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Newcastle United have no doubt carried out some astute business since the change in ownership back in late 2021, with the arrival of PIF having seen the Magpies pull off notable deals in the transfer market in recent times, including the bargain signings of the likes of Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn – the pair joining for just £12m and £13m, respectively.

Such dealings were not always commonplace during the Mike Ashley regime, however, with the example of one-time loanee Loic Remy showcasing the failings of the much-maligned businessman.

Why did Remy not join Newcastle permanently?

The Tynesiders had seemingly first shown an interest in the prolific Frenchman back in 2013, with the 6 foot 1 hotshot having bagged 30 goals in just 75 games during his time at Nice, as well as a further 42 goals in 111 games for Ligue 1 giants, Marseille.

It was, however, Queen’s Park Rangers who were ultimately able to secure the striker’s services on an £8m deal ahead of the St James’ Park outfit in January 2013, with the London side’s hefty wage offer seemingly doing the trick in helping to tempt the player to join in their relegation fight.

After scoring six goals in only 16 games at the tail-end of that season at Loftus Road, the one-time Lyon ace then belatedly opted to seal a loan switch to the northeast later that year, joining a host of French talent to have been snapped up by Alan Pardew at the time.

The “high class” machine – as lauded by Pardew – would prove an instant hit on Tyneside after scoring 14 goals in just 26 Premier League games during the 2013/14 campaign, albeit with only two of those coming after the turn of the year as injury curtailed his progress.

Despite that setback, however, Remy was clearly a popular figure at the club as he was even named the Player of the Year by the Newcastle Supporters Trust, having also notably earned comparisons to compatriot – and footballing icon – Thierry Henry after netting against Cardiff City in October 2013.

The player himself stated at the time: “The guys in the changing room said to me it was like a Thierry Henry goal, so that made me smile. I am often compared with Thierry Henry and it is nice to hear that from people because it means I am doing something right.”

That likeness was also noted by ex-Newcastle man Mick Quinn, with the pundit writing in his Chronicle column that the club should do all they can to strike a permanent agreement:

‘We have money. Quite a bit of it. Let’s spend some of it on a player who I believe is going to be as good as Thierry Henry. And I don’t say that lightly. It’s how much I admire the guy.

‘Henry was one of the greatest I have ever seen playing in English football. Remy is getting close to his level and at 27 is just about to enter the best years of his career.

‘He could be as important for Newcastle as Henry was for Arsenal – which was very important.’

As it proved, however, the Magpies were unable to tempt the 30-cap forward to agree to a deal as he ultimately spurned their advances – as QPR owner Tony Fernandes revealed – going on to join top-flight rivals Chelsea in the summer of 2014 for a fee of around £10.5m.

After ultimately struggling to fire at Stamford Bridge – where he scored just 12 goals in 47 games – Remy was then linked with a return to St James’ Park in 2016, albeit before ultimately joining Crystal Palace on loan.

There may well be a feeling that Ashley and co should have done more to tie the striker down when they had the chance, with it no doubt a case of what might have been had the Henry-esque star stayed put for the long term.

Now 37, Remy has gone on to feature for clubs in Turkey – where he scored six times in his first ten outings for Caykur Rizespor to maintain that ‘high-class’ output – before arriving in Spain and then his native France, having notably joined Stade Brest at the start of last month.

Sheffield Wednesday defender Ciaran Brennan’s scary-looking injury ‘won’t be too serious’, according to journalist Alex Miller.

The Lowdown: Potentially major

The League One centre-back joined Swindon Town on a season-long loan last summer but has recently suffered a setback in his development at the County Ground.

During Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Harrogate, the 22-year-old had to be removed from the pitch after sustaining a dislocated shoulder, which caused initial concern amongst supporters that this could be a major problem.

However, an encouraging update on his situation has now emerged…

The Latest: Brennan fitness update

Taking to Twitter, Miller claimed that Brennan’s injury doesn’t appear to be as bad as first feared. He wrote:

“Young Ciaran Brennan was stretchered off while playing for Swindon Town over the weekend. There’s hope his injury won’t be too serious but it looked a sore one.”

