Jamaal Lascelles has scored twice in 11 Premier League appearances for Newcastle United during an impressive start to the 2017-18 campaign.

The club captain appeared in 43 of Newcastle’s 46 Championship matches last season, and has been an ever-present for the Magpies this term.

He turned 24 on Saturday, and as expected, Newcastle’s official Twitter account was on hand to wish the centre-back a happy birthday.

There are many that feel Lascelles was a touch unfortunate to miss out on a spot in the latest England squad after his impressive form in the early stages of the season, but it seems only a matter of time before he represents the Three Lions.

Captaining a Premier League team in your early 20s is a very impressive feat, and Lascelles has not been afraid to ruffle a few feathers during his time at Newcastle.

At 6ft 2inch, the former Nottingham Forest youngster, who is rated at £4.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, is a very powerful presence at the heart of the defence, that is for sure.

Manchester United managed to overcome an under-par performance to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League on Saturday, winning 1-0 thanks to a cruel Lewis Dunk own goal.

Chris Hughton’s Seagulls held their own against the Red Devils at Old Trafford, looking well on their way to picking up a point before Ashley Young’s shot deflected off Dunk to curl into the net.

The win is a vital one for United if they’re to keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the league table. Jose Mourinho’s side have now moved to within five points of their city rivals, ahead of Sunday’s top-flight action.

Fans were delighted with the three points but not particularly enamoured with the performance, with the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford coming under criticism for their lack of attacking creativity.

Supporters want to see more from Martial, who has the talent to rip teams like Brighton apart, but doesn’t seem to do it on a consistent basis.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his display on Saturday…

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Tottenham Hotspur fans have been vocal in their criticism of some players during their winless run, but Son Heung-min has seemingly escaped negative comments.

In contrast, the attacking player has been praised by the supporters for his attitude and performances on the pitch.

The North London outfit have not won any of their last four Premier League games; instead losing two and drawing the rest.

Son played in three of those fixtures and scored one goal, despite only competing a full 90 minutes in one game – a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.

Spurs’ title hopes appear to have been dashed as they currently sit in sixth place, 18 points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

The run has dampened spirits at the London club, who now may have to switch focus to a top-four challenge rather than a charge for the crown.

Son recently spoke to Tottenham’s in-house channel to discuss the difficult spell.

In response, fans tweeted their backing to the South Korea international.

Tottenham Hotspur’s season went from bad to worse against Manchester City on Saturday, losing 4-1 in the English Premier League, a result that leaves them a massive 21 points adrift of the league leaders.

They have now not won away to the so-called ‘big six’ in England in 10 matches and for a team that were hoping to compete for the league title this season, that kind of record is a bitter pill to swallow.

The home side dominated Spurs across the 90 minutes, giving them a football lesson and at times making them look like a very average side.

Supporters were devastated with the result and were particularly critical of their floundering defence, especially the ineffective Eric Dier.

The England international again looked less than stellar when playing as a centre-back, making a number of mistakes, and fans are calling for him to either play in midfield or not at all.

Is his time up as a defensive option in Mauricio Pochettino’s side?

Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts…

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Davinson Sanchez has been one of the World Cup’s standout performers this summer, and the Colombian was so good on Tuesday that Tottenham might not miss Toby Alderweireld after all.

There was plenty for Spurs fans to cheer on Tuesday night, as Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier and Eric Dier all fired home crucial penalties for England. Trippier in particular was one of the best players on the pitch.

Perhaps the performance fans should be most proud of though came from a yellow shirt, as Sanchez’s fantastic first season in North London culminated with a truly great centre back showing.

The 22 year-old was impressive through the season for Spurs, but his positioning can be suspect at times and he does have a tendency to lose concentration in vital moments. Because of this, plenty of fans have feared the worst about potentially losing the much more experienced, composed Alderweireld this summer.

