Cole Palmer’s groin injury, sustained in warm-up ahead of last Friday’s clash against West Ham, showed positive signs after scans three days ago, but the game against Fulham this weekend might be too soon for him.
The No. 10 position remains a problem for coach Enzo Maresca. Estevao Willian replaced Palmer with Joao Pedro taking up the No. 10 role.
However, moving him into a deeper role meant that only Liam Delap was available as the out-and-out striker, although he is yet to hit top form. Bringing in RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons after a month of negotiations was Maresca’s solution.
Selling Christopher Nkunku would finance Simons’ arrival. Nicolas Jackson is on his way to Bayern Munich and although talks are advanced, no contracts have yet been signed.
I hear from inside Stamford Bridge that Simons has rejected approaches from Manchester City and Bayern Munich because he wants to come to London and Chelsea is his preferred club.
If Chelsea do not follow up on the agreed terms with Simons, it is likely Tottenham will pursue him as cover for the injured James Maddison. When I spoke with my Chelsea insiders, I was told they have cooled their interest in Simons, so everything has changed and they have yet to make a final decision.
Chelsea’s other target, United’s Alejandro Garnacho, will relieve the No. 9 pressure and give Maresca options up front. But they are not there yet and must continue this weekend at home to Fulham with his plan ‘B’ front line.
Ngumoha – what a talent
What a game between Newcastle United and Liverpool on Monday evening. A spicy affair with plenty of fouls and Anthony Gordon receiving a red card after a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk, which left the Liverpool captain with two long stud marks down his calf.
The sensation, however, was the introduction of Liverpool’s 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha – another star in the making who Chelsea have let slip through their fingers.
Chelsea were so angry at losing Rio to Liverpool that they banned their scouts from Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool trainers are claiming their newbie is even better than Barcelona’s much heralded Lamine Yamal and his superbly taken curling shot on goal did nothing to disprove that.
Newcastle also have a striker who Eddie Howe says is going to be a big star. William Orsula levelled up the scores at 2-2, dribbling past Liverpool defenders time and again after coming on in the 90th minute.
Grealish is back in the groove
Jack Grealish is back! The talented winger and midfielder says he is enjoying his football again after two pretty thin years at Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola couldn’t make him tick but Everton’s David Moyes is getting value for money after signing Jack.
Kicking off the season at their new stadium was the perfect day with the Toffees winning 2-0 against Brighton.
Moyes experimented by playing a centre-back and central midfielder in the two full-back roles. It worked and James Garner, who is hugely admired by Moyes, even chipped in with a goal.
Grealish had a hand in both goals and the fact that the club has finally bought winger Tyler Dibling from Southampton does not worry him at all.
There is plenty of room for both, says Moyes. Grealish made more assists in 52 minutes of this game than he did the whole of last season.
When he was substituted in the 94th minute, he was given a standing ovation — Evertonians appreciate players who put in 100 per cent effort and Grealish certainly did that and was loudly cheered.
He said; “Maybe at times during the last couple of years I’ve not fallen out of love with football but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should.
My family told me it was my fault and perhaps I should move clubs. When you get out of bed on a match day and can’t wait to get out on the pitch, that’s the feeling I have got back again and did that against Brighton.
I’ve been here for 10 days and I’ve loved every minute of it and the manager spends time with me, talks to me and makes me feel wanted. I love it here at Everton.”
Newcastle have one forward left following Gordon’s red card
Many would argue that Newcastle should have either drawn or even won the game against Liverpool. Losing makeshift striker Anthony Gordon to a red card put paid to their chances in many ways but the club pressured Liverpool late on.
Gordon has been banned for three games.
The problem for coach Eddie Howe is that he is their only recognised experienced forward club after releasing Callum Wilson in the summer and top finisher Alexander Isak is demanding a move to Liverpool.
Club officials even visited Isak at home in midweek to try and persuade the striker to stay.
They failed. He watched the match at home from his sofa in the living room.
Persistent bids for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa have been rejected and a late move for Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen has also failed.
Saudi club approach Fernandes again
Few would disagree that Manchester United have not enjoyed the start to the season they hoped for after spending more than £200m during the transfer window.
It is too early to talk about sacking coach Ruben Amorim but with the club down in 16th place, there is plenty of criticism coming from supporters.
United have one point and scored just one goal and that was turned into the net off Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz. Even the usually dependable Bruno Fernandes put an easy penalty way over the goal.
The problem is that since the Portuguese coach joined United, they have won only seven games. Beginning the new season with such mediocrity is worrying.
They haven’t qualified for the Champions League after losing the Europa Cup final, which means the loss of tens of millions of pounds. A big club like United needs that money after their summer player investments.
Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon have come in but so far failed to impress.
Fernandes turned down a mega offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal a couple of months ago but now Al-Ittihad are talking to his agents about a contract worth £33million a year.
Fernandes said he would be willing to go if the club wants to sell him. It is more unsettling problems for United to deal with.
Bayern Munich have contacted United about signing Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho, who are not in Amorim’s plans after they signed RB Leipzig’s Sesko.
West Ham in panic after two thrashings
There was a hastily arranged meeting on Monday morning at the London Stadium, the former Olympic Stadium, now home to West Ham.
The subject was coach Graham Potter and West Ham’s disastrous start to the season, conceding eight goals in their first two games.
Panic and concern is already evident and although it might seem ridiculous after only two games, the club is already being tipped for a relegation battle.
To make matters worse for Potter, they fell to a 3-2 defeat to Wolves in the midweek Carabao Cup competition.
During the previous week and, as I reported to you, the club’s vice-chairman, Karen Brady, had given her public support to Potter and said how exciting this season was shaping up after accompanying the team on their pre-season tour.
