Newcastle United’s owners have stressed the development of St. James’ Park is a long-term project and not something which will happen soon.

What’s the latest?

Earlier this week, it was reported the Saudi Arabian-based owners had bought back the patch of land known as Strawberry Place opposite the stadium.

The site was initially sold by the previous owner, Mike Ashley, back in 2019 for a sum of money believed to be worth in the region of £9m.

However, the site is now back in possession of the club and it is believed it will be used in the hope of expanding the Gallowgate End in the years to come.

But, speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Craig Hope has stressed the club are making it clear this is not a project which will happen over the coming months:

(3:10) “The word been stressed to me by the club is long-term, you know, we’re not going to buy this land and then all of a sudden, within the next sort of 12-18 months or even two years, turn St. James’ Park into a 60k/65k seater stadium, that just probably isn’t feasible for, for a variety of reasons.

“First and foremost, you know, they’ve got to explore all options from it from a structural point of view, could it be that modern technology means you don’t actually have to go out into Strawberry Place?”

Moving on up

Given the recent success of the club and the fact the previous owner is now well and truly out of the picture, there has naturally been a huge increase in demand for tickets.

It has been reported that over the summer there were around 30,000 fans aiming to snap up a season ticket and the 1,000 which were made available were bought almost instantaneously.

St. James’ Park currently holds just over 52,000 fans but there will be major issues for the club to overcome if they are to expand the stadium.

The stadium backs onto building issues on basically every side of the ground with listed buildings, a conservation area (Leazes Park) and structural headaches all to consider.

And through buying back Strawberry Place, the club will have to navigate various structural issues if they are to expand out the Gallowgate End.

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Below the site runs the local metro system which will likely require an awful lot of money and the best architects around to navigate a way to make this happen.

The club certainly have the financial power to do so, but this just shows how it is not going to be something which happens in the summer or even the summer after that.

This is going to be a huge project for the club and it seems they will be assessing all options of what modern technology can do before deciding to potentially build out onto Strawberry Place.

Arsenal seem to produce nothing but the best talent at their famous Hale End academy throughout the years, with the likes of Ashley Cole, Jack Wilshere and most recently Bukayo Saka stamping their authority in the first-team from an early age and never looking back.

Indeed, with Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith-Rowe all members of Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad this term, the growing consensus is that if you are talented and hungry for success, there will be an opportunity in the first-team, which will give plenty of confidence to the next set of youth prospects.

One player who is currently excelling in the academy is Charles Sagoe Jr, who may well be eyeing up a place in the first-team over the next season or two.

Could Arteta unearth his own Walcott in Sagoe Jr?

Theo Walcott joined Arsenal at the tender age of 16 from Southampton in a transfer which reverberated around the country, even more so when he was called up to England’s World Cup squad for the finals in Germany just a few months later.

Over the next 11-and-a-half seasons, Walcott scored 108 goals and racked up 80 assists, although the jury is out on whether he lived up to the lofty hype which was generated following his move in 2006.

What can’t be underestimated is his wonderful goalscoring ability from a wide position. He was usually deployed on the right wing, although he could also feature across the front three wherever required.

Sagoe Jr’s strongest position is on the left wing, although he can also operate through the middle, either as a centre-forward or as an attacking midfielder, and this versatility will be a huge bonus for Arteta.

The 18-year-old is cut from a similar cloth as Walcott, demonstrated by his tally of 14 goals and five assists in 52 appearances for Arsenal’s U18 and U21 sides, and he looks ready to make the next step sooner rather than later.

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Like the now-Southampton winger, Sageo Jr is capable of causing “problems” – according to journalist Kaya Kaynack – from out wide, and the ease of his transition from the U18 ranks to the older age group could stand him in good stead, suggesting that he may not be daunted by making the jump to senior level.

Arteta is spoilt for choice with excellent wingers these days, with Saka and Gabriel Martinelli providing plenty of creative spark. However, there appears to be plenty of chances for young players if they are progressing on the right path, and the Emirates Stadium faithful could soon be about to see the next Walcott in the flesh.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in a move to bring Alejandro Grimaldo to the Premier League, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Free transfer available

Julen Lopetegui made six new signings in January, including Craig Dawson at centre-back, but given his team’s struggles this season, further defensive reinforcements may be needed in the summer if they manage to retain their top-flight status.

Benfica left-back Grimaldo will be out of contract at the end of the season and therefore available on a free transfer having not put pen to paper on fresh terms, and it appears that he has been identified as an ideal target by the hierarchy at Molineux.

The Latest: Wolves eyeing Grimaldo

According to Football Insider, Wolves and Newcastle have both ‘joined’ Leeds and Real Madrid in the race for Grimaldo’s signature this summer.

