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Newcastle United were put to the sword by a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Manchester United as they fell to a disappointing 4-1 defeat away at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

Steve Bruce’s side couldn’t stop the Red Devils’ recently arrived Portuguese superstar as he scored a brace, and while they did get back on level terms at 1-1 thanks to a goal from Javier Manquillo, it felt almost inevitable that United’s pressure would eventually tell.

While Freddie Woodman had a day to forget in between the sticks as he let in a couple of cheap goals, Isaac Hayden’s performance was equally worrying and concerning.

His cause certainly wasn’t helped by the fact he was thrust into a centre-back role against a United side teeming with superb attacking players, and that unfamiliarity really told with his positioning and sense of marking.

As per Sofascore, he lost the only duel that he was involved in, which is incredibly disappointing for a defender – to put that into context, Joe Willock won a mammoth 13 of the 14 that he contested.

Hayden also made no tackles and just the one interception, while only one of his six attempted long balls found its mark – either defensively or on the ball, the former Arsenal starlet just couldn’t get going or find his footing in the game.

That was reflected in some of the post-match player ratings handed out after the game, with The Shields Gazette’s Miles Starforth giving him a five, and saying: “Recalled in defence after recovering from a knee injury, had a challenging afternoon.”

And for The Independent, Jamie Braidwood also gave him a five, adding: “Lost Ronaldo for United’s opener and was then beaten by the Portuguese for his second goal after the break. Was playing out of position and it showed at times.”

Hayden’s display was incredibly lightweight in a game where he needed to stand strong in the face of intense pressure.

While Woodman will take the brunt of the criticism, and understandably so, Hayden’s performance did nothing to stop Ronaldo or United in their tracks.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United have an exciting academy talent in this star…

Southampton fans were delighted at a video of Kami Doyle scoring a free-kick for the club’s U18 side against Birmingham City at the weekend.

At St. Mary’s Stadium, they have one of the best free-kick takers in the Premier League in midfielder and captain James Ward-Prowse. He has found the back of the net directly ten times for the Saints from such situations (Transfermarkt), while his set-piece ability is a true threat for the south-coast outfit all over the pitch.

If a recent video is anything to go by, he is also teaching the club’s youngster how to strike the ball perfectly from such situations. A clip of Ward-Prowse and Doyle taking free-kicks together at the club’s training ground has emerged, and Doyle then went on to find the back of the net against Birmingham from a similar area.

The video was shared on Southampton’s official Twitter account, and it attracted plenty of attention from the supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Doyle free-kick below

“Love love love this!!!”

Credit: @_Firebirding

“Call him up rn”

Credit: @sfc__Jay

“This is SO good”

Credit: @RhysThomas2014

“This is what our club is about”

Credit: @andreift9

“Kami Doyle – remember the name. An absolute star in the making.”

Credit: @DH4Teen

“This is brilliant, the head down from nipper and then the look from Prowsey.”

Credit: @TYSONDURAN

In other news, Southampton fans were delighted with latest Martin Semmens move.

Midlands journalist Luke Hatfield can understand why Norwich City have slapped a £40m asking price on Todd Cantwell amid interest from Aston Villa.

Villa have been linked with another raid on Norwich after previously signing Emiliano Buendia from the club.

Cantwell is reportedly seen as a potential replacement for Jack Grealish, who has become the most expensive player in British history by moving to Manchester City for a fee of £100m.

Cantwell enjoyed a superb season in the Championship last term as Norwich won promotion back to the Premier League.

He made 34 appearances in all competitions and scored six goals, while also registering eight assists.

In the top-flight, he has yet to score or register an assist, which could be partly down to the opposition they have faced, having played both Liverpool and Manchester City.

Hatfield does not think that such a fee is overpriced, especially if Villa are willing to pay up, although he has doubts over whether he will end up joining Dean Smith’s side.

He said: “Is it overpriced? I suppose the price or the value for a player is whatever a club is really willing to pay for him.

“But for someone of Todd Cantwell’s quality and potential already, you can understand why Norwich are asking for £40 million.

“I don’t see him going to Villa this summer.”

Some Wolves fans have been left buzzing as a transfer update emerged on Odsonne Edouard.

As per The Daily Telegraph, the Midlands club are one of a number of teams in the Premier League that have considered signing the Celtic striker in the summer window, along with Leicester City, West Ham United, Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace.

Edouard is a player who is likely looking to make the step up from the Scottish Premiership, having scored no fewer than 22 goals and supplied a further six assists in 40 games in total over all competitions across the 2020/21 season (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, the Molineux faithful could do with another experienced player up top to cover or play alongside Raul Jimenez, and the French 23-year-old may well fit the bill.

