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The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has delivered a major update on Aston Villa defender Matt Targett.

What’s the story?

The left-back has been an absolute revelation for Dean Smith’s side this season, even earning suggestions over a potential call-up to the England squad.

Evans has now revealed that Villa are in talks with the 25-year-old over a new contract at the club, and that they “are committed to rewarding their best players with enhanced terms and security for the future as they look to build again for next season.”

He added: “Villa may decide to strengthen the full-back areas this summer, as both Neil Taylor and Ahmed Elmohamady are out of contract in June. Right-back Matty Cash has been impressive in his debut season, though, and talks over a new deal for him are also likely to follow in the months ahead.”

Dean Smith surely buzzing

The £35,000-a-week earner has been a bit of an unsung hero for Villa since his arrival in the Midlands, something echoed by Alan Hutton as he told Football Insider: “I think he just quietly goes about his business and you’re right, because of the other players within that squad, he probably doesn’t get the praise that he’s due this season.

“He’s definitely went under the radar but I think the proper football fans and people will see exactly what he does for the team, much like Matty Cash on the opposite side.”

After his name was being mentioned as someone who Gareth Southgate should be calling up to the England senior squad, Smith was quick to praise Villa’s Mr Reliable, saying: “Matt’s having a fantastic season – his consistency has been great. He’s getting better all of the time. He’s been one of our stand-out players this season.”

It’s exactly why news of a potential contract extension for the left-back will no doubt be music to the ears of the Villa manager.

Meanwhile, Villa boss Dean Smith should unleash this academy starlet…

رد المدير الفني السابق للفريق الأول بالنادي الأهلي، جوزيه بيسيرو، على قرار الاتحاد النيجيري لكرة القدم في الساعات القليلة الماضية على إسناد مهمة تدريب النسور الخضراء في تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم 2022 إلى مدرب آخر.

وأعلن الاتحاد النيجيري لكرة القدم رسميًا على استمرار، أوجوستين إيجوافوين، في قيادة النسور الخضراء مع جهاز فني كامل يتضمنه أسطورة الزمالك، إيمانويل أمونيكي، للتحضير لمواجهة غانا في نهاية مارس المقبل.

اقرأ أيضًا | حارس نيجيريا السابق: صليت لعدم فوز مصر بـ أمم إفريقيا.. والحكام لم يحموا محمد صلاح

pic.twitter.com/uyfta3i723 — Jose Peseiro (@JosePeseiro) February 8, 2022

وكان الاتحاد النيجيري قد أصدر بيانا قبل بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا 2021 وأكد على أن بيسيرو سيقود المنتخب الأول بعد انتهاء المسابقة التي أقيمت في الكاميرون، ولكن حدث تغيير.

وأصدر بيسيرو بيانًا رسميًا على حسابه بموقع التواصل الاجتماعي “تويتر”، وكتب: “بعد عدة أسابيع من المفاوضات، خرجت خلالها عدة أنباء من الاتحاد النيجيري لكرة القدم، مفادها أنني سأكون مدربا لمنتخبهم الوطني بعد انتهاء كأس أمم إفريقيا 2021”.

وأتم: “كانت حقيقة ولكني لم أؤكدها أبدًا، لأننا لم نصل لاتفاق وكانت هناك خلافات حول بنود العقد وكذلك المطالب المادية”.

Newcastle United may potentially be facing a significant injury blow after The Northern Echo claimed that Isaac Hayden may be out for the rest of the season.

As per the news outlet, it is feared that that he has suffered a season-ending knee injury after he was forced to make way for Jeff Hendrick in added time in the first half of the 3-0 loss at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday night.

With Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson already out injured, it would be another huge blow to Steve Bruce if another key first team player in Hayden were to be ruled out for the rest of the campaign.

Newcastle need Hayden

Newcastle need Hayden to be fit and playing if they are to boost their chances of avoiding relegation from the Premier League at the end of the campaign.

The central midfielder has only missed five games for the Magpies in the top flight so far this season, and they only managed to win one of those, drawing one and losing the other three (WhoScored).

Hayden has put in some very good performances for the Toon, with Alan Shearer even going as far as to call him ‘outstanding’ after a stellar display in their 3-2 home win over Southampton back in February.

Nonetheless, losing the 25-year-old for the rest of the campaign would be a massive blow for Newcastle, especially with their Premier League status in the balance.

In other news, find out what inside claim Mark Douglas has dropped from takeover sources!

Everton are reportedly in talks to sign Ibane Bowat from Fulham, but face competition from other clubs in the Premier League, according to TEAMtalk.

As per the news outlet, sources have revealed that the Goodison Park faithful as well as Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United are all in talks with the 18-year-old.

Negotiations have been ongoing for the past few weeks with Bowat’s current contract at the Cottagers expiring in June.

FC Koln are also said to be interested in signing him, although an intermediary close to the deal could not agree terms with the Bundesliga side.

Bowat one for the future

Bowat is certainly one for the future, and given the high level of competition that the Merseyside club face for his signature, Carlo Ancelotti’s team should look to secure a deal as soon as possible.

