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West Bromwich Albion suffered greatly under the tenure of Steve Bruce, as the 62-year-old struggled with the various issues he faced during his stint in the Midlands.

Clearly financially hamstrung, he lacked the motivational and tactical inspiration to alleviate a side that should never have been fighting for relegation. As such, his dismissal was warranted.

Despite the disappointment on the field, he did operate with precision during the summer, adding eight new faces for little to no fee at all.

Their biggest acquisition from that window was to tempt Jayson Molumby to join from Brighton and Hove Albion, with that deal only reaching a modest £900k. 

Bruce can be slated for many things for his failed reign at the Hawthorns, but signing the Republic of Ireland international is not one of them.

Has Jayson Molumby’s value risen at West Brom?

During his short time at the club, the 23-year-old has established himself as a mainstay under the old boss and Carlos Corberan. He boasts 32 appearances in the Championship and has formed a fine partnership at times with stalwart Okay Yokuslu.

He has even mustered six goal contributions from the engine room too, which is a pleasant surprise considering he also averages 1.2 tackles and an 86% pass accuracy too, via Sofascore.

The impressive form of Molumby paired with his youth has unsurprisingly led to an upturn in his value, which it seems that the Seagulls are grossly underrated.

FootballTransfers suggest that the pinnacle of his expected Transfer Value stands at €3.7m (£3.3m), meaning that in just six months it has grown by 267%.

Given how impressive the side, as a whole, have been under Corberan, and how they are surely destined for a Premier League return one day under his leadership, that is a figure sure to only increase alongside his quality and influence.

Millwall boss Gary Rowett has been one of many to praise the maestro in the past, as he noted back in 2020 during his loan spell at the club:

“He is a feisty player and he’s tough. You’ve seen in some games where he has almost taken us pressing the opposition into his own hands.”

Maturing with each passing season, the future is incredibly bright for both this club and the player, who will surely look to grow alongside one another as they strive for Championship promotion.

In the last 10 years, Newcastle United have had mixed luck with attacking players, with no large number of standouts. In truth, for the most part, it’s been a decade to forget for The Magpies, who will be hoping to see their fortunes change in a new era under new, and far richer owners. 

The main aim under Eddie Howe this summer should be finding a consistent talisman at St James’ Park. If they can find that, then they will be far closer to reaching their new and far more lofty ambitions at the club.

In the last 10 years, they have still had standouts, of course, as we found out when taking a look at those with the most contributions in every season since 2012.

2012/13: Papiss Cisse – 17 

Papiss Cisse is a player that many are unlikely to forget anytime soon, given his sudden rise at Newcastle.

In the 2012/13 season, he was unstoppable together with strike partner Demba Ba.

By the end of the season, he had scored 13 goals and recorded a further four assists in all competitions for the Magpies to take his contributions to 17. 

2013/14: Loic Remy – 17 

When looking back on it, Newcastle were unlucky to be in a position to only enjoy players like Demba Ba and Loic Remy for a short period of time before they jumped ship to bigger and better things.

In the 2013/14 campaign, Remy managed to score an impressive 14 goals, whilst also assisting a further three to make 17 contributions.

It’s also fair to say that it was never better for Remy, who went on to flop at Chelsea.

He’s still playing, at French club Brest.

2014/15: Papiss Cisse – 12 

A season later, Cisse was back at the top of Newcastle’s top contributions list, with 12 to his name.

His 11 goals and one assist was enough to place him above his teammates.

Though, it must be said that the numbers weren’t all too impressive on the whole in a disappointing season for Newcastle’s forwards.

2015/16: Georginio Wijnaldum – 16 

It’s no surprise that Georginio Wijnaldum earned a move to Liverpool, where he went onto become a serial winner.

But it was in the 2015/16 season when the Dutchman stood out at St James’ Park, with 11 goals and five assists making 16 contributions.

Who could forget his four goals in one game against Norwich City?

He’s left a major hole at Liverpool, too, having left the club for PSG.

