Aston Villa host Bournemouth in the Premier League this afternoon as they attempt to head into the international break off the back of a win.
The Villans have won two of their last three matches in the division but were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham United in their game last weekend.
Unai Emery's side took the lead through Ollie Watkins' header but Leon Bailey fouled Lucas Paqueta in the box and allowed Said Benrahma to equalise from the spot.
Despite being unbeaten in the last three outings, the Spanish head coach may look to freshen his team up in their last match before the break.
How will Aston Villa line-up against Bournemouth?
The predicted Aston Villa XI to face Bournemouth in the Premier League.
We predict that Emery will make three alternations to his starting XI. Firstly, Ashley Young could be recalled to start at right-back ahead of Matty Cash.
The Poland international lost 100% of his individual duels against the Hammers and the veteran – who has the third-highest Sofascore rating (6.92) in the squad – could come in to replace him after that weak display.
In midfield, John McGinn and Douglas Luiz could continue as the central midfield pairing as Boubacar Kamara continues to recover from his injury.
There could be two changes in the attacking areas, however, as Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia could find themselves on the chopping block.
Starting on the right, Bertrand Traore could be given a big opportunity to catch the eye to replace Bailey. The Jamaica international gave away a penalty against West Ham and has one goal and zero assists in his last 14 appearances, which could tempt the manager to take him out of the firing line.
Buendia, meanwhile, has one goal and zero assists in his last eight outings in the Premier League and has recorded a Sofascore rating of 6.5 or lower in four of those games. This could open the door for Jhon Duran, 19, to come into the team alongside Ollie Watkins at the top end of the pitch.
The dynamo, who talent scout Jacek Kulig once dubbed an aerial "threat", is yet to start his first league match for the club but scored eight goals and provided three assists in 14 MLS starts in 2022 and could offer more of an attacking threat than the Argentine playmaker.
Tottenham Hotspur could finally sign James Ward-Prowse this summer transfer window…
What's the latest on Ward-Prowse to Tottenham?
According to Football Insider, the 28-year-old playmaker will definitely leave Southampton if they are relegated from the Premier League this season and the Lilywhites are among the most likely destinations.
It's thought that Spurs are big admirers of the England international, and it is expected that they make their move before next term.
It does, however, remain to be seen how much Ward-Prowse would command, with FootballTransfers currently valuing him in the region of £36m. Presuming the Saints do go down, you'd imagine that they would struggle to garner anywhere near that sort of figure.
When Burnley were relegated last year, the Clarets' biggest sale that saw a player instantly return to the top-flight was Nathan Collins, having cost Wolverhampton Wanderers just £20.5m.
Is this Paratici's last roll of the dice?
Spurs have long been linked with interest in the Southampton skipper, having been mooted with interest via the Telegraph back in the summer of 2021.
Just like first-team manager Antonio Conte, sporting director Fabio Paratici is facing immense pressure over his job security right now because ultimately, he was the one that pushed to sign the Italian on an expensive contract and signed off questionable transfer dealings, such as Clement Lenglet in the summer and Arnaut Danjuma in January.
Bringing Ward-Prowse to the club this summer could save face as it would fulfil one of the squad's biggest gaps – the need for an attacking midfield maestro.
Truth be told, the north London outfit have never replaced Christian Eriksen, with players such as Dele Alli, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso failing to stake a claim in such a role.
The 28-year-old dynamo – renowned for his set-piece ability – is a proven Premier League playmaker, having provided over 100 goal contributions across 399 appearances for the Saints. As Roman Selles' top-performing player this campaign, via WhoScored, Ward-Prowse leads the squad for key passes by quite some margin (2.2 per game).
These returns would also see the "unbelievable" £100k-per-week "machine" – as lauded by his former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl – rank first among the current Spurs squad, with Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski ranking joint-first on 1.8 attempts per game.
As such, the introduction of Ward-Prowse would be a good way to kickstart a new era because whoever walks into the dugout will have one less gaping void to worry about and at the same time, this calibre of signing could well keep Paratici in a job, at least in the short-term.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is urging Etihad officials to sign RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol this summer, Football Insider report.
What’s the latest on Man City and Gvardiol?
