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Newcastle United are in a great position of power after exceeding expectations and qualifying for the Champions League last season, and could now target Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic.

What's the latest on Dusan Vlahovic to Newcastle?

Following a report from Foot Mercato, fresh rumours surrounding Newcastle's interest in Vlahovic have risen to the fore, with the Serbian striker who is valued at around €80m (£69m) by his Italian outfit, being tracked by the north east side.

Signing from Fiorentina for €70m (£60m) in January 2022, the 23-year-old has not quite found his feet in Turin and could now be shipped on after financial difficulties and a ten-point deduction – confining the Old Lady to the Europa Conference League – could result in his sale.

However, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has recently revealed through his Caught Offside column that there is "nothing concrete" in the rumours, though this could change as the transfer window rages on.

News of interest in another Serie A star comes amid the potential addition of Sandro Tonali, who looks set to arrive at St James' Park in a deal worth £68.5m.

How good is Dusan Vlahovic?

A natural sharpshooter, Vlahovic burst onto the scene with La Viola and plundered 49 goals and eight assists from just 108 outings as he found his feet on the major stage.

Last season, however, he has not been at his fluid best and has scored just 14 times from 42 appearances across all competitions, including just ten strikes in Serie A, with journalist Emmet Gates saying he is "a Ferrari being driven like a Fiat".

His striking ability is without question, despite being culpable for somewhat languishing at the Allianz Stadium, and among a thriving, cohesive crop at St. James' Park he could finally unleash the full scale of his skill set, potentially serving as Newcastle's next Aleksandar Mitrovic, another bullish forward from Serbia.

Now starring for Fulham, incredibly scoring 43 times from 44 Championship displays in 2021/22 before scoring 15 times from just 24 Premier League appearances in 2022/23, and while he formerly wore his stripes on Tyneside, he only managed to score 17 goals from 72 matches.

This will not emit much poignancy now, with Eddie Howe's outfit fit and firing at full throttle, but Vlahovic could take the baton and pick up where his compatriot left off, blending with the likes of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson to wreak havoc on defences in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Despite enduring a tough time of late, Vlahovic still managed to complete an average Sofascore rating of 6.94 in the Italian top-flight, averaging 2.5 shots per game and indeed scoring ten times despite only starting on 22 occasions.

And given that he has plundered 13 goals from just 21 outings with Serbia, there's every chance that he will harness his qualities as a first-rate finisher with a move to Newcastle.

There is more than just goals to compare the two, however, with their physicality a notable plus point of their games.

Indeed, reporter Siavoush Fallahi dubbed the Juve star a "beast" and "like an animal in a cage" with his ability to hold the ball up and win aerial battles eye-catching. Mitrovic, on the other hand, has "scary" physicality. Clearly, they are more alike than first meets the eye.

Chelsea could be eyeing a fresh striker move this summer, with the club already holding a meeting over a potential deal for Dusan Vlahovic according to Gazzetta dello Sport, via Chelsea Chronicle.

Is Dusan Vlahovic leaving Juventus?

The striker has been prolific for Juventus in Serie A this season, bagging himself ten goals with two assists in just 22 starts for the Italian side. It made him the club's top goalscorer in the league this year and whilst the Turin side struggled – they finished only seventh in the division due to points deductions – it was a personally successful year for the Serbian in that respect.

He was a real threat for his club this year, with his 2.5 shots per game a better rate than any teammate and demonstrating his ability to get in good positions to then fire away at the opposition goalkeeper. His commanding displays upfront led to a WhoScored rating of 6.75 and it means that he was within the top ten best players at Juventus over the course of the season based on that score.

Now, he could be given the chance to try his luck in England and in the Premier League. That's because according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport via Chelsea Chronicle, Chelsea have already held a meeting with Juventus representative Giovanni Manna, who is the current Sporting Director with the Turin outfit. The meeting took place in London and the player was discussed in regards to a potential transfer deal. There is no fee mentioned over a potential sale yet but CIES Football Observatory suggest that his value could be around 60 million Euros (or £51m).

