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Liverpool midfielder Thiago could return at some point in early March, according to an update from injury expert Ben Dinnery.

The Lowdown: Thiago absent for Reds

The Spaniard has been known for his injury-prone nature throughout his career, with niggling problems often preventing him from playing regularly season in, season out.

Frustratingly, Thiago is currently sidelined with a hip issue, meaning he hasn’t featured since the 3-0 defeat at Wolves at the beginning of this month.

He will again be unavailable for this weekend’s trip to Crystal Palace in the Premier League but a positive update has emerged regarding his situation.

The Latest: Back soon

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Dinnery, founder of Premier Injuries and regular contributor for Sky Sports, talked up the idea of Thiago returning from injury in the next couple of weeks:

“It’s one of those injuries where they’re not able to give anything sort of definitive, but I’m looking at the dates, and it’s one, hopefully, that maybe we could see a potential return in early-ish March, all being well.”

The Verdict: Massive boost

There are some who lazily believe Thiago doesn’t suit this Liverpool team, holding a notion that he has a less physical style of play, but his influence is great and his return will be massive.

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Granted, his performance at Wolves was poor, as was the case with almost every player, but he is averaging more tackles (2.9) per game than any Reds player in the league this season.

Thiago’s quality on the ball and ability to dictate play has also been a miss, especially in the second half of Tuesday’s disastrous 5-2 loss to Real Madrid, and Liverpool are relying on teenager Stefan Bajcetic while Fabinho and Jordan Henderson toil around him.

The 31-year-old has been hailed as ‘staggering’ by Michael Owen and his return could have the potential to play a huge part in the Red’s top-four bid.

Newcastle United goalkeeper Loris Karius is reportedly a transfer target for Inter Milan this summer.

The Lowdown: Cup final debut

Karius made his Newcastle debut in their 2-0 loss to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday evening, and impressed Eddie Howe despite the defeat, with the manager hailing his saves, distribution and all-round demeanour.

Indeed, the German made eight saves in total, with three of those coming from inside the penalty box, as he kept his team in it right up until the last minute.

The Latest: Inter Milan interest

As per FC Inter News, Karius has been named as a replacement for Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic in a development just in the last couple of weeks, with his contract up in the summer.

Karius’ deal at St. James’ Park also expires this summer, leaving his long-term future in doubt.

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The Verdict: Keep him!

The Magpies will not find many better third-choice goalkeepers behind Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka than Karius, and so they should be looking to extend his  contract and keep him at the club beyond this season.

Lauded as a ‘mentality monster‘ by his agent Corey Anton for his mental recovery after making two howlers which cost Liverpool the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid back in 2018, it would have been difficult for the 29-year-old to have all eyes on him in another major final on Sunday.

However, he stepped up to the plate with some crucial saves to keep the score at 2-0, and has gained a vast amount of experience at his age, including in the Premier League with Liverpool.

It may be tempting for Karius to jump to a club currently competing in the Champions League in Inter, but the Tynesiders are striving to get there, and so he should be looking to stay put.

Liverpool are in talks with Premier League rivals Chelsea over a deal for Mason Mount, according to BBC pundit Stan Collymore.

The Lowdown: Mount keen to join

The Blues playmaker has entered the final 18 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge and it’s likely that he’ll be on his way out this summer after rejecting an offer to extend his stay.

The Reds have been heavily linked with an interest in the 24-year-old, with reports suggesting that they are confident that an agreement can be reached.

Football Insider have since claimed that the England international is a huge admirer of Jurgen Klopp and would be keen to make the switch to Anfield.

The Latest: Collymore’s comments

Speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside, Collymore revealed that Liverpool and Chelsea are now in direct contact regarding a deal for Mount. He said:

“I’ve been told by two very reliable people, one of which being a person who knows Mason Mount personally, that his rumoured move to Liverpool this summer is very much on.

“It’s already being discussed within both clubs. There is a lot still to decide though, particularly at Chelsea. There will be a lot of outgoings and probably some more incomings so a lot will depend on what the club decides to do but the fact they’re already talking about the possibility of letting Mount go says a lot.”

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The Verdict: Splash the cash

Mount has got all of the creative qualities that Klopp looks for in his attacking midfielders so Liverpool should splash the cash to secure his services this summer.

The Portsmouth-born talent has clocked up 70 goal contributions in 192 appearances at the Bridge (prior to today’s game vs Leeds), ranking in the 92nd percentile for progressive passes.

The Nike-sponsored star has also operated in five different positions this season so would be a versatile option for the German boss to have in the building.

