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PIF’s start to life at Newcastle got off to a less than ideal start as the Magpies lost 3-2 to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.

First and foremost, we must send out best wishes to the Newcastle fan who was taken to hospital during the first half after emergency assistance was required in the stands. Credit must go to Sergio Reguilon and Eric Dier, in particular, as they acted quickly to ensure the fan was helped as quickly as possible.

It was the dream start for the Magpies, though, as Callum Wilson powered home an excellent header in the opening minutes to hand Steve Bruce’s side the lead.

However, goals from Tanguy Ndombele, Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son put Tottenham 3-1 up heading into the half-time break.

Misery was then compiled by Jonjo Shelvey coming off the bench and being sent off for two bookable offences in the second half just before Eric Dier’s own goal. However, another player who let Bruce down badly was Joelinton, who struggled out wide on the left throughout the game.

The Brazilian forward may have helped to seal Bruce’s fate at St. James’ Park, playing a part in the defeat which could see him axed as manager of the club. PIF are reportedly planning to let him go as they look at replacements and this defeat could speed up the process, whilst ending any chance he had to keep his role.

Defensively, he was a lightweight. Per SofaScore, he lost a whopping 19 duels in the match. He lost 15 of his 19 ground battles and four of his nine in the air, whilst also committing five fouls. This shows that he was not up to the physical task of playing against Tottenham’s Emerson Royal, with his fellow countryman able to lock him up for the entire 90 minutes.

On the ball, the Englishman offered nothing. Per SofaScore, he lost possession of the ball 24 times as he failed with all of his attempted crosses and dribbles. In 65 touches, he registered one key pass and zero efforts on goal, completing 74% of his passes. This shows that he was unable to make an impact in the final third, to go along with his lack of strength on the other side of the game.

Therefore, the flop’s performance played a large role in the 3-2 defeat as he could have been the difference on the if he popped up with a crucial goal or assist to level the match or even help to win it. Instead, his dismal showing may have sealed Bruce’s fate, with the 60-year-old potentially hanging on by a thread as PIF weigh up their options for the upcoming week.

AND in other news, Luke Edwards drops Newcastle transfer claim that will surely delight fans…

Pundit Kevin Campbell has tipped Celtic to appoint a new CEO before January following Dominic McKay’s recent departure.

The Lowdown: McKay’s exit; five contenders

McKay left the club last week, just 72 days into his Celtic Park tenure. Ange Postecoglou admitted he was surprised at the news, with the Hoops citing personal reasons regarding his exit.

The Herald have since listed five potential contenders to replace McKay, including former defender Ramon Vega and Leicester City’s Susan Whelan.

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The Latest: Campbell’s comments

Campbell, who has appeared regularly for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding Celtic’s off-field situation.

He was asked when supporters should expect a permanent replacement through the Parkhead door, to which he appeared to back owner Dermot Desmond to take action before the New Year.

“I’m sure they have somebody in mind to take over the spot permanently. There should be contingency planning at a club like Celtic. You have to plan for every eventuality.

“Big clubs should have a shortlist of names ready to fill big roles like that. Now it is about going down that list, working through it and coming to a decision on the next appointment as quickly as possible because you need somebody in that role.

“I would think they will have somebody in before Christmas because it’s a vitally important position.”

The Verdict: 98 days…

There are 98 days before Christmas, so that should give Celtic plenty of time in regards to bringing in a new CEO on a long-term basis.

If they don’t, then that could have a knock-on effect in regards to the January window with Postecoglou possibly looking to add to his ranks in the winter window and the communication with those above him.

Who knows, the Hoops could even land McKay’s successor before Christmas, but Campbell’s prediction should be the bare minimum for Celtic’s off-field deadline to avoid any January problems.

In other news: Free-agent Ange spoke about at Celtic still available after comments emerge. 

Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips could sign a new deal with the Whites before Christmas, according to reliable journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Phillips’ future up in the air

Phillips is arguably Leeds’ most important player, making giant strides since their return to the Premier League and also becoming a key man for England.

The 25-year-old’s form has seen him linked with a move away from Elland Road, but there is constant speculation regarding a new deal, too.

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The Latest: Hay makes key claim

A fresh update has now been provided by The Athletic‘s Hay, who took to Twitter to give a 10-word verdict that is likely to excite Leeds supporters:

“Confidence that deal can be done this side of Xmas.”

