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Next season has the potential to be a very special one for Fabio Silva at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It has taken the Portuguese forward a long time to get going at Molineux but he’s finally beginning to demonstrate why Wolves spent £35.6m on his services.

Silva only has four strikes all term but has led the line astutely in the last few weeks, playing a role in four goals in his last six outings.

That said, Nuno Santo and co would be foolish to ignore the need for more firepower in the summer.

Raul Jimenez has been recovering from a fractured skull since November and it’s unknown whether he’ll return in the same ruthless goalscoring form.

If he doesn’t, the Old Gold will have a severe problem on their hands. Without their Mexican sensation, they have been down on goals.

One player they could look to sign is Rafael Leao. The forward joined AC Milan for £32m during the summer window of 2019 but Wolves have a long-standing interest.

Back in November, it was reported that the Midlands outfit tried to sign him last summer. They also revealed that he’s a player Nuno likes.

If they can lure him to the Premier League it would be a marvellous capture, one that could form a truly devastating partnership with Pedro Neto.

The 21-year-old is currently out with a broken patella but has been the star of this Wolves team in 2020/21. He is their top scorer on five strikes and their chief creator with six assists.

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It has been a breakthrough campaign for the youngster and it would be unsurprising if he takes the Premier League by storm next term.

Add Leao to the attack and it could be terrifying for opposition defences. Neto is one of the trickiest attackers in the top-flight of English football but the Milan forward has similar qualities.

Cool in front of goal, the 21-year-old possesses jaw-dropping pace and an ability to beat most players in world football. Like Neto, he can produce magical moments out of nowhere.

Speaking about Leao’s youth career, former striker Rolando Bianchi once commented: “I had seen him at the U20 World Cup with Portugal and he made spectacular plays. He has great speed, he has a touch of the ball.”

The plaudits don’t stop there. In fact, he’s been compared to some of the greatest footballers to ever grace the wonderful sport.

Lille president Gerard Lopez dubbed him the Portuguese Mbappe but the finest of reviews come from his mentor at Sporting Lisbon; Tiago Fernandes.

The coach has been effusive in his praise in the past, saying: “Rafael is a special player for me, he always will be. I met him when he was just 12-13 years old and I’ve trained him in almost all the youth teams of Sporting Lisbon until his debut in the first team. Only Cristiano Ronaldo at Sporting had his talent at that age, I guarantee you.”

Fernandes continued: “He is a number 9, he has always played there. He reminds me of Ronaldo, the ‘Phenomenon’, for his speed, technique and quality in the decisive part of the action.”

If Wolves supporters weren’t sold on the young Portuguese striker then surely those words will provoke excitement.

Leao is yet to really live up to his immense potential at the San Siro with just seven goals to his name this season but he is a player with undoubted quality.

The idea of the Leao running onto a through ball from Neto is enough to make you giddy with excitement; they’d be a dream combination.

AND in other news, Wolves dealt huge blow after big Molineux news emerges, Nuno surely fuming…

MatériaMais Notícias

A terceira tentativa de leilão do Estádio Benedito Teixeira, em São José do Rio Preto, terminou nesta sexta-feira sem interessados em arrematá-lo. A casa do América-SP está penhorada desde 2013 por causa de dívidas trabalhistas contraídas pelo clube, atualmente na Quarta Divisão do Campeonato Paulista.

Inaugurado em 1996, o estádio foi avaliado em R$ 35 milhões, com lance inicial de R$ 21 milhões e parcelamento em até 30 vezes. As ofertas deveriam ser feitas pela internet. A Justiça do Trabalho deve marcar para 2017 uma nova tentativa de venda. Existe a possibilidade de o Teixeirão ser reavaliado e ter o preço reduzido.

Segundo Rodrigo Rigolon, responsável por promover o leilão do Benedito Teixeira na internet, a crise financeira afastou possíveis compradores. Não é o único problema. Construtoras que consideravam a ideia de investir na aquisição do estádio recuaram, também, por receio de conflitos judiciais com o América.