How does Vlahovic compare to other strikers?

The Serbian has proven his ability at scoring goals in a weaker Juventus side this campaign and it suggests that he could be a good addition to the Chelsea ranks if he did make the move.

This is further backed up when you consider how the player compares to others in his position across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. His rate of 0.43 non-penalty xG per 90 ranks him within the 72nd percentile, which is well above average and shows how prolific he can be. His Shot-Creating Actions rate of 0.16 actually puts him in the top two percent in that area. It means that he often has efforts at goal and his attempts to create opportunities often lead to his teammates getting involved in the action as well.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has previously labelled Vlahovic as the "Serbian beast," which shows how highly he is regarded and the presence he provides up front. Chelsea then would be getting themselves a very capable attacker if they did sign the rising star.

Newcastle United will have to make RB Leipzig playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai one of their more lucrative signings in history if they are to procure his signature this summer.

That's according to Chronicle Live, who claim that Toon technical director Dan Ashworth has reservations over the Hungarian captain's €70m (£60m) release clause.

Despite this, Szoboszlai is a prime target for Eddie Howe's side after captivating supporters in the German Bundesliga with his superlative performances, blending his goalscoring prowess with creative ingenuity to wreak havoc on German defences.

Previous claims from Sky Sports stated that the Magpies have sent scouts to observe the 22-year-old in action on multiple occasions over recent weeks, and with Premier League rivals such as Arsenal and Liverpool also mulling over issuing a swoop for the gem, Newcastle must swiftly decide whether they are prepared to pay such a large sum, though it would likely be money well spent for one of Europe's most prodigious midfielders in the business.

Should Newcastle sign Dominik Szoboszlai?

Described as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller, Szoboszlai is a prolific playmaker and has played a definitive role in Leipzig's third-place finish and DFB Pokal triumph this season, scoring ten goals and assisting a further 13 from 46 matches across all competitions.

The 30-cap international ranks among the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of assists, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 13% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Stellar stuff. But perhaps more tantalising is the player's defensive attitude, ranking among the top 11% for blocks and the top 13% for clearances per 90, which could not only enhance his own prospects but those of the aces around him.

Take £40m powerhouse Bruno Guimaraes, for example; the 25-year-old Brazilian has been sensational since arriving on English shores from Lyon in January 2022, scoring ten goals and supplying six assists from 57 outings and being hailed as "world-class" by teammate Dan Burn

A truly spectacular and all-embracing dynamo, the £120k-per-week South American ranks among the top 20% of midfielders for rate of assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, and the top 13% for progressive passes and successful take-ons per 90.

He sits deeper than Szoboszlai, however, and boasts defensive acumen of his own in winning 57% of his duels and making an average of 2.4 tackles and 1.1 interceptions in the Premier League this term, as per Sofascore.

By merging this dynamism across different facets of the Toon centre, there will be an increase in the flow of creativity, control and resilience, only enhancing the thriving squad.

Newcastle have been extraordinary in climbing from 11th place to fourth in the Premier League, and now offer the enticing prospect to Szoboszlai of slotting in as the playmaking centrepiece to Howe's system as the club now readies itself for sustained challenges for European football and silverware season upon season.

The Tyneside outfit's seasonal success has been steeped in diligence and cohesion, and Guimaraes is an embodiment of this. Szoboszlai, while primarily a direct threat, has evidenced through his play that he can work tirelessly across multiple facets of the pitch and as such, could be a devastating tool for Howe to wield, slotting into an industrious midfield with aplomb.

