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Leicester City are set to give Brendan Rodgers more time at the helm to turn results around, according to journalist Jordan Blackwell.

The Lowdown: Under increasing pressure

The Foxes went into the international break at the very bottom of the Premier League after taking just one point from 21, with this hugely disappointing start piling pressure onto the 49-year-old.

After the 6-2 defeat at the hands of Tottenham, Fabrizio Romano revealed that the hierarchy were set to hold internal discussions regarding his future, but as it stands, he is still very much in charge at the King Power Stadium.

The Latest: Blackwell’s update

Asked during a Leicester Mercury Q&A whether Rodgers would be sacked if his side lose to Nottingham Forest on Monday, Blackwell responded:

“The suggestions I have heard from sources are that he will be given a chunk of games, but I think Monday’s game will be significant.

“In the event of a defeat, I suspect the atmosphere will be the worst in recent memory at the King Power Stadium, and I don’t think the hierarchy would ignore that.”

The Verdict: Time for a change

Rodgers will go down as a hero having given supporters the memories of lifting both the FA and Super Cup trophies, but now is the right time for a change in the dugout.

The Northern Irishman hasn’t won a league game with the Foxes since May, and if the board don’t make a decision soon, it might end up being too late where the season becomes unsalvageable.

Reports have suggested that it could cost the club £10m to part ways with Rodgers, but paying him off is vital if they want to get Leicester back on track again.

It’s been a while since Tottenham Hotspur had a reliable and consistent option on the right side of their defence.

Kyle Walker left for Manchester City in 2017, whilst Kieran Trippier departed in 2019 for Atletico Madrid and since then, managers past and present have struggled to find a true successor to the role.

Now, current head coach Antonio Conte could be about to fall into the same trap, one that saw another former Premier League title-winner in Jose Mourinho struggle to keep his job at Hotspur Way.

The Italian currently favours Emerson Royal as his first-choice right wing-back, with the aforementioned Portuguese’s signing, Matt Doherty, a backup option.

However, in the recent transfer window, sporting director Fabio Paratici managed to seal a potential star of the future, signing Djed Spence from Championship side Middlesbrough in a £20m deal after the 22-year-old helped Nottingham Forest to promotion during a successful loan stint.

Emerson is very much a defender that still divides opinion around N17, ranging from the supporters often describing him as a “liability” to ex-Spurs captain Jonathan Woodgate previously lambasting his defending as “horrendous.”

Mourinho often made his bed and had to lie in it by deploying Serge Aurier – also regularly slammed as a ‘liability’ – as his regular right-back candidate. He almost acknowledged exactly how poor the Ivory Coast international was by utilising Moussa Sissoko as a right-midfielder to help out due to Aurier’s defensive frailties and unreliability.

Spence could be the exception to the rule, though Conte will need to change his attitude toward the young talent.

“Spence is an investment of the club,” Conte said (via The Athletic). “The club wanted to do it. I said okay, this player is young but he showed he can become a good, important player for us.”

After six direct goal contributions and averages of 1.6 interceptions and 1.5 tackles per game in 2021/22, the England U21 international should be right up Conte’s street with his evident ability to influence the game at either end of the pitch.

One particularly glowing performance against arch-rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup saw two of the Gunners’ legends wax lyrical about the now-Tottenham man – Martin Keown dubbed him a “Rolls-Royce” player, whilst Ian Wright told his podcast: “I have not seen a combative, technical, swashbuckling performance like that for a very long time.”

So if Conte wants to break the worrying right-back trend at Tottenham, then he really ought to unleash Spence and let him develop in the current system whilst he’s still in charge.

It could be the difference between his tenure heading down the same path as Mourinho, with no success to show for it, and him making his own legacy at the Lilywhites.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano: Spurs “explored” 6 ft 3 “extraordinary talent”, Paratici has made a £40m mistake…

Mark Goldbridge and Samuel Luckhurst were both critical of Anthony Elanga’s performance in Manchester United’s 1-0 victory at Southampton on Saturday lunchtime.

The Lowdown: United win at Southampton

Erik ten Hag’s side made the long Premier League trip to St Mary’s on Saturday lunchtime, looking to build on their impressive 2-1 win at home to Liverpool on Monday evening.

They did exactly that, producing a professional performance that saw them take the lead through Bruno Fernandes’ well-taken strike in the second half.

United held on to secure all three points, as they made it two wins in the space of five days, suggesting they have turned a much-needed corner.

