Former England international centre-back Steve Howey has been sharing his thoughts on Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, the recent injury he sustained against Everton and how the club will cope without him in the team for the foreseeable future.
Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, the 48-year-old had this to say on van Dijk and how the club can move on without him in the team.
He said: “You’ve got to look for [Joe] Gomez and the likes of [Joel] Matip and people like that to step up to the plate. You’re hearing calls now that possibly Jurgen Klopp might have to go into the transfer market to buy and replace him [Van Dijk]. Not that you can replace Virgil van Dijk, but these are the opportunities, this is what happens in football, this is what happens in life.
“Sometimes somebody’s misfortune is your chance to actually shine and grab your chance, so now it’s up to the likes of Gomez and Matip [to step up].
“It’ll be interesting to see how they cope because not only is Van Dijk a fantastic player, he marshalls that back four very well, he is a captain really so it’ll be interesting to see how they cope without him. I think Matip and Gomez are good players but where would they go really if they get another injury in that position?”
The Dutchman was forced off the pitch in the early stages of Liverpool’s match against Everton after being on the receiving end of a bad tackle from Jordan Pickford, damaging his knee in the process.
Later, the official Liverpool club website revealed that Van Dijk will have to undergo knee surgery and then begin a “rehabilitation programme with the club’s medical team to enable him to reach full fitness as soon as possible.”
Before suffering this injury, Van Dijk was having a pretty underwhelming season for the Reds with WhoScored giving him a season rating of 6.45/10 for his performances in the five Premier League appearances he’s made.
Liverpool’s first game since Van Dijk picked up this injury saw them beat Dutch side Ajax 1-0 away from home in the Champions League.
Although, the club would undoubtedly want the Dutchman back fit and ready for action as soon as possible, this match against Ajax showed that they can perform well defensively and keep a clean sheet without him playing.
West Brom boast an impressive academy set-up, though very rarely does an elite talent break the surface and make it at the Hawthorns.
In 2013, the Baggies received category one status and pledged to contribute £3m-per-year into the youth system so that they can continue to produce the very best talent in the Midlands.
Only Dara O’Shea and Rekeem Harper are on the cusp of the first-team right now whilst names such as Nathan Ferguson, Tyler Roberts, Kemar Roofe and Izzy Brown have all gone on to teams at a similar or better level.
Unlike recent times, Albion managed to secure the long-term commitment of Rico Richards this summer, one of their most promising forwards since Saido Berahino.
According to The Sun, Premier League rivals Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester City were all tracking the 17-year-old sensation last year but in August, he signed his first professional deal with a fresh three-year contract.
Academy manager Richard Stevens waxed lyrical about the young frontman, he said: “Rico is a creative player who can make things happen and we are looking forward to continuing his development.”
Richards has continued his impressive form this season, contributing to three goals in two appearances in the U18 Premier League, before finding himself promoted to the U23 set-up, where in back-to-back starts the young Albion side have picked up 1-0 victories.
It is also always a good sign when the youngster is recognised at an international level, and the Baggies starlet has picked up England caps for the U16s and has also played in a few friendlies for the U17s.
Slaven Bilic could have West Brom’s best talent since Berahino on their hands here and given their struggles in front of goal as the Premier League’s lowest scorers, he could well be called upon sooner rather than later.
Very much so as the club currently lack the presence of a Hal Robson-Kanu or Peter Odemwingie type that can play in a multitude of attacking positions, this combined with seemingly no attitude problems gives Richards the potential to eclipse their most controversial homegrown player of the modern era.
AND in other news, Exclusive: Carlton Palmer tips “unplayable” WBA star to become a £40m+ player
Arguably one of the more unheralded signings of Newcastle’s summer transfer window, Jamal Lewis is quickly proving what an absolute steal he is.
The Magpies bought him from relegated Norwich for a reported fee of around £15m – rising to £20m with add-ons – and being just 22, it was no surprise to hear Steve Bruce express his excitement at his arrival.
He said: “Jamal is a very exciting prospect. I watched him flourish in the Championship two years ago and he made a real fist of it in the Premier League last season.”
Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…
The left-back has already established himself as Newcastle’s first-choice in that position, playing in all four Premier League games, and on Thursday night, he delivered an impressive display for his country Northern Ireland in their European Championship play-off game against Bosnia.
