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Sheffield Wednesday have enjoyed quite a positive week, though former goalkeeper Chris Kirkland believes Garry Monk is still in the hot-seat in Yorkshire.

On Tuesday night, the Owls ended a run of four straight defeats by shocking promotion favourites AFC Bournemouth 1-0 at Hillsborough, It was also their first win on their own patch since February.

They were also dealt the news that their 12-point deduction would be halved, which is effective immediately, meaning they now sit in positive figures with five points at the foot of the Championship table.

However, the former Owls legend believes another poor run could seal the 41-year-old’s fate at Wednesday.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Kirkland said:

“Garry, obviously with the deduction, it’s going to be tough. You’re always playing catch up.

“They got a big win against Bournemouth, nobody will have seen that one coming, obviously.

“But yeah I can see it [getting sacked]. I think if he loses a few more games the board will start to panic because they’ve got to stay up.

“Sheffield Wednesday going into League One, you know, with all the money troubles and everything could finish the club.”

The Owls are now merely one victory away from pulling themselves out of the drop zone, a far greater outlook than earlier in the week as they were still sat in minus figures, even despite beating the Cherries.

Monk has been in charge at Hillsborough since September 2019, replacing Steve Bruce several months after his departure to Newcastle United.

In 57 matches at the helm, the former Swansea and Leeds man has guided the south Yorkshire outfit to just 19 wins, averaging 1.23 points per game, via Transfermarkt.

That’s a win percentage of just 33.3%, which is currently worse than Dave Jones (35.8%) and Stuart Gray (38.24%), and is the same as Jos Luhukay, as per YorkshireLive.

As Kirkland says, a few more poor results and it could bring chairman Dejphon Chansiri to make the major call in sacking his man, with the international break on the horizon, there may not be a better opportunity to do so.

AND in other news, Monk has to axe Sheffield Wednesday flop after another shocker

Rangers chief Ross Wilson could be about to cause the club to misfire on yet another winger at Ibrox…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Record, the Scottish giants are keeping tabs on Newcastle United ace Jacob Murphy over a possible summer transfer.

It’s claimed that the 25-year-old is on a list of potential targets should Steven Gerrard offload some of the fringe players on the wage book.

Murphy cost the Magpies £12m back in 2017 and has had to go out on loan to Championship duo West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday in the last 18 months.

Ojo 2.0

This has all the hallmarks of being a typical wide man mistake at Ibrox – and although Wilson isn’t culpable for the past, he would be if he pushes ahead with a move to sign Murphy.

He’s a player that has struggled to break into the senior setup at St James’ Park whilst United have in the Premier League and it was only this season that he had started to show glimpses of why they splashed eight-figures to sign him.

Although the former England U21 international has hardly been prolific throughout numerous loan spells – per Transfermarkt, he’s only surpassed a tally of ten goals for the season once and that was at League One outfit Coventry City.

His attempt of nine goals this season for the Owls was a solid effort but could be an anomaly when looking back in years to come.

Murphy only shoots 1.7 times per game and is also dispossessed 1.3 times per match too, via WhoScored.

His lack of exposure to the top-flight hints that this one could be similar to last season’s move for Sheyi Ojo, who was dubbed one of the worst players by supporters.

The Liverpool man was another player to go out on many loans, including a temporary spell at Ibrox where he managed to score just one goal all season.

Murphy’s final ball and composure in the final third has been dubbed as “erratic” by Yorkshire Live, which only emphasises the worry of inconsistency surrounding the winger.

Wilson simply has to avoid this move at all costs.

AND in other news, Rangers ace has been Steven Gerrard’s unsung hero

After the roller-coaster ride of their 4-3 triumph over Leeds United last weekend, Liverpool enjoyed a more comfortable win against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds took home all three points thanks to a double from Sadio Mane, with Andreas Christensen’s red card at the end of the first-half ensuring Jurgen Klopp’s side didn’t have to sweat too much.

