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Manchester United this could very well hand the title to city rivals Manchester City this weekend by seeing off bitter enemy Liverpool at Old Trafford.

In a weird twist of fate almost, City find themselves needing United to do them the biggest of favours this game week, where Old Trafford will play host to one of the biggest games on the domestic calendar.

However, despite the obvious implications for the likes of City and Liverpool, there are other issues at large, namely at United, where a win for manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer might well be enough for him to justify being given the job on a permanent basis.

In recent times, Liverpool have looked a cut above United, but things are changing under the Norwegian, and a win against their biggest rivals could well be the icing on the cake.

It’s a tough call though for the United board, who will no doubt have other candidates in mind when it comes to appointing a new manager in the summer. Solskjaer though is doing little to hurt his case, and while he might not have the experience, he clearly knows and loves the club, something which stands out a mile.

Liverpool represent a different threat of course, but having already masterminded the downfall of both Chelsea and Spurs away from home, Solskjaer will be confident he can get one over on Klopp.

We will see how it pans out, but Solksjaer can do little more if he gets the right result this weekend.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a timely boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Leicester City this week…

What’s the latest?

Spurs have seen their last two fixtures against Rennes and Brighton postponed due to a virus outbreak at the club’s Hotspur Way training base, leaving Thursday’s top-flight match at the King Power Stadium in serious doubt.

The north Londoners were dealt a further blow on Monday when they suffered a new positive case, as well as the epidemic reaching the club’s academy set-up.

Head coach Antonio Conte was able to resume training on Sunday after several days away with a small group of 13 players, including just two goalkeepers, so that latest update raises fresh question marks ahead of the midweek encounter.

However, according to the ever-reliable Alasdair Gold at football.london, the game is “looking good” to go ahead. He told supporters on Twitter:

“Hopefully looking good for Tottenham’s match at Leicester. Antonio Conte’s press conference is set for tomorrow afternoon at 1.30pm and I understand some players have started to return to training following their isolation periods.”

Timely boost?

This is a step in the right direction and certainly suggests that Conte may well have more than the 13 players he had on Sunday available by Thursday night.

How match fit some of the players will be remains to be seen, having had two games last week cancelled, as well as a lack of full-time training for at least two-to-three days ahead of what is supposed to be a hectic festive period.

The Foxes, meanwhile, thrashed a struggling Newcastle United side 4-0 on Sunday, so they will be buoyed by the prospect of facing a weak and out of touch Spurs side.

Although, the fact that Conte will have more of his first-team stars involved is certainly a major source of encouragement and it will only bolster their chances of pulling off a result.

Despite an inconsistent season and a managerial change, the Lilywhites sit in seventh place – just three points off West Ham in fourth place – and they now have two games in hand, too.

This latest update should give Conte, the players and the fans a timely boost ahead of kick-off later this week. They will surely be buzzing by the news.

AND in other news, Spurs handed majoe transfer boost amid Fabrizio Romano update…

Aston Villa correspondent Gregg Evans was one of the first to share news of a further Covid-19 outbreak at Bodymoor Heath.

And a number of Villa fans were quick to give their thoughts to the update on social media.

Villa suffered a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday afternoon, and less than 24 hours later, decided to cancel a Sunday training session for a handful of players following a number of positive cases at the club.

At the time, only one positive case was thought to be a player, however, Gerrard confirmed on Monday that two more players have returned a positive result and will miss the trip to Norwich City this evening.

A number of training ground staff have also tested positive, however, it looks as if the meeting at Carrow Road will go ahead as planned despite Villa’s outbreak.

Villa fans react

Evans shared the news regarding Villa’s Covid-19 outbreak on Twitter on Sunday afternoon.

This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply…

“Can today get any worse”

Credit: @davejje

“Oh here we gooo.”

Credit: @lewastbury

“Don’t be Emi, don’t be Emi…”

Credit: @Hotwheels_1978

“So it begins”

Credit: @Jord210993

“Football is gonna get paused again isn’t it?”

Credit: @CalFergie

“Oh no.”

Credit: @ClaretVillans

In other news: ‘Excellent’ ace thinks his Villa career ‘is over’; he’s now eyeing a permanent exit. 

Leeds United winger Raphinha is in advanced negotiations regarding a move away from Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Fabrizio Romano, with the transfer insider revealing in a recent post on Twitter that Barcelona are now in advanced discussions with Deco – the 25-year-old’s agent – concerning a move to Barcelona at the end of the current campaign.