Naby Keita, James Milner, Arthur Melo and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all be out of contract at the end of the season so Mount would be the perfect midfield reinforcement.

A number of Manchester United supporters have been left fuming at an injury update involving Anthony Martial.

The Lowdown: Back in training but still out

The Red Devils are gearing up for their Europa League last 16 first leg against Real Betis but will once again be without Martial.

The French forward has played just 29 minutes of Europa League action due to Achilles, back and hip problems and isn’t match-ready despite being back on the pitch at Carrington.

Marcel Sabitzer is also out of tonight’s meeting at Old Trafford, as Erik ten Hag’s side look to take an advantage to Spain.

The Latest: Fans react

The United Stand shared the injury news regarding Martial and Sabitzer on Twitter ahead of the game, with a number of fans sharing their frustration towards the former of the two.

“Just sell Martial. Man’s injured all the time” – @meleirofilipe03

“Martial is the new Phil Jones now.” – @Pranadsptr

“Martial should genuinely stop playing football for a year and go work on his body and fix himself. This is beyond abnormal. I genuinely think we need more than 1 striker in the summer. 1 massive one and 1 to provide competition because there’s none coming Martial atm.” – @MirZa786109

“Martial useless” – @marca_57

“Martial can stay wherever he is. I’ve had it. Mans is always injured” – @_wavyboy

“Sell this Martial guy… he’s too injury prone” – @K_Tibbzz

The Verdict: Summer exit?

Reports have suggested that United are open to selling Martial in the summer, which overall, seems to be a wise move.

The 27-year-old is out of contract in 2024, so the summer may be the last chance United have to receive a respectable fee for his services.

He has started just nine games in all competitions, and you’d expect that number would be a lot higher if he could stay fit, but his injury issues have shown no signs of stopping, making a sale a wise move.

West Ham desperately need to pick up three points when they take on Aston Villa at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

David Moyes’ side saw a number of results go against them on Saturday, with the Hammers now occupying the final relegation spot in the Premier League.

The Scottish manager saved his job with the 4-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest two weeks ago but has come under more criticism following back-to-back defeats against Manchester United and Brighton, with the Seagulls completely outclassing his side last weekend.

Although a 2-0 triumph against AEK Larnaca got the Hammers back to winning ways in midweek, Villa will be a far more difficult opposition, and a win is arguably a must if Moyes is to get the fans back on side.

How could West Ham line up against Aston Villa?

Here is how Football FanCast expects West Ham to line up this afternoon, with five changes from the side that started in Cyprus in midweek.

Areola, Kehrer, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma, Ings.

Alphonse Areola will continue to deputise in place of the injured Lukasz Fabianski, with the Poland international likely to be out for the foreseeable future after his nasty collision against Forest.

After making his return to the starting lineup in midweek, Kurt Zouma looks likely to continue his partnership with Nayef Aguerd in the heart of the Hammers’ defence, in the hope that it can inspire another clean sheet.

Thilo Kehrer also keeps his place at right-back, while Emerson comes in for Aaron Cresswell at left-back.

There is one change in central midfield, as Tomas Soucek returns to the side in place of Flynn Downes, as he unsurprisingly partners Declan Rice.

Lucas Paqueta also reclaims his place in the starting lineup in place of Manuel Lanzini, while Jarrod Bowen replaces the misfiring Pablo Fornals on the right wing.

Said Benrahma keeps his spot on the left after an impressive display in Cyprus where he supplied the assist for the opener. Indeed, the Algerian is one of few West Ham players who can hold their heads high this season.

Finally, despite his two-goal haul in midweek, Michail Antonio drops out in favour of the “phenomenal” Danny Ings, who will be hoping to haunt his old side at the London Stadium and earn the Hammers a much-needed win.

Manchester United have welcomed a Qatari delegation representing the Qatar-based takeover bid to tour the club's facilities on Thursday.

What's the latest in Man United's takeover push?

The Red Devils received bids to potentially buy the Premier League club last month but now it seems as if the club are taking the next step in their possible sale.

A bid from Qatar was perhaps the most well-reported bids to land on the table of the Glazer family and on Thursday they were welcomed into the country.

It is believed they have been granted limited access to the club's financial accounts and will be visiting both Old Trafford and Carrington training ground.

Speaking on Sky Sports, reporter Kaveh Solhekol has claimed presentations will also likely take place on Thursday as the club look to narrow down their options:

"It's quite a significant day, actually, because Qatari delegation representing the bid for Manchester United made by Sheikh Jassim is visiting Old Trafford, so they're going to have a look at what they potentially could be buying.

