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With Benjamin Mendy set to be out for up to three months as he recovers from knee surgery, coupled with his disciplinary issues and lack of professionalism, could it be time for Manchester City to find a new long-term left-back?

What’s wrong with Mendy?

Well, the World Cup winner has had quite a few serious injuries in the last couple of years. He ruptured his cruciate ligament in a 5-0 home victory over Crystal Palace just weeks after signing for the club, which ruled him out for practically the entire season.

Upon recovering from that, the former Monaco man suffered some minor thigh issues as well as a foot injury, before his latest knee surgery which will see him miss a huge chunk of the season.

Playmaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

In addition to his difficult history with injuries, the France international has had a number of run-ins with Pep Guardiola since arriving at the Etihad in a £52m deal. City staff have expressed concern with the full-back’s professionalism, after he has been guilty of turning up late to physio sessions, driving recklessly and just seemingly taking no notice of their advice, as per The Telegraph.

What should Guardiola do? 

Perhaps Mendy continues to act up as he knows that there isn’t a player at the club who can match his ability in the left-back role. If that is the case, and the 24-year-old doesn’t see Fabian Delph or Oleksandr Zinchenko as a serious threat, then City have no choice but to dip into the market.

One man that the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss should target is Benfica star Alejandro Grimaldo. The 23-year-old is a Spain Under-21 international, whose key strengths can be identified as passing, dribbling, ball retention and concentration; does he sound like a Guardiola player? You bet he does.

Even if he is brought to the Etihad as first-choice, or as a deputy to Mendy, something must be done to give the childish Frenchman a kick up the backside.

Would you like to see Mendy replaced by a new signing such as Grimaldo? Have your say in the poll down below…

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Spurs became the only club in Premier League history to not sign or sell any players in the summer but, while some were quick to bemoan Mauricio Pochettino and co for their inactivity, the ins of previous windows have stepped up to the plate and the impact of the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Lucas Moura has been finally felt.

The latter, in particular, got off to a flying start as he scored three times in the opening three games of the season on his way to being named the August Player of the Month, but he was a spare part at Wembley last season as he contributed to just one goal in six appearances in the Premier League after moving from PSG in January.

In light of an emphatic victory over capital rivals Chelsea on Saturday, there seems to be little that can be done to dramatically improve the squad – as has been the case in previous years as the Lilywhites establish themselves as one of the most consistent sides in the league.

However, with Mousa Dembele and Danny Rose repeatedly succumbing to injury and Harry Kane’s indispensability becoming ever more apparent as weeks go by, we take a look at three players who could be brought in early next year with the aim to being crucial members of the squad going into the 2019/20 season.

So, who can be Spurs’ next Moura?

Harry Kane has meteorically risen to his status as one of the world’s best strikers, but beyond him, Spurs lack a quality centre-forward of that ilk. Fernando Llorente is surely on his way out, Vincent Janssen doesn’t seem likely to make the grade and, while he is capable of playing down the middle, Heung-min Son is more naturally a winger as he lacks the hold-up play qualities.

The perfect signing to play understudy to Kane? Michy Batshuayi. A proven super sub, the 25-year-old’s brace for the national side the other week showed he has the instinct to score goals.

It is a surprise that the £36m former Marseille man hasn’t been given a proper shot at Stamford Bridge but Pochettino should capitalise by rescuing him from his loan limbo.

With Danny Rose almost perennially sidelined, Ben Davies remains the only fit left back available and this should be a huge concern for the Spurs high ups.

Ricardo Rodriguez would provide fantastic competition for Davies and perhaps offer more of a threat going forward – the Swiss has chalked up three goals and four assists this season, phenomenal figures for a full-back.

At 26 years old, the former Wolfsburg man is entering the peak of his powers and is valued at just £13.5m by Transfermarkt – although AC Milan would likely expect more for his services.

