Bournemouth star Justin Kluivert has dropped a bombshell on teammate Dean Huijsen’s future that no Cherries fan will want to hear.
Andoni Iraola’s side have been one of the biggest surprise packages of the Premier League this season as the club sits just five points off the Champions League places.
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Kluivert suggested knows one of his key teammates won’t be at the Vitality next seasonCredit: @RadioMARCA on X
The Cherries are also just one win away from an FA Cup semi-final berth as they host Manchester City in the quarter-finals on Sunday, live on talkSPORT.
Kluivert has been one of the brightest spots for Bournemouth this season with 13 goals and seven assists across all competitions.
Full-back Milos Kerkez has also shot to prominence with his barnstorming displays up and down the left flank along with his whipped crosses that cause plenty of havoc for opposition back lines.
But it is teenage centre-back Dean Huijsen who has arguably garnered the most attention from rival clubs.
The 19-year-old arrived on the south coast last summer from Juventus for a fee just shy of £13million.
However, his assured displays at the back and a recent maiden call-up for Spain have seen his value skyrocket.
The Cherries need no reminding they face a serious battle to keep Huijsen in the summer, especially given he has a £50m release clause in his contract.
But according to Kluivert, it appears Bournemouth’s players are already resigned to losing the teen as he made the worrying admission in an interview with MARCA on Sunday.
“I know that next year he won’t be with us,” Kluivert said.
There will be no shortage of clubs keen to snap up Huijsen in the summer.
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Huijsen has quickly become one of the most wanted defenders on the planetCredit: Getty
Carlo Ancelotti’s side has been hampered by injuries to key defensive players including David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal throughout the campaign.
The depths of Los Blancos’ defensive woes were laid bare when midfielder Federico Valverde had to deputise at right-back during the second leg of their Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.
A move to Liverpool or Real Madrid would represent a major step up in difficulty for Huijsen.
However, Iraola believes the 19-year-old will be more than capable of handling himself at that level.
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The 19-year-old looks right at home in the Premier League and has the stats to show it
When asked about Huijsen’s best attributes, Iraola said: “I think his mentality, his head.
“I think he’s confident. He is not afraid of marking any forward and I think he’s calm on the ball.
“He knows what he’s doing, he’s under control. Sometimes he will make mistakes like all the others, but there is always a reason for the things he does.
“And for someone that is 19, it’s really strange to find this at this level.”
Bournemouth owner Bill Foley reveals they are trying to persuade Andoni Iraola to stay amid Tottenham and Real Madrid interest
Liverpool should be pursuing Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, regardless of Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield.
That’s the view of former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler.
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Isak’s goal against Liverpool sealed Newcastle’s League Cup win and got the Wembley party startedCredit: Getty
Uncertainty looms over Salah’s future with his contract expiring in the summer and he has done little to suggest he will be at Anfield next season.
Whether Salah stays or goes, Fowler believes Liverpool should enhance their attacking options.
“It’s not just if Mo Salah leaves the club; even if Mo stays, I think they should be going on and getting players anyway,” Fowler told talkSPORT’s Alex Crook.
“You look at the great Manchester United teams of the past, and when they were winning honors under Sir Alex Ferguson, it was maybe one player who was coming in and just giving everyone that little lift.
“He underscored the essential need to add quality players who can truly elevate the team, rather than simply boosting numbers.”
Fowler identified League Cup final goal scorer Isak as a prime target. “If you look at world football at the minute, certainly strikers, there aren’t many about in all fairness,” he explained.
He suggested given how well Isak has done in the Premier League this season then it won’t be seen as much of a gamble.
“I’m sure Liverpool will be getting linked to Isak; I’m sure Newcastle will want to give him a new contract because of the goals and performances, so it will be an interesting summer.”
Isak has shone brightly for Newcastle, showcasing his remarkable talent with impressive statistics.
This season, he has netted 23 goals across all competitions and provided five assists.
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Fowler won the Football League Cup twice during his time at LiverpoolCredit: getty images
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Salah looked emotional after Liverpool’s Carabou Cup final defeat to NewcastleCredit: Getty
Despite his contract running until 2028, his outstanding performances have sparked interest from top clubs, with reports indicating Newcastle values him at £150 million.
Isak joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 for a reported club-record fee of £63 million and has now marked his 100th appearance for the club.
Despite Liverpool’s Premier League dominance this season, currently sitting 12 points clear of second-place Arsenal, they have fallen short in other competitions.
