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Newcastle United’s prospective Saudi Arabian takeover is still believed to be with the Premier League, according to The Athletic’s George Caulkin.It’s been 18 weeks since news first broke that disgraced owner Mike Ashley had agreed to sell the Magpies to Amanda Staveley’s consortium for a whopping £300m.Saudi’s public investment fund is set to take 80% of the northeast giants whilst Staveley and the Reuben brothers sharing the rest.Earlier in the week, former Toon defender Olivier Bernard tweeted a rather cryptic message, claiming that the deal was “happening.” However, this has been downplayed by Caulkin, who delivered a fresh update into matters.In response to one supporter on Twitter, he said:

Everyone at St James’ Park just wants to see the club rid of Ashley after 13 years of mediocrity and miscommunication. Yet, the sheer length of time this process has already taken has understandably led to doubts over its potential completion.

This hasn’t been made any easier by the Saudi state banning the MENA region’s only Premier League rights holders – beIN Sports – from broadcasting in the nation, meaning there’s no legal way to watch the English top-flight.

A baffling move given their PIF is trying to purchase United.

The 2019/20 season concludes later this afternoon whilst the transfer window opens on Monday – yet we’re no closer to learning about our fate. It’s time for answers before it is too late.

AND in other news,ÂTitle-winning flop eyed by Newcastle scouts if takeover falls through…

It seems like Mohamed Elneny will be offloaded by Arsenal in the summer, and the latest reports suggest that the midfielder will be leaving sooner rather than later as he already has sides interested in signing him.

According to Turkish media outlet Asist Analiz, via Football.London, Elneny has already agreed personal terms with Super Lig team Trabzonspor, and all that is left is for the two sides to agree a deal.

At the moment, the Turkish outfit are waiting to see the price-tag that Arsenal place on the defensive midfielder. If it is too much for their liking, they will look into the possibility of a season-long loan.

Elneny, who has won the Swiss League four times, per Transfermarkt, is clearly not seen as a player that Arsenal want to use as he was loaned out to Besiktas last season. As a player if you are getting loaned out at the age of 28, it probably means the club are trying to move you on and it looks like this is exactly the case with Egyptian.

Therefore, if the Gunners can get some decent money for the player, who is valued at £4.20 million, then it would be a good move for all involved. Trabzonspor get a player that they want, Elneny gets to play consistent football in a league that he is used to after he played there last season, and Arsenal get some money that they can use to buy players that Arteta feels will strengthen the squad.

Gunners fans, what are your thoughts on this news? Let us know down below!

If some of the more recent reports are to be believed, Leeds United have taken an interest in Udinese’s playmaker, Rodrigo De Paul. Of course, with Marcelo Bielsa’s crew making a grand comeback to the Premier League, the Whites will need to reinforce their squad.

Some business has already been done as Rodrigo joined from Valencia just recently but it seems Bielsa is still not fully satisfied with the outlook of his squad.

But according to a fresh update from Messaggero Venuto, De Paul himself dreams of actually moving to Juventus and would prefer that transfer over the switch to Elland Road.

The 26-year-old’s stance might indeed put Bielsa’s plan into jeopardy as the Bianconeri clearly have an advantage over their rivals if this is really to become a battle between the two.

De Paul himself is a creative spark and a very talented playmaker so it doesn’t surprise that Udinese are already preparing for his eventual departure. Still, it will be up to him to choose his next destination.

As thing currently stand, Leeds and Juventus could be going head to head to acquire his services in the ongoing summer transfer window. But what chance does Bielsa have against Andrea Pirlo and his crew if that’s really the case?

Only time will tell.

Verdict

While it might be too early to tell if Bielsa should throw in the towel and start focusing on alternative targets, it does seem like Leeds can’t exactly go toe to toe with a giant of European football that is Juventus.

However, the latest reports don’t exactly say how interested the Bianconeri are in the 26-year-old playmaker. If Pirlo decides to go all in, there’s little the Whites can do.

