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Celtic have been dealt a big setback in their bid to bring Reo Hatate to Parkhead in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Dan Orlowitz (via Everything Celtic), with the Japan Times journalist revealing that, despite reports suggesting that the player’s contract with Kawasaki Frontale is set to expire in January, the 24-year-old is actually contracted to the J League club beyond the end of the current campaign.

Subsequently, in recent comments cited by the Daily Record, Orlowitz went on to reveal that that Frontale are commanding a fee in the region of £2.4m in order to part with Hatate this January, something which is reported to be a stumbling block in Celtic’s move for the midfielder.

Speaking about the Bhoys’ interest in the player, Orlowitz said: “I’ve heard that Frontale want £2.4m for Hatate.”

Fans will be gutted

Considering just how impressive Hatate has been in Japan this season, the news that Celtic will not be able to land the midfielder on a free transfer, and may even end up missing out on his signing if they do not meet Frontale’s asking price, is sure to have left Hoops fans gutted.

Indeed, over his over 30 J League appearances this term, the £720k-rated man scored five goals, registered two assists and created three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking two shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

These returns saw the 24-year-old earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.16, ranking him as Frontale’s fifth-best performer in their title-winning campaign.

Furthermore, Hatate’s ability to play at both left-back and attacking midfield is something which would prove incredibly useful for Ange Postecoglou, as Celtic are currently lacking strength in depth in both positions.

As such, it would indeed appear as if the 24-year-old’s signing would be a fantastic one for the Bhoys to get over the line this winter, and why Orlowitz’s latest update could come as a big blow to the club, as well as worrying news for fans.

In other news – Get rid: Ange must now axe £20k-p/w “waste of money”, he’s stealing a living at Celtic

Salomon Rondon played the final half-hour of Everton’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

The summer signing was introduced on 63 minutes by Rafael Benitez in place of Fabian Delph but he only touched the ball seven times before the final whistle sounded at the Etihad Stadium.

At the end of the game, the Liverpool Echo’s Sam Carroll spotted that Rondon walked ‘straight off down the tunnel’. having not even offered ‘a wave to the travelling fans’ who’d endured the entirety of the loss. Captain Seamus Coleman was joined by Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey, Lucas Digne, Tyler Onyango, Anthony Gordon and Andros Townsend in applauding the travelling Toffees supporters.

Rondon struggling since Everton move

Rondon has made eight Premier League appearances so far this season but is yet to open his goalscoring account for his new club. In fact, he’s received as many yellow cards (one) as he’s managed shots on target, and he has already come in for plenty of flak from some of the Goodison Park faithful.

Here’s what a selection of Everton fans had to say in response to Carroll’s reveal about the Venezuelan’s actions at the full-time whistle in Manchester.

These Everton fans slam Rondon after Etihad snub

“Rondon can carry on walking”

Credit: @ballantyne374

“Rondon’s done that since day one but we all know that if he was hounded out the club for it, he’d be the first to make out we’re the villains. Robbing a living he is.”

Credit: @TheDanMox

“Tbf it was a long walk to the away end – don’t think his fitness is up to it yet.”

Credit: @SteveMWilliams

“He isn’t fit enough to go over there yet”

Credit: @IndianToffy

“Criminal he’s getting minutes in front of Simms”

Credit: @GraemeMcV

“I know I keep banging this drum but the lack of passion in our squad for this club is diabolical. I struggle to think of any current LFC player that wouldn’t die for their fans, while most of our squad wouldn’t get a paper cut for us.”

Credit: @JHoughtonMedia

In other news, many Everton fans gushed over this stadium update.

Kevin Phillips has mixed feelings about Leeds United’s potential move for John Swift but has tipped Marcelo Bielsa to get the best out of him.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Swift move

The Whites are reportedly keen on signing the 26-year-old in the January transfer window in order to add squad depth in the middle of the park.

Swift is enjoying a fantastic season in the Championship with Reading, scoring eight goals and setting up another eight and arguably standing out as one of the best players in the division.

Bielsa has called the Reading maestro a ‘great player’ in the past, adding further fuel to the fire regarding a move to Elland Road.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375277″]

The Latest: Phillips has mixed feelings

Phillips is a bit unsure about the prospective transfer, telling Football Insider that he would love to see Swift succeed at Elland Road but feeling that it would be a “gamble” to take him to the Premier League. He said:

“I think it would be a slight gamble from Leeds. It’s a big jump, moving from the Championship to the Premier League.

