Newcastle United have an opportunity to make history on Sunday as they face off against Manchester United at Wembley in the League Cup final.

The Magpies have not won a major domestic trophy since they lifted the FA Cup in 1955 and Eddie Howe’s side can end that drought with a win this weekend.

However, they will have to do so without their first-choice goalkeeper after Nick Pope was shown a straight red card against Liverpool in the Premier League last weekend.

The £60k-per-week titan raced out of his goal and inadvertently handled the ball after attempting to head it clear and was sent off for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity, as Mo Salah would have been through against an empty net.

Loris Karius is now in with a shot at starting the final, due to Martin Dubravka being cup-tied, and the Daily Mail have revealed that Max Thompson, 18, will be in the squad as a backup to the German.

Who is Newcastle’s Max Thompson?

The teenage shot-stopper is one of the club’s U21 goalkeepers and could be the future long-term heir to Pope’s position in the team if all things go well for him.

Being in the squad on Sunday will be a terrific experience for the youngster and one that could give him added motivation to kick on and work his way into the senior set-up on a regular basis.

Thompson was the first choice between the sticks for the U18s last season – making 21 appearances in all competitions – and earned himself five U21 outings.

In the current campaign, the youngster has been competing with Jude Smith for a place in goal and has played in four Premier League 2 matches to date.

He was brought into first-team training in December, alongside Lewis Miley and Alex Murphy, and caught the eye for Newcastle’s youth team last term.

Journalist Mark Carruthers lauded his handling as “impeccable” and described the colossus as “reassuring”, whilst reporter Matty Hewitt hailed him as one of the club’s “bright talents”.

The gem has also been capped by England at U18 level and this, along with Howe’s decision to involve him in first-team training and now the squad on Sunday, suggests that the youngster has a lot of potential as coaches at international and club level are giving him great opportunities.

It is now down to Thompson to keep working hard to ensure that he is able to progress and develop to a point where the Newcastle head coach can pick him to play minutes in the first-team.

If the teenager can do that in the years to come then he could end up being the long-term heir to Pope, 30, and save PIF and Dan Ashworth millions in the process.

Liverpool are plotting a move to bring Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Luka Sucic to the Premier League, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Reinforcements needed

The Merseyside outfit have Naby Keita, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo all out of contract at the end of the season, so reinforcements will definitely be needed in the summer.

Jurgen Klopp has already been linked with a couple of primary targets, including Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount, but a new candidate has now emerged in the form of the 20-year-old Salzburg sensation.

The Latest: Liverpool eyeing Sucic

According to Football Transfers, Liverpool have put Sucic on a ‘preliminary list’ of central players that they want to target.

FSG are said to have already held internal ‘conversations’ regarding a move for the Croatian, who has a ‘low release clause’, believed to be somewhere between €15-20m (£13-17m).

The Reds are ‘intent’ on signing a younger star that they can develop in midfield and they do have ‘enough funds’ to bring someone else in alongside the likes of Bellingham.

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The Verdict: One for the future

Sucic has been dubbed a ‘joy to watch’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig and he would be a hugely exciting signing for the future of Liverpool.

The left-footed gem has already made 23 goal contributions for Salzburg despite his young age and also ranks in the 99th percentile for blocks and 88th for interceptions per 90 minutes by midfielders outside Europe’s top five leagues, highlighting the impact he makes at both ends of the pitch.

The Linz native also has the versatility to operate in central, attacking, left and right midfield, which will be an extremely attractive attribute to Klopp.

With four senior international caps to his name, Sucic has bags of potential to offer and he would flourish under the lights should he put pen to paper at Anfield.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who is on loan at Inter Milan, as a potential replacement for Harry Kane.

The Lowdown: Kane’s future in doubt?

The latter’s contract is currently set to expire at the end of next season, but there has been some good news for Tottenham fans in recent days, as it has emerged that talks about a new deal have already commenced.

That said, there is no guarantee that the Englishman will commit to a new contract, given that it has also been reported that he is ‘full of doubts’ about extending his stay in N17, so Antonio Conte may have to start thinking about replacements for the club’s all-time record goalscorer.