As per SofaScore, the speedster completed both of his attempted dribbles, sent in four crosses, and boasting a pass accuracy of 82%. In a crunch game where Ian Baraclough’s side needed to be defensively disciplined and be a danger going forward, Lewis showcased everything in his locker.
The 22-year-old was a threat whilst with the ball, and he didn’t shirk his defensive duties either, winning four out of his six total duels and blocking one shot, too.
Bruce would no doubt have been watching on, impressed at his summer recruit’s nerveless performance. The fact that reigning Premier League champions Liverpool were initially interested in him earlier in the summer transfer window just goes to show the kind of quality and potential that he has.
If he can replicate the kind of display that he put in for Northern Ireland on Thursday, then he will have proven to be a masterstroke signing from the club’s owners.
Wolves have returned to winning ways after a narrow victory on home soil saw them come away with all three points against a struggling Fulham.
The newly promoted Cottagers put up a good fight to try and snatch a point, but Nuno Espirito Santo’s side prevailed with a lone goal from Pedro Neto. This win will come as a relief for Wolves who came out fighting off the back of two league losses against Manchester City and West Ham.
The whole team pulled together to deliver a convincing performance and steady the ship, but one man stood out with his statement display.
Don’t drop Dendoncker
As highlighted in Football FanCast’s predicted XI for Wolves, Nuno opted to start Leander Dendoncker over Joao Moutinho, who has had a quiet few games as of late. Surely enough, the Belgium international showed the manager what he thought of being benched for the last two games.
According to Sofascore, Dendoncker completed 89% of his passes and contributed a strong performance both going forwards and defensively. He chipped in with four tackles and a block as well as making three key passes and completing 100% of his attempted crosses.
This win puts Wolves on six points, just one point behind the likes of Chelsea and Leeds. It’s bad news for Fulham though, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table, yet to get a result in the bank.
The Wanderers now shift their attention to Leeds at Elland Road, where they will hope to capitalise on this important victory.
In other news, Signing £18m-rated teenager would be seriously smart business from Wolves…
Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has predicted big things for the club’s newly-signed under-23 player Will Harris.
The Black Cats’ academy teams had a disastrous 2019/20 season which saw both the under-18 and under-23 sides fail to record a single victory in their respective league campaigns.
Following such poor performances, Paul Reid left his role as academy manager, prompting concern and mounting speculation over the future of the Wearside club’s Tier 1 academy status.
Numerous player exits amplified such concerns, but three new faces have bolstered the underage ranks since in Sam Wilding, Bobby Beaumont and Vinnie Steels, whilst Kenton Richardson has also signed.
Following those additions to Sunderland’s youth ranks, a fifth arrival was also confirmed as Harris put pen to paper on a one-year deal with Sunderland after leaving Burnley last month when his contract expired.
The 19-year-old striker joins the Black Cats after a three-year spell with the Clarets which included loan spells with non-league sides Colne FC and Warrington Town.
Touching on his arrival at the Stadium of Light, Phillips has predicted big things for the youngster, telling Football Insider: “There is definitely a chance for him to make an impact on that first team next season.
“If that was me I would be looking to get him involved with the first team straight away, maybe get him into training a couple of times a week and bleed him in gently.
“You do not want to put too much pressure on him but he could turn out to be one of these young players who is eager to impress, especially if he is a local lad. He will work hard and know better than anyone that if you start doing well at that football club you become a bit of a hero.
“He could go under the radar, a bit like when I first went there. Anything is possible and he might be a good back up option for Phil Parkinson.”
These are big words from Phillips and could hand Sunderland first team manager Phil Parkinson some food for thought.
With a lack of consistent scorers in the senior Black Cats squad, Harris could well take his chance at that level if he is given it, and that would be a delight for Parkinson and the club’s fans who may be crying out for a reliable source of goals.
Do you think Harris could make an impact at Sunderland? Let us know your views in the comments section below…
West Ham appear to be the latest club to enter the race for a recently relegated talent and east London could well be the ideal spot for him to land this summer.
What’s the word?