Expanding in his column for The Star, the reporter stated that damage has been ‘limited’ thanks to the medical intervention, though there has been ‘no set timescale’ on his return.

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The Verdict: Huge boost

Brennan has made 21 appearances for Swindon so has been getting the game time he joined for, and it’ll be a boost for him to know that he won’t be facing a long spell on the sidelines.

The Owls starlet was averaging 2.5 clearances and 1.2 aerial wins per fourth-tier game prior to his absence, highlighting the rock he’s become for the Robins (WhoScored).

The Sheffield-born talent has also made 19 interceptions during his time in Wiltshire so both Swindon and Wednesday will be hoping that he can stage his comeback sooner rather than later.

As Newcastle United gear themselves up for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final encounter with Manchester United, one man who will likely be feeling that mix of nerves and excitement more than most is academy graduate, Sean Longstaff, with the North Shields native hoping to help steer his boyhood club to long-awaited glory.

As the 25-year-old has himself admitted, he is simply “living the dream” at present under Magpies boss Eddie Howe, having shaken off a tough spell under former manager Steve Bruce to emerge as a leading figure for the resurgent outfit.

The local lad will almost certainly be handed a starting berth for this weekend’s highly-anticipated meeting at Wembley, with that involvement set to come just under five years on from the midfielder making his senior debut for the club in the competition back in August 2018.

That early impact under Rafa Benitez had seen the towering gem catch the eye of upcoming opponents, Man United, in the summer of 2019, albeit with the Red Devils ultimately walking away from any deal having baulked at the Tynesiders’ reported £50m asking price.

Despite that initial promise, though, the 5 foot 11 machine was subsequently restricted to something of a bit-part role in the years that followed, having never made more than 15 Premier League starts in a single season prior to the beginning of the current campaign.

That lack of action now appears a distant memory for the club’s “unsung hero”, however – as lauded by pundit Tam McManus – with the Englishman having already started 19 league games this season, proving influential in the club’s rampant run of form both in the top-flight and in the cup.

For all the expectancy that Newcastle would simply splash the cash following the change in ownership, it is a testament to the work of Howe that he has more than put his faith in those already at the club, with Longstaff one of the more obvious beneficiaries of the 45-year-old’s appointment.

How much is Longstaff worth?

The playmaker’s rise of late is illustrated by the fact that he is now set to be worth in the region of £16m, according to Football Transfers, with that a rather sizeable sum considering that the £50k-per-week man cost the club nothing to develop him in the youth ranks.

Not that the northeast side will be looking to cash in any time soon, however, with Longstaff currently blossoming in the centre of the park, having scored three goals and provided three assists in 30 games in all competitions this season.

Praised for being “absolutely everywhere” in the midfield by the aforementioned McManus, the one-time Blackpool loanee has showcased his defensive prowess by averaging 1.3 tackles per game in the league this season, while also offering a threat creatively as he laid on five big chances from his 23 top-flight outings.

The relentless gem’s most telling contribution this term, however, came during the semi-final triumph over Southampton last month to help steer his side to the showpiece, having netted twice in the second-leg victory at St James’ Park.

It would no doubt be fitting if Longstaff were to again prove the hero come Sunday, although no matter the outcome of that mouthwatering clash, Newcastle do appear to have struck gold by persisting with the youth product.

Transfer activity in January often appears as a steady trickle, with deals notably harder to complete, but at Chelsea, the torrential winter influx in west London defied such a notion, but that has not impeded plans for further high-profile acquisitions this summer..

What’s the latest regarding Maddison to Chelsea?

According to one recent source, Blues boss Graham Potter is among those interested in a move for Leicester City’s James Maddison, with the prolific playmaker approaching the final year of his contract.

Manchester City and Newcastle United are also credited with intrigue in his signature, and with such robust competition, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly will need to act swiftly and with confidence in order to prise the maestro away.

Last summer, the Magpies failed with a £50m bid for the English ace, with Leicester demanding £60m for his services, but with the combined affluence of Chelsea’s owner and the deterioration of Maddison’s contract, a deal could indeed be struck.

Could Maddison be a Fernandes-esque signing for Potter?