As Dembele is now the wrong side of 30 and struggling to stay fit, a replacement for him should be of utmost importance and Ndombele fits the bill pretty nicely – as well as being as close to the Belgian’s namesake as you can get.

Like the former Fulham man, the 21-year-old is a powerful runner who is capable of turning defence into attack quickly and his performances for Lyon this season have not gone unnoticed – Everton recently joined the race for the Frenchman of which Spurs are in fact reportedly part of.

The former Amiens man is valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt but will surely cost Spurs more than that – regardless, they should have no doubts about meeting whatever price Lyon set as he would hold down the midfield with Harry Winks for years to come.

However, his impact may not be instantaneous – Moura proved that the Prem is a big step up from Ligue 1 and there may be a transition period, meaning his true quality may be seen as late as next season.

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Aston Villa played out a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion in the Championship on Friday night.

Anwar El Ghazi scored twice for Villa, who led into second-half stoppage time.

A controversial goal from Jay Rodriguez, which came off the forward’s head, levelled the scores though as West Brom snatched a late point.

Playmaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

Tammy Abraham, who is on loan at Villa from Chelsea, entered the match off the back of scoring seven times in his last four Championship matches, but the striker failed to make his mark against the Baggies.

Abraham had opportunities to put the match beyond West Brom, but the two-time England international could not find the back of the net.

There were a number of Villa fans who took to social media after the match to criticise the centre-forward. However, there were also plenty who defended the 21-year-old.

A selection of the mixed Twitter reaction from the Villa supporters can be seen below:

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Liverpool – the Premier League’s last remaining unbeaten side so far this season – are to host their bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

Whilst Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are flying high at the top of the table, Jose Mourinho’s side have endured a campaign to forget so far. Ahead of the weekend, the Red Devils were already eight points off the Champions League qualification places.

The Reds entered gameweek 17 one point ahead of reigning champions Manchester City but the Cityzens remain favourites to retain their crown, so it’s vital that Klopp’s outfit maintain their current form, confidence and momentum if they’re to sustain their title challenge until the end of the campaign.

United, meanwhile, are facing vastly different circumstances. Already out of touch with the top four, Jose Mourinho’s team are sixteen points worse off than their upcoming opponents. 

Which big 6 club needs to do the most business in January? Check out what the Playmaker FC squad think in the video below…

Considering the stark disparity in each club’s recent fortunes, and given that Liverpool hold the home advantage, Mourinho will know his side are heading into this fixture as underdogs.

However, United have shown improvements in recent league outings – against Arsenal and Fulham – and Mourinho does have a long-standing habit of grinding out victories when the odds are  against him. One thing Liverpool can’t afford to be is complacent.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s Northwest derby…

What History Tells Us

The enmity between these two giants of English football can be traced back over a number of decades. In the Premier League era, though, the Red Devils have largely had the better of the Merseyside outfit.

Having had more than double the number of Premier League victories over Liverpool than the Reds can claim to have had over them, history weighs in with United on this one. A 46% win rate at Anfield – compared to the Reds’ 31% win record over United in their own stadium – also lends the visitors a psychological advantage heading into Sunday’s game.

The fact that these sides have shared a whopping sixteen red cards in the Premier League also hints towards how fiery and animated meetings between them can become. Form may be on Liverpool’s side, but such things often go out of the window in such emotionally-charged and feisty fixtures.

Manager Head-to-Head

Whereas United have the edge over the hosts in terms of their record in the Premier League, when it comes to Klopp’s face-offs with Mourinho, the German has generally had the upper hand. 

Klopp has recorded three victories over Mourinho, whereas the Portuguese has only bested him twice. 

In what is perhaps the least surprising couplet of stats in football history, Klopp’s teams have scored more goals and Mourinho’s boys have clung on to more clean sheets. 

All in all, their record against one another is pretty close but there is one category in which Mourinho crushes his opponent. The Portuguese has a medal collection at the twenty mark; Klopp’s silverware amounts to just three triumphs. No matter the outcome on Sunday, this is a disparity that Mourinho will miss no opportunity to highlight. 