They lost out on penalties against PSG, ending their hopes and aspirations for the Champions League quarter-finals.
They also faced an early exit in the FA Cup at the hands of unlikely victors, Plymouth Argyle, who triumphed 1-0 back in February.
Then, to top it all off, Isak helped defeat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, the very club now keen on harnessing his shooting skills.
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The 25-year-old is third in the Premier League Golden Boot race
Defender Virgil van Dijk is now putting all his focus into winning a second title in five years.
Their lead over Arsenal means another five wins will likely be enough to seal the deal.
“If you win five games – obviously that’s a very difficult job – you’re going to be champions of England,” he said.
“I can guarantee there will be so many difficult moments and you have to be prepared to suffer, whether it is 1-0 down, 2-0, whatever, because you can see the end and you work so hard for that each and every day.
“But we all have to realise the job is not done. We have to work our ass (off).”
He will now be looking to Salah and other experienced teammates to dig in and get over the line.
Despite not scoring in his last 19 fixtures, Troy Deeney insists Rasmus Hojlund is not the biggest of Manchester United’s worries.
The misfiring Dane has netted just seven times in 36 appearances across all competitions this term.
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Hojlund has been unable to escape the spotlight amid his alarming goal droughtCredit: Getty
However, his barren run in front of goal is somewhat emblematic of the Red Devils’ struggles in recent months as they sit a lowly 14th in the Premier League.
Given United forked out £72million to bring Hojlund to Old Trafford from Atalanta in July 2023, his 19-game goal drought should sound major alarm bells and signal he may not be the right man to lead the line.
But Deeney believes the blame cannot land squarely on the 22-year-old’s shoulders and believes Hojlund’s struggles stem from a lack of attacking verve across United’s forward options.
“I feel sorry for him because in those 19 games, I don’t remember a chance that you go, ‘Oh, he should have scored that,’” Deeney told talkSPORT.com.
“The chances he’s getting are kind of iffy chances.”
Deeney added: “The final quality’s not been great, not just for him but Manchester United on a whole. I think there’s a lot he can do and improve on, but I don’t think it’s right to go, ‘He’s the problem.’
“I think as an attacking force, they’ve been relatively poor this year.”
Even if Hojlund has not benefited from a solid amount of service via his teammates, a goal drought as lengthy as his could prove to be a major psychological challenge to overcome.
Deeney, like all strikers, endured his fair share of spells without scoring throughout his career.
But there was one training drill Deeney used to do with Chelsea icon and former Watford manager Gianfranco Zola that left him ‘humiliated’ but proved pivotal in changing his goalscoring fortunes.
Manchester United’s top Premier League goalscorers this season
Name
Goals scored
Bruno Fernandes
6
Amad Diallo (injured)
6
Marcus Rashford (out on loan)
4
Joshua Zirkzee
3
Alejandro Garnacho
3
Matthijs de Ligt
2
Rasmus Hojlund
2
Lisandro Martinez
2
It is perhaps something Hojlund could adopt, if he hasn’t already, should his misfortune in front of goal continue.
“If lads went through spells of not scoring, we’d strip it down to its basics and do shooting drills with no goalie,” Deeney said.
“Now as a player, you’d hate that because you kind of feel a bit humiliated.
“But you get used to hitting the back of the net again, then you bring the goalie in.”
Deeney also pointed out goals are often borne from confidence on the pitch and is largely down to the individual in question.
However, the former Watford hero does not believe a player at United needs that confidence to come from external sources.
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Hojlund will hope to avoid a 20th consecutive game without scoring on Sunday against ArsenalCredit: Getty
Instead, the mere fact of playing for a club of that stature should be enough.
“I believe confidence is based on you, confidence is for myself,” Deeney said.
“But a lot of the new players, everyone pussyfoots around and makes them feel like they’re the best thing since sliced bread.
“Go and earn it. You play for Manchester United, it’s the biggest club in world football. F****** strap your big boy pants on and get after it.”
Another United forward who has endured a rough patch of late is Joshua Zirkzee, who joined in the summer from Bologna.
Jeered by his own fans after being hauled off in the first half of a clash against Newcastle, Zirkzee also missed a penalty during the shootout that sealed the Red Devils’ exit from the FA Cup against Fulham.
Andy Goldstein & Darren Bent discuss Rasmus Højlund’s recent POOR form for Manchester United
However, the Dutchman rebounded and scored for United in their 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad in the Europa League last Thursday.
