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Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was unwell instead of suffering a concussion in England’s 6-2 win over Iran, according to journalist David Ornstein.

The Lowdown: Maguire substituted in win

The Three Lions made a perfect start to their 2022 World Cup campaign on Monday afternoon, cruising to victory over a limited Iran side.

Maguire performed well for England, hitting the crossbar and assisting Bukayo Saka’s goal, before being substituted with what looked like an initial concussion during the second half. Now, an update has emerged regarding the United man’s situation.

The Latest: Positive update emerges

Writing on Twitter, Ornstein claimed that Maguire had in fact left the field through illness, allaying fears that he will miss a chunk of the World Cup:

“Harry Maguire substitution in England victory over Iran resulted from him feeling unwell + was not related to concussion. Asked afterwards if defender was ok & he said ‘should be’. #ENG next face #USA on Friday night.”

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The Verdict: Should face the USA

This is good news for both England and United, with Maguire clearly given a confidence boost by being picked by Gareth Southgate, as he looks to return to form in Qatar.

In fairness to him, he has rarely let the Three Lions down in the past and this update suggests that he will be available to face the USA on Friday night.

Erik ten Hag may never see Maguire as the long-term solution for United at centre-back, but this tournament is certainly a great opportunity to prove his worth to his club manager.

Both Fabian Schar and Callum Wilson are ‘available’ for Newcastle United away at Southampton in the Premier League after injury and illness respectively.

The Lowdown: Fitness concerns

Eddie Howe admitted that Schar was ‘feeling his hamstring’ after taking him off in the 4-0 win at home to Aston Villa last weekend.

Callum Wilson also admitted earlier this week that he was feeling ‘run down’ and hoped that he could recover from his illness in time for the weekend.

The Latest: Both ‘available’

Taking to Twitter, Magpies journalist for The Shields Gazette Miles Starforth has shared that both Schar and Wilson have ‘recovered’ and are now ‘available’ to play against the Saints:

“Fabian Schar and Callum Wilson have recovered from a hamstring problem and illness respectively, and will be available for the Southampton game.”

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The Verdict: Big boost

Having both Schar and Wilson available after previous scares is certainly a big boost for Howe and his squad.

Wilson has six goals and two assists already in the top flight, while no Toon player has won more aerial duels or averaged more interceptions, clearances, blocks or long balls per game than Schar (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, both players are so key to the team and how they play, and if both start against Southampton, then it will certainly give the visitors a better chance of clinching all three points, and cementing themselves in the top four and in the race for a UEFA Champions League spot.

CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that there is ‘no chance’ that Bruno Guimaraes will leave Newcastle United in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Big interest

It has been reported by 90min this morning that a number of big clubs are monitoring Bruno’s situation at St. James’ Park as talks continue over the terms of a new contract.

Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are all interested in his signature, but his current deal does not expire until 2026.

The Latest: No January move

Taking to Twitter, Jacobs has revealed that there is ‘no chance’ that Bruno leaves the North East club in January, and they plan to offer him improved terms ahead of expected interest next summer:

“Newcastle are not worried about losing Bruno Guimaraes. He’s happy, settled and under contract until 2026. Told there is no chance the club will accept any offers in January. They do plan to offer him improved terms, knowing suitors will try to lure him away in summer 2023.”

He adds that Bruno is ‘only focused’ on the Tynesiders and trying to qualify them for European football this season:

“But even without them in place, and due to time left on his contract, told Bruno is only focused on Newcastle and trying to get them into Europe this season. Clubs chasing him are going to have the play the long game. He’s relishing being part of NUFC’s rise right now.”

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The Verdict: Relief

It will no doubt come as a relief to the Toon Army that Bruno is fully committed to the club, and that it looks as if he is going to stay beyond this campaign.

The Brazilian has been their third-best performing player in the Premier League so far, contributing two goals and two assists (WhoScored), helping the Magpies rise up to an impressive fourth spot in the table.

Very much part of the new regime, Bruno will help attract other big names the longer he stays, and at 24 years of age, the club will be hoping that he is a mainstay in the side for years to come.

