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Wolves’ Premier League clash with Watford was likely called off because of new cases later during this week, according to The Athletic’s Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Wolves game postponed

There will be no Boxing Day game for Wanderers fans to look forward to this year, with their Premier League clash with Watford postponed.

That’s due to the Hornets’ squad having too many positive tests for Covid-19, meaning they cannot field a squad of 13 plus a goalkeeper, so the match will have to be rescheduled.

There isn’t a huge amount of transparency being provided by clubs currently, in terms of naming numbers of players affected, leading to plenty of frustration amongst fans, managers and clubs, with the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Sean Dyche calling for more openness from the Premier League.

The Latest: Spiers provides explanation

After one Wolves supporter correctly pointed out that new guidelines reducing the isolation period from ten to seven days means the eight-day gap from Watford’s last match should be sufficient, Spiers gave an 11-word answer regarding why the Boxing Day game still couldn’t go ahead:

“May have had more cases at the start of this week.”

The Verdict: Extra rest for Lage’s men

The Boxing Day game is one of the best fixtures of the season in English football, so it is a huge shame to see Wolves not in action.

That being said, the postponement could potentially keep legs fresh going into the trip to Arsenal next Tuesday lunchtime, giving them more chance of picking up a positive result at the Emirates.

Avoiding fatigue at a busy point in the season is rarely easy but Bruno Lage’s men may have been aided, in that respect – a blessing in disguise for the players, even despite the blow for the supporters.

In other news, some Wolves fans are fuming at a transfer update. Read more here.

Leeds United are interested in signing Wales international Neco Williams from Liverpool this summer.

What’s the story?

As per The Athletic’s Liverpool correspondent James Pearce, the Reds “expect Neco Williams to push for a move after Euro 2020 with the club set to demand at least £10 million for the Wales full-back”.

The report added: “The Premier League quartet of Leeds, Southampton, Aston Villa and Burnley have all expressed genuine interest in Williams over the past 12 months. Villa are no longer interested in signing a full-back after bringing in Ashley Young, who can cover on either side.”

Bielsa will be happy

While Trent Alexander-Arnold may be the undisputed right-back for Jurgen Klopp’s side at Anfield, the England international has been quick to rave about his teammate and the potential that he has.

He said: “Neco is an amazing talent, he is someone who we all look to as being someone who can play for the club for a long amount of time and will have a bright future no matter what.

“I think he is on the right path, for sure. Mentally, he’s ahead of people his age, he’s getting the right experience in training; playing against the best players in the world can only improve you.”

Ryan Giggs meanwhile hailed the £25k-a-week earning flier as an “outstanding” player and, after impressing for Wales, he was left raving about the starlet, saying: “He is a fantastic player, still young and still learning, but the energy and quality he has shown when he has stepped up into the first team has been really good, so it’s exciting.”

At just 20, Williams has all the time in the world to develop into a real top-class right-back, and with first-choice Luke Ayling set to turn 30 later this summer, the Welshman would represent a much younger, and exciting option for the future.

And when you look at his performances at EURO 2020 thus far, Williams has shown the kind of potential that he has. As per Whoscored, he’s averaged two dribbles and 1.5 key passes per game, which is more dribbles than Raphinha managed per match in the Premier League last season, and third on the list among Leeds’ squad for key passes.

There’s no doubt that a swoop for Williams would surely have Bielsa happy about reinforcing his right-back options for both now and for the future.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are eyeing a move for this star…

Wayne Rooney’s Derby County left-back Lee Buchanan is attracting interest from the Premier League ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are considering a move for the £1.8 million-rated defender ahead of the upcoming transfer market.

While no figure is quoted in the report regarding how much Derby would be demanding for the 20-year-old, the fact his current deal at Pride Park expires next summer may force the Championship strugglers into a sale.

Derby must not repeat Bogle mistake

Despite having made five appearances in the Championship last season, 2020/21 has undoubtedly been Buchanan’s breakthrough campaign at Pride Park.

