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Manchester United suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in their history over the weekend after fierce rivals Liverpool handed out a 5-0 thrashing at Old Trafford.

A clinical Mohamed Salah hat-trick, plus goals from Naby Keita and Diogo Jota piled even more pressure on under-fire manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as the gulf in class between the two sides was ruthlessly exposed.

It was a humiliating afternoon for everyone associated with United, but one that had been coming since the second game of the season.

Performances have been hugely underwhelming following the opening-day victory over Leeds United and now Solskjaer must find the answers to the Red Devils’ struggles or face an unbearable onslaught for his departure from all angles.

However, the Norwegian manager wasn’t solely to blame for one of the darkest days in the 20-time Engling champions’ history.

No United player left the Theatre of Dreams with any pride on Sunday afternoon after they were all left hopelessly chasing shadows for the entire 90 minutes, yet left-back Luke Shaw arguably endured the biggest nightmare of them all.

The England international was left exposed for Liverpool’s first goal, clumsily collided with Harry Maguire in the build-up to their second, was far too slow to react to a rebounded ball for the third, got dragged across the pitch for the fourth, and was nowhere near Salah for the fifth and final nail in the coffin.

Shaw has looked a shadow of the player that lit up 2020/21 in recent weeks, but his performance against the Reds was shocking, to say the least.

As per SofaScore, the left-back was awarded a match rating of just 6.1 out of 10 after he made just one tackle, two clearances and no interceptions throughout the 90 minutes.

Although goalkeeper David de Gea conceded five goals, it’s clear he got no protection from his porous backline, and it’s the men in front of the Spanish shot-stopper who are really to blame for the chastising defeat.

Shaw was not only underwhelming in his defensive duties, though. The 26-year-old lost possession a whopping 13 times, was unable to find a teammate with four of his six crosses and achieved a passing accuracy of just 78%.

It was a day to forget for the stocky defender, and with fixtures against Atalanta, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City to come, there could be some desperate weeks ahead for Shaw and his United colleagues.

And, in other news…0 duels won: Man Utd lightweight who always gets “bullied” let Ole down v Atalanta

Kieran Devlin has confirmed Celtic’s interest in Hibernian striker Kevin Nisbet.

The Lowdown: Player-plus-cash reports

Celtic signed Josip Juranovic from Legia Warsaw on Saturday, however, that wasn’t the only transfer development regarding the Hoops.

Reporter Peter Martin revealed that Celtic are keen on Nisbet and are prepared to offer Hibs Leigh Griffiths plus cash for the £52,000-a-year forward.

Georgios Giakoumakis is another forward seemingly on Dominic McKay’s radar and Devlin addresses links to both on Wednesday.

The Latest: Devlin claim

Devlin, Celtic’s correspondent for The Athletic, shared an in-depth piece on where the Hoops need to strengthen Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

When it came to forwards, he said that the club’s interest in Giakoumakis could be due to a possible Odsonne Edouard departure or a lack of faith in Albian Ajeti and Griffiths.

Devlin then went on to add that the Hoops have a longstanding interest in Nisbet, who was described as ‘excellent’ by Ally McCoist.

The Verdict: Room for two?

Should Celtic agree personal terms to sign Giakoumakis and then part ways with Edouard, it would be interesting to see if the club would consider another attacking addition.

Postecoglou could end up having Giakoumakis, Ajeti and Griffiths as centre-forward options, and with Nisbet a long-term target and Griffiths not featuring, they may well look to get the Hibs man through the door.

If they decide to do so, McKay will need to act fast, as there are just six days remaining in the window.

In other news: Celtic now looking at late swoop for ‘fantastic’ defender alongside Liam Scales move. 

Even though they managed to break their poor run of form in their latest Premier League clash by beating Arsenal 2-1 at Goodison Park, the overall fan mood around Everton has not been not particularly positive in recent weeks after failing to win a league game throughout October and November, as well as the departure of the club’s director of football Marcel Brands.

The much-needed win against Mikel Arteta’s side finally gave the fans at Goodison something to celebrate, but it seems as though the fury towards Everton owner Farhad Moshiri could well be stoked up again after recent reports emerged claiming that Toffees attacker Richarlison, who scored against the Gunners last Monday, is of interest to the north London club for a future transfer according to Fichajes.

