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Newcastle slipped into the Premier League relegation zone following a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend.

The Magpies fell behind after just nine minutes with Pedro finding the back of the net but equalised before the breakthrough Ciaran Clark. Chelsea continued to pile on the pressure and took the lead again with Willian scoring his first Premier League goal since October. Rafael Benitez’s men were unable to score again and results elsewhere meant they moved into the bottom three.

After winning the manager of the month award in November, Benitez has guided his team to just one win in their last ten games in all competitions. Investment in the playing squad is desperately needed if the former Liverpool boss is to steer them away from danger. The result against Chelsea must force Mike Ashley to act.

One man the Magpies could target is Norwich City revelation – Emiliano Buendia. Valued at £2.25m by Transfermarkt, the Argentina U20 international arrived at Carrow Road in the summer in a cut-price deal from Getafe. The 22-year-old has made an instant impact at the club, earning plenty of praise from fans and pundits alike during his short spell in England.

Buendia can play right across the forward line but his best performances have come from the right wing. The forward has helped his team’s cause with three goals and three assists in the league – impressing Norwich fans with his non-stop work-rate on the right flank. The youngster has the vision to carve open defences, averaging two key passes per game, meaning he can be the man to unlock Newcastle’s misfiring forwards. Not only does he excel offensively, but Buendia also loves to track back and help his back four, averaging an impressive 2.5 tackles per game this season (WhoScored).

His performances in the lower division should prompt Newcastle to keep a close eye on his development.

Newcastle fans, thoughts?

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Last week, talkSPORT linked Tottenham Hotspur with a move for Sunderland forward Josh Maja, who is widely expected to be available this month.

Maja, 20, will see his current deal with Sunderland expire at the end of this season.

Before the turn of the year, Sunderland boss Jack Ross revealed that Maja had been offered a new deal by the Black Cats.

The striker has seemingly turned down the chance to extend his contract and he is therefore expected to be sold to the highest bidder before the end of January.

A whole host of clubs have been linked with the youngster, who has scored 15 times in all competitions for Sunderland this season.

With that in mind, we put the question to the Tottenham fans – should your club move for Maja before the end of the month?

Maja would have a certain Harry Kane to learn from if he moved to Spurs and the attacker is certainly talented.

Have your say down below and look out for the published results…

Chelsea’s season took a turn for the better this week when they confirmed their place in the League Cup final with a penalty shoot-out win over Spurs at the Bridge.

The Blues had been in danger of seeing their campaign fall apart somewhat, with comments from manager Mauro Sarri in the week not doing the club any favours in terms of the perception the onlooking footballing world has of Chelsea’s squad.

There was substance to his comments though, and Sarri might well have a point, especially in relation to a certain group of his players, who have simply not been putting in the performances required of the Blues this term.

We in then Tavern feel there has to be an improvement in the displays of certain individuals in the Blues squad, and feel that without showing that improvement, they could well be shipped out before long.

With those thoughts in mind, we looked at TWO Chelsea players who have plenty to prove in the coming months…

Mateo Kovacic

The midfielder, despite only being on loan from Real Madrid, is hardly pulling up trees at the Bridge at the moment, and he needs to improve if he is to seal a permanent move.

The Croatian is clearly a talent, but like with his spell in Madrid, he has failed to impose himself as much as he should do.

Kovacic has plenty to prove in our eyes, and needs to step up in the coming months.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

The England midfielder has still not nailed down a regular place in the Blues’ starting XI, and it’s getting to the point where it really is now or never for the former Crystal Palace loanee.

Loftus-Cheek has so much talent, but he just isn’t showcasing it, whether that through no fault of his own or not.

It’s a big few months for the 23-year-old, who could find himself on his way out of the Bridge without a big improvement in on-field displays.

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Tottenham Hotspur are lining up a £30million summer bid for Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler, according to ESPN.

Spurs have not signed a player since January of 2018, but they are planning to reinforce their squad in the summer.

What’s the word?

The north London have struggled to add new signings in recent transfer windows, with their last signing being Lucas Moura from PSG on January 31, 2018, as per BBC.

However, the aforementioned ESPN report claims that the club are watching Soler closely, with scouts routinely taking in his performances.

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

The Spain Under-21 international plays as a midfielder for Valencia, and is able to operate both centrally and out wide.

Per Transfermarkt, Soler has made 28 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring two goals – including one in the 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League – and providing six assists.