So far this term, the 20-year-old has made 34 appearances in the second tier, over which he has provided three assists and has made an average of one interception, 1.6 tackles and 0.4 key passes per game, culminating in a respectable average SofaScore match rating of 6.68.

And, considering how well the England U21 international has fared at Championship level so soon after breaking into the Derby first-team, it would appear as if the defender will continue to improve as he gains more experience in the league.

Indeed, Rooney has stated his belief that Buchanan is already a “top player” and that he would “argue he’s one of the best young left-backs in the country.”

As such, Derby must do all they can to avoid a repeat of the £3.47 million sale of Jayden Bogle to Sheffield United last summer, when the Rams sold one of their brightest stars for just over half of his market valuation of £5.67 million – with the right-back now being worth £6.3 million.

So, come the end of the season, whatever league Derby happen to be playing their football in as of next year, Rooney should make the signing of Buchanan to a new deal his absolute priority, in order to retain one of the club’s most promising young players for as long as possible, as well as increasing his value in the event the club wish to cash in on the defender at some point in the future.

In other news: Lost possession 14x: Derby dud who completed just 7 passes massively let Rooney down – opinion

Sunderland maintained their spot in the play-offs with a 1-1 draw at home to Rotherham in League One on Tuesday night.

The Black Cats are fifth in the table and one point ahead of seventh, as it stands, and know that a win on the final day of the season against Morecambe, who are battling against the drop, will seal their place in the top six.

It was an eventful night for Michael Ihiekwe at the Stadium of Light as he went from hero to zero for The Millers. He opened the scoring in the 17th minute before turning the ball into his own net in the 88th minute to gift Alex Neil’s team a point.

Sunderland did not register a single shot on target in the match as they struggled to break Paul Warne’s well-structured side down.

The home side were, therefore, a tad lucky to come away from the game with a point to show for their efforts as they did not trouble the opposition goalkeeper at all. Neil’s attackers struggled on the night and one player, in particular, who let the head coach down was centre-forward Nathan Broadhead.

Off the ball, he was a lightweight. As per SofaScore, he lost four of his six (66.6%) individual battles and this shows that he was dominated from a physical standpoint. He made one tackle in the match whilst failing to make a single interception, clearance, or block as he failed to help the defence out when Rotherham had the ball.

On the flip side of the game, he offered no attacking quality. As per SofaScore, he did not register a single key pass or shot on goal, whilst also failing to complete a single dribble. He only had 19 touches of the ball, with goalkeeper Anthony Patterson having 32, and completed just nine passes.

Broadhead struggled to get into the game in the final third as he let Neil down on and off the ball throughout the match. The Everton loanee has been sublime this season, with nine goals in 14 starts, but this was a performance to forget from the Welshman.

He must now dust himself down and work hard in training ahead of the crunchtime clash with Morecambe on Saturday. Neil will need the striker at his clinical best to ensure that the Black Cats are competing for a spot in the Championship via the play-offs next month.

AND in other news, Speakman howler: SAFC may now be on the verge of repeating brutal Hugill disasterclass…

Kevin Phillips has urged Sunderland to sign on-loan ace Dion Sanderson on a permanent deal this summer.

Phillips urges Sunderland to sign Sanderson

The centre-back made the move to the Stadium of Light on a temporary basis from Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of this season.

It has recently been revealed that the Black Cats have entered talks over a permanent deal for the 21-year-old (Daily Mail), and Phillips believes his capture should be a priority for Sunderland. He told Football Insider:

“I would get a permanent deal done for Sanderson as soon as possible. I think it will be a priority.

“He looks like he really enjoys being at the football club. In the final the other week you could hear him and a few of the other lads cheering on Sunderland so it looks like he loves the club.

“On the pitch, he has been amazing so I would definitely be looking to tie him down to the club permanently.”