Regrettably, those words seemed hollow after the Hammers were destroyed 5-1 by Chelsea. Many West Ham fans left at half time and Potter and the team were booed at the final whistle.
West Ham do not arbitrarily sack managers. They stuck with David Moyes through a tough time but, wrongly, in my opinion, finally showed him the door. He has since gone on to turn Everton around. Potter’s situation is going from bad to worse.
They face Nottingham Forest away this Sunday. Forest have problems of their own but it will be tough for West Ham to come away with a result.
Fans were angry when the club sold Mohammed Kudos to rivals Tottenham Hotspur but the financial rules played a part in that.
However, their one remaining playmaker of renown quality, Lucas Paqueta, is being chased by four clubs, including Spurs and Aston Villa.
Potter has only been in his current role since January, when he replaced Julen Lopetegui but he has won only five games since, which gives him a win rate of only 23 per cent. Not exactly what chairman David Sullivan employed him for.
Potter claims that spending their way out of trouble is not the answer. Their major signing is Jean-Clair Todibo, who initially joined on loan last season.
Glasner, Parish disagree on new signings
Crystal Palace chiefs cannot agree on who should replace Eberechi Eze. Coach Oliver Glasner wants Club Brugge winger 23-year-old Christos Tzolis, but club chairman Steve Parish wants Spanish right-sided Villarreal forward Yeremy Fino, 22.
Glasner is not sure where Fino would fit into his squad. However, I am told that if both players can be bought for around £20million, they will probably arrive at the Selhurst Park Stadium together.
Glasner has been angry at the club’s failure to bring in players during the transfer window, with only £3million spent on Borna Sosa as cover for Tyrick Mitchell at left wing-back and Walter Benitez as back-up to goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Glasner has only 17 outfield players from which to assemble his matchday squad and is down to the bare minimum for the FA Cup winners’ European debut. There are only five attackers available, which sparked the coach’s concern
Everton’s new stadium will double money available for players
David Moyes is not known as a big spender during the transfer period, usually relying on improving the talent he has around him.
He has already spent almost half the amount of money he spent during his previous 11 years at the club. It doesn’t measure up against the millions Merseyside rivals Liverpool have spent. Everton have written cheques for £120million and brought in eight players.
Their new impressive stadium almost bankrupted the club during planning and construction and left them with debts of £600million and cost around £800million for the 52,000-seater stadium.
At the old, much-loved Goodison Park Stadium, the maximum income generated was £850k per home game but the new owners, The Friedkin Group, who bought out Farhad Moshiri, will generate double that amount, which will decrease the debt mountain faster than expected.
During his previous stint as manager, Moyes could never spend the amount of money that he now has at his disposal with the previous record signing being Marouane Fellaini’s £18.7m in 2008.
Now he is building a new squad which has been vastly improved by wingers Jack Grealish, on loan from Man City, and Tyler Dibling from Southampton.
Hill-Dickinson is not a name you might recognise but the new stadium name is taken from a local law firm that operates globally. They are paying £10m for the naming rights, which is more money for Moyes to invest in players.
Galatasaray still chasing Ederson
Turkish champions Galatasaray are still showing determination to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson.
They made contact with City again this week. As a result, since the situation is unsettling, Ederson was left on the bench for the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.
His replacement, James Trafford, ruined his chance to nail down a permanent place should Ederson leave, with a poor debut and an error which directly led to Spurs’ second goal.
City tell me they are still monitoring PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is not part of coach Luis Enrique’s plans for the new season. His replacement, Lucas Chevalier, is considered to be better at playing out from the back.
Galatasaray originally offered £8.5million for Ederson, which is way below City’s valuation of the keeper. They consequently explored other options but have returned to discuss another bid.
The Turkish champions want to buy City centre-back Manuel Akanji, which I am told could be agreed.
I mentioned already that Tottenham are considering moving for City’s Savinho. Spurs are talking £60million for the 21-year-old, but City value him at £70million.
Will Marinakis force Nuno out of Forest?
Another coach in trouble already is Nuno Espirito-Santo, though not under fire because of results. Nuno is very good at his job and also a likeable man who is always helpful to the media.
This time, however, he has been a little too honest in explaining his side of the row with club owner Evangelos Marinakis.
As Forest scored their equaliser against Crystal Palace last Sunday, Nuno’s assistants gathered around him, showing complete support for their boss.
The club needs that unity now or their season will be under threat.
Nuno said before the game that he wanted to remain as Forest’s coach but he had to get together with Marinakis and former Arsenal legend Edu, who took over as sporting director on July 7. He has got off to an amazingly bad start with the coach.
Nuno was asked straight out if he and Edu can work together. His response gave Forest fans hope. He said, “I believe we can. Everyone wants the best for Forest. Myself, the president, Mr Marinakis, all the club — we want the best for Forest. During my career, this is the first time I have faced this situation and been asked these things and it is not helpful. But I believe we have to create harmony. We need it.”
Nuno wants to bring in a goalkeeper and two full-backs. He said that was the current priority, even before the three main people in the row have spoken. But he insisted…
“We need to have these conversations, and we are going to have them. This is what I think is more important than anything. The players need it, the squad needs it, the club needs it, and we need it. And we are going to have it.”The immediate problem for Forest is that the players can be easily affected by the unsettling reports.
They are also reading in the press that Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou, formerly at Tottenham, are being discussed by Marinakis as Nuno’s replacements.
The mood in the dressing room before, at half time and full-time was decidedly subdued. If Marinakis is not careful, he will ruin all the good work Nuno has done to bring success to this club.
by DAVID BILLINGTON
