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Aston Villa announced the loan signing of Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe on Sunday afternoon.

And, as to be expected, a number of Villa supporters flocked to the official confirmation on social media.

Tuanzebe has arrived on a season-long deal, his third temporary move to Villa Park during his career.

The 23-year-old, who has made 35 appearances for Villa during his previous spells, was on the bench just hours after a move was announced in Villa’s 3-1 win over Salernitana.

The defender didn’t feature at Villa Park against the Italian side but has now become the club’s fifth senior addition of the window and first signing to provide cover to Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.

Villa fans react

Villa posted the news regarding Tuanzebe just hours before their final pre-season fixture ahead of the new season.

This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with plenty delighted and one describing a move as ‘great’.

“This window just keeps getting better!!! So happy to see you back Axel “

Credit: @Sammy78avfc

“OMG YESSSSSS”

Credit: @LukeKing_

“Yessss Axel! Welcome back. Great news!”

Credit: @Puccinelli89

“Here he is welcome back to Villa Park”

Credit: @LauraemilyWall

“This club man”

Credit: @BackpostTrez2

“What a tremendous signing!! Love this club”

Credit: @Villa4life1990

In other news: Many AVFC fans buzz at more transfer news, find out what it’s about here. 

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his first-team squad before the window closes.

What’s the story?

According to 90min, the Reds are one of several Premier League clubs to have been offered the 18-year-old’s services this summer, with the rest of England’s traditional ‘Big Six’ also in the mix for his signature.

The report states that West Ham United, Leicester City, Wolves and Everton are also in the running to secure Moriba’s signature after Moriba’s representatives held talks with multiple interested parties after contract negotiations with Barca reached an impasse.

Moriba’s current deal at the Camp Nou has fewer than 12 months to run, and with an agreement over fresh terms yet to be reached, the Catalan giants are believed to be looking for a potential buyer.

Klopp would love him

Liverpool have been credited with an interest in several central midfielders in recent weeks after Gini Wijnaldum’s departure left a substantial void in the club’s engine room.

A trio of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner did a solid job against Norwich City on the opening day of the new season in his absence, but Graeme Souness outlined his belief that Klopp needs reinforcements in that area of the pitch after the 3-0 win at Carrow Road.

“I’d like to see Liverpool spending a few bob, but they score goals for fun”, he told Sky Sports (as reported by the Liverpool ECHO).

“I think it was very easy to look at Liverpool and talk about their front three and say how special they were, but I think a lot of their great play came from the three midfield players. (Gini) Wijnaldum’s gone, (Jordan) Henderson’s a year older, James Milner’s a year older.

“I know they’ve got some good kids coming through. I saw them against Osasuna on Monday night, I was up there watching that game. I’d like to see something else in midfield. It’s going to be a long hard season,” Souness concluded.

Bringing in Moriba would be seen as a major coup for the Anfield outfit given his potential and the level of competition for his signature, meaning Klopp would surely love the opportunity to work with such a talented youngster.

Former Barcelona B manager Garcia Pimienta lauded the teenager and Konrad de la Fuente last year after the duo put in an outstanding performance for the reserve side, saying: “Both Ilaix and Konrad have been decisive. Ilaix has a lot of merit because he is a first-year youth, but Konrad is third, and in such an important match they have shown that they have an incredible future.

His natural quality and potential to improve would make Moriba a dream Wijnaldum replacement, but Liverpool will have to see off several domestic rivals for the £22.5m-rated gem to make this deal become a reality.

And, in other news…David Ornstein drops major Liverpool update that will leave fans absolutely buzzing 

Aston Villa forward Brad Young has completed a season-long loan move to League Two side Carlisle United, as announced by his parent club’s official website this afternoon.

In a sparkling 2020/21 campaign, the prodigious youngster netted 21 goals combined for Aston Villa’s under-18 and under-23 sides [avfc.co.uk]. He also made his senior debut earlier this year, featuring as a substitute for a depleted Villa outfit in their 4-1 FA Cup defeat at home to Liverpool [BBC].

The 18-year-old has now completed a move to Brunton Park for the upcoming campaign in order to gain more first team experience, with the aforementioned FA Cup clash his only exposure to senior football thus far [Transfermarkt].

He may be in line for his Carlisle debut as soon as tomorrow night, when they travel to their divisional rivals Port Vale in a League Two encounter [News & Star].

In light of this news, plenty of Aston Villa diehards took to social media to express their delight at Young securing a loan move to the Cumbrian outfit.

Aston Villa fans react:

Replying to Aston Villa’s official Twitter channel, here is what some fans had to say about the “fantastic” loan announcement:

“great move for him”

Credit: @catrinavfc

“Great move all round”

Credit: @GW_94

“Will be a fantastic addition for Carlisle. Go get em lad.”

Credit: @MarkLH75

“Guess I’ll be watching all the Carlisle games then, as I think this lad is going to turn out to be a superstar. Hope he has a productive and successful loan and comes back ready to don the claret and blue for years to come. Best of luck and UTV!”