The Latest: Tottenham keen on Lukaku

According to a report from Spanish sources (via The Boy Hotspur), the Lilywhites are keen on signing Lukaku if Kane decides he does not want to sign a new deal with Tottenham.

It is explained that Inter Milan have no interest in signing the Belgian forward on a permanent deal this summer, while the player himself has no intention of returning to his parent club, perhaps opening the door for a move to north London.

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The Verdict: Avoid

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has hailed Lukaku as a ‘complete’ striker who ‘can win games on his own’, and his record in front of goal with Inter is fantastic, scoring 68 times in 109 appearances while also claiming 17 assists.

However, the 29-year-old did struggle the last time he played in the Premier League, only managing eight goals in 26 top-flight games for Chelsea, and the fact that he has only netted twice in the Serie A this season indicates that he is perhaps past his best.

Of course, Tottenham will be hoping that they have no need to sign a new striker this summer, given that contract talks with Kane seem to be progressing. However, if they do enter the market, Lukaku should not be one of Conte’s targets.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that there is “no truth” to recent transfer rumours linking West Ham United with a move for Brazilian forward Pedro.

What’s the latest on Pedro to West Ham?

According to some reporting in the Spanish media, the Hammers could be keen on bringing the Flamengo forward to the Premier League in the near future.

Indeed, reports suggest the 25-year-old is a target for West Ham who would have to potentially pay over €40m (£35m) if they want to land Pedro any time soon.

However, in an shared on The West Ham Way podcast, Ex stated that the club have had their scouts in Brazil but the striker is not a specific target they have any particular interest in.

He said: “There’s been links with a Brazilian striker called Pedro. There’s no truth. We haven’t approached anyone for him.

“We’ve watched many players in Brazil, a number of them came out in the January window, but that was all it was. Rob Newman was there looking for young talent to bring in.

“Luizao was a result of that – the centre-back that joined us in January.”

What does the Pedro transfer rumour mean for West Ham?

As mentioned by Ex, the club certainly have had their eye on that part of the world of late with young defender Luizao signing from Sao Paulo in the winter window.
Pedro may well be known to the club too. Although he will be known by many now having played two times for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. And with nine goals and two assists for Flamengo this season, he’s certainly an impressive player.
Despite that, though, it seems as though this talk of a possible move to West Ham seems a little premature at this stage. Perhaps the club are targeting lower-profile younger Brazilians such as Luizao, as opposed to those already established at the international level.

While Jesse Marsch’s sacking from Leeds United a matter of weeks ago was unsurprising, the decision that was taken in order to replace him was somewhat of a shock.

The Whites cast their net out in search of a swift appointment but were knocked back several times, first by the disciple of Marcelo Bielsa – Carlos Corberan – who signed a new deal at West Bromwich Albion and then by Andoni Iraola who was blocked by his club, Rayo Vallecano.

As a result, Victor Orta and co were left with limited options, ultimately looking towards his fellow countryman in Javi Gracia.

A strange appointment it indeed looks, and when considering he reportedly doesn’t even have a work permit, the hire becomes even more perplexing.

The former Watford boss at least arrives with experience in English football and indeed the Premier League, but it will be an uphill battle to keep the Yorkshire side in the division.

Fortunately, he does have a number of talented young players to call upon, one of which is Giorginio Rutter.

What impact could Rutter have under Gracia?

The year of 2023 has been a troubling one not just for Leeds, who have not won a game since the resumption of the league following the World Cup, but also for new signing Rutter.

Signed from Hoffenheim in the winter, the 20-year-old looks a raw but exciting talent. That said, he is yet to find the net in his five Premier League games and 109 minutes of action.

Those are limited involvements indeed but under Gracia, he could well thrive.

After all, this is a manager who once coached a certain Richarlison to prominence all those years ago at Vicarage Road with the Brazilian – now a £60m footballer at Spurs – playing under Gracia’s tutelage for the Hornets.

Although he failed to score for the Spaniard, he is undoubtedly one of the most notable players the new Leeds boss has worked with.

The Brazil international is a master of the dark arts when it comes to his off-the-ball work, making himself a nuisance for opposition defenders.