Referee Influence – Martin Atkinson

Martin Atkinson will take charge of proceedings at Anfield on Sunday, and the 47-year-old can bring bags of experience to the role. With a feisty affair potentially on the cards, Atkinson may well have to exert all his authority to maintain control of the occasion.

If tempers do flare and tackles start flying in, then Atkinson certainly won’t hesitate to start showing cards. So far this season, the Bradford-born official has shown 43 yellow cards, seeing him rank seventh on a per-game basis out of the seventeen referees to have overseen a top flight match so far this season.

He has also sent one player off, and ranks fifth out of the seventeen in terms of fouls awarded per tackle and ninth in terms of penalties awarded per match. 

There is certainly plenty of evidence, then, that whilst Atkinson will be forthright in establishing his control, the game could descend into a bitty, stop-start affair if the players allow their emotions to get the better of them.

Team News

Liverpool are facing something of an injury crisis at the back, with Joe Gomez and Joel Matip ruled out completely, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne all fitness doubts ahead of Sunday.

This means Klopp has little choice but to line up with a centre-back pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren. The Dutchman will likely shoulder the responsibility of organising and marshalling an unfamiliar-looking Liverpool rearguard. 

The German boss also has decisions to make in the middle of the park. Club captain Jordan Henderson and Xherdan Shaqiri will both likely be itching to start in such a big game, but the recent form of Fabinho, Naby Keita and Giorginio Wijnaldum suggests that they should be the central trio to start.

The only automatic picks then – barring late injuries – are the Reds’ brilliant front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, and the Brazilian No. 1 between the sticks, Alisson.

Jose Mourinho also has injury concerns to contend with. The Red Devils’ highest-paid player, Alexis Sanchez, is ruled out, whilst their Premier League top scorer, Anthony Martial, is also a doubt. 

With No. 9 Romelu Lukaku in poor form, the visitors will likely look towards Marcus Rashford for goals. The England man’s electric pace should certainly test the likes of Lovren.

Like Liverpool, United also have key absences at the back. Victor Lindelof has been ruled out, whilst Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling, Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian and Marco Rojo are all doubts.

Considering that Mourinho will likely – as is his trademark, especially away from home – set up his team  to sit back and soak up pressure, he’ll need his makeshift back line to be at the top of their game. The ageing legs of Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia will certainly do well to keep up with Salah & Co. 

If United’s rearguard aren’t at the races – and they haven’t been on several occasions already this season – then it could be a very long night for the Old Trafford outfit.

According to Le 10Sport, AS Monaco are monitoring Mousa Dembele’s situation as the Belgian enters the final six months of his contract with Spurs – the North London club are reportedly keen to offload the 31-year-old in January as part of a mass exodus.

Thierry Henry has had far from a perfect start at the Stade Louis II since his appointment in October as the Red and Whites sit 19th in the standings and four points from safety – the former Arsenal man is surely hoping that a raid on the Gunners’ greatest rivals will go a long way in securing top flight football for next season.

However, former Fulham man Dembele has made just ten appearances in the Prem this season and is beginning to wane – he sustained an ankle injury in November that will keep him out until the new year at least.

Despite his excellent services to the club since his arrival in 2012, the White Hart Lane faithful think that cashing in on the midfielder is paramount with one suggesting that the money be used to meet whatever contract demands Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen may have – both will leave for free in the summer, otherwise, as their current deals expire in June.

You can find the best of the reaction on Twitter below…

CheekySport’s Joel claims Spurs badly need to invest in January after not having “the balls” to beat Arsenal. Check out his uncensored opinion in the video above…

Marcel Brands has made an interesting revelation this week about one of the stars of the World Cup, namely Hirving Lozano. 

Lozano shocked the footballing world and rose to prominence in the space of 90 pulsating minutes of football when Mexico recorded a 1-0 victory over Germany at the World Cup.