Deeney noted Zirkzee has ‘showed character’ since the infamous substitution against Newcastle.
But Deeney did not hold back when it came to pointing out his biggest gripe with Zirkzee and Hojlund as he offered some sage advice for the pair.
“Both of them, I want them to shoot but f****** act like you’re going to score,” Deeney said.
“They shoot hoping that they’re going to score, like, ‘If I kicked this at the goal, hopefully it takes a deflection and it goes in.’
“Go and make it happen, go and get it done. That would be my frustration with the two of them.”
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Zirkzee hasn’t enjoyed the greatest of goalscoring fortunes since joining from BolognaCredit: Getty
Deeney added: “Wrap it in, have a bit of confidence. If you miss, so what? People think you’re crap anyway.
“If you score, you score. But go with the intention of trying to score.”
Manchester United must avoid a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta – they should’t be fooled by his sparking form.
That’s the view of ex-Watford striker Troy Deeney, who believes the Frenchman is enjoying a purple patch in front of goal.
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Mateta has been a player transformed since Oliver Glasner took over at Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty
Mateta has been in sensational form for Palace of late – scoring eight Premier League goals from his last eight games.
It is a marked contrast from the first half of the season, where he found the back of the net just four times from Palace’s first 19 top-flight fixtures.
Mateta’s recent purple patch has reportedly left Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim impressed with what he’s seen, to the point where he could come calling for the Palace star in the summer.
However, Deeney believes it would be a foolish move from United’s end given Mateta scored only 13 goals from 83 appearances in all competitions for Palace before Oliver Glasner arrived in February last year.
When asked whether Mateta is the answer to United’s striker woes, Deeney told talkSPORT.com: “No, because he’s not the answer for Palace.
“So why is he going to be the answer for Manchester United?”
In response to being told Mateta’s form under Glasner includes 28 goals in 46 games, Deeney replied: “Did he never play before that? OK, so we take people from that small sample size and go, ‘That’s what it is?’”
Mateta’s importance to Palace aside, Deeney also held grave fears as to whether the 27-year-old could even step up to the level required of a United player.
Although the former Hornets skipper pointed out United and Palace operate with a similar formation, which could benefit Mateta, the stature of the two clubs is ‘completely different’.
“I think Jean is a very good player, by the way,” Deeney remarked.
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Mateta’s goal tally has been boosted by an impressive run of late
“But he’s a very good player at Crystal Palace. I was a very good player at Watford. Going to the levels of these big clubs is completely different.
“The only thing that plays into his favour is they kind of play a similar formation with Palace at the moment, where he’s the lead one through the middle.
“But I would argue that Palace’s No. 10s are better than what Manchester United have got currently.
“So I think he’s going through a good vein of form because Palace are in a good moment. No-one was saying they should have signed him in pre-season.”
Deeney’s verdict on Mateta comes amid the prolonged struggles for United’s incumbent strikers.
Rasmus Hojlund, who was signed from Atalanta for a whopping £72million in July 2023, has not scored in his last 19 fixtures.
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Mateta has more goals than Hojlund has shots on target in the Premier League
Since his arrival, the 22-year-old has fired in just 23 goals from 79 appearances in all competitions.
It is a goal return far below what United would have expected when they forked out the fee they did for the Dane.
Summer signing Joshua Zirkzee has also struggled to shine since he joined from Bologna.
The Dutchman has been used in a variety of positions for the Red Devils but most predominantly at centre-forward, with only six goals from 41 games to show for his efforts.
Given the pair’s goalscoring woes, United boss Amorim will be tempted to address the issue in the summer window.
Although Deeney can understand why Hojlund and Zirkzee have struggled at Old Trafford, he believes a new face up top is needed.
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He stated: “You bring in someone to improve them. I think Zirkzee is more of a ten, more than a striker. At Bologna, he was a ten and on the left. People try and force him into the position.
“I think you go and get a proper No. 9 and you allow Hojlund to learn off that No. 9. Maybe someone that’s five, six years older.
“There’s a player there in Hojlund. I still think the same with Darwin Nunez. They’re both great team players that run around and do all the good stuff, they just don’t score.
“I think they need to work on that and be a bit more selfish as opposed to team-oriented, then they’ll get the goals.”
Hojlund, who has started United’s last four games, will hope to avoid extending his goal drought to a 20th game on Sunday as Amorim’s side host second-placed Arsenal.