One for the future

The 1.88m (6 foot 3) defender has grown into an important member of Lee Johnson’s squad as this season has progressed. He started just one of the first 17 League One matches of the campaign, but has been named in the starting XI for the last 11 (Transfermarkt). During that run, the Wearside outfit have not lost even once and have conceded on just four occasions.

At just 21 years of age, Sanderson clearly has a big future ahead of him, and may well relish playing in the Championship if Sunderland are able to earn promotion. For the reported £2m Wolves are said to be seeking, he could be an absolute bargain signing, so Phillips is right to implore the Black Cats to land him on a permanent basis.

In other news, many Sunderland fans loved these Aiden O’Brien comments.

Liverpool have made a £30million offer for Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman but it falls short of the German champions’ valuation, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (via beIN Sports).

Bayern are said to want £42million for the 25-year-old Frenchman.

Why might Liverpool be after Coman?

Jurgen Klopp’s side may be on the hunt for another attacking option as they look to prepare for the absence of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at the turn of the year.

Salah and Mane are set to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from 9 January-6 February.

Coman made 23 Bundesliga starts last season, scoring five goals and setting up 12. Only three players – Thomas Muller, Filip Kostic and Daichi Kamada – recorded more assists.

His injury record is a concern, though. Since the start of the 2018/19 season, he’s missed 36 games with 11 different issues (via Transfermarkt).

Fan feed LFC Transfer Room relayed the Coman report, and here’s what supporters made of it.

Liverpool fans unimpressed by links to Coman

“Wrong French LW, FSG”

Credit: @FcNabyLad

“£42mil for a player that’s a season ending injury away from retiring? No thanks.”

Credit: @DatedWizard

“Great, another injury prone player”

Credit: @AK_LFC_

“He’s more injury prone than Naby Keita”

Credit: @Overvie49556639

“I don’t understand this club’s obsession with injury prone players”

Credit: @wizonce_LFC

“Don’t care, give me Raphinha”

Credit: @AJXR45

In other news, fans bemoaned this update on a midfield target. 

Aston Villa could strike gold this summer with a bargain swoop for Ipswich Town’s Liam Gibbs.

What’s the story?

According to reports in recent weeks, Villa have been one of the clubs named as keeping a track of Gibbs’ situation with the Tractor Boys, and it appears that the Midlands club now have the perfect chance to make their move.

The Suffolk News have revealed that the 18-year-old starlet is set to depart Ipswich this summer after contract talks between the two parties broke down.

The report added: “It means Gibbs is now a free agent from this morning and Ipswich are set to only get a nominal compensation fee for their part in training him.”

Forget Smith Rowe

While reports in recent days and weeks have linked Villa with a swoop for Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe, Dean Smith’s side may be better off abandoning on what at the moment looks to be a dead-end pursuit and instead target Gibbs.

Like Smith Rowe, the Ipswich teenager is predominantly a number ten, but has also shown some versatility by playing from the left, and he seems destined for a big future.

Portman Road academy chief Bryan Klug said: “He is a goalscorer and he is a goal creator. He has got a real talent and one thing now is this football club presents opportunities to people like that.

“He has got the talent, there is no doubt. He is one of the most talented people I have worked with. I would not rule out anything for Liam. I think he has got the potential to be a top player.”

Rather than potentially wasting time going after a player in Smith Rowe, who Arsenal are adamant will not be sold as they look to tie up a new contract for him, Gibbs could be the kind of young, exciting signing who could make a real impression at Villa Park.

Also, the fact that the 18-year-old is a free agent and that Ipswich would only be due a “nominal compensation fee” makes him a hugely enticing transfer prospect from a financial sense as well.

Johan Lange could hit the Villa jackpot with a bargain move for Gibbs this summer.

Meanwhile, Villa are closing in on this big-money signing…

Many fans of West Ham United have been reacting to a post on Twitter which featured “brilliant” footage of former Irons striker Marlon Harewood going through the motions while commentating on the Hammers’ weekend thriller against Leicester City.

