Podence has found the back of the net 11 times, while chipping in with six assists, and there is no doubt he could have fixed the Cunha blow that O’Neil has suffered recently.
In the Greek Super League, Podence ranks second among his teammates with eight goals, while also ranking third for big chances created (6), second for key passes per game (1.6) and third for successful dribbles per match (1.3), which proves just how much of an impact he has had abroad this term.
The 5 foot 5 gem even ranks in the top 3% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.5) in the top five European leagues over the previous 365 days, which is further evidence of the quality he possesses in front of goal.
The Portuguese winger joined the Old Gold midway through the 2019/20 season, registering four goal contributions across his first 13 matches, and it looked like a shrewd acquisition by Nuno Espírito Santo.
The following two seasons saw him score just nine goals along with grabbing only five assists, and it was beginning to look like the £17m fee was a waste.
He was one of the Old Gold’s more impressive performers last season, however, netting six goals, but overall their campaign was poor as they flirted with relegation for long spells.
The winger's form during the current season proves that he certainly knows where the back of the net is, and this quality could have benefitted Wolves, especially considering their injury problems of late.
If Podence maintains this form until the end of the season, might O’Neil give him another chance at Molineux next term?
Much could depend on who will still be at the club ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, as Neto has attracted transfer interest previously due to his wonderful form and potential for greatness, leaving a space open in the team.
The winger has already shown glimpses of his talents in the Premier League previously – most notably last season – and this could give the manager a licence to perhaps give him another opportunity in the first team when he returns from his loan spell in Greece.
First and foremost, O’Neil will be hoping that his injured stars are not out of action for too long, otherwise it could derail their top-half ambitions.
Emi Martinez has revealed why he is giving up the No.1 shirt at Aston Villa and taking on a “really special number” that means so much to him.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hoping to put their disappointment at losing to Coventry City in the FA Cup behind them as they return to Premier League action this weekend.
They face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday evening and the tie promises to be an exciting one. Gary O’Neil will be missing a few players, however, as Pedro Neto and Hwang Hee-Chan will both be unavailable for the match this weekend due to injury.
Matheus Cunha, Craig Dawson and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde are also struggling with injuries, but they will be assessed over the next couple of days to see whether they could play a part or not.
Suffering injuries at this stage of the season is unavailable, but O’Neil will be hoping it does not steer the Old Gold off track. The former Bournemouth manager must wish he could call on some of the players he currently has out on loan in order to fill the gaps in his first-team squad.
O’Neil shipped out a few fringe players during the summer and winter windows on temporary deals for them to gain some much-needed game time.
Daniel Podence is currently shining for Olympiakos this term, scoring 12 goals and chipping in with eight assists for the Greek side this season, indicating that he could have a part to play for Wolves next season.
Fabio Silva has scored four goals during his spell at Glasgow Rangers, while Luke Cundle has impressed in the Championship this term, spending time at both Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City.
|
Wolves players currently out on loan |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Club they are playing for currently |
|
Goncalo Guedes |
Villarreal |
|
Daniel Podence |
Olympiakos |
|
Fabio Silva |
Rangers |
|
Yerson Mosquera |
Villarreal |
|
Sasa Kalajdzic |
Eintracht Frankfurt |
|
Luke Cundle |
Stoke City |
|
Ki-Jana Hoever |
Stoke City |
|
Chiquinho |
Famalicao |
|
Bendequz Bolla |
Servette FC |
|
Joe Hodge |
QPR |
|
Chem Campbell |
Wycombe Wanderers |
|
Louie Moulden |
Northampton Town |
|
Via Transfermarkt |
|
These two youngsters could force their way into contention next season, especially if O’Neil gives them a consistent run in the starting XI.
The Old Gold have a plethora of attacking options at their disposal, but it looks as though the English coach needs to invest in some more defenders ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Yerson Mosquera is currently with Villarreal until the end of the season, but there is no doubt the Colombian has what it takes to be a long-term option for O’Neil at the heart of his defence.
When it was clear that first-team football was going to be hard to come by at Wolves, the defender joined the La Liga side on a deal until the end of the season.
"Yerson had a fantastic loan at Cincinnati, being one of the highest performing centre-backs in the league,” said Matt Hobbs, current sporting director at the club.
"What we've seen really excites us for next season. It was a difficult decision, as we could have kept him around, but we wanted him to get a bit more football week in, week out, ready to come back and fight for a starting spot next season."
The move made sense and since arriving in Spain, the youngster has made nine appearances, scoring against Marseille in the Europa League last 16 defeat earlier this month.
Despite only arriving in January, the Colombian currently ranks in the top ten in the squad for accurate passes per game and clearances per game, proving he has already made a positive impact on the team.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the centre-back as “dominant” back in 2021 when he was making his breakthrough with Atlético Nacional in his homeland.
With Craig Dawson coming to the end of his career, could there be a space for Mosquera in the starting XI next season alongside Toti Gomes?
Gomes was another centre-back at the club who was underused prior to O’Neil arriving. This season has seen the Portugease titan become a mainstay in the starting XI, improving with every game.