Credit: @ShaunStait

“Good luck Brad. Smash it”

Credit: @_stonyd

“Good luck Brad”

Credit: @msteadman29

In other news, Aston Villa face a blow in a reported transfer pursuit. Read all about it here.

Lee Ryder has said that Newcastle United are now willing to let Matty Longstaff go out on loan before the summer transfer window ends.

The Lowdown: Limited games

Longstaff was limited to a mere five senior games in the Premier League in the 2020/21 season (Transfermarkt), and with the arrival of Joe Willock on a permanent deal from Arsenal, the central midfield player could see even fewer minutes on the pitch in this campaign.

Thus, he may want to think about leaving St. James’ Park in order to guarantee himself more matches and further his development.

The Latest: Ryder on Longstaff

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, Ryder has said that the North East club have agreed to allow Longstaff to leave on loan.

The Englishman is hoping for a move to the EFL Championship, with Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town all said to be interested in his signature.

The Verdict: Right move

It would certainly be the right move for all parties involved if Longstaff did move out on loan, especially down to the Championship.

Described as a ‘talented’ player by pundit Kevin Campbell back in June, the 21-year-old still has a lot of potential, and as a local boy, the Tyneside club should be looking at keeping him for the future.

However, a loan move would mean that he would get more game time, and could come back into Steve Bruce’s squad a much better player after a season in the extremely physical second tier.

In other news, find out what the latest is on NUFC’s alleged pursuit of this £55k-p/w ace here!

Former Leicester City player Steve Howey is pleased that Harvey Barnes has signed a new contract at the King Power Stadium.

Barnes has put pen-to-paper on a new four-year deal with the Foxes, which will keep him at the club until June 2025.

The 23-year-old has made 102 appearances for Leicester, scoring 21 goals and providing a further 15 assists.

Barnes has featured three times this season for Leicester, including the season’s curtain-raiser, the Community Shield, where the Foxes beat Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.

And Howey admits that he was happy to see Barnes commit his future to Leicester, exclusive telling Football FanCast: “I thought last season, up until his injury, he was playing very, very well.

“So, I’m pleased that he’s managed to sign his contract, he’ll be happy, the club will be happy, and I think it’ll not be long before he’s back in the form, which he was showing before he got injured, but I think all parties are happy that he’s got a new long-term contract, his family will be a lot more settled and now he can just concentrate on his football.”

After adding the Community Shield to the FA Cup they lifted last season, Leicester have started the new season in indifferent form, beating Wolves 1-0 at home before being thrashed 4-1 at the hands of West Ham in east London.

Wolves have been linked with a late summer swoop for Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara.

As to be expected, a number of Wolves fans have been reacting to the news on social media.

Kamara is a defensive midfielder and is valued at a career-high £33.3m by Transfermarkt. The France under-21 international, who can also play as a centre-back, has made 125 appearances for his current employers.

He has just 12 months left on his current contract, and it seems as if a late move to Molineux could be on the cards. According to Foot Mercato, as cited by @TalkingWolves, Wolves have entered talks with the Ligue 1 club over a move for the 21-year-old.

Should an 11th-hour transfer to the Midlands materialise, Kamara would become Wolves’ seventh and possibly final arrival of the window.

Wolves fans react

@TalkingWolves shared the deadline day links to Kamara on Twitter. Here is what these Wolves supporters had to say in reply, with one labelling the midfielder as ‘quality’ and another giving praise to chairman Jeff Shi.

“Never doubted you Jeff”

Credit: @AdanTroare

“Oh my, yes please”

Credit: @Callum_Howen

“bring him in, he’s quality.”

Credit: @ndumiso60455997

“Please”

Credit: @BasyYung

“Yes yes Jeff”

Credit: @tristan_phipps

“Please please please”

Credit: @PeterNaughton12

In other news: Many Wolves fans were fuming over this transfer development

Now in his third season in charge of Queens Park Rangers, Mark Warburton has seen his Rs side get off to a rather remarkable start to their 2021/22 Championship campaign, winning three and drawing two of their opening five fixtures of the season.

These results have left QPR sitting in an impressive third place in the second-tier standings, just two points behind the recently relegated duo of Fulham and West Bromwich Albion, who occupy first and second in the league respectively.

As such, it will perhaps come as no surprise that a number of Warburton’s players have highly impressed for the west London side so far this season, with Christopher Willock, Yoann Barbet and Jordy de Wijs all averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.30 or above.

However, there is one player who has been the standout star of QPR’s Championship campaign thus far – Rob Dickie.

Forget Willock

While, as mentioned above, the headline-grabbing Christopher Willock has undoubtedly been in fantastic form for QPR this season, it is the industrious centre-half who has stolen the show for the club in 2021/22 so far.

Indeed, over his five Championship appearances for Warburton’s side, the £2.25m-rated Dickie has helped his side keep two clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.4 interceptions, one tackle, 2.8 clearances and winning a remarkable 10 duels per game.

The man Ryan Dilks dubbed an “unbelievable” player has also impressed in an attacking capacity, scoring two goals, as well as taking an average of 1.4 shots and making 0.2 key passes per league fixture.