PSG are also understood to be interested in Soler, according to ESPN, but Spurs are in the driving seat to secure his signature, as they can offer regular first-team football.

The end for Lamela?

This news is unlikely to please Erik Lamela.

Soler has played exclusively as a right midfielder this season, and his signing by Spurs could well spell the end for the Argentina international in north London.

Lamela is behind the likes of Son Heung-Min and Lucas Moura in the pecking order on the right flank, and this may well be the final nail in his coffin at the club.

Soler offers the youth and versatility so craved by Mauricio Pochettino and would be an upgrade on the inconsistent Lamela, who struggles to blend his tenacity with genuine ability in the final third.

Of course, the South American man could be kept on by Pochettino as something of an impact substitute if he is content to play that role, as it appears unlikely that he will ever be anything more than a fringe player.

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Mark Noble has admitted in his Evening Standard column that the endless speculation over not only Marko Arnautovic’s future, but also that of every one of West Ham United’s strikers, has affected the team.

What’s the word?

Arnautovic spent most of the January window with his head seemingly elsewhere when it emerged that clubs in the Chinese Super League were chasing his signature. Javier Hernandez and Lucas Perez also had their names regularly spread across the back pages.

Even the injury-prone Andy Carroll was tipped to be heading for the exit door as a shock replacement for Harry Kane at Tottenham. But come the end of deadline day, not one of the quartet actually left the London Stadium.

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

Now, with the window behind them, Hammers captain Noble has acknowledged in his Evening Standard column that the speculation over their respective futures affected the rest of the squad.

The £6.3million rated midfielder noted: “That [speculation] has to have an effect on everyone, not just the players concerned but all the squad.

“It hasn’t been ideal at all. Everyone knows how it works. Agents are very active during the window, and there is no way players concerned can prepare properly for a game when that is happening.

“I’m not making any excuses for our past two performances, but it must have had an adverse effect.”

Pellegrini’s man-management crucial

When the leader of the pack is stating that the interest in his colleagues has affected results, the captain of the ship must step up and hit refresh on the mindset of his players.

In the case of West Ham, this responsibility falls to Manuel Pellegrini and the end product of his man management will come clear on Monday night when the Irons host the current league leaders Liverpool.

The Reds will be keen to push further clear of the current title-holders with a win, and if Jurgen Klopp can orchestrate such a result, it will be the Hammers’ fourth loss in a row after defeats at Bournemouth, AFC Wimbledon and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

There is only so much Pellegrini can do when it comes to outside influences, such as transfer talk and whispering agents – but after Noble suggested this is a common issue at the club in January, it’s something he’ll need to try and prepare for next time around.

For now though, Pellegrini needs to get his squad simply thinking about their football again, rather than potential futures elsewhere.

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Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter to react after boss Mauricio Pochettino reacted hilariously to a stat involving his star forward Son Heung-Min.

The former Southampton boss was told that his side have won all of the 13 games in which the South Korean forward has scored in, prompting this response from the Argentine manager: “Next time when Son scores I go to the dressing room and shower and wait for the game (to end).”

Son has now hit 16 goals across all competitions this season, with 11 of those coming in the last 16 games as he truly steps up in Harry Kane and Dele Alli’s absence through injury.

Following the 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, Spurs now have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after goals from Son, Jan Vertonghen and Fernando Llorente saw them dispatch of the Bundesliga giants with ease.

Fans of the north London-based side on Twitter, however, were obsessed with Pochettino’s humorous remark after the game…

Noel Whelan believes Jack Clarke won’t stay at Leeds beyond January but is confident that he won’t be missed too much, as there are a number of quality wingers at the club.

What did he say?

Leeds took Clarke on loan from Tottenham after the club signed him over the summer, but he has made just three appearances this term and clearly isn’t a central part of Marcelo Bielsa’s plans.

With a lack of game time possibly harming his development Whelan is correct to suggest Spurs may look at a recall, and though he possesses pace and a direct style, Clarke leaving shouldn’t have too much of an impact, according to the pundit.

Whelan is confident in his assertion of what will happen and how such a development affects the club, but he is confident in the squad at Elland Road.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said:

“There’s no doubt Jack Clarke will leave as Tottenham won’t allow him to stay on the bench all season.

“Leeds have plenty of wide men in the squad so I don’t expect they will sign someone to replace him.