Uma lei municipal sancionada em 2015, de autoria de um ex-vereador conselheiro do clube rio-pretense, proíbe que a área onde se localiza o Teixeirão seja utilizada com finalidade diferente da esportiva. Isso significa que um grupo disposto a arrematar o estádio não poderia, por exemplo, construir um condomínio ou shopping no local.

As dívidas trabalhistas do Mecão, como o time é apelidado, superam R$ 6 milhões, em valores corrigidos. Cerca de 130 ex-funcionários dependem da venda para receber pelas ações que venceram na Justiça. O ex-lateral Ambrózio, que trabalhou no América durante 55 anos, está entre os credores.

O Teixeirão demorou 17 anos para ser erguido. Com capacidade para 50 mil pessoas, era o segundo maior estádio do interior paulista, só atrás do Santa Cruz, de Ribeirão Preto. Atualmente, suporta um público máximo de 37 mil torcedores.

RelacionadasFutebol Nacional‘Segunda casa dos grandes’, Teixeirão vai a leilão e tem futuro incertoFutebol Nacional03/11/2016

Celtic’s stance about the European Super League has now been revealed in a report from Sky Sports.

Andy Walker has recently stated that even though Celtic fans wouldn’t want their club to join the Super League – like Manchester United and Liverpool fans don’t – the club’s board members may well be attracted to the idea.

News has since emerged about Celtic’s potential interest in the competition, and it contradicts Walker’s suspicions.

Lawwell against ESL

Sky Sports have released a report detailing the Old Firm clubs’ interest in the Super League, claiming that while the two Old Firm rivals have previously considered moving to England and joining the Premier League, it has never become a concrete idea.

The piece also reveals some information about Celtic’s stance on the Super League, stating that even though Peter Lawwell is a member of the European Club Association board and was part of the ECA emergency call recently, Celtic are one of the clubs who are against the Super League breakaway.

Despite all the money they could earn, it appears as though Desmond, Lawwell and the club are completely against any opportunity to join up with England’s ‘big six’ in this venture.

Good news for Celtic

In the recent Premier League game against involving Leeds and Liverpool, fans protested against the creation of the Super League and accused the Reds’ owners of being greedy. Fans of the two Manchester clubs have also protested against the move in the last 24 hours, and it seems that any club participating in the ESL is now tarnished even in the eyes of their own supporters.

Of course, the conversation surrounding moving Celtic and Rangers into a competition where they can compete more regularly with England’s elite has popped up regularly, but this isn’t the way to do it.

With the Hoops entering an uncertain time with a new manager and new roles off the pitch, the last thing they will need is a massive fan backlash. By refusing to sell their soul, the new manager and Director of Football will be free to focus on what really matters.

In other news, Chris Sutton picks out three players for new Celtic boss to build around

There were high hopes when Southampton signed Angus Gunn from Manchester City in 2018, but the shot-stopper has seen his market value fall off a cliff in the past three years, which suggests that his arrival was yet another example of the south coast club massively overspending.

Gunn joined the Saints from City in a £13.5m deal in the summer of 2018 and was expected to challenge Alex McCarthy and Fraser Forster for the number one spot, but he has managed just 30 appearances for Southampton thus far, in which he has conceded 52 goals and kept only eight clean sheets.

With Forster returning from a season-long loan at Celtic ahead of this season, Gunn was allowed to join Stoke City on loan for the campaign in the Championship, where he has made 14 appearances, conceding 18 goals and keeping six clean sheets.

In a recent report by The Athletic journalist Dan Sheldon, it was suggested that the 25-year-old is likely to join the Potters on loan again next season unless Southampton receive a bid similar to the one they paid for the shot-stopper in 2018, in which case they would be willing to sell.

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However, it seems unlikely that the south coast club would be able to receive anywhere near the £13.5m they paid for him, given that Transfermarkt currently values the 25-year-old at just £2.7m.