The one-cap international held lofty expectations upon his shoulders after making the switch from Norwich City to Leicester for £20m in 2018, when he was just 21-years-old.

Now 26, the £110k-per-week phenom has made 189 displays for his outfit, scoring 54 goals and 37 assists, playing a pivotal role in the FA Cup triumph in 20/21, consequently clinching the Community Shield against Manchester City.

And this season, despite injury concerns, Maddison, who Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate heralded as “world-class”, has scored nine goals and supplied five assists from 15 starts in the Premier League as he continues last year’s purple patch into the current term, strengthening his stature with an iron-clad grip.

The English “monster”, as once hailed by journalist Josh Bunting, is truly blossoming into one of the Premier League’s finest creative forces, capable of devastating both as a direct threat and an auxiliary option, indeed ranking among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty goals, the top 8% for rate of assists and the top 13% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

This encapsulation of his multi-dimensional tool kit is an affirmation that he is among the finest to ply their trade in his position, and Leicester, who have struggled this season and currently sit in 13th place, six points above the relegation zone, might tread far murkier water had they squandered his services last summer, when the interest was hot.

And with FBref listing Mason Mount as a comparable player, who has been linked with a move away from Chelsea after his own contractual uncertainty, Maddison could find a ready-made role at Stamford Bridge, enhancing an outfit that are currently struggling for goals – indeed, Erling Haaland has more league goals than Chelsea at present.

A further arresting comparison can be down towards Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, who is a further comparable player and whose trajectory could be emulated by the Chelsea bosses with a swoop for Maddison.

He’s a player that the Foxes star watches closely for inspiration, so further parallels could be drawn.

The Portuguese “magnifico” – as dubbed by Squawka – joined the Red Devils for £47m from Sporting CP in 2020, and bears a semblance to his Foxes counterpart with his prodigious output, scoring 57 goals and 45 assists from 160 appearances.

With Maddison already chalking similar figures up at Leicester, one can only imagine the heights that could be reached among an opulent Chelsea team that has spent over £550m on new arrivals since last summer.

And with the £70m-rated United gem ranking within the top 9% of positional peers for progressive passes, there is an illustration of the superlative creative support that Maddison can more than match.

As Maddison continues to prosper, the doubters surrounding his calibre grow thinner with each passing game week, and the tantalising thought of his inclusion in this expansive pool of Blues talent might just crystallise this summer.

One priority position for Manchester United heading into the January transfer window was at right-back, with manager Erik ten Hag having been searching for a quality alternative to usual starter Diogo Dalot in that role.

While the subsequent resurgence of Aaron Wan-Bissaka – who has started the last seven league games – seemingly halted the need for a mid-season addition, the fact that the Englishman had only recently been tipped for an exit could well suggest that the full-back berth is still on the agenda heading into the summer window.

Amid that continued hunt for a suitable option on the right side of the defence, the Red Devils may well be regretting their failure to sign current Newcastle United skipper Kieran Trippier back in the summer of 2021, with the 32-year-old having been a “revelation” for the Magpies of late, as per talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan.

The Old Trafford outfit had seemingly been keen to prise the England international from Atletico Madrid 18 months ago, with reports at the time suggesting that the one-time Manchester City man had been hopeful that a deal could be agreed.

As it proved, the La Liga side’s reported valuation of around £34m seemingly proved something of a sticking point, with the Premier League giants reluctant to fork out such a hefty fee for a player who was entering the final year of his deal.

Despite Trippier himself revealing that a move had been close, the Bury-born defender ultimately stayed put in the Spanish capital that summer, before joining the Magpies for a knock-down fee of just £12m in January 2022.

That move has swiftly come to look like something of a “bargain”, in the words of journalist Josh Bunting, with the one-time Tottenham Hotspur man having since been instrumental in keeping Eddie Howe’s side in the division last term, before playing a vital role in the club’s remarkable top four push this time around.

A “defensive animal” – according to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate – the £100k-per-week ace has averaged 2.1 tackles and 1.5 games from his 21 league outings this term, having kept 12 clean sheets and conceded just 12 goals in that time.

