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Aston Villa are thought to be plotting a move for Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Dubravka profiled

The 34-year-old has made 128 appearances in the Premier League. The Slovakian was out on loan to Manchester United earlier this season and played in a 4-2 Carabao Cup win over Unai Emery’s Villa side in November.

He has since been recalled by the Magpies and made his first Premier League appearance of the season after Nick Pope was sent off against Liverpool last weekend.

The Latest: Villa linked with Dubravka

Football Insider shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Dubravka, claiming that Villa and Brentford are laying the groundwork ahead of potential moves for the veteran.

Those two clubs are thought to be plotting a transfer, with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez linked with an exit from the Midlands this summer.

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The Verdict: Squad player?

Dubbed a leader by The Chronicle’s Mick Quinn, Dubravka could prove to be a shrewd second-choice shot-stopper due to his experience, although making him first-choice to replace Martinez would be a gamble by NSWE and Villa.

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He has played just over 300 minutes of football during the current campaign and recently turned 34, appearing to enter the stage of becoming second fiddle at St James’ Park.

Villa have Martinez, Robin Olsen and Jed Steer on their books, but if two of those three were to leave this summer, then perhaps Dubravka could arrive alongside a younger ‘keeper, providing plenty of experience and knowledge of the English top flight.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has said that ‘there are legs’ in speculation linking Leeds United with a move for Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Lowdown: Nuno rumours

Nuno appears to be on the Elland Road managerial radar despite the club confirming this week that Michael Skubala will remain in temporary charge.

Reports have suggested that an interview has been held between the Whites and the Al-Ittihad manager, who is a surprise contender to take over in Yorkshire. There has even been speculation claiming that Leeds plan to pay Nuno’s €5m release clause.

The Latest: Jacobs’ comments

Talking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs appeared to confirm that Leeds are eyeing the former Wolves and Tottenham manager. However, the journalist then said that moves for either Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard could be a worry.

“There are legs in the Nuno Espirito Santo links and he’s a manager that comes with Premier League experience.

“I think that there’s more of a worry around Lampard or Gerrard. Gerrard is probably, of those two, the one that has been more closely linked because Leeds need a manager with a proven capability of firefighting. It’s not easy to walk into that Leeds United dressing room mid-season.”

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The Verdict: Needed

As Jacobs mentions, Nuno has the Premier League experience that appears to be required at Leeds right now. Without a top flight victory since November, the Whites find themselves in another battle to avoid the drop, with Nuno impressing in Saudi Arabia, winning his last seven games.

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Even if the worst was to happen and Leeds were to be relegated back to the Championship, the 49-year-old has experience of guiding a club back to the Premier Legaue, winning the second-tier title at Molineux.

Overall, Nuno has 211 wins as a manager from 428 games, so he could be the ideal candidate at this moment in time after moves for Raul, Carlos Corberan, Andoni Iraola, Arne Slot and Marcelo Gallardo failed to go through.

Nick Pope’s red card for Newcastle United this weekend has been slammed by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp as he feels it is too harsh a punishment.

The Lowdown: Nick Pope puts Newcastle down to 10

Newcastle were already 2-0 down when Pope decided to meet a long ball towards his penalty area, but his misjudgement saw him handle the ball, leaving referee Paul Tierney no choice but to send the England man off.

Threatening to put the game out of sight at an emotionally charged St James’ Park, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson sent a long punt downfield towards Mohamed Salah, and while Pope beat the Egyptian to the ball, he illegally denied the Reds winger a goalscoring opportunity in the process.

It means that Pope will now miss the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United next weekend, but there was sympathy for the former Burnley star in the Sky Sports studio.

The Latest: Jamie Redknapp fumes over Pope’s red

Speaking on Sky’s live coverage of the game (18/02/2022; 18.20), Redknapp acknowledged that the referee had no choice but to give Pope his marching orders, though could not hide his disdain for the laws of the game.

He said: “That’s the rule. Do you know what, not because the guy’s going to miss a cup final, I think it’s always been a terrible rule.

“I don’t like it, he’s not meant to do it. The lad is now going to miss a cup final, and you’ve got a player trying to get back on the goalline…

“I think that’s a rule that has to change, unless it’s right outside the box and he does it completely on purpose. I really feel sorry for Newcastle and Nick Pope, there.”

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The Verdict: Big task for Eddie Howe

Going without your goalkeeper is one thing, but missing the player with the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season ahead of the club’s biggest match for over two decades is hugely unfortunate timing for all concerned.