Wolves fans on Edouard transfer update

These WWFC supporters buzzed as the transfer update on Edouard was shared by Talking Wolves on their Twitter page:

“YESSSS”

Credit: @Ethan74917547

“Tears in my eyes”

Credit: @TobyMarshall__

“Yes. Yes. And twice on Sunday’s.”

Credit: @PaulLappage

“I beg of you get him in, I know we need players in other areas but I love him”

Credit: @Millenwwfc

“Get it done Jeff”

Credit: @JStanley_wwfc

“This would be an excellent signing. I’ve been wanting Edouard at Wolves for ages!”

Credit: @amarsmusicshow

In other news, find out what pre-Tottenham news has Wanderers fuming here!

A number of Liverpool fans have been calling for Divock Origi to leave the club after three Premier League teams were linked with a move for him.

The Reds got off to a winning start in the top flight on Saturday evening, with Jurgen Klopp’s men securing a 3-0 victory away to Norwich City. However, Origi played no part in proceedings, with the Belgian becoming increasingly surplus to requirements at Liverpool.

Last season he started just two top-flight matches and netted only once in all competitions, the goal coming in a 7-2 Carabao Cup romp against Lincoln.

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The 26-year-old will always be appreciated for some of the huge goals he has scored for the Reds, most notably the clincher against Tottenham in the 2019 Champions League final, but his time at Anfield could soon be up.

According to The Telegraph [via Anfield Edition on Twitter], Wolves, Crystal Palace and West Ham are all eyeing up a summer move for him.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/the-latest-liverpool-transfer-news-copy-4/” title=”The latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans call for Origi to leave

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to give their approval to the prospects of Origi moving on in the next few weeks.

“I’m on my knees”

Credit: @DannyBains25

“Get him off”

Credit: @pieckbootysweat

“Please please please buy him”

Credit: @Cody3Smith

“Take him please”

Credit: @CHADO_K_

“I beg”

Credit: @JoeeSZN

“Please be true”

Credit: @mdeeks76

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting to an injury update on a rumoured transfer target. Read more here.

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed when Real Madrid fans can expect Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao to return to action, after their ACL injury lay-off.

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• Courtois & Militao following individual training routines
• Could be back in action by mid-April
• Should be ready to face Barcelona in El Clasico

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Courtois and Eder Militao, who have been sidelined for the past six months due to anterior cruciate ligament injuries picked up in the initial phase of the campaign. Both players have been following a tailor-made training schedule and Ancelotti indicated that the duo could be approximately six weeks away from returning to action, offering a potential boost for Real Madrid in the crucial final phase of the season as they vie for La Liga and Champions League honours.

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• WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

  Speaking to reporters, Ancelotti informed: "The date is not defined. But we have to take advantage of the national team break and then the mini-break of the Copa del Rey. At that time they will do tasks with the team. After April 14th, after Mallorca, they could be there.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The timing of their return aligns with pivotal matches on Real Madrid's calendar, including the highly anticipated El Clasico clash against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 21. Additionally, if Real Madrid progress in the Champions League, Courtois and Militao could feature in the all-important second leg of the quarter-final tie – which are slated to be held on April 16/17.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Real Madrid have got a shot in their arm before facing Valencia on Saturday as Dani Carvajal, Eduardo Camavinga, and Jude Bellingham are back in contention. Los Blancos have opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Liga table and another victory at Mestalla will put the onus on Barcelona and Girona to churn out a win when they take the pitch a day later on Sunday against Athletic Club and Mallorca respectively.

Former Everton defender Michael Ball believes that Sheffield United player Sander Berge is a player the Toffees would like to bring to Goodison Park. 

The 21-year-old midfielder signed for Sheffield United in January 2020, featuring 16 times for the Blades in all competitions last season.

After Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League, there has been interest in the signature of Berge from Everton, but the Star have reported that Arsenal are interested in a double swoop of the Bramhall Lane outfit, showing interest in Sander Berge and also goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

With possible competition for the 6 ft 5 Berge, Everton will need to act swiftly if they want to land his signature, with Ball telling Transfer Tavern: “I think it’s one Everton would like to bring in, but it’s always going to be a sort of sitting and wait to see who actually moves on going forward and whether they’ve got the cash to actually make that deal happen.”

Prior to Sheffield United’s opening day Championship match against Birmingham City in pre-match press conference manager Slavisa Jokanovic told the Examiner: “There’s a long time in the window ahead of us and I hope the guys will stay with us because they are important players in my squad.”

Berge completed 90 minutes for the Blades in their defeat to Birmingham City over the weekend but with interest from the Premier League it remains to be seen where Berge will be playing his football when the transfer window closes at the end of this month.

Gio Reyna played just 10 minutes off the bench for Nottingham Forest, who were beaten 4-2 by Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday.