It could well be a busy summer for City chiefs, with a new midfielder possibly on the agenda to replace Ilkay Gundogan. The German is out of contract in Manchester at the end of the season and has reportedly held talks with Barcelona. City have Bundesliga duo Jude Bellingham and Florian Wirtz as potential replacements for Gundogan, and it appears as if a new centre-back is of interest as well.
The club are willing to sell Aymeric Laporte after falling out of favour under Guardiola, with the City boss seemingly identifying his top defensive target. Football Insider provided a Manchester City update they have heard regarding Gvardiol in the last 48 hours, revealing that Guardiola is a big fan of the player and has personally urged the club to sign the centre-back.
Chelsea and Real Madrid are also interested in Gvardiol, who will have a £97m release clause in his deal from 2024. As a result, there could be a rush to secure the player’s services this summer.
Has Guardiola already laid the groundwork?
Guardiola had the chance to watch Gvardiol in action in Manchester City’s last 16 Champions League tie with Leipzig, with the 21-year-old scoring a first-leg equaliser in Germany. The player admitted that he had a conversation with the City boss after the second leg in Manchester but refused to go into detail, saying:
"I extended my hand to Guardiola and congratulated him on advancing in the Champions League. Guardiola, a great coach, threw a few words at me, but I will keep them to myself."
Therefore, Guardiola may have already laid the groundwork and hinted to the player over a potential summer move to the Etihad.
The left-footed centre-back recently starred at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for Croatia and has been called 'sensational' by members of the media. Former midfielder and pundit Owen Hargreaves has also declared that Gvardiol will be "the best centre-back in the world one day", which highlights his potential, which he may end up fulfilling in Manchester.
Should Laporte depart as speculated, Gvardiol could prove to be a brilliant long-term replacement, looking to establish himself as a regular ahead of the likes of Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji.
Rangers winger Kai Kennedy, who is currently on loan at Falkirk, has been told he will not be offered a new contract in the summer, according to a report from Football Insider.
Which players could leave Rangers this summer?
Michael Beale may have a significant rebuilding job on his hands next season, with multiple first-team players currently on their way out, including winger Ryan Kent, as the Englishman's contract is set to expire at the end of the campaign.
Ryan Jack could also be heading for the exit, as the central midfielder has clarified he is yet to hear from the club's hierarchy about a contract extension, and some Bundesliga clubs have started to register their interest.
Striker Alfredo Morelos' future hangs in the balance, as his current deal also comes to an end this May, although contrary to reports, he has not agreed a deal with Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray.
Another Gers player that could be on the move is Kennedy, with Football Insider reporting the winger has been told he will not be offered a new contract, having already tried to offload him in the January transfer window.
The 21-year-old is out of contract in the summer, meaning he will be free to leave, and he has already attracted the attention of Scottish Championship side Queen's Park.
Should Rangers let Kai Kennedy leave?
It is always disappointing when a player that comes through the youth ranks does not go on to cement themselves in the first team, but unfortunately, the youngster is not quite at the standard required to be a success at Ibrox.
There have been flashes of brilliance when the Rangers academy graduate has been out on loan, being lauded as "excellent" by members of the media during his time with Raith Rovers, while he has also impressed at Falkirk this season.
Rangers manager Michael Beale
In 29 games in all competitions, the £4k-per-week earner has weighed in a very solid return of five goals and ten assists. However, it must be taken into account that he is playing in the third tier and it is unlikely that this form would carry over to the Scottish Premiership.
The Gers already have players of a similar age performing well in the first team, most notably Malik Tillman, with the 20-year-old bagging ten league goals this season, and Kennedy is nowhere near that level, so we think it is the right call to sanction his departure this summer.
Everton have made contact to enquire about a deal to bring Juventus defender Federico Gatti to Goodison Park, according to reports.
What's the latest on Gatti to Everton?
Sean Dyche already has six centre-back options at his disposal, but Yerry Mina and loanee Conor Coady will both be out of contract at the end of the season, so replacements of some form will likely be needed in that department.
Italy international Gatti arrived at the Allianz Stadium back in January 2022, but has only made 15 appearances under Massimiliano Allegri and is significantly out of favour. Therefore, he could be looking for a move elsewhere during the upcoming window.