Of course, there is no debate to be had over Tierney’s decision to send Pope for an early bath, as Pope clearly made a mess of his attempted clearance and stopped Salah racing through for a third Liverpool goal.

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While the severity of Pope’s transgression perhaps doesn’t warrant such a harsh punishment, he will have known the risks having been so far out of his box, and would have been wiser to either play it safer or hand Salah the chance to extend the visitors’ lead – though that is far easier to say in hindsight and from afar.

So although we agree the punishment may not fit the crime, we are not as sympathetic towards Pope as Redknapp is – particularly with the cup final in mind, as it arguably makes the Magpies’ task next Sunday a taller order than it already was.

Howe is ironically unable to field the cup-tied Martin Dubravka against his former loan side, so No 3 ‘keeper Loris Karius potentially leaves the Toon significantly weaker between the sticks – especially if the German’s big-game previous is anything to go by.

Liverpool forward Luis Diaz is now back running on the training pitches after a lengthy absence through injury.

The Lowdown: Diaz a huge loss for Liverpool

The Colombian was an instant hit when he arrived from Porto last January, adding new life to the Reds’ season as they pushed to win an unprecedented quadruple.

Diaz came into this season as an undisputed key man, but unfortunately, he was limited to just seven Premier League starts before picking up a knee injury against Arsenal.

Thankfully, it now looks as though the 26-year-old’s return isn’t a million miles away, following a new update.

The Latest: Back on track

Taking to Twitter, Jones reacted to an image showing Diaz is now running outside again, albeit not taking part in full contact training:

“Another positive step for Luis Díaz in his recovery from injury.”

The Verdict: Massive boost for Reds

It may still be a while before Diaz officially returns to the pitch for Liverpool but this is undoubtedly a huge positive in their season, given his importance to the team.

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The 37-cap Colombia international’s pace and directness have been a major loss for Jurgen Klopp, with that left-sided position tough to fill without him around.

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The manager has hailed Diaz as ‘exceptional’ in the past and he is someone who could be such a key player in the latter weeks of the season, should Liverpool be pushing for a top-four finish.

Moving forward, the £56,000-a-week star can become an even greater force, with his best years potentially coming up, and his absence has to be considered a big reason for the Reds’ struggles this season.

CBS journalist Ben Jacobs has suggested Tottenham could make a move for Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi with his summer transfer ‘very possible’.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye new midfielder?

Over the January window, Spurs were linked with moves for new central midfielders, with one example being USA international Weston McKennie.

The former Schlake star eventually ended up joining Leeds United, leaving manager Antonio Conte without a new midfield signing last month.

Deals were instead completed for exciting right-wing-back Pedro Porro and winger Arnaut Danjuma, with the latter man joining on a temporary deal from Villarreal.

The Latest: Jacobs hints at Zubimendi move…

Writing on his CaughtOffside substack, CBS reporter Jacobs has urged supporters to ‘keep an eye’ on Spurs when it comes to Zubimendi.

The 23-year-old’s transfer away from Sociedad is ‘very possible’, according to the journalist, with Jacobs suggesting that Tottenham are now in the frame and could make a move.

The Verdict: Get it done?

The Spain international has a €60m (£53m) release clause in his Sociedad contract and, if Spurs decide to trigger it, they could end up getting a very promising player.

Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil heavily favours Zubimendi with only goalkeeper Alex Remiro playing more La Liga minutes than the defensive midfielder.

Zubimendi is a key cog in their system and heavily reliable in front of the back four – ranking among their very best for tackles won, interceptions and blocks made per 90 (WhoScored).

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Barcelona manager Xavi has also lavished the Spaniard as a ‘great player’ who is more ‘physical’ and ‘faster’ than Nou Camp legend Sergio Busquets.

Endorsements from such a legend point to Zubimendi potentially being a great investment on Spurs’ part with the only issue being their already-stacked midfield ranks.

Manchester United will no doubt be looking to the summer transfer window in order to help bolster Erik ten Hag’s squad even further, with the forward line one area which may well be a priority.

According to recent reports coming out of Spain (via Sport Witness), the Red Devils are said to be ‘thinking about’ making a move for Barcelona sensation Ansu Fati, following previous claims that the young Spaniard is seeking an exit from Camp Nou amid his lack of game-time.

Although this latest report has outlined Xavi’s desire to keep the 20-year-old in Catalonia for the long haul, the youngster has only made nine starts in all competitions so far this term, including just seven in La Liga.