Everton have had many talents rise through the ranks of their youth academy with Wayne Rooney, John Stones and Eric Dier all polishing their skills at the Merseyside club, and current manager Frank Lampard is a huge fan of developing youth talent.

The former Chelsea boss played his part in giving Reece James, Mason Mount, Armando Broja, Tariq Lamptey and Marc Guehi their Premier League debuts at Stamford Bridge, all of whom have gone on to be star players in their own rights.

Lampard’s eye for rising stars will have certainly excited the youth prospects at Goodison Park upon his arrival at the club at the beginning of this year, and will all be working hard in the hope of their golden opportunities to impress the Toffees boss.

One player who has the potential to catch Lampard’s eye is 19-year-old Luke Butterfield, an Everton U21s midfielder who signed a brand-new three-year contract to remain at Goodison Park just this week.

The talented youngster is currently recovering from a knee injury but has been a consistent and reliable contributor to the youth teams over his time at the club which has led to praise from the club’s director of football, Kevin Thelwell.

Thelwell hailed Butterfield  “very talented” when the player penned his new deal:

“Luke is a very talented young player and we are delighted he has signed this new contract.

“As well as having a lot of strong technical attributes, he has an excellent attitude and a real desire to learn.”

The Yorkshire-born talent has made 60 appearances at youth level for Everton, scoring three goals, mostly being deployed as a defensive midfielder showing glimpses of his talent in last season’s EFL trophy for the U21s.

Butterfield made two appearances in that competition, where he demonstrated a wide array of skills, showcasing his immense set of attributes. He completed a bullish three tackles and one clearance per game, while winning 69% of his duels and completing 50% of his dribbles, proving that he knows how to beat a man, as well as how to dispossess them.

With that being said, Lampard could unearth his next prodigy in Butterfield and if he continues to shine at youth level, the teenager will certainly add depth and a fresh perspective to the senior squad’s midfield options.

Wolves have been linked with a wide range of managers following the sacking of Bruno Lage last weekend but few options would be as poor as Italian coach Eusebio di Francesco.

What’s the word?

According to 90min, the former Roma boss has emerged as one of the favourites to take over from Lage at Molineux, with talks reportedly having already taken place.

The Old Gold are said to be seriously considering a move for the 53-year-old, although they will face competition from Bournemouth, who are still yet to appoint a new manager after the inexplicably early sacking of Scott Parker.

Di Francesco would represent a cheaper option than most, as he is currently a free agent after leaving Hellas Verona more than a year ago.

Worse than Lage?

The fact that he was sacked after just four games with the Seria A side, and has been unable to find a new job since should be a significant deterrent for Fosun as they look for a Lage heir at Molineux.

While Di Francesco has done well with Sassuolo and Roma in the past, his three most recent jobs have all been far from successful, with the Italian manager mustering a significantly worse points per game average than Lage did at Wolves.

He would win just one of four matches at Hellas Verona, five of 26 at Cagliari and two of just eight at Sampdoria, never averaging more than one point per game, which suggests that he has well and truly lost his touch.

Lage, by comparison, would average 1.29 points per game during his time at Wolves and while fans think that it couldn’t get much worse at the moment, Di Francesco’s recent history suggests that it definitely could.

With Wolves currently occupying a relegation spot in the Premier League, the last thing they need is to appoint a manager who will bring a losing mentality to Molineux.

Considering Di Francesco has lost a remarkable 24 of his last 38 matches as a manager, across three different clubs, it would be a disaster if Wolves appointed him.

Indeed, they could do with a long-term approach and on the evidence of the Italian, he hasn’t been able to stick around for long in his last few vacancies.

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their pursuit of Abdoullah Ba in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has claimed that the youngster is in England and is on the verge of making the switch to the Black Cats from France.

He Tweeted: “As reported elsewhere, forward Ahmad Diallo close to formalising a loan from Man United. And teenage midfielder Abdoullah Ba is on Wearside to complete a permanent move from Le Havre #SAFC.”

French outlet L’Equipe have reported that the gem is poised to arrive at the Stadium of Light for a fee in the region of €1m (£860k).

Future star

This appears to be a signing that the Black Cats faithful will need to be patient with as he may not be ready to make an immediate or significant impact on the pitch in the Championship.