“I can see him [Alioski] filling in as a winger, and replacing Clarke, if the first choices like Harrison and Costa are out, or come off. He’s played there most of his career, can create and score goals and is one of the best finishers in the squad.”

Ready to step up

Bielsa is blessed with a number of options in his current set-up and so far he has used a number of players in different roles to his advantage.

Most notably, the deployment of both Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioski at full-back, which isn’t their natural position, has led to notable success and even displaced Barry Douglas in the starting line-up.

That is some feat given the Scot played left-back regularly for Wolves when they won the Championship in 2017. It just goes to show the positive effect both players have on the team.

Virtually impossible: Can you name the year all of these Leeds flops arrived at Elland Road?

Alioski, in particular, has provided a threat going forward. His four goals and one assist indicate the danger he poses in the opposition’s final third and playing him on the wing would allow him to take up threatening positions more often.

If Clarke does indeed leave then Bielsa may opt to push Alioski further forward, and given the form he has shown this campaign that could be a switch which really pays off, as the Macedonian has years of experience playing there – just as Whelan suggests.

Clarke may possess energy and a different skillset to others in the squad but his absence shouldn’t be felt too hard, and if it allows Alioski to show his true potential then the team will benefit significantly from the development.

In other Leeds news, one of Europe’s most in-form strikers has been captured signing a Leeds shirt…

It has been more than a week since Sunderland last played and the good news of David Jones’ arrival may hopefully lead to a more spirited performance.

One thing for certain is that Phil Parkinson has had more time to work on things in training, as often midweek games have prevented him from focusing on finer details in training.

The Black Cats’ boss recently adopted a 3-4-3 formation and though the team has adapted to it well, the understanding of the new style from the period without playing should prove to be very useful.

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There could be an added boost for Phil Parkinson against his former club as Lynden Gooch is back fit and in training after making a substitute appearance last time out against Blackpool.

The winger offers Sunderland a directness they have lacked in recent weeks, as well as the ability to score goals, finding the target on four occasions this term.

Duncan Watmore underwhelmed against the Seasiders with a WhoScored rating of 5.8, failing to make a key pass as he highlighted the Black Cats’ lack of creativity this campaign. 

Those two swapping places would be a like-for-like switch and there could be another player from returning in injury in the form of Jordan Willis so bearing that in mind, here is how they could line up at the Stadium of Light. We’re tipping Parkinson to make three changes in total.

Willis’ return should help to strengthen the Sunderland defence, which could have kept its first clean sheet for eight games if not for a brilliant strike by Blackpool’s Matty Virtue.

Can you score at least 80% on this Ultimate Premier League Quiz? Test your knowledge now…

The decision to include Alim Ozturk and Tom Flanagan is so far paying off for Parkinson. Flanked by two wing-backs who find the right balance to their play in Luke O’Nien and Denver Hume means his team should be able to cause the Trotters problems while keeping things tight at the back.

In attack, Charlie Wyke has lead the line recently and Sunderland have shown improvement as a result, drawing last time out. If Parkinson plays to his strengths against Bolton he could cause the opposition problems from crosses coming into the box, which means there is unlikely to be a place for Will Grigg once again.

George Dobson’s suspension means Grant Leadbitter is likely to come back into the side, and he will have to be at his best to put his side on the front foot and reduce the influence of Luke Murphy, who scored a great goal against Southend last weekend.

A win could be a great lift for the home side ahead of a busy schedule, and with the bottom-placed team visiting there may be no better chance to end the winless run.

In other Sunderland news, Luke O’Nien has revealed his desire to stay at the club long-term amid rumours of a new contract being given to him.

It looks like Leeds United are on a hunt for a new midfielder and according to reports coming from Football Insider, Reading’s young talent, Andy Rinomhota, is on their radar.

The now 22-year-old midfielder could reportedly even be on the table in January and failing that, in the summer transfer window.

Rinomhota seems like a suitable backup for Kalvin Phillips given Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t really have anyone in his squad who could fill in that position should his first-choice player be unavailable.

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Despite Phillips being considered among the best, if not the very best Championship players in his position, he will definitely need someone who can serve as a backup in the event of injury or suspension.

But who exactly is this young midfielder who’s being considered to act a relief for the Yorkshire Pirlo?

To answer that question, we sought the opinions of those who know him best…

Jaap Stam, former Reading manager

Stam worked with Rinomhota back in 2017 while he was still coaching the Royals and he knows a thing or two about the young talent.

