Jacob Whitehead and Holly Percival
February 10, 2022 at 10:07 AM EST
Hello, and welcome to The Athletic’s coverage of today’s breaking news.
Another thrilling evening of Premier League action last night as Leeds drew 3-3 with hosts Aston Villa. Southampton pulled off a late 3-2 win over Tottenham while Norwich drew with Crystal Palace and Manchester City moved 12 points clear after their 2-0 win over Brentford.
Top-flight action continues this evening as Liverpool welcome Leicester City and Arsenal travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Background reading:
Luis Diaz: ‘El Quinto Beatle’ – by those who know him
Rodgers has done an outstanding job at Leicester – the question is where it goes from here
Manchester United are asking Harry Maguire to be something he’s not
(Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
February 10, 2022 at 10:07 AM EST
A remarkable transformation at Sheffield United
Is promotion on? They’re tenth in the league, but only one point off the playoffs…
Richard Sutcliffe reports.
Jacob Whitehead
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How ‘Hecky and Stuart McCall’ got Bramall Lane rocking again
February 10, 2022 at 9:50 AM EST
NEWS: FIFA approves Ademola Lookman nationality switch to Nigeria
Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman has had his application to change nationality to represent Nigeria instead of England approved by FIFA.
The 24-year-old is on loan at the King Power Stadium from RB Leipzig, having previously represented Everton and Charlton Athletic.
Lookman has not represented England’s senior team, but was an Under-19, Under-20, and Under-21 youth international. He was part of the squad that won the Under-20 World Cup in 2017.
Full story here.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
February 10, 2022 at 9:40 AM EST
Luis Diaz: ‘El Quinto Beatle’ – by those who know him
“I’m not sure I’ve seen a player smile that constantly during a rondo,” joked Jurgen Klopp on Wednesday about how quickly his new signing has settled into life at the AXA Training Centre.
But how did he reach Liverpool? James Pearce reports.
Jacob Whitehead
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Luis Diaz: ‘El Quinto Beatle’ – Liverpool’s £50m man by those who know him
February 10, 2022 at 9:39 AM EST
Magnus Carlsen misses FPL deadline
He might be the greatest chess player to have ever prodded a pawn, but the FPL ultra has made a major mistake. Don’t be like Magnus.
Jacob Whitehead
Just missed the #FPL deadline, thinking the deadline was 19.30 and not 19.15. Of the many blunders I’ve made in my professional career, this may be the most embarrassing yet!
— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) February 8, 2022
February 10, 2022 at 8:56 AM EST
Graham Potter on Yves Bissouma’s future
Brighton rejected a bid from Aston Villa for Yves Bissouma last month.
Graham Potter has now discussed Bissouma’s future at Brighton.
He said: “Yves is really enjoying his football with us. We’ve had lots of speculation over various windows and he’s still here with us.
“You also have to understand the club and him face a point where you’ve got a decision to make. If there’s Champions League interest, as an example. As a club, how do you compete with that? How do you compete financially and stop the player taking that opportunity up? It’s very difficult.
“Because it not only hampers the relationship with the player, it also damages your whole structure. We’re clearly not a Champions League structured team, so it’s quite complex but we’re quite relaxed about it. There’s no pressure, no stress, no problem.
“We are enjoying Yves with us, we’re enjoying his football, and I’d suggest our supporters are the same.”
Andy Naylor·
Brighton & Hove Albion Correspondent
February 10, 2022 at 8:54 AM EST
EXCLUSIVE: Crystal Palace fear Nathan Ferguson could be out for a further six weeks
Crystal Palace fear full-back Nathan Ferguson could be out for another six weeks after he sustained a hamstring injury in a behind closed doors friendly a fortnight ago, The Athletic understands.
It is the latest set-back for the 21-year-old who arrived at Palace in July 2020 on a three-year deal under freedom of contract from West Bromwich Albion, with a tribunal ruling last December that just £900,000 was due in training compensation for a player schooled through the club’s academy.
Full story here.
(Photo: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
February 10, 2022 at 8:41 AM EST
Graham Potter on Dan Ashworth’s departure
Brighton travel to Watford on Saturday.
For how the club can move on from Ashworth, click here.
Jacob Whitehead
Graham Potter is speaking to the media. #BHAFC
On Dan Ashworth leaving: “Of course disappointed, because Dan was a colleague, a friend.
“He’s been an important person at the football club, but these things happen.
“We’re a really well run club that doesn’t rely on one person.”— Andy Naylor (@AndyNaylorBHAFC) February 10, 2022
February 10, 2022 at 8:31 AM EST
Jonas Eidevall: Fire and ice
His touchline antics have been one of the hallmarks of the 2021-22 WSL season. Who is Jonas Eidevall?
Art de Roche investigates for The Athletic.
Jacob Whitehead
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Jonas Eidevall: Fire and ice
February 10, 2022 at 8:15 AM EST
Why the WSL is ripe for a mid-season split
Jacob Whitehead
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Why the WSL is ripe for a mid-season split
February 10, 2022 at 7:59 AM EST
Rodgers has done an outstanding job at Leicester – the question is where it goes from here
He has had 628 matches as a manager, which, for context, puts him behind Roy Hodgson (1,215), David Moyes (1,019) Jurgen Klopp (940), Pep Guardiola (779), Ralf Rangnick (734) and Marcelo Bielsa (733), but well clear of Eddie Howe (557), Antonio Conte (554), Thomas Tuchel (521) and Ralph Hasenhuttl (500).