“He is a player who has been around a while now. It makes you wonder why nobody has brought him up to the Premier League already.

“However, we know when Bielsa signs a player, he gets the best out of them. Swift might be one of those players who comes up to the Premier League and really surprises everyone. I would love to see him jump up and make an impression.

“If I’m honest though, I’m dubious as to whether he could do that. Bielsa’s man-management skills could bring out the best in him though. It’s certainly a position Leeds are light in.”

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The Verdict: Trust Bielsa?

The idea of signing a Championship player is naturally less enticing than bringing in someone from a top European league, but Bielsa has shown that he should be trusted with signings, given the success he has enjoyed at Leeds. The Argentine can also take credit for moulding the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford from being useful Championship operators to accomplished Premier League-standard footballers.

He may believe that Swift has exactly what it takes to be a key player in his system, most importantly providing him with more midfield options as well. The 26-year-old is averaging 2.8 key passes per game in the Championship this season, with Raphinha (2.2) Leeds’ strongest performer in that area.

With Adam Forshaw still only recently back from a two-year injury absence and Kalvin Phillips’ future up in the air, the need for more bodies in the middle of the park is evident.

In other news, Phil Hay has discussed Leeds’ possible January transfer business. Read more here.

Flocking to Twitter, many West Ham United fans have been left delighted following an update on Adam Hlozek from reliable club insider ExWHUemployee.

The Czech Republic international has been on David Moyes’ radar since the summer transfer window and reports have suggested in recent weeks that they could make an offer to sign him in January (90min).

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Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s purchase of a 27% stake in the club has only heightened reports that West Ham could make a move, especially considering the magnate’s ties to Hlozek’s current club Sparta Prague.

The striker, who bagged 15 goals and 11 assists in just 19 Fortuna Liga appearances last term, has emerged as one of the most in-form young players in Europe as Ex drops an exciting transfer claim. According to his sources (via The West Ham Way), the Irons are set to make a ‘concrete offer’ for him in January, with interest ramping up significantly in recent weeks.

West Ham fans excited…

Taking into account the player’s prolific goalscoring record and young age, it’s little wonder so many Irons supporters are excited at the prospect of a concrete offer, with one fan calling this news ‘massive’.

Check out some of their best reactions below:

“YESSSSSS”

Credit: @morgzwhu

“Finally”

Credit: @adambrown93

“Massive”

Credit: @FPLFella

“Time for me to get excited at strikers we’re linked to again! Please let this one end up differently than all the disappointment my hopes have been met with in the past!”

Credit: @TheWestHamYank

“Definitely the one striker I want us to sign”

Credit: @robson261009

“Get him on board, coyi”

Credit: @Petercrowe12

“this bloke is elite”

Credit: @stephenlott

“Great news!”

Credit: @brdv2137

In other news: Newman also eyeing West Ham bid to sign 129-goal ‘big name’ striker in January, find out more here.

There was no disguising the exhausted despondency with which Andrew Strauss addressed the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday, as England prepared to face the music against Sri Lanka