Peter Handscomb scored the first double-century of his first-class career as Victoria continued to dominate on the second day against New South Wales

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2016
ScorecardPeter Handscomb scored the first double-century of his first-class career•Getty Images

Victoria batsman Peter Handscomb made his case for inclusion in Australia’s Test squad almost irresistible by raising 215 against New South Wales at the SCG. In front of selector Mark Waugh, and against Test captain Steven Smith and vice-captain David Warner, Handscomb scored the first double-century of his first-class career to deliver Victoria into a powerful position as they declared on 6 for 510.By the close of play, New South Wales had already lost both Warner and Smith in reply. On 11, Warner was caught at first slip off Scott Boland when he tried to glide the ball fine, and on 8 Smith flashed outside off stump and was caught at slip off Chris Tremain. Both men are certain starters for the Adelaide Test, but the manner of their dismissals was hardly ideal given Australia’s batting failures against South Africa.At stumps, New South Wales were 2 for 95, with opener Daniel Hughes on 42 and Kurtis Patterson on 28. Patterson is another potential contender for a Test call-up, but Handscomb has set the bar high for batsmen trying to impress the selectors. He resumed on 110 alongside Travis Dean on 134, and although Dean was bowled by Doug Bollinger without adding a run, Handscomb was set for a long stay.Handscomb batted for 356 balls and nearly eight hours in compiling his 215, and became the first man since Brad Hodge in 2008-09 to score a Sheffield Shield double-century for Victoria. Since the start of last summer, Handscomb has scored 1147 Shield runs at 52.13 – more than any other player in the competition. He now appears a likely replacement for Adam Voges in the Adelaide Test squad.Eventually, Handscomb was dismissed when he advanced to the part-time legspin of Smith, missed, and was stumped by Peter Nevill. His team-mates Matthew Wade (6) and Glenn Maxwell (10) failed to enhance their Test hopes, but the in-form veteran Cameron White continued his prolific season by adding an unbeaten 75 batting at No.7, before the declaration came.

Neymar would be Manchester United's best player if he was to join the club in the summer transfer window, presenter Terry Flewers has claimed.

What's the latest on Neymar and Man United?

The Brazil superstar looks set to depart Paris Saint-Germain this summer, and the 31-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Newcastle and Man United two possible destinations.

Neymar has suffered with a lot of injury problems over the years, but has still provided 18 goals and 17 assists in 29 outings across all competitions this season.

Speaking on The Football Terrace, Flewers claimed that Neymar would be the best player at United as soon as he walked through the door, in terms of ability and status, but injuries may be of some concern.

"Ability, yes. Output, yes. The name, the man, the magic the skills, I want Neymar at Manchester United for all of these reasons," he stated.

"He would be the best player at the club by a country mile as soon as he arrives, whether he plays on the left instead of Rashford, whether he plays in a kind of 10, off the striker role instead of Bruno Fernandes, if he plays on the right instead of Antony or Sancho, this guy is better than all of them."

"The injury problems though, that's my worry. The injury situation surrounding Neymar is my only concern around him."

Should United pursue Neymar?

United are in the market for a forward, and have reportedly made Harry Kane their top target.

Neymar is a wide attacker rather than a central striker, but should he arrive, Rashford could move to a striker role to accommodate the 31-year-old.

His injury problems, combined with his £941k-per-week wages, means that Neymar looks more like he could follow the route of other big names who arrived and failed at Old Trafford, such as Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Bastian Schweinsteiger, but if he can stay fit, he could help raise United's level.

Erik ten Hag's side have made good progress this season, winning the Carabao Cup and securing a third-placed finish, but someone with Neymar's quality and experience could help turn them into title challengers.

Wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho have scored a combined 15 goals in all competitions, less than Neymar alone, and the Brazilian would be a significant upgrade on both in terms of end product.

If the finances on any deal for Neymar are reasonable, then the Red Devils could benefit in the short term, by having an attacker with Neymar's quality in the squad, even if he isn't available for the whole season.

Watch more of The Football Terrace on YouTube now!