Can you spot your Xabi Alonso from your Bruno Cheyrou? This Liverpool quiz will have you questioning your knowledge…

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One man who didn’t enjoy the greatest of games for the Merseyside club however, was Georginio Wijnaldum. The Netherlands international has got greater competition for his place following Thiago’s arrival, and on the basis of his display against Chelsea, he’s certainly the one whose place is most under threat.

As per Sofascore, three of his four shots were off target, was dribbled past three times, and lost possession on eight separate occasions. And after watching his performance, Liverpool fans took to Twitter to voice their frustrations.

A couple of Liverpool fans seemed to have had enough with Wijnaldum, and suggested that he should leave – reports of course have claimed that Barcelona are very much interested in luring him away from Anfield.

If Liverpool fans were waiting to see how Thiago would start life on Merseyside, then the Spain international didn’t disappoint with his second-half appearance.

Despite playing just 45 minutes, he made more passes than anyone for Chelsea, and Klopp will be keen to get him into the starting line-up as soon as possible.

Wijnaldum’s ineffectiveness against the Blues may just give him the reason to get the former Bayern Munich man integrated immediately.

Phil Jones has struggled ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United. 

Jones has been a regular sight on the sidelines during his time at Old Trafford as he has succumbed to multiple injuries.

According to The Athletic, Man United are hopeful he can turn his career around and become the next Nemanja Matic. However, Laurie Whitwell reported that Jones has attracted attention from Serie A, although there are only a few clubs who can afford his wages.

The Mirror reported earlier this year that the Red Devils are ready to let him go for £12m in the summer. His old boss David Moyes is also interested in signing him when the transfer market opens, depending on whether or not West Ham stay in the Premier League.

Jones is apparently open to a move as he wants to be playing regularly, which is something Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot guarantee. He has dropped below the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly in the pecking order and could be on his way out sooner rather than later. Either way, fans will have to wait and see what happens before the start of next season.

Unsurprisingly, loads of United fans blasted the transfer update on social media, with one supporter calling it an “absolute joke” while another urged the board to “get rid ASAP.” One fan branded Jones as “deadwood” in reference to the fact he has only played two games in the Premier League this season.

Scroll down through some of the scathing reactions so far…

United fans, do you think Ed Woodward should sell Phil Jones? Let us know down below!

Allan Saint-Maximin has been tipped to leave Newcastle United in the summer transfer window as he has drawn focus from Wolverhampton Wanderers, according to the Daily Mail.

As per the outlet, Wolves are not looking to sign too many players, but one man that they are focusing on signing is Saint-Maximin, who the publication have tipped to leave St. James’ Park.

Indeed, given his rather impressive debut season in England, this would not be good news for the Magpies if they lose him, especially to a Premier League rival.

Saint-Maximin scored three goals and made a further four assists in 26 games in the 2019/20 campaign in the top flight, while also averaging 1.8 shots, 1.3 key passes and 4.7 dribbles per game (via Whoscored).

The 23-year played a key part in keeping the Tyneside club in England’s highest division, but being a standout performer, some members of the Toon Army may be wondering at what potential cost.

If the proposed takeover in the North East is not approved by the league, then Saint-Maximin may well look elsewhere to further his ambition, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s team may fit given that they can still possibly qualify for the UEFA Champions League if they win the Europa League.

Former Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United and England international goalkeeper Paul Robinson has previously suggested that the Frenchman could leave if the takeover collapses, so the chances of him staying could be boosted if the £300 million deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) group is given the green light.

Nevertheless, surely NUFC will look to keep Saint-Maximin out of the grasp of the likes of WWFC.

Geordies, will ASM leave this summer? Comment below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Marcelo Bielsa has painted a rather glum picture for Robbie Gotts’ short-term future at Leeds United as he’s made it clear that it’s going to be tough for him to get any first-team minutes in the near future.

You can understand why Bielsa is reluctant to roll the dice on Gotts as his main concern at Elland Road isn’t currently bringing through the young talent, it’s getting the team promoted to the Premier League.

Speaking about the youngster previously, Bielsa noted: “Gotts is a player I feel guilty about because he does everything to try to achieve his goal, even though he hasn’t had minutes on the pitch.

“This is unfair for Gotts, it is very, very difficult for me to resolve,” the Argentine added.