The Preview by Andrew Miller24-Sep-2009Match factsFriday, September 25, 2009
Start time 2:30 pm, 12:30 GMTAndrew Strauss’s team faces a tough initiation against Sri Lanka•AFPBig pictureAndrew Strauss is usually as affable as international captains come, but despite his upbeat sentiments, there was no disguising the exhausted despondency with which he addressed the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday, as England prepared to face the music in a one-day competition that has humiliation stamped all over it. True, they arrive in the country boasting a winning streak of one match, after denying Australia a 7-0 whitewash in the final ODI of the English summer on Sunday, but even in that irrelevant face-saver, they still shipped six wickets chasing 177.And now, with respect to an Australian side that may be the reigning Champions Trophy champions but are still in an undeniable rebuilding phase, England prepare to face a team that really knows how to play one-day cricket. Sri Lanka simply hammered the much-fancied tournament hosts, South Africa, in the opening match on Tuesday. Tillakaratne Dilshan’s majestic hundred put the match out of reach, as the wiles of Ajantha Mendis proved too canny to allow a 300-plus target to be pursued with any confidence – even for a team stacked with the sort of power-players that England can only dream of.In the absence of Kevin Pietersen (who has scored two of England’s three ODI hundreds since January 2008 – a tally that even Scotland has surpassed) and latterly Andrew Flintoff and even Luke Wright, England lack batsmen who can break the shackles, and raise the tempo. Strauss has been batting like a dream all summer, but even at his most imperious, he is still a man for whom an 80.00 strike-rate is a pacey tempo – hence his unfortunate habit during the Australia ODIs of getting out when well set, usually while attempting a reverse-sweep or similar, shots that his colleagues ought to have been producing while he continued to anchor the innings.Strange results are possible in 50-over cricket – let’s not forget, when England were last humiliated by Australia in a one-day campaign, in Australia in 2006-07, they somehow emerged with the CB Series trophy in their luggage, after Paul Collingwood stitched together back-to-back victories in the finals. But they’ve never yet won an ICC global event, and they’ve rarely looked less ready to break that habit. The rarefied atmosphere of the Highveld is no place for weary cricketers.Form guide (last five completed matches, most recent first)England – WLLLL
Sri Lanka – WLWWL
Team newsWith so many key players injured, and too many of the current incumbents out of form, it’s hard to know how England can hope to improve on their home form. Ravi Bopara and Owais Shah have been woefully short of confidence and one of that pair could well make way to enable England to field an extra seamer – which could well be their one trump card, having seen how dramatically South Africa’s early-season wickets have zipped around so far. Whether Tim Bresnan ousts Graham Onions depends on how much England value his extra batting abilities.England (possible): 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Joe Denly, 3 Owais Shah, 4 Paul Collingwood, 5 Matt Prior (wk), 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Stuart Broad, 8 Graeme Swann, 9 Tim Bresnan, 10 Ryan Sidebottom, 11 James Anderson.Sri Lanka have very little to improve upon. Sanath Jayasuriya remains a concern at the top of the order, but he’ll play on until he drops, while the tireless Muttiah Muralitharan never ceases to be a menace. Lasith Malinga’s round-arm hostility will be a familiar but awkward challenge for Joe Denly, who will have gained a valuable sighter of his unorthodox action in the Kent nets.Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt/wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilina Kandamby, 6 Thilan Samaraweera, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Muttiah Muralitharan, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Ajantha Mendis.Watch out for…An ICC event in South Africa was where James Anderson made his name way back in 2003, when he was the rising star of England’s attack, not least during a monumental performance against Pakistan in Cape Town when, in the immortal words of Cricinfo’s erstwhile scribe, Rob Smyth, he proved “so good under the lights, he ought to have been a moth”. If he can replicate the hostility that he showed in patches during the Ashes, and exploit the moist conditions that tend to prevail when the evening dew kicks in, he can cause a flap once again. Assuming England’s batsmen give him a total to defend, that is.With 71 wickets in 34 ODIs since his debut in April 2008, Ajantha Mendis has been one of the bowling sensations of the past 18 months, but England as yet have been denied an opportunity to sample his unique bag of tricks. A three-wicket haul in the opening game against South Africa confirmed that his carrom ball is flicking out nicely, and it remains to be seen how England manage to counter his wiles. Traditionally they’ve not been too impressive when it comes to figuring out mystery spinners …Pitch and conditions It’s early in the season on the Highveld, so who knows what to expect? So far, there has been evidence of helpful bowling conditions, unsurprisingly, and there has been plenty of rain in the high-altitude air as well.Stats and trivia Jayasuriya has scored 28 ODI hundreds in 439 matches spanning 18 years. The 11 players who took the field for England in the seventh ODI at Chester-le-Street have a grand total of nine hundreds between them. Paul Collingwood, the most-capped player by a distance, has notched up 166 appearances. Sri Lanka have won only one of the four ODIs they have played at the Wanderers, and that was to avoid a 6-0 whitewash in 2000-01. Their last visit, during the 2003 World Cup, culminated in a 183-run drubbing at the hands of the eventual runners-up, India England have played three matches at the venue, all against South Africa, and at the third attempt they recorded their first win, by 26 runs in a rain-affected contest in 2005, notable for Kevin Pietersen’s hostile homecoming.Quotes”It’s not a long tournament, a bit of a sprint and quite exciting to know if you play well in three games you’re in the semi-final. We can wipe the slate clean to be honest.”
.”As a side, I feel we are still firing at 75% maybe. So we have a lot of areas to improve, but the good thing is that we’re still winning.”

