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Many Southampton fans have been slamming the performance of Adam Armstrong in their 4-0 loss at Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.

The visitors almost immediately went behind to a second-minute Diogo Jota goal after some fine work by Andy Robertson, before the former Wolves winger got his second just after the half-hour mark.

Thiago and Virgil van Dijk added to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s misery by the full-time whistle, as his team endured a real drubbing at Anfield.

Armstrong was one Saints player who seemed to struggle throughout the game, losing out on two of his duels, while he also missed with four of his goal attempts and failed to record a single successful dribble or key pass (SofaScore).

The striker was guilty of losing the ball on 10 separate occasions, and the fact that he had fewer touches (31) than his own goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (37) (SofaScore) summed up how little impact he had on the match.

Southampton fans slam Armstrong

These Southampton fans slammed the striker’s performance on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that he is a ‘Championship’ player:

“Perraud – Championship player. Armstrong – Championship player. Saints squad – Championship. Just not good enough.”

Credit: @LoveysShaun

“Better 2nd half. Lyanco is levels above Bednarek. Tella has to start more often. Armstrong was far too wasteful.”

Credit: @CameronSFC

“Adam Armstrong looks broken after 13 games. Buying good Champ players will always be a massive gamble as they can’t always make that step up to the PL”

Credit: @jamiepang

“Adam Armstrong is so so bad.”

Credit: @SB85SB

“I didn’t think there could’ve been a less convincing finisher that Chele but we certainly found him in Armstrong. Shocking”

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Credit: @RJn00b

“Armstrong = The English Carrillo”

Credit: @And_McDougall

In other news, find out whose display against Liverpool was also slammed by many Saints fans

Wolves are looking to make more signings before the transfer window closes next week, journalist Luke Hatfield has told Football FanCast.

It has been a pretty quiet window for Wolves so far, with the arrival of goalkeeper Jose Sa to replace Rui Patricio and permanent signing of Rayan Ait-Nouri probably their main pieces of business.

Most of the transfer talk at Wolves this summer has been dominated by current players Ruben Neves and Adama Traore, who both continue to be linked with moves away from Molineux.

According to Fabrizio Romano (via The Here We Go Podcast), Neves is one name on a list of midfielders Manchester United are looking at. Meanwhile, The Telegraph are reporting that Tottenham are hoping to sign Traore on a loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer.

And Hatfield has spoken to FFC about that potential loan deal and Wolves’ overall plans for the rest of the month.

“The deal with a loan with a view, I don’t think it would work for Wolves,” the Express & Star reporter said. “They’d be losing a very good player, or one of their best players, for essentially a very small fee right now.

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“It would give them very little money to play with in terms of this window when they are looking to make signings before this window closes.”

It is shaping up to be an exciting deadline day at Wolves, with it certainly looking like they could get some last-minute deals done.

Leeds United were keen on bringing Emiliano Buendia to the club before he joined Aston Villa, according to former Whites striker Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Buendia joins Villa

The Argentine was arguably the outstanding player in the Championship last season as Norwich City won the title and sealed a return to the Premier League.

On Monday, it was confirmed that Buendia had agreed a £33m move to Villa, with the Canaries always likely to find it tough to keep hold of him.

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The Latest: Pundit makes key claim

Leeds are also on the lookout for attacking additions in the summer transfer window and it appears as though they missed out on snapping up the 24-year-old.

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claimed that the Whites were keen on bringing Buendia to Elland Road, hailing his quality as a player. The 46-year-old said:

“I think we missed a trick there.

“Number 10 is such an important position and there is only really Rodrigo as a decent option in there. You can never have enough good creative players in your side and Buendia is certainly one of those.

“He is a player who plays in between the lines and can change a game in a moment. He is a special player who can see passes that other can’t. That little bit of magic, he has got it.

“He was the standout performer in the Championship last season and I was very impressed with him when he played in the Premier League for Norwich City. He has proved that he can do it against the best.

“Leeds were interested and there was a lot of talk about a potential move but they clearly never pursued that interest. Great players like that cost a lot of money but they are worth every penny.”

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The Verdict: Leeds missed a trick

Buendia is a superb attacking player who brings guaranteed numbers in the final third, scoring 15 goals and registering 16 assists in the Championship last season.

The idea of him linking up with Leeds’ other creative attacking players such as Raphinha and Rodrigo seemed a mouthwatering one, but it wasn’t meant to be.

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The Whites would likely have had to break their transfer record to sign Buendia given the £33m fee agreed with Villa, and they seemingly couldn’t justify parting with such a big sum of money. Let’s just hope he doesn’t make Leeds regret missing out on him.

In other news, one Leeds player has been tipped to excel next season – find out who it is here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Bull, who made 561 appearances for Wolves during his career, has claimed that Fulham and Scott Parker’s survival bubble may have burst already.

A few weeks ago Fulham were 10 points behind Newcastle United, however, they are now just two points and one place behind the Magpies thanks to positive results against the likes of Sheffield United, Liverpool and Everton.