Given that Gunn was valued at just £1.8m by Transfermarkt after a loan spell with Norwich City, it seems clear that former sporting director Ross Wilson massively overpaid for the goalkeeper in 2018.

Unfortunately for both Gunn and Southampton, his value has only declined during his time on the South Coast, and it is difficult to ever see him making it as a regular in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.

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Therefore, in a similar vein to a worrying amount of Wilson signings, the Saints may have to cash in on the ‘keeper for a serious loss in the near future, or they risk having to keep paying his reported £33k per week wage until his contract expires in 2023.

In other news… Southampton could find their next Kelvin Davis in £3.6m-rated beast

Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer has revealed he is not keen to see one man carry on starting at his old club, in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

Liam Shaw recently agreed to join Celtic when his contract at Hillsborough expires in the summer and manager Darren Moore has since come out to make it clear that the 20-year-old is still in his plans for the rest of the season.

Palmer, though, does not like the idea of a player who already has one foot out of the door still being an integral part of the team, concerned about the level of commitment that will still be present.

Discussing the matter in an exclusive interview with FFC, the retired Premier League footballer said:

“It’s a problem, I’ve always said that. I said when you sign a pre-contract for a club, you might as well go at that point. You’ve got a big-money move coming up, you’re not going to want to get yourself injured, you’re not going to put yourself on the line – Darren Moore needs everybody who’s committed to the club.”

Speaking on the subject further, Palmer added:

“As far as I’m concerned, anybody that signs a pre-contract, from the time they sign it, effectively they should leave the club. It always happens, they’re not going to be fully committed to the job.”

It is little surprise that Celtic are already planning for next season and have moved for Shaw, with the Glasgow club’s current campaign virtually over.

After falling well short in the title race this time round, they are in need of a rebuild, meaning more additions like Shaw are likely. As well as that, the Bhoys, of course, will also be in the market for a new manager following Neil Lennon’s resignation last month.

Liverpool may find that a move for Paris-Saint Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe could now be off the cards.

Mbappe on the rocks?

The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield over the past 12 months and has achieved a huge amount in football during his short career so far.

Mbappe was recently described as “unplayable” by compatriot and international teammate Antoine Griezmann, who says he “will be like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo” – two of the greatest footballers of all time (via talkSPORT).

However, Eurosport have revealed that the World Cup winner will be demanding around £500,000-per-week for his next contract, either with PSG or with his next club.

Liverpool’s joint-top earners are currently Thiago Alcantara and Mohamed Salah who both take home £200,000-per-week, according to Spotrac, which is not even half of what Mbappe is looking for.

Transfer Tavern Verdict

With the current climate that the world finds itself in, and with the Reds not receiving any matchday income, there will of course be significant revenue losses.

Crucially, this will have an effect on their transfer plans and will surely put a spanner in the works of the Merseysiders’ attempts to pull off a blockbuster move for Mbappe.

Check out the latest Kylian Mbappe transfer news on the dedicated GMS Kylian Mbappe Transfer hub

There is no doubt that speculation will continue to grow as time goes on. But whatever happens, it is difficult to see how Fenway Sports Group (FSG) will sanction such a move.

In other news, Liverpool fans furious as Reds suffer new injury ahead of Fulham clash.

Glasgow Rangers still want to sign Fashion Sakala this summer, but French Ligue 1 leaders Lille are also keeping tabs on the KV Oostende striker.

What’s the word?

The Daily Record report Ibrox manager Steven Gerrard remains interested in the in-form Zambia international, who has emerged as a potential target for the Scottish giants over the past couple of transfer windows.

Sakala has made 24 appearances in the Jupiler Pro League so far this season with 13 goals and 3 assists to show for his 23 starts so it’s no wonder the Belgian outfit are trying their best to persuade him to extend his contract, although this seems unlikely given the level of interest in the 23-year-old.