Shane Warne pointed the finger at his mum for giving him a banned drug, but Mitchell Johnson refuses to blame his mother for his off-the-rails Ashes campaign. At the start of the series, Vikki Harber said her son had been stolen by his girlfriend Jessica Bratich and since then Johnson has failed to regain the form that made him one of the world’s most frightening bowlers.”The message I want to say is hopefully things can work out and be resolved,” Johnson told the Australian magazine Women’s Day. “It probably might seem, at this time, like things have been distracting me. I was a bit disappointed with what has been going on, but I don’t let things like that distract me. Otherwise, you are thinking about what’s going on when you are in the field and you can’t focus.”Johnson, who moved from Queensland to Western Australia last year to be closer to Bratich, has not been in contact with his mother since the start of the year, but told the magazine he hoped she would be at his wedding next May. While Harber has also rejected claims she was responsible for her son’s poor Ashes form, which has contributed to Australia being 1-0 down, Johnson’s interview continues to drag out the episode.Despite his comments, Johnson has been terribly distracted and disjointed in the opening two Tests and those around the team believe the public nature of the issue has contributed to his slumping shoulders. He has also been desperate to fix an ailing action, with his low arm position causing severe uncertainty over his direction.While he has eight wickets in the series, the victims have come at 41.37 apiece and he is giving away four runs an over. After a horrible performance at Lord’s, where he struggled with the slope and delivered a host of short and wide offerings, there were few signs of recovery in his match return of 1 for 107 from 18.1 overs in the tour match against Northamptonshire.Allan Border, the former Australia captain, believes Johnson should stand down for a week after he “totally lost his radar”, and has prescribed 15 overs a day in the nets to re-find his form. “He won’t have to worry about going at six an over like he did in the last Test,” Border said in the Australian. “There won’t be any of the pressure and scrutiny that comes with being in the middle of a Test match.”Despite their attack leader’s awful slump, the Australians are determined to remember Johnson as the tormentor of South Africa and are likely to give him a final chance to re-find his power at Edgbaston from Thursday. “He got some pretty good pace [at Northampton] and was difficult to face in the nets today,” Michael Clarke said. “He’s on the way back, feeling more positive about how things are going, and looking forward to hopefully getting another opportunity on Thursday.”Clarke hasn’t spoken to Johnson about his confidence levels but has talked to him about his on-field work. “He’s still bowling at a good pace and in the practice game the other day, especially that last spell, he was back to really good pace,” Clarke said. “I don’t think results always indicate how well you bowl, he had a lot of runs go through slip and backward point.”With Brett Lee out after being limited to operating off a couple of steps in the nets, Stuart Clark is the biggest threat to Johnson or, possibly, Peter Siddle. However, the allrounders Shane Watson and Andrew McDonald may also come into contention depending on the weather.The pitch is expected to be excellent for batting but rain is forecast for the early stages of the match, forcing the Australian selectors into what they believe is their toughest choice in three years as a panel. They plan another phone hook-up on the eve of the game.Clark is fit and in reasonable form following elbow surgery and if he is left out it will continue a frustrating tour for a man who has 90 Test wickets at 22.96. “It’s easy for anyone to get down when you’re not getting an opportunity,” Clarke said. “He’s bowling well in the nets and he bowled really well in the practice game. He’s looking forward to getting a chance, hopefully.”

Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka’s captain, has credited the team’s belief in itself as key to breaking a long run of home ODI series defeats

Sa'adi Thawfeeq10-Aug-2009Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka’s captain, has credited the team’s belief in itself as key to breaking a long run of home ODI series defeats. Sri Lanka had lost their last three bilateral ODI series played at home to India (twice) and England but in the five-match contest against Pakistan, turned it around to record a 3-2 win.Significantly, it was their first home series wins against Pakistan in both forms of the game. “We competed every step of the way and we managed to hang in there till we got a break. In the Test series there were a couple of instances where Pakistan should have beaten us but we hung in there and believed that we could win,” said Sangakkara. “You set yourself small targets like you win 10 overs on a day or in a session and you keep working like that. But at the end of the day you got to trust each other in the team because that’s why you are there as a team.”You’ve got to trust the guy next to you who can do the best job he can for the side. That has been one of the changes I’ve seen, everyone’s believed that we could win.”Sri Lanka won the first three ODIs in Dambulla to seal the series but lost the last two under lights at the Premadasa. Having assured themselves of the series the hosts opened their options by trying to give every member of the squad exposure. “The only thing we did is we gave a lot of opportunities to the guys in the squad to try and see where they are at,” said Sangakkara. “We’ve got to get away from the excuses and complaints, as a team we got to make sure that whatever conditions we get whether we win the toss or lose it we approach the game in the same way. We tried to do that but we got a long way to go to make sure we do that consistently.”The best thing about our team is the guys learn. We’ve got to put these things [defeats] behind us but the best way you can do that is to make sure it doesn’t happen often.”Sangakkara said that the absence of experienced matchwinners like Chaminda Vaas and Muthiah Muralitharan had the likes of Thilan Thushara and Nuwan Kulasekara the opportunity to become the big names of Sri Lankan cricket. “This was a great team effort to win the series and although there were a few individual brilliances we’ve got to thank the bowlers for our success. It doesn’t matter whether you come into a series with a pedigree or whether you are new as long as you are enthusiastic, working hard, bowling in the right areas, bowling aggressively you have a great chance of making an impact,” he said. “Thushara and Kulasekara especially went about their business very professionally bowled good lines, good lengths and let the ball to the rest right throughout the Test and ODI series. That is one of the reasons why we won. Our bowling always stepped up when we wanted it to. We’ve just got to make sure our batting keeps up.”Despite his team’s double success Sangakkara felt there were quite a lot of areas they needed to improve on, such as building partnerships in the middle order and getting solid starts consistently. “Guys like Lahiru Thirimanne and Gihan Rupasinghe are all pushing for places in the side. Suraj Randiv and Sachitra Senanayake are pushing for spinners’ places. We have 44 ODI games before the World Cup and within that time we’ve got to keep the core solid and give as much opportunity as we can to new people so that they can settle and become part of the side and see whether they can contribute and step up to this level.”Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said the two wins in a lost series would give his team a lot of confidence for the future of their cricket. “It’s very important to get the right combination. Once you get the right combination it works. We had a few injuries in the side but we had good bench strength so fortunately for bowlers like Naved-ul-Hasan and Ifthikar [Anjum], they got an opportunity and they made use of it.”Naved was named Man of the Match after destroying the Sri Lankan batting with 4 for 44. Anjum was instrumental in Pakistan’s first win on Friday taking 5 for 30.

Everton could be set for a big blow over the coming months after it was revealed Arsenal have set their sights on star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

What’s the word?

According to reports, the Gunners have identified the highly-rated 24-year-old as a possible replacement for wantaway forward Alexandre Lacazette.

The France international is expected to depart the north London outfit either in January or as a free agent next summer following the expiration of his current contract, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has already begun the search for his successor.

He’s reportedly in the market for a young goalscorer with Premier League experience to continue his policy of building a new squad around youth, with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins the alternative target.

However, the Toffees are expected to put up a fight for Calvert-Lewin, with the report stating: “Ambitious Everton will fight tooth and nail to keep top scorer Calvert-Lewin, who has established himself as Harry Kane’s England back-up over the past year.

“He signed a long-term Goodison deal worth £75,000-a-week last year, and it would cost upwards of £50million to prise him away from Merseyside.”

Everton fans will be gutted

Calvert-Lewin has become a key player for Everton in recent seasons, scoring 32 Premier League goals in 72 appearances since the beginning of 2019/20.

Thus, losing their star striker and top scorer would be a seismic blow to any ambitions they have of qualifying for Europe next term.

His outstanding performances at club level have seen him become a regular member of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, where he’s the first-choice backup to captain Harry Kane.

Although he only made two substitute appearances throughout the summer as the Three Lions reached the Euro 2020 final, his presence as the only natural alternative to the Tottenham Hotspur star illustrates just how highly Calvert-Lewin is thought of.