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• Reyna comes off bench again
• Plays just 10 minutes
• Forest fall 4-2 to Villa

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Aston Villa were absolutely on fire early, scoring three first-half goals to seemingly put the game out of reach. Ollie Watkins got the first, scoring just four minutes in while Douglas Luiz added goals 10 minutes apart later in the half.

  Villa, though, couldn't make it to the locker room with that three-goal lead. A Moussa Niakhate goal in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time gave Forest hope, and Morgan Gibbs-White used that hope to make it 3-2 with another goal just three minutes into the second half.

  Just as the comeback felt on, Leon Bailey put the match beyond doubt, making it 4-2 in the 61st minute to lock up three points for Villa.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The loss keeps Forest right in the thick of a relegation race. They currently sit 16th in the league, just four points ahead of 18th-placed Luton Town. That gap could shrink to one, though, as Luton do have a game in hand.

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  USMNT IMPACT

  Reyna's role at Forest continues to be extremely limited. He's only featured off the bench so far, having played just 39 minutes across his three appearances.

  The loan move to Forest hasn't provided much of a change for Reyna, who continues to be used sporadically despite changing clubs in the winter. There were no reasons to be concerned about Forest easing him in but, nearly a month after his arrival, he still hasn't cracked the Forest XI.

  Matt Turner, meanwhile, remains on the bench as Forest's clear No.2 and will need some sort of injury or massive change to reclaim his place in the XI.

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  GOAL'S RATINGS

  Gio Reyna (6/10):

  Got nine touches and completed eight of his nine passes. Looked solid, but there's only so much you can do with a 10-minute cameo.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are paying out another £187,000 at Wrexham after receiving a welcome SToK Racecourse stadium boost.

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• Co-chairman looking to acquire lease to ground
• Supporters group ready to pass that on
• Positive progress being made on and off the field

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Hollywood co-chairmen in North Wales have been leading a bid to acquire the lease to the club’s iconic ground from the Wrexham Football Supporter’s Society Limited (WST) – having paid £2m to purchase the freehold of the Racecourse Ground back in June 2022.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Negotiations between the club and WST have become protracted, but a positive outcome that benefits all parties is now in sight – with Wrexham announcing that a recommendation has been made to the supporters membership group that a proposal from the current board should be accepted.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  With the stadium lease set to be surrendered, the Red Dragons can press ahead with their Kop stand redevelopment project. It has also been agreed that the club will remain in its current surroundings until at least 2115.

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• WHAT THEY SAID

  Reynolds and McElhenney have said in a statement confirming that the club will make a payment of £187,000 upon surrender of the lease, a payment of £1,000 per annum (increasing by 3% per annum) and meet the legal costs of the WST connected with the surrender of the lease: "We were delighted to receive the support of the Directors of the WST and share their understandable desire to protect the long-term future of the Club. Our legacy at the Club will not be defined while we are its custodians, so we wanted to address the anomaly in the WST lease for the Racecourse Ground that did not include the requirement for the team to actually play at the stadium, only not allow it to be used for any other purpose. We didn’t want anyone in the future to be able to exploit that position.

  "The payment of £187,000, is an equivalent amount to that contributed by fans to save the Club. To know that we will provide the funding to effectively pay everyone back who contributed to save the Club is worth every penny and gives us a great deal of satisfaction. We would appeal to the 824 members who have a vote, to do so in favour of the proposal and allow the Club to continue on this wonderful journey we are all on."

Manchester City should be relegated from the Premier League if they are found guilty of breaking Financial Fair Play rules, says Geoff Shreeves.

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• Man City charged with 115 charges
• Everton already deducted 10 points
• Many say champions could be relegated

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The reigning European and English champions have been charged with 115 breaches of financial regulations by the Premier League and the case is expected to go ahead later this year. Many are calling for City to be kicked out of the top-flight if they are found guilty, and ex-Sky Sports figure Shreeves feels such a drastic punishment must be on the cards.

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  WHAT SHREEVES SAID

  "The Everton and Manchester City charges are very different," he told . "You can't compare the two directly and Everton were in dialogue with the Premier League all the way through their process. I think with Manchester City, it will come to court but not for two years at least. It's a long, a long, long way down the road. I don't see that the Premier League would have any other option [than to relegate City if they are found guilty]. They've set a precedent with Everton with those points deductions. They primarily pushed for a 12-point deduction. So it has to be a possibility, it has to be."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Many pundits have argued that the Premier League set a precedent by docking Everton 10 points this season for breaking financial rules. Given City are said to have committed so many offences between 2009 and 2018, they may face a much more extreme sanction if found guilty. Everton have appealed against their punishment, but they are in danger of further sanctions as they and Nottingham Forest have been hit with more recent charges.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

  City's case will be heard later this year but last season's Premier League and Champions League winners are not expected to receive a verdict until next year. In the meantime, they will continue their bid to retain the treble of trophies they won last season, with a league game against Chelsea on Saturday.