The centre-back is already vastly experienced at youth level, with no fewer than 25 games played in total over all competitions across the last two consecutive terms for Fulham’s U18s.

As TEAMtalk points out, he can also play as a left-back, and that sort of versatility could serve him well under Ancelotti.

Bowat has a six-foot-two frame, and so should have no problems in adapting to the physicality of the top flight even at his age, as the Toffees could well benefit from his continuing development.

In other news, find out which Blues ace fans have been lauding lately here!

Speaking to football.london, West Ham United manager David Moyes was asked the latest in regards to securing Jesse Lingard on a permanent move to east London.

The Scotsman’s side take on Arsenal tomorrow in what is set to be an interesting encounter, with victory for the Irons a potentially huge step in their race to secure European qualification.

Finishing in a Champions League or Europa League is a serious possibility, something that supporters and critics alike arguably didn’t expect, with talk of summer signings to build upon this surprising season already underway in the media.

Moyes drops West Ham transfer hint

As a result, West Ham have been the subject of speculation linking them with a permanent deal for Lingard after his impressive start – with Moyes speaking candidly on the matter.

Dropping a transfer hint, while he admits they have not taken it further at the moment, Moyes declares that West Ham will discuss and ‘probably look at it at the end of the season’.

“We have not thought about that really, we have not taken it any further at the moment.”

“We have him on loan and he is doing a good job for us just now, I think we will discuss that and probably look at it at the end of the season but it is not something that we have taken any further than the situation we are in just now.”

Transfer Tavern take

As Moyes remains tight-lipped but refuses to rule out the possibility of a Lingard permanent move, this comes after an ExWHUemployee development that West Ham do want to complete a deal behind the scenes – with it being believed that a fee of around £15 million could be enough (West Ham Way Podcast).

It remains to be seen whether the Hammers do manage to secure Lingard this summer, but it would arguably be a brilliant coup for the club.

In other news: West Ham fans flocked to this transfer claim, find out more here.

أعلن المدافع الدولي البرتغالي، جواو كانسيلو، تعرضه لعملية سطو مسلح من قبل، مجهولين، تسببوا في إصابات له في الوجه.

المدافع البرتغالي، أعلن ذلك عبر حسابه الرسمي بموقع التواصل الاجتماعي “إنستجرام”، في الساعات الأولى من فجر اليوم الجمعة.

وكتب كانسيلو: “لقد تعرضت اليوم للاعتداء من قبل 4 جبناء قاموا بإيذائي وحاولوا إيذاء أسرتي”.

وأضاف: “عندما حاولت المقاومة هذا ما حدث، تمكنوا من أخذ كل مجوهراتي وتركوا وجهي بهذه الحالة”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوتا: ليفربول وتشيلسي يريدان سد الفجوة مع مانشستر سيتي.. وعلينا الفوز أمامهم

وواصل: “أنا لا أعلم كيف يوجد أناس بهذه الدناءة والخسة ولكن الأهم بالنسبة لي هو عائلتي ولحسن الحظ فهم جميعًا بخير”.

وأتم: “بعد الكثير من العقبات في حياتي، هذه مجرد واحدة أخرى سأتغلب عليها، سأظل قويًا كما هو الحال دائمًا”.

وفي نفس السياق ذكرت صحيفة “ذا جارديان” البريطانية، أن الشرطة قد انتقلت إلى منزل كانسيلو من أجل التحقيق في الأمر.

نصح مهاجم آرسنال السابق، بول ميرسون، إدارة نادي ليفربول بالتعاقد مع مهاجم قادر على تعويض الثنائي الهجومي للفريق الأول لكرة القدم، محمد صلاح وساديو ماني، وغيابهما بسبب كأس أمم إفريقيا.

وسيغيب محمد صلاح وساديو ماني عن ليفربول في شهر يناير بسبب مشاركة منتخبي مصر والسنغال في كأس أمم إفريقيا في الفترة من 9 يناير إلى 6 فبراير 2022.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تقارير تتوقع موقف ليفربول من استعارة كوتينيو في ميركاتو الشتاء

وتحدث ميرسون عن وجهة نظره في عموده بصحيفة “ديلي ستار”، وكتب: “ليفربول بحاجة إلى التعاقد مع مهاجم مثل راؤول خيمينيز (مهاجم ولفرهامبتون) في يناير”.

وتابع: “ليس فقط لتعويض محمد صلاح وساديو ماني في كأس أمم إفريقيا، ولكنهم يحتاجون لمهاجم جديد في المستقبل”.

وأضاف: “ليفربول بحاجة إلى لاعب يمكنه الضغط والمنافسة مع مهاجميه الحاليين ومساعدتهم على الفوز بالألقاب خاصة الدوري الإنجليزي باستمرار خلال السنوات القليلة المقبلة، ليس من الجيد أن تأتي في المركز الثاني خلال السنوات الخمس المقبلة”.

وأتم تصريحاته: “جوتا وفيرمينو لاعبان جيدان للغاية، لكني ما زلت اعتقد أن ليفربول بحاجة إلى مهاجم صريح وإذا جاء خيمينيز سيلعب، ربما لن يكون ذلك كل جولة ولكن سيحصل على دقائق كثيرة للمشاركة على مدار الموسم”.