The Whites are 11 points clear of third place, and while that may be seen as a comfortable position Leeds can’t afford to let up, and therefore Bielsa can’t experiment.

This isn’t only bad news for Gotts though, there is another young player who many fans have been calling for to get a chance who doesn’t look likely to get an opportunity.

Of course, we’re talking about Mateusz Bogusz.

We’ve seen supporters rave over the young Pole’s talents for the past few months, and pundits have predicted him to get a shot in the first-team, but Bielsa’s new policy surrounding young players seems to indicate that he won’t be making his debut anytime soon.

Bogusz is an attacking midfield player, so he’d have to displace either Pablo Hernandez, or Mateusz Klich in the team, and with both of those players being integral to Bielsa’s plans, it seems unlikely that he’s going to get a shot.

The teenager will seemingly have to bide his time this season.

In other news, Marcelo Bielsa’s recent comments seem to contradict one thing he keeps doing at Leeds.

The winger was all smiles as he trained with his team-mates at the City Football Academy yesterday, with his social media post also displaying a happy David Silva as Pep Guardiola’s side continue preparations for the resumption of the Premier League in just over two weeks’ time.

Sane has yet to feature in the 2019/20 league season after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in last August’s Community Shield but, with 10 months passing since that hammer blow, he is back in training and looks like a man eagerly awaiting to get back on the pitch for the English champions.

As shown by goal tallies of 16 and 14 in the previous two seasons, the 24-year-old has often been a very influential presence in attack for Manchester City when he has been available, so his return to fitness ought to be a significant boost for Guardiola ahead of the league’s resumption.

Plenty of the club’s supporters also made their feelings known in the replies to Sane’s Instagram post as they begged for the winger to stay at the Etihad Stadium – there were also many replies from Bayern Munich fans hoping that he will return to Germany.

If he can get back to the form that he showed in Manchester City’s last two title-winning seasons, he could have many more fans yearning for him to snub Bayern’s advances.

Man City fans, were you pleased to see Sane looking so content on the training ground? Are you confident that he will stay at the Etihad? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below!

A recent exclusive report coming from talkSPORT and Alan Brazil stated that Paul Pogba will never play for Manchester United again.

And even though he hasn’t really been a big part of their ongoing campaign – seeing how he’s only tallied 540 minutes – losing him would no doubt leave a huge void in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.

For that reason, here are three other midfielders the Red Devils should target if Pogba does end up leaving in the near future.

Fabian Ruiz – Napoli

The 23-year-old midfielder is already a rather hot prospect in the market with multiple big European clubs on his tail. The likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City are just some of the teams that would love having this gem of a player in their midsts.

Looking at Ruiz’s resume, it’s quite easy to see why: this season, he has already bagged one goal and two assists in Serie A and has even averaged 2.6 shots, 1.6 key passes and 1.5 dribbles per game.

But he’s also quite adept defensively as well, making him a true box to box type of player, with 1.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game.

If United were to lose Pogba, Ruiz could potentially fill that void.

Adrien Rabiot – Juventus

Rabiot isn’t exactly enjoying his time over at Juventus – having only tallied 446 minutes so far – but that doesn’t mean he’s suddenly lost all of his ability.

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He’s still young and despite limited game time, he actually has decent figures to back it up: 1.7 tackles and 1.1 interceptions.

Of course, compared to Ruiz’s numbers above or even Pogba’s from last season – when he managed to score 13 goals and assist nine – it surely seems lacking but Rabiot hasn’t been given a proper chance to shine in the last two years so this slight dip in stats is expected.

If United were to give him a chance, he most likely wouldn’t disappoint and not to mention that he’s reportedly close to leaving the Bianconeri…

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Lazio

Milinkovic-Savic is a player pretty familiar to Manchester United. After all, the Serbian has reportedly been on Red Devils’ radar before.

Still, when it comes to replacing Pogba almost like for like, Milinkovic-Savic fits the narrative almost perfectly. Since the Frenchman hasn’t really been used that much this season, a comparison of their previous campaigns should do the trick.

