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Aston Villa could review Dean Smith’s position as manager, should they lose to Southampton on Friday evening.

That’s according to reliable reporter Gregg Evans, and, as to be expected, a number of Villa fans have been giving their thoughts to the news on social media.

Villa suffered four defeats from four in October, with the last of those coming on Sunday against West Ham.

Reports since have claimed that Villa have made initial contact with former AS Roma manager Paulo Fonseca, with Villa seemingly exploring Smith alternatives.

Evans shared a story on The Athletic on Wednesday and claimed that a defeat at St Mary’s could lead to a review period during the international break, whereas a win might also only be buying Smith time.

Villa fans react

Well-known page @villareport shared Evans’ claim on Smith on Twitter. This is what these fans had to say in reply, with a few wanting to see Fonseca brought in.

“Dean Smith your time is up”

Credit: @mahomezs

“A Villa win will paper cracks over Dean Smith we should just get Fonseca regardless of the result on Friday”

Credit: @MilanRnic1

“Win or get sacked I feel for Smith. Absolutely massive. Hope we win”

Credit: @Emi1Martinez

“Smith out it’s happening”

Credit: @waynipoos1

“Smith’s last game pending”

Credit: @manj_av

“OH WHEN THE SAINTS”

Credit: @WazeUTV

In other news: ‘Welp’ – Many AVFC fans erupt as Preece shares ‘terrible news’ on Leon Bailey. 

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt yet another injury setback concerning midfielder Oliver Skipp.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas revealed that Antonio Conte and Spurs remain unaware of when the 21-year-old will make a return from injury, with the England U21 international believed to still be suffering from the after-effects of an infection around his hip and groin.

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Thomas goes on to state that the defensive midfielder was expected to return to training at Hotspur Way earlier this month, however, the academy graduate suffered a setback in his recovery – with it now looking increasingly unlikely Skipp will feature again for Tottenham this season.

In his post, Thomas said: “Tottenham and Antonio Conte still in dark about when Oliver Skipp will be able to return. Understand he is still struggling with the after-effects of an infection in the pubis area of his hip and groin. Was close to returning earlier this month but suffered a setback.”

Conte will be fuming

Considering that, upon Skipp sustaining his initial injury back in January, Conte stated his hope that the midfielder would be back playing first-team football within seven to ten days at most, the fact that the Italian remains without the 21-year-old nearly four months on is sure to have left him fuming.

Indeed, the £18m-rated youngster appeared to be a big part of Conte’s first-team plans following the manager’s arrival in north London last November – with the 52-year-old playing Skipp in all but one of the 14 fixtures in which the Englishman was available for selection.

And, with Tottenham being involved in an almighty scrap for a top-four finish over the remaining six games of their 2021/22 campaign, the continued absence of one of Spurs’ most promising up and coming talents will undoubtedly come as a huge blow to Conte – as Skipp’s unavailability severely limits the options the Italian can choose from in the middle of the park.

However, with the £50k-per-week youngster appearing no closer to a return, the 52-year-old simply must find a way to make do without the England youth international for the foreseeable – starting with what will certainly be a challenging trip to Brentford this Saturday.

AND in other news: “100%” – Fabrizio Romano drops Spurs transfer claim that will leave supporters buzzing

According to Corriere di Puglia e Lucania, as relayed by Sport Witness, a major update has dropped as Tottenham Hotspur and Fabio Paratici set out a plan for Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic.

The Lowdown: Spurs in summer talks…

As per Sky Sports, Tottenham were interested in the 24-year-old over last summer’s transfer window and even attempted to leapfrog West Ham in the race for his signature.

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The reliable broadcaster also claimed that talks were held over Milenkovic but to no avail with the Serbia international eventually putting pen to paper on fresh terms with La Viola.

Now, in a fresh update, it appears that Spurs are eyeing a fresh swoop in January.

The Latest: Mikenkovic update emerges…

As per CDPEL, via Sport Witness, Tottenham and Paratici are ‘following the player closely’ ahead of next month and it is even believed that the Lilywhites are now ‘ready to enter in negotiations’.

This comes amid claims that Milenkovic has a gentleman’s agreement to leave Fiorentina if the right offer arrives.

The Verdict: Get it done…

As Antonio Conte becomes linked with bolstering his defensive reinforcements in the winter window, we believe a swoop for Milenkovic would tick a lot of boxes.