It had recently been reported that the Toffees and Premier League rivals West Ham United were both contemplating making an offer for the 24-year-old, who is valued at €30m (£26m) by Juventus, and it sounds like the Everton hierarchy have taken the next official step towards completing a deal.
According to Tutto Juve (via Sport Witness), Everton have now “asked for information” on Gatti to discover his availability ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. However, Juventus have “no intention” of letting the centre-back leave as it stands, and it’s stated that it would take an “indecent proposal” to even make them consider a change of heart. The Old Lady would indeed require the aforementioned £26m to sanction his sale, but it’s claimed that the Merseyside outfit may only “offer around €10m”, which is a figure that they would be highly unlikely to sell for.
Italy defender Federico Gatti.
Should Everton splash the cash on Gatti?
Everton won’t yet know their summer budget as that’s all really dependent on whether they are able to maintain their Premier League status, but should they be able to afford him, Gatti has to be a player that they target to shore up the backline.
Standing at 6 foot 5, the defender clearly adds a strong physical presence to the heart of the defence and currently averages 3.4 clearances and 1.8 aerial wins per league game, as per WhoScored.
The Adidas-sponsored star can also be a threat at the opposite end of the pitch having posted 11 goal contributions (nine goals and two assists) in 108 career appearances which is an impressive return for a player that operates in his position. Meanwhile, with Champions League experience also under his belt, we think he would be the perfect fit to put pen to paper at Goodison Park.
West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Alex Palmer has returned to full training ahead of their Championship game against Stoke City on Saturday, according to reports.
What's the latest injury news on Palmer?
The Baggies earned a 2-2 draw with QPR at The Hawthorns on Monday and will now turn their attention towards this weekend as they travel to the bet365 Stadium to take on Alex Neil’s Potters.
The Midlands outfit’s shot-stopper has been on the sidelines for almost three months having sustained a serious ankle injury in training and hasn’t featured under Carlos Corberan since January. The Spanish boss has therefore had to rely on Josh Griffiths between the sticks, but a positive update has now emerged on the 26-year-old’s situation which supporters may well be relieved to hear.
As relayed by the Express and Star, Corberan confirmed that Palmer has staged his comeback on the training pitch and hinted that he won’t be far away from putting his gloves back on.
He said: "From the last four days, Palmer is making the normal training with the group. It’s true in a game situation he did not have exposure for a long time and during the international break unfortunately he had to slow more from using this time to help everyone in the recovery and be closer to the first team.
"He couldn’t use it in the way we wanted to use [it]. The games [over Easter] arrived very quickly and he was not able to play the B team game one week ago that was necessary to make him ready to play. But he was able to train normal after that game, and now, of course, arrives to one condition where every day, he is training normally, he starts to be more fit to help the team."
West Brom manager Carlos Corberan.
How good has Palmer been for West Brom?
Palmer has been hailed a “sublime” goalkeeper by journalist Josh Bunting, and we feel it’s great news for Corberan that he’s closing in on a return to action for West Brom.
The 6 foot 3 ace has kept ten clean sheets in 20 senior appearances for the Baggies, ranking him in the 98th percentile for clean sheet percentage compared to goalkeepers at a similar level over the past year. The £10k-p/w tank has also recorded 36 saves from 49 shots on target against and has a save percentage of 77.6%, as per FBRef, which shows how strong he is behind the ball and therefore could have a significant impact being back in his pride of place when able to do so.
Leeds United find themselves in crisis mode following yet another defeat, this time at the hands of Fulham, and their Premier League status looks far from certain.
With six games to go until the end of the season, Javi Gracia's side find themselves 16th in the league, but just one point clear of the drop zone.
Their last three games have seen them lose 5-1, 6-1 and 2-1, and they have won just one of their last five games.
They now have six games left to save their season. Here's how we think they'll get on…
Leeds fixtures
25 April: Leicester (h)
30 April: Bournemouth (a)
6 May: Man City (a)
13 May: Newcastle (h)
21 May: West Ham (a)
28 May: Tottenham (h)
Leeds vs Leicester
Leicester City's James Maddison reacts.
Leeds are just one point ahead of the visitors in what will be a huge game in the relegation battle.
Leicester's victory over Wolves may see them begin to return to some form under new interim manager Dean Smith, whilst Gracia's bright start at Leeds has turned sour very quickly.