2016/17: Dwight Gayle – 27

As Newcastle bounced back from the heartache of relegation at the first time of asking, it was Dwight Gayle who played a starring role, scoring 23 goals and recording a further three assists to make 27 contributions in total.

It remains one of Gayle’s most impressive campaigns in his career so far.

However, he struggled immensely to replicate that form in the Premier League; he’s currently on the books at Stoke City, having dropped back into the second-tier.

2017/18: Ayoze Perez – 14 

Ayoze Perez’s time at Newcastle remains underrated, given the period of time that he featured for the Magpies, and the consistent numbers that he achieved.

During the 2017/18 season, the Spaniard managed a total of 14 goal contributions, with 10 goals and four assists in what was an impressive campaign. 

He moved onto Leicester City eventually and is now playing for Spanish club Real Betis on loan.

2018/19: Salomon Rondon – 19 

Just like Perez, Salomon Rondon endured an underrated spell with Newcastle, where he managed 19 goal contributions in the 2018/19 season as the Magpies survived for another season in the Premier League.

By the end of the season, he had scored 12 goals, whilst also assisting a further seven goals in all competitions. 

It’s worth saying here, too, that this was a particularly poor Magpies side, and Rondon was dragging them kicking and screaming along.

A sorely underrated striker.

2019/20: Allan Saint-Maximin – 11

In a season without many sparks, Allan Saint-Maximin at least provided one positive light, with 11 goal contributions.

In truth, though, his numbers weren’t the most impressive aspect of his game, with his tricky footwork and showman-like style really standing out at St James’ Park and making him an instant fan favourite amongst Newcastle fans.

He’s continuing to stand out, even under the management of Eddie Howe.

A terrific player and a real entertainer.

2020/21: Callum Wilson – 17 

As the Premier League battled through the pandemic, it was Callum Wilson who took the crown for goal contributions for Newcastle, with 17 in all competitions.

His 12 goals and five assists were enough to keep the Tyneside club up for another season, before they finally entered a new era under new owners

That he’s remained at the club, and the Magpies haven’t spent big on a striker to replace him, speaks to just how good Wilson is.

2021/22: Allan Saint-Maximin – 10

As Newcastle comfortably survived last season, Allan Saint-Maximin once again starred, especially in the second half of the campaign under new owners, with new arrivals, and new manager in the form of Eddie Howe.

By the end of the season, the winger had scored five goals, and assisted a further five to make 10 goal contributions. 

He remains an absolutely integral part of the squad at St James’ Park and will continue to as the Magpies go for Champions League qualification.

So, as you can see, with no player managing over 20 goal contributions in one Premier League season, Newcastle United have struggled to find a consistent talisman – something that would not have helped their constant mid-table finishes in the last decade.

In a new era, the Magpies, as one of the richest clubs in the world, have the resources to find a player capable of taking the club to new levels. They’ve already improved since the takeover. Now, heading into their first full season, the owners will be keen to oversee a club on a gradual, but impressive rise. 

Before Southampton took to the field at Old Trafford, facing the daunting task of stopping Manchester United on their home turf, a point would have been viewed as a spectacular result, but once again in a matter of weeks, the south coast club have failed to secure victory having contested the duration of a Premier League match with an extra man.

Albeit in contrasting circumstances, Southampton suffered the ignominy of defeat against relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers at St. Mary’s almost one month ago to the day, the Old Gold having lost Mario Lemina following a reckless lunge with the scoreline already titled in the home side’s favour.

At the Theatre of Dreams, many would have expected Carabao Cup champions United to prevail even after Casemiro’s red card in the first half, with Southampton at the nadir of their Premier League era and confined to bottom place in the division.

However, the numerical advantage gave the Hampshire-based outfit license to exhibit their attacking prowess, creating 17 shots to Man United’s ten, finding the target on just four occasions.

Right-back Kyle Walker-Peters impressed with his offensive contribution, seeing a deflected cross skim agonisingly close to the back of the net before hitting the post with a fierce strike, with captain James Ward-Prowse clipping the crossbar with a free-kick shortly after the break, nearly replicating his match-winning strike against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge three weeks prior.

