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A key figure in Newcastle United’s remarkable rise this season under manager Eddie Howe has been Miguel Almiron, with the previously goal-shy playmaker having become something of a talisman for the Magpies of late.

The former Atlanta United sensation – who arrived at St James’ Park on a £20m deal back in January 2019 – notably took almost a year to break his scoring duck for the club, having gone on to score just nine Premier League goals across the last three and a half seasons combined.

Amid what has been a remarkable turnaround fortune both on a collective and individual level, however, the 29-year-old now leads the way on Tyneside with ten top-flight goals already this season from his right-wing berth.

The fleet-footed renaissance man has been “moving like [Lionel] Messi”, according to journalist Daniel Koranteng, as a marker of his prolific form so far this term, having been described as a “revelation” by talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent.

One potential issue for Howe and co, however, may well be the lack of quality alternatives to the Paraguayan menace on the right side of the attack, with fellow wide men Anthony Gordon and Allan Saint-Maximin typically operating on the opposite flank.

Should the Newcastle boss be looking to rotate the in-form asset any time soon he may well need to look to the academy ranks to find a potential, youthful solution, with 17-year-old Ben Parkinson seemingly a possible heir to Almiron in that role.

How is Ben Parkinson performing at youth level?

Much like the experienced machine, Parkinson has also been thriving in a right-wing berth for the Tynesiders’ youth sides of late – as well as through the middle – having scored nine goals and provided two assists in just 16 games across all fronts this season.

The teenage sensation notably netted three goals in just two outings during the club’s brief FA Youth Cup run and has also captained the side on occasion this season, seemingly earmarking him as a player who could make the step up sooner rather than later.

The Englishman has not just been thriving this season, however, with his overall record for the club in recent years now standing at 11 goals and five assists in 32 games for Newcastle’s U18 side, further rubberstamping his clinical ability in the final third.

Such quality was also recognised back in 2021 as Parkinson was named in the Guardian’s Next Generation list, with journalist Louise Taylor describing him as a ‘right winger with an eye for goal’.

That attacking threat was most recently on show in the draw with Leeds United for the Magpies’ U21 side, as the versatile forward produced an “impressive strike” on the night, in the words of the Chronicle’s Chris Knight.

Having a player of such exciting potential on the books could well end up saving PIF millions in the years to come, with there perhaps a chance for Parkinson to be afforded a role at senior level as an understudy to that man Almiron.

Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie is fully expected to leave Tyneside in the summer despite some reports suggesting he could take working towards a coaching role.

How long does Matt Ritchie have left on his contract?

The 33-year-old is now playing into the final months of his deal with the Magpies which does leave his position at the club hanging in the balance.

Ritchie has now been playing his football at St. James’ Park since 2016 having made a £10m move from Bournemouth to the other side of the country.

However, there is a sense the veteran will not be handed a new deal with the Toon looking to take huge strides forward under the ownership of PIF.

And speaking on The Toon Review YouTube channel, Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has suggested there is no chance Ritchie will be staying at Newcastle for next season:

(25:40) “No chance of him staying, no.”

“I would be majorly surprised if he doesn’t move further south to be nearer his family. I think Matt Ritchie and Jamaal Lascelles have been there for a while now. And I think both of them wanted to be around for the likelihood of Newcastle getting into a cup final.”

Could Ritchie go into coaching at Newcastle?

Earlier in the season Ritchie took charge of a number of training sessions for the Toon’s academy with the 33-year-old looking to work towards his coaching badges.

And having spent so long on Tyneside, there has perhaps been a belief that Ritchie could well take up a role within the club’s set-up as a result of his knowledge of the cub.

But this does not seem to be the case with Downie fully expecting to see Ritchie depart Newcastle in the coming months.

The report from The Chronicle which highlighted the player’s involvement in the academy sessions did suggest the Toon would have been open to allowing Ritchie to depart in January had the right offer landed.

Now, Ritchie is set to have his pick of clubs when he becomes a free agent and it is probably the right time for him to move on from the Magpies.

Since Eddie Howe’s arrival on Tyneside in 2021, Ritchie has only featured 12 times for Newcastle across all competitions.

And only five of them have come from the starting XI which is a damning indication that his chances of game time are simply not there at St. James’ Park.