The electric winger, nicknamed Chucky, scored the winning goal of the game and shredded Germany’s defensive unit to pieces with his dynamic style and scintillating speed.

Those performances combined with his brilliant record at PSV Eindhoven have reportedly drawn interest from Everton, but Marcel Brands was quick to dismiss those links earlier this week in an interview with Voetbal International (via Sports Witness).

““I think that if Hirving Lozano and Steven Bergwijn go directly to the absolute top in the Premier League, they will have it very difficult. Look at Keïta at Liverpool.

“He was signed for more than €50m from Leipzig, but is simply on the bench. Of course Lozano and Bergwijn are interesting players, but €30m for Hirving and €20m for Steven, we will not pay that.”

Although it’s not clear if PSV would accept a bid worth €30 million (£27 million) for Lozano, the fact Brands has dismissed the potential of forking out that figure for the 23-year-old suggests he could be about to make a huge mistake.

Brands later went on to name a more reasonable asking price: “If Lozano would cost €20m, I would consider it.”

Considering the enormity of Lozano’s ability and exposure in 2018, that particular price tag is incredibly reasonable, even if his lack of experience in the Premier League is a minor concern.

The manner in which Lozano thrived during the World Cup and in PSV Eindhoven’s incredibly competitive Champions League group this season suggests he possesses the tools to make the transition to English football.

In the modern economic climate, it is rare to find players of Lozano’s attacking quality for anything less than a premium price – just look at Everton’s deal to sign Richarlison in the summer.

Time will tell whether Lozano is capable of making the step up to a more competitive standard of football, but Brands may live to regret his failure to consider signing him for anything more than €20 million further down the line.

Everton fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

The majority of the Rangers fans that answered our recent poll are keen for Steven Gerrard to make a move to sign his own cousin and Liverpool academy starlet Bobby Duncan on loan in January.

So far this season the Gers have been heavily reliant on Colombian international Alfredo Morelos for goals and this is something that Gerrard will surely look to rectify in the winter transfer window.

One man who could be brought in is 17-year-old Duncan. The Scouse-born striker only joined the Liverpool academy from Manchester City in the summer, but he has certainly hit the ground running at his new club and has already trained with Jurgen Klopp’s first-team despite his young age.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”365944″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch The FPL Show The Everton stars you need in your Fantasy Team”]

With 19 goals in all competitions so far this season for the U18 side, Duncan could be a fantastic signing for his cousin Gerrard north of the border.

Check out the full results of our poll below, where 63 per cent of Rangers fans said that they would support another loan deal from Liverpool.

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The £35m bid from China for Marko Arnautovic was instantly rejected by West Ham, and it is of little surprise.

Sources at the time claimed that the offer was “derisory”, and that is being remarkably kind; the offer is so low, in such an inflated transfer market, that it should be regarded as a slap in the face.

What’s the word?

The offer from China arrived as something of a surprise, with there having been no previous indication of interest from the Far East.

Arnautovic’s agent, who is also his brother, has previously touted the possibility of his sibling joining an elite club, with Manchester United reportedly interested while Jose Mourinho was in charge.

There would at least be logic to that, to Arnautovic making a step up instead of a massive step down.

As it stands, Arnautovic is 29 and is enjoying the form of his life, scoring eight goals in 17 games in all competitions. He remains a key part of Austria’s international set-up, too, winning almost 80 caps.

Valuing him at £35m, then, is frankly ridiculous.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals what Lasagne-Gate was really like for Tottenham’s food-poisoned stars – Check out the video below…

Callum Hudson-Odoi, a talented Chelsea youngster who has made just one Premier League appearance, has also been the subject of a £35m offer, from Bayern Munich, per reports from Sky Sports News.

West Ham are not foolish, and they are well aware of the value that their prized asset holds.

Sources have admitted, naturally, that there is a price at which West Ham would be forced into a sale, but it is significantly higher than the £35m currently on the table.