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The Verdict: Huge positive

Tying Phillips down to a new-and-improved long-term contract is paramount for the Whites, as they look to continue becoming an established Premier League club again.

The midfielder certainly appears happy at Leeds currently, and while losing him would be a major blow, they should at least get huge money for him if he has extended his terms.

Ideally, Phillips will remain in a Whites shirt for many years to come, though, showing his loyalty to them instead of moving elsewhere for a new challenge.

In other news, Beren Cross has made a claim regarding Leeds’ January transfer business. Read more here.

West Ham fans endured and then enjoyed a frenetic opening match in the Premier League last weekend as their side beat Newcastle United 4-2.

Callum Wilson and Jacob Murphy’s goals either side of an equaliser from Aaron Cresswell saw the Magpies go into half-time with a 2-1 lead, with the Hammers fans potentially left wondering what else could go wrong in the second-half.

However, a stunning second 45 minutes from David Moyes’ team secured the three points for the Irons. Said Benrhama, Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio scored the goals, giving the Hammers a perfect start to the season with three points on the board.

On the Chalkboard

Despite the 4-2 win over the opening day, there is one change Moyes should make to his side for the clash with Leicester in the Premier League on Monday night.

Alphonse Areola joined on loan from PSG this summer to battle it out with Lukasz Fabianksi for the number one jersey. Given that Moyes will surely want his first-choice goalkeeper locked in as early as possible, to prove a solid base at the back, Areola should be unleashed against Leicester to see what he can do.

Fabianski was left rooted to his line for the first Newcastle goal as he failed to react to a cross that arrived inside the six-yard box from Allan Saint-Maximin. This allowed Wilson to head into the net with relative ease, instead of being challenged by the Poland international – who could have made an attempt to reach the cross.

He also only made one save and was given the lowest SofaScore rating (6.2) in the team. This suggests that he was not at his best and as such, Areola should now be given the opportunity to stake his claim for the shirt.

Thomas Tuchel once hailed Areola as ‘exceptional’ whilst he was the manager of PSG, speaking about the competition between the current Hammer and Italian legend Gigi Buffon at the time. He told PSG’s official website:

“Honestly, I have to admit that I have a bit of a bad conscience. The situation is not easy for both. They are exceptional. Normally, changing every other match is not the best way to get the best performance from a goalkeeper. They are amazing. We decide each week who will play.”

The £147k-per-week beast saved 7.6 expected goals for Fulham in the Premier League last season during an impressive spell at Craven Cottage. Fabianski, meanwhile, saved 4.8 expected goals for the Hammers. This suggests that the Frenchman has the quality required to be an upgrade in terms of shot-stopping, which is another reason why Moyes must unleash him against Leicester.

If Moyes alternates his goalkeepers in the opening weeks of the season, it could allow him to get the perfect view of both to analyse who is the best option to go with for the majority of the campaign. The sooner he works that out, the better.

AND in other news, Get it done: West Ham must sanction deal for “dominant” £25m beast, Moyes needs him…

Queens Park Rangers are reportedly interested in making a late summer move for Watford striker Andre Gray as transfer deadline day approaches.

The Lowdown: QPR make strong start

The Rs have made an impressive start to their Championship campaign, picking up 11 points from five games and sitting third in the table.

The hope is that Mark Warburton’s side mount a genuine promotion push this season, and new signings late in the transfer window could boost those chances.

The Latest: Gray linked with QPR move

According to The Daily Express’ Ryan Taylor on Twitter, QPR are locking horns with Middlesbrough to sign Gray before the window closes.

Both clubs are believed to be ‘keen’ on sealing a loan move for the 30-year-old, who has scored 21 goals in 125 appearances for Watford.

The journalist tweeted: “#Birmingham & West Brom going head-to-head for Troy Deeney. He’s already in talks with Blues, who are frontrunners. Andre Gray could also leave before deadline as reported in last week’s column, #QPR & #Boro among those keen on loan.”

The Verdict: Exciting potential signing

Gray has a huge amount of Championship experience, netting 46 times in 118 matches in the division, so he could be a shrewd signing for the Rs.

