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Renowned Sunderland podcasters Roker Report have been left buzzing over some news that has now emerged involving one of the club’s youth teams.

The Lowdown: U15s triumph

As shared on Twitter, the Stadium of Light faithful’s U15 team won the Northern Floodlight Cup on Thursday.

They beat Premier League outfit Manchester United in the final, in what was a big triumph for the young Black Cats.

The Latest: Podcaster reacts

Taking to Twitter, Roker Report buzzed over the news of the youngsters celebrating their trophy win:

“Sunderland celebrating a trophy win whilst Man Utd look on. Things you love to see! Haway the young Lads!”

The Verdict: Exciting

The fact that the Wearsiders have won the Cup ahead of a club like Man Utd, with the difference in level of resources that they have available that runs through to youth level, is certainly exciting for SAFC and their supporters.

First-team manager Alex Neil will be hoping to see some of these youngsters develop over the next few years to a level that would make him consider them for the senior squad, and the fans will be eager to see more from their homegrown talents.

Nonetheless, this is a victory that the whole club can get behind, and it certainly bodes well for the future, as it seemingly looks like a promising next generation of talent is starting to come through.

In other news, find out what fresh Sunderland blow has now emerged before Cambridge United here!

Liverpool target Karim Adeyemi would prefer to move to the German Bundesliga at this stage of his career, according to Sky Germany. 

The lowdown

19-year-old Red Bull Salzburg striker Adeyemi has netted 11 goals in 16 appearances this season.

He’s averaging one every 89 minutes in the Austrian Bundesliga and has also caught the eye in the Champions League, winning four penalties in two group games and converting two of them.

Adeyemi made his debut for Germany as a substitute in September’s World Cup qualifier against Armenia and marked it with a goal.

That prompted national team boss Hansi Flick to label him ‘ice-cold in front of goal’.

The latest

Sky transfer expert Marc Behrenbeck says Adeyemi ‘will definitely leave Salzburg next summer’ and that the Austrian champions will demand between €30million (£25.6million) and €40million (£34.1million).

Last season’s top three in the Bundesliga – Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund – have held ‘specific discussions’ with Salzburg ‘in which figures were exchanged’.

But ‘there are also inquiries from England’, and ‘Liverpool recently asked again’.

‘It is clear’, though, that Adeyemi’s plan is to take ‘the next step in the Bundesliga before he might go abroad again’.

The verdict

It seems as though Liverpool may miss out on this hugely exciting talent, for now at least.

RB Leipzig is probably a safe bet for his next destination, because they ‘tend to have first dibs on Salzburg players’.

Would Liverpool pay £25million-£30million for a player who’s yet to prove himself in one of the top five leagues anyway? It’s doubtful, but this is certainly one to watch as we tick closer to January.

In other news, this Jamie Carragher claim had fans fuming. 

Many Aston Villa fans have been left buzzing as a transfer update emerged on Axel Witsel.

As per Tuttosport, AVFC as well as Roma are eyeing up a potential move for the Borussia Dortmund central midfield player before the summer window ends, and he would cost them a fee in the region of €5m (£4.3m).

Witsel is a player with a lot of experience of playing at the highest level, having played in the UEFA Champions League with four different clubs as well as racking up no fewer than 114 senior caps for Belgium, scoring ten goals (Transfermarkt).

Primarily a defensive midfielder, he would add some much-needed depth in that area for Dean Smith’s team, given that they only have Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba as natural CDM’s in their current squad at the moment (Transfermarkt).

Aston Villa fans on Witsel transfer update

These AVFC supporters buzzed as the transfer update on Witsel was shared on Twitter:

“Wouldn’t say no to him! He’s vastly experienced and still in Belgium squad.”

Credit: @SkellyVTID

“Get him that’s the deal we’ve been waiting for”

Credit: @mikeeb03

“He’s a bit old but a quality player who can play in defence as well. Would be a good signing if true. We can’t have double standards with Smith. If he lies with injuries he can surely do it for transfers”

Credit: @JackAV_6

“I would say exactly what we need tbh”

Credit: @ethanwoody123

“Get both McKennie and Witsel and we are done”

Credit: @AVFCfan83

“Yes sir”

Credit: @ColeCunn7

In other news, find out what club announcement had Villa fans fuming here!

Noel Whelan can see Rangers signing a Premier League defender on loan in January to preserve their squad depth. 