Instead, he could be a player who has been brought in for the future, as he has the majority of his career left ahead of him at the age of 19. He does not enter his 20s until July 2023 and Tony Mowbray could use this season to ease him into life in England.

The youngster has never played outside of his home country and may take time to settle in to new surroundings, although compatriot Edouard Michut arriving at the same time could help him as they will be in the same situation.

He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.70 in Ligue 2 this term, after averaging a score of 6.50 in 17 outings in 2021/22, whilst playing as a central midfielder – which would place him 11th in the current Black Cats squad.

Whilst these statistics do not suggest that he is going to be setting the Championship alight this season, his career so far is impressive for a player of his age.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig previously dubbed him one of the “jewels” of the Le Havre academy and one of a number of “superb” young talents in Ligue 2.

He has racked up 27 first-team appearances for the club and has been capped 15 times by France at U19 level, which shows how highly he is rated by his country as he has been a regular for their youth teams.

Le Havre’s youth set-up is known for producing the likes of Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez, Dimitri Payet, Steve Mandanda, and Pape Gueye in the last ten years or so.

He could now be the next to come off the production line if he is able to continue his development whilst adapting to life in England, as he could improve with more experience under his belt.

If Mowbray can help the gem to fulfil his potential in the years to come then the Black Cats could have a star in midfield and the £860k fee may be looked back on as a huge bargain.

Sporting Lisbon maestro Matheus Nunes would be a ‘real coup’ for Wolverhampton Wanderers if Bruno Lage’s side secure the midfielder’s signature, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Nunes linked with Wolves

The 23-year-old has been at the centre of much transfer speculation this summer, with a number of European clubs touted with interest.

Premier League giants Liverpool have also been regularly involved in the rumours surrounding Nunes, with a £51m release clause holding the midfielder back from a move to the English top flight.

According to reports from Portugal, the Old Gold joined the race in July after submitting a bid for the player.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s claim

O’Rourke thinks that Nunes’ possible arrival at Molineux would be a fantastic signing for the club, given the standing of the other clubs who are also in the race for the Sporting Lisbon ace.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the journalist claimed: “It looks a real exciting addition. I think it’d be something of a real coup for Wolves if they’re able to land Nunes from Sporting Lisbon because he’s been linked with some top clubs all across Europe, the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, and a few top clubs in Spain.”

The Verdict: He’d be brilliant

At just 23, Nunes has already made 100 appearances for Sporting. Staggeringly, he featured 50 times for the club last season, illustrating his reliability and impressive athleticism.

Furthermore, the player’s underlying statistics highlight why he would be a brilliant addition to Lage’s squad. As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, Nunes ranks in the top 1% for both assists and dribbles completed.

Goncalo Santos, a former team-mate of Nunes, hailed the youngster’s praises after he helped Sporting to win their first Primeira Liga title in 19 years in 2021, saying: “It’s unbelievable when he has the ball at his feet. Nobody can catch him; it’s impossible because he’s too fast.”

Bearing those figures and that endorsement in mind, if Wolves can beat off the competition and secure the Portugal international’s signature, it would indeed be a fantastic coup for the Old Gold.

West Ham United are hoping to tie up a deal to bring Filip Kostic to the London Stadium this weekend.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that, following weeks of negotiations, David Moyes is finally hoping to reach an agreement with the Eintracht Frankfurt wing-back in the coming days – with the Hammers said to be in talks regarding a €15m (£12.6m) plus bonuses fee with the Bundesliga side.

However, the report goes on to state that Juventus are also set to make an offer of €12m (£10m) plus bonuses for the Serbia international in the next few days, something it is suggested could temp the 29-year-old more than a switch to east London.

Real coup

Considering just how impressive Kostic was for Eintracht last season, should West Ham manage to get a deal over the line for the defender ahead of Italian giants Juventus this summer, it would undoubtedly represent a real coup for the Premier League outfit.

Indeed, over his 31 Bundesliga appearances in 2021/22, the £21.6m-rated wing-back was in stunning form, scoring four goals, providing nine assists and creating 16 big chances for his team-mates, as well as taking an average of 1.6 shots, making 2.8 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the 48-cap international average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.25, ranking him as Oliver Glasner’s best performer in the league and the 15th-best player in the division as a whole.