The journalist went on to state that, while discussions with the Brazilian are progressing quickly, official talks with Leeds regarding the forward’s transfer are yet to begin, with these negotiations expected to take a considerable amount of time.

Speaking about Barcelona’s interest in Raphinha, Romano said: “Barcelona are in well-advanced talks with Deco for Raphinha as [a] summer target since one month, but the official negotiation with Leeds won’t start now – it will take some time.”

Supporters will be devastated

While it would appear likely that, should Raphinha indeed go on to leave Leeds this summer, the Whites would be in line to receive a considerable fee for the 25-year-old – with it being reported that Victor Orta has informed Barca they will have to pay the winger’s €75m (£62.5m) release clause in order to prise him away from Elland Road – the news that the Brazil international looks to all but have agreed personal terms with the LaLiga side will nevertheless leave supporters devastated.

Indeed, over his 27 Premier League appearances this season, the £36m-rated sensation has been in breathtaking form for Leeds, scoring nine goals, registering three assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.7 shots and making 2.1 key passes per game – which see him rank first in Jesse Marsch’s squad in both metrics.

These returns have seen the £63k-per-week forward average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.97, ranking him as the Whites’ second-best performing outfielder in the current campaign.

Furthermore, considering just how highly FBref rank the 25-year-old in a number of key metrics in comparison to every attacking midfielder and winger in Europe’s big five leagues – being in the top 14% for xA per 90, as well as the top 11% for progressive passes, the top 19% for dribbles completed, the top 26% for shot-creating actions and the top 29% for non-penalty xG over the last 365 days – it is clear to see just how talented a player Raphinha really is.

As such, while receiving a transfer fee of around £62.5m would undoubtedly represent a fantastic piece of business on a player Orta signed for £17m just a year and a half ago, the loss of the Brazilian would nevertheless come as a gutting blow to both Marsch and the Elland Road faithful – who will now be well accustomed to seeing Raphinha tear Premier League defenders apart for Leeds on a weekly basis.

AND in other news: Leeds United dealt yet another huge injury setback, Jesse Marsch will be devastated

With moves for Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne this month showing that Aston Villa were keen on strengthening their first team, a subsequent move for young defender Kerr Smith showed that the club have aspirations of strengthening their youth sides as well, adding players who can hopefully grow and develop into future first-team stalwarts.

Taking this into account, it seems as though the Villans have their eye on another young player to come in this month as one for the future, which would be a source of great excitement for the fans.

What’s the news?

As per a recent Twitter post from Alan Nixon, Villa are “watching” Sunderland’s 20-year-old midfielder Dan Neil, who the journalist suggested could be the “new Gerrard” for the Midlands club.

Nixon also mentioned that fellow Premier League club Burnley are “already sniffing” around the Black Cats youngster over a potential transfer.

As a product of Sunderland’s youth academy, Neil has made 98 appearances for the Wearsiders across their youth and senior teams, with 41 of them coming in their first team, showing how highly he is rated at the Stadium on light.

In those 98 appearances, Neil has chipped in with five goals and nine assists along the way, showing his attacking capabilities from the midfield.

With only Ross Stewart having made more appearances in League One than Neil this season, this shows just how important the 20-year-old is for Lee Johnson’s side and why they could be reluctant to let him go, especially halfway through the season as they chase promotion to the Championship.

His performances in those gamees could be an indication as to why Villa are apparently looking at him. WhoScored list him as Sunderland’s joint-fifth highest rated player with an overall rating of 6.85/10, which would also put him fifth-highest among Villa’s squad when counting those to have featured in more than one Premier League game. Therefore, the Midlands club’s fan base may be buzzing to see such a capable player being linked with a move to Villa Park.

While the opportunity to join a Premier League club and potentially learn under the management of Steven Gerrard could be tempting for a young player like Neil, it seems a likelier scenario that he would be more open to leaving Sunderland at the end of the current season if they don’t manage to secure promotion from League One.

In other news: Villa could secure another transfer masterclass with £49k-p/w gem who “has everything”

Wolves centre-back Willy Boly could potentially be out of action for another six weeks with a calf problem, according to injury expert Ben Dinnery.

The Lowdown: Boly out injured

Wanderers have defended well this season, conceding just 14 goals in 18 Premier League matches, but the Ivory Coast international has been unable to play a key part in his team’s campaign.