But there is still a lot to play for at Newcastle this season and it would be a stunning way to bow out by lifting the Carabao Cup and potentially even securing Champions League football.

Newcastle United will return to Premier League action today when they head to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City following their disappointing defeat in the League Cup final at Wembley last weekend.

Eddie Howe will be keen for his team to bounce back and channel their focus into their promising Premier League campaign which could result in a chance to compete in European football next season if they continue their incredible form.

The Magpies are fifth in the top-flight table and no other team has conceded fewer defeats so far, however, they have also tallied up the joint-highest amount of draws (11) which has seen them recently fall out of their long-standing position in the top four with Tottenham Hotspur four points clear in fourth.

Taking all three points from their visit to Manchester this afternoon would give Newcastle a great opportunity to close the gap with Spurs and continue their ambitious pursuit of Champions League football next season, anything less could cause them to fall even further away.

As a result, Howe must look to his squad to improve performances and the attacking threat, in particular, as they haven’t won a Premier League game since the 15th of January against Fulham – picking up three draws and one defeat thereafter.

One player who has been an inconsistent presence since the turn of the year is Callum Wilson and now the Newcastle boss must make an important decision on the popular striker’s selection in the difficult meeting with Manchester City.

Should Howe ditch Callum Wilson vs Man City?

There is no doubt that Wilson has been a consistent and reliable performer in front of goal for the Magpies over his time at St James’ Park – tallying up 68 appearances, 27 goals, and registering eight assists, however, injury issues have always plagued the player.

The 31-year-old has suffered several incidents of injury over his career including two Cruciate Ligament Ruptures and has been unavailable on numerous occasions since joining Newcastle in 2020.

In the first half of this season, Wilson was a huge threat in front of goal scoring six times which led to his inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad, however, since returning to action on Tyneside the forward has struggled to be effective.

His most recent appearance as the starting striker at Wembley on Sunday against Manchester United was a testament to how much Wilson has been struggling to impose himself on opponents and led to BBC Radio Newcastle’s John Anderson this week claiming the player “hasn’t looked the same”.

Over his 89-minute performance, the £46k-per-week dud only managed eight accurate passes, 25 touches, and lost possession of the ball every 3.8 touches, as well as failing to have a single shot on target throughout the monumental fixture.

Wilson has only found the back of the net once in the Premier League since returning from international duty in Qatar and now puts his manager under pressure to make changes in the final third to find a resolution.

With that in mind, Howe must now ruthlessly ditch Wilson this afternoon and instead give Alexander Isak the opportunity to prove himself to stake his claim to the starting role in front of goal as the England international’s recent performers have not warranted an extended run in the XI.

Everton’s transfer blunders have been well-documented ever since Farhad Moshiri’s takeover, with seven years of mediocrity having since devolved into relegation scraps.

Season after season of misspending has left the Toffees financially ravaged, with plenty of choice acquisitions to highlight their fool-hearted spending.

Whilst some might lean towards the record signings, perhaps the worst pound-for-pound player that has ever graced the Merseyside club has to be Jean-Philippe Gbamin, given just how little he offered during his tenure.

Brought in to replace the outbound Idrissa Gueye, he was billed as an all-action defensive midfielder who had a keen eye for a pass. Yet none of these traits were able to be showcased at Goodison Park, as the Ivorian would feature just eight times in total whilst spending plenty of time out on loan.

In his desperate bid to regain fitness, the 27-year-old somehow managed to accumulate more appearances for CSKA Moscow and Trabzonspor respectively despite never being at either permanently. His fee and wages were admittedly big, but the cost was exacerbated due to the calamitous failure he became.

How much has Jean-Philippe Gbamin cost Everton?

From hamstring injuries to a ruptured Achilles tendon, Gbamin suffered from all sorts of ailments during his time in Liverpool.

His £25m initial fee would have drawn more surprise had Marco Silva not just received a mouth-watering £30m from Paris Saint-Germain for their Senegalese engine.

However, he did little to offset the departure of a man who boasted a 7.09 average Sofascore rating the season before his departure. 

Gbamin’s astronomical £75k-per-week wages were made to look even more foolish too, which only served to add to the overall outlay on a player who did categorically nothing for the club. 