The Old Gold are ‘interested’ in completing a deal for the 27-year-old alongside their fellow top-flight rivals, with a move to England ‘not off the cards’ despite the attention from La Liga.

The Verdict: Ait-Nouri replacement?

Lopetegui was reportedly willing to let Rayan Ait-Nouri depart on loan in January amid interest from Real Betis, so should the French youngster exit in the summer, Grimaldo would appear to be the perfect left-back replacement at Wolves.

The Spaniard has clocked up 13 goal contributions across all competitions this season and currently ranks in the 99th percentile among positional peers outside of Europe’s top five leagues for attack-minded metrics such as expected assisted goals and progressive passes received.

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The Benfica gem has also been likened to none other than Brazil legend Roberto Carlos by journalist Mootaz Chehade, which just goes to show how highly he is regarded.

Furthermore, Grimaldo shares the same agent as Max Kilman, so this could give Wolves a potential advantage over their competitors in the battle for the 27-year-old’s services.

Chelsea ‘looked at’ Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim before appointing Graham Potter as manager, and have him on their list as a potential replacement, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Amorim profiled

Amorim has received huge plaudits for the job he has done in Portugal, with members of the media lauding him as ‘the greatest manager Sporting has ever had.’

The 38-year-old’s finest achievement was winning the 2020-21 Primeira Liga title, before more recently adding both the Portuguese Super Cup and League Cup to his collection, taking him to five trophies in his managerial career.

The Latest: On the list

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Phillips confirmed that the Sporting boss has been on a three-man list including Potter and Mauricio Pochettino, saying:

“Chelsea are doing their due diligence and they will have a list, like every club does, so I know that Pochettino remains on there.

“Another one that I know Chelsea looked at, at the same time as Potter, is Ruben Amorim from Sporting. They looked at him, but they chose Potter out of those three.”

The Verdict: Plenty of options

Potter will undoubtedly be on thin ice, with the 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday leaving Chelsea 10th in the Premier League table, having lost more games than they’ve won.

As such, the board must start thinking about potential replacements for the Englishman, and Amorim, who has been lauded as ‘sensational’ by the media, could be a very shrewd appointment, given his track record of winning trophies.

That said, Pochettino is also being considered for the role, and the Argentine has experience managing in the Premier League, having overseen 293 matches in the Tottenham dugout.

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Luciano Spalletti is another option for Todd Boehly, and the 63-year-old is another very strong candidate, with his Napoli side currently sat top of the Serie A table.

Amorim looks to be the exciting, trendy and high-risk high-reward option, so is certainly one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Arsenal reporter for GOAL Charles Watts has been left buzzing over the news that Bukayo Saka is close to signing a new contract, dubbing it ‘massive’.

The Lowdown: Saka contract update

As per The Daily Mail, Saka is close to signing a new deal worth over £10m-per-year, as he is convinced that the North London club are heading in the right direction under Mikel Arteta.

‘Significant’ progress has been made over the last few weeks, with Saka making it clear that he wants to stay, and the principles of an agreement are already in place.

The deal would be worth £200,000-per-week, likely making him the club’s highest-paid player.

The Latest: ‘Massive’ news

Taking to Twitter, Watts expressed his delight at the news of Saka’s contract, dubbing it ‘massive’:

“Tough to put it into words how huge it is for Arsenal that Saka’s new deal is imminent. Just massive for the club. Still a few details to be sorted, but biggest hurdles have been overcome. With Martinelli, two of football’s top talents committed on long term deals. Massive.”

The Verdict: Big boost

Saka signing a new long-term deal is no doubt a big boost for Arsenal.

The winger has nine goals and eight assists in the Premier League so far this season, more than any other Gunners player, while he also averages more crosses (1.1) per game than any of his team-mates.

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At just 21 years of age, he is a huge talent with still so much potential, emphasised by the fact that he has already been capped 24 times by England.

Saka was linked with a move to title rivals Manchester City this summer, and so it is imperative that they extend his deal in order to protect his value and fend off interest.

Presenter Mark Goldbridge has claimed that Manchester United loanee Marcel Sabitzer needs to do more to earn a permanent move to the club.

How has Sabitzer played for Man United?

The Austrian arrived on loan on deadline day in January following a long-term injury to Christian Eriksen, and has had a quiet start to life at Old Trafford.

He is yet to score or assist in his three Premier League starts, and appeared off the bench as United won the Carabao Cup, and it remains to be seen whether the club will keep him beyond his initial loan from Bayern Munich.

Speaking on The United Stand following United’s FA Cup victory over West Ham, Goldbridge claimed that Sabitzer has to start showing more if United are to make his move permanent.