The 6 foot 4 powerhouse is adept at passing out from the back and colossal in the air, as evident by the fact he eclipses the rates of every Tottenham player in terms of aerial duels won per 90 (WhoScored).

He’s also found 90.8% of his passes to teammates in Serie A this season, highlighting a cool head on fairly young shoulders and leaving little wonder he has attracted plenty of praise.

Spanish defender Pol Lirola recently called him ‘extraordinary’ while Milenkovic’s former coach Ivan Tomic labelled the defender a ‘beast’. Accolades and numbers like these could point to a really shrewd option for Conte.

In other news: Levy now open to another big name exit as Conte tells Spurs to sell ‘magnificent’ player, find out more here.

Daniel Levy could repeat one of his biggest mistakes at Tottenham Hotspur after a shock report emerged this week…

What’s the word?

According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Spurs tried to sign Manchester United forward Anthony Martial on loan this month but the out-of-favour Frenchman turned down their approach despite wanting to leave Old Trafford.

The Red Devils’ hierarchy are said to want his full wages (£250k-per-week) and a loan fee covered to let him leave before deadline day on January 31st.

It’s not the first time that the north London outfit have been mooted with interest in the 26-year-old, who is currently valued at €40m (£34m), after the Manchester Evening News claimed Spurs were keen during the summer window.

Another Levy mistake

What a disaster this would be.

Not only would Martial be a terrible signing for Spurs but it also shows that the Lilywhites chairman has not learned his lessons.

The 30-time France international has been a big disappointment for United, having scored only £36m move back in September 2015.

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Last season, he only found the net four times in the Premier League as his woes started to become apparent and as a result of his poor form, his attitude and work rate has been called into question – something that would not appeal to Spurs boss Antonio Conte whatsoever.

“His body language is horrible to watch, he doesn’t want to run around and work hard to be Manchester United’s number nine,” claimed former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin after a drab outing in the Carabao Cup back in September.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has been a little more scathing.

“I think he’s lightweight. I think he does it when he feels like it,” he said (via The Sun). “To me, he is the embodiment of footballers who have an inordinate amount of talent but simply don’t have the psychological application or the innate strength required to compete at that level and not be a key component of Manchester United’s team.”

Whilst Martial would not command a transfer fee the size of their club-record signing Tangy Ndombele (£55m), his extortionate wages would make this loan swoop a very expensive deal indeed.

After two-and-a-half years of inconsistency and controversy, it appears the French midfield’s time at Spurs could soon be coming to an end, making Levy’s investment in him seem ghastly – even more so after a measly ten goal and nine assists in 91 appearances.

Martial is far from the answer to Conte’s frontline woes and as such, Spurs must steer clear of going back in for the struggling United flop. If they do, Levy could well make another horrendous transfer mistake.

AND in other news, Alasdair Gold drops exciting Hugo Lloris claim at Spurs…

West Ham United are interested in a move to bring David Hancko to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by ExWHUemployee, who revealed on a recent episode of The West Ham Way Podcast that the Hammers are keeping a close eye on the situation of the Sparta Prague centre-back ahead of a potential move for the 24-year-old late in the winter market.

Speaking about the Irons’ interest in the Slovakia international, the club insider said: “A new name that I’ve not mentioned before, but someone who could possibly be considered is David Hancko of Sparta Prague. Again, [a Daniel] Kretinsky link there. He’s not actually Czech, he’s Slovakian. He can play left-back and the left side of centre-back.”

Fans should be excited

With Angelo Ogbonna being ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, and both Craig Dawson and Issa Diop having done little to suggest they are of the standard required for a side chasing Champions League football in the absence of the Italian, centre-back is very much a priority position for David Moyes over what remains of the January transfer window.

And, considering just how well Hancko has performed for Sparta Prague in the current campaign, the £3.6m-rated defender would appear to make an excellent addition to the 58-year-old manager’s options in the heart of his defence.

Indeed, over his six Europa League appearances this term, the 24-year-old helped his side keep three clean sheets, as well as making an average of two interceptions, 2.2 tackles, 2.3 clearances and winning 4.5 duels per game.

The versatile centre-back also chipped in for his side in an attacking capacity, scoring two goals, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.8 shots and making one key pass per fixture.

These returns saw the Slovakian average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.02, ranking him as Sparta’s second-best performer in the European competition.

