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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could consider eventually taking the Newcastle United job one day, according to a claim from transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Klopp working wonders at Liverpool

The German has become a legendary figure at Anfield since taking charge in October 2015, inspiring them to both Champions League and Premier League glory, among numerous other trophies.

Klopp has twice been named the world’s best coach, and while Liverpool have dipped below their usual standards so far this season, his standing remains powerful.

An intriguing claim has emerged regarding the 55-year-old’s future, which is where Newcastle come into play amid recent reports that the German is “obsessed” about the Magpies.

The Latest: Jones drops Newcastle claim

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that Klopp could potentially eye up the St James’ Park job one day, even though it is still unlikely.

He said:

“Yeah, possibly. I mean, it might be a good moment in Klopp’s career for that change to come around. I’m not totally convinced that Klopp is obsessed by Newcastle in this moment.

“But of course, as a manager of a top flight team, you’re going to be intrigued by what’s going on because they’re threatening your own side’s position in the league and you probably feel a little bit vulnerable.

“But we should also consider Jurgen Klopp is probably going to fancy the Germany job at some point. I know it kind of gets played down sometimes but I’m sure that will be the next job that is also posted in his direction.”

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The Verdict: Feels unlikely

The job that Eddie Howe is doing at Newcastle means that there certainly shouldn’t be any talk of a new manager at the moment, with the Englishman working wonders at St James’ Park.

That being said, even a mention of Klopp becoming their manager one day is undoubtedly exciting, considering his brilliance at Liverpool and the aura that he possesses.

Nonetheless, it feels likely that he will remain at Anfield for some time yet and then possibly take a break – as Jones says, the Germany job shouldn’t be ruled out – so it would be a surprise if he headed to Newcastle any time soon.

If you are a football fan, you definitely know that the World Cup in Qatar is in its final stages. The audience simply cannot wait for the quarterfinals, and we will definitely see some rather interesting matches. People are searching for ways to watch the games and make use of the best offers for betting on the World Cup, but that is not what we are going to discuss today.

In this article, we are going to look into the future and picture the World Cup that will take place in the United States of America in 2026. Precisely, we will discuss how that World Cup will be a huge contrast to this one in Qatar. Here are the things that will be different in the USA.

There Will Be No Need For Too Many New Stadiums

As you know, for this World Cup, there were many stadiums that needed to be built. Before the World Cup, the place was only desert where the stadiums are now, and many people lost their lives building the stadiums for the World Cup. This will not happen in the US. Why? Simply because there are many wonderful stadiums in America that were built many years ago. Maybe some of them will need renovation, but there will be no need for many new stadiums. This will make things easier for the hosts and, most importantly, there may not be any casualties resulting from putting up facilities under inhumane working conditions.

It Will Be More Enjoyable For The Crowd

One of the things that bothered people the most during this World Cup in Qatar is the prohibition of alcohol. For many fans, the fact that they cannot drink beer while watching football was devastating. Also, there were many dress codes people had to respect due to the Muslim culture. The situation in the United States of America will definitely be different. People will be able to drink alcohol in stadiums and they will definitely be able to dress any way they want.

It Will Be A Summer World Cup

One of the best things about the World Cup is the fact that it is usually played in the summer. This is good for both players and the audience. This will definitely make things easier for players who are playing in the best European leagues. It will give them a much-needed break before the competition.

These are the ways the World Cup in America will be different from this one in Qatar.

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Chelsea are now reportedly eyeing a move for World Cup star and Atletico Madrid sensation Joao Felix.

The Lowdown: Felix shines…

The 23-year-old has been brilliant for Portugal in Qatar and has played an important role for manager Fernando Santos in their run to the quarter-final stage.

Felix has three goal contributions in three tournament appearances with only Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot ranking above the attacker in terms of average match rating (WhoScored).

The Atletico ace also ranks highly for shots at goal, key passes made and completed dribbles per 90 as he stands out as one of Portugal’s brightest attacking outlets.

The Latest: Chelsea eye move…

Now, as Felix’s club side contemplate selling him, it is believed a ‘public auction’ has begun for the player amid his scintillating World Cup campaign – according to Goal.

Chelsea are namechecked as an interested side alongside PSG, Man United, Bayern Munich, Aston Villa, Arsenal and FC Barcelona – but the Blues currently have a ‘magnificent relationship’ with the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes.

It is added that Atleti will demand a ‘minimum’ of €100 million (£86m) to let him go.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Felix possesses undeniable quality but owner Todd Boehly will have to significantly invest to get a deal done.

Once costing £113m from Benfica, Atletico appear willing to let him go for a lesser price but an expensive one nonetheless.