“It’s interesting with Sabitzer so because people keep saying ‘I’d give him a contract in the summer.’ I want to get to the point where we give him a contract in the summer, but right here right now, we’re not going to give a contract to somebody that’s behind Fred, behind Casemiro and will be behind Eriksen, so he’s therefore fourth choice at best. So we’ve got to get more out of him,” he stated.

“It’s early days, but we’ve got to get more out of him, otherwise it won’t be a permanent move whether he wants it or not. So we’re not at that point for me yet. I’d like him to get there. I like the player. He’s got to settle and he’s got to grab a first-team slot.”

Should United keep Sabitzer?

During his performance yesterday he lost five duels and lost possession eight times. However, he did manage two key passes, a passing accuracy percentage of 79, two tackles and one interception (Sofascore).

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Erik ten Hag looks set to splash the cash on a new striker in the summer, with Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane linked, and given that the midfield also needs reinforcing, Sabitzer could be an easy addition for depth.

At 28, he may not be a long-term option in the midfield even if he becomes a starter, and whilst it may be an easy deal to do, there may be younger or better alternatives that United could sign instead of Sabitzer.

Mark Goldbridge doesn’t want the Elliott Investment Group to be buying Manchester United.

The Lowdown: Competition is starting to emerge

It looked as though the two likely frontrunners to buy Man United were Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Qatari group led by Sheikh Jassim, but an American hedge fund group has recently surfaced and been put through to the second phase.

Elliott Investment Management is now directly competing with the other two groups and any other interested parties that aren’t yet in the media domain to buy the Red Devils.

However, it has been reported that they are willing to do the takeover in a different way to the other two groups, as they’re willing to offer equity investment or help to rebuild and develop Old Trafford.

The Latest: Elliott Investment is not what Man United need

While speaking on The United Stand YouTube channel, Goldbridge has labelled this latest interest from the Elliott Group as a ‘nightmare situation’ for Man United fans.

He said: “It’s almost a case of the good, the bad and the ugly, here – and I’m not talking about the Glazers. I’m talking about the situation that we’re in. The Elliott Group really do concern me.

“[Journalist] Simon Stone has mentioned that they don’t want to buy Manchester United; what they’re looking for is equity investment or help to rebuild the stadium. Both of these situations are investments. We’ll talk about what that investment is, but for me, it’s a nightmare situation for Manchester United.”

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The Verdict: Could be deja vu all over again

The fact that the Elliott Group is looking to buy the club via equity investment should set alarm bells ringing for Man United fans, as that is essentially what the Glazers have been doing for the past 17 years.

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Therefore, they should be pushing against this and making their voices heard about how this and any other potential hedge fund groups should not be allowed to run the Red Devils, and that it must be a straight takeover bid.

That’s exactly what the Qatari bid would offer the Glazers and Man United, as Sheikh Jassim only wants 100% control of the club and is thought to be willing to walk away from any potential deal if it can’t be done on their terms.

Mikel Arteta has been dealt an injury blow as he confirmed that Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah is still ‘a few weeks away’ from returning.

The Lowdown: Niggling issue

Arsenal reporter for GOAL Charles Watts confirmed on his YouTube channel (via FootballFanCast) that Nketiah had ‘limped off’ in their 4-0 win at home to Everton in the Premier League earlier this month, and that she has been struggling with an injury issue for ‘a while’:

“Eddie Nketiah limped off at the end of the game.

“He went down as soon as the full-time whistle went, he fell onto the ground and then he got up and he limped off.“He went down the tunnel straightaway with one of the fitness coaches at Arsenal. He has been suffering with an issue for a while now, Eddie, which is kind of why he was rested at the weekend against Leicester.”The Englishman has since missed Arsenal’s last three games in total over all competitions, ahead of their second leg at home to Sporting in their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie. The Latest: ‘A few weeks away’

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of the clash at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta has confirmed that Nketiah is still ‘a few weeks away’ from returning to first-team action, in what he describes as a ‘nasty injury’:

“He’s getting better. He’s still in the boot so still a few weeks away. We need to be patient – it was a nasty injury. It’s a challenge that Eddie’s got ahead of him, but thank God he could have been worse so he’s not in a bad place.”

The Verdict: Big blow

For Nketiah to be ruled out for another few weeks at least is a big blow for Arteta and his team.

Both Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard have only just come back from injuries themselves, and so the Spaniard will want as many options in the forward line available as possible, especially if they get through in the Europa League and continue to fight on two fronts.

Nketiah has not been the most prolific so far this season, but has chipped in while Jesus has been out injured, scoring nine goals and making a further two assists in 32 appearances in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt).