Gerrard had been keen to strengthen his attacking options in the previous transfer windows and it seems the signing of a versatile forward remains a priority for the Englishman, the club having been strongly linked with a summer move for the Zambian of late.

However, Rangers face stiff competition in the race to sign him having attracted interest from French table-toppers Lille, who are reportedly set to launch a pre-contract move for Sakala.

What’re you waiting for Ross Wilson?

Just prior to deadline day at the end of the January transfer window, his former teammate Toby Sibbick said he’d be the perfect fit for the 54-time Scottish champions.

But while flattered by reports linking him with a move to Rangers, Sakala has played down transfer speculation about his future and recently insisted talks between the club and his representatives are “going well” over a contract extension.

The £1m-rated five-cap Zambia international is one of the most sought-after players in the Belgian top-flight, whilst his current contract runs until the end of the season, increasing the possibility of a cut-price deal in the summer.

Right-footed, he predominantly plays as a striker, but he’s adaptable and has been known to feature on the right wing if necessary.

He’s also confident on the ball, always playing with his head up and looking to find a teammate, which is important for the possession-heavy Gers – he currently averages at least one key pass per game, which is more than the likes of regular starters Glen Kamara and Steven Davis. But he’s much more comfortable cutting inside with his right foot, causing chaos inside the box, as opposed to holding the ball up.

It’s hardly surprising Gerrard seems to be a fan given his confidence in standing up defenders in one-on-one situations, a diminutive figure who generally gets the better of the opposition – as evidenced by his one dribble per 90 in the Jupiler Pro League.

With that being the case, Ross Wilson shouldn’t wait any longer. Bringing in a player like Sakala to play second-fiddle to the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe is surely a no-brainer at this point.

Lille’s emergence onto the scene as a serious player in this transfer chase for Sakala should surely prompt Wilson into making an immediate move from the Gers.

AND in other news, Latest Rangers off-field drama exposes glaring weakness amid investigation…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer gave his verdict on whether Che Adams could replace Danny Ings as the Saints’ main man.

Ings, who will have just a year remaining on his contract in the summer, continues to be linked with a move away from St. Mary’s.

Tottenham are one club who are said to be interested in acquiring the services of the England striker, and a move to White Hart Lane could put the wheels in motion for Adams to become Southampton’s leading No.9.

Palmer, however, feels his old side will need to dip into the transfer market if Ings does end up departing.

When asked whether Ralph Hasenhuttl should turn to Adams or sign a direct replacement in an exclusive interview with FFC, the retired England international said:

“They’re going to have to dip into the transfer market. You know, goalscorers are a special breed. You’ve either got that natural talent of goalscoring or you haven’t, and Danny Ings has certainly got that. So to replace his goals, I think they’re gonna have to go and buy.”

After a difficult debut campaign in the Premier League where he was only able to score four times, Adams has shown promise this season, already surpassing that tally. The 24-year-old alone, however, is unlikely to be enough for Hasenhuttl in a post-Ings era.

Ings scored 25 goals in all competitions for Southampton last season, showing the kind of firepower the Austrian manager will need to replace down on the south coast.

Mike Ashley will be heading for his biggest mistake at Newcastle United if he decides against firing Steve Bruce following Tuesday night’s shameful 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United.

The Toon earned themselves the discomfiting honour of becoming the first Premier League side to lose to Chris Wilder’s Blades this season thanks to a second-half penalty converted by Billy Sharp, after Federico Fernandez was adjudged to have handled the ball inside Karl Darlow’s box.

Defeat at Bramall Lane left the Magpies just eight points above the drop zone, while having played two games more than 18th-placed Fulham and one more than 16th-placed Burnley, with the result also extending the North East giant’s top-flight winless run to six games.

Pressure is now mounting on Ashley to part company with Bruce a year-and-a-half on from his arrival as Rafa Benitez’s successor, with some fans demanding the 60-year-old is fired, having seen the Magpies bow out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in the space of just 18 days.