Furthermore, with West Ham shareholder Daniel Kretinsky also being the co-owner of Sparta Prague, it would very much appear that, should Moyes indeed wish to make a late move for the defender this January, a deal between the two clubs would be an easy one to strike.

As such, considering his clear ability at the back as well as going forwards, it would appear that a move for Hancko would be a very intelligent one for West Ham to make this winter – as the signing of the 24-year-old would undoubtedly be one that will excite the London Stadium faithful.

In other news: Moyes can seal dream West Ham signing in £82k-p/w gem whose “skills are outstanding”

Lacking in home-grown talents in their squad, Tottenham Hotspur must start targeting some English players in the summer.

Indeed, they need to fulfil their Premier League as well as Champions League home-grown quotas and are targeting Che Adams as their next coup from the championship in the summer, according to Daily Mirror via HITC.

Having spent nothing last summer, Daniel Levy will be under pressure to shell out cash to bulk up Spurs squad this time around. Adams could be a really clever signing, as Birmingham could sell him for relatively cheap and hand them a real talent. The Birmingham star’s been on a roll this season, having scored 19 goals in 32 appearances (stats via WhoScored).

Not only is he a potential goal-scorer, but a delight to watch, as the youngster loves to run with the ball and possesses commendable dribbling ability. Adams’ shooting ability from distance is promising, as his impressive link-up play means he can fit right into Mauricio Pochettino’s system.

Under the tutelage of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, Adams can slowly unleash his utmost potential at Spurs. His ability to play as a striker or even as an attacking midfielder means Pochettino can revolve him around in different positions.

The 22-year-old’s hunger for goals can help him thrive at Spurs, where the biggest requirement is to go forward and score goals. He can blend into their fast-paced, incisive system pretty well and considering how big a hit Dele Alli’s been, Adams can also blow up at Spurs.

Newcastle are expected to sign a number of players in the summer according to Sky correspondent Keith Downie.

What’s the story?

He said when speaking to This Is Futbol that he expects the Toon to be extremely busy when it comes to adding new faces to the squad ahead of next season.

He said: “I still expect four or five players to arrive, and that’s without me talking about anyone leaving. If players leave then it could lead to even more arriving.”

Despite still not having secured their Premier League status, the Magpies seem confident of their survival and seem to be planning ahead of next season already.

Who’s on their list?

It will be interesting to see who Newcastle are able to attract but it’s likely they will want to target some of Europe’s best players.

They have recently been linked with a move for West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen who has been their top scorer this season and is highly rated at only 25-years old.

A move for him would also see them weaken potential rivals next season when they’ll be looking to finish as high as possible.

Reports in the Daily Mirror also say that the club have already set their list of targets which includes Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Kalvin Phillips.

With Everton and Leeds both struggling this season, if either of them were to be relegated it would make it far easier for Newcastle to make these signings.

Targeting an English contingent of players may be a strategic move. They may be more willing to move to the North East due to recognising Newcastle’s stature and history perhaps more than players on the continent.

However, if they do go down this route then they will have to be willing to pay more for English talent. History has shown players from home tend to fetch higher transfer fees.

Ever since the takeover, it’s been expected that Newcastle would spend big to try and compete with the best in the league. Time will tell just how much they will spend but if you’re a fan of the Magpies then it should be an exciting summer ahead. This is certainly great news for the Toon Army.

IN other news: NUFC plot bid to sign £31.5m-rated star who’s on “fire”, he could be their own “Salah” – opinion

Crystal Palace reporter Mark Wyatt has predicted that Patrick Vieira will drop Luka Milivojevic for the Premier League clash with Aston Villa today. 

The lowdown

Palace will welcome Steven Gerrard’s Villans to Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon and will seek a return to winning ways after twice surrendering leads in their 3-3 draw with Burnley last time out.

Eagles skipper Milivojevic missed the start of the campaign for personal reasons but has started five of Palace’s last seven matches. The ‘excellent’ 30-year-old, as dubbed by his former boss Roy Hodgson, ranks in Palace’s top eight earners with his £55,000-per-week pay cheque.

The latest

Football London journalist Wyatt reckons that Vieira will make two changes from the draw at Burnley.

The first would see Milivojevic dropped and Jeffrey Schlupp come into the midfield in his place.  Kouyate would duly drop back into the holding role. It’s said to be ‘unlikely’ that the manager turns to Will Hughes or Eberechi Eze from the off given that they have yet to feature in the Premier League this season.

The other alteration would see Jordan Ayew make way for Odsonne Edouard, who is ‘fit enough to start from the beginning’.