Since joining the Merseyside club back in the 2018 summer transfer window from Watford in a deal worth a reported fee of around £40m, the Brazilian has scored 45 goals and provide 11 assists in 129 appearances across all competitions, firmly cementing himself as one of Everton’s top attacking talents.

Labelled as a “complete” player by former Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti, the 24-year-old has scored three goals and provided two assists in 10 Premier League games so far this season.

His performance in the 2-1 win against Arsenal earned Richarlison an overall match rating of 8/10 according to SofaScore, making him the highest-rated player on the night, highlighting his importance to the club when it matters.

Given how Alexandre Lacazette (30) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (32) are Arsenal’s two oldest players, it’s easy to see why they see Richarlison, who is currently earning £110k-per-week at Everton according to Salary Sport, as a potential long-term replacement for one of their current strikers.

With Richarlison’s contract at Goodison Park not set to expire until the summer of 2024, it would be nothing short of a disaster if Moshiri were to sell him any time soon, especially to another Premier League club.

If this were to happen, it would surely not go down well with Everton fans given how much of an attacking threat the Brazilian has provided for the Toffees since his arrival on Merseyside.

In other news: Benitez must seal Everton swoop for “complete” £51k-p/w beast who plays like Platini & Zidane

Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for wantaway Paris Saint-Germain defender Layvin Kurzawa, with the January transfer window fast approaching.

What’s the story?

According to French outlet Jeunes Footeux (as relayed by The Hard Tackle), the Eagles have been offered the opportunity to sign the 29-year-old over the coming months as he searches for regular game-time.

The report doesn’t mention an expected asking price for Kurzawa, but the left-back only signed a new four-year deal in June 2020, so he’s unlikely to come cheaply.

Patrick Vieira must swoop

Palace manager Patrick Vieira embarked on a successful spending spree over the summer, replacing several ageing campaigners with multiple exciting, young acquisitions.

However, he failed to replace Dutch international Patrick van Aanholt on the left-hand side of defence, leaving academy graduate Tyrick Mitchell as the only natural option in that position.

Therefore, Kurzawa may be the ideal addition, providing an experienced alternative to the 22-year-old after proving his capability at the highest level following six-and-a-half successful years at the Parc des Princes.

Since arriving in Paris from Monaco in 2015, the £10.8m-rated full-back has made 153 appearances for the capital club, scoring 14 goals and providing 23 assists, winning 13 major trophies along the way.

After putting pen to paper on fresh terms last year, Kurzawa labelled his younger self as “a little more crazy” before claiming his improved form was down to his new level of maturity, while also revealing he admires basketball star “Lebron James” after copying his celebration.

However, things have not gone to plan for the attack-minded defender in recent months.

The arrival of wonderkid Nuno Mendes and Juan Bernat’s return from a long-term injury has forced Kurzawa down Pochettino’s pecking order significantly, limiting him to just nine minutes of first-team action throughout 2021/22.

As a result, Vieira must pounce for the 5 foot 10 gem during the winter window, continuing his Palace revolution by adding some much-needed cover and competition for Mitchell.

In other news… Vieira can continue his Selhurst Park revolution with move for £25m “warrior” with “outstanding quality”

Eberechi Eze’s Achilles injury absolutely “rocked” Crystal Palace, says Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge.

Eze sustained the injury in training at the end of last season and could now be out of action until 2022.

The 23-year-old attacker joined from Queens Park Rangers last year and really impressed during his debut campaign at Selhurst Park.

He came up with 10 goal contributions in total in the Premier League and managed to record an average of 1.9 dribbles per game – more than any other Palace player, including Wilfried Zaha (via WhoScored).

On Eze’s injury, Bridge told FFC:

“It really rocked Palace, it really rocked them. Just before the season finished, Eze was playing some sublime stuff.

“Palace finally found a player… no offence to them, they would agree to this I’m sure, they were a one-man team under Wilf Zaha. But no longer did they have to rely on one man. Eze was really, really impressive.

“Andros Townsend said it on the radio the other day. There was tears at the training ground when he had that injury because he’s such a popular boy.”

Patrick Vieira will be desperate to have Eze up and running again, but Palace’s attack still looks in decent shape heading into the new season.

Star man Zaha is still at the club and could soon be joined by Blackburn Rovers striker Adam Armstrong.

According to Sky Sports, Armstrong, who bagged an impressive 28 goals in the Championship last season, is a player Palace are currently trying to bring in.