But he is indeed a competent footballer too, using his pace and trickery to work openings for both himself and his teammates. It is those qualities that have seen him ultimately go on to score 48 times in the Premier League.

Capable of operating as a centre-forward or out on the flanks, there are clear parallels with Rutter who plays in similar areas of the pitch.

At Leeds, the Frenchman has exclusively played as a striker but with Patrick Bamford now back in the fold, could play out wide. That said, with Gracia previously favouring a 4-4-2, perhaps the duo could operate together in the same side.

But what makes this comparison to Richarlison all the more obvious is their skill set, with scout Jacek Kulig once hailing the “clinical finisher” for his “blistering pace.”

Described as ‘part centre-forward, part jet-heeled winger’ by the Bundesliga website, the 20-year-old was among the 50 quickest players in Germany’s top tier with a top speed of 21.46 mph, just 2 mph quicker than that of the current Spurs attacker.

Rutter’s ‘direct running and mesmerising dribbling’ as per Bundesliga.com only add further comparisons, with such a player only set to get better as the years go on.

Leeds, and Gracia, however, will just have to hope that progression happens in the next few weeks. He will be key to any chance the Elland Road outfit has of staying up.

Aston Villa correspondent Ashley Preece has been reacting to the club’s reported talks with sporting director Antonio Cordon.

The Lowdown: Cordon for Lange?

Johan Lange is the current sporting director at Villa Park and has been since 2020. The 43-year-old has worked alongside Dean Smith, Steven Gerrard and now Unai Emery, but reports towards the end of 2022 said that his job is hanging by a thread.

Villa have now been linked with a move for Cordon and have held discussions with the sporting director after he announced he was to step down from his role at Real Betis.

The Latest: Preece reacts

Preece took to Twitter on Wednesday afternoon to share the news on Cordon. The Birmingham Live reporter described it as ‘quite a big deal’ and said Cordon is ‘the man behind Real Betis’ incredible success in recent seasons’, adding that there could be competition from Barcelona.

“Quite a big deal this as AVFC hold talks with Antonio Cordon, the man behind Real Betis’ incredible success in recent seasons, after he stepped down from his sporting director role this week. Villa face competition from Barca.”

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The Verdict: All change…

Christian Purslow is expecting an extremely busy summer at Villa in regards to incomings and outgoings, and it looks as if Cordon could help oversee those changes in place of Lange – he may have been in contact with Villa just last month in the transfer that took Alex Moreno from Real Betis to the Midlands.

As Preece mentions, Cordon signed a number of impressive players during his time at Betis, including Villa-linked Luiz Henrique, so it doesn’t come as a complete shock that Villa are in talks over a move to England, especially following speculation over Lange’s future in recent months.

Southampton interim manager Ruben Selles could ‘carry on’ if he impresses in the role, according to transfer reporter Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Selles placed in charge

After the departure of Nathan Jones last week, First Team Lead Coach Selles was placed in temporary charge of first-team training, and was in the dugout for this afternoon’s game against Chelsea.

With the Saints missing out on Jesse Marsch after a dispute over the length of his contract, their current coach claimed he is ready to take over as manager, and an update indicates that it is a real possibility.

The Latest: Could carry on

In an interview with GiveMeSport, transfer journalist Jones claimed that the 39-year-old could continue in the role if his side impresses enough in the upcoming matches, saying: “He’s kind of on trial to see if he can handle this job. It’s a really strange situation for him, but I think they quite trust him to steady things at the moment and, if he gets off to a good start, I wouldn’t even rule out the fact that he might carry on.”

The Verdict: Right call?

One potential advantage in offering the job to the Spaniard is that he knows the players well, having been working with them all season, after initially joining as part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s backroom staff back in June.

Furthermore, journalist Jacob Tanswell has claimed that Selles is ‘highly regarded’ amongst the players, and this existing relationship could mean they are willing to give their all for the manager during the rest of the campaign.

The Saints are currently battling Premier League relegation, meaning there is a lot of work to do to preserve their top flight status, and so giving the job to someone with little experience would be a risk, but it is probably a better option than bringing in someone from abroad who does not know the group.