But if they are not insisting on signing him, maybe there’s an opening the newly-promoted Premier League side can explore.

Leeds United have signed plenty of exciting players in the three years Victor Orta has been at the club, but they appear to be on the verge of one major miss this transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the Yorkshiremen’s top-flight rivals Crystal Palace appear to have won the race for impressive Brentford attacker Said Benrahma this summer.

They claim that the Eagles are confident of striking a £20m agreement with the Championship playoff finalists.

Last month, Marcelo Bielsa’s side were linked with a move to sign the 25-year-old by the Mirror, whilst the ever-reliable Phil Hay told fans to not rule out Leeds’ interest soon after.

Another Orta miss?

Just like Emi Buendia, Dan James and more recently, Eberechi Eze, United appear to have missed out on a potentially game-changing signing – coincidentally in the attacking department once again.

You can argue that Benrahma was one of the best players in the Championship last term after he provided the Bees with 17 goals and nine assists whilst averaging a whopping 3.8 shots, three dribbles and 2.1 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

Not a single Leeds player scored more goals than the Algerian on their way to the league title nor did Patrick Bamford or Pablo Hernandez fire off as many shots.

It’s no secret that Bielsa appears to be in the market for another winger with reports linking the Whites to both Liverpool’s Harry Wilson and Rangers’ Ryan Kent.

His dazzling displays have often earned high praise.

Brentford B coach Sam Saunders claims Benrahma “could nutmeg a mermaid” whilst EFL pundit Don Hutchinson told ESPN that he believes the winger is a Premier League ready player.

Thomas Frank won’t want to lose his “magnificent” star but it could well be the Yorkshire giants who live to regret not signing him this summer.

He could well turn out to be exactly like James, who has gone on to feature regularly for old foes Manchester United.

Orta should have done more to secure him.

AND in other news, we’ve ranked Leeds United’s summer signings so far…

David Moyes must step in and block Robert Snodgrass’ potential Deadline Day move to Celtic after West Ham United reportedly stated their demands for a late deal.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports News’ Anthony Joseph, West Ham denied Celtic over the weekend in their approach for Snodgrass after the Scottish Premiership champions sought to sign the 33-year-old on loan.

The Irons are open to parting with Snodgrass before the summer market slams shut at 11pm on Monday but would require the Hoops to pay a significant fee for a one-season deal.

Sources at the London Stadium have also informed West Ham insider ExWHUemployee that Snodgrass had been considered as a potential make way in a deal for Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer, but plans were derailed by Moyes having no intentions of signing the Norway international.

Snodgrass, who is in the final year of his £40,000-per-week contract, has only featured in the Carabao Cup so far this season with Moyes happy to overlook the veteran midfielder in each Premier League fixture played to date.

The Glasgow-born wide man was also left at home on Sunday as West Ham thrashed Leicester City 3-0, despite Snodgrass contributing a superb equaliser just 25 seconds into the second-half during the Hammers’ EFL Cup exit to Everton during the week.

Moyes must block Snodgrass exit

While Moyes has so far been happy to omit Snodgrass from the Iron’s Premier League squads, the Scottish coach would be wise to step in and block the veteran midfielder from joining Celtic on Deadline Day should the Hoops present a fee matching West Ham’s valuation.

Snodgrass not only accounted for the Hammers’ initial equaliser against Everton in the Carabao Cup last week, but his performance showed the tiresome workrate he brings to each of his appearances and that quality will come in handy for Moyes down the line.

At some stage of the season, West Ham will know they must play with their backs to the wall to grind out results, and Snodgrass’ experiences will help in those scenarios in the same way James Milner is still frequently relied on by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

A wise head on old shoulders matters more in those scenarios than a team a young hot-shots capable of producing a moment of magic, as those moments cannot develop without a player like Snodgrass scuttling around the pitch to interrupt the flow of affairs.

