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Liverpool will be without teenage defender Ki-Jana Hoever for their next few fixtures after he was called up by his country.

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The 17-year-old right-back has been named in the Netherlands squad for the upcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil, as per onsoranje.nl, the official website of the Dutch national team.

The tournament begins on October 26th, with the final on November 17th, and if the Dutch were to add the world title to the European crown they won earlier this year, it would mean that Hoever will be unavailable for Liverpool’s next seven matches.

On the face of it, Hoever’s absence from club action owing to the Under-17 World Cup should not affect Jurgen Klopp’s side unduly, with the teenager playing just once for the first team this season and being an unused substitute in one other game for the senior side. [via TransferMarkt]

If anything, it is the Reds’ youth and reserve teams who will feel the force of his national team participation, with the defender playing in five Premier League 2 games and both UEFA Youth League matches so far in 2019/20. [via TransferMarkt]

However, if Trent Alexander-Arnold was to become unavailable through injury or suspension over the next month, it would leave Klopp with no natural right-back replacement.

Nathaniel Clyne, the only other senior right-back at the club, remains out of action due to the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in pre-season, with the ex-Southampton man not expected back until January at the earliest, according to The Telegraph.

If Alexander-Arnold is ruled out for any reason, the only other conceivable right-back options are Joe Gomez and Fabinho.

The ex-Charlton man has made 52 appearances in the position in his club career, but Klopp has preferred to deploy him at centre-back in recent games.

Fabinho has plenty of experience at right-back, having played there 98 times in his career, but all except one of those came before summer 2016, while his last game at right-back was two and a half years ago. [via TransferMarkt]

If Alexander-Arnold comes through the next month without any injuries or suspensions, Hoever’s absence due to the Under-17 World Cup should not make any real dent in Klopp’s plans.

However, between now and mid-November, every time the England right-back hits the deck clutching at a body part or is approached by a referee after flying into a challenge, the Liverpool manager could be sweating profusely and contemplating the possible need for someone in the squad to plug a major gap in the team.

Liverpool fans, are you worried that Hoever’s national team selection could leave a dearth of right-back cover if anything happens to Alexander-Arnold? Comment below with your views!

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Charlton slipped to back to back defeats on Saturday afternoon as they suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss to Wigan.

Lee Bowyer’s side weren’t at the races as two goals from Cheyenne Dunkley meant the Addicks fell to seventh in the table.

The visitors edged the possession stats with 51% but were dispossessed of the ball 15 times as a collective in what was a poor afternoon for Charlton.

One of the worst performers, certainly according to the fans, was Tomer Hemed.

The forward was rinsed on Twitter during and after the game for his poor display. One claimed the 32-year-old was a waste of space as another suggested he was like a statue.

A further individual branded him useless while he was also labelled anonymous.

Watch Charlton Athletic Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The 6-foot Israeli signed for Bowyer’s side during the summer from Brighton following a loan spell at QPR but he has failed to hit the ground running at the Valley.

Hemed has so far failed to score in his four league outings for the club.

Here’s the best of the reaction from Twitter.

Istanbul. The name of Turkey’s most heavily populated city brings about a whole new meaning when you mention in a footballing context.Of course, the mere mention of Istanbul brings back incredible memories of the 2005 Champions League final, where Liverpool came back from 3-0 down to win the trophy against AC Milan.Watch Wolverhampton Wanderers Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Indeed, the Turkish city has been home to incredible European drama before, and it played host to another memorable moment on Thursday as Wolves faced Besiktas in the Europa League.

Willy Boly netted in injury time to secure the Premier League outfit’s first Europa League group stage win, and this provided a unique opportunity for the club’s media team.

The person running Wolves’ Twitter account deserves huge props for this one.

The pun ‘Istanboly’ would make any newspaper editor around the world proud, although we wonder how long they sat there after the goal trying to think of the perfect way to deliver their joke.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

A story that didn’t really get any attention at all during the 2019 summer transfer window is the one of Carles Alena possibly going to Real Betis on loan.

Canal Sur Radio were the first one to break out the news as they have suggested the Seville-based team tried hard to secure the deal.

And looking at that proposal now, maybe it was one Barcelona should’ve accepted.

What’s the word, then?

The Catalan press are usually all over every single story coming from Barcelona but strangely enough, it seems that this one was kept under the rug the whole time. The same source, (via Sport) however, emphasise that Real Betis desperately tried to secure the La Masia prodigy on loan for the remainder of the 2019/20 season but that Barcelona refused to go through with it.