However, is current form, age and sky high potential dictates that £86m is hardly beyond the realms of realism for Atletico to demand – especially since he has been called a Portugal ‘superstar’ by members of the media.

Chelsea have identified a host of offensive options amid the pursuit of a place in next season’s Champions League, with the January transfer window now just a couple of weeks away. 

What’s the word?

The Evening Standard reports that Barcelona’s versatile forward Memphis Depay is one option being considered by Blues boss Graham Potter, with a deal previously being explored in the summer before the west London club went with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. 

With the Dutchman nearing the culmination of his contract with the Blaugrana, a deal could be struck this winter, with his club looking to make a profit on a player signed from Lyon on a free transfer last summer.

With Potter facing a dilemma up front courtesy of Armando Broja’s ACL injury, which will likely rule him out for the rest of the season, the need to sign a forward who’s capable of making an instantly emphatic impact is vital.

A timely upgrade

Broja had made a steady start to life at Stamford Bridge, having earned a shot in the first-team this season following a successful loan spell with Southampton in 2021/22, scoring nine goals across 38 games for the south coast club. 

He has played a largely peripheral role for the Blues, only starting twice in the Premier League, although he has a goal and an assist each, slowly working his way up the pecking order.

The signing of Depay would signify a notable upgrade on Chelsea’s current forward options, with a foray into the transfer market for the 28-year-old likely knitting the attack together and refining a cohesive aura.

As per FBRef, the Dutchman ranks within the top percentile for both progressive passes received and touches within the attacking penalty area when compared to positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues  over the past year. 

While he is considered a robust presence up top, his clinical efforts will have been duly noted by Potter, with his return of 13 goals and two assists last season from 27 starts demonstrating his aptitude in front of goal.

Compare that with Chelsea’s forwards this term, with Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling top-scoring in the league with only three goals each and Aubameyang managing a measly one.

Despite playing mostly on the flanks, or behind the traditional centre-forward role, the £171k-per-week Depay has demonstrated across his career that he is an effective and all-encompassing forward, with flurries in and around the box providing direct and creative support in abundance.

Should Chelsea muster up a deal for the 86-cap Dutchman, who has a commendable 43 goals for his country, they would certainly boast an instant upgrade on the unfortunate Broja.

The Barcelona “enigma” – as lauded by Jonathan Liew – has a pedigree on the biggest stage and offers a fluidity across a variety of offensive roles which could provide a dimension to the Chelsea attack which has been sorely lacking across recent months.

Aston Villa are looking to wash out the deadwood and fortify the ranks now that Unai Emery has assumed the role of head coach at the club, with the Spaniard eyeing some top talent from his former club.

Indeed, last week The Mirror reported that Arnaut Danjuma was one talent the Midlands outfit hold a vested interest in, with sights set on luring him to Villa Park and bolstering the offensive flanks.

Emery knows the player well, having signed him for his previous Spanish outfit, and could use his relationship with the Yellow Submarine and Danjuma to forge a worthy acquisition for the ambitious Claret and Blue.

Valued at €40m (£35m), Danjuma would be a welcome addition to the side having flourished at Villarreal since his move from AFC Bournemouth for £21.3m in August 2021, and could take the Premier League by storm with a second shot at success in England’s top-flight.

Emery’s next Di Maria

Originally a winger, the 25-year-old Danjuma has found success in Spain as his side’s centre-forward, finding a prolific edge to his game and consequently seeing his stock rise.

His market value rose from £22m to £43.8m after a resounding debut season that saw him score 16 goals and serve four assists across 34 appearances, before dropping to £30.7m this term after a slight decline in goal-scoring efficiency.

Still very much regarded an “exceptional talent” by the likes of EFL pundit Clinton Morrison, the six-cap Netherlands international has snatched five goals from 15 fixtures this term, despite Villarreal scoring just 15 leagues goals so far – the lowest of any team in the top-ten of the Spanish La Liga. 

And a move to Aston, to play under the wing of Emery once again, the manager who gifted the ace the most fruitful spell of his career, might prove to be a very good move indeed for all parties involved.

His exploits could leave him breeding similar success to that of World Cup winner Angel Di Maria, who scored 35 goals and assisted 27 more from 88 outings under the tutelage of the 51-year-old.

While Danjuma offers a more direct approach, it is likely that he would be deployed out wide by and large for Villa, should he join, allowing the likes of Danny Ings or Ollie Watkins to flourish in the centre-forward role, and he would need to utilise his creativity, blending it with his eye for the back of the net, to truly earn his place among the division’s finest talents.

As per Sofascore, in the 2020/21 EFL Championship season with the Cherries, the gem scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in a seasonal show that earned him the move to Spain, with his eight big chances created and 1.5 key passes per match channels that must be tapped into once more, giving him a dynamic sheen not too dissimilar to Di Maria.