Fulham have been beaten by more than one goal just once in their last nine games, which was a 3-0 defeat against Manchester City. During those nine games, they have only tasted defeat three times against Man City, Tottenham and Leeds.

Speaking on why Parker’s side may have peaked too early in the relegation battle and how two wins may be enough to stay up, Bull told FFC:

“I think Scott Parker’s bubble has burst a little bit a moment. I think they were riding on a bit of wave earlier but you aren’t going to win every single game of the season.

“Steve Bruce has been on a bit of a helter-skelter at the moment, sometimes winning, drawing and losing but the results haven’t been going for him recently.

“To win two or three games in the Premier League is a lot so I think like Aguero’s title-winning goal for City, it’ll be like that down the bottom this season.”

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Steve Bruce will be hopeful of welcoming back Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson to the starting line up against Tottenham on Sunday.

On the final day of the season, Fulham welcome the Magpies to Craven Cottage in what could be a winner takes all game.

Lee Johnson will be fuming with Josh Scowen after the Sunderland midfielder was carried in his side’s victory over Lincoln City, before being substituted through injury on Saturday.

The Black Cats maintained their buoyant start to life under their new head coach to move up to eighth in the League One table thanks to goals from Grant Leadbitter, Jack Diamond and a brace from Charlie Wyke.

An early onslaught brought Sunderland a commanding lead as they reminded the third-tier of their promotion threat, with the play-off positions now firmly within touching distance after Ipswich Town were beaten 2-0 at home by Portsmouth.

Johnson handed Scowen his 13th start in 15 League One appearances for the season at the LNER Stadium, maintaining faith in the Phil Parkinson favourite who played each minute of the former Black Cats boss’ final three games in charge.

But Scowen was unable to demonstrate much quality during his time on the field against Lincoln, as the £720,000-rated midfielder began to wane heavily after a lively first-half performance that saw him provide an important role in Sunderland’s pressing game.

Johnson would have been far from impressed by the 27-year-old’s overall display, before being forced into a second change with the £8,100-per-week lightweight unable to continue following a knock.

Scowen departed the action just after the hour mark having failed to beat his marker with his only attempted dribble of the match, while failing to find the target with his sole shot and failing to produce a key ball from his 15 accurate passes, per SofaScore.

The Wycombe Wanderers product only attempted a total of 17 passes before being replaced by George Dobson, vastly fewer than goalkeeper Lee Burge who found teammates with 22 of his 44 attempts. The 27-year-old also completed more long balls (six) than Scowen attempted (zero).

Johnson further saw Scowen struggle in the duels, with the midfielder winning just three of eight ground battles and one of two aerial contests, while committing two fouls, being dribbled past twice, making no interceptions, blocking no shots and providing only one clearance.

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Scowen was able to win possession in three of his attempted tackles, yet could now see Johnson opt to rest the London-born midfielder for Tuesday night’s clash with AFC Wimbledon at the Stadium of Light regardless of the extent of the knock sustained.

Meanwhile, Sunderland must offload this ace amid takeover speculation.

Chris Maguire is attracting interest from a number of League One clubs after being offered a new contract to remain at Sunderland.

With the League One season now over for the Black Cats, boss Phil Parkinson is now putting plans in place to build a squad he hopes will be able to gain promotion to the Championship.

A second successive failure to gain promotion from League One will put Parkinson under pressure and his first job this summer has seen three first team players offered new deals, including top scorer Maguire.

Maguire arrived at the Wearside club back in June 2018, signing a two-year deal with the Black Cats from Bury. Appearing 35 times this season, the Scottish forward netted an impressive 10 goals and supplied 12 assists, thus prompting Parkinson and the Stadium of Light hierarchy to offer him fresh terms.

That contract offer is currently pending, with the Northern Echo now reporting that the winger is gaining interest from a number of League One clubs. Along with a new contract offer for Maguire, Sunderland are also hoping to keep hold of Tom Flanagan and Jon McLaughlin.

It is important that Sunderland keep hold of Maguire and they must do all they can to ensure he signs a new deal.

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Contributing to 22 goals this term, his impact on Parkinson’s team has been nothing short of crucial, and that will likely be the case again next season if he stays on Wearside.

Do you think Maguire will sign a new deal with Sunderland? Let us know in the comments section below…

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, Arsenal legend Ian Wright has criticised the club’s summer signing Nicolas Pepe over his performances this season.

What did he say?

The Ivory Coast international has struggled for consistent form in his debut campaign at the Emirates, scoring just five times across all competitions since arriving from French side Lille for a club-record fee of £72m.

And now, Wright has admitted the Gunners desperately need more out of their big-money signing, and that it was a damning statement that his three managers this season at club level have benched him.

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He said: “We definitely need more out of him, I’d like to see him play more and getting the creative players ramming the ball down his throat to get him taking on players. In Arsenal’s current state in respect of money we cannot afford to pay that kind of money for somebody and three managers now are not really sold.