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However, Sanchez’s performance on Tuesday had everything you could ever want from a centre back, showing all the pace and physicality he displayed all season with an added level of coolness and maturity. It was a coming of age performance if there ever was one.

Alongside the colossal Yerry Mina, Tottenham’s 22 year-old made 83 touches, helping Colombia establish some control in the match when it looked to be slipping away from them. His ball-playing ability developed fantastically at Ajax, and will help him fill the shoes of the extremely technically gifted Alderweireld.

He made a simply ridiculous 12 clearances, the most of anyone in the game, and actually won more aerial duels than the 6 ft 5 Mina with six. His block to deny Raheem Sterling in the first half was vital, and he needed every ounce of the nous he has picked up this season to avoid fouling Jesse Lingard in the box with the score at 1-0.

If that isn’t enough reasons for fans to be proud of their future star, he did not get involved with any of his side’s rather infuriating tactics, choosing instead to focus on doing everything he could to keep them in the game.

If Alderweireld does leave, especially to another team in the Premier League, then fans have every right to feel annoyed. However, they certainly should not fret about the hole he will leave in the team, as his replacement has been in North London for 12 months already.

Sanchez, valued at £36m by Transfermarkt, won’t be ready to replace the Belgian in one or two years – he’s ready right now.

So, Tottenham fans, how impressed were you by Sanchez’s performance? Who else impressed you on Tuesday night? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

Italian reports claim Everton are nearing a deal for AC Milan midfielder Andrea Bertolacci, but fans are split on moving for the 27 year-old.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, the Toffees have already been in contact with Bertolacci’s agent over a potential move.

The report says a deal is close at around €6m (£5.3m), as the midfielder has just entered the last 12 months of his contract.

The five-cap Italian international joined the San Siro club in 2015, but failed to make a real impact and was loaned out to Genoa last season.

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He is a box-to-box midfielder, but defensive minded, averaging an impressive 2.6 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game in 33 league appearances for Genoa.

Marco Silva and Marcel Brands have a lot of work to do, and signing an experienced international for such a small fee could prove to be an absolute bargain.

Plenty of fans have their concerns about a player who can’t break into the Milan team though, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Maurizio Sarri has breathed life into his new Chelsea career by tipping Manchester City to the signing of Jorginho, but reports in the British media suggest he is keen to sign more than just one player from his former club this summer. 

There was a feeling of inevitability about Jorginho’s proposed transfer to Manchester City, however, in the blinking of an eye the Italy international was stood alongside Sarri holding a Chelsea shirt. The conclusion of the Jorginho saga served to emphasise the influence of managers in the transfer market who are often capable of single-handedly swaying the decision of a potential target.

Maurizio Sarri is a manger who commands deep respect from his players and peers alike for his achievements in the game so far, but the Chelsea job represents his first opportunity to test himself away from the comfort of his home nation.

With the financial backing of Roman Abramovich on his side, Sarri should have access to a significant transfer kitty this summer despite concerning murmurs regarding the Russian’s inability to fund the building of a new stadium in west London.

According to the Daily Express, Sarri wants to use the funds available to him to reunite with his former Napoli talisman, Gonzalo Higuain. The report claims that the Old Lady are open to the possibility of offloading Higuain in light of their mega-money acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The fact that Sarri and Higuain previously worked alongside each other during the 2015/16 campaign before Juventus’ acquisition will certainly be a factor in influencing the Argentina international’s decision this summer.

The circumstances that have manifested at Stamford Bridge over the weekend have added a significant weight of credibility to the rumours linking Higuain with a move to Chelsea, and Sarri’s influence is largely responsible for that.

Higuain is a striker who, for a handful of critics, has flattered to deceive throughout his career, but his strongest of sceptics simply cannot argue with his formidable record in-front of goal: 107 goals from 190 La Liga appearances and 111 from 177 in Serie A prove that onlookers should not be fooled by his seemingly languid approach.