In other words, Rodgers is not a young manager anymore.
So what comes next? Oli Kay investigates.
Jacob Whitehead
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Rodgers has done an outstanding job at Leicester – the question is where it goes from here
February 10, 2022 at 7:37 AM EST
Aaron Hickey: The Scottish teenager taking Serie A by storm on pasta, parking and playing for Mihajlovic
I want Aaron Hickey to be my pal.
Meet the 19-year-old fullback fuelled by pasta, starring for Bologna.
Jacob Whitehead
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Aaron Hickey: The Scottish teenager taking Serie A by storm on pasta, parking and playing for Mihajlovic
February 10, 2022 at 7:15 AM EST
NEWS: Harry Winks says Tottenham chances were ‘looking slim’ before Conte arrival
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks has said his chances at the Premier League club were “looking slim” before the arrival of head coach Antonio Conte in November.
Winks, 26, made only one Premier League start under previous manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who left the club after three months in charge.
Since then, the midfielder has made six league starts under Conte, including the last three matches.
Full story here.
(Photo: Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
February 10, 2022 at 7:03 AM EST
BREAKING: Manchester United confirm £20m sponsorship deal with blockchain company Tezos
The Athletic revealed earlier this month that the parties had agreed a deal worth in excess of £20 million per year. The Carrington training ground itself is not included in the agreement.
United’s first-team players and coaching staff will wear the Tezos-branded training kit before this weekend’s Premier League game against Southampton.
It is understood Tezos will also make regular tez donations to the United Foundation.
(Photo: Manchester United)
Jacob Whitehead
February 10, 2022 at 6:48 AM EST
NEWS: Flamengo agree €10.5m deal for Manchester United’s Andreas Pereira
The Athletic understands the deal also includes a 25 per cent sell-on clause for the Premier League club.
Pereira, 26, joined the Brazilian side on a one-year loan last August, with a €20 million option to buy.
Since arriving at Old Trafford in January 2012 from PSV Eindhoven, Pereira has been sent out on loan four times. He has not played competitively for United since the 2019-20 season, in which he made 25 top-flight appearances.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Laurie Whitwell·
Manchester United Correspondent
February 10, 2022 at 6:21 AM EST
Tottenham still have no answer to teams that press them
If Hojbjerg and Winks cannot hold onto the ball under pressure from Southampton, then what will the answer be against Wolves, Manchester City and Leeds United in the next few weeks?
The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke analyses last night’s defeat.
Jacob Whitehead
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Tottenham still have no answer to teams who press them
February 10, 2022 at 6:05 AM EST
NEWS: Antonio questions response to Zouma cat video: ‘Is it worse than racism?’
Asked about the incident by Sky Sports News on Thursday morning, Antonio said: “I’ve got a question for you. Do you think what he’s done is worse than racism?
“I’m not condoning a thing that he’s done. I don’t agree with what he has done at all.
“But there’s people that have been convicted and been caught for racism, and have played football afterwards. They got an eight-game punishment or something like that, but people are now calling for people to be sacked and to lose their livelihood.
“I’ve just got to ask this question to everyone out there: is what he’s (Zouma) done worse than what the people convicted of racism done?”
Zouma has said in a statement: “I want to apologise for my actions. There are no excuses for my behaviour, which I sincerely regret. I also want to say how deeply sorry I am to anyone who was upset by the video.
“I would like to assure everyone that our two cats are perfectly fine and healthy. They are loved and cherished by our entire family, and this behaviour was an isolated incident that will not happen again.”
Full story here.
Jacob Whitehead
February 10, 2022 at 5:47 AM EST
On this day a year ago: Everton 5-4 Tottenham Hotspur
Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton saw off Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham at Goodison Park in an FA Cup classic.
How long ago does that feel?
Jacob Whitehead
February 10, 2022 at 5:14 AM EST
BREAKING: Roy Keane no longer under consideration to be next Sunderland manager
Roy Keane is no longer under consideration to be the next Sunderland manager, The Athletic understands.
After at least two interviews with Sunderland’s sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and others at the club in the past week, Keane is thought to have been offered the position on Wednesday. Sources who know Keane were speaking of how his arrival on Wearside would galvanise the club.
But over the course of Wednesday evening it became apparent that this might not be the case. As of this morning, Keane will not be landing back at the club he managed from 2006-08.
Full story here.
Michael Walker·
Football Writer
February 10, 2022 at 4:51 AM EST
NEWS: Tottenham ask fans to ‘move on’ from use of Y-word after review
Tottenham Hotspur have asked their fans to “move on” from the use of the Y-word after a review.
They revealed that of 23,000 responses, 94 per cent acknowledged the term could be used as a racist term towards Jewish people.
The club’s fans have held a decades-long association with the word and its variants.
The word, though not meant to cause offence when used by Tottenham fans, is described by Jewish charity The Community Security Trust (CST) as an “antisemitic insult”.
The Athletic understands the club are set to launch a campaign to try and provide fans with more information about the word and its origins, as well as historical context as to why it is so harmful.
Jacob Whitehead
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Spurs fans and the Y-word: What happens next?
February 10, 2022 at 4:28 AM EST
BREAKING: Maram AlBaharna signs for The Athletic
#WelcomeMaram.
On her debut, she’s assisted the Manchester United writers with a sensational piece of vision.
Harry Maguire the target.
Jacob Whitehead