“That can’t happen, we’re not in that luxurious position. Whatever happens we’ve got to get a tune out of Pepe and quick. Three managers have benched him. I’m not seeing enough movement from him, not seeing enough hunger from him to want to make something happen and he needs to start doing that because questions are starting to be asked.”

Absolutely fair

Whilst undoubtedly it will always take a bit of time for a player to settle into a new country and a different culture, the sum of money the Gunners have paid for Pepe means that it is a luxury they cannot afford. The north London side have struggled massively this season, currently finding themselves in tenth place after 25 games in the Premier League.

Can you name all of these obscure Arsenal signings? Give it a go now!

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His team’s difficulties have only made it more improbable for him to succeed, but Arsenal need him to be one of the players to step up and lift them out of their current slump. He is at the moment a £72m passenger, and their season risks continuing to spiral downwards unless Pepe can find his best form as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, David Ornstein has revealed the “unbelievable” thing Mikel Arteta did before the Man Utd win.

Leeds United have been linked with a move for David Stockdale in January (The People 17/11 Via Leeds Live) as they face the prospect of losing Kiko Casilla to a lengthy suspension after the Spaniard has been charged with racially abusing Jonathan Leko earlier this season.

This isn’t the first time Leeds have been linked with a move for the stopper as they apparently looked to sign him back in 2017.

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A couple of years ago Stockdale was fresh off of a promotion campaign with Brighton, and Leeds fans were buzzing at the prospect of signing him.

There hasn’t been too much fanfare about the prospect of signing the Birmingham City stopper in January, but reactions of fans back in 2017 show just how highly-rated Stockdale was before his ill-fated move to St Andrew’s, and if he rediscovers that form he will be a fantastic signing.

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Here’s what the Elland Road faithful were saying on Twitter last time they were linked with Stockdale…

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Following a report in The Telegraph during the summer that suggested West Ham United centre-back Issa Diop was on the verge of a call-up to the senior France squad, the 22-year-old would surely have been hoping his chance was imminent with Aymeric Laporte missing through injury for the latest round of international fixtures.

The call never came though, with Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti the man drafted in by Didier Deschamps instead despite only being a bit-part player for the La Liga outfit in recent times – he hasn’t played a single minute this term, which suggests he was selected because of his name and reputation, rather than for his form.

That first snub may have been disappointing given the former Toulouse man continues to be a consistent starter at the heart of the Irons’ backline, but he would have been buoyed again when it was confirmed that Umtiti himself was pulling out having picked up a foot injury.

Even then, Deschamps decided against calling another centre-back up, which meant that Diop remained in London training with the club who employs him instead.

That surely would have been a bitter blow for the 6 foot 4 defender, given those reports over the summer.

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Of course, it is often said that those players featuring for the bigger clubs in Europe are more likely to get attention and receive international honours, and the call-up for Umtiti only backs up that theory.

The problem West Ham have is that they don’t want a player on their hands who will feel that his best opportunity at representing his country is to leave the London Stadium.

As per The Telegraph report previously quoted, Manchester United have shown some potential interest previously, and they are clearly a club that can easily turn a player’s head.

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Given the centre-backs in this previous France squad represent Chelsea, Real Madrid, Lyon and Barcelona, Diop already faces a difficult task to displace players playing regularly for those clubs.

West Ham must hope that the 22-year-old isn’t in a rush to make his name for Les Bleus, because if he is then an exit could become increasingly tempting for him, and the interest is clearly there from bigger clubs.

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According to reports in The Sun on Sunday (June 9, page 59), Leeds are set to miss out on Reece Brown as Huddersfield Town are now looking the more likely land the Forest Green Rovers midfielder, who is out of contract this summer.

What’s the story?

The midfielder is available on a free transfer. His contract with Forest Green Rovers is expiring, and it is looking increasingly likely that he will leave after their failed play-off campaign.

The midfielder made it into the League Two Team of the Year, and his impressive performances have drawn interest from Championship clubs.

It looked for a while that Leeds would be the side to secure his signature, but the latest report indicates that their Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield will be the ones to sign him.

Proven entities

Leeds are undoubtedly amongst the favourites for promotion next season, but they may fall short in their top-flight ambitions if they target League Two standard players.

The Whites must identify players that are definite improvements on what they already have, and Brown doesn’t slot into that category.

Indeed he was fantastic in League Two, but it is a huge step up from the fourth tier into the Championship.

In recent weeks, the Whites have shown an interest in bringing Harry Wilson and Luke Freeman, two targets who appear well-suited to the demands of a promotion-chasing outfit.

Wilson netted 16 goals for Derby last season as the Rams were almost promoted to the Premier League, while Freeman has been one of the standout performers in the second tier for the past few years.

It remains to be seen whether Brown can light up the Championship following a move to Huddersfield.

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Considering he is available on a free, Leeds fans may feel disappointed at missing out on the League Two star, ions both in the transfer market and in the imminent future.