ScorecardBen Slater hit his first hundred for nearly two years•Getty Images

Derbyshire suffered another first innings batting failure despite a century from Ben Slater as Craig Miles bowled Gloucestershire back into the Division Two match at Derby.Slater’s 110, his first county championship hundred for nearly two years, should have set Derbyshire up for a commanding total but the last seven wickets fell for 67 runs as they subsided to 242 with Miles finishing with outstanding figures of 4 for 30 from 17 overs.Gloucestershire had bowled poorly after Derbyshire elected to bat and moved to 91 without loss until Miles ran through the top order to change the course of the day.Derbyshire hit back in the closing overs with Gareth Roderick falling to Tom Milnes but Gloucestershire held the initiative at stumps on 27 for 1 , 215 behind.Derbyshire would have expected to have a much bigger total to defend when Slater and Billy Godleman plundered some desperately poor bowling in the first hour to cruise along at six an over.Gloucestershire’s seamers failed to maintain an accurate line and it was only when Jack Taylor’s off-spin was introduced at the City end in the ninth over that they managed to exert some control.Only Miles consistently posed problems and he made the first breakthrough when Godleman drove firmly but straight to cover where Taylor took a good low catch.It was the first of three wickets in as many overs as Liam Norwell found some late movement to have Alex Hughes caught behind and then Wayne Madsen drove to point without scoring.Slater and Broom set out about rebuilding the innings after lunch with the opener adding to his three one-day hundreds this season before a second collapse handed the initiative to Gloucestershire.Broom had looked fortunate to survive an lbw appeal against Miles but edged to second slip in the bowler’s next over and Matt Critchley drove a return catch to Taylor before tea.The decline continued when Slater was caught down the legside in the sixth over after tea and Tom Milnes failed to beat David Payne’s throw from mid on when he was sent back by Harvey Hosein who faced 31 balls before he got off the mark.Will Davis drove and pulled Josh Shaw for three consecutive fours but when he edged the next delivery to second slip, Derbyshire had let an opportunity slip away on a decent pitch in good batting conditions.Milnes struck an early blow when he found bounce and movement to have Roderick caught at first slip but Derbyshire have a lot to do to claim a first championship win of the season.

Newcastle United return to action in the Premier League this afternoon as they travel away from home to face Leeds United at Elland Road.

The Magpies have the opportunity to increase their lead over fifth-placed Liverpool to six points with a win over the Whites, which would place them in a healthy position to secure Champions League football heading into the final three matches.

Eddie Howe's men were dealt a setback in their last outing in the division, though, as they were beaten 2-0 by Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side at St. James' Park, thanks to a strike from Martin Odegaard and an own goal from Fabian Schar.

How will Newcastle line up against Leeds?

The Toon head coach could make three changes to the starting XI that lined up against the Gunners, with one in midfield and two in attack.

Nick Pope could keep his place between the sticks and the back four may also remain the same, with Kieran Trippier, Schar, Sven Botman, and Dan Burn tasked with keeping the ball away from the ex-Burnley titan's net.

However, Howe could alter his midfield by binning Joelinton in favour of academy graduate Elliot Anderson. The Brazilian has enjoyed an exceptional season, scoring six times in 28 Premier League starts, but struggled against Arsenal as he lost eight of his 13 duels and created one chance whilst being tackled three times out of four dribble attempts – as per Sofascore.

Anderson, meanwhile, won 100% (3/3) of his duels, completed 100% (2/2) of his dribbles, and created one chance in nine minutes of action off the bench, as per Sofascore. His impressive cameo could have been enough to convince the coach to bring him into the XI today.

On the wings, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron could come in for Callum Wilson and Jacob Murphy, with Alexander Isak moving into a central role.

Newcastle's "unplayable" French forward – as he was dubbed by Chelsea boss Frank Lampard – has two assists in his last two starts and could provide creativity to break Leeds down on the left flank.

Almiron, who has scored 11 goals in 25 starts in the Premier League this term, could also replace Murphy as Howe looks to keep the competition fierce and healthy in the forward areas.