The £70,000-a-week forward could add the firepower that is needed to keep up a promotion tilt, improving the squad depth at Warburton’s disposal in the process.

Former Luton teammate Cameron McGeehan once hailed Gray as a ‘top player’, and the twice-capped Jamaica international could lift those around him given his standing in the game.

A tenth-placed finish in the league last season was not good enough for Everton, especially under Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian had been brought in to guide the Toffees to Europe’s top table but their chances of doing so have dramatically decreased since he departed Merseyside.

What’s the word?

Everton now have Rafa Benitez at the helm but they’ve struggled to improve their options ahead of the new campaign this weekend.

They have signed three players for a combined £1.7m and it doesn’t look as though they’ll spend too much more.

That being said, they should make a late dart for Sassuolo winger Jeremie Boga before the window closes.

Valued at just £18m by Transfermarkt, he was linked with a move to Goodison Park earlier this summer.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast this week, Forza Italian Football editor Conor Clancy suggested he should have been signed already.

He said: “There’s no competition between Boga and Townsend. Boga is twice the player Townsend is – and then some.”

Must sign him

Like Clancy states, Boga is evidently a better player than one of the players they’ve brought in.

Consequently, Benitez could take his Everton attack to a new level by securing the 24-year-old’s services.

Once of Chelsea, the left winger was described as a “supreme talent” by former Blues coach Michael Beale.

It’s clear to see why too. Boga is a nightmare for defenders and is capable of dominating opponents with his incredible dribbling ability.

During the 2020/21 campaign, the Ivorian completed 3.2 dribbles per match, a number that was only bettered by Rodrigo de Paul in the whole of the Italian top-flight.

If we compare that figure to those already at Everton, it’s streets ahead of anyone. Their top dribbler last season was Richarlison who completed 1.8.

To elaborate on his ability with the ball, Boga ranks in the 97th percentile for dribbles completed by players in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.

With the attacker displaying a keen eye for goal in Italy, he has the potential to be devastating in the Premier League too. This is a move that would improve Everton’s offensive line significantly.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano delivers worrying Everton transfer update, fans must be fuming…

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be in advanced talks to sign Fiorentina central-defender Nikola Milenkovic, as their summer recruitment drive intensifies [Claret & Hugh].

The Lowdown: Spurs start 2020/21 in strong fashion under Espirito Santo

Kicking off 2021/22 with a very impressive victory over champions Manchester City, Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo will feel as if he can achieve real success this campaign with a couple more additions.

Recruiting highly rated individuals in key positions to increase competition and depth is always important, and so far, Tottenham have managed to acquire three new faces in the form of Bryan Gil, Pierluigi Gollini and Cristian Romero.

Now, they could be set to snatch 23-year-old Milenkovic from under the nose of a Premier League rival following recent reports.

The Latest: Tottenham in advanced talks to sign Milenkovic; £15 million fee reported

As relayed by a source close to Tottenham Hotspur, the North Londoners are said to be in ‘advanced talks’ for the 6 foot 5 colossus.

West Ham United looked to be in pole position to bring him to the London Stadium, but according to Hammers insiders Claret & Hugh, sources in N17 have suggested otherwise, claiming he is now ‘very likely’ to join Nuno.

Milenkovic will cost around £15 million, with Spurs pushing to get the deal over the line by the end of the transfer window.

The Verdict: Milenkovic would be an astute piece of business by Tottenham

In need of another defender to challenge for a first-team berth, the prospective signing of Milenkovic will excite Tottenham supporters and help to shore up the backline.

In 2020/21, he managed to register four goal contributions in 37 fixtures; one goal and three assists [Transfermarkt]. His sheer size and power makes him a menace in both boxes.

Also on point with his distribution from the back, the Serbia international managed to record a passing accuracy of 86% over the last campaign, while his aerial prowess was shown with an average of three aerial wins per game [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘extraordinary’ by teammate Pol Lirola, Spurs should look to tie up the deal and bag themselves the accomplished young central defender [X Sport News].

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur are keen on a Premier League striker. Read all about it here.

Southampton look set to miss out on another of their summer targets, with reports claiming that Santiago Moreno is set to complete a move to Portland Timbers.

What’s the word?

Along with Leeds United and Rangers, the Saints were linked with a move for the 21-year-old by The Telegraph earlier this year.

