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Manchester United have suffered a potential injury blow ahead of their Premier League clash with Leicester City on Saturday after Raphael Varane was forced out of the UEFA Nations League final before half-time.

What’s the word?

The France defender limped off the pitch after appearing to pull up while running and was seen with ice on his right thigh following his substitution on the 43-minute mark.

Varane initially received treatment on the pitch from the national team’s medical staff, but it soon became clear that he couldn’t carry on, leaving Didier Deschamps with no choice but to replace him with Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano.

Although the true extent of the centre-back’s injury is still currently unknown, it’s possible that he won’t be able to feature for the Red Devils over the weekend, leaving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a real selection headache.

Solskjaer will be absolutely gutted

Club captain Harry Maguire was absent from United’s 1-1 draw with Everton last time out and has also played no part in England’s fixtures over the current international break.

It is currently unclear whether or not he will be available for United’s trip to the King Power Stadium, but if he is, Solskjaer may well be without both of his first-choice centre-back’s, leaving him absolutely gutted.

Varane has made seven appearances in all competitions for the 20-time English champions since arriving from Real Madrid over the summer, starting in each of their last five Premier League encounters.

Therefore, his possible enforced absence will come as a bitter blow to United, who will be aiming to get back to winning ways against the Foxes.

Solskjaer may be forced to turn to a duo of Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly if Varane is unable to recover in time, something which may be of cause for concern for the Norwegian tactician.

Maguire and Varane are both genuine international stars so to lose them would be a colossal blow to their chances.

Leicester haven’t been in great form but they still have the Premier League’s top scorer, Jamie Vardy, to contend with.

And, in other news…100% dribble success rate, 13 duels won: Man Utd gem shone on the international stage 

James Tavernier joined Rangers from Wigan in 2015 for a reported fee of just £225,000 and has gone on to enjoy a sublime career in Scotland to date.

The right-back began his career in England with Newcastle and spent time with Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan, amongst others, before finally settling down and finding a home at Ibrox.

As of today (2 October), Tavernier has amassed 301 appearances for Rangers, scoring 66 goals and setting up a further 94.

Players experience peaks and troughs throughout their careers and Tavernier was no exception. His market value on Transfermarkt rose from £360k in 2015 to £5.4m in February 2020, steadily climbing over the five years in between as he became a regular at Rangers.

He then experienced a low point as his form dipped and his value followed. In April 2020, his price dropped down to £4.35m – the lowest it had been since January 2019 (£1.80m).

In the 2019/20 campaign, Tavernier played 10 games in the Europa League for Rangers and was only able to provide one assist, with zero goals, from right-back. He was also dribbled past once per game, whilst only making 0.5 interceptions per match, and lost 50% of his duels. This suggests that he was not strong enough to dominate opposition players, whilst he also gave the ball away 240 times in those 10 matches, which may have contributed to his value dropping to £4.35m that season.

His form in the competition improved in the following season. He played seven times in the 2020/21 Europa League and provided two goals and one assist. Tavernier won 54% of his duels and made 1.3 interceptions per game, whilst only being dribbled past 0.6 times per match, losing the ball 17.6 times per game instead of 24.

Meanwhile, Tavernier’s Premiership form was outstanding in the 2020/21 campaign. He averaged a sensational SofaScore rating of 7.70 as he managed 12 goals and nine assists from right-back, showcasing the quality he can provide from defence.

Steven Gerrard was able to use his man management skills and coaching to improve Tavernier’s game and get him playing his best football after a difficult period. It could have been easy for the head coach to discard the defender after that rough patch in 2020 and sign a replacement in the summer transfer window to take his spot.

Instead, he kept faith in Tavernier and now he is being rewarded by the 29-year-old. As of the start of October, Transfermarkt value him at £7.2m. This is a 33.3% increase from February 2020, showing how Gerrard has been able to help the right-back soar in the space of less than two years, bouncing back quickly from his poor form. It has been a masterclass in management from Gerrard, and hopefully Tavernier will continue to perform on the pitch.

In other news: Concerning claim made on “lightning-quick” Rangers gem, fans would be worried

Fulham winger Fabio Carvalho is being targeted by a number of Premier League teams heading into the new season, according to the Daily Mail. 

What’s the story?

Carvalho has made six appearances in all competitions for Fulham’s first-team, where he’s evidently caught the eye with some strong performances.

The 18-year-old scored his first senior goal against Southampton, and it’ll be interesting to see whether he features in Marco Silva’s plans for the senior squad this season.

The Daily Mail have recently reported that Leeds United, West Ham, Norwich City and FC Porto are keen on signing Carvalho this summer, with that report claiming that Fulham are struggling to keep hold of the winger.