The Latest: Media criticise Elanga

Despite this result, both Goldbridge and Luckhurst were unimpressed with Elanga’s impact, with the talkSPORT pundit taking to Twitter to show his frustration:

“Feel for Elanga. Really isn’t ready to be a first teamer yet. Just been thrown in as we have no one else and hasn’t had that nurture stage.”

The Manchester Evening News’ Luckhurst was similarly disappointed, providing his own verdict on Twitter:

“So far, so obvious why Ten Hag wants a forward and a creative midfielder (De Jong). #mufc lacking presence up front with Rashford through the middle and Fernandes too impetuous on the ball. Elanga lightweight.”

The Verdict: Not good enough currently

At just 20, it would be harsh to be overly critical of Elanga but he is not currently at the level required to be a starter for United, considering their top-four aim.

The winger was their lowest rated starter on the day, per Sofascore, failing 100 per cent of his four dribble attempts, losing possession 11 times and missing out in five of his six ground duels (83 per cent).

All in all he has only scored four goals in 32 appearances for the Reds Devils, despite his attacking nature, and there is a lack of elite end product that the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have proven they can have over the years.

It is time for Ten Hag to take Elanga out of the firing line, with Anthony Martial potentially coming into the team once he is fit, or possible new signing Antony.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has provided his verdict on the future of Newcastle United winger, Allan Saint-Maximin.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the reliable source revealed that the Frenchman’s position at St James’ Park could be under threat, as the Magpies chase further attacking additions this summer.

Amid reported interest in the likes of James Maddison and Jack Harrison, Jones stated: “The information I’ve had is that all summer, Newcastle have been looking for a wide forward as well as a centre forward. That means that the long-term future for Saint-Maximin at Newcastle is probably bleak. But he’s had flashes of good moments in preseason that will give him hope, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

The same source previously revealed back in May that the 25-year-old could well be moved on by the northeast side, with further reports stating that the club were willing to cash in for a fee of around £50m.

Howe heading for disaster

While the former Nice man – who arrived in England on a £16.5m deal three years ago – has at times been scrutinised for his apparent inconsistency, it would seemingly represent a notable mistake were the Tynesiders to sanction his departure this summer.

A cult hero among the club’s support, Saint-Maximin has become the real heartbeat of the current Newcastle side, with manager Eddie Howe – who only recently signed a new long-term deal – heading for disaster if he does opt to move on such a beloved figure.

The fleet-footed winger has dazzled the Premier League with his remarkable combination of speed and trickery, continually making a mockery of defenders in a manner that provides sheer joy and entertainment for both supporters and neutrals alike.

While his attacking output could undoubtedly be better – with just 11 goals and 13 assists in 86 Premier League appearances to date – his influence seemingly goes beyond his statistical record, with such a talent not always best represented by his goal contributions.

Dubbed a “genius” by Peter Edmiston, the £28.8m-rated ace is simply a master at carrying the ball forward and penetrating opposition defences, as he notably ranks in the top 1% for dribbles completed and the top 13% for progressive carries among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.

That quality in possession was evident in the opening day victory over newly-promoted Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with the £93k-per-week menace labelled a ‘constant threat’ by Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder in his post-match player ratings.

Those of a Newcastle persuasion will be hoping that such an outing – which saw the 5 foot 8 playmaker take home an impressive 7.5 match rating, as per SofaScore – can persuade Howe and co to keep the mercurial talent at the club in the long-term, with it set to prove a big error for all concerned if he is to depart.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of a new forward in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk has confirmed that the Magpies are plotting a swoop to sign Timo Werner as Dan Ashworth looks to improve the squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He tweeted: “TRUE Newcastle @NUFC is interested in @TimoWerner @ChelseaFC.”

It has been reported that the Blues will be looking for a fee of around £33m to allow the Germany international to move on, although it remains to be seen how much the Toon are willing to pay for him this summer.

He can axe Chris Wood

By snapping up a deal to sign the Chelsea attacker, Newcastle can axe their New Zealand international flop from the team.

The Magpies signed Wood from Burnley in January and he struggled badly as he registered just one goal from open play – two in total – and zero assists in 17 Premier League matches for the club in the second half of the campaign.

Werner’s team-mate Kai Havertz once dubbed him “unpredictable”, and his record in England suggests he could be an exciting player for the fans to watch.

Since making the move to Stamford Bridge, the 26-year-old has scored 23 goals and set up 21 in 89 appearances in all competitions, playing out wide and up front. He joined the Blues after racking up an eye-catching 93 goals and 40 assists in 158 matches for RB Leipzig in Germany.