The two and a half seasons he actually spent with Everton saw him drain a further £9.7m, whilst his five months in Russia saw his wages supplemented by 70% meaning he only earned £19k-per-week. That brought the total expenditure for the midfielder up to a colossal £34.8m.

That means that he cost the club roughly £4.3m for every appearance he made.

Bemoaned for his “bad luck” by Goodison Park favourite Kevin Campbell, his miserable contract is set to come to its natural conclusion in the summer of 2024 as Gbamin exits on a free.

Moshiri will be happy to see the back of someone who has rinsed his bank account for the best part of 160 weeks with nothing to show for it.

Wolves will be looking to further distance themselves from the Premier League’s bottom three when they travel to take on Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.

Julen Lopetegui’s side picked up another vital three points in their battle against relegation when they beat Tottenham 1-0 at Molineux but they face another tough test against another top-four hopeful this afternoon.

However, with Eddie Howe’s side having struggled of late, while the Old Gold have looked much improved following the World Cup break, there is certainly the opportunity to leave St James’ Park with something.

How will Wolves line up against Newcastle United?

Here is how Football FanCast expects the Spanish manager to line his side up on Sunday, with three changes from the side that started against Spurs.

Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri, Neves, Lemina, Nunes, Traore, Sarabia, Jimenez.

After another clean sheet against Spurs, Jose Sa looks unlikely to lose his place in between the sticks for the visit to Newcastle.

Similarly, Craig Dawson and Max Kilman will continue their blossoming partnership in the heart of the Wolves defence, with Nelson Semedo keeping his place on the right, while Rayan Ait-Nouri comes in for Jonny on the left to provide some more attacking impetus.

Ruben Neves, Mario Lemina and Matheus Nunes have the makings of an impressive trio for the Old Gold and Lopetegui looks unlikely to change the midfield three that has worked well for his side in recent weeks.

After scoring the winner against Spurs, Adama Traore should be handed a start, coming in for Pedro Neto after the Portuguese winger struggled to have much impact on his return from injury last time out, producing no shots or key passes.

Pablo Sarabia also keeps his place in the side but moves to the left to accommodate Traore, and he supports the previously described “world-class” Raul Jimenez – as he was dubbed by Ilkay Gundogan – in attack.

The Mexican made another positive impact from the bench against Spurs and is set to start this time out due to Diego Costa’s injury ruling him out.

Although it’s been a year since a striker scored for Wolves in the top flight, Jimenez has shown he is more than a goalscorer with industrious and hard-working displays against Fulham and Spurs, so he should be given the nod at St James’ Park this afternoon.

Chelsea are still experiencing issues in their talks with Mason Mount over a potential new deal for the 24-year-old midfielder.

What's happening with Mason Mount's contract?

The Englishman now has just over one year remaining on his current deal at Stamford Bridge and the Blues are believed to be holding talks over a potential new contract.

However, it is apparent there are issues being raised in these talks with Fabrizio Romano claiming there is a big gap between what the club are offering and what Mount is demanding.

Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, the Italian journalist has claimed the midfielder could well find himself on the transfer list in the summer if a deal is unable to be found:

(3:00) "We know there is a discussion ongoing between Mason Mount and Chelsea but at the moment I'm told there is still a big gap between Mason Mount and Chelsea in the negotiation.

"So it's a concrete possibility for Mason Mount to leave Chelsea at the end of the season. At the moment is not guaranteed yet. So it's important to say that the conversation is still there, the negotiation is still there, but if before the summer, they won't be able to reach an agreement, it's a serious possibility for Mason Mount to be on the market."

Could Mason Mount leave in the summer?

It certainly seems as if the possibility of Mount leaving the Blues could be on the cards in the summer if there is no resolution found over his contract situation.

One of the clubs who have been linked with a potential move for the 24-year-old is Liverpool but it will be interesting to see whether that proves an attractive prospect for the midfielder.

The report also suggests Manchester United are keeping tabs on the Englishman ahead of the summer so it certainly appears as if he will have options available if he is to leave Chelsea.

It is perhaps understandable that the Blues may have some reservations about giving into Mount's contract demands given the 2022/23 campaign he has had so far.

The 24-year-old has made 23 appearances in the Premier League but has only been able to provide a return of three goals and two assists (via Transfermarkt).

Potentially even more worrying is the midfielder has not provided a goal or assist in the league since the turn of the year with just one goal to his name since October.