It is the experienced asset’s quality going forward that has particularly caught the eye, however, as he has already created 17 big chances this season – the second most of any player in the division – while he has averaged 3.0 key passes per game, a record far higher than that of Dalot (1.5) and Wan-Bissaka (0.8).

To have such creative brilliance come from the flanks would no doubt have been a real lift for United had they snapped up Trippier at the time, with the 40-cap rock also offering the benefit of being a “leader” in the words of journalist Henry Winter.

Having been a “game-changer” for the northeast side, according to Alan Shearer, Trippier is now bidding to help the club end their lengthy trophy drought ahead of the upcoming Carabao Cup final, with Ten Hag’s side awaiting in the showpiece.

With it likely to already smart that the Red Devils didn’t snap up the defender when they had the chance, it could well hurt even more if he thwarts them at Wembley in just a few weeks’ time.

Tottenham Hotspur are sweating over the fitness of both Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur ahead of tonight’s Premier League meeting with Fulham.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Simon Collings, with the journalist revealing in his latest article for the Evening Standard on Monday that the duo face a race to be fit for this evening’s encounter.

It follows comments from Antonio Conte who appeared to be unsure as to whether the forward and central midfielder will be fit for the trip to west London this evening, as the duo have both only recently returned from injury and endured a strenuous test against Manchester City last Thursday.

Speaking about the condition of the duo during Friday’s press conference, the 53-year-old said: “It is difficult to answer because only yesterday [Thursday] night we played. I think no [new injuries], but sometimes after one day can happen something you need, especially the medical department need time to make a valuation.

“But I hope not [any injuries] and we finish with all the players, a bit tired, especially the players recovering from injuries like Rodrigo Bentancur, like Deki Kulusevski and only fatigue.”

Huge blow

Considering just how important both Kulusevski and Bentancur have been for Spurs this season, should either of the duo be unavailable for selection this evening, especially against an extremely impressive Fulham side, it would undoubtedly come as a huge blow to Conte.

Indeed, over Kulusevski’s 12 Premier League appearances in the current campaign, the £62m-rated talent has been one of Tottenham’s most creative outlets, scoring two goals, registering five assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.5 shots, making 2.0 key passes and completing 1.6 dribbles per game.

For context, the winger’s five assists and five big chances created rank the 22-year-old joint first and third in Conte’s squad in the two respective metrics, while his average of shots, key passes and dribbles per match rank him third, first and first at Tottenham in each stat respectively.

More generally speaking, the Sweden international averages an extremely impressive Sofascore statistical rating of 7.03, currently ranking him as the 53-year-old manager’s fifth-best performer in the top flight of English football.

Meanwhile, over Bentancur’s 15 Premier League outings this season, the £50m-rated midfielder has done a little bit of everything in heart of the Spurs side, scoring four goals and registering two assists, as well as making an average of 2.5 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 0.6 key passes and completing 41.4 total passes – at a success rate of 86% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the Uruguay international average a simply sensational Sofascore statistical rating of 7.22, not only ranking the 25-year-old as Tottenham’s second-best performer in the league but also as the joint 25th-best player in the English top flight as a whole so far this term.

As such, it is clear to see that the absence of either player would indeed come as a huge blow to Conte’s chances of picking up a much-needed three points at Craven Cottage this evening – especially as a Fulham win would see the west Londoners leapfrog Spurs into fifth place in the Premier League standings.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that Arnaut Danjuma could be open to joining West Ham United on loan this January despite past issues with the club.

What’s the word?

It was recently reported in The Athletic that the Villarreal winger was in London to try and sort out his future with a six-month loan to a Premier League side looking likely.

While Bournemouth are named as a possible destination it seems as though West Ham could be an option too. However, in the past, there were rumours that the club were concerned about Danjuma’s attitude.

Despite that, Ex has now claimed that the player’s agent would view that as water under the bridge if the Villarreal man was approached by the Hammers for a move.

Indeed, while talking on The West Ham Way, the insider said: “​​I think Danjuma is another that we liked the look of. I spoke to his agent, I actually know his agent quite well, and he was the one that filled me with all the information last year about what the club have said about his attitude and why it had gone through.