According to the Daily Star, Hammers boss David Moyes is keen on AFC Bournemouth winger David Brooks but he faces stiff competition from a host of Premier League rivals, including title winners Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.
They also claim that the Reds could be reluctant to splash out on the Welshman, meaning the door could be opened for those other sides.
Meanwhile, Alan Nixon at The Sun believes the Cherries think they can snag £40m for Brooks’ signature this summer following the departure of Nathan Ake to Man City at a similar price.
Wide improvements
Those at the London Stadium should know the tricky 5 foot 8 winger all too well after he tore the Irons apart across two fixtures last season.
Back in January 2019, the 23-year-old provided the assist for Joshua King’s winner alongside an industrious display which included four tackles, two shots and five duels won.
That day, left-back Aaron Cresswell was tormented into losing possession 18 times, committing one foul as well as being dribbled past once too, via SofaScore.
Earlier in the campaign, Brooks recorded two key passes, five shots and one successful dribble, so he’s certainly been a thorn when playing the Hammers.
Cherries teammate Chris Mepham believes the winger has “tonnes of talent” whilst the recently departed Eddie Howe once lauded his intelligence and also praised his “creative flair” and “non-stop energy”.
Some reports have suggested that the likes of Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenko are on the chopping block this summer, so a swoop for the Welsh wizard would be an absolutely ideal way to fill that wing void ahead of the new campaign.
AND in other news, West Ham fans react as ex-prospect finds new club…
Chelsea could be inching closer to cashing in on midfielder Jorginho after progress in talks with Juventus.
According to Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), Maurizio Sarri is keen to be reunited with the Italian and wants to bring him back to his native country. Even the player himself has reportedly admitted he is ‘looking forward to returning to Italy’ this summer.
The 28-year-old had an inconsistent 2019/20 season, being benched or left out of the squad completely on several occasions. Frank Lampard called upon his services for the final fixtures of the campaign, but ultimately looked to be getting phased out of the team.
Instead, the manager is looking to develop Billy Gilmour and has made Mason Mount an almost untouchable asset to his starting lineup.
Talks have been swirling over Jorginho’s future at Stamford Bridge and it seems now that he is destined to be reunited with former boss Sarri.
Chelsea are reportedly looking for €40million (£36.1m) for the midfielder but the Italian report claims it’s likely the Blues will accept less, due to the fact he is not ‘fundamental’ to the club’s project.
Despite the fact Chelsea initially signed Jorginho for £50m and they will undoubtedly make a loss, any funds received will go towards Lampard’s revamp of his squad.
The Blues have already welcomed Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner through the door. The next big target on the list is Kai Havertz, who looks to be all but a Chelsea player after agreeing terms with Marina Granovskaia.
Lampard is also hoping to secure the signing of Ben Chilwell, who is said to command a hefty price tag rocketing beyond £80m. Leicester are reportedly unwilling to let him leave for cheap, and value him higher than record outgoing Harry Maguire (via Daily Mail).
The sale of Jorginho will help fund a move for the much-desired left-back who could replace Marcos Alonso ahead of next season.
Would you like to see Chelsea keep or sell Jorginho? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Phil Jones has struggled ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United.
Jones has been a regular sight on the sidelines during his time at Old Trafford as he has succumbed to multiple injuries.
According to The Athletic, Man United are hopeful he can turn his career around and become the next Nemanja Matic. However, Laurie Whitwell reported that Jones has attracted attention from Serie A, although there are only a few clubs who can afford his wages.
The Mirror reported earlier this year that the Red Devils are ready to let him go for £12m in the summer. His old boss David Moyes is also interested in signing him when the transfer market opens, depending on whether or not West Ham stay in the Premier League.
Jones is apparently open to a move as he wants to be playing regularly, which is something Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot guarantee. He has dropped below the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly in the pecking order and could be on his way out sooner rather than later. Either way, fans will have to wait and see what happens before the start of next season.
Unsurprisingly, loads of United fans blasted the transfer update on social media, with one supporter calling it an “absolute joke” while another urged the board to “get rid ASAP.” One fan branded Jones as “deadwood” in reference to the fact he has only played two games in the Premier League this season.
Scroll down through some of the scathing reactions so far…
United fans, do you think Ed Woodward should sell Phil Jones? Let us know down below!