Given the difficulty of the other fixtures left, Leeds simply have to win this match at Elland Road, and there is no room for error. The precarious position they find themselves in could either see the team ignite a spark to recover some form, or continue to implode.
With nerves from both sides expected on the night, the fans at Elland Road may just be the 12th man that pushes Leeds to secure all three points.
Prediction: Leeds 2-1 Leicester.
Bournemouth vs Leeds
Another six pointer towards the bottom of the table awaits, but some recent good results for Bournemouth has seen them go four points clear of Leeds.
However, a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of West Ham may have knocked their confidence, and Leeds will hope to capitalise. Although it may prove to be a tough game on the road, this is one of the more winnable fixtures Leeds have left, and they cannot afford to lose.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Leeds
Man City vs Leeds
Pep Guardiola's side have looked particularly strong in recent weeks, and as they are still competing for the title with Arsenal at the top of the table, they will have their foot firmly on the pedal.
Boyhood Leeds fan Erling Haaland has torn even the best defences to shreds, and given Leeds' troubles at the back, this could prove to be an ugly result at the Etihad stadium.
Man City have recently heavily beaten the likes of Liverpool and Bayern Munich, and it seems unlikely that Leeds will be able to halt their march towards a potential treble.
Their participation in the Champions League semi-finals may be of some benefit to Leeds if it means City rest some big name stars, but given the strength of their squad, this may be of minimal use as the Whites travel to face the side which beat them 3-1 at Elland Road in December.
Prediction: Man City 4-0 Leeds
Leeds vs Newcastle
bruno-guimaraes-newcastle-united-spurs-isak-howe
With Newcastle flying high and competing for a place in the Champions League, they will still have plenty to play for as they travel to Elland Road, and with Alexander Isak in good goalscoring form, another tough day awaits Leeds.
Newcastle did lose their last away game 3-0 at Aston Villa, but a 6-1 demolition of Spurs in their next game has reminded everyone of what they're capable of.
Leeds did manage to snatch a point at St James' Park with a 0-0 draw in December, but their current defensive issues means a clean sheet looks unlikely.
Prediction: Leeds 0-2 Newcastle
West Ham vs Leeds
West Ham's recent upturn in form has seen them rescue a point against Arsenal before inflicting a heavy defeat on Bournemouth, and are now five points ahead of Leeds.
Their participation in the Europa Conference League could see them rest players for the Leeds game, which may provide hope that Gracia's side can snatch at least a point from the game.
The reverse fixture saw the sides draw 2-2 in an entertaining encounter, and Leeds may be grateful if they come away with a similar result given their form.
The final day of the season sees Leeds travel to Tottenham, who are in a crisis themselves.
Although Spurs are still in the hunt for European qualification, it remains to be seen whether they will still have anything to play for on the final day, as a 6-1 humiliation at Newcastle has left their ability to finish in the top four in jeopardy.
Given that Leeds could still potentially be fighting for survival, there may be no room to even draw, and they will have to attack.
The chaos of the 4-3 loss at Elland Road earlier this season could be repeated, and Leeds may find themselves in real danger heading into the game.
Newcastle United target Kieran Tierney is an 'Eddie Howe type player' and would fit in well at St James' Park, according to Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie.
What's the latest transfer news involving Kieran Tierney?
As per Football Insider, Newcastle United are said to be 'closely monitoring' Arsenal defender Tierney ahead of the summer transfer window as boss Howe eyes reinforcements in the left-back position.
The report states that the Scotland international could cost in the region of £30 million; however, the same outlet have also claimed that Manchester City are keeping tabs on his situation.
Tierney has fallen behind Oleksandr Zinchenko in the pecking order at the Emirates. The chances of him moving to Tyneside this summer are believed to be 'increasingly likely', as per The Sun.
In 2022/23, the former Celtic man has appeared 31 times for Arsenal in all competitions, accumulating one goal and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.
Capology understands that Tierney is earning around £110,000 per week in north London on his current deal, which is set to run until 2026.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Downie believes Tierney would fit nicely into Howe's plans in the North East.
Downie told FFC: "Having watched a lot of Kieran Tierney over the years and knowing a lot about his character, where he's from and how he's come through, I don't know if I can think of a more Eddie Howe-type player than Kieran Tierney."