The former Leeds United, Coventry City and Middlesbrough forward was speaking to Football Insider.

The lowdown

The Gers will be without Filip Helander until at least December after he was stretchered off in the recent win over St Johnstone.

That leaves Steven Gerrard with only three senior options at centre-half: Connor Goldson, Jack Simpson and Leon Balogun.

Rangers’ participation in the Europa League makes for a demanding schedule until Christmas.

And Balogun’s injury history in particular will be cause for concern. The Nigerian was sidelined with four separate issues last season, missing a total of 13 matches (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

Even though Helander should be back before the transfer window, Whelan warned that further injuries might be on the horizon, stretching Rangers’ squad.

He says the Glasgow outfit would have to ‘pay over the odds’ to sign anyone permanently at the mid-point of the season, and so he thinks a loan move for a English Premier League player who’s in need of minutes may be more sensible.

“It depends on if and when he comes back,” he said. “If he comes back fine by January then there is a case to say you don’t need anyone else.

“But what if someone else gets injured? Then you are right back in the same position.

“You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. We know what the window is like in January, you pay over the odds and don’t sign players you actually want.

“If they do anything it will be a loan deal for a Premier League player, I would imagine.

“Someone who needs game time. They might just need that cover and backup.”

The verdict

If Helander is back fit and firing before the turn of the year and Balogun and co. avoid any significant issues, then Rangers may decide to simply stick with what they’ve got. Four centre-halves should, realistically, be enough.

But if they do want that extra insurance option, who could they turn to? Perhaps Steven Gerrard could look to former club Liverpool and their Under-23 centre-back Billy Koumetio. The Reds would probably be happy for him to get some experience of the men’s game, whether it be in the cup or against lesser league opponents, and their capture of Ibrahima Konate has pushed the teenager way down the pecking order.

In other news, fans fumed at this 24-year-old against Motherwell. 

As Crystal Palace took on Newcastle United at Selhurst Park today, many Eagles supporters were left blown away by the performance of striker Christian Benteke.

Patrick Vieira’s side, looking to gain some momentum after a fairly inconsistent start to the season, met the Magpies in London this afternoon in what was a fairly entertaining encounter.

The travelling side, fresh off their headline-grabbing takeover, were given a run for their money by Palace who constantly threatened and provided real problems.

One major vocal point of the attack was Benteke, and despite missing some big chances across the 90 minutes, hitting the woodwork twice, his goal summed up just how threatening he actually was.

According to SofaScore, the Belgian had six shots on goal in total and won the vast majority of his duels up against Newcastle – prompting supporters to praise Benteke on social media, who was unlucky to have a second strike ruled out by VAR too.

Find all of their best verdicts down below.

Palace fans blown away by Benteke…

“This is one of the best Benteke performances I can remember. He’s been excellent”

Credit: @TalkCPFC

“Forget the goal, Benteke has been absurdly good in hold-up today”

Credit: @jack_jsteele

“If you cross the ball, Benteke becomes almost unplayable.”

Credit: @CroydonExile1

“Benteke has much more confidence under Vieira”

Credit: @Dave_Winbod

“I can’t believe my eyes benteke back in form??”

Credit: @GhostKingUK

“wow our own benteke”

Credit: @AendeLaw

Sheffield United have been dealt a blow in their bid to bring Robin Olsen to Bramall Lane this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato, who claim that the AS Roma goalkeeper is stalling over a potential move to the Blades, in the hope that a Premier League side firm up their interest in his services.

It had previously been reported that Slavisa Jokanovic’s side had identified the 31-year-old shot-stopper as their number one candidate to replace the recently departed Aaron Ramsdale, and were locked in discussions with the Sweden international – whom Jose Mourinho is believed to be open to parting with this summer.

Jokanovic will be livid

With it being all well and good that Oslen is stalling over his potential move to Bramall Lane due to his desire to play Premier League football, the goalkeeper’s indecision will nevertheless have left Jokanovic livid.

Indeed, with time running out for the 53-year-old to bring in a new first-choice ‘keeper in the summer transfer window, should a top-flight side indeed chose to make a move for the Roma man in the coming days, it would leave the Serbian with very little time to source another player in the position.

Furthermore, Olsen would very much appear to be a fantastic signing for a Championship club to make, as the 31-year-old highly impressed for both Everton and Sweden last season.