The Paraguay international has proven himself to be a reliable goalscorer this season, and along with the £16m wizard's creative presence out wide, could provide him with the opportunities he needs to punish the opposition.

Predicted Magpies XI (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Anderson, Guimaraes, Willock; Almiron, Isak, Saint-Maximin.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are among the thickening pool of contenders for Spanish starlet Gabri Veiga’s signature, with the 20-year-old prospect in electrifying form for Celta Vigo this season.

What’s the latest on Veiga to Liverpool?

Having made a resounding dawn to top-flight LaLiga football, Veiga has found himself at the centre of attention from some of Europe’s most distinguished outfits, with Liverpool included.

According to Spanish outlet AS, the Reds are “already talking” to Veiga – who has a €40m (£35m) release clause – though the same can be said for Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

Divisional rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid are ostensibly front-runners in the race, but with the centre of the park pleading for repairs at Anfield this summer, Veiga could find a successful home on Merseyside.

How good is Gabri Veiga?

Last season, Veiga was plying his trade in his homeland’s third footballing tier, scoring nine goals and registering an assist from 31 outings for Vigo’s B team in the Primera Federación.

His exploits would lead to a smattering of chances with the first team; Veiga would play seven times in the league and three times in the Copa del Rey, impressing and making five successive divisional appearances at the end of the term.

Hailed as a “Spanish gem” by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Veiga’s prowess sets him on a shelf that towers over the throngs of hopefuls looking to earn a place among the upper echelon of talent in Europe, and Liverpool would benefit immensely from a prodigious offensive-midfielder of his ilk.

In his breakout year with The Sky Blues, the 6 foot menace has defied expectations with his clinical and enterprising performances, scoring nine goals and supplying four assists from only 22 LaLiga starts and earning plaudits for his “intelligent” aura on the grass by his gaffer, Carlos Carvahal.

The one-cap Spain U21 international would certainly be a "dangerous" component for Klopp, as remarked by reporter Euan McTear, as the eccentric German looks to rekindle his side’s flame on Merseyside.

Pumping fresh life back into the midfield is the perfect way to ensure silverware is gleaned once again, and with the emphatic resurgence of Arsenal well-documented this season, Klopp might be wise to take a leaf from Gunners boss Mikel Arteta’s book and emulate the feats of captain Martin Odegaard, who has been dubbed "exceptional" by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Signed for the north London giants on an initial loan deal from Real Madrid in January 2021, the Norwegian maestro was swiftly snapped up on a £30m permanent transfer in the summer after impressing with his early showings; a precocious youth, Odegaard is growing into his skin at the Emirates after failing to make the mark with Los Blancos, donning the armband and serving as the catalyst for Arteta's title-chasing team.

This season alone, the 49-cap ace has plundered 12 goals and eight assists in the Premier League, while demonstrating the superlative strength of his rounded skill set by ranking inside the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for rate of goals, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 14% for successful take-ons, as per FBref.

With Veiga boasting a remarkable semblance to his 24-year-old confrere, himself ranking among the top 1% of midfielders for rate of goals, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons, Klopp's Reds could finally have the frontal-thinking cog to whir the engine back into life from the middle.

Liverpool's robust system has been built on the creativity of full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, and while both marauders offer an auxiliary excellence paralleled by a scant few, maybe it's time for Klopp to veer away from the workmanlike midfield he has built his dynasty upon and open up a new offensive outlet to forge an auspicious future.

Veiga is a relatively untested commodity, but the statistics tend to tell the truth and given the fortunes of Arsenal and City, yielding two of football's greatest attacking midfielders in Odegaard and Kevin De Bruyne, Liverpool would only prosper with the addition of their own force of nature to pull the strings.

West Ham United have endured a season to forget, domestically anyway, as they are currently fighting to retain their place in the Premier League after winning just eight matches in the league all term.

David Moyes’ men have reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League following their 4-1 victory over Gent on Thursday evening, however even another wonderful European run would make up for losing their top flight status come the end of the campaign.