The £43k-per-week talent was also in deadly form over his 12 Europa League fixtures last time out, scoring three goals, registering six assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.7 shots, making 2.1 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

These metrics saw the Serbian sensation who Fredi Bobic dubbed “extraordinary” average a breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.33, ranking him as the joint sixth-best player in the European competition.

As such, it is evident just how much Kostic would add to Moyes’ current options on the left of his backline next season, leading us to believe that the Scot simply must do everything in his power to convince the 29-year-old of a move to the London Stadium ahead of one to Turin this summer.

Phil Hay has confirmed that Leeds United are ‘firm admirers’ of Paris Saint-Germain forward Arnaud Kalimuendo.

The Lowdown: Leeds transfer rumours

Victor Orta is after a new striker to add to the Whites six first-team signings already this summer, with Kalimuendo one forward linked.

Reports previously claimed that Leeds even made a €20m (£16.9m) offer for the 20-year-old, who enjoyed a productive loan spell with Lens last season, scoring 12 Ligue 1 goals in 34 appearances.

A fresh enquiry has been made by the Whites in recent days regarding Kalimuendo, with Newcastle, Ajax and Atalanta also keen on the Frenchman’s services.

The Latest: Hay’s update on Kalimuendo

Hay has kept quiet when it comes to Kalimuendo but has provided a number of updates on another attacking target in Charles De Ketelaere, although The Athletic’s Leeds correspondent took to Twitter on Wednesday evening following Raphinha’s agreed move to Barcelona to share what’s next at Elland Road.

He revealed that the club are happy to match Club Brugge and De Ketelaere’s demands, although the Belgian seems to favour a move to AC Milan. Hay then added that Leeds are ‘also firm admirers’ of Kalimuendo, with a new forward top of the club’s priority list in the transfer market.

He tweeted:

“In terms of what next for Leeds in the transfer market, they’re happy to match Club Brugge and Charles De Ketelaere’s demands but it’s been made clear to them that CdK favours a move to Milan. Leeds also firm admirers of PSG’s Arnaud Kalimuendo. A new forward tops the agenda.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

It appears that Leeds are second best for De Ketelaere, so it could be wise for the club to end their interest in the Belgian altogether and pursue Kalimuendo instead.

The French youngster appears to be a hugely exciting talent who is much more than just a goalscorer.

Capable of playing in a deeper role or on the wing, he ranks in the 99th percentile for forwards across Europe’s top five leagues when it comes to passing success rate (82.6%), showing excellent composure in the final third for such a young player.

Therefore, you’d like to think that he could slot perfectly into Jesse Marsch’s plans due to his impressive displays over the past 12 months, with scope for further development and versatility.

Newcastle United will reportedly now ‘make an offer’ to sign FC Porto winger Pepe in the ‘coming days’.

The Lowdown: Busy summer

Lille defender Sven Botman is expected to sign for the Magpies after both clubs agreed on a deal on Friday night, which would make him their third summer signing after Matt Targett and Nick Pope.

With three areas of the pitch already covered, the Tynesiders will now be looking at other positions to strengthen as the new season draws closer.

The Latest: Pepe ‘offer’

As per Correio da Manha (via Sport Witness), Newcastle ‘will make an offer’ for Pepe in the ‘coming days’, but it is not specified what kind of fee they would propose to Porto.

The Brazilian has a €70m (£60.2m) release clause, although his market value is set at €18m (£15.5m), which the news outlet suggests is undervalued.

The Verdict: Potential bargain

To potentially snap up Pepe for around £15.5m could turn out to be a bargain for the Toon.

He scored six goals and supplied a further six assists in all competitions in his debut season in European football, and he is capable of playing in a variety of different positions (Transfermarkt).

For context, nobody at St James’ Park managed more than 10 goal contributions in the most recent Premier League campaign, so he could certainly add an effective presence to Eddie Howe’s attack.

Also, as Pepe is just 25 years of age, Newcastle would be buying a player who is about to enter his prime and can also boast 32 goals in 159 senior career appearances.