Should United taste defeat for a 13th time in the league this term, they could find themselves as low as 16th on Monday evening should other results go against them.
Rashford had to leave United, of course. They wanted him out for tactical and financial reasons, he sensed that and chased a new challenge.
None of this should be taken as criticism of United’s head coach, Ruben Amorim, who wants to play a way that doesn’t suit Rashford and who needs to generate funds for his 3-4-2-1 rebuild. Fair enough.
Rashford’s departure, initially on loan but with a permanent move to Villa or somewhere else inevitable in the summer, suited all parties.
Rashford says he will never fall out of love with football, but he needed to play with a smile on his face again. Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has done that.
“Support him,” Emery replied on how he is bringing the best out of the 27-year-old.
“Help him try to get confidence with us.”
A happy Rashford is a formidable footballer. He’s always been that way. He’s always needed to feel the belief and support of his manager.
He’s always needed to be liberated in a system that keeps him high up the field, reducing his defensive responsibilities, unleashing him on opposing right-backs like Gusto.
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Rashford made the left wing his own and terrorised Gusto in the second half
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The winger has helped lift Emery’s side up into seventh spot in the tableCredit: Getty
All defenders hate facing pace, which Rashford has in abundance. He’s made for 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 like Emery’s.
It wasn’t actually his pace that skewered Chelsea here. He inflicted some of it on Gusto from the moment he came on at half-time.
Villa were trailing 1-0 at the time and Emery was being outwitted by Enzo Maresca.
Villa struggled to get to grips with Chelsea’s formation and movement in the first half: a 4-2-fluid-4. Reece James partnered Moises Caicedo in deep midfield. Cole Palmer, busy but not at his best, and the underwhelming Christopher Nkunku were wide.
Pedro Neto was a false nine, occasionally moving right with Enzo Fernandez breaking into space as for Chelsea’s goal after nine minutes.
Caicedo was too swift and strong for Youri Tielemans in the middle, and he turned and played a long switch to the right. Neto was ready, taking the ball and running at Ian Maatsen.
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Neto had Maatsen’s number, but his teammates couldn’t match his endeavourCredit: Getty
Emery had rotated, starting Maatsen ahead of Lucas Digne, who’d had a draining evening with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in midweek.
Emery may also have had an eye on Maatsen proving a point against the club that kept sending him out on loan and eventually selling to Villa for £35million last summer. But Digne is a better one-on-one defender and Maatsen’s defensive issues were exposed by Neto.
He accelerated, moved the ball on to his left foot, shaped to go inside Maatsen, who fell for the feint.
Neto sped outside, had a quick look up, checked Fernandez’s run, and picked him out with a driven low ball.
Fernandez, unmarked and close in, had the easiest finish past his compatriot Emi Martinez.
Villa urgently needed more pace to support Ollie Watkins so Emery made his move at the break. Rashford replaced Jacob Ramsey and immediately began running at Gusto.
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The stage was set for a famous half in front of a beseeching, delighting Holte End. Noise and belief rose shortly before the hour.
When Matty Cash crossed – with his left – to the far-post, Rashford was clearly played onside by Fernandez and his cross was turned in by Asensio.
Chelsea did respond briefly, and Palmer had a shot cleared off the line by Ezri Konsa, but the force was with Villa.
Chelsea were fortunate they did not concede a penalty from a Rashford corner when Marc Cucurella clearly pulled over Lamare Bogarde.
The clock showed 88 minutes 52 seconds as Rashford prepared to take another corner on the left in front of a baying Holte End.
He played it short to Tielemans, who touched it back for Rashford to whip it in, slightly angled back towards Asensio.
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Rashford was the provider for both goals in a game-changing 45-minute display
The 29-year-old Spaniard met the ball with his left foot, sending it straight at Filip Jorgensen.
It should have been a routine save, but Jorgensen, preferred again to Robert Sanchez, fumbled horribly and the ball fell over the line.
“The keeper position is a delicate one,” Maresca said of the role’s innate vulnerability, “if the keeper makes a mistake it is clear for everyone.”
What is also clear is that Chelsea have spent more than £1bn and don’t have an elite goalkeeper or elite centre-forward.
At the final whistle, their false nine, Neto, sunk to his knees, punching the turf in frustration.
“For me, personally this is the toughest defeat of the season,” Maresca lamented.