The verdict

The statistics suggest that Milivojevic actually had a strong game against Burnley last week, completing 94% of his passes, creating two chances and winning three of his four ground duels. That earned him a SofaScore rating of 7.0/10.

What those figures perhaps don’t reflect, though, is the porous nature of the Palace midfield. The Athletic’s Matt Woosnam wrote that the pairing of Kouyate and Milivojevic didn’t quite work at Turf Moor because it ‘ended up being too attacking’.

‘There wasn’t much midfield defensively’ according to Woosnam, and that’s why Vieira might be tempted to make the change, as Wyatt has suggested.

In other news, many Palace fans reacted to this important pre-Villa update

Aston Villa defender Kortney Hause is interested in returning to West Ham in the January transfer window, according to a transfer claim.

The Lowdown: Hause’s West Ham previous

The 26-year-old spent much of his youth career with the Hammers, with a spell in east London between 2003 and 2011, but he never made a first-team appearance for the Irons.

Hause ended up moving to Villa in 2019 after playing for the likes of Wycombe Wanderers and Wolves, with 54 appearances to date for the 1982 European Cup winners.

Minutes have been tough to come by this season, though, with just four Premier League starts coming his way, so a January exit could make sense.

The Latest: Hause wants West Ham return

According to Football Insider, a source close to Hause has informed them that the defender is ‘keen’ on going back to West Ham this month.

His current Villa deal expires at the end of this season, but the report stated that his club have the option of extending that by 12 months.

The Verdict: Good squad signing

Hause might not be the big-name addition that some West Ham fans might crave in January but he is someone who could add strong squad depth in the long-term injury absence of Angelo Ogbonna.

He won 10 caps for England’s under-21s in the past, highlighting his pedigree, and he has averaged 4.4 successful headers per game across all competitions so far this season. He also earned glowing praise from Aston Villa journalist Pat Rowe, who said last September: “He always looks so assured now this season, and physically, he just dominates players, he’s got the pace.”

At 26, Hause is at a point in his career where he has plenty of experience but should just be about to enter his peak footballing years, further showing why it could be an astute piece of business for West Ham to bring him back to east London.

In other news, West Ham have been backed to sign another player in January. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips will be fit for the Whites’ upcoming Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace on Tuesday night.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a claim made by Leeds Live reporter Beren Cross, with the journalist revealing that, despite being brought off at half-time after appearing to struggle during the opening stages of the 0-0 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, the 25-year-old does not appear to be a serious injury concern.

In his report, Cross said of the England international: “There was clear hobbling, there was clear stretching and a clear conversation with fitness coach Benoit Delaval just before the break which saw him pointing to his lower leg.

“The assumption had been an injury when he was withdrawn before the second half, but Bielsa refuted that notion entirely in his post-match press conference. Phillips was in his tracksuit at full-time, waiting for his teammates on the touchline to embrace them and pat them on the back, smiling. This was not someone off their feet and needing treatment.

“If Phillips is okay then the big plus is his availability for Tuesday’s clash, but the concern is, without an injury, Bielsa felt it was necessary to take his England international off the field. Phillips had not played well by any means, but it has been a long time since he was taken off in a tactical decision by Bielsa. We hope he returns to his best in midweek.”

Fans will be buzzing

Phillips did not enjoy his finest game in a Leeds shirt on Saturday, with the midfielder earning a SofaScore match rating of 6.8 for his efforts against the Seagulls, a significant drop from the 7.4 he earned against Tottenham the previous week. However, considering just how important he is to Marcelo Bielsa’s side, the news he does not appear to have suffered a serious injury is sure to have left Leeds fans buzzing.

Indeed, over his 29 Premier League appearances last season, the £36m-rated England international scored one goal, registered two assists and created five big chances for his teammates, as well as making 1.2 key passes, 1.6 interceptions and 2.6 tackles and winning 5.3 duels per game.

These returns saw the £38k-per-week midfielder earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.21, not only ranking him as Leeds’ best performer in the league but also the joint 17th-best player in the entire top flight.

As such, with Bielsa’s 17th-placed Whites very much in need of three points against Crystal Palace on Tuesday if they are to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap this season, the news that Phillips appears to be available for selection will undoubtedly be a major boost for Leeds.

In other news: Time to go: Orta must finally axe “frustrating” Leeds dud as Bielsa drops transfer hint