“Basically, David Moyes chose to sign Max Cornet over him because he wasn’t convinced of the player’s attitude and whether he would be the right fit for the squad in terms of personality.

“Well, that was on a permanent deal. Now, he’s available on a six-month loan, so we could take the gamble, so potentially if he doesn’t fit, we can get rid of him and we’ve not lost anything.

“The only problem with him is obviously we’ve got that on the record, that the club were unhappy. Because Carlton Cole came out and spoke about this. And then his agent was unhappy that employees of West Ham were saying derogatory things about his client.

“But the agent has said to me that they would be prepared to forget that if the player chooses to come to the club.”

Worth the risk

Danjuma’s agent Michael-Moses Jarman certainly wasn’t happy with the suggestion that his client had a bad attitude and publicly took to Twitter last summer to challenge such claims.

Since then, however, the winger has gone from a key man at Villarreal – scoring 16 goals and providing four assists in 34 outings last term – to having a bit-part role with just six La Liga starts so far this term.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that he is now looking for a new move and if his options are limited, West Ham may well seem like an attractive option.

It will certainly be interesting to see if the Hammers are keen on a move and if Danjuma has really laid any past grudges to rest.

Newcastle United are believed to have made an offer to sign Barcelona forward, Memphis Depay, in the January transfer window, although the Magpies are likely to face competition for his signature.

What’s the word?

According to Mundo Deportivo, via Sports Witness, the Tynesiders are believed to be one of several clubs who have made an approach for the 28-year-old, with the Premier League outfit’s financial might seemingly placing them ahead of Sevilla in the race for the Dutchman.

The suggestion is that the Catalan giants are potentially looking to part ways in the New Year in order to get the former Lyon man – who only arrived at Camp Nou last year – off their wage bill, with the La Liga side seemingly keen to free up space for their own new additions.

The report also adds that the former Manchester United man – who was linked with a move to St James’ Park in the summer – is seeking a ‘lucrative contract’ if he is to move on in the winter window, something which PIF would seemingly be able to offer.

Imagine him and Wilson

While Depay’s previous stint in English football arguably did not go to plan – with the explosive gem scoring just seven goals during his time at Old Trafford – the dynamic ace has more than shown his quality since then, notably scoring 76 goals and providing 55 assists in just 178 games during his time in France.

Even amid what has been a turbulent spell with La Blaugrana, the one-time PSV Eindhoven starlet has still made his mark when he has featured for Xavi’s side, boasting a respectable haul of 14 goals in 41 games for his current side to date.

That has ensured that the fleet-footed “enigma” – as described by journalist Jonathan Liew – now has an overall club career record of 147 goals at senior level, having also plundered 42 goals and 30 assists in just 81 games for his country to date.

The £175k-per-week sensation will likely be looking to add to that tally at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, having become something of a talisman for Louis van Gaal’s men in recent times in his creative, attacking berth.

The playmaker’s arrival in the northeast could well add further firepower to a forward line that is already thriving at present under Howe, with Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson having scored eight and six goals, respectively, in the top-flight this term.

Adding Depay into the mix could well add another string to Newcastle’s bow, with the 5 foot 9 ace typically lining up in a left-wing berth in his career to date, while also operating in a more free role off of a centre-forward.

That could well see the Moordrecht-born menace form an exciting attacking partnership with the aforementioned Wilson, with the latter man currently leading the line in the striking berth in the absence of the stricken, Alexander Isak.

With the second half of the season set to see Howe’s men maintain their push to secure Champions League football, adding such an experienced and quality asset to the current ranks could well prove to be the difference, helping to ease the goalscoring burden on both Wilson and Almiron.

Tottenham Hotspur slipped to fourth place in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon after Antonio Conte’s side were defeated 2-1 by Liverpool, who had lost their last two matches.

Despite missing their star man Heung-min Son, the Lilywhites were never out of the game as veteran Ivan Perisic had a number of chances upfront alongside Harry Kane, who scored a consolation goal late in the second half but it wasn’t enough to cancel out Mohamed Salah’s brace in north London.