Watch Spanish Football Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

At first, it seems like they’ve dodged a bullet and made the right choice but upon further investigation, Alena could’ve really used a loan to an attractive club like Real Betis, especially considering both his current status and the situation at the club.

A win-win scenario

Sending La Masia talents on loan is generally a thought many would frown upon, especially among the Barcelona fanbase. And yes, the best place for Alena to develop is certainly Barcelona. It suits his style and it has been his home for the entirety of his career. But the Blaugrana already have an abundance of midfielders in the team.

As a matter of fact, they have a total of eight players fighting for three midfield spots in the team, and since the likes of Ivan Rakitić and Arturo Vidal had stayed in the squad this summer, Alena could be starved of any real game time at all. Unfortunately, there is proof that this might be happening already.

The 21-year-old has been completely left out of the squad in the last two games and hasn’t played any football since the curtain-raiser against Athletic Bilbao. And even if we take into account that Rakitic might be heading out of the club as early as January, Barcelona are reportedly still in the market for new midfielders.

This may well be a message to the current crop of young players that there might not be a clear spot for them in the team. For that reason, it’s rather peculiar that the Catalans declined the offer from Real Betis as it could’ve given Alena some much-needed game time and a chance to develop.

It sounded like a win-win scenario. Maybe, however, Alena is in their plans after all, and that’s why decided to keep him.

But only time will tell whether there is any validity in that notion.

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In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, John Hartson has suggested that Arsenal need to play with five at the back to get the best out of David Luiz.

The former PSG defender’s transfer to Arsenal from Chelsea was one of the more surprising deals of the summer window due to the two clubs’ close rivalry. 

However, he has had a tough start to life at the Emirates Stadium. Unai Emery’s side have struggled defensively with him in the side, conceding eight goals in four games.

In an attempt to give the 32-year-old the protection he needs, Hartson has suggested that Emery should change formation and bolster the backline.

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He said, “He’s got to play in a five because he has a bit of protection. I don’t think he’s an out-and-out defender. I think he switches off and his concentration levels over 90 minutes are just not there.”

The 44-year-old has also been quick to praise the technical ability of the central defender, and believes the Gunners need to unlock his quality.

“I think he’s a fantastic footballer. Technically he is fantastic for a centre half. He can hit free kicks, he can come out with the ball, he can pass it diagonally 60/70 yards.

“For £8m it’s a bargain for Arsenal – you’ve got to take him if he’s available. I think he’s better in the middle of a back three, so he’s got he got a little bit of protection either side of him. 

“And then you’ve also got the wing backs that can also tuck in.”

It is an interesting thought process from the 52-time Wales international, and history suggests that it would be the best thing both for the centre-back and the team.

In 2016/17, Antonio Conte used three centre-backs and two wing-backs for much of the campaign, and the rewards were glaring. The Blues won the Premier League, picking up 93 points along the way and conceding just 33 goals. Luiz impressed throughout and was even named in the PFA Team of the Season.

His performances during that campaign displayed what he is capable of at his best. To see a return to that form, perhaps Emery needs to follow Conte’s template.

According to a recent report from The Daily Mirror, the future of Gary Cahill remains uncertain heading into the final few days of the January transfer window. The 33-year-old defender currently plays his football at Premier League giants Chelsea and has done so since 2012, although struggles for regular game time under new Blues boss Maurizio Sarri this season has plunged his future at the 2017 league champions into doubt.

And a recent report from The Daily Mirror suggests that Arsenal are seeking to lure the centre back across London in the last knockings of the window, while Cahill’s availability should also be of interest to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp given his defensive concerns – as such, the Reds must try their hand at an audacious move for the linked-away ace.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the centre back ranks at Anfield have taken something of a hit in recent times given Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, and Dejan Lovren have all been struck down by either injury or illness in the last few weeks – in fact, the former doesn’t look like returning to full fitness anytime soon.

And with messrs Lovren and van Dijk doubts for their clash with Leicester City in the Premier League on Wednesday, and plenty of other big matches to come in February in the form of the Champions League and league clashes against West Ham and Manchester United, Klopp must be aware that his side’s season could be defined on results in the coming weeks.

Add in a suspension to the commanding van Dijk for the first leg of their last-16 clash against Bayern Munich in Europe’s elite competition, and Klopp looks set to be very thin on the ground – playing messrs Lovren and Matip against Bayern could be asking for trouble.