According to The Daily Mail, Glasgow Rangers are interested in signing Caleb Chukwuemeka from Northampton Town this summer.

The Lowdown: Gers prepare for new season

The Gers enjoyed a magnificent campaign in 2020/21, winning the Premiership for the first time in 10 years without losing a single game in the league.

As such, they are now preparing for a campaign which could also include a run in the Champions League – new signings are therefore expected to boost the squad.

The Latest: Gers eye Chukwuemeka

It is being reported that the Gers are interested in signing Chukwuemeka this summer.

Given that his youth contract will run out in January, he could be signed for a bargain fee of £60,000 – a deal reminiscent of the one the Gers carried out to sign Glen Kamara in 2019 for just £50,000 (via Daily Record). Earlier this year, he was even targetted by Premier League outfit Tottenham (Football Insider).

The Verdict: One for the future

So far, the 19-year-old has very little experience to his name. He has just one season of professional football under his belt as he managed two goals in 28 appearances last term (Transfermarkt). If he does move to Ibrox, it is unlikely that he will instantly become one of the first names on the teamsheet for Steven Gerrard.

However, Chukwuemeka would be joining a group of budding young talents as the Gers prepare for the future. Last season, Nathan Patterson evolved into a trusted squad member, making 14 senior appearances, while both Leon King and Ciaran Dickson made their debuts for the club. The 55-time Scottish champions are thinking long-term, and Chukwuemeka would fit into that plan.

In other news, Rangers are set to ramp up their interest in this 27-year-old.

Many Wolves fans have reacted to the announcement of a new partnership between the club and Warner Music UK’s Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA).

The partnership will see Wolves become the first football club  in the UK to launch a record deal, which will be named Wolves Records.

Wolves Records will help performing artists to benefit from a global Premier League audience whilst gaining ADA marketing and distribution expertise, with track submissions from local, national and international solo acts, bands and products invited by the label.

It isn’t the first time the Black County outfit have invested in projects outside of football, with e-sports and fashion initiatives launched in recent years and US e-sports giants Evil Geniuses partnering with the club.

The record label has partnered with singer, songwriter and producer S-X, who is a Wolves fan and an ambassador to the club’s official foundation. S-X has previously worked with the likes of Lil Wayne, J. Cole and Skepta, as well as earning gold and silver-selling records.

However, with Wolves sat 16th in the Premier League after five games, four of which have ended in defeat following Saturday’s meek 0-2 home loss to Brentford, some fans have made their feelings known about the lack of transfer business done in the previous window and the poor start to the campaign.

Wolves fans react to music label news

These Wolves fans have taken to Twitter to react to the announcement of the record label:

“The Steve Bull stand and temporary stand are falling down and you invest in this”

Credit: @MylesHSG

“Who cares???”

Credit: @WolfgarRichie

“Trying putting the ball in the back of the net first lads”

Credit: @xreecexx

“SiGn sOmE pLaYeRs”

Credit: @jamesjh89

“That’s where the Botman money went”

Credit: @le_tr0llface

“Grow up”

Credit: @BVitler

In other news, Wolves fans have been left fuming after Saturday defeats confirm unwanted statistics. Find out more here.

Said Benrahma struggled to be the spark that West Ham needed as their unbeaten run continued with a 0-0 draw at Southampton on Saturday afternoon.

David Moyes lambasted his side’s attacking play as “poor” to reporters after the game and it’s easy to see why after they registered only three shots on target from 13 attempts, whilst they also dominated possession (58%), via SofaScore.

The Algerian maestro lasted just 63 minutes before he was hooked for new summer signing Nikola Vlasic, who the fans have already taken a liking to after an impressive debut and cameo from the bench.

Benrahma was rather sloppy in possession, managing to make just 72% of his 36 passing attempts, which was the second-lowest of any Irons player on the day. He also lost the ball a squad-high 16 times, gifting the ball back into the hands of the home side.

Furthermore, the £26m-rated dynamo struggled to beat his man, failing to register a single successful dribble and on top of that, both of his shots were blocked, so evidently, he was lacking in the final third.

In fact, football.london graded the 26-year-old as Moyes’ worst player at St Mary’s Stadium, handing him a 4/10. “A very quiet first-half from the Algerian who saw little of the ball and struggled to make an impact in the game. Eventually replaced by new signing Nikola Vlasic,” they wrote.