Shahid and Tony Khan reportedly are facing a difficult decision as to whether to cash in on Carvalho this summer or not, if they fail in their negotiations with the winger over a new contract.

‘Really bright’

Carvalho is only 18, and has shown real promise in the early stages of his senior career, which got underway towards the end of the 2020/21 season, where Fulham were already relegated from the Premier League.

He’s shown that he’s a player that isn’t shy on the big stage of senior football, and that’ll be pleasing to see for the Craven Cottage faithful, who will be keen to see Carvalho play his part in the club’s bid for promotion back into the top-flight this season.

Former Fulham boss Scott Parker previously labelled Carvalho as ‘really bright’, and was pleased to see him impress at senior level for the Cottagers, after scoring in the defeat to Southampton last term.

“Massive positive for us because he’s the one who’s going to be here, he’s a player that is really bright and can bring something to this team and you saw that today.

“We’ve seen his quality today, we’ve seen him scoring and assisting at an under-23 level but now he’s been around first-team players, he’s pushed on and done that as well.”

A move to Leeds United or West Ham could tempt Carvalho though, with both teams showing that there is a pathway through from their Under-23s team through to the senior squad, with Pascal Struijk (Leeds) and Ben Johnson (West Ham) being a class example of this.

But if Fulham are to have ambitions of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking this season, then they’ll be doing all they can to keep Carvalho at Craven Cottage for the foreseeable future moving forwards.

AND in other news…Fulham have been dealt a transfer blow

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Dean Jones of Eurosport has made a rather promising claim involving Tottenham Hotspur and Lautaro Martinez.

The Lowdown: Spurs dealt Martinez summer blow…

As reliably reported, Spurs were well in the mix to sign the Inter Milan striker even before new manager Antonio Conte’s highly-anticipated arrival in north London.

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Indeed, managing director Fabio Paratici had his sights set on the Argentine at one point in the summer window and The Times even revealed that a £60m fee had been agreed with Inter.

However, in a twist to the tale, London rivals Chelsea played a heavy hand in Tottenham’s failed swoop for Martinez thanks to their capture of Belgium superstar Romelu Lukaku.

Fabrizio Romano explained that the 28-year-old’s move to Stamford Bridge prompted Inter’s reluctance to agree a deal with Spurs over Martinez, especially considering that they would have been left without a marquee centre-forward (Twitter).

The Argentina striker duly ended up putting pen to paper on a new deal at the San Siro instead, which reportedly earning him around £179,000 per week.

The Latest: Spurs could now return…

You’d think that would be the end of Tottenham’s interest, but Jones has now come out with another twist to the tale.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he believes that Spurs under Conte will return for another attempt in the winter window, explaining:

“”I’m told Lautaro Martinez is someone they’re going to look back towards again in January.”

The Verdict: Exciting…

Given their links to Fiorentina hotshot Dusan Vlahovic, with there even being talk of a meeting held in London already, this claim on an alternative star striker target is certainly exciting.

Going by Martinez’s pedigree, he is a player who would significantly bolster Conte’s options at Spurs and could partner star striker Harry Kane to devastating effect – or maybe even replace him.

According to WhoScored, the 24-year-old has scored more goals in Serie A this season than anyone for Tottenham in the Premier League, racking up a higher average of attempts per 90 in that time also.

The South American has also attracted praise from some the very best strikers in world football, including former Inter teammate Lukaku, who called Martinez a ‘beast’ on Instagram Live (via Daily Mail).

However, one major hiccup to this Spurs transfer plan may be costs, especially considering that the Argentina international is valued at around £72m by Transfermarkt.

Paratici and co will need to smash the club’s transfer record to get a deal done, but going by his age, calibre and quality, Martinez may well be worth the investment.

In other news: Tottenham tell rising star he is free to leave as they green light surprise exit from N17, find out more here.

Helder Costa joining Valencia this summer works for all parties, says former Leeds United midfielder Carlton Palmer.

According to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, Valencia are currently monitoring Costa, though no formal offer has been made yet.

The 27-year-old played a huge role in Leeds winning promotion to the Premier League back in the 2019/20 season, making 43 Championship appearances for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

Last term, however, he was forced to play more of a supporting role, starting just 13 league games.

Ultimately, for Palmer, now may be the right time to move on and joining a team like Valencia could be a good move for the winger.

“I think it’s a good fit for all parties, a good fit,” the ex-Leeds player exclusively told TT when discussing Valencia’s interest in Costa. “He’s not a regular at Leeds United.