And that is why a move for Chelsea’s Cahill would make some sense this month, as although at 33 he may be entering the twilight of his career, he retains the quality and indeed the know-how to help the Reds navigate what looks set to be a testing period of the season.

The centre back has enjoyed much success at Chelsea after joining from Bolton Wanderers back in 2012, with the Englishman since then helping the Blues win two Premier League titles, as well as triumphs in the Champions League, the Europa League, and the domestic cup competitions – he’s certainly a well-decorated defender.

Yet it was only the 2016/17 season a few years back in which the 33-year-old shone in Antonio Conte’s defence to help inspire Chelsea to the Premier League title – not only would he give Liverpool some much-needed trophy-winning experience off the field, but he could certainly do a job on it as well.

And while it would be something of an audacious move, what with Chelsea perhaps unlikely to help out a Premier League rival, it’s a move the Reds should make nonetheless, as doing so could help Klopp’s side negotiate what looks set to be a season-defining few weeks.

Liverpool fans… what do you think? Let us know!

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Gaetano Berardi is a puzzling footballer and to suggest he can completely replace Liam Cooper would be overstepping the mark.

The Swiss defender has picked up six red cards during his time with Leeds in what can only be described as a hideous disciplinary record but last weekend against Stoke he was up to the challenge.

For obvious reasons, Berardi is a player who causes unrest and nervousness among Leeds supporters.

Before that clash with the Potters, Marcelo Bielsa revealed that Berardi may have to take Cooper’s place because of injury, a piece of news which left the Elland Road faithful concerned.

A knock to the ankle was Cooper’s downfall, a problem which caused him to sit out the Carabao Cup tie with Stoke as well.

He was missed in that outing, but in league action, the Whites managed to deal without him.

And they did so in impressive style as Berardi eventually ended up taking plaudits from the Leeds fan base.

It was quite a turnaround for a player who, alongside Cooper, took stick in pre-season too.

At 5 foot 10, Berardi isn’t your usual towering central defender and concerns over his height are understandable, even if he is adept at winning aerial duels.

But Bielsa made a key tactical tweak last weekend that paid dividends, especially for Berardi.

In the past, the Argentine has experimented with a three man defence which has seen Kalvin Phillips come into the middle but the majority of that was whilst Berardi was injured.

Last term he had two significant spells on the sidelines, missing six matches with a knee problem before returning but getting injured almost immediately. On that occasion, he sat out 21 games from October to February.

His fitness for the majority of last term was questionable but so far this season he’s come out firing, netting against Salford and putting in an assured and measured display versus Stoke in the league.

Playing in a three, he helped Leeds keep a clean sheet whilst winning five aerial duels in the process. His presence was crucial as he made six clearances and a further two blocks, finishing the encounter with a pass success of 85.9%, per WhoScored.

It’s hard to assess whether a similar impact would have been had in a back two but it proves that by losing Cooper, Leeds can protect both Berardi and their defence by opting for a three-man backline.

After all, in regulation time, Berardi is unbeaten when playing in this formation under Bielsa last term and this.

Conceding against Stoke in the Carabao Cup would have been alarming but the defender was playing alongside Leif Davis in defence, a player who isn’t used to playing in the middle on an all too regular basis.

As a result, a competent defender like Ben White, still needs to play his part. The Brighton loanee has been magnificent since arriving, winning 2.6 tackles and 3.4 interceptions each match prior to the Whites’ game against Swansea.

He is the real reason behind why Leeds have only conceded twice in the Championship heading into this weekend but Berardi can definitely have a say too.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The 31-year-old has his shaky moments, no less so than in the playoffs when he was sent off. That, however, was when he only had one defender alongside him.

The fact he has defensive cover in a system like this is hugely beneficial to the whole team and the way he filled the Cooper void last weekend was an encouraging start.

It may take time for Berardi to truly work his way back into the hearts of Leeds fans but if Bielsa is ever missing Cooper again, he must play with a three-man backline.

It could just save them countless points.

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As per reliable reporter Jack Rosser of The Evening Standard, an encouraging update has come to light as Tottenham Hotspur eye a move for Middlesborough defender Djed Spence.

The Lowdown: Spurs join race…

Sky Sports first broke the news that Spurs had joined the race to sign Boro’s in-demand youngster who is currently shining on loan at fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-updates-5/” title=”Spurs latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

London World add that Spurs boss Antonio Conte is actually ‘edging closer’ to the 21-year-old’s capture as he eyes new-right back additions in north London.