AND in other news, West Ham United are considering a late move to sign a Premier League player who recorded just 0.8 key balls a game in 2019/20.

Abdoulaye Doucoure was one of the stars of the show as Everton beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 on Saturday with a near-perfect display whilst pulling double-duty in the absence of Allan.

Carlo Ancelotti tackled the Goodison Park affair without Brazilian Allan holding down the defensive duties in midfield, with the former SSC Napoli ace sidelined with a groin injury sustained in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win over West Ham United.

Yet the 29-year-old’s absence passed by without a blip as Doucoure displayed all the hallmarks of the perfect box-to-box enforcer that Everton splashed £20million to sign, just a year on from Watford rejecting offers worth £30m under the instructions of Marco Silva.

Saturday’s clash with Brighton marked Doucoure’s fifth appearance for Everton across all competitions, having started all available Premier League games to date and having entered the action from the bench to replace Allan midway through the second-half against West Ham.

His efforts to hinder Graham Potter’s Albion have rightly received a myriad of plaudits, with the Liverpool Echo lauding the Frenchman for being “absolutely everywhere”.

“He was absolutely everywhere for Everton this afternoon,” Adam Jones noted. “Whether it was covering at right-back following a marauding [Seamus] Coleman run or breaking into the box to allow James Rodriguez a chance to score, this was a brilliant display from the summer signing.”

Doucoure’s heatmap from the match shows the 5 ft 11 enforcer focusing his efforts to the right-hand of Ancelotti’s three-man midfield as tasked, but also drifting around each half of the pitch to aid his teammates wherever needed with gleeful ease.

Per SofaScore, retaining and winning the ball also came easy to Doucoure as he snatched possession with two interceptions, a tackle and blocked one shot while misplacing just four of his 56 passes and winning three of seven ground duels.

Ancelotti also bore witness to Doucoure creating a big chance to score from one of his three key balls on Saturday, which led to Rodriguez bagging his brace for a first assist of the season.

With Doucoure as comfortable in possession and with his back to goal as ever, Allan’s absence swiftly turned into a forgotten thought that will instil great confidence in Ancelotti and the midfielder’s display would have delighted a packed Goodison Park had fans been allowed in.

AND in other news, Everton are planning to part ways with a multi-million-pound signing who scored four times last season.

Everton Director of Football Marcel Brands has an easy call to make on Deadline Day regarding the future of outcast winger and Middlesbrough target Yannick Bolasie.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports, Neil Warnock’s Boro are looking to lure Bolasie to the Riverside Stadium two years after he snubbed a potential move to the North East.

Bolasie favoured a deal to join Aston Villa in the second-tier at the time, but would now be keen to join Middlesbrough after preliminary talks were held with the Championship side.

Boro would need to finalise terms on a transfer with Everton by 17:00 on Friday with the domestic transfer window nearing its end, and would require the Toffees subsidising a large proportion of the 31-year-old’s £75,000-per-week contract, per Sky Sports’ Keith Downie.

Bolasie spent last season on loan with Sporting CP, scoring twice in 25 appearances before returning to Goodison Park after the Liga NOS giants opted against triggering a €4.5million (£4m) option to buy clause.

His last of 32 appearances for the Toffees came in May 2018 before joining Aston Villa, KRC Genk and Sporting on loan deals, having missed much of the 2016/17 season through a cruciate ligament rupture.

Boro have begun their 2020/21 Championship campaign with one win from four games, yet sit just two points outside of the Play-Off places after claiming a 2-1 victory over the winless Barnsley prior to the international break.

A simple task for Brands

Everton offloading Bolasie to Boro on Deadline Day is a simple task for Brands, as the Dutch chief will be well aware that Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has no place in mind for the attacker.

Ancelotti told reporters earlier this month, via quotes by the Liverpool Echo, that the DR Congo international will not feature in Everton’s 25-man squad for the Premier League season.