How did Ward-Prowse perform against Man United?

With Ward-Prowse’s 17 direct free-kick goals placing him just one behind the all-time leader and Man United legend David Beckham, the ball-playing wizard’s equalling of the record at Old Trafford would have been as much poetic as emphatic.

It was not to be, but the sense of pathos left behind by the relegation-threatened outfit will be intense; just an infinitesimal difference to the delivery could have resulted in a season-defining moment.

Hailed as “a dangerous man” by journalist Nathan Quao for the effort, it would be unfair to filter the all-encompassing scope of Ward-Prowse’s performance to a failed free-kick.

As per Sofascore, the 28-year-old’s 7.9 match rating was bettered only by Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who was imperious between the sticks having made four saves including a stunning stop to prevent a Bruno Fernandes strike.

Making 96 touches, the £100k-per-week ace completed 93% of his passes and placed four key passes, imperative in the creative potency of his team on the afternoon; winning two of his four ground duels, making four interceptions and two tackles, the “epic” gem – as remarked by sports writer Michael Oti Adjei – proved his worth once more for his side. 

On another day, Ruben Selles’ outfit would have left the lion’s den as monumental victors, but wayward shooting and meekness in the offensive third left efforts falling fruitless.

But with Ward-Prowse robust and reliable from the centre, Southampton may yet find a pathway illuminated from danger, now just two points adrift from safety and returning undefeated from Chelsea and Man United in three weeks under Selles’ tutelage.

A number of Leeds United supporters have been reacting to an injury update involving midfielder Tyler Adams.

The Lowdown: Hamstring injury

The Whites are gearing up for a crucial Premier League trip to Wolves this weekend but will be without Adams for just the third time during the current campaign.

The club officially confirmed on Wednesday that the USA midfielder has suffered a hamstring injury in training and will miss the match at Molineux and also won’t be available to represent his country during the international break.

Adams has been a regular since joining from RB Leipzig in the summer, making 26 appearances in all competitions, 24 of which have come in the Premier League.

The Latest: Fans fume

Leeds shared the news regarding Adams on their official Twitter page on Wednesday afternoon, and, as to be expected, a number of supporters were quick to react. These fans weren’t happy, with some even suggesting relegation could be on the cards as a result.

“That’s the final nail in the coffin that” – @Niall_LUFC

“Happy relegation season” – @bethgabriel_

“We are doomed aren’t we” – @ROI_LUFC

“That seals it then. Hello again Stoke away” – @FelixLUFC

“That’s us totally done now” – @lufc75kb

“relegation whites” – @georgeedgee

“Just end the season now” – @DannyAdams22

“Tyler Adams out is a big blow. We don’t need that and it would be a worry it’s going to be longer than simply the Wolves and USMNT games.” – @billywigwam13

“At this point I’m just numb to it all. We all know what’s coming at the end of the season.” – @L33dsLondoner

“Let’s be honest here we aren’t losing any creativity but defensively this leaves massive whole in an already leaky defensive setup” – @richnutting

The Verdict: Big miss

Adams has made a big impact since arriving at Elland Road, helping fill the void left by Kalvin Phillips following his move to Manchester City.

As per WhoScored, the 24-year-old ranks in the top five performers for Leeds this season, with a match average rating of 6.73/10. He has averaged an impressive 3.7 tackles per game while also ranking highly in the squad when it comes to interceptions and key passes made per 90. No player has averaged more passes per game than Adams either, so Javi Gracia may find it difficult to replace the midfielder this weekend, with the obvious solution being Marc Roca and Weston McKennie in a two-man midfield.

Adam Forshaw hasn’t been seen in a squad since New Year’s Eve either, so youngster Darko Gyabi could be the defensive midfield option from the bench this weekend.

Arsenal are set to offer captain Martin Odegaard a new contract in a deal running until 2030, according to a new report from Football Transfers.