“I don’t think he’s going to be in the starting line-up, he’s basically a squad player at Leeds United and the lad probably wants to go and play.”

Costa played down both flanks last season and chipped in with a few goals, so he is a squad player you would probably want to keep around.

However, if the former Wolves man does want regular starts and Leeds want to generate some money or trim down their wage bill, then a move to Valencia does make a lot of sense.

West Ham fans will be concerned about Declan Rice’s future this summer given that he really stepped up in the last 12 months and looks set to start for England at the European Championships, however Barry Fry does not believe that the club will sell their star midfielder.

Rice had a fantastic season playing every minute of every game he was available for in the Premier League, which saw him earn a nomination for young player of the year. The prize was ultimately won by Phil Foden who only started 17 league games.

The now England regular has seen himself linked with a move to Manchester United specifically with reports even suggesting that he had been talking to Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Dean Henderson during international breaks this season about a potential switch to Old Trafford.

Next season is one where West Ham have a solid base and could push on to become regular top-six contenders, and Fry believes that Rice will be part of that squad challenging next season as he spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“To be quite honest, knowing David Moyes and knowing the two Davids, Gold and Sullivan, they won’t sell him.

“No matter what comes up, if it’s £100 million or £125 million, they won’t sell him. Moyes has done a brilliant job considering last year they were relegation candidates and now they’re getting into Europe so what a turnaround in 12 months.”

Over the last 12 months, Moyes has managed to build a solid spine of a starting lineup with the likes of Craig Dawson, Tomas Soucek, Rice, Jesse Lingard and Michail Antonio so it would be a huge blow for Hammers fans to lose Rice this summer as he would be near impossible to replace.

Even before West Ham potentially lose Rice, Moyes will know that he must improve his squad and not just the starting lineup, otherwise, they will struggle to cope with the added Europa League games.

Tottenham Hotspur target Weston McKennie has reportedly knocked back the chance to sign for West Ham United in favour of a move to north London this summer [Gazzetta dello Sport print edition August 26th via Hammers News].

The Lowdown: Spurs look to tie up remaining business

With the transfer window set to slam shut in England on the 31st August, Lilywhites manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be desperate to tie up any remaining business as he plots success on both domestic and European fronts this campaign.

Recruiting intelligently so far within the window, the Portuguese boss has signed three first-team – Pierluigi Gollini, Bryan Gil and Cristian Romero [Transfermarkt].

Now, Spurs could be set for a major boost in their pursuit of 22-year-old McKennie, owing to reports in Italian media circles.

The Latest: McKennie rejects West Ham move

USA international McKennie is allegedly said to have rejected a move to the London Stadium in favour of a switch to Tottenham Hotspur this summer [Gazzetta dello Sport print edition August 26th via Hammers News].

The 6 foot tall ace is said to have opened talks with Tottenham over a move, however any deal would cost somewhere in the region just under £40 million [Independent].

Axel Witsel looks to have been earmarked as a potential replacement for Mckenzie in Turin, should the American depart before the end of the window [Tuttosport].

The Verdict: McKennie addition would excite the Tottenham Hotspur support

In need of midfield reinforcements, the decision made by McKennie to reject a move to the Hammers in search of a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will no doubt excite the Lilywhites support.

Possessing the capability to dictate play in central areas, he would bring some much-needed control and stability to the Spurs line up.

In 2020/21, he excelled for his current employers, registering nine goal contributions in 46 appearances; six goals and three assists [Transfermarkt].

Patrolling the middle of the park with his impressive ball retention, McKennie managed to record a pass accuracy of 85.4% across the piece in Serie A [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘outstanding’ by former Schalke executive manager Christian Heidel, Tottenham should look to finalise the deal before the end of the window [Schalke 04 Official].

In other news, a Spurs ace is in line for a surprise summer window exit. Find out more here.

Derby County are believed to be interested in signing Brighton goalkeeper Christian Walton this summer, as Wayne Rooney eyes up  some late additions.

The Lowdown: Key week at Pride Park

It has been an up-and-down start to the season for the Rams, with Rooney’s side picking up five points from their opening four Championship matches.

Derby have a week left to sign players, with next Tuesday’s deadline day edging closer all the time and the squad still desperately short of any real semblance of depth.

The Latest: Derby keen on Walton signing

According to Football Insider sources, the Rams are in the race to sign Walton in the coming days, seeing him as someone who could provide more quality competition within the squad.

The 25-year-old’s current deal runs out at the end of this season, meaning Brighton may be willing to let him leave this summer.

Derby are one of a number of clubs keen on acquiring Walton’s signature, with the likes of Norwich City and Nottingham Forest also in the mix.