"They've also had some access to United's accounts – but not full access yet – and they will also be visiting the training ground today. I think they will be given some presentations from people like John Murtough.

When could the takeover be completed?

It is worth mentioning the potential sale of the Red Devils is still not a guarantee, with the American firm Elliott Management reportedly still offering the Glazer family funding if they decide to stay put.

However, this is certainly an encouraging sign to see the club welcome the proposed bidders into their facilities to hold further discussions over where the process is at.

It is believed the Qatari group are also falling short of what the Glazers are hoping to generate for the club with their valuation believed to be worth up to £6 billion.

So it will be interesting to see what comes of the visit to Manchester and whether it is something which can help push along the discussions to take over the club.

It does seem as if valuation will be the biggest issue for the Qatar-based bidders, though, and that could be something which has the potential to derail the move for the Premier League side.

There will be hope from the fans that any move for the club could be completed before the summer transfer window and with that now just a handful of months away, it does feel as if these meetings will have to run smoothly to meet that deadline.

Sunderland are likely to trigger the buy clause included in midfielder Edouard Michut’s contract this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Attracting interest

The Frenchman made the move to the Championship in August 2022 when he put pen to paper on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain, and has been impressing under Tony Mowbray ever since.

The Black Cats star’s performances at the Stadium of Light have been eye-catching to the extent that he is already attracting interest from potential suitors in the English top flight as revealed by Fabrizio Romano:

“Understand Edouard Michut deal has €2.5m buy option included, up to €5m if Sunderland will go up to Premier League — it was agreed with PSG last summer.

“Been told Fulham are now among clubs following the situation of Michut ahead of summer transfer window.”

The Latest: Michut set to stay?

According to the Sunderland Echo, Michut’s contract does indeed have the option to buy already agreed, which the northeast outfit are keen to take up.

Following the 20-year-old’s recent displays, it’s reported that the club are ‘increasingly likely’ to trigger the clause that was inserted into his deal during negotiations with PSG last summer.

The Verdict: Boost for Mowbray

Speaking after Sunderland’s U21s game vs Leeds back in October 2022, Mowbray was full of praise for Michut:

“Edouard Michut showed what a lovely footballer is, passing the ball between the lines. He was competitive in the game and I think he covered 13 kilometres as well.”

The Nike-sponsored maestro has scored one goal in 20 senior appearances since joining whilst also netting for the club’s youth side before making the step up to the first team (Transfermarkt).

The Aix-les-Bains native currently ranks in the 95th percentile for successful take-ons alongside total number of tackles per game, showing that he’s able to make an impact at both ends of the pitch.

The Black Cats ace also provides the boss with excellent versatility with his ability to operate in defensive, central and attacking midfield, so is a useful option to have in the building.

Despite his young age, Michut has already won two titles, Ligue 1 and the French Cup, with Paris Saint-Germain as well as participating in the Champions League, and he would be an extremely exciting permanent acquisition for Sunderland.

Reporter and Leeds United fan James Marshment has been reacting to an injury to forward Wilfried Gnonto during the international break.

What’s the latest on Wilfried Gnonto’s injury?

The Whites haven’t had much luck when it comes to injuries over the last two weeks. Tyler Adams was the first to encounter a problem, with the club confirming prior to the Premier League win over Wolves that he had suffered a hamstring injury in training. The midfielder missed the trip to Molineux and the chance to captain his country, with Phil Hay reporting that he needed to see a specialist.

Max Wober was the next to pick up an issue, with the centre-back needing to be replaced during the first 45 minutes of Austria’s first European Championship qualifier. The defender has returned to Leeds for an assessment, with things going from bad to worse now as Gnonto joins the club.

The teenager started for Italy in their European Championship qualifier against Malta, but like Wober, failed to make it to half-time due to an ankle injury. Roberto Mancini was hoping that it was just a sprain, with Gnonto returning to Yorkshire as a result. Marshment took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to relay the news of Gnonto’s ‘urgent assessment’ following the injury on Sunday evening. He said that alongside the news on Wober:

“It never rains, it pours…”

What will Leeds do without Gnonto?

Javi Gracia may not have Gnonto available in the short term, however, the head coach has a number of options out wide. He actually has started Gnonto in just two of his four Premier League games in charge, although the 19-year-old has provided assists in the last two top-flight fixtures against Brighton and Wolves.

His absence could prove to be a big blow, but Gracia should have the likes of Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra and Crysencio Summerville to call upon, starting against Arsenal this weekend. Who knows, Gnonto’s issue could prove to be minor, with Hay saying that both the forward and Wober have had ‘positive assessments’ since returning to Yorkshire.