The Lowdown: Arteta planning for the future

Mikel Arteta has been keen to tie down a number of first-team players to new contracts already this season, as a result of his team’s remarkable performance in the Premier League up to this point.

At the beginning of February, Gabriel Martinelli committed his long-term future to the club by agreeing terms on a deal running until 2027, while Bukayo Saka is believed to be very close to extending his stay at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are also currently locked in negotiations with defender William Saliba, and Fabrizio Romano reports that he ‘wants to stay’, although talks are not yet in their final stages.

The Latest: New Odegaard deal planned

According to a report from Football Transfers, Arsenal are set to hand Odegaard a bumper new deal to take him until 2030, having been impressed with his fine form this season, and he is due to get a substantial pay rise.

The midfielder is set for talks after extensions are finalised for Saliba and Granit Xhaka, and there is said to be a willingness from both sides to get it signed and sealed, with his current contract set to expire in 2025.

The Verdict: Get it done

The 24-year-old has been nothing short of fantastic for the Gunners this season, registering ten goals and seven assists in the Premier League, most recently scoring in the 3-0 victory away at Fulham.

Not only has the attacking midfielder impressed in an attacking sense, but the turnaround in Arsenal since he was named captain in the summer, becoming real title contenders, indicates his leadership qualities have been very important for Arteta’s side.

Several members of the media have raved about the maestro already this season, with football reporter Sam Dean recently lauding him as ‘outstanding’, while Arteta praised his performance in the 2-0 North London derby victory earlier this year.

The Norwegian has been impressing for quite some time, recently scooping up the Premier League Player of the Year award at the London Football Awards, on a night where Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale also won individual prizes of their own.

As such, it is fantastic news that Odegaard is set to be offered fresh terms, and Arsenal should look to get the deal done at the earliest opportunity.

Leeds United's financial difficulties in the early 2000s were well-documented, and this woe translated into their devastating fall from grace.

In what seemed like an instant, the Whites went from Champions League semi-finalists and Premier League challengers to relegation fodder, culminating in their 2004 slump into the Championship.

During this period, in a desperate attempt to balance the books, many of their top assets were sold at a cut-price as other top clubs came circling around their sinking ship.

They saw opportunities to pick at the bones of this flawed institution that held no bargaining power, and as such their rivals essentially took what they wanted.

This did not end with their relegation though, as a year after then-manager Kevin Blackwell oversaw one of their most frustrating sales as academy graduate Aaron Lennon left for Tottenham Hotspur. Whilst his departure alone stung, the tiny fee paid only served to further twist the knife into their gaping financial wound.

How much did Aaron Lennon cost Tottenham Hotspur?

Having scored only once for the Yorkshire outfit, the 5 foot 5 winger had still captured the attention in their first season in the second division. His electric pace and quick feet made him a threat to any full-back, so it was unsurprising to see him coveted by the likes of Spurs.

However, because of their aforementioned fiscal deficiencies, the Lilywhites would only have to part with £1m to secure this diminutive speedster.

Given how important the 35-year-old became for them, a staple of the Premier League, marks just how big of a blow this turned out to be. Lennon would go on to feature 364 times for Spurs, scoring 30 and assisting 79.

Such was his influence on not just this club but the league as a whole, journalist Joao Vitor Castanheira branded him a "legend" despite only winning a sole EFL Cup.

He truly was capable of the spectacular, with fellow journalist Alasdair Gold reminiscing on the times when the winger would be "tearing defences to shreds with his pace" before finishing things off with a stunner; or as writer Ian Mitchelmore put it, an "absolute beauty".

A nomadic figure who is now synonymous with the English top flight, Lennon would also go on to play for Everton and Burnley whilst becoming a true pioneer in the mental health sphere within the sport.

His work on and off the pitch has made him a true cult hero figure at every club he has graced, but Leeds have the right to feel the hardest done by given the manner in which he was snatched from them only to be turned into a legend for everyone but them.

Former Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero has urged club president Joan Laporta to bring Lionel Messi back to Camp Nou this summer.