Savic’s 2.5 shots, 1.5 key passes, 79.6% passing accuracy and 1.4 tackles per game all compare quite well to Pogba’s three shots, 1.6 key passes, 82.8% passing accuracy and 1.3 tackles per game.

The Serbian very much looks like a high-profile midfielder just waiting to be snatched away by a bigger club than Lazio, and Manchester United just happen to make for quite a good choice.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer desperately needed a result, his players ultimately delivered. Amid mounting speculation that he is fighting for his job at Manchester United, the Norwegian essentially faced a day of reckoning against Tottenham on Wednesday night. The return of Jose Mourinho to the Old Trafford touch-line added to the sense of scrutiny on the Red Devils boss, and he surely would have been hoping for something to lift the clouds. And boy did he get a performance.

United produced one of their most complete displays of the season, and arguably their best since the 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea in their opening Premier League game. As per Sofascore, they restricted the visitors to just five shots on target, with a couple of them relatively tame efforts towards the closing stages of the match that David de Gea had no trouble in dealing with. And going forward, they were lightning quick, aggressive and full of movement and life. A characteristic encapsulated by Marcus Rashford’s swashbuckling performance.

The England international netted twice, completed five dribbles and won nine total duels – he typified everything United were good at. But whilst both the display and end result is a welcome turn of events for Solskjaer, it should not by all accounts alter the board’s thinking. One victory – however well earned – should not immediately provide the Norwegian with a stay of execution.

An even bigger test lies on the immediate horizon with the clash against noisy neighbours, and Premier League champions, Manchester City. The mood could quickly change once more if the Red Devils suffer humiliation to one of their closest rivals. All the talk in the build-up to the game on Wednesday night surrounded Solskjaer’s long-term future at the club, and how Mauricio Pochettino had genuine interest in the job.

A 2-1 win over a Tottenham side that had only recently appointed their new manager shouldn’t be held as the barometer of success, or the ultimate evidence in keeping the current United boss. Indeed, their results at home against the big sides have been excellent – wins against Chelsea and Spurs, and draws against Arsenal and Liverpool. It’s in contests against the likes of Crystal Palace and Newcastle that they have slipped up.

And that is exactly why the Red Devils’ hierarchy simply cannot be lulled into a false sense of security based on the mid-week win. It may have provided some temporary respite, but it cannot be deemed as Solskjaer’s permanent saviour.

Meanwhile, Manchester United fans have hailed this ace as being the “new Roy Keane” for his performance against Tottenham.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking on ESPN FC, Craig Burley has urged Manchester United to let Paul Pogba leave the club.

What did he say?

The France World Cup winner was at the centre of one of football’s biggest transfer sagas earlier in the summer, with reports suggesting the likes of Juventus and Real Madrid were on his radar.

However, a deal failed to materialise before the end of the deadline, and Pogba has had to stay put at Old Trafford. Speaking a couple of months ago, the 26-year-old admitted that a “question mark” still remains over his long-term future at the club, and Burley has now revealed the Red Devils should simply let him leave.

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He said (as quoted by The Express): “Paul Pogba, fantastic talent, don’t see enough of it, he’s injured at the moment. I don’t think he wants to be in Manchester. I think he wants to be somewhere else, no matter what he says. He hasn’t really performed consistently. I wouldn’t keep him for that reason.

“If I had a great team, and I could fit him into that great team that Ferguson had, I’d probably keep him because you know he can produce. But at this moment in time, I only want people who want to be there, and I don’t think he does.”

Decision time

When the January transfer window finally opens in less than a couple of months time, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have a major decision on their hands. Do they cash in on the Frenchman and fully accept that they are in rebuild mode, or do they hang on to him in the hope that he could still yet form the heartbeat of their side?

Whilst he has previously suggested he would be open to a new challenge, would the Red Devils qualifying for the Champions League for next season possibly change his mind? The Frenchman, like most others, surely wants to play in European football’s elite competition, and at the moment, with United lying in tenth in the Premier League, that doesn’t seem like it’s happening. So as Burley suggests, it may be in everyone’s best interests for the club to simply acquiesce to their £89m signing’s requests.