“Bolasie is doing well, he’s training well and properly. He’s a professional,” said Ancelotti. “He is not part of the squad. He can train with us if he’s not able to find a club until the end of the market, and if he stays here of course we are going to train him.

“But I said to him that we have a big squad, and unfortunately there is no space for him.”

Brands, therefore, must entertain the idea of loaning Bolasie to Middlesbrough even if Everton are required to pay a large per cent of his £75k-p/w contract, as Boro covering any part of his deal will ease the financial commitment being made to a player deemed surplus to requirements.

Bolasie being a part of the domestic Deadline Day is the real shame for the winger, having been signed from Crystal Palace for £25million in 2016 only to see his career nosedive since arriving at Goodison Park.

His knee ligament injury played a great role in the decline seen, but former Everton boss Sam Allardyce could still see the threat Bolasie offered following the blow.

“The team has been crying out for what he offers,” Allardyce said, via quotes by The Guardian in 2017. “Yannick is blessed with dynamic movements and pace that cause defenders great concern. He probably occupies two players when he’s at his best because he’s such a danger in possession.”

Warnock will be hopeful that Bolasie can offer his Boro side that level of offensive threat, having netted just twice in 21 Championship appearances for Aston Villa during his half-season stint in Birmingham.

AND in other news, Everton have made a decision on the future of a £3million outcast.

Ryan Frederick could become the unfortunate victim of cruel circumstances when West Ham United host Manchester City on Sunday, with boss David Moyes needing to make difficult decisions as he looks to introduce his summer signings to the squad.

West Ham welcomed Craig Dawson and Said Benrahma to the London Stadium late into the transfer market, with the defender arriving on loan from Watford and attacker from Brentford.

Neither were named in the Irons’ most recent Premier League squad against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, but are two names right at the top of Moyes’ list for potential inclusions at home to Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues.

Moyes is expected to have a fully fit squad to choose from, with Michail Antonio’s early withdrawal in the 3-3 draw with Spurs only a precaution and that he does not have a serious problem, despite having an ice pack wrapped around his right leg after the game.

Sebastien Haller is also due to make his return after missing the Tottenham clash through a knock sustained in training, though will only feature from the bench with Moyes due to name an unchanged starting XI.

But by bringing Haller back to the bench and introducing Benrahma and Dawson to the 18-man squad, Moyes has difficult decisions to make over his remaining substitutes and Fredericks may be the odd one out.

Moyes will undoubtedly name goalkeeper Darren Randolph on the bench in case of an injury to starter Lukasz Fabianski, while Haller, Dawson and Benrahma’s inclusions leave just three spots up for grabs.

Manuel Lanzini would be a hard name to omit following his dramatic stoppage-time equaliser at Tottenham last week, while Andriy Yarmolenko offered a clever pass through to Vladimir Coufal before the right-back’s cross was turned home by Davinson Sanchez to make it 3-2.

If both feature, Fredericks’ chances of making it in the 18-man squad comes down to one spot which could be argued belongs to Issa Diop but can also be awarded to Mr West Ham Mark Noble or Robert Snodgrass in order to have greater options in the centre of the pitch.

Fredericks’ hopes of making it in the squad to face Manchester City, therefore, seem to hinge on whether or not Moyes favours two defenders on the bench and whether the Irons boss wants two central options or one who can play at full-back.

If the Scottish coach opts not to name Fredericks in his plans, then the former Fulham defender can count himself unlucky having offered West Ham more than most despite only earning three Premier League appearances which ended with a hamstring injury.

The blow occurred early in the second-half against Wolverhampton Wanderers but Fredericks returned to fitness over the international break to make the bench at Tottenham.

Over his time on the field in the top-flight, Fredericks was able to record a big chances created rate of 0.39 per 90 minutes, per SofaScore, which only left-back duo Arthur Masuaku (0.5) and Aaron Cresswell (0.4) can better among the Irons squad.