There is still plenty of time for the two parties to reach an agreement, but it will be interesting to see whether Mount looks to take on a new opportunity in the summer on the back of an underwhelming season all around at Stamford Bridge.

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has urged new Leeds United manager Javi Gracia to phase out captain Liam Cooper from the club's starting XI.

What's the latest on Liam Cooper and Leeds?

It's been a complicated season for the centre-back for a number of reasons. First of all, his team have struggled in the Premier League and could well be relegated as they currently sit 19th in the division.

But on a more personal note, Cooper will be disappointed as he has struggled to keep himself fit. Indeed, he missed the first six matches of the season through injury and after a spell back in the team, he been sidelined again in recent weeks.

As a result, he has yet to play under new manager Gracia with his last game coming in February – which also happened to be former manager Jesse Marsch's last match in charge (via LeedsLive).

With the player out, McGilligan has suggested that his return should only see him handed a spot on the bench, suggesting that it was the right time to move on from Cooper as a first-choice centre-back option.

He explained on the One Leeds Fan Channel, saying: “For me, Liam Cooper comes back in, but on the bench.

"I think you look at someone like Diogo Monteiro, who we obviously got in January, and I think you maybe just drop him out and put Cooper in there.

“But I think when you're looking at someone like Pascal [Struijk], who is a much better defender, in my opinion, in terms of quality than Liam Cooper – who really shouldn't be getting into the starting XI now above both Robin [Koch] and Max [Wober] – I can't see how that is a realistic scenario, to be quite honest with you.

"I don't think it's something that we should be looking at. I don't think it's something that we should really be entertaining.

“I think Coops comes back in, he's a voice from the changing rooms, but this is exactly the moment that we need Coops to almost be phased out.

"And I think we're going to see that with a lot of Leeds' old guard at the minute because I think we're moving to a new era now hopefully in the Premier League.”

Should Liam Cooper start at Leeds?

As club captain, having made over 200 appearances for the club (260 to be precise), it can't be understated just how great a servant Cooper has been.

After all, he was the man wearing the armband when the Whites managed to get promoted back into the Premier League after a 16-year absence.

And while he's still only 31 years of age, injury issues have limited him to just 12 league starts this term, suggesting that he can perhaps no longer be relied upon in the heart of the defence as he once was. After all, he is five years older than the next senior Leeds centre-back Robin Koch (who is 26).

With that in mind, when fully fit to start again, it will be interesting to see if he plays. Perhaps Gracia will feel as though it's time to move on, or maybe the Spaniard will call upon the defender's experience to guide the team through a tricky relegation battle.

The English Premier League (EPL), or the English Football League as it is commonly known, has been the top division of English football since it was founded back in 1992. It was formed by a breakaway of the 22 clubs from the Football League First Division and replaced the old First Division and Second Division system. Since then, this impressive competition has become one of the best leagues in Europe and has seen some of the biggest names in world football grace its fields.

This article will illustrate why watching the Premier League is definitely worth your time.

Unrivaled excitement

Watching the Premier League is a thrilling experience for viewers, as players take part in a fierce competition to prove themselves and look to win games. Some people seek thrills by betting on these football matches or playing online casino games, for example. If you want to feel the thrills by watching sports, then you should watch the Premier League. This is one of the most exciting football leagues in the world.

What makes it exciting? For starters, even the smaller clubs, like Blackburn or West Bromwich, to name a couple, have the opportunity to win the league title or even qualify for the European competitions. The best example of this is when Leicester City clinched the Barclays Premier League championship in 2016. It is regarded as the greatest underdog season in sports history.

In addition to the unpredictability of every match, another great reason to watch the Premier League is the bitter rivalries between opposing teams, some even from the same cities.

The best managers

Some of the best managers in the world coach in the Premier League, showcasing their coaching prowess against other top-tier managers.Among the best managers in the EPL is former Spanish professional coach and player "Pep" Guardiola who currently coaches at Manchester City. One of his rivals, Jürgen Klopp presently holds the title of Premier League Manager of the Season after leading Liverpool FC to a second-place finish last season. Guardiola and former EPL coach José Mourinho are the only managers other than Sir Alex Ferguson (Man Utd) to win the Manager of the Season award in consecutive seasons.