The winger has established himself as a regular at America de Cali in recent seasons and has been likened to Sadio Mane due to his style of play, which suggests that he could have been a hit at St Mary’s.

Mane was signed by Southampton from RB Salzburg back in 2014 and made 75 appearances for the Saints in two seasons, contributing 25 goals and 14 assists before completing a £34m move to Liverpool in the summer of 2016, where he has gone on to become one of the top wingers in world football.

However, Moreno’s agent has now claimed that he is very close to joining MLS side Portland Timbers, as he told El Pais: “There are other possibilities on the table, but the one we are working on at the moment and the closest to a deal is Portland.

“‘Santi’ leaves very grateful to the fans of America de Cali, he fulfilled his dreams and understands that leaving young will also give him the opportunity to return at a good time.”

A blow for Southampton?

During his time in the Liga Dimayor, Moreno has featured 52 times for America de Cali, contributing an impressive 10 goals and seven assists.

Although he may well have been an option for the future rather than one who could’ve made an impression in Hasenhuttl’s side next season, that he was attracting so much interest suggests that he has a lot of potential, and Southampton may well rue not signing him this summer.

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If Moreno can progress even further in the MLS with Portland Timbers, then it would not be a surprise to see his name mentioned as a potential target for top European sides again in the future, when the sense of regret for the Saints over missing out on him could well be exacerbated.

In other news… Southampton set to confirm third summer signing, fans will be buzzing

Sunderland are confident that Denver Hume will sign a new deal at the Stadium of Light this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Sunderland Echo, who claim that Lee Johnson is optimistic about the left-back putting pen to paper on a new contract with the Black Cats ahead of the new season, with the 22-year-old’s previous deal having expired earlier this summer.

The report added that a resolution should be found concerning the future of the defender within the coming days, with Johnson claiming that his side must resolve Hume’s contract before the start of the new League One campaign.

Louis-Dreyfus will be buzzing

With it being previously reported that Johnson felt it was “Denver or another” in terms of signing the club’s left-back for next season, Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus will undoubtedly be buzzing should the academy product go on to commit his future to the club in the coming days, as the owner will seemingly not have to cough up for a new player in the position this summer.

Considering the fact that the club pulled out of a deal to sign Liverpool left-back Tony Gallacher last week, this would indeed appear to fuel the idea that a resolution could be close to being found with Hume.

If it is, it would not only be fantastic news for Louis-Dreyfus, but also for the club’s promotion hopes next season, as the 22-year-old was one of the Black Cats’ standout performers last term.

Indeed, over his 24 League One appearances last season, the £2.4k-per-week defender scored one goal, registered two assists and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as averaging 0.6 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 1.3 key passes per game.

These returns saw the man who Gary Bennett dubbed a “dangerous” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as the club’s 11th-best performer in the third tier of English football.

As such, should the youngster go on to sign a new deal at the club, it would indeed be brilliant news for all involved with the Mackems.

In other news: Imagine him & Pritchard: KLD must sanction SAFC swoop for “massive” £27k-p/w dynamo

Keith Downie has dropped the latest on Newcastle United’s reported pursuit of Will Hughes in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Hughes talks

As per The Sun, Steve Bruce is reportedly in talks with Watford to sign the 26-year-old for a deal which would be worth in the region of £12m.

The Hornets are willing to let him go in order to bring in some new players, and they are interested in a move for Isaac Hayden, who could be used as part of a potential swap deal.

The Latest: Downie on Hughes

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sports journalist Downie has dropped the latest on Newcastle’s reported pursuit of Hughes, claiming:

“There’s no Newcastle interest in Watford’s Will Hughes I’m told, and the club have no intention of allowing Isaac Hayden to leave either.”

The Verdict: Blow

It would certainly be a blow for Newcastle if they are not able to sign Hughes, as he could turn out to be a very useful squad player for them.

The midfielder played a big part in Watford getting promoted back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, making 30 Championship appearances last term and scoring two goals (Transfermarkt).

The fact that he is English is a bonus in terms of the Tyneside club filling their homegrown quota, and at 26 years of age, he has probably not reached his peak yet.

It would certainly seem to be a smart buy from the Magpies if they were able to lure Hughes away from Vicarage Road.

In other news, find out what Kieran Maguire has said about the latest takeover development