Not only does he rank third among his teammates for accurate passes per game (38.3), but the 25-year-old also ranks fifth for tackles per game (1.4) and fourth for interceptions per game (0.8), showcasing his defensive abilities in what has been a solid campaign for the Old Gold thus far.
The centre-back has also displayed excellent attacking statistics. When compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Gomes currently ranks in the top 4% for assists per game (0.11), the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90 (0.81) and the top 8% for progressive passes received per 90 (0.99), indicating his love of taking opposition players on while showing intent in getting into more advanced positions on a regular basis.
These attributes have stood him in good stead so far this season, making 32 appearances for Wolves, scoring once, and grabbing three assists, ensuring he could be a long-term partner for the returning Mosquera.
O'Neil typically utilises a three-man defence which could see the Colombian slot in for Dawson next season, especially as the Englishman will be 34 years old at the start of the campaign.
Last season for FC Cincinnati, Mosquera was outstanding at the heart of their defence. Not only did he win a staggering 7.1 total duels per game – a success rate of 61% – but he also helped his team keep nine clean sheets, made 1.8 tackles per game along with being dribbled past just 0.7 times per match, fully demonstrating his physical strength and defensive nous.
Combine this with Toti’s penchant for moving the ball forward from the back and advancing forward whenever possible, it looks as though O’Neil has an ideal defensive partnership just waiting to be unleashed next season.
While he may like to delve into the transfer market to bring another centre-back into the squad, the return of the 22-year-old from his loan spell could be like a new signing, as the old cliché goes.
There is no doubt he needs a run in the team to see if he can handle Premier League football, but his performances for Villarreal this term suggest that playing in the English top flight shouldn’t faze him in the slightest.
Wolves could have an ideal Neto replacement who's shining out on loan
Wolves have a talented youngster out on loan who is impressing
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Mar 22, 2024
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Everton have often been guilty of selling players too early, with the Toffees youngsters often going on to have successful careers elsewhere despite failing to make an impact at Goodison Park.
Ellis Simms is the latest example after his 13-goal season with Coventry City in the Championship, following Ademola Lookman in excelling away from the club.
The club undoubtedly made good money on the pair after selling them for £8m and £16m respectively, but, given Everton's tally of 32 goals in 31 games, the Toffees could've benefitted from keeping the duo.
Another player who departed Goodison in 2023 is a talent who is thriving in one of Europe's top five leagues, with Everton potentially regretting his departure for a minimal fee.
After joining the club for £240k from French side Marseille back in the summer of 2020, young full-back Niels Nkounkou originally arrived on Merseyside linking up with the club's youth sides.
However, he would go on to make two appearances in the Premier League during the 2020/21 campaign, making his English top-flight debut in the 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United.
|
Everton's starting XI for Nkounkou's debut in 2020 |
|---|
|
33. Robin Olsen |
|
2. Jonjoe Kenny |
|
13. Yerry Mina |
|
5. Michael Keane |
|
18. Niels Nkounkou |
|
16. Abdoulaye Doucoure |
|
8. Fabian Delph |
|
6. Allan |
|
10 Gylfi Sigurdsson |
|
21. Andre Gomes |
|
9. Dominic Calvert-Lewin |
|
Stats via BBC Sport |
He would fail to feature in the Premier League for the Toffees during the opening month of the 2021/22 season, subsequently joining Belgian side Standard Liege on loan until the end of the campaign.
Nkounkou played 23 times during his stint in the Belgian Pro League before two more temporary spells away from Goodison Park in the following season.
He joined Cardiff City for the first half of the campaign, but it was his period at Saint-Étienne that caught the eye and saw the youngster make his first breakthrough in professional football.
The French left-back made 20 appearances between January and May, scoring six times and providing eight assists in Ligue 2 – a remarkable return for a defender.
His sensational form for the French outfit saw the club decide to permanently purchase Nkounkou, with the 23-year-old joining Saint-Étienne for just £1.8m last summer.
Less than a year after his £1.8m departure from the Toffees, defender Nkounkou has seen a rapid rise in his market value after a shock move to Germany.
Just a couple of weeks after his permanent move to Saint-Étienne, the youngster completed a £9.4m move to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, with Everton selling the Frenchman at a bargain given his recent transfer fee.
He's now valued at £17m, as per CIES Football Observatory, with the left-back's value receiving an 844% increase from the £1.8m fee Everton sold him for last summer.
Nkounkou has since registered three goals and three assists for Frankfurt following his move, with the 23-year-old evidently enjoying life away from Goodison Park.
Given his form and rapid increase in market value, Sean Dyche's side must wish they kept hold of their former talent, with Nkounkou potentially providing valuable squad depth at left-back in a season where the club are battling relegation once more.
He's shown he's capable of producing consistently in one of Europe's biggest divisions, with the Toffees potentially living to rue their decision to sell him for a cut price.
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Everton's transfer dealings in recent years have certainly been hit-and-miss, with the club splashing a lot of money on players who have failed to live up to expectations.