The best rivalries

One thing that makes football amazing is the passion people have for it. Such passion is heightened during derby matches. Among the most legendary rivalries in world football is on display in the derby match between Manchester United and Manchester City.

From world-class players and top-tier coaches to intense competition and unparalleled rivalries, it's easy to see why the Premier League is one of the most-watched and exciting leagues in sports today.

Photo by Unsplash

Crystal Palace podcaster Dan Cook has claimed that Roy Hodgson would only have returned to the club if he was fully confident that he could help the side avoid relegation.

What happened with Crystal Palace and Hodgson?

The 75-year-old came out of retirement to return to Selhurst Park following the dismissal of Patrick Vieira, after a disastrous run of form left Palace winless in 2023.

In a move that has been seen by some as a step backwards, Palace may have acted out of desperation, with the club just three points above the relegation zone despite being in 12th place.

Speaking on the HLTCO Palace Podcast, Cook claimed that given Hodgson's previous reputation at the club, he would not have taken the job if he wasn't confident in guiding the side to survival.

He said: "I do not believe for a single second that a manager as long in the tooth, and someone with a career and a CV as varied as Roy Hodgson would come back at the age of 75 on a short-term contract to the club of his youth… and lead them to relegation in what will almost certainly be his final managerial role ever, I just can't envisage that he would even contemplate it unless he was 100% sure that he could get the necessary points on the board.

"It would make no sense, it would be a hiding to nothing, it would go to further damage [his] reputation, which took a few blows towards the final six months of his previous stint with us.

"So my only real view on this is that Roy Hodgson has seen more than enough across the last couple of months, even with the poor results, to feel as though he and Ray Lewington can rev this team up enough and can get those points that are needed to retain our Premier League status."

Have Palace timed their gamble to perfection?

Although there are big questions over whether the decision to bring in Hodgson to replace Vieira was a good one, one may point to the timing of the decision as the best point in the season to make it.

Palace had to navigate an incredibly tough run of fixtures in the last few months, which saw them face Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal in their last eight matches, as well as having tough trips to Brighton and Aston Villa – with all of these teams above them in the table.

In their final 11 games of this season, they face just two sides currently above them in the league in Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham, and therefore remain in control of their own destiny. With the table as tight as it is right now, picking up wins against the teams below them will be massive as they aim to avoid the drop.

If Hodgson can bring an immediate new manager bounce or help unlock an attack that has struggled for goals recently, the gamble will likely pay off as they face an arguably easier set of games than they did before.

Chelsea have held "face-to-face" talks with Luis Enrique over becoming their next manager, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

Is Enrique in the mix for Chelsea job?

The Blues have a massive decision to make over who their next permanent boss is, with several candidates seemingly in the mix to come in. Graham Potter has been relieved of his duties and replaced by Frank Lampard, but the Chelsea legend is only in charge until the end of the season.

The likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino have all been mooted as potential managers to come in at Stamford Bridge, but Enrique is another who is believed to be in the conversation. The 52-yeard-old left his role as Spain's national team manager after the 2022 World Cup and is now looking for a new challenge.

It appears as though progress has been made regarding Enrique potentially taking charge of Chelsea once Lampard's spell ends, with some new comments suggesting as much.

Could Chelsea swoop for Spaniard?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Phillips claimed that the Blues have had positive talks with Enrique regarding taking over as manager this summer:

"I had that confirmed; he did have a face-to-face interview with Chelsea this week. This was after his agents had already sent an impressive presentation of his ideas and visions to Chelsea.

"Chelsea invited him over to London for an interview; he came and had that, it went very well on both sides. Chelsea were impressed with him, he was impressed with Chelsea's project and what they want to do, but the thing with Enrique is he wants to take time with this decision as well."

Enrique is certainly a strong option for Chelsea if they club decide to go with him as Lampard's successor, having racked up a huge amount of experience in the game. The Spaniard may have ultimately bowed out of national team duties in disappointing fashion last year, but he won the World's Best Club Coach award back in 2015, having guided Barcelona to Champions League and La Liga glory, as well as winning the league the following year, too.

The fact that such positive discussions have taken place can only suggest that Todd Boehly sees him as a strong option to be the next manager, and three Spanish Cup wins with Barca, in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively, are further proof of his pedigree at the top level.