These returns have seen the £8k-per-week centre-back average an astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.50, not only ranking the defender as QPR’s best performer in the league, but also as the joint sixth-best player in the entirety of the division.

As such, should Dickie be able to maintain this level of form over the course of the season, the 25-year-old could well go on to play a starring role in what very much appears to be a campaign in which the Rs could well mount a push for promotion out of the league.

In other news: Alan Nixon drops QPR claim on “outstanding” £4k-p/w beast which will have fans buzzing

Pep Guardiola looks set to receive a huge boost at Manchester City this week, with reports suggesting that Phil Foden is set to sign a new contract.

According to the Daily Star, a new six-year deal coupled worth £150k per week has been offered to the 21-year-old after his superb performances in recent seasons.

The City academy graduate established himself as a key player in Guardiola’s side after having to make do with a bit-part role in previous seasons and emphasised the immense quality he possesses with incredible displays in the Premier League and Champions League.

The England international would contribute 16 goals and 10 assists in all competitions for the Citizens, with the young Englishman finishing as the joint-third top scorer in the Premier League of those in Guardiola’s side last season.

[freshpress-quiz id=“577936”]

While he is currently contracted at the Etihad until 2024 and valued at £72m by Transfermarkt, which essentially makes him untouchable in the transfer market, he is one of the lowest earners in the first-team squad and his performances more than warrant an improved deal, one which will keep the 21-year-old happy and ensure that it is near impossible for another club to tempt him away from the Etihad.

Guardiola faced some criticism for not playing Foden more when he was a teenager but his performances last season justify the Spanish manager’s decision to keep him at the club rather than loaning him out.

He explained his reasoning back in 2019, saying:

“The people say he doesn’t play too much. He is 18 years old and he has played a lot of minutes.

“The people say he should be on loan; Phil Foden will not be on loan. All the time he is here he will be close to me because he is an incredibly talented player.”

Foden has certainly proven himself in the Premier League since those comments were made and he looks set to be a key part of the City and England sides for the next 10 years, so it can only be good news that he is on the brink of signing a new and improved contract.

And, in other news… Guardiola may soon have his own Neymar at Man City with teenage wonderkid

Fans will not forget about Danny Ings, former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer has told Football FanCast.

The 29-year-old joined Aston Villa in a shock move last month, bringing his three-year spell at St Mary’s to an end.

Ings did a great job leading the line for the Saints following his arrival from Liverpool. In total, he scored 46 goals in 100 games for the club – 22 of those coming in the 2019/20 Premier League season.

Southampton moved to replace him by bringing in Adam Armstrong, who has impressed so far, grabbing a goal on his debut against Everton. Even so, Palmer does not believe the St Mary’s faithful will forget about Ings just like that.

“I don’t think you forget about Ings because he was a good servant and he’s a good player,” the ex-England international said. “But things move on, don’t they? It’s done, it’s finished, it’s moved on. Armstrong can score goals.”

Like Armstrong, Ings has also made a good start to life in his new surroundings. The Villa man has already scored twice in the Premier League this season, the latest a spectacular strike against Newcastle United at Villa Park.

In an ideal world for Ralph Hasenhuttl, the Southampton manager would have both English strikers at his disposal.

Watford continue their 2021/22 Carabao Cup campaign with a clash against Championship side Stoke City at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night.

The Hornets head into the game high on confidence after beating Norwich 3-1 away from home in the Premier League at the weekend.

Xisco Munoz’s side defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 in the second round of the competition last month, with Watford now hoping to overcome Michael O’Neill’s Potters side.

With it being a break from the Premier League, Munoz could decide to make some changes to his team to offer fringe players an opportunity to impress him. One player he must unleash against Stoke is centre-forward and summer signing Ashley Fletcher.

Josh King has started three of Watford’s five Premier League matches and is yet to score his first goal for the club, despite leading the line against the Canaries at the weekend. It could be time to hand him a rest and offer Fletcher a chance to show that the 25-year-old can do a better job as the number nine for the Hornets in the top flight.

He has played just one game for Watford since arriving on a free transfer in the summer and scored the winning goal as Munoz’s side beat Palace in the previous round of this competition. This shows that he has the quality to be a match-winner for the Hornets, just as he proved it against the Eagles last month.

He also previously scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in the 2019/20 Championship campaign for Middlesbrough, showing that he knows how to be involved in the action in the final third.

Fletcher’s former Sunderland boss Chris Coleman has hailed the forward’s demenaour, saying: “He has a super attitude. If you are playing as a striker for Sunderland and you’re struggling and his performances haven’t been great, you are going to come under scrutiny and pressure, which he has.”

This shows that the £13k-per-week beast will give his all on the pitch and put in a shift for Munoz, whilst also having the ability required to potentially win the game. Therefore, Fletcher must be unleashed against Stoke City to give him the chance to showcase his quality and prove that he can score goals consistently.
If he can come in and produce a strong performance, it could boost his chances of being included in a Premier League match for Watford for the first time. However, it is up to him to win over his manager first.
In other news: 14 duels won – Watford beast with 57 touches was an unsung hero for Xisco against Norwich