His record in the Champions League for Chelsea is particularly impressive. The attacker has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 17 outings, winning the competition in his first campaign with the club. This came after he managed seven goals and two assists in 14 appearances for Leipzig at that level.

Werner has also scored 24 goals in 53 caps for Germany at international level, showcasing his quality and versatility on the domestic and continental stages.

Therefore, he would be a big upgrade on Wood at the top end of the pitch, and bringing him to St James’ Park would allow Eddie Howe to axe the former Burnley man.

Based on their respective statistics, the Chelsea star would offer far more in terms of both goals and assists, chipping in himself whilst consistently creating chances for those around him.

It is now down to Ashworth to pull off this deal and improve Howe’s squad before the transfer window slams shut at the end of August.

AND in other news, In talks: NUFC make “contact” for “extraordinary” £25m target, he can be Howe’s Zidane…

West Ham United are one of several Premier League clubs after Espanyol’s Raul de Tomas this summer.

What’s the word?

That’s according to a report from Spain (via The Hard Tackle), which notes the Hammers will face three rivals in the race for the Spanish striker’s signature.

Everton, Aston Villa and Newcastle are said to all be interested, with the Spanish club willing to sell so Diego Martinez can spend.

They are hoping to earn something around €35m (£30m) for his services.

Antonio’s heir

With West Ham often struggling to find the perfect Michail Antonio replacement, perhaps David Moyes could finally have landed on their ideal man in De Tomas.

Standing at just 5-foot-9, the forward makes up for his diminutive figure with sharp movements and incredible passing range. He ranks in the 99th percentile for pass completion per 90 amongst strikers in Europe’s big five leagues over the last 365 days.

The Spaniard is actually the same size as the bulky Jamaican, but the latter is far more muscular which lends to his ability to battle with centre-backs.

Not only this, but managing his 34 LaLiga appearances last season would already be an improvement on the often-injured Antonio. He managed a further 37 appearances in the 2020/21 campaign and 32 in all competitions in the 2019/20 season.

De Tomas managed 17 goals across these fixtures, making for a fine return for the 27-year-old. His incredible goalscoring led to James Dodd labelling him “emphatic” – while the journalist also noted his “fantastic movement”.

With all the creative players that would surround him at the London Stadium, this movement would be very important and could explain Moyes’ interest in the striker.

His fine performances deservedly led to the best average SofaScore rating amongst his Espanyol teammates (of those that played over three games) as they finished 14th in LaLiga – earning a 7.09 rating.

Conversely, the player he would be succeeding only managed a 6.97 average SofaScore rating.

Antonio did manage 35 league games last season, but at the age of 32, this is sure to start decreasing over time. Now is the perfect time for this fan favourite to be phased out in favour of a player entering his prime.

AND in other news: “Next week…”: Ornstein reveals West Ham transfer development, Moyes will be buzzing

Newcastle United are reportedly now eyeing up a potential move to sign Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo this summer.

The Lowdown: Centre-back wanted

It is no secret that the St. James’ Park outfit hope to sign Sven Botman from Lille this window, but if a deal cannot be struck then they will be forced to look at alternative targets.

Lisandro Martinez and Eric Bailly are just two names who have been linked in recent days as Botman continues to flirt with Milan, with the Magpies now looking set to be very busy in the defender market over the coming weeks.

The Latest: Adarabioyo interest

As per The Daily Mirror, the Tynesiders are now interested in signing Adarabioyo.

The six-foot-five colossus made the EFL and PFA Team of the Year last term, and has gained a reputation for being a physically strong defender but also composed on the ball.

However, he only has one year left on his contract at Fulham, and so the newly-promoted Premier League club could now look to cash in.

The Verdict: Good Botman alternative?

If the Magpies do not manage to sign Botman, then Adarabioyo could provide a cheaper alternative.

The 24-year-old could be available at a cut price given his contract situation, and offers added top-flight experience that Botman does not have.

Comparing the two in their respective domestic leagues last campaign, Adarabioyo actually won more aerial duels than Botman and averaged more interceptions and passes per game.

Coming through the youth ranks at Manchester City, he is a player that Pep Guardiola has dubbed ‘exceptional’ in the past, and no doubt has a bright future in English football.

The Toon Army should be relatively pleased if he comes through the door.

Aston Villa are eyeing up a swoop for Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards this summer as Steven Gerrard looks to build his own team in the Midlands.

What’s the word?

The Birmingham Mail have reported that the teenager has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, with Villa amongst them.

The report added that an unnamed top-flight side have had a £2m bid rejected for the player, as Peterborough’s director of football Barry Fry appears to be demanding a club record fee of £15m in order for them to sell the 19-year-old.