Of course, back then the midfielder was very much just emerging from his cocoon and Stam could already see the talent that is hidden behind him.

When Rinomhota extended his contract, the manager was over the moon, showering his player with praise in the process.

Here’s what he said in full, as quoted by Berkshire Live:

“From the start of the season when he joined us in Holland for pre-season and became part of the first team squad, Andy has made a very good impression.

“He’s a box to box midfield player with a lot of quality and ability as an individual, but he also brings a lot of energy to the team and any game he plays in, so I’m delighted we have been able to offer another one of our promising academy graduates a long-term deal at the club.”

Mick Gooding, radio pundit

Gooding didn’t shy away from complimenting the youngster last year when Reading drew with QPR.

Back then, Rinomhota was only breaking into his current team’s starting lineup and his presence was already starting to be felt. By that time, and despite his young age, he was shaping up to become an extremely important figure in their jigsaw.

A true test for any Leeds fan: Can you match these iconic images with the right results?

Gooding recognised this and was immediately raving about the youngster on BBC Radio Berkshire, as quoted by football.london:

“He’s got a bit of everything. He’s tall, strong, quick, can tackle and he can beat players.

“Since he’s come into the first team he is just getting better and better with the experience.

“It’s really refreshing and you can see he just loves playing.

“I’m sure he’s on a comfortable contract but rather than being a player who is playing to earn money you can see [he is not and] he loves playing football. He wants to play football and he’s a breath of fresh air.”

Paul Clement, former Reading manager

Another manager who was quickly impressed by the talent of the player in question is Reading’s former gaffer, Paul Clement.

In 2018, just after a 3-2 victory over Bristol City and with Rinomhota given his full league debut in the team, his coach was full of praise and admired the youngster’s performance.

He said, as quoted by Reading’s official webpage:

“I thought he played really well. He has had to be patient for his opportunity and he has been patient.

“Andy is a fantastic professional. Every day, he is committed to learning, improving, giving his best.

“He’s a credit to this club, our Academy, his family – I’m sure they were very proud to see him play in the win.”

Verdict

By all accounts, Rinomhota looks like a true prospect and someone who could potentially ease the burden Phillips is carrying on his shoulders at the moment.

Of course, it still remains to be seen whether Bielsa gets his target or not, but it’s one to keep an eye on during the January window.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Danny Murphy has delivered fresh criticism on Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, labelling him a “liability”.

What did he say?

Murphy was openly critical of the Switzerland international during the Gunners’ FA Cup third round clash against Leeds United on Monday night, calling him “lazy” for his tracking back, and rebuking his propensity for making fouls.

And now, Murphy has doubled down on his verdict on the midfielder, claiming that he simply doesn’t learn his lessons when he takes to the pitch.

He said: “I’ve been on at Xhaka for quite a while, I’ve dug him out a few times. I’m paid to comment on what I see. If you play in midfield, you can’t expect to keep making the same mistakes and not be criticised. I can’t doubt his passion and his work ethic. Like all of the Arsenal players, he was very good second-half.

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“But when you run around headless and you don’t think about what you’re doing, you’re going to keep getting booked and you’re going to be a liability for your team. He was lucky to stay on the pitch and he doesn’t learn his lessons.”

Myth

One man’s mindless tackle, is another man’s tactical foul. And whilst Xhaka appears to be getting a bad rep from Murphy for erring on the wrong side of it, his disciplinary record this season in the Premier League suggests he hasn’t overstepped the mark considerably. The Swiss ace has picked up just four bookings in the 15 games that he has played, meaning that he avoided the threshold of five that would have seen him pick up a one-game ban.

And under Mikel Arteta in recent weeks, Xhaka has shown signs of major progression, unlike what Murphy seems to believe. As per Whoscored in the the three games where data has been collected since Arteta’s announcement, the midfielder’s overall match rating has consistently gone up from 6.89 to 7.17 to 7.42 in the home victory over Manchester United. And despite making seven fouls in those three games, he did not pick up a single booking.

Quickfire Quiz: How much do you know about Arsenal’s history in the January transfer window?

Perhaps the Swiss man is simply becoming smarter in the way he is committing fouls, stopping counter-attacks and thinking of the team first. Murphy would do well to just take a step back and avoid running with misconceptions.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has revived this Arsenal ace who struggled under Unai Emery.