In the footage, Harewood was commentating on West Ham’s 3-2 victory over Leicester for Sky Sports and appeared to be extremely stressed during the final moments of the fixture, pleading for the referee to “blow the whistle” for the end of the game.

Indeed, this must have been a similar reaction to many other West Ham fans had around the country, as the Foxes missed a golden opportunity to equalise with what was the last action of the game when an unmarked Wesley Fofana headed wide.

After one West Ham fan shared the footage of Harewood on Twitter, many more flocked to have their say on the clip, with plenty suggesting that their ex-striker’s reaction sums up what it is like to be a West Ham fan.

So, what exactly did these West Ham United fans have to say in reaction to the footage of Marlon Harewood?

“We’ve got the best ex-players of any club! Love this!”

@DEPtones

“That is brilliant.”

@Blowmonkey1

“Pretty much every West Ham fan today.”

@DaveJBurgess

“That’s what it means.”

@bmoorewhu82

“Absolutely love this. His face was all of us in the last 5 minutes, and a West Ham legend as well.”

@jeffers4045

“If anything typifies being a Hammer this is it.”

@JimmyReg10

In other news: West Ham make approach for £12.6m-rated ace; GSB could get him for nothing this summer – find out more here!

Wolves legend Steve Bull insists that the next Wolves manager has plenty to live up to following the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo.

The 47-year-old departed the Molineux club following the final game of the season, bringing to an end a four-year spell with the Midlands club.

In that time, Santo took Wolves from the Championship into the Premier League and kept them there, establishing the side as a genuine force in the top-flight.

This season, though, Wolves have struggled somewhat and limped to a 13th-placed finish in the Premier League.

Nuno was forced to blood the youngster Fabio Silva up front after the horrific head injury sustained by Raul Jimenez and Bull believes that the season actually ended in a reasonable manner because of the sheer amount of bad luck Wolves suffered through.

As a result, he feels that Nuno’s replacement faces a mighty job as he looks to fill the Portuguese’s shoes.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “Whoever comes in, I just think the club have got to get behind them.

“We’ve got a bunch of youngsters at the moment learning their trade, and whoever comes in, they’ve got a job and a half to do, because of the transformation this year.

“Nuno had players going out, young players coming in, injuries, and I don’t think we’ve had a bad season overall with what we’ve gone through.”

Many Wolves fans have been left fuming as some news emerged involving Raul Jimenez.

As per the official website of the Mexican Football Federation, the Midlands club has refused to let the striker join up with the Mexico squad.

They have now been warned that if he is not released, he will not be able to play at Molineux during the FIFA period, plus an additional five days.

Bruno Lage’s team may also receive additional sanctions, putting pressure on them to reverse their decision.

Of course, if Jimenez plays for Mexico, he is at a bigger risk of picking up an injury, and he is only just getting to used to wearing a head brace, while there is also the concerns around Covid-19 regulations and the virus itself.

Nonetheless, the consequences of all this may be that he misses their next game away at Watford in the Premier League on Saturday 11th September.

 Wolves fans on Jimenez news

These WWFC supporters fumed as the news was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that it was ‘ridiculous’:

“That’s just stupid we aren’t letting him go because then it affects Wolves because he has to isolate there is nothing wrong with that”

Credit: @Wolvoryan04

“That’s it I’m binning my green shirt”

Credit: @tomtracey12

“Not going well is it.”

Credit: @rutlandwolf

“Utter stupidity”

Credit: @shadrach1988

“Like we would risk him and plus he would have to self isolate, they’re a joke”

Credit: @DavidMa30274042

“Ridiculous if we’re punished, but even more emphasis on poor recruitment”

Credit: @leason_ellis

In other news, find out why the Wanderers did not sign this ‘quality’ colossus here!