Forget Tarkowski

Gerrard has already made a few signings ahead of next season, capturing Philippe Coutinho, Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara as the spine of his new-look team begins to take shape.

Another defender would be a welcome addition to the squad, with James Tarkowski being heavily linked with the Villans, although the manager could well go for youth and potential over signing the more experienced Burnley defender.

Edwards has already made his England under-19s debut against France last year and seems set to leave relegated Peterborough this summer.

His former manager Darren Ferguson lavished him with praise in the past, stating that the 19-year-old is an “incredible talent”; and with clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur sniffing around the youngster, Gerrard might need to act quickly.

Edwards has a slightly better temperament compared to Tarkowski, receiving only six bookings last season compared to 11 for the Burnley defender. The 19-year-old also committed just 14 fouls in 34 matches, an impressive number when you compare it to the 34 fouls for which the Clarets centre-back was culpable.

Edwards might still be slightly raw, but a move to a club like Aston Villa could prove to be the catalyst that he needs to kick on and reach his potential.

An outlay of £15m might seem a lot to Gerrard for a 19-year-old centre-back in the here-and-now, but he could well make Villa a fortune further down the line if they can persuade Peterborough to sell this summer.

AND in other news, Gerrard must axe “frustrating” Aston Villa liability in deal for “unreal” £10m dynamo

A big Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged on Renan Lodi heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Jacque Talbot has revealed that the Premier League side will not have to pay €40m (£34m) in one go to sign the Brazilian full-back ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He Tweeted: “Was told before €40million was the figure but that Newcastle’s bid for Lodi could be structured in a way that meant it wouldn’t have to be entirely the full amount up front. In January heard there was nothing in Yannick Carrasco but interesting his name keeps coming up.”

This was in response to a Tweet from Atletico Universe on the defender’s price tag: “Atlético Madrid would be willing to let Renan Lodi leave as long as the offer is not less than €40m. As for Yannick Carrasco: release clause (€70m) or nothing. €70m is an amount that is perfectly acceptable for Newcastle. [@JaviGomara @mundodeportivo]”

PIF will be delighted

PIF will be delighted with this claim as it means that they can spread the cost of the deal over the course of a number of windows.

Instead of needing to pay all of the £34m up front and taking a large chunk of their budget away, they can pay it in instalments to lower the initial cost. This could then allow them to use the money they save in this window on other targets in order to avoid going over any FFP limits.

Whilst £34m may seem like a huge signing on paper it may not be the case on the books if they are able to make several payments over time. This would be a cost-effective way of completing the deal for PIF and allow them to do more business in other areas of the squad.

Lodi would be an excellent addition to Newcastle’s team as he has an attacking threat from left-back that can make him an exciting player for the fans to watch.

In Europe’s top five leagues and European competitions over the last year, the full-back ranks in the 94th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 and the 91st percentile for assists per 90 in his position. This shows that he excels at bursting forward from the back and is capable of both scoring and assisting goals.

Supporters can, therefore, look forward to seeing him race up and down the left flank if PIF can strike a deal for the defender.

AND in other news, Newcastle now plotting bid to sign maestro with 128 PL apps, just imagine him & Bruno…

Wolves manager Bruno Lage will miss his side’s Premier League clash with Chelsea after testing positing for Covid-19, journalist Tim Spiers has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Wolves host Chelsea

Wanderers are back in league action on Saturday afternoon, as they welcome Thomas Tuchel’s reigning European Champions to Molineux.

Last weekend was a hugely disappointing one for Wolves, who lost 3-0 at home to Brighton, and a response is needed in their quest to qualify for Europe.

Lage’s side are eighth in the table currently and sit three points behind West Ham with a game in hand, highlighting what a tight end to the season it could be.

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The Latest: Lage not involved

Taking to Twitter, Spiers has confirmed that Lage will play no part in proceedings, however, having tested positive for Covid:

“Bruno Lage sidelined with covid and missing the Chelsea game. Keepers coach Tony Roberts sitting in the chair.”

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The Verdict: Must-win game

It will be a good chance for Tony Roberts to test himself in the Wolves hot seat, for what is undoubtedly an important game for Wanderers.

It would be a huge shame if their season ended up tailing off in the final weeks of the season, having worked so hard to get into the European picture.

Chelsea are not firing on all cylinders and lost at Everton last weekend, so Wolves must believe that they can pick up a precious three points at Molineux.

In other news, one Wolves player could leave the club this summer. Find out who it is here.