The 6 foot 2 target man returned from his international exploits in emphatic form at the start of the current campaign, bagging a goal in each of Everton’s opening three top-flight fixtures before a broken toe sidelined him.

Calvert-Lewin’s departure would be a significant setback in the Goodison Park outfit’s plans under new manager Rafael Benitez, and the Spanish tactician will be hoping his key man remains on Merseyside for many years to come.

With Salomon Rondon struggling for goals, it only elevates the England international’s importance at Finch Farm; they simply have to keep him.

And, in other news…Report reveals exciting Everton transfer update, fans should be buzzing 

Tottenham Hotspur continue to be named among the potential suitors for Franck Kessie in 2022…

What’s the word?

According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica (via FC Inter 1908), AC Milan are now getting ready to lose their leading midfielder, with his contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

It’s thought that the Ivory Coast international has decreased his yearly salary demands from €8m (£6.7m) to around €7m (£5.9m) but is unlikely to go any lower given the coveted interest in his signature.

Spurs are likely to battle European giants Paris Saint-Germain, Premier League rivals Liverpool and fellow Serie A side Juventus for Kessie. They’ll need to offer him an attractive contract if they are to stand a chance of securing him.

Get it done, Paratici

Reinforcements in the engine room could well be required as Lilywhites boss Nuno Santo still does not know his best midfield, having rotated between several names.

One player who remains present is Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg but he’s been joined by a host of other teammates like Oliver Skipp, Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele, Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso.

Kessie would offer the Portuguese a threat at either end of the pitch, something which perhaps none of the aforementioned first-teamers can currently do.

In the opposition’s box, the 6-foot enforcer has proven to be a goalscoring threat, having bagged 14 goals last season – only Zlatan Ibrahimovic found the net more times for Milan.

Whilst he also averaged 1.4 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.2 dribbles per Serie A game, meaning he could trackback, defend well and then launch counter-attacks with his ball-holding ability to good effect.

It’s a skill set that has previously been described as “devastating” by former Milan frontman Antonio Cassano and “extraordinary” by former head coach Vincenzo Montella.

Just imagine this sort of presence in behind a genuine creative midfielder, perhaps Bryan Gil, who is set to achieve big things in north London. Kessie is just 24, so Nuno could have an exciting looking midfield for several years to come.

What makes a potential swoop even sweeter for Fabio Paratici is the fact that he’d be landing a £36m-rated player for a bargain fee in January or for nothing in the summer. An absolute masterstroke of a decision if he can pull it off.

AND in other news, Spurs source drops big behind-the-scenes Nuno Santo claim…

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith will come under increased pressure surrounding his job, should he fail to better their fortunes by the next international break [Football Insider].

The Lowdown: Aston Villa make slow start to 2021/22 campaign

The Villans have started off 2021/22 in indifferent fashion, sitting 12th in the Premier League table after amassing four points from four encounters [BBC].

Much expectation has been placed upon the Midlands club this campaign, following an expensive window which brought the arrival of the likes of Emiliano Buendia, Danny Ings and Leon Bailey to the club [Transfermarkt].

Now, there could be trouble ahead for Smith following recent reports.

The Latest: ‘Fighting for his job’

According to a Bodymoor Heath source at Football Insider, Smith will be ‘fighting for his job’ should he fail to improve their league position ahead of the next international break.

Tough fixtures lie in wait for the Clarets, with Everton, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur on the agenda before their players set off to play for their respective nations.

The Aston Villa hierarchy will not waste any time in searching for a fresh face in the dugout should results not improve.

The Verdict: Lange won’t mess around

Confliction surrounds the notion of Smith coming under increased pressure. On one hand, the former Brentford manager has achieved incredible success at Villa Park.

Achieving promotion to the Premier League through the play-off route in 2019, Smith has since restored the profile of his boyhood club in the top-flight with respective 17th and 11th placed finishes.

Despite this, football is unfortunately an ever-evolving results business. With increased ambition comes increased expectation, and sporting director Johan Lange and owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens will expect to see a return on their investments this summer.

Following disappointing results such as a 3-2 defeat away to Watford and a 1-1 draw at home to Brentford, Smith may well be running out of time after the looming troublesome run of fixtures.

In other news, Aston Villa fans react to a mind-blowing statistic. Find out more here.