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Emery led his side to their first league win in six matches to move up to seventhCredit: Getty
For Emery, who walked down the touchline after the final whistle punching the air, it was deeply satisfying, barring the sad sight of Tyrone Mings limping off with a knee problem.
This was Villa’s first Premier League win in six, lifted them from tenth to seventh, and confirmed the wisdom of their January transfer work.
The sight of a smiling Rashford applauding the Holte End said it all.
Mikel Arteta has slammed Arsenal for being ‘nowhere near the levels’ required to win the Premier League following his side’s 1-0 loss to West Ham.
Jarrod Bowen‘s strike just before half-time at the Emirates proved to be the difference as the Gunners dropped to their third defeat of the season with their 15-game unbeaten streak coming to an end.
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Arteta did not hide his anger after the loss to West HamCredit: AFP
A red card to Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 73rd minute did little to help Arsenal’s cause as they missed out on the chance to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top to five points.
And Arteta was left bitterly frustrated as Arsenal created next to nothing as they lost at home to the Hammers for the second successive season.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, he said: “Very disappointed, obviously very angry as well.
“We didn’t hit the levels of today and I am very much responsible of that so I am very, very angry.”
Arteta also refused to use the lack of attackers at his disposal as an excuse for his side’s toothless display up front.
Mikel Merino, a central midfielder, was named up top for the Gunners with Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri on the flanks.
In total, Arsenal took 20 shots, but just two of those landed on target.
Yet Arteta bemoaned a lack of quality from his entire squad as the primary reason for the defeat.
“I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we played today, me included,” he remarked.
“That was nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League.
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Arsenal are now eight points behind league leaders LiverpoolCredit: Getty
“We were very consistent, yes, but football is about what you do today and today, nowhere near.”
The loss to West Ham now leaves the Gunners’ title hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.
With Liverpool drawing to Everton and Aston Villa recently, Arsenal had the chance to keep the pressure on Arne Slot‘s men.
But the loss to West Ham leaves the margin at eight points with 12 games remaining ahead of Liverpool’s clash away at Manchester City on Sunday.
“I think you have to congratulate West Ham for the victory and the game that they played,” Arteta added.
“But as well I think a lot from our side that we never got right and they didn’t allow us to get enough momentum, enough sequence of play with positive action that could deliver into situations of threat for them.”
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Arsenal’s quest for a first Premier League title since 2004 seems set to continueCredit: Getty
Arteta and his troops must now quickly switch focus to Wednesday’s trip to high-flying Nottingham Forest.
He will also be without Lewis-Skelly as one of his defensive options.
The teenager brought down Mohamed Kudus as the Ghanaian looked to break towards goal with no defensive cover nearby.
It was initially given a yellow card, but following a VAR review, it was upgraded to a straight red.
Burnley will demand £30million for Newcastle goalkeeper James Trafford, talkSPORT understands.
The Magpies are confident of finally signing Trafford this summer after several previous failed attempts to prise him away from Turf Moor.
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Trafford has been in startling formCredit: Rex
But Burnley believe they can command a high price for their England World Cup hopeful, especially if they are promoted to the Premier League.
Trafford has kept 23 clean sheets this season and has not conceded a goal for more than 1,000 minutes.
The 19-time England U21 international is a product of Manchester City’s famed academy and has made a name of one of the nation’s best young shot-stoppers since signing for Burnley permanently for £15m in 2022.
This season he’s been in stunning form where Burnley have conceded a miserly nine goals in 33 games, 11 fewer than any other Championship side.
He’s also from the north, in Cumbria, where many Newcastle fans reside, and delighted the fanbase with some heroics against rivals Sunderland in January.
Trafford saved two penalties in the 0-0 draw, and after the second appeared to replicate the celebration of Magpie Alexander Isak.
His incredible form even led to investor and NFL great J.J. Watt joking that he could come out of retirement to try his hand at football due to Burnley being so water-tight at the back.
“You don’t allow a goal for the rest of the season and it’s a deal,” the 35-year-old said in a text.
Jones had rave reviews for United wonderkid Obi-MartinCredit: Getty
Despite having a full bench, even if it was filled with inexperience, Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim made just one substitution and waited until the stoppage time to do so.
It was Obi-Martin, as he came on for Casemiro in what was his senior debut.
The fact it was the 17-year-old who was brought on ahead of his fellow teenage compatriots on the bench has given Jones, who works as a coach in United’s academy at Carrington, plenty of belief he will play a starring role in the English giants’ turnaround.