In another update, Rosser has come out with an equally encouraging claim.

The Latest: Spurs agreement possible this month…

Taking to Twitter, he explains that a deal to sign Spence ‘could happen’ in January as Tottenham and north London rivals Arsenal tussle for his signature.

He does however add that the player won’t actually make the move until the summer.

“Arsenal and Tottenham target Djed Spence valued at up to £12m by Middlesbrough,” he explained.

“Deal could happen in January but Spence won’t move until the summer.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Already attracting plenty of praise for his performances at the City Ground over 2021/2022, we believe £12m would be a snip for the homegrown ace with both pace and delivery on the right-hand side.

Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff called Spence a ‘massive player’ for Forest this season whilst Boro’s manager Chris Wilder heaped praise on the ‘outstanding’ starlet for his temporary spell so far.

With plenty of years ahead in what could be a promising career, signing the defender should be a no-brainer.

In other news: Offer ready: Conte could soon sign ‘game-changer’ for Spurs after recent Levy meeting…find out more here.

Bruno Lage has enjoyed an encouraging first season as Wolves manager, leading them to 8th in the Premier League, with the club still in a fight for European football next term, an improvement on their terrible campaign last year which saw them end up in 13th.

Just three clubs in the top flight have conceded fewer goals so far this season, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, but the West Midlands side will look at their goals total – with just the bottom four and 13th placed Brighton scoring less.

If Lage doesn’t fix the issues in the final third in pre-season, chairman Jeff Shi might just look in another direction, and a report from France suggests that he might already be shortlisting potential candidates.

What’s the news?

According to RMC Sport, Wolves have shown an interest in Rennes manager Bruno Genesio, after a sensational run-of-form that has led to the French club rising to third in the Ligue 1 standings, having won their last five league games.

Among other clubs looking at the manager are Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, while La Liga sides Valencia and Real Sociedad and Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal are all also keen on the 55-year-old Frenchman after his impressive season.

Massive gamble, potentially massive reward

The report does come as a surprise, as fans have taken to their manager after his adjustment to English football – and some may be worried of another drastic backroom shaking-up in the summer, with completely new staff arriving and their players, who had to adjust to a new regime just last summer, will have to once again adapt to a new style of play.

That said, with the highest goal difference in the division, having scored four more goals than PSG and conceding just one more than the French giants with Rennes looking set for Champions League football next season – he would surely be able to help their goalscoring woes.

Yet, having never ventured into the Premier League, it would be gamble by both parties to make this move happen.

That said, if you combine him with the potential to have a significantly higher transfer budget than he might receive where he is – as well as already having players like Ruben Neves, Pedro Neto, Raul Jimenez and Conor Coady at the club, the Wolves project may just prove exciting enough to lure him to Molineux.

Having solidified his defence, and turned his attack into one of the most prolific in Europe, Genesio has already one-upped Lage in solving the final third dilemma while maintaining an organised backline, and he would be the sensible choice of successor if Shi decided the club’s future is best served going in a different direction from the Portuguese manager.

In other news: Huge mistake: Fosun had a Wolves shocker on “Drogba-esque” £40.5m-rated “threat”

Many Everton fans have been bemoaning some early team news ahead of their Premier Leaguematch at home to Brighton and Hove Albion today.

As per journalist Alan Myers, new signing Vitaliy Mykolenko is ‘not eligible’ to play at Goodison Park this afternoon.

The Merseyside club had announced the Ukrainian’s signature on their official website on Saturday morning, but they will not be able to see a first glimpse of him when they take on the Seagulls today.

Of course, there is still speculation surrounding the future of the recently-overlooked Lucas Digne as well, so Rafael Benitez’s team may go into the game without a recognised left-back, which in turn could affect their chances of getting all three points against Graham Potter’s side.

Everton fans on team news

These Everton fans bemoaned the team news as it was shared on Twitter, with one supporter claiming that they were ‘gutted’, while another even went as far as to call it a ‘blow’:

“Boooooo”

Credit: @RhysDavies1878

“Why always us?”

Credit: @HeidiInteriors

“That’s a blow”

Credit: @EvertonAllSorts

“That’s sad”

Credit: @534Nz

“Just let us be happy for 5 minutes please, I beg”

Credit: @maggiejane1985

“Gutted”

Credit: @michmosh85

In other news, find out what transfer news has left these Evertonians fuming