Indeed, the Argentine showed those attributes in Qatar just this winter, scoring in the final as well as supplying two key passes per game.

Based on that, it would be quite the signing for Emery’s villains, bringing in a player he knows well and thus transforming his new side in the process.

Journalist Beren Cross has warned that Leeds United attacker Jack Harrison may lose his spot in the team amid his latest poor display. 

What’s the latest?

While the Whites battled hard to stifle opponents Newcastle United at St James’ Park in their most recent Premier League match, it seems not everyone impressed.

Indeed, the game finished 0-0 and so the Leeds’ backline can be proud of their efforts but perhaps the attack left a little bit to be desired. This certainly seemed to be the case for Harrison who was criticised after the game.

While speaking on a LeedsLive Facebook Stream, Cross explained that the winger could well be in line to lose his spot in Jesse Marsch’s lineup to Crysencio Summerville.

Cross said (09:21): “Harrison, unfortunately for him, it just continued in the same vein that he finished the first phase of the season in.

“Really not having any real impact on the match in any way at all. Going under the radar, not making an impression in an attacking or defending sense.

“So I think for me, he’s under pressure again for his spot. With Summerville, perhaps a candidate for coming into the team.”

Summerville to shine?

Cross echoed his sentiments towards Harrison in the LeedsLive player ratings as he gave the forward a 4/10 for his display (the worst of any attacker) and noted: “Balls bypassing him, and opposition going by him. Hard to tell what his role was.”

As per SofaScore, the Englishman gave the ball away 11 times, won only 4/1o duels, made four fouls, and had just one attempted shot (which went off target). And with just one league goal to his name this term despite starting 13 of 15 possible games, it’s safe to say he’s been far from his best for some time now.

Summerville, on the other hand, was really starting to come into his own before the break for the winter World Cup, scoring four goals in his last five Premier League outings.

With that in mind, manager Marsch may well feel as though now is the right time to mix things up and give the young Dutchman some more minutes from the start at the expense of Harrison.

Newcastle United are in a glorious position in the Premier League, perched above expectations in third place after 17 matches played and yielding a cohesive and gelled collective force, under the tutelage of Eddie Howe.

One star that could unite the team and provide the creative flair needed to truly cement the club’s position among the elite of the English top-flight is Leicester City’s James Maddison, who has been touted for a departure from the King Power Stadium.

According to reports stemming from earlier in the season, Howe is expected to distinguish Maddison as his number-one priority for the current winter transfer window, but with the maestro in lightning-hot form for the Foxes, prising him away from his side’s clutches might be difficult with the towering summer valuation of £60m perhaps still withstanding.

And now, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones has stated that a switch for the Englishman would be something that “he would consider”, given the appeal to the Newcastle project.

Fernandes 2.0

Howe will indeed be delighted by his side’s start to the 2022/23 season, with the prolonged purple patch now teetering on a sustained vein of brilliance; pumping life into St. James’s Park, the Magpies manager has spearheaded an ascension to the top of the country’s pool of outfits, capable of challenging across multiple fronts.

Despite this, Newcastle are not the finished article, and with technical director Dan Ashworth pulling the strings on a few signings of genuine star quality, dappled across the field in star-studded boots, would go a long way towards strengthening the iron-clad resolve and resilience that is partnering the ever-increasing quality and confidence.

Maddison can be that man, and his tally of seven goals and four assists from just 13 Premier League fixtures this season is evidence of his clinical prowess that can lift Howe’s unit to new heights.

Signing for Leicester from Norwich City for roughly £20m in 2018, Maddison has since scored 52 goals and served 36 assists for the club, notably winning the FA Cup in 2020/21 and the FA Community Shield in the following campaign’s curtain-raiser.

The 26-year-old’s presence would be similar to Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, who made an emphatic start to life at the Theatre of Dreams following a £47m deal from Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.

His eight goals and seven assists from just 14 Premier League outings over the latter stage of the 2019/20 campaign commenced a formidable ongoing career at Old Trafford, where the destructive playmaker has now scored 53 times and registered 43 assists from only 149 appearances in true Maddison-esque goalscoring fashion.

Like Fernandes, Maddison is truly “world-class”, as once hailed by Dean Saunders, and with the Foxes phenom ranking within the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top leagues for goals, and the top 12% for assists, as per FBref, his innate ability to sniff out goal involvements will unlock the door to lift Newcastle towards a delicious taste of major silverware once again.

Everton have reportedly made contact over a potential move for Almeria winger Largie Ramazani in this window.