And they are keen to avoid a repeat of the Dimitri Payet situation, with the French playmaker asking to leave the club in January of 2017 after a significant bid from Marseille.

There were extenuating circumstances then, but it is understood that the Hammers have communicated to Arnautovic that they do not wish to sell him at all in January, and it does not yet appear that the Austrian will kick up a stink.

Extracting the maximum possible amount

There is, of course, a flip side to this story.

With Arnautovic at the age of 29, and with his value peaking, there is a suspicion that the club would do business in the summer if an interested party were to match their asking price.

A move to China, though, does not appear to work for anybody.

While a lump of cash would appear in Arnautovic’s bank account every week, he would be turning his back on his top-flight career, and potentially his international career too.

Plus, West Ham would be left scrambling to find a replacement, and it has been made abundantly clear by similar transfers that a figure of £35m will not be enough to find a player capable of matching Arnautovic’s contributions.

A major bid from an elite club would be something different; had Real Madrid or Manchester United made the £35m bid, the Hammers would be hitting the panic button, aware that Arnautovic would likely push for a move, and that there is no ceiling to potential further offers.

There is a suspicion that this offer will not lead to a second one, though. West Ham have been firm and forthright in their rejection of the bid, and hope this will be the end of it.

Indeed, after being slapped in the face once, few would want to be hit a second time.

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According to Sky Sports, Cardiff City are close to agreeing a club-record £18 million move for Nantes striker Emiliano Sala.

What’s the word?

The 28-year-old forward has been in fine form so far this season, racking up twelve goals and two assists in eighteen Ligue 1 appearances.

The Argentine would certainly be a brilliant addition to Neil Warnock’s squad, who lack an out and out goalscorer to lead the line effectively at Premier League level. Sala certainly has the potential to play that role for the Welsh outfit, and if he is able to translate his current form to English football, then he could fire Cardiff to top flight safety this season.

Check out Neymar’s controversial new haircut for 2019 and Xherdan Shaqiri as you’ve never seen him before in the video below…

However, before the Bluebirds can seal a deal for Sala’s signature, West Ham United ought to enter the race for his services.

Taking Arnautovic’s place

The Hammers are likely to lose Marko Arnautovic this month, as the Austrian has been linked with a £35 million switch to Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG, as reported by The Sun. The funds raised from the 29-year-old’s departure should be reinvested by Manuel Pellegrini into a replacement attacker.

Sala could take up Arnautovic’s position at the London Stadium. At 6’2”, Sala has a similar frame to Arnautovic’s, he also boasts plenty of physical strength and aerial prowess. He is also a lethal finisher and technically gifted enough to fit in with the likes of Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini.

As an affordable replacement for Arnautovic, Sala offers an excellent option for this January transfer window.

Crystal Palace will know they need some additions in the January window as they seek to ensure they pull well clear of the bottom three.

The Eagles should have enough in the locker in the second half of the campaign to ensure they remain well clear of any danger, but the January window is always an interesting one for most clubs in the Premier League, not least teams like Palace.

It’s clear that Roy Hodgson’s men need some goals adding to the team, especially from someone who can play as a central striker, and it begs the question if manager Hodgson could get the best out of former Man City and AC Milan striker, Mario Balotelli.

The Italian has been frozen out at Nice and is looking like he is once again going to be moved on after falling out with manager Patrick Vieira.

It’s no surprise to see Balotelli in the headlines, but he is a talent on his day when he wants to be, and he proved at Nice in his first season that he can score the goals and get his head in the game when he chooses.

It’s for this reason we think he might fit in well at Palace, and a manager like Hodgson could be the sort to put an arm round the Italian and get the best out of him.

If Palace can land him for nothing, it’s a relatively small gamble for a big payoff if he bangs in the goals, and he might well be keen on the move to London as his career moves into it’s later years.

Palace fans, what do you think? Would you take Balotelli? Let us know!