Aston Villa could clinch a dream signing if they were to bring in Rico Henry from Championship side Brentford.

Johan Lange masterclass

After replacing Suso as the Midland club’s sporting director in the summer, there’s no questioning that Johan Lange has done an incredible job in his first transfer window in charge.

The recruitment at Villa Park has been superb, and it’s led them to some impressive results this season, including thumping victories against the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.

Now, The Athletic’s Gregg Evans claim that long-term target, Henry, could come back into consideration for Villa if fellow Premier League side West Brom don’t come in first.

Dean Smith loves him

With his time at Brentford, Henry’s a familiar name to Dean Smith, and the Villa boss has gone on record multiple times to wax lyrical about the flying left-back.

Speaking after he initially brought him to Brentford, he said: “Rico is a player I worked with at Walsall and threw him into the first team at 16 in pre-season friendlies and he more than held his own in those games, he had no fear, and was playing in League One shortly afterwards. He’s a talented player, fearless, and likes to bring the ball to opponents.”

And then, after describing him as “something special”, Smith even likened him to Chelsea and England stalwart Ashley Cole – high praise for an up-and-coming left-back.

The fact Smith has this previous working relationship with Henry makes the defender a dream signing for Villa, and someone who could hit the ground running like Ollie Watkins has done.

Meanwhile, Villa could make a foolish mistake by snubbing this “special talent”.

Leeds are prepared to face an old rival this evening as they make the long-awaited journey to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United. Both teams head into the fixture off the back of a win and neither will be willing to let their guard down even for a second tonight.

The questionable defence of Leeds will need to defend hard against the threat of the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, but Marcelo Bielsa will undoubtedly have a plan to thwart the Reds on their turf.

Here’s how Football FanCast has predicted the Whites to set up against United this evening…

With both summer signings Robin Koch and Diego Llorente out with injuries, Bielsa is low on centre-back options. He has recently been starting Luke Ayling in a more central role, but he must make sure his defence is the best it can be against an attack like Man United’s.

The boss has Pascal Struijk at his disposal and he should consider giving him just his fourth Premier League start of the season. The £25,000 per week defender has slipped down the pecking order recently, but a natural centre-back is a much safer option than Ayling, no matter how well he has been playing in the makeshift position.

This will allow the Englishman to return to his natural right-back role, with Stuart Dallas on the opposite flank. Kalvin Phillips will, as usual, help defend the backline by lying deep in the midfield.

Although Rodrigo had a great game last time out against Newcastle, Pablo Hernandez made a dream substitute appearance by bagging himself two assists off the bench. Because of this, he may have earned himself a spot in the starting lineup to help Patrick Bamford threaten Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backline.

A win on the road will be a huge result for the Whites who are looking to climb the table, against an old nemesis no less.

In other news, Raphinha could cause Alex Telles a lot of problems on Sunday…

Glasgow Rangers have had to deal with more than their fair share of injuries this season as Steven Gerrard’s side bid to stop Celtic from winning ten in a row. Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun have both been beset by injury problems in recent months whilst Nikola Katic remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament rupture – the latter has already missed more than three months of action with the Light Blues.

Gerrard was struck by another potential blow as Steven Davis appeared to be struggling with severe cramp during the final stages of the Euro 2020 play-off final but the Ibrox boss has been handed a huge boost ahead of the Europa League rematch with Benfica if recent reports are to be believed.

Rangers News have reported that the 35-year-old has survived unscathed after he was spotted in Northern Ireland training.

A huge injury boost for Rangers

Despite his age, Davis has arguably been one of Rangers’ best players in recent weeks. The Gers spoilt a strong performance against Benfica as they threw away a three-goal lead as the Portuguese giants staged a remarkable comeback in the second half before the international break. However, the Northern Irish international was the real standout in the thrilling 3-3 draw in Lisbon.

With Davis covering the defence, Gerrard could opt to start Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo just behind the front three. Or he may even decide to start the veteran just behind Alfredo Morelos so he can create chances and float swinging passes over the top once again. The Gers conceded two sloppy late goals so they must get their act together at the back with a stronger defensive plan before they face Benfica at Ibrox.

The Rangers manager will be relieved to see Davis back on his feet, as he recently praised the Northern Irishman for his “incredible” run of form. Speaking to Rangers TV, Gerrard said: “I watched the game and he continues with his own standards. He’s involved in a game that’s 5-1 and it’s obviously away from them but he continues to do the right things and that sums Steven up.

“On a daily basis he has incredible standards and that comes out in your performances. The way he represents himself and this club on and off the pitch is a credit to himself and his family.”

Wherever Gerrard decides to deploy him, the ever-reliable veteran should provide some much-needed stability at the back, as well as being a useful attacking asset. The Gers are currently top of the Group D table, tied with Benfica on seven points, so it’s important that they pick up as many points as possible if they are to secure the top-seeded position and with Benfica last losing 3-2 to Braga at home, they’ve got a good chance of getting the vital win.

AND in other news, Gerrard can solve Glasgow Rangers’ glaring weakness by promoting Leon King…