Higuain’s most identifiable personal traits relate to his rather introverted and erratic nature which have made him a figure of interest away from the field throughout his career.

The method could well be in the madness for Higuain, but a report from Goal detailing an enlightening assessment of his personality suggests that his best form arrives under a manager who can help him to suppress his hot-headed nature – Sarri could well be the key to striking a balance between head and heart.

During Sarri’s debut season as manager of Napoli, Higuain broke the Serie A record for the most goals in a single-season by notching 36 goals from just 35 appearances, including a hat-trick on the final day to clinch a startling personal achievement.

The tough loving approach which Sarri showed towards Higuain that season clearly worked wonders for the player’s form, and he later credited the Italian manager for giving him mental clarity.

Midway through Higuain’s record-breaking campaign which earned him a transfer to Juventus the following summer, he stated, “Sarri has given me peace of mind” despite spending just a few months with the new manager by that point.

Higuain’s admission bodes well for Chelsea’s upcoming campaign as Sarri’s ability to bond with the players in a short space of time is exactly what the club need following a drab, disconnected season which saw the players, manager and owner fall miserably out of love with one another.

However, in relation to the latest transfer rumour, the admission suggests that Higuain’s relationship with Sarri is bound by respect and admiration, and that could take Chelsea a long way in their bid to revamp their attacking options this summer.

Alvaro Morata’s maiden season with Chelsea ended in disappointment despite a thoroughly promising beginning, with a lack of desire and homesickness widely cited as core reasons for his dip in form.

At the spearhead of Chelsea’s attack, Morata cut a disinterested and rather meek figure who didn’t look up for the fight for the majority of the 2017/18 campaign, but the arrival of a lively character, such as Higuain, with the fire in his belly to impress one of the most important influences in his career so far could provide the Blues with their perfect replacement for the Spaniard.

The arrival of the multi title-winning centre-forward in the Premier League would be a transfer for the neutrals to get genuinely excited about. His past history under Sarri bodes well for a potential career at Chelsea, not only because of his sensational goal-scoring return under his leadership, but also due to the mental clarity the new manager is able to install within a player who reaches the pinnacle of his game when a strong influence is present to channel his emotions effectively.

Chelsea fans – thoughts on Higuain? Let us know below!

Newcastle United have had a relatively modest transfer window so far as only two players have arrived at St James’ Park, one of which was a free transfer. 

Rafa Benitez’s frustration in the transfer market looks set to continue whilst cash-strapped Mike Ashley remains at the helm.

Recent reports suggest that Newcastle will target Solomon Rondon from West Bromwich Albion once they have sold Aleksandar Mitrovic to Fulham, but another Championship star could be following the Venezuelan to Tyneside this summer according to The Sun.

According to the report, Newcastle are set to table a £6 million bid for Bristol City’s Joe Bryan this summer in a bid to bolster their options on the left-side of defence and midfield.

Bryan is left-back by trade who likes to move forward with the ball and make a difference in the final-third – a quality which he demonstrated to devastating effect against Manchester United last season.

After impressing in The Robin’s 4-1 demolition of Crystal Palace in the 4th round of the Carabao Cup, Bryan shot to fame with a stunning opener against Manchester United in their 2-1 quarter-final victory.

Bristol City’s manager Lee Johnson got his tactics spot on that evening as he moved Bryan further forward into a left-wing role where the 24-year-old was able to express himself in the final-third and offer solid protection in-front of the full-back.

With Newcastle expected to be facing another relegation battle next season, there’s no doubt that his versatility and balanced approach to playing out wide could be a valuable asset to call upon in fixtures against the top-six clubs.

Bryan’s arrival would also provide strong competition for fan-favourite Paul Dummet and allow Benitez the opportunity to utilise Kenedy’s creative qualities in a number ten role behind Rondon or Dwight Gayle.

For a small price of just £6 million there’s no doubt that Newcastle would be getting plenty for their money, so Ashley must stump up the cash for Bryan as soon as possible to secure a bargain acquisition.