This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.
In 2013/14, Charlie Austin’s prolific form in front of goal helped to fire a team playing in blue and white into the Premier League. Five years on from those heroics with QPR, for whom he also scored 18 top-flight goals despite their relegation a year later, West Brom put their faith in a second lightning strike by signing him from Southampton for £4m last August.
Austin came to The Hawthorns with a tremendous scoring record at Championship level but, having turned 30 last summer and endured a lean campaign with the Saints, it would have been understandable if some Baggies fans had reservations about his arrival.
Any such opposition to Albion’s decision to buy him may well have grown after the first three months of the season, with only one goal in his first 11 league appearances for Slaven Bilic’s side. He duly lost his place in the starting XI following the November international break but, far from shattering his confidence, it ended up getting the best out of him.
Austin duly went and scored in five successive league games despite starting only one of them, hitting six goals in the space of just two hours on the pitch (as per WhoScored). Most of those were crucial goals, too, with late winners against Sheffield Wednesday and Preston, along with a two-goal salvo to ensure victory from a losing position away to Birmingham. The 30-year-old was swiftly proving to be the epitome of a supersub.
The £4m man hasn’t been able to maintain such excellent form, with only one goal since Christmas as he continued to settle primarily for substitute appearances rather than a place in Bilic’s first XI (as per TransferMarkt). However, it is evident from his tremendous form in late 2019 that he is quite capable of embarking on rich scoring bursts.
Despite only starting 13 of Albion’s 35 Championship matches so far this season, Austin is their second-highest scorer with nine goals in all competitions, only one behind Hal Robson-Kanu. His goals have been worth eight league points to the Baggies, without which they would not be in an automatic promotion place, and his eight league goals have come in 1,123 minutes of game-time, one per 140.37 minutes. Contrast that with Kenneth Zohore, who cost twice as much last summer but has just three league goals in 602 minutes, one per 200.67 minutes.
Should the Championship season resume and West Brom maintain their place in the top two, they may well look back on their £4m investment in Austin and regard it as an astute purchase towards a proven scorer with previous in firing teams to promotion.
West Brom fans, how good a decision was it to sign Austin for £4m last August? Comment below with your views!
Having retired earlier this week at the age of 31, Michu makes a pretty strong case for being the greatest one-season wonder in Premier League history.
The Spaniard’s decline was a consequence of harrowing injury problems, a distinct difference from the many other players over the last 25 years to also earn that moniker in the English top flight, whose rises and falls were considerably more mystifying.
Nonetheless, Michu’s plight is quite exceptional; during summer 2013, after finishing fifth in the Premier League’s scoring charts with 18 goals and scoring in the League Cup final, the then-Swansea City striker was linked with a move to Arsenal – in fact, Arsene Wenger later compared him to Gunners legend Dennis Bergkamp.
“I see him like a little bit, position-wise, like a Bergkamp, more than an up-front striker. They can play with both [strikers] because Michu’s the kind of striker who is a midfielder as well.
“He can play both positions, that’s why they are 4-4-1-1 or you can call that a 4-4-2 when Wilfried Bony plays.”
Four years, a failed loan spell at Napoli, an embarrassing stint in the fourth tier of Spanish football and one goal-shy season at Oviedo later and injuries have forced Michu to hang up his boots – a spectacular slump from grace.
But can anyone throughout the last 25 years rival the former forward for the title of being the Premier League’s greatest ever one-season wonder? FootballFanCast takes a look…
Marcus Stewart
Arguably the Premier League’s archetype one-season wonder, Marcus Stewart fired newly-promoted Ipswich Town all the way to fifth place and subsequently the UEFA Cup during the 2000/01 season, his 19-goal haul in the top flight that season only bettered by Chelsea’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and including goals against three of the division’s remaining top six – Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool – as well as three game-winning goals.
But the Englishman struggled to replicate that form in the following season and managed only five goals in the Premier League, none of which resulted in victories for the Tractor Boys as they exited the top-flight in 18th place. In fairness, Stewart still enjoyed a decent Football League career until retiring in 2011, representing Sunderland on over 100 occasions and enjoying a swansong at Exeter City. But never again did the now Bristol City assistant match the prolific strike-rate of 0.55 goals per game.