The financial issues at Goodison Park have seen the club resort to cheap additions and loan deals to piece together a squad that is capable of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.
Last summer, the club signed forward Arnaut Danjuma on a season-long loan from Spanish side Villarreal, with the Dutchman having high expectations after his successful stint at Bournemouth a couple of years ago.
However, his spell on Merseyside has been a disaster, making 14 appearances and scoring just once in the 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.
Despite the latest example of failed incoming, the club have also conducted excellent business in offloading players in the last year, including one player who has been frankly anonymous since he departed the Toffees last season.
After joining the club at the age of 11, midfielder Tom Davies rapidly progressed through Everton's youth setup, before making his first-team debut at the age of 17 under Roberto Martinez back in April 2016.
He showed glimpses of being the future of the club despite his limited starts, scoring his first senior goal in the 4-0 rout over Manchester City at Goodison Park during the 2016/17 campaign.
He made 33 Premier League appearances during the 2017/18 campaign, the most he managed during his time at the club, with Davies starting to live up to the hype given his great start to life in the first-team.
Davies was named as captain during the EFL Cup victory over Rotherham United at the start of the 2018/19 season, making him the club's youngest-ever captain – a sign of trust by then manager Marco Silva.
The midfielder would remain a constant first-team player up until the 2021/22 season, when the academy graduate suffered a knee injury that saw him miss 223 days and 31 games.
|
Davies' PL appearances at Everton |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Apps |
Goals |
|
2015/16 |
2 |
0 |
|
2016/17 |
24 |
2 |
|
2017/18 |
33 |
2 |
|
2018/19 |
16 |
0 |
|
2019/20 |
30 |
1 |
|
2020/21 |
25 |
0 |
|
2021/22 |
6 |
1 |
|
2022/23 |
19 |
0 |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
||
However, he would return to action for the 2022/23 season, but looking a shadow of his former self and only managing five starts in his 19 appearances.
He would subsequently depart Everton at the end of his contract last summer, in the hunt for more consistent game time – a brilliant decision from the club given his poor form this season.
Davies, who earned £39k-per-week during his final year at Goodison Park as per Salary Sport, has failed to nail down a starting place at Sheffield United since his move to Bramall Lane in the summer.
He's only started two Premier League games this season, being substituted at half-time in both, which is just 6% of all the Blades' league outings this campaign.
The 25-year-old has once again struggled with his fitness, missing 17 matches through injury, but also only being utilised as an impact player when fully fit.
Given his injuries and lack of impact, the club did the right thing in offloading Davies last summer, with his huge weekly wage allowing the club to save £2m a season in their battle against the Premier League's strict PSR rules.
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A new era awaits Liverpool and so does the chance to make some statement signings as a result, which could see the Reds take full advantage to swoop in and secure a Premier League rival who is expected to be on the move this summer.
Before anything, of course, Liverpool must find their replacement for Jurgen Klopp – something that is not proving to be an easy task. It looked as though Ruben Amorim was going to be the man to step into the dugout at Anfield before recent reports turned that rumour cold as West Ham United jumped in front. It originally looked like it could be Xabi Alonso too, before he announced his commitment to Bayer Leverkusen for at least another season.
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Now, Michael Edwards and Liverpool have reportedly turned their attention towards Arne Slot, with contact already made and positive talks held with the Feyenoord boss, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Whether it's Slot or another option who emerges in the coming months though, the best gift that Liverpool can give their new manager is a Premier League-proven star, which could see Bruno Guimaraes arrive.
According to Rudy Galetti, Liverpool are eyeing a move to sign Guimaraes, who is "expected to leave" Newcastle United this summer, with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Chelsea and Barcelona also interested in the Brazilian.
It remains to be seen just how much Newcastle will demand for their midfielder – he is thought to have a nine figure release clause – but it's certainly a deal that would step things up even further at the heart of Liverpool's midfield.
The thought of Liverpool signing Guimaraes immediately signals the idea of a midfield partnership between the Brazilian and Alexis Mac Allister in what would be a deadly South American duo at the heart of the Reds' midfield. The latter has enjoyed an excellent debut season at Anfield and would only get better next to a player of Guimaraes' calibre.
|
League stats 23/24 (via FBref) |
Bruno Guimaraes |
Alexis Mac Allister |
|---|---|---|
|
Goals |
4 |
4 |
|
Assists |
6 |
5 |
|
Progressive Carries |
48 |
33 |
|
Progressive Passes |
229 |
177 |
|
Key Passes |
50 |
37 |
Eddie Howe will be keen to keep hold of his star man, there's no doubt about that, having been full of praise for Guimaraes in the early stages of his Newcastle career.
Howe said via Football365: “Yes, they love him and rightly so after today’s performance. He was magnificent in every discipline of the game. I think the biggest compliment I could give him is that on 95 minutes, with tired legs, for sure, for him – he’s getting used to the Premier League – but he’s managed to get himself in the box to score that header.”
Now, it is Liverpool who could benefit from that magnificence if they decide to push on and make their move to sign the Brazilian this summer.