Indeed, over his seven Premier League appearances for the Toffees last term, the £2.7m-rated man kept two clean sheets, as well as conceding an average of just 1.3 goals and making three saves per game.

These returns saw the player Alexander Isak dubbed an “incredible” talent earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.87, ranking him as the Toffees’ 12th-best performer in the league.

This fine form continued while on international duty, with the £14k-per-week shot-stopper conceding just four goals and keeping two clean sheets over his four appearances at Euro 2020 – with these metrics seeing the ‘keeper earn a highly impressive average SofaScore match rating of 7.05.

As such, while losing Ramsalde will have undoubtedly come as a blow for Jokanovic, if the Blades boss were to replace the youngster with Olsen this summer, it would certainly soften the hit – although, whether or not the Roma man ends up in Sheffield appears rather uncertain at present.

In other news: Jokanovic heading for his biggest SUFC transfer mistake to date, fans will be livid

Arsenal are lining up a shock move for Youri Tielemans this month, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Goal journalist Charles Watts delivered an exciting update to supporters on Twitter this week, claiming that the Gunners’ are ramping up their plans to sign a new midfielder before deadline day.

“Arsenal and their search for a midfielder:

– Contact made over Arthur

– All sides open to a loan

– Tielemans a long-term target

– Talks have taken place with his agent at London Colney,” he tweeted alongside an accompanying article.

The reliable reporter went on to explain how the north London giants have already held talks with the 24-year-old’s agents about a potential switch from league rivals Leicester City.

Outstanding addition

What an incredible signing this would be for Arsenal and as surprising as it would be, it has to be realistic considering their form under Mikel Arteta this campaign.

On the cusp of the top four, the Gunners are some ten points clear of the Foxes, who finished above them last season. The prospect of offering the Belgian dynamo Champions League football is becoming increasingly possible each game.

The need for a new midfielder is paramount to those chances, so landing Tielemans could come hand-in-hand.

Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny have gone to the Africa Cup of Nations and are unavailable for selection for the rest of the month, whilst Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been shipped to AS Roma on loan.

Meanwhile, Arteta is thought to be missing the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool, so there’s somewhat of a big engine room crisis going on at London Colney at the minute.

After securing the FA Cup last season, Tielemans won Leicester’s ‘ Player of the Year’ award, by both the fans and his peers.

He is capable of providing goals from midfield, having bagged five times this season but he also offers attributes in the defensive third too. He has averaged 1.9 tackles and 1.5 clearances per game, via WhoScored.

On the above evidence, Arsenal fans will surely be absolutely buzzing by this transfer bombshell.

AND in other news, David Ornstein drops huge transfer update on the Gunners’ striker search…

Newcastle United must prepare for the departure of star man Allan Saint-Maximin this summer – and may need to take a risk on his replacement.

What’s the word?

According to a report by the Daily Mail, Newcastle’s star forward is expected to be sold this summer, with the fee received expected to be pumped back into Eddie Howe’s squad.

Among the Frenchman’s mooted replacements are Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson and Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby, while Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe has also been linked with a switch to St. James’ Park this season.

However, in a recent interview with Football Insider, Ex Leeds United forward Noel Whelan claimed that a move for the Gunners attacker would be something of a risk.

Speaking about the Magpies’ potential interest in the 26-year-old, Whelan said: “A loan move may be something that Newcastle might fancy. These are the sort of players they will be targeting. He could turn his career around and end up being that big-ticket player. But right now, it’s a gamble.”

Bye-bye Saint-Maximin

Saint-Maximin has yet again proved his importance this season in more ways than one.

His five goals and three assists have been imperative in Newcastle’s bid to secure Premier League survival, though it’s his dribbling and ball carrying ability that have been the biggest positive for the Magpies.

It comes as no surprise that the 25-year-old ranks top of the Newcastle squad for successful dribbles per match with 4.3. Quite simply, his ability on the ball is often the catalyst for his side’s counterattacks, with the £28.8m-rated forward by far and away being the most efficient carrier of the ball.

However, while losing a player of Saint-Maximin’s calibre would certainly come as a huge blow to the Magpies, they could employ a like-for-like replacement in Nicolas Pepe – the Arsenal winger who has struggled to live up to his enormous transfer fee since signing from Lille in 2019.

Although he has faced scrutiny, he has not exactly been a flop in England thus far. The potential has always been there, with his end product on display for all to see just last season – when he bagged an impressive 10 goals over just 29 appearances for the Gunners.