In fact, Jones has tipped the Danish prodigy to follow a similar path to Amad Diallo, who impressed on loan spells before he became one of the first names on the team sheet under Amorim.
“Working in and around the academy and helping those young players develop, United have some really good and talented young players coming through,” Jones said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
“The squad had a lot of injuries against Tottenham and the bench was full of kids, but there were some talented players on that bench.
“People might not know a lot about them now, but they certainly will in the next few years.
“I think you look at Kobbie Mainoo, top player, you look at Chido who we’ve just signed from Arsenal, who’s an animal.
“You look at Amad who had a couple of really good loans, and I remember watching him winning it against Liverpool in extra time last season, and I had said at that time he’d play a huge part in the next season.
“I played with Amad for a year or two and you could see then that the quality he had was really good and really strong.
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The former Red Devils defender has been impressed by the Dane in trainingCredit: Getty
“As I said there’s a great crop of young players ready to be given the chance and integrated into the team.”
United’s academy and first team staff undoubtedly have high hopes for Obi-Martin given the effort they made to prise him away from Arsenal last September.
The Red Devils reportedly beat out two German teams to Obi-Martin’s signature thanks to their willingness to fast-track the forward into the first team picture.
Obi-Martin was a menace in front of goal for the Gunners’ under-18 side last season, netting a whopping 32 goals in just 18 league fixtures.
He even bagged a seven-goal haul in a 9-0 victory against Norwich City’s under-18’s in April.
Thanks to his goalscoring exploits, Obi-Martin beat Folarin Balogun‘s tally of 25 to become the record-holder for most goals scored by an Arsenal under-18’s player in a single season.
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Obi-Martin was the only player Amorim brought on against Tottenham last SundayCredit: Getty
Obi-Martin didn’t have to wait long to make a positive impression at Carrington as he bagged a first-half hat-trick in his debut for United’s under-18’s against Nottingham Forest.
In fact, his first goal came after just 13 seconds as the Dane rounded the Forest goalkeeper following a loose pass in their defence.
Obi-Martin then completed his hat-trick in the 14th minute with a close-range finish and was taken off at half-time.
The 17-year-old will hope to be involved with United’s first team for a second-straight weekend when Amorim’s side travel to Everton on Saturday.
Sancho has come under fire for his recent performances
The winger also provided assists for both of Chelsea‘s goals in their 2-0 win over Heidenheim in the Europa Conference League last November.
But since his goal in the Blues’ 4-3 win over Tottenham on December 8, Sancho’s goal returns have disappeared.
From that match onwards, Sancho has just one assist from his last 12 appearances across all competitions.
With Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke sidelined with injury and Joao Felix on loan at AC Milan, Sancho must shoulder more of a goalscoring and creative burden that ever before.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Mikel questioned where the Sancho from the opening nine games had scampered off to and called on him to deliver more.
“Jadon Sancho, he’s come on and he’s deceived us with a few couple of games,” Mikel said.
“We thought, ‘F****** hell, now we’re getting this Jadon Sancho from Dortmund.’
“He’s gone. He’s gone again. I don’t know what’s happened to Jadon. He’s disappeared, off the grid.
“He takes the ball, he doesn’t go past people anymore, he doesn’t create chances anymore.
“He doesn’t help the team as much as he should be.”
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Mikel was at a loss to explain why Sancho had become reluctant to take defenders onCredit: The Obi One Podcast
Sancho’s barren run when it comes to goals and assists has coincided with Chelsea enduring a worrying run of form.
In their last 14 games across all competitions the Blues have picked up just six wins.
However, three of those came against Kazakh side FC Astana, Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers and League Two battlers Morecambe.
The alarming run of results has also seen Chelsea drop from second all the way down to sixth in the Premier League as the pressure cranks up on Maresca.
With the Blues’ season at risk of fizzling out, Mikel demanded more from Sancho and felt he still hasn’t proved himself despite his successes with Dortmund in Germany.
“Jadon Sancho needs to step up,” Mikel said.
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Sancho’s form from the start of the season has deserted him
“I don’t know what’s happened to him. But Jadon Sancho needs to wake the f*** up.
“He’s gone to so many places. Yes, at Dortmund, we know he’s done it. But that’s the German league.
“No disrespect to the German league, you only have Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, let’s put it that way.
“The Premier League is the toughest league in the world.”