With a second trip to Arsenal in the space of less than two weeks to come on Monday night, Bruce will be returning to the Emirates with his back up against the wall, knowing the howls of angst from supporters will only grow with yet another defeat in north London.

The Toon boss is not prepared to walk away, however, as the boyhood Magpies fan has vowed to fight for his position after the disappointing defeat.

“I’ll never ever walk away from a challenge,” he said, via quotes by Sky Sports. “I’ve been in it long enough to have that respect, but I understand – especially watching the first-half – we weren’t good enough and I take the responsibility for that, because I picked the team.

“I think we’ve had, apart from the last month which we knew would be difficult with the run of fixtures we’ve had, we’ve given ourselves a decent start to the season.”

Newcastle barely laid a hand on Sheffield United during their awful night in South Yorkshire, with a five-at-the-back system far too defensive and without any clear cohesion in the engine room, with Ryan Fraser and Sean Longstaff initially fielded as two false number 10s.

Fraser’s reckless two yellow cards in the space of three minutes threw Bruce’s plans out of the window just before half-time, and things failed to improve much after that with the Toon taking just four shots, enjoying a measly 28.4% of the possession and completing a dismal 58% of their mere 106 total passes in the second period, per WhoScored.

Their performance was hardly out of the norm, either, as Newcastle rank second-last for total shots taken per game (8.8) last for average possession (41.4%), 18th for pass success (75.1%). However, it can’t really be argued that these poor attacking stats are the case of the Magpies being extra solid at the back, as the numbers prove that they are anything but sold.

Thus season, they’ve allowed, on averages the second-most amount of opposition shots on goal (15), only West Brom (16.2) allow more. Furthermore, Newcastle have conceded the fourth-most goals from open play (16), per WhoScored, despite Karl Darlow’s often excellent performances in goal.

So, Bruce’s side don’t attack well and they aren’t exactly solid at the back either, so, what exactly is the manager bringing to the table? His side not being able to attack is one reason to sack him and the fact they don’t really defend well is definitely another.

If Ashley does not take decisive action on Bruce’s position soon, he will be setting the course for another big mistake at Newcastle by allowing United to sleepwalk toward yet another relegation.

AND in other news, forget Ryan Fraser: a £46k-p/w Newcastle man who lost 63% duels seriously betrayed Steve Bruce vs Sheffield United.

Glasgow Rangers will want to continue their newfound momentum when they travel to McDiarmid Park to take on St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night.

Steven Gerrard’s side survived an early scare at the weekend as they had to come from behind to beat Motherwell at Ibrox and extend their lead over Celtic to 16 points at the top of the table.

The Ibrox boss has shown no hesitation in rotating his squad in anticipation of the busy schedule and he faces some tough decisions before the Light Blues take the trip to Perth, with clashes with Aberdeen, Celtic and Hibernian on the horizon.

Here’s our predicted starting lineup for tonight’s action, which sees Gerrard make three changes to the team that beat the Steelmen.

Allan McGregor will keep his place in goal behind an unchanged back four consisting of James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and Borna Barisic.

It’s hard to work out which players will be forced to make room and that’s something Gerrard will continue to assess before kick-off, but it’s likely he’ll bring first-team stars Joe Aribo and Ianis Hagi into the starting line-up, which means Scott Arfield and Glen Kamara will be rested before the clash with Hibernian at home.

The Ibrox boss will stick with the usual 4-3-2-1 formation, with Aribo, Steven Davis and Hagi forming his midfield three in the engine room.

This means that Bongani Zungu will have to settle for a place on the bench, such is the strength of Gerrard’s squad right now.

With Alfredo Morelos serving a two-match suspension, Cedric Itten will most likely lead the line flanked by the ever-reliable Ryan Kent and Kemar Roofe, who came off the bench to score against the Steelmen at Ibrox.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Pundit drops big claim about Alfredo Morelos’ future at Glasgow Rangers…