Indeed, his £72m fee has arguably been his biggest enemy during his time in England, but a move to Newcastle for a rumoured fee of £25m could release the reins for the 26-year-old Ivory Coast international.

Pepe is a technical player, just like Saint-Maximin, who thrives in possession, more specifically within the attacking third. With around 35 touches in the attacking third per 90, he ranks in the 93rd percentile amongst positionally similar players within Europe’s top 5 leagues over the past 365 days.

For context, Saint-Maximin is ranked within the 81st percentile with around 23 touches in the attacking third per 90.

In this aspect, the £140k-per-week Pepe who Joe Cole claimed “makes things happen” would serve as an upgrade for his composure in the final third.

He may be a risk to some, but the underlying stats suggest that the Arsenal winger has everything it takes to replace Allan Saint-Maximin at Newcastle United – leading us to believe that PIF must take a chance on Pepe this summer.

In other news: Fee agreed: NUFC now already set to seal 1st summer signing, Howe surely over the moon

Many Everton fans have been reacting to a revelation involving Carlo Ancelotti.

As per AS (via Sport Witness), the Goodison Park club made a ‘measly’ €5m (£4.3m) from his move to Real Madrid due to a clause in his contract.

The Italian even forked out a ‘significant amount of money’ in order to make the move happen, as he ‘gave everything’ to go back to his old club.

Given that the Toffees only spent £1.8m in the summer transfer window, any penny squeezed out of Ancelotti’s departure would have no doubt been useful, but it seems as if the board did not get as much as they should have from his exit to Madrid.

Everton have not won in their last five games in the Premier League under Rafael Benitez, suggesting that the lack of spending is beginning to take its toll.

Everton fans on Ancelotti revelation

These Toffees fans reacted to the revelation as it was shared on Twitter, with one supporter describing the claim as ‘incredible’ and others lamenting a ‘blunder’ from the club’s board, which has come in for criticism from some quarters recently:

“Gets in touch with them over transfers, ends up offering them his services. Incredible.”

Credit: @PatricRidge

“Not so much under hand, as right under our royal blue noses”

Credit: @rodgerarmstrong

“Last gentlemen in football, remember”

Credit: @Vicaz22

“Another board blunder, who agrees to a contract clause like that?!”

Credit: @rob_fisher_efc

“What players was he hoping to sign from Madrid with his £1.7 million war chest?”

Credit: @PaulDevine70

“Legged it once Bill & Moshiri told him he had £2mil to spend”

Credit: @bluetom77

In other news, find out whose punditry had many Evertonians erupting

Newcastle United striker Chris Wood cut an anonymous figure as the northeast giants secured a dramatic, last-gasp 2-1 victory over Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.

The Magpies’ winter signing Bruno Guimaraes headed home a fortune cross from Joe Willock in stoppage time to move further clear of the drop zone and it was his second of the game as he cancelled out Ademola Lookman’s opener on the half-hour mark.

Barring any late collapse, Eddie Howe’s side are surely safe and secure, but for all of the positives at St James’ Park, the performance from the New Zealand talisman is surely cause for concern as his barren spell in front of goal continued.

After United splashed out on his £20m release clause, the 30-year-old has scored only two goals across 13 appearances and the Foxes win was another reminder of his ineffectiveness when not playing to his strengths.

As per SofaScore, Wood registered the fewest touches of any starting member of either team, managing only 16 across 69 minutes on the pitch – even goalkeepers Martin Dubravka (31) and Kasper Schmeichel (36) managed more.

His lack of involvement as the Magpies’ lowest-rated player on the day meant that he saw just one shot all game and it was off target. By comparison, match-winner Guimaraes had four shots on target by himself.

Wood also managed only five passes from his 12 attempts, meaning he misplaced the ball 58% of this time, on top of losing possession eight times (50% of his touches), which is rather appalling.

Newcastle World described the frontman as having a “quiet afternoon” in their post-match ratings column, whilst The Sheids Gazette claimed he “failed to threaten in front of goal.”

The £72k-per-week striker, who has previously been described as “frightening” in training by former teammate Scott Malone, was anything but that against the Foxes on Sunday – Howe should be concerned.

AND in other news, Newcastle could finally axe shocking £55k-p/w liability with £40.5m-rated “tank”…