Sancho will look to break his goalscoring drought when Chelsea travel to Aston Villa, who are winless in their last four league fixtures, on Saturday.
Troy Deeney eviscerated Southampton defender Jan Bednarek and declared the place ‘toxic’ as the club continues sleepwalking towards relegation.
The Saints slumped to their 20th defeat of the season as they lost 3-1 to Bournemouth at St Mary’s on Saturday.
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The Saints edged closer towards relegation following yet another league lossCredit: Getty
Dango Outtara and Ryan Christie scored twice in as many minutes early in the first half to suck the life out of the home support.
However, Kamaldeen Sulemana sparked hopes of a surprise comeback when he scored in the 72nd minute to halve the deficit.
But Bournemouth awoke from their brief slumber as Marcus Tavernier wrapped up the three points with his 83rd-minute strike.
Deeney, who was at St Mary’s on commentary duty alongside Adrian Durham for talkSPORT, did not hold back when asked to sum up the Saints’ meek performance.
“They’re really bad, Adrian,” Deeney said.
“They are really, really bad. I’m sat here. I’ve got my wife and my son who came today, as we spent Valentine’s day down here yesterday. And I just said to my five-year-old son, was that any good? And he said, ‘Southampton are trash, Dad’. That’s what he said to me.
“So, when you think about it, a five-year-old who’s not very up-to-date on football, he can’t see anything that they’re doing.
“And I’m sitting here as an adult who’s been around and understands the game. I can’t see where they win. I think they will win a game, but I can’t tell you how they’re going to win that game or where the goals are going to come from.”
Deeney conceded the Saints did have two bright spots in the form of Sulemana as well as teenage star Tyler Dibling, who has attracted plenty of interest from Premier League rivals.
The Watford legend also praised Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for keeping the scoreline as low as he could.
However, he was at a loss to explain why Ramsdale wanted to leave Arsenal to join the mess at St Mary’s and felt it could have major ramifications should he seek a move in the summer.
“Yes, he wanted to play,” Deeney said.
“Yes, he’s going to have a lot of shots.
“But do you think someone’s going to take him on next year, if they go down? I don’t think so.
“I think he’s made a real big gamble. Yes, he looks half good, but he doesn’t fill you with confidence that he can go on and kick and be in this England team, which is what he ultimately wanted to do.”
Although Deeney had kind words for Dibling and Sulemana, he reserved his strongest criticism for Bednarek.
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Deeney believes Ramsdale may come to regret his move from Arsenal to SouthamptonCredit: Getty
The Pole started in the heart of Southampton’s defence but had an afternoon to forget.
So poor was Bednarek, Deeney felt he could still run rings around him despite having hung up the boots.
“And finally, the big centre-half, Bednarek,” Deeney said.
“I was running around him three years ago, and I haven’t run in a year. I’d put money on it, mate, that I could run past him now.”
Durham was stunned by the last comment, replying: “Wow. No disrespect to you, but that’s some indictment of the ambit.
But Deeney doubled down: “No, but I’ll be deadly serious. That’s not to give myself a big head. I haven’t ran in a year. I can run past him.”
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With the loss against Bournemouth, Southampton remain dead last in the league on nine points, ten behind 17th-placed Wolves.
Barring a spectacular run of form, the Saints appear destined for an instant return to the Championship.
However, Deeney believes the club have much bigger problems on their hands than just relegation.
“It’s remarkable,” Deeney said.
“Again, when I come back to games, I remember playing here. It was like this. This place is toxic at the moment because there’s a massive disconnect between the board, the ownership, the players and the fans.
“What are you here to watch? I came here to do the research. I was thinking, are we going to see a solid defensive unit? Probably not.
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The table paints an incredibly bleak picture for Southampton
“Are they going to be good attacking? Probably not.
“And they kind of do a little bit of nothing all the way through the game. We had a ten-minute spell where they scored. When you watch the goal, it’s more because Bournemouth completely took the foot off the gas, thinking this was job done.
“And then as soon as they scored, Bournemouth went, okay, let’s score another one and get this over and done with.
“I feel really bad for Southampton fans. I sat around a lot of them today, having a lot of talk, but I just don’t see where they’re going to get anything from.
“There’s nothing here now to build. And again, I’m not calling for the manager to be sacked because that’s not right, but I’ll put a hundred quid on it that he’s not a manager by the end of the season.”
Southampton will hope they can muster a result when they welcome Brighton to St Mary’s on February 22.