Would Kieran Tierney be a good signing for Newcastle United?
Tierney would be a sensible signing for Newcastle United as they go about strengthening their squad in the summer. The Scot typifies what the Magpies have been all about this season, hard work, determination and quality when it matters.
FBRef shows that the 25-year-old has been strong in the tackle this term, winning 77.3% of his challenges against oncoming dribbles, showing his desire to win the ball back and kickstart attacking passages of play.
Despite Dan Burn putting in some excellent performances at left-back this campaign, there is no doubt that Newcastle could do with adding another body in that position heading into 2023/24, especially when you consider the fact that the Toon Army could also be involved in Champions League football and will need to enhance squad depth.
Of course, Tierney has also fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta, which could make a switch to the North East an easier process to initiate for both parties in the forthcoming off-season.
Fans online have torn Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to shreds after he failed to make any sort of impact on his return to the Emirates Stadium last night with Chelsea.
What’s the latest on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?
Having once been much-loved and very highly-rated as a Premier League captain with Arsenal not so long ago, the striker’s career has stalled in recent times.
Indeed, now with London rivals Chelsea, Aubameyang has struggled to impress this season – much like nearly everyone else involved with the club.
On Tuesday night, however, he had the chance to get revenge on his former side as he returned to the Emirates for the first time since leaving in 2022 amid speculation of a falling out with Mikel Arteta.
Ironically, the £160k-per-week striker’s last Premier League start also came against the Gunners. On that occasion, he struggled as the Blues lost 1-0 at home and he managed just eight touches before being hauled off after 64 minutes.
Well, this week, things were even worse as two goals from Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus saw Arsenal race to a 3-0 lead before halftime.
In this period, Aubameyang had essentially zero impact, as he managed just nine touches (with four of those coming directly from kick-offs), had zero shots at goal, lost the ball once, made one foul, and lose two out of two attempted duels, via Sofascore.
Frank Lampard evidently had had enough by that stage and hooked him during the break, but the damage was already done as Chelsea were comfortably beaten 3-1 after the full 90 minutes.
With that in mind, it’s safe to say he failed to impress. And it’s not as though fans on Twitter had much sympathy for him either. Indeed, the 33-year-old was torn to shreds online.
Here are some of the best reactions…
Arsenal fans certainly enjoyed his display…
Some even suggested his time in the Premier League should probably be coming to an end.
Arsenal and sporting director Edu by extension could let midfield star Granit Xhaka leave if they find a suitable replacement, according to reports.
What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?
The north Londoners are still fighting for their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years as manager Mikel Arteta seeks to end his side's long wait for domestic glory.
They have it all to do, though, as close rivals Man City have stolen a march on Arsenal and remain in the driving seat – possessing both a one-point advantage and game in hand.
Like Real Madrid proven on Tuesday evening, the Blues are not unstoppable, which could give Arteta some hope as Arsenal look to take City all the way to the wire.
Off the pitch, Edu and Arsenal are working on additions for next season to maintain Arsenal's place among England's elite, with central midfield reinforcements thought to be taking priority.
The likes of West Ham star Declan Rice, who the Gunners are in behind-scenes talks with, are top of their transfer agenda for the summer.
In terms of who could depart the Emirates Stadium, a name up for nomination is Xhaka, who has been a fixture in Arteta's starting eleven this season.
German news outlet Sport 1 now claim that Arsenal and Edu are "not averse" to selling the 30-year-old if they find a suitable successor – with Xhaka's deal set to expire in 2024.
The midfield general already has a suitor as well, with Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen apparently working on a deal to sign him.
Alonso is said to have a close relationship with Arteta as the pair were raised together in the Spanish Basque country. They were also former teammates and remain great friends.
Should Arsenal sell Xhaka?
Arsenal have the option to extend his stay by a further year and we believe Xhaka could still have a part to play under Arteta.
His years of top flight experience at Arsenal could make an invaluable member of the dressing room, especially if Arteta has to re-challenge for the title from scratch next season.
Xhaka has played nearly every league game bar one this campaign, registering 12 goal contributions in the process, with Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn calling him a "revelation".
Arteta himself has also called Xhaka a "really important" player this season and it is certainly possible that he could play yet another crucial role next campaign.