While Max Kilman, Conor Coady and Romain Saiss have generally been Bruno Lage’s go-to back-three, the 30-year-old has not played a minute of league action this term. Boly has been suffering from a calf issue as well as the longstanding effects of a viral infection, and his return to the fold doesn’t appear to be edging any closer.

The Latest: Dinnery gives worrying update

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery suggested that Boly could now be unavailable into February, as he provided a bleak update on the defender’s situation. He revealed:

“There is good indication that we are looking at a grade-two injury scenario. That is a minimum of three weeks but there is no indication or suggestion that he needs surgery.

“He’s had a bit of a nightmare this season. I would say that we are probably looking at something like four to six weeks. He hasn’t played any Premier League minutes this season. It’s that culmination of having no football and working your way back.

“It’s difficult. That will certainly come into consideration when Bruno Lage is thinking about bringing back into that squad.”

The Verdict: Big blow for Boly

Boly has been such a key figure for Wolves until this season, making 137 appearances and winning more headers per game (2.7) than any of his team-mates last term, so it is cruel to see him being robbed of playing time in 2021/22.

However, at the age of 30, it could be that the defender struggles to come back in as the key figure he once was, especially given the fine performances of Kilman, Coady and Saiss, even if Molineux legend Steve Bull hailed him as an “unbelievable player” back in October.

Squad depth is vital, so Boly’s eventual return to fitness could play an important role in their quest for European football next season, especially if another defender gets injured.

In other news, Luke Hatfield has made a Wolves January transfer claim. Read more here.

Many Wolves fans have been left flocking to some transfer news involving Sven Botman.

L’Equipe (via Sport Witness) have now hinted that the Midlands club could return for the Lille central defender in the January transfer window, after being linked with a move for him in the summer.

Lille do not currently have plans to sell him, although the ‘courtiers have not disappeared’ with regards to attempts to secure his signature, which seemingly indicates that WWFC are still interested.

Having been a key part of Lille’s Ligue 1 title-winning side last season over PSG, only missing twice in the UEFA Champions League this campaign.

At just 21 years of age, the Dutchman is such a hot prospect, and so the Wanderers would do very well to secure his services.

Wolves fans on Botman transfer news

These Wolves fans flocked to the transfer news as it was shared on Twitter, as most seemed desperate to sign him, while others think that he is too unrealistic a target given the level that he is playing at:

“PLEASE”

Credit: @wwfcglover

“He would improve our starting line-up massively. Just pay the fee @Wolves please”

Credit: @Dang93_

“PLEASE”

Credit: @Brokeboi2000

“Well if we are interested pay them the money because if we don’t someone else will”

Credit: @mark_spruce

“Not getting my hopes up.”

Credit: @YasWWFC

“We won’t get him I’ll be very surprised if we do and I definitely think we’ve missed the boat when it comes to Renato too”

Credit: @Neilhomer14

In other news, find out what official club post Wanderers loved here!

Wolves could still sign a replacement for outgoing winger Adama Traore in the next two days, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

The Lowdown: Traore off to Barcelona

The Spaniard is on the verge of completing a return to Barcelona, having initially spent time in the club’s academy before making four first-team appearances.

Traore will join the Catalan giants on loan initially but the deal could become permanent at the end of the season (Sky Sports).

With the winger leaving Molineux and no replacement lined up yet, it could be argued that Wolves are looking light in attacking areas between now and the end of the season.

The Latest: Journalist talks up new signing

Speaking to Give Me Sport, however, Taylor claimed a new face could still arrive before deadline day ends on Monday:

“If Traore completes his move, he’ll (Bruno Lage) probably push for another signing within the final days of the window.”

The Verdict: Is it needed?

In an ideal world, a ready-made replacement for Traore would arrive in the coming days, ensuring Lage isn’t left with a lack of attacking depth.

That being said, Traore wasn’t a key starter for Wanderers – he has started 10 out of 21 Premier League matches this season – and the returning Pedro Neto could feel like a new signing after a long injury absence.

Should Traore leave permanently in the summer, they should receive big money for him, at which point it is vital that Wolves use the funds effectively on new signings. Perhaps that would be better than rushing into a January deal.

In other news, Wolves have suffered a transfer blow regarding one player. Find out who it is here.