The club might not want to take any risks, especially as Gnonto is the most fouled player on the books at Elland Road this season, as per WhoScored, but hopefully, they will be able to feature in crucial back-to-back home fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace next month, games which could prove crucial to the club’s Premier League status.

Arsenal, for all the success that their current regime promises, endured something of a lull period as Arsene Wenger's illustrious reign drew to a close.

For years the Gunners seemed incapable of challenging for the elite honours, resigned to winning the FA Cup every other season whilst their rivals accumulated Premier Leagues and Champions Leagues.

However, that has all been put aside under Mikel Arteta, who has the north London outfit marching towards their first real chance at winning the former since their last success in 2004.

Embroiled in their imperious form, they cannot forget the years that came before that defined them as a club and a fanbase.

That's not to suggest that they were not laden with good moments, as there were relative successes amidst the occasional acquisition of silverware.

Their academy has churned out some emphatic talent, and their allure has still convinced some of the world's top talents to move to the Emirates. It is all this, combined with the occasional huge sale, that has kept them consistently within touching distance of the top teams in England.

With regard to the latter, the signing and subsequent exit of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain stands as one of their most impressive pieces of business to date, as they spent big on the youngster, enjoyed his presence for many years, and then sold him on for a tidy profit.

How much did Arsenal sell Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for?

Having impressed as a 17-year-old for Southampton, the teenage sensation had caught the eye of Wenger. It took £15m to tempt him to leave the south coast, where he would go on to play 198 times for Arsenal, recording 52 goal contributions.

It was at the Emirates where he truly made a name for himself as an all-action attacking midfielder, with his electric burst of speed and thunderous ability landing him 35 caps and widespread notoriety.

The 29-year-old was said to boast immense potential, yet he never truly reached the lofty heights set for him after the club failed to settle on his best position.

That did not stop Liverpool from taking a chance on him though, as they were forced to spend a huge £35m to bring him to Anfield. Likely shell-shocked from the mouth-watering fee offered, somehow they had made 133% profit on a player who had struggled for the consistency that would've made him truly special.

It was on Merseyside where his injury troubles would truly exacerbate too, although they had threatened to do so on numerous occasions under Wenger too. Since moving the English magician has missed 586 days through various ailments, whilst many have tried to remain positive in what he could still offer.

Writer Ben Webb had even predicted that the former Saints star would be "explosive" before the 2019/20 season; a prophecy that unfortunately did not come to fruition.

Although Oxlade-Chamberlain might have won every trophy possible since leaving north London, it cannot be argued that the profit made on his sale was impressive. This is made especially pertinent given the trajectory of their current outfit, who are destined to challenge the very best in the coming future, built from the sustainable practice of the past.

Aston Villa are ready to make a move for AC Milan's Divock Origi – and the striker would be keen on a return to the Premier League, according to a report.

Who could Aston Villa sign this summer?

Unai Emery's side have made great strides this season, now up to seventh in the Premier League table, however, the manager is still keen to strengthen his squad further in the summer transfer window, specifically in attacking areas.

Tammy Abraham has recently been linked with a sensational return to Villa Park, although he would not come cheap, as recent reports have indicated Roma could demand up to €55m (£48m) to sanction his departure.

The Villans have also expressed an interest in Inter Milan forward Joaquin Correa, although West Ham United are said to be in pole position for his signature, while Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri has been named as another potential target.

As per a report from CalcioMercato (via Sport Witness), Villa are one of the clubs ready to knock on AC Milan's door to ask for information about Origi, who would be keen on a return to England should the right offer present itself.

The 27-year-old is deemed to have failed to live up to expectations at the San Siro, meaning he could be on the move in the next transfer window, with West Ham, Crystal Palace and Galatasaray also interested.

Should Aston Villa sign Divock Origi?

The Belgian will be fondly remembered by Liverpool fans for his ability to produce in big moments, managing to score six goals in ten games against Everton in the Merseyside derby, and the second against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2019 Champions League final.

Former manager Jurgen Klopp lauded the forward as a "Liverpool legend" for his heroics, but he very much struggled to cement a regular place in the starting XI, making just seven Premier League appearances during his final season at Anfield.

The £87k-per-week marksman has also failed to adapt to life in the Serie A, scoring just two goals in 20 league games this season, which indicates that on these numbers, he would not be an upgrade on Villa's current first-choice striker, Ollie Watkins, who has 11 goals in all competitions.

As such, Abraham should continue to be Emery's main target in the summer transfer window, given his solid goal return with Roma, and a move for Origi should be avoided at all costs, despite his impressive performances in big matches for Liverpool.