The Lowdown: Attackers wanted

The Goodison Park outfit have recently been linked with moves for the likes of Elye Wahi, Anthony Elanga, Viktor Gyokeres and Ben Brereton Diaz, implying that they would like to strengthen their attacking options in January.

They have one of the worst records in terms of scoring goals in the Premier League, and currently sit dangerously above the relegation zone.

The Latest: Contact made

As per Spanish news outlet AS, the Merseyside club have ‘asked’ Almeria over the possibility of signing Ramazani.

However, they may have to pay his €40m (£35.4m) release clause if they are to lure him away in this window.

The Verdict: Look elsewhere?

Considering his relatively large release clause, Frank Lampard’s team may be better off looking at other targets.

There is no doubt that Ramazani is a promising player, having once been on the books at Manchester United, while the 21-year-0ld ranks in the 96th percentile for dribbles completed per game of all wingers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year.

However, he is not exactly the most prolific, with just two goals and no assists to his name in 15 matches in La Liga so far this season, and none since August (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, the Toffees need to bring in goalscorers, and Ramazani has not proven that he is one just yet.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane may have a release clause or gentlemen’s agreement in his Spurs contract, claims Tony Cascarino.

The Lowdown: Kane’s situation

Kane has not committed his long-term future to Tottenham with him yet to agree an extension on his current £200k-per-week deal that expires in 2024.

The 29-year-old is in his 10th Premier League campaign since making his top-flight debut for the Lilywhites in a late cameo against Newcastle United in 2012.

He’s since gone on to score 265 goals in 412 games for the north Londoners and is one away from levelling Jimmy Greaves’ club goalscoring record.

The Latest: Cascarino’s comments

Despite him being on the verge of immortality at Spurs, Cascarino questioned on TalkSport whether there is something in Kane’s contract that could see him leave in an attempt to bag the first major trophy of his career.

He said: “With 18 months on his contract now, he has to make up in his own mind what direction he goes.

“Daniel Levy’s played a big part in keeping him at Spurs, but when the last contract was signed, were words said that ‘if I’m not achieving some of the goals I want to do with the record on my CV, can you let me go for a certain amount?’”

“Harry clearly does want to win things – who wouldn’t?

“He clearly does, he plays with the type of manner that he really does try desperately hard to be as successful as he can, but it’s just not happening with Spurs, though.”

The Verdict: Career-defining decision

With Kane turning 30 before the start of next season, the end of his current contract sets up a huge dilemma that will define his career, with guaranteed legendary status at Spurs on the cards or a greater chance of winning silverware elsewhere.

England’s joint all-time goalscorer is yet to lift a single major trophy in his incredible playing career, with Spurs previously league runners-up, twice beaten finalists and four-time beaten semi-finalists in Kane’s time.

Antonio Conte is a serial winner but with his future also uncertain and no obvious winning remedy at the club, silverware doesn’t look to be on the cards at present, so it’s a huge decision that looms for the Englishman as early as the summer.

Sunderland return to action in the Championship this afternoon as they play host to Welsh side Swansea at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats head into the game off the back of a 2-1 win over Shrewsbury in the third round of the FA Cup and should be aiming to make it back-to-back wins in all competitions.

Tony Mowbray’s team were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackpool in their last outing in the league and a win against the Swans could push them into the play-off places, as they currently sit one point adrift of the top six.

Ahead of the match, Mowbray confirmed that experienced central defender Danny Batth is now back in training with the first-team after a spell on the sidelines.

He has not featured in a Championship match since the 1-1 draw with Hull on the 17th of December and the manager must finally bring the enforcer back into the starting XI now that the gem is fit and available.

Journalist Josh Bunting recently hinted that the Black Cats missed Batth’s ability to “dominate” the box from set-pieces, as they conceded from a dead-ball situation in the 2-1 win over Shrewsbury.

The reporter has described the 6 foot 3 man mountain as “colossal” on more than one occasion and his statistics back that up.

In the Championship this season, Batth has won a staggering 71% of his aerial battles against opposition players. The machine has won 3.9 headers and made 4.5 clearances per game, whilst also winning 55% of his ground duels, and this shows that he is immense in the air and rarely gets beaten by forwards.

Whereas, Wright – who has started in place of Batth at the heart of the defence – has only won 53% of his aerial duels and made 2.2 clearances per match.

This suggests that the Australian international is a significant downgrade on the ex-Stoke man in terms of what he offers in the air, from open play and set-pieces, for Sunderland.

Therefore, Mowbray must bring Batth, who started the first 23 matches of the campaign, back into the starting line-up so that he can dominate Swansea’s players in the box.

The Swansea have scored four more goals than the Black Cats from set-pieces this season and this indicates that they can cause a threat from balls into the area, which is why bringing the 32-year-back in could be key for Sunderland.