Both of the Reds’ goals were from Spurs’ own doing, notably the second as central defender Eric Dier messed up a header back towards Hugo Lloris in goal. It hit his shoulder, fell into the Egyptian’s path and he dinked a deft chip over the France no.1.

However, the England international – who has enjoyed a new lease of life under Conte – wasn’t the real villain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the home side struggled to make their pressure count during the second half.

Emerson Royal was arguably the bigger liability on the night as he struggled to have any influence on the match past the halfway line.

The Brazil international, who cost the club around £26m from FC Barcelona, was clearly a problem in the Italian’s eyes as he hooked him in the 68th minute for Matt Doherty, who offers a far greater threat going forward.

Indeed, the £62k-per-week flop lost five of his seven duels (71.4%) – both in the air and on the ground – and also lost possession of the ball 15 times, which was once every 3.4 touches or once every 4.5 minutes, via SofaScore.

Emerson even failed to deliver a single accurate cross despite three attempts and failed to create a key chance or provide a shot.

By comparison, one of Doherty’s first involvements saw him put through fellow substitute Dejan Kulusevski, who then provided an assist for Kane’s effort. He also had a better passing accuracy (88% vs 74%) too.

‘Final ball was desperately lacking again, underlined by a wildly overhit cross in the second half,’ wrote the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, whilst Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp lambasted his involvement for Liverpool’s opener (via the Express):

“You’ve got all that space down that left-hand side,” he said. “Emerson Royal’s too tucked in, there’s no reason, you’re playing three at the back, that’s your job.”

As such, it was Emerson living up to talkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara’s tag of him being a “complete liability” and a “mistake waiting to happen” once again.

It seems as if every time he steps out onto the pitch, he does Spurs more harm than good and that is something that has to be rectified after the World Cup break.

AND in other news, Paratici could land Conte’s dream Spurs signing in “world-class” £290k-p/w “legend”…

Celtic’s latest Champions League disappointment saw striker Daizen Maeda once again come under fire for his underwhelming display, with the Japan international currently enduring something of a goal drought at Parkhead.

The 24-year-old had initially sparkled following his January arrival from Yokohama Marinos, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in just 22 games in the second half of last term, although has since been unable to rediscover that goalscoring touch in the current campaign, with just one goal in 14 matches in all competitions.

Manager Ange Postecoglou noted after Tuesday’s defeat to RB Leipzig that the Hoops can’t simply just “scrap” the dynamic forward, amid his current rut, although on recent evidence his prominent place in the side may well have to be reconsidered.

The eight-cap marksman is certainly not the only figure to have underwhelmed in front of goal of late, with Postecoglou insisting that his side as a collective had paid the “ultimate price” for their profligacy by missing out on knockout stage progression, although the diminutive ace has certainly been a notable villain.

Missed opportunities have been a recurring theme for the £3.15m-rated man throughout his side’s European campaign thus far, having squandered three big chances in just four outings, as per SofaScore.

The Osaka-born menace notably failed to convert a gilt-edged opening on matchday one against holders Real Madrid, after failing to sort his feet out with the goal at his mercy, before again spurning the chance to score late on in the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.

The most recent meeting at Parkhead against Marcos Rose’s side saw the explosive forward fail to convert a free header in just the opening few minutes, while also showing a lack of composure after the break after skewing his first-time effort wide.

Although the 5 foot 8 speedster offers a great deal to the side with his relentless work ethic – having been dubbed a “one man closing down machine” by ex-Bhoys striker Chris Sutton last season – his inability to couple that with that much-needed quality in the final third has been an obvious source of frustration, with the home crowd notably letting out an audible grown as the versatile wide man produced a dire cross-field ball in the second half on Tuesday.

Domestically, Maeda’s only goal this season came in the League Cup win over Ross County, with the wait to get off the mark in Scottish Premiership still going on, albeit while having registered an impressive four assists in that time.

His worrying form in the top flight has seen the one-time Maritimo loanee record an average match rating of just 6.87 so far this term, as per SofaScore, with that only the 17th-best record in the Celtic squad at present.

With a meeting to come with Hibernian on home soil on Saturday, it could well be time for Postecoglou to ‘scrap’ the forward from his starting lineup, with the player having been letting his manager down of late.