Newcastle United fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

Newcastle United have agreed to sell Aleksandr Mitrovic to newly-promoted Fulham for an initial £22m, bringing the protracted negotiations to an end, according to Sky Sports.

What’s the latest, then?

It has been clear all summer that Slavisa Jokanovic’s play-off winners wanted to sign the Serbian on a permanent basis but could not agree on his valuation with the Magpies, until now.

Sky Sports report that Mitrovic has left Newcastle’s training camp after an initial £22m fee, which could rise to £27m, was agreed to take him to Craven Cottage.

The report also quotes Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez as saying the money will allow him to bring in another striker, with reports linking Salomon Rondon with an instant return to the Premier League refusing to go away.

Forget Rondon, Ings’ pace makes him a better option

Playing the lone striker role for Benitez’s workmanlike, organised Newcastle is a thankless task and while Rondon is used to that from his time at West Brom, he was unable to combine off-the-ball work with finding the net regularly.

Rondon is a strong target man but if Newcastle are to become more incisive this season, they need to rely on a more pacey counter-attacking style and the pace of Liverpool outcast Danny Ings would be more conducive to that.

Ings is reportedly the subject of a £20m bid from Crystal Palace – another counter-attacking side in need of more pace than Christian Benteke can offer – but the Mitrovic windfall means Newcastle can match that.

The Englishman would be a much more potent threat, and with Ayoze Perez, Christian Atsu and potentially Andros Townsend lining up behind him, Benitez would suddenly have a dangerous frontline to go with his disciplined unit.

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Thanks to the Premier League’s decision last year, this summer’s transfer window actually closed on the eve of the first game week of the season, meaning teams are unable to buy in the market.

The majority of player’s contracts run until the summer and if they cannot secure a new deal, then they are left as free agents. Free agents are available to clubs to sign at any time of the season.

This is great for Premier League teams who want to avoid paying high transfer fees but is a little worrying for those players who are without a club.

In this article we have found players of real Premier League quality who for one reason or another are without a club and are wanting to secure a move as soon as possible.

Patrice Evra

The former Man Utd defender made a return to the Premier League in 2018 with West Ham but only made five league appearances. The Frenchman has had a turbulent year after he kicked a fan in Marseille and was banned by UEFA for six months.

Could he make another sensational return to the Premier League? At 37, he will surely be hoping to pick up one last big contract.

Dimitar Berbatov

We are not sure what’s more incredible, the fact that 37-year-old Dimitar Berbatov is still playing football, or the realisation that he doesn’t currently have a club.

The Bulgarian goalscorer may be beyond his best years, but surely worth taking on a free transfer? He’s certainly better than Indian side, Kerala Blasters, where he was last season.

James Collins

Collins, played for West Ham for a total of ten years for the Hammers over two spells, but was unceremoniously dumped from the club via email towards the end of last season.

The Welshman has had many injuries over his long career so you can understand why some clubs may be reluctant to offer him a contract.

Bakary Sako

Sako joined Palace in 2015, signing a three year contract and has been unable to convince boss Roy Hodgson he deserves another one, probably because of his poor scoring record.

With just 6 goals in 50 appearances, it will be hard for Malian to convince Premier League suitors he is worthy of a contract.

Robert Huth

In a way it is incredible to think that Robert Huth is only 33 years old.

The German defender has had a long a successful career in the Premier League, peaking with winning the title in 2016. He is another player on our list who could definitely offer a Premier League or Championship team something next season.

Stephen Ireland

Admit it, you had forgotten about this former Man City and Aston Villa man.

At 31, Stephen Ireland is some years off announcing his retirement, but injuries and a lack of opportunities has seen him play just 46 times in four years at Stoke. With the Potters relegated, the Irishman’s contract was not renewed.

It’s rumoured that Bolton Wanderers have taken the midfielder on a trial before the start of the season.