What's going on with Messi and Barcelona?

The Argentina superstar is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season and there have been recent indications that his desire is to return to his former club.

However, Barcelona's financial situation means that they may struggle to bring him in without major sales, and at 35, the long-term benefit of such a transfer may be questionable.

His former Albiceleste teammate Aguero is eager to see him line up for the Blaugrana again, and claimed on a Twitch stream that Laporta should take action to see him return.

He said (via Goal): "My feeling is that there is a 50% chance that Leo Messi will return at Barca.

"I think that Leo should retire at Barca. Barcelona is his home, he has to finish his career here. If president Laporta makes the step, I think Messi’s return to Barcelona will come closer."

What should Barcelona's plan be this summer?

The Blaugrana are set to enter the summer transfer window as La Liga champions, but they have a number of problems to solve.

They need to significantly reduce their wage bill if they are to make any signings this summer, and there is even speculation that some players could be forced to take a pay cut.

Ageing players such as Sergio Busquets could potentially leave, and there have also been rumours of a return for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Barcelona's first priority should be to lower their wage bill and trim the squad before they even consider signing Messi, and with Gavi's registration currently an issue, there does not seem to be an easy way for him to return immediately.

At least one departure in attack could be necessary to make room for Messi, and one of the non-regular starters such as Ansu Fati or Ferran Torres may need to be sacrificed.

The £1.1m-per-week star was once described as "exceptional" by teammate Ousmane Dembele, and although he is still performing at a high level with 18 goals and 17 assists this season, selling a promising younger player to accommodate a 35-year-old may prove to be a poor move in the long term.

Although Messi's return could be an emotional moment for the player and Barcelona fans, it should perhaps not be the club's priority in what could be a chaotic window.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the sides who are said to be sniffing around the Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte ahead of the summer transfer window.

Is Laporte leaving City this summer?

According to reports, the Premier League champions are now opening to allowing the Spaniard to leave in the summer as he looks for more regular action.

And one of the sides said to be interested in the possibility of signing him are Spurs as they aim to keep the 28-year-old in the Premier League.

However, it is also said the French giants Paris Saint-Germain could make a push for the City defender in the summer as City open their doors for an exit.

Spurs have been linked with a number of centre-backs over recent months with Kim Min-jae and Alessandro Bastoni both believed to be targets on Tottenham's radar.

The Lilywhites are expected to make a push in the summer to address their defence with two new centre-backs believed to be on the agenda.

And speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast, insider Graeme Bailey has claimed Laporte is a potential candidate to help solve their defensive issues from this season:

(32:25) "Laporte and his people have been going around Europe letting people know he's available and Tottenham are one of the ones who've had a sniff.

"To be fair, he's a very good Premier League centre-half, isn't he? Outside the top two or three, he would improve most teams, I think, or at least get a game.

"So yeah, I think there'll be a lot of interest in Laporte. It wouldn't surprise me to see him cross the Premier League."

Would Laporte improve the Spurs defence?

Tottenham's defence has been a major concern this season with the north London club only registering a +12 goal difference despite being the league's third-highest scorers.

Spurs have now conceded 41 goals this season and are joined as the eight-worst defence in the league alongside the relegation-battling Everton.

There has to be a caveat when looking at Laporte's stats from this season as his game time has been extremely limited with just 555 minutes of league action under his belt after the "warrior" underwent knee surgery last year (via Transfermarkt).

On top of that, the £120k-per-week ace is playing for one of the most dominant forces in Europe who have only conceded 26 goals in the Premier League this season.

Therefore, his return of 0.48 tackles per 90 minutes is significantly down on his return of more than double that (1.08) from last season where he made 33 league appearances (via FBref).

However, his ability on the ball has been sensational with the 28-year-old ranking inside the top third percentile for pass completion, progressive passes and carries.

And that is something which the Spurs defenders struggled with massively on Monday night as Eric Dier (16) and Clement Lenglet (11) were both victims of losing possession frequently (via SofaScore).