The hope would be that United could tempt the Guinea-Bissau-born starlet into finding a new home at Old Trafford, with the sparkling talent seemingly deserving of a more prominent role, such is his undoubted quality.

The fleet-footed “machine” – as described by former team-mate Dani Alves – has still managed to contribute impressively off the bench this season, with six goals and three assists across all competitions.

That has ensured that, despite his relative youth, the 5 foot 10 wonderkid already has 25 goals and nine assists to his name in 89 appearances for La Blaugrana, having been described as “extraordinary” by his manager in recent times.

While injuries have somewhat stunted his progress since bursting onto the scene at the age of 16, Fati is clearly a player who can continue to blossom in the years to come, with Ten Hag likely to be enthused at the prospect of snapping up such an asset.

That excitement will only be enhanced by the fact that the versatile winger – who can feature on the flanks or through the middle – is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with current United talisman Marcus Rashford, as per FBref.

That likeness is illustrated by the fact that not only do both typically offer a devastating attacking threat from the left wing, but also by their willingness to make the difference in the final third. Fati ranks in the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area among his European peers, while Rashford ranks in the top 19% in that regard, albeit while having played far more frequently.

To be able to find something of a Rashford clone in the form of the 20-year-old would certainly be a real coup for Ten Hag and co, with the Englishman currently thriving so far this season with 19 goals and eight assists in 32 games in all competitions thus far.

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Lauded as “unstoppable” by his manager, the United academy graduate has enjoyed a truly remarkable run of form since returning from World Cup duty, having notably scored six goals in his last seven Premier League games.

Bringing another potent attacking weapon into the fold could well allow Ten Hag to form a fluid attacking partnership involving the pair, while Fati could also be a suitable alternative to Rashford to avoid an over-reliance forming on the Three Lions star.

Either way, a deal to bring the eye-catching Spaniard to the Theatre of Dreams should well be a consideration this summer, so long as United can strike an agreement for far less than the player’s €1bn (£894m) release clause…

Aston Villa could make a late move for Leeds United winger Jack Harrison, according to Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Leeds ready to listen to bids?

As of last week, Villa were hoping to bring in a striker, winger and midfielder after signing full-back Alex Moreno and forward Jhon Duran.

Any further business has yet to materialise, although the club have been linked with a move for Harrison, who pundit David Norris hailed as ‘really direct, quick and exciting to watch’.

Recent reports have now claimed that Leeds are willing to listen to offers for the 26-year-old, and it looks as if Villa Park could be a potential destination.

The Latest: Crook’s comments

Talking to GiveMeSport, talkSPORT reporter Crook said he’s been ‘told’ to watch out for Villa when it comes to Harrison’s future. He admitted he wouldn’t be shocked if the club kept a move for the winger quiet and ‘pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the final day’.

Crook stated: “Aston Villa, I was told to keep an eye on. They’ve shown in past windows that they’re very good at keeping their business quiet, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the final day of the January window.”

The Verdict: Smart move?

Harrison has been Leeds’ fourth-best player this season, as per WhoScored, registering more assists than any Whites player and outperforming all of Villa’s attackers in the process.

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Primarily a winger, Harrison has even lined out in an attacking midfield role in recent weeks, excelling in the FA Cup with four goal contributions in three games, highlighting his versatility in the final third.

You could say that he is in the prime years of his career at the age of 26, and with just 18 months left on his Leeds contract, now could be the ideal time for Villa to make their move, and it seems as if it may be one to monitor.

League leaders Celtic return to Scottish Premiership action away to Dundee United later today, with Ange Postecoglou’s side hoping to restore their nine-point advantage at the top of the table with victory over Liam Fox’s men.

The Old Firm giants head into that meeting at Tannadice off the back of a thumping 5-0 victory at home to Greenock Morton in the Scottish Cup last weekend, with that emphatic result ensuring that the Parkhead outfit are firmly in the mix on all three domestic fronts.

The Hoops will also be buoyed by their impressive record against the Tangerines so far this season, having run out 9-0 and 4-2 winners, respectively, in their previous two meetings earlier in the campaign.

Looking to secure yet another triumph this time around, here’s how Football FanCast predicts that the Scottish champions will line up:

(4-3-3) – (GK) Hart; (RB) Johnston, (CB) Carter-Vickers, (CB) Kobayashi, (LB) Taylor, (CDM) McGregor, (CM) Mooy, (CM), Hatate; (RW) Abada, (ST) Oh, (LW) Maeda.