Fredericks also ranks first among the West Ham squad for key balls per 90 with an average 3.54 and offers the fourth-most accurate crosses (1.18), showing the offensive threat the £3.6m-rated ace can present and the reasons why his omission from the matchday squad would make the 28-year-old an unfortunate victim of the circumstances Moyes finds himself in.

AND in other news, West Ham frustrated a rival club with one of their summer deals and could spark greater anger by reviving efforts to sign a 6 ft 1 ace.

Glasgow Rangers beat Kilmarnock in a 1-0 win away at Rugby Park to move nine points clear of their arch-rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Steven Gerrard’s side are on an 18-game unbeaten run and have dropped just four points from their first 13 fixtures in the Scottish top flight.

Rangers ace Joe Aribo came close to scoring with a fine effort from inside the box before James Tavernier scored his 10th goal of the season from the penalty spot after Kilmarnock right-back Ross Millen was adjudged to have handled the ball.

The club captain has started every single game of the Scottish Premiership this season so far with Gerrard keeping faith in his countryman and the in-form defender returned the favour with another fine performance.

SofaScore awarded Tavernier with a high rating of 7.9 for his efforts – he made one interception, three tackles and four clearances, whilst he also won six out of twelve ground duels (50%), produced two key passes and took 91 touches of the ball, which suggests that he was a potent attacking threat as well.

Sky Sports gave him a grade of 7/10, whilst GlasgowLive gave him the same score, claiming that he “continues to rack up the goals, and netted his tenth of the season from the spot” although they added that he “wasn’t able to get forward as much as he’d like in the second half, with Killie pushing forward, but another good showing.”

Once hailed as an “outrageous” colossus by Gerrard, it’s fair to say that Tavernier has established himself as one of the best right-backs in Scotland. The £4.5m-rated Rangers ace has been in exceptional form this season, as he has made 13 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, scoring six goals and supplying five assists so far, via Transfermarkt.

By comparison, even star striker Alfredo Morelos has only managed to score three goals and supply three assists in the first division, as per Transfermarkt.

The 29-year-old is Gerrard’s undisputed first-choice right-back and has become an integral part of the side in recent years. We suspect he will still have a part to play if the Gers are to regain the title, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Worse than Barker: Glasgow Rangers dodged a bullet in one-time target Isaac Atanga…

Speaking to Sport TV, as reported by Sky Sports News, Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has hinted at the club’s next move surrounding loanee Gedson Fernandes – with the Portuguese boss claiming Spurs will be open to letting him return to Benfica in January for the good of the player. 

Fernandes, who has found game time difficult to come by under his compatriot since signing for Tottenham on loan in January, could now return to his parent club despite possessing a ‘big reputation’.

Indeed, described as a player in the mould of Spurs fan favourite Moussa Dembele, Fernandes hasn’t been given a chance to replicate the Belgian’s prowess – falling short of working his way into Mourinho’s plans.

Mourinho hints at Fernandes stance

Now, speaking to Portuguese broadcaster Sport TV, Mourinho has confirmed that Spurs will not stand in Benfica’s way as Fernandes’ season-long loan deal shortly comes to an end.

The Tottenham boss, while ‘comfortable’ with letting him stay in north London, concedes that it is likely he will depart back to Benfica as he cannot guarantee him regular playing time.

“For me, it is never a problem, but a solution. Having him in the squad, even if he is not called up and not playing, is an extremely comfortable situation,” explained Mourinho to the press.

“I will never be the one to push him or say that I don’t want him here but I understand the situation of the kid and Benfica.

“If the club wants to end the relationship here, we will be here to collaborate, because we want the good of the player. Benfica has the power to decide and will be accepted by us.”

Transfer Tavern take

Described as a ‘raw talent’ by Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold, Tottenham could have potentially had a star in the making – but the player also once labelled as a potential ‘next Sissoko’ could be set to part company due to a lack of action this season.

In other news: Levy has been tipped to make this Tottenham move which would drive Spurs fans ‘crazy’ – find out more here.