Newcastle United could reportedly make their interest in Inter Milan central defender Stefan de Vrij more concrete ‘in the coming days’.

The Lowdown: Contract expiring

De Vrij’s contract expires in the summer, meaning that he can leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

He has recently confirmed that he is ‘in talks’ with Inter over a renewal, but a move away has not yet been ruled out.

The Latest: Newcastle interest

As per Italian news outlet FC Inter News, Villarreal have already made an offer to De Vrij to join them for next term, while a number of other clubs hold an interest.

Newcastle are one of them, along with Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Leicester City and Nice, and could firm up their interest ‘in the coming days’.

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The Verdict: No-brainer

It is a no-brainer for the St. James’ Park outfit to sign someone of De Vrij’s quality and experience on a free transfer.

Once hailed as a ‘monster’ who possesses ‘excellent technique’ by his former team-mate at Lazio Mauricio, the six-foot-three colossus is a complete centre-back, ranking in the top 19% for a number of key metrics in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year.

He has amassed 59 times by the Netherlands.

Nonetheless, De Vrij could form a formidable new partnership for the Magpies alongside fellow countryman Sven Botman.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United are “really keen” on signing youngster Luca Fletcher who is currently on trial with the club.

What’s the latest on Luca Fletcher and his West Ham injury?

While the January transfer window has come and gone this season and we are still many months away from the summer market, it seems as though the Premier League club are still eyeing up some new arrivals.

However, the latest linked names won’t be players to come in and sign for the first team. Instead, the Hammers have been tipped to hand 15-year-old Fletcher an offer to come in and play for the club’s academy whilst he is on trial having been with Reading earlier on in the season.

Indeed, while speaking about the situation, Ex told The West Ham Way podcast, that the teenager has impressed the club and seems to be the standout trialist.

He said (5:39): “So we’ve got two players, former Reading players, currently on trial.

“Apparently, Luca Fletcher is the one they really really like and so they’re tempted to bring him in soon.”

Who is Luca Fletcher and will he end up at West Ham?

Still only 15 years of age, it’s hard to know the full potential of the young centre-forward but the talent spotters at West Ham clearly feel as though he might be worth taking a punt on.

To be fair, he has impressed at international level with the England U16 side. Indeed, earlier on this season, he scored three goals in two games against Turkey’s U16 as the youth teams met twice in the space of a week.

Seeing as he’s in the Three Lions’ academy setup already, he must be fairly highly rated and so perhaps it would be a good move for West Ham to get him swiftly confirmed as one of their own.

Taking it all into account, Fletcher certainly looks like a name to keep an eye out for in the future.

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni, with the Red Devils a ‘concrete threat’ to the Serie A side.

The Lowdown: Bastoni superb for Inter

The 23-year-old is arguably one of Europe’s most exciting young defenders currently, producing a string of influential performances for Inter in recent years.

Bastoni has made 19 appearances in Serie A so far this season, averaging 1.7 tackles per game in the competition, as well as 2.5 clearances in the Champions League, as per WhoScored.

The Italian is out of contract at Inter at the end of next season, however, meaning there could be potential suitors eyeing up his signature this summer.

The Latest: United linked with move

According to Inter Live [via Sport Witness], United are a ‘concrete threat’ to Inter with regards to Bastoni, as the Serie A giants desperately try to keep hold of one of their star men.

The Red Devils could reportedly ‘go as high as’ offering the young centre-back €8million (£7m) a year at Old Trafford, which is ‘triggering a new alarm’ at the Nerazzurri.

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The Verdict: Could be an outstanding signing

Bastoni could be a magnificent signing by United, considering what a formidable defender he already is, despite having most of his career ahead of him still.

The 17-cap Italy international could be viewed as a long-term successor to Raphael Varane at the heart of United’s defence, with the Frenchman turning 30 next month and never too far away from an injury layoff.

Bastoni and Lisandro Martinez could forge a wonderful long-term centre-back partnership at Old Trafford – one that may have the potential to match great pairings of the past, from Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, to Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister.

Whether or not Inter allow one of their most prized assets to move on remains to be seen – he won the league title in 2020/21 – but the player himself may jump at the chance to join the Erik ten Hag revolution.