In comparison to the Hammers’ opening three matches, Benrahma was way off the standards he had previously set. Against Newcastle United and Leicester City, he contributed a total of two goals and two assists, and created five key chances, as per WhoScored.

He’ll have to get back to that level in the coming matches, especially with Vlasic hot on his tail, vying for that starting spot in Moyes’ XI.

Despite Michail Antonio receiving his marching orders, in what Moyes could only describe as “stupid”, it was the 11-cap winger badly let the Scotsman and the West Ham side down with a disappointing display on the south coast this weekend.

AND in other news, West Ham keeping tabs on key David Moyes transfer target ahead of January…

Dropping the latest on West Ham United and the possibility of signing Jesse Lingard on a permanent deal from Manchester United, Claret & Hugh have now shared a possible boost in news from behind the scenes.

The Lowdown: Lingard returning to London?

The 28-year-old has been heavily linked with a permanent switch to east London following a phenomenal spell on loan over the second half of 2020/21.

Indeed, Lingard was arguably a crucial component of West Ham’s eventual sixth-placed finish which saw them qualify for the Europa League group stages, and Irons manager David Moyes allegedly wants to see him signed as an indefinite Hammers player this summer.

The Latest: C&H drop Lingard boost…

Dropping a behind-the-scenes claim, West Ham insider Claret & Hugh have shared a big boost for the club in their chase for Lingard.

Indeed, the 28-year-old is apparently keen to join West Ham permanently and wants his agents to get in talks with the club after Moyes puts pen to paper on his three-year deal.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-news/” title=”West Ham latest news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Lingard is apparently ‘ready’ to move south once the manager’s contract situation is sorted, with the Irons ‘entirely confident’ that Moyes will honour his agreement. The attacking midfielder is also not prepared to sign any new deal at Old Trafford having become ‘very much a part of things’ at West Ham.

The Verdict: Boost for West Ham…

Even though Lingard’s move to West Ham appears dependent on Moyes signing his new deal, all the signs point to that being a formality.

Reliable club insider ExWHUemployee believes the club will make his contract announcement imminently, so bearing that in mind, this news from Claret & Hugh comes as a big boost in the Irons’ chase for Lingard.

Having bagged nine goals and four assists over 16 Premier League appearances for West Ham (WhoScored), securing his services this summer would be massive for the club.

In terms of goal threat, no other West Ham player could match Lingard’s 2.6 shots per game on average, and it’s safe to say Moyes will need that attacking potency in the Europa League next season.

In other news: West Ham player now really wants to leave, Cottee dubbed him their ‘best footballer’…find out more here.

Manchester City have not been shy when it comes to buying players from Spanish clubs over recent years such as Ferran Torres, Rodri and Aymeric Laporte among others.

Looking ahead to the next summer transfer window, it seems as though the Manchester club have set their sights on securing another one of La Liga’s star figures.

What’s the news?

According to a recent Twitter post from journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, City are “interested” in signing Villarreal defender Pau Torres this summer.

As a product of Villarreal’s youth system, the centre-back has made a combined total of 194 appearances for their senior and youth teams, prior to their Champions League semi-final clash against Liverpool this evening.

In those appearances, the 25-year-old has chipped in with 12 goals and four assists along the way.

In terms of his defensive capabilities, the Spaniard has the second-highest number of interceptions (39) and clearances (103) out of anyone in Unai Emery’s squad for this La Liga campaign.

Also, with a combined number of 57 tackles and blocks, Torres is clearly a very capable defensive figure.

Supporters will be thrilled

Having been described as a player that “fits perfectly in teams which want to play out from the back, with coaches who think that way,” by Paco Lopez, this would make the Spain international a seemingly good fit for Pep Guardiola’s side.

To put that into perspective, only nine other players in La Liga have completed more passes than the Villarreal centre-back this season (1562).

Taking into account how three of the Premier League’s top five passers this season are City defenders, this shows just how suitable a player like Torres could be for the reigning league champions at the back.

With that in mind, it would surely be a massive positive for the City fans to hear that Guardiola has his eyes on bringing another defender that can play his type of football to the Etihad Stadium.

Moving forward, securing a deal for the Spaniard this summer could be a great bit of business from the Manchester club and further strengthen what is already a rather strong defence.

In other news: “Man City have discussed…”: Romano drops exciting summer update, Pep will be buzzing