Far too many players haven’t kicked on from last season and this has been a key detrimental effect. Jarrod Bowen registered 31 goal contributions last term, yet he has managed only 16 this season, while Michail Antonio netted ten times in the league last season, yet only has three so far in 2022/23.

One of the biggest disappointments is the drop in form of Tomas Soucek, who hasn’t thrived as he did during the 2021/22 campaign.

The Czech international has registered just one goal and has averaged only 0.4 key passes and 38 touches per game this season, which is a vast drop off from five goals, 0.6 key passes and 52 touches per game from last term, and it’s evident that Moyes must finally drop the 28-year-old.

But who could replace him outside of the transfer window?

The Scot must take a dive into the West Ham academy where there is a youngster who could make an impression.

Who is Freddie Potts?

The 19-year-old defensive midfielder has been a regular for the U21 side this season, playing 21 matches in the Premier League 2, grabbing three assists while he has also made two appearances for the senior side in the group stages of the Conference League, already demonstrating that he can mix it in the first team.

Across two matches in the EFL Trophy last year, Potts was sensational, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.5/10 and even grabbing a goal against Cheltenham for his troubles.

The youngster is clearly excellent in position, averaging 61 touches per game while completing 88% of his passes and this ability to control the play from the middle of the pitch is something Moyes has been lacking this term

By making 4.5 tackles and three clearances per game along with winning a staggering 70% of his duels in the two matches against senior opposition, his defensive ability is solid and this should push Moyes into giving him more minutes heading into the final stages of the campaign.

The Hammers' U16s coach Gerard Prenderville lauded Potts as someone that was “composed, ticks things over nicely and takes it forward when he needs to” and this praise looked as though it had a positive effect considering the excellent form he has displayed since August.

Potts may have already made a couple of appearances for the senior side, but next season, Moyes should ditch the underperforming Soucek and take a risk by unleashing the teen starlet.

Derby County midfielder Krystian Bielik has admitted that he is “not closing any doors” when it comes to his future at Pride Park.

What's the latest on Bielik's future?

The Poland international swapped League One for the Championship in July when he joined Birmingham City on a season-long loan, and he has become an integral member of their squad since arriving, having made 42 appearances across all competitions for the Blues.

The Rams star will be out of contract at Pride Park in summer 2024, so has just over one full year of his deal remaining, meaning that both parties will have to make a decision regarding his future upon his return.

Manager Paul Warne publicly addressed the 25-year-old’s situation during his most recent pre-match press conference and admitted that he holds “respect” for him wanting to go out and get game time – but suggested that the £20k-per-week ace’s mindset could change should they get promoted to the second tier.

Speaking to BBC reporter Richard Wilford, Bielik has delivered his own personal update on his stance on his future at Derby. He said: "I have [my] last year at Derby, and we have to sit down with my agent and with the club directors and we'll see what happens. I'm not closing any doors, I'm looking forward to it, to be honest. First time I was on loan here, I was an 18-year old kid, now I'm a grown man with more experience and this is a big club. We'll see what happens this summer."

Should Derby keep or sell Bielik?

Bielik will have no doubt attracted interest from the way he’s been playing at Birmingham – he has already been lauded an “elite” talent by football scout Jacek Kulig – but we think Derby need to do everything they can to keep him, because he’s an excellent player to have in the side, and even more so if they achieve promotion.

Indeed, the Blues loanee currently ranks in the 97th percentile for blocks and the 95th percentile for aerials won compared to players in the same position over the past year, suggesting he utilises his physical presence well, not to mention that he’s won 30 of the tackles he's made on 58 players so far this season, via FBref.

Bielik would also bring wonderful versatility to the squad having operated at centre-back, central midfield and attacking midfield alongside his natural position just in front of the backline, so is a useful option to have in the building should any unexpected injuries occur with the relentless amount of fixtures in mind.