Isolation Busters: The only quiz you need to cure your boredem
Unlike Marcus Stewart, who gradually faded back into the abyss of relative obscurity, Amr Zaki disappeared into it as quickly as he’d emerged.
The stocky striker wasn’t exactly a household name when Wigan Athletic signed him on loan from Egyptian outfit Zamalek in 2008 but during his only full season in the Premier League, he netted 10 times to fire the Latics to an eleventh-placed finish and for a small period was even third in the division’s Golden Boot race.
“Zaki has been sensational already. He does remind me of Shearer. He’s a natural striker too who is so hungry and so determined.”
But whereas chairman Dave Whelan compared the Egyptian to Alan Shearer, Steve Bruce was far less impressed with Zaki’s lack of professionalism, incurring a number of fines for returning late from international duty.
That convinced Bruce not to sign his 2008/09 top scorer permanently and Zaki, baring a six-game loan spell at Hull City in 2010 which didn’t produce a single goal, returned to Asian football without being seen again. He left Zamalek in 2012 and rather incredibly signed for six clubs over the next three years, three of which he didn’t make a competitive appearance for.
Odion Ighalo
The most recent addition to the one-season wonder pageant, Odion Ighalo looked like a top-class goalscorer in the making during his first six months in the Premier League with Watford, scoring against Everton, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham before the turn of 2016 as the newly-promoted Hornets found themselves just one point away from the top six, and striking up an incredibly impressive partnership with Troy Deeney.
Football – Watford v Nottingham Forest – Sky Bet Football League Championship – Vicarage Road – 21/10/14
Odion Ighalo celebrates after scoring the first goal for Watford
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Peter Cziborra
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That saw the Nigerian international linked with a January move to Arsenal, as the kind of in-form short-term signing who could give the Gunners extra cutting edge.
Unfortunately, however, Ighalo quickly ran out of steam from them on; in fact he would go on to score just three goals in his next 35 top-flight appearances for Watford, including only one the following season, before being eventually sold to Chinese outfit Changchun Yatai for £20million earlier this year.
He’s not been hugely missed at Vicarage Road, though he has been given another chance at Manchester United.
Michael Ricketts
Michael Ricketts established himself as one of the most exciting young players in the Football League when he fired Bolton Wanderers to the top-flight in 2000/01, so when he began the next season by scoring 12 goals by mid-January – most notably a winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford and an equaliser against Arsenal at Highbury – an England call-up inevitably beckoned for the prodigious Trotters front-man.
However, that proved to be the cut-off point for Ricketts. He was given a 45-minute runout but failed to find the net – not only for the Three Lions but for the rest of the domestic season as well.
Rickets would go on to score just six more league goals for Bolton before being sold to Middlesbrough in January 2003, which saw his career slide along a downward spiral that eventually ended with a 12-game stint at League One Walsall during 2009/10.
Overall, after that flurry of form at the start of his Premier League career, Ricketts went onto score just 33 league goals in over eight years.
Roque Santa Cruz
In fairness to Roque Santa Cruz, he’s probably the most talented player on this list, spending eight years of his career at Bayern Munich – where he won six Bundesliga titles and the 2001 Champions League title – proving his proficiency in La Liga with Malaga and picking up a staggering 112 caps for the Paraguay national team, netting 32 goals in the process.
Yet, in terms of scoring at club level, one season of Santa Cruz’s lengthy career, which continues to this day in Paraguayan football, truly stands out – 2004/05, when he netted a personal best of 19 top-flight goals for Blackburn Rovers and laid on a further seven assists.
Football – Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City Carling Cup Third Round – Ewood Park – 26/9/07
Roque Santa Cruz celebrates scoring the third goal for Blackburn
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Keith Williams
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But the South American couldn’t keep it up and in the following season bagged just four league goals for the Ewood Park outfit. Despite this, Manchester City still saw fit to splash out a staggering £17.5million on the 6 foot 3 striker in the summer, the club where Santa Cruz’s deficiencies became most apparent.
He made only 20 league appearances for the Citizens, scoring just three times, before enduring a goalless loan spell back with Blackburn in 2011 and then disappearing off to La Liga.