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The 23-year-old offers so much more to the side though, with Arteta previously hailing his ‘incredible work-rate’.

Nonetheless, it is a blow for Arteta to be without Nketiah, as they look to beat Sporting before a potentially tricky London derby against Crystal Palace in the top flight on Sunday afternoon.

Leeds United find themselves once again entrenched in a desperate battle for survival, with Javi Gracia the new man at the helm expected to guide them to safety.

Jesse Marsch had managed it last season but was deemed too unreliable to repeat his feat, despite taking over from the revered Marcelo Bielsa who had also became untrusted.

The Whites clearly boast a hierarchy inundated with a lack of faith, and their overwhelming fear of the drop has manifested into panic purchases and backing the wrong managers.

However, what is particularly mind-boggling is their acceptance to go on without signing some valid competition for Junior Firpo at left-back, despite the fans and media almost pleading for it.

It was not even as if they were strapped for cash; the American shattered their transfer record on two separate occasions across his two windows in charge.

It was the undeniable priority and has instead left a liability as their sole option. If only they had some talent from the past to fill in, namely the great Ian Harte, who would displace the former Barcelona defender in an instant.

How good was Ian Harte?

One of the great offensive full-backs, arguably before it became commonplace, the now 45-year-old was a true journeyman, plying his trade all across the English football leagues as well as enjoying a stint in Spain too.

However, it was at Elland Road where he resided for most of his career, featuring 281 times. During that period, he would establish himself as a true creative threat, outlined in his 38 goals and 27 assists.

His stint in Yorkshire marked their high point since the turn of the century too, as he was part of David O'Leary's heroic squad that reached the Champions League semi-finals back in the early 2000s.

The resolute defender boasted a career that spanned decades, as even as recently as 2012 he was lauded by podcaster Nilesh Deshmukh for his "magic touch" over a set piece that he had not lost.

Meanwhile, although he has seen a slight upturn in form since Gracia's arrival, Firpo has struggled since his initial move under Bielsa, paling in comparison to the great Harte.

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His debut campaign saw him handed a 6.60 average rating, which is hardly much improved going into this season. Growing ever so slightly to a 6.65, Pascal Struijk has often deputised in his role due to his defensive deficiencies, despite being a natural centre-back.

Lacking positional awareness at the best of times, were he to offer some firepower up front he could at least be noted as a useful asset. But with just five goal contributions in 43 appearances, the 26-year-old cannot even manage that.

To compare him to Harte would be an insult, which is why this legendary figure would be so integral were he to return in his prime to today's team. It could arguably complete them, offering the perfect foundation upon which to build into a team without a continued fear of relegation.

Greg O’Keeffe has name-dropped last summer’s target Mohammed Kudus as the type of player Everton need to be signing.

The Lowdown: More goals are needed at Everton

Everton are the league’s joint-lowest scorers in the Premier League this season, which may not be a surprise given that the Toffees have been without star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the majority of this campaign.

The Everton board clearly knew they needed more firepower in the final third because of Calvert-Lewin’s shocking injury record and that they’d sold Richarlison by targeting Ajax star Mohammed Kudus.

While it was reported that Kudus was keen on leaving Ajax for Everton in the summer, his form this season has shown why he was indeed right to stay in the Eredivisie as he will have bigger clubs pushing for his signature.

The Latest: Kudus-like player is what Everton need

Despite his scintillating form for Ajax this season, O’Keeffe name-dropped Kudus on the All Together Now podcast as the player Everton could target and if not him, then someone of a similar mould, despite Ellis Simms’ latest heroics.

He said: (19:00) “It’s dead interesting because I think he’s [Ellis Simms] not the kind of striker if we all, well I can’t speak for everyone, but if I had my choice, I’d want Everton to be in the market for like Mohammed Kudus. I know he’s not a striker but I’m sure he could [play there], a Richarlison or those sorts of players.”

The Verdict: Everton are desperate for a proven goal scorer

While O’Keeffe and many other Evertonians would likely love to have someone such as Kudus in their squad, after his stunning season for Ajax, coupled with the fact he starred for Ghana out in Qatar last winter, he will probably have loftier ambitions having proven himself to be a ‘goal threat’.

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Last summer was the chance for Everton to go all out, back Frank Lampard and land a proven goal scorer, but they decided to save their cash and instead brought in Neal Maupay who’s netted just once in the league this term.

Everton managed to get £60 million for last season’s hero Richarlison from Tottenham Hotspur over the summer and at no point did they replace him or even bring in a player similar to him and the qualities he brought to the side, which is simply negligent on Everton’s behalf.