Everton signed Dele Alli on a permanent deal on Deadline Day after the player had become out of favour in Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur squad.

Frank Lampard was reportedly instrumental in getting the deal over the line but could it be a risk?

The Toffees have found themselves in a sticky situation in the Premier League so far this season, with a string of poor performances leading the side to a league position of 16th and teetering on the edge of a relegation battle just four points clear of the drop.

This means that there is no room for error or inconsistency, and the new manager must hit the ground running in order to save the season for Everton. He will be relying on not only the squad he inherited to step up, but his new signings to make an instant impact on the team in helping the side secure some winning form that can help them pull away from the bottom of the table.

When you look at Alli’s most recent seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, it is no secret that the player has had his struggles which reflect in his market valuation which has plummeted by 75% since June 2019, going from £90m to his current valuation of £22.5m according to Transfermarkt.

This season he has made 18 appearances for Spurs, with 13 of those in the starting line up, scoring two goals and assisting once, but his inconsistencies in his performances and availability have seen him dropped from the England team, and slowly becoming out of favour with each manager that joins the north Londoners, with the latest struggles coming down to Conte unsure of his best position.

The player who was once hailed a “machine” by Rio Ferdinand and  “too good to not be one of the world’s best” by his former manager Jose Mourinho, will need to make an instant impression on the side to help Everton climb the Premier League table, something that would stand him in good stead to rebuild his reputation under a manager who has not only taken on a risk by signing him but is experienced in playing as an attacking midfielder, which is one of Alli’s most impactful positions.

It could become the perfect master and the apprentice relationship for the Chelsea legend and Spurs outcast, which could be an incredible boost for Everton’s future if the pair can work together to get the very best out of the £22.5m-rated star.

Alli has now been given his second chance to become the player he is capable of being, and with hard work under his new manager he could rectify the problems of the past and even get in with a shout to be in contention with a spot at the World Cup in Qatar with England in December if he can prove he still has what it takes to play consistently at the highest level.

That being said, it is hard to ignore those inconsistencies we’ve spoken about. His market value has fallen off a cliff and it is yet another expensive gamble from Farhad Moshiri.

The majority shareholder loves to fantasise over a star and in the £100k-per-week Dele, he has forked out what could end up being a meteoric sum of money again. After all, this is a transfer that could come back to haunt him if they end up paying the full £40m potentially involved in the transfer.

That is why it is imperative Lampard gets the most from him immediately.

In other news: Lampard must axe Holgate in defensive masterclass

Aston Villa have shown over the years that they are not shy when it comes to dipping into the transfer market to buy new players.

In more recent times, the Villans have also shown that they are capable of spending substantial amounts of money to bring new additions to their squad.

However, looking into the past, there has been one prime example of the club missing out on a very special player they could have signed if they’d been more extravagant with their spending.

According to a report from Birmingham Live, when Villa and Martin O’Neill were in the market for attacking reinforcements back in the 2008 January transfer window, the Midlands club had an offer of €15m (£12.6m) turned down from River Plate for striker Radamel Falcao.

During his time with the Argentine club, the striker scored 45 goals in 107 appearances before joining Porto in 2009.

Since then, the 36-year-old has gone on to play for clubs such as Atletico Madrid, AS Monaco, Manchester United, Chelsea, Galatasaray and Rayo Vallecano.

In 529 senior club appearances throughout his career, the Colombian has scored an impressive figure of 300 goals across all competitions, with 54 assists provided along the way, highlighting how much of a deadly attacking threat he’s been for such an extended period of time.

The veteran, who has been described as being a “charismatic” character by Thierry Henry, as well as a “leader” on the pitch, has also won numerous team titles and individual awards in what has undoubtedly been a glistening career.

Even though the man who has been dubbed a “tiger” failed to have much of an impact during his time in England with United and Chelsea by only scoring five goals in 41 games, there’s every possibility that it could have been a very different prospect for Villa had they secured his signature when they had the chance.

Taking all of this into account and with the benefit of hindsight, it could have been a masterstroke from the Villans to splurge that little bit of extra cash to get Falcao to Villa Park, a decision that may well have sent them soaring up the table and proven game-changing in their modern history.

Sadly, it will now be seen as a big howler from O’Neill and the club’s hierarchy for letting a striker of Falcao’s calibre slip through their grasp.

In other news: AVFC can land Gerrard’s own Grealish in “super-talented” gem who won’t cost a penny