The Verdict: Solid addition for Rams?

Walton may not necessarily be a big-name signing, but he could be someone who gives Rooney a strong extra option between the sticks.

He has made 156 appearances in the Football League, including 83 games in the Championship, proving his experience and suggesting that he would be a safe pair of hands.

Given Walton’s contract situation, Derby could also get a good deal for him, acting as a further positive if they wish to sell him on for profit in the future.

In other news, one pundit has aimed a dig at Wayne Rooney – find out who it is here.

Daniel Farke and Norwich City are resigned to losing the services of Emi Buendia this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by David Ornstein for The Athletic, who claims that the Canaries have acknowledged that the time is right for the 24-year-old to take the next step in his career, and will not stand in the way of the attacking midfielder’s exit if a club lodges an acceptable bid.

It is reported that both Arsenal and Aston Villa are keeping a close eye on the £19.8m-rated Argentinian ahead of a potential summer move, while a major European side are also believed to have enquired about the former Getafe man last week, with Norwich thought to be demanding a fee of around £40m in order to part with the midfielder.

Fans will be gutted

Having just earned promotion back to the Premier League, the news that Norwich could be set to lose Buendia this summer is likely to come as gutting news for fans of the club, as the 24-year-old has been a crucial part of Daniel Farke’s side for the past three seasons – scoring 24 goals and providing a whopping 42 assists over his 121 appearances for the club.

Indeed, the midfielder was pivotal in Norwich’s Championship-winning campaign this term, scoring 15 goals, registering 16 assists and creating 18 big chances over his 39 league appearances, as well as averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.68 – ranking him as the club’s best performer in the second tier.

As such, regardless of the large fee that the club would bring in through his sale, losing a player with both the goalscoring and creative ability of Buendia this summer will undoubtedly put a huge dent in the Canaries’ chances of retaining their status as a top-flight team come the end of next season.

Having said that, if the player truly has his heart set on a move away from Carrow Road this summer, then perhaps it could be worth City cashing in on the 24-year-old in the upcoming market, as, if he doesn’t give his all for the side next season, the club could see his value decrease, as well as running the risk of suffering relegation anyway.

Either way, should Buenida indeed go on to secure a move away from the club this summer, it will be a sad day for Norwich City fans.

In other news: Forget Skipp: Webber must sanction bargain NCFC swoop for 9-capped £2.25m-rated beast – opinion

Newcastle United have reportedly opened talks with Rangers over the potential signing of youngster Alex Lowry this summer.

According to Football Insider, the Magpies have held talks over signing the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, with current employers Rangers keen to extend the exciting prospect’s deal.

The Scotsman is currently contracted to the Scottish Premiership champions until 2024 and it is understood that Lowry has recently been offered an improved deal at £5,000 per week.

As the North East club prepare for their first summer transfer window under the ownership of PIF, it is expected that the Tyneside outfit are to spend big in an attempt to completely reform the look of the current squad.

However, the future definitely has to be considered and, in Lowry, the Toon Army could save millions on a prospect that’s rapidly gathering attention.

Imagine him & Bruno

Granted, given Lowry’s lack of game time in the Rangers first team the 18-year-old would be initially included in Newcastle’s U23s.

The attacking midfielder made his Premiership debut in January, playing the entire 90 minutes in a 1-0 win at home to Livingston whilst also scoring on his debut against Dumbarton in the Scottish Challenge Cup.

Moreover, Lowry has also netted in the 4-0 Scottish Cup victory against Stirling Albion and was an unused substitute in the 2-1 extra-time victory against fierce rivals Celtic that booked Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side’s place in the final.

As for where the youngster would fit in on Tyneside, Newcastle’s U23s have had a decent campaign, with the young Geordies sat seventh in the second division of Premier League 2 and would undoubtedly be able to accommodate a player with an abundance of potential.

Lowry’s former academy coach Graeme Murty claimed that the 18-year-old is “unlike any other player” at Rangers and has “a remarkable degree of self-confidence.”

When it comes to the first-team picture, Eddie Howe’s attacking midfield options are somewhat limited.

Just Joelinton and Miguel Almiron are the Magpies’ only recognised attacking midfielders, with the duo scoring a combined tally of just three goals this term; there’s certainly room for improvement in that area.

However, January signing Bruno Guimaraes has already proved to be a nuisance in the box, scoring three goals already for the Toon Army.

With the box-to-box ability of the Brazilian alongside Lowry’s forward-thinking play, Newcastle could one day unearth an electric partnership in the middle of the park.

AND in other news: Howe and PIF are now heading for their first big NUFC error, it would be a disaster