The Glasgow side have been handed a major boost for today’s encounter with both Greg Taylor and Cameron Carter-Vickers likely to be in contention after returning to training this week, with the only significant injury absentee set to be that of full-back Anthony Ralston once again.

With that in mind, we predict that Postecoglou will make four changes from the side that claimed victory a week ago, with the aforementioned defensive duo of Taylor and Carter-Vickers set to be reinstated in the backline, in place of Alexandro Bernabei and Carl Starfelt.

Although the latter man has been a regular fixture in the side of late – with the Swedish machine having previously been described as “immense” by journalist Josh Bunting – there may well be a desire to see the returning Carter-Vickers line up alongside January arrival, Yuki Kobayashi.

As for the midfield, the experienced duo of Callum McGregor and Aaron Mooy – who has been described as a “key contributor” by his manager – could well be joined by Reo Hatate, with Scotland international David Turnbull the man to give way.

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Ahead of that creative trio, Postecoglou may well see the wisdom in handing recent addition Oh Hyeon-gyu a debut outing from the start, with the “hungry” 6 foot 1 asset – as lauded by his new boss – no doubt hoping to make an instant impression for the Bhoys through the middle.

That introduction could allow top scorer Kyogo Furuhashi the chance to earn a well-earned rest, while the dynamic duo of Daizen Maeda and Liel Abada are likely to keep their places on the flanks.

Mikel Arteta looks like he has already moved on from the fact Arsenal missed out on Mykhaylo Mudryk by securing a deal to sign Leandro Trossard from Brighton and Hove Albion.

It could represent an excellent piece of business by Arteta, with Trossard already a proven Premier League player, he will need no time to settle in and could hit the ground running against Manchester United on Sunday.

The Spaniard won’t be stopping there however, as he aims to add perhaps another attacking option to his squad ahead of what is a crucial few months ahead in the title race.

The 40-year-old could well return for summer target Yeremy Pino according to journalist Dean Jones, who spoke to Football FanCast regarding the Gunners’ interest in the Villarreal winger:

“Yeremy Pino, a player they have explored previously, could certainly be considered as a backup that they might return to.”

Pino could be a terrific Mudryk alternative, especially due to his versatility which has seen him play on both wings this season as well as through the middle on a few occasions.

Last season, the 20-year-old sensation burst onto the scene, scoring seven goals and registering four assists while his attacking talents were on display across his 31 LaLiga appearances for the Yellow Submarine.

The £50k-per-week winger created six big chances while also making 0.6 key passes per match and could have added to his goal tally had he not missed five big chances too.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has previously lauded the youngster, describing him as “incredible” and Arteta could take his development to the next level should he manage to lure him to England.

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There is no guarantee he would be a starter initially, especially with the form that Bukayo Sako and Gabriel Martinelli have been in this season – registering 13 and nine goal contributions respectively – but with a buzz about the Emirates for the first time in a good while and a clear direction of where the team is going, Pino could eventually establish himself in the starting XI.

The Spanish wizard – who is thought to be valued by the Yellow Submarines at around €50m (£44m) – would jump at the chance to show his potential in the Champions League once again having scored in the competition for Villarreal last year and with Arsenal edging closer to glory, Pino could become part of a new generation.

Sunderland’s rumoured loan move for West Ham United starlet Pierre Ekwah is now ‘done’, according to reliable journalist Alan Nixon. 

The Lowdown: Ekwah profiled

The Irons midfielder joined the club’s youth side from Chelsea’s academy back in 2021 but is yet to make a senior appearance at the London Stadium, so a development loan would make complete sense in order for him to gain some valuable experience.

The Black Cats were reported to be considering bringing the 21-year-old to the Championship, and whilst Football.London later claimed that Tony Mowbray’s side held nothing more than an interest, a rapid development has now emerged.

The Latest: Ekwah to Sunderland ‘done’

Taking to Twitter, Nixon was asked by a Sunderland supporter whether there had been any progress on the move for Ekwah, to which the reporter simply replied:

“I’m told it’s done.”

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The Verdict: Another one?

Aji Alese permanently swapped West Ham for the Stadium of Light last summer, and Ekwah could be about to follow in his footsteps should he put pen to paper in the northeast, even if it is only on a temporary basis.

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The Frenchman has posted ten goal contributions in 38 appearances for the Irons’ U21s and is a versatile player with the ability to operate in both defensive and central midfield (Transfermarkt).

Sunderland are only three points outside the playoffs following an excellent first half of the season, and the potential arrival of Ekwah could help them secure a top-six finish at the end of the campaign.