Laporte could also provide the Spurs backline with some much-needed experience and a winning mentality having won numerous trophies during his time at City.

But if the likes of PSG are going to fight for him over the summer, a move to north London could prove a challenging sell.

Newcastle United extended their outstanding unbeaten run with a well-fought victory in their Premier League clash against Brentford and manager Eddie Howe will be relieved that his team could snatch all three points from a difficult outing at the Community Stadium.

The Magpies kept their Champions League dreams alive by going back into third in the top-flight table – three points clear of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth with a game in hand.

Despite a real struggle in the first half, Newcastle managed to have 59% possession of the ball, with more accurate passes completed (341 v 206), more tackles won (19 v 16) and more clearances (27 v 15), proving that they had to outmuscle Brentford to take the game away from their hosts, via Sofascore.

The Geordies looked like a shadow of themselves and completely disjointed in the first half with a number of mistimed tackles causing problems in their own half, with centre-back Sven Botman gifting Ivan Toney a penalty when he brought down Kevin Schade in the box.

Luckily, goalkeeper Nick Pope had little trouble seeing off Toney's attempt from the spot, but Alexander Isak's altercation in the box with Rico Henry delivered the Bees another penalty which, this time, the former Newcastle striker tucked away to give his team the lead.

Howe displayed his incredible in-game management skills when he made two game-changing substitutions, with Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon replacing Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff for the final 45 minutes.

Those changes brought Newcastle back to life with Joelinton's ball across the keeper's line finding its way into the net from a David Raya own goal, then Isak killed the game with a second to make it 2-1 at the final whistle.

How did Sean Longstaff get on vs Brentford?

The midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Longstaff and Joelinton has been one of the most consistent and dynamic in the Premier League this season, however, it looked like months of high-intensity performances finally took its toll on the club's academy graduate yesterday.

Longstaff has started 25 Premier League games, averaging 77 minutes per appearance, as well as being integral in Newcastle's impressive League Cup run which saw them only fall short in the Wembley final against Manchester United, so it was long overdue for the talented midfielder to have a burnout moment.

Over his 45-minute performance, the £50k-per-week ace was a passenger against Brentford with fewer touches of the ball than Pope, while he lost four duels, failed to complete any of his dribbling attempts and made just 19 accurate passes throughout the first half – as per Sofascore – before being hooked by Howe during the break.

The 25-year-old's poor display surely won't trouble Howe as the player's transformation this season speaks for itself, quickly becoming one of the most important components in Newcastle's phenomenal rise up the league table and competitiveness in domestic cup competitions.

With that being said, it will have become even more clear to the Newcastle boss that rotation in key positions will be their biggest asset in the remaining fixtures to retain their position inside of the top four and claim Champions League qualification for next season.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez could be sold in the summer with the Colombian defender open to an exit from north London.

Why did Spurs fans boos Sanchez?

It was another disappointing outing from the Lilywhites on the weekend as their push for a spot inside the top four received another blow after Bournemouth came to town.

Despite playing yet another relegation-battling side and yet again taking the lead, Spurs crumbled and the visitors were able to take all three points.

And Gary O'Neil's side did so in dramatic fashion with Dango Ouattara scoring a last-minute goal to seal all three points for the Cherries.

However, amid the disappointment for Spurs, there was one player who had an afternoon even worse than the rest of his teammates and that was Sanchez.

The Colombian replaced the injured Clement Lenglet and was almost immediately involved in the first goal for the visitors.

Having then failed to deal with his man in the second half in the lead up to Bournemouth's second of the afternoon, the home crowd turned and let their frustrations be heard.

Sanchez was booed by his own fans every time he touched the ball and was removed by Cristain Stellini after just 23 minutes of action on the pitch.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Alasdair Gold has claimed the Colombian has been open to leaving Spurs for a while now with the summer window on the horizon:

(37:20) "Sanchez, from what I understand, for the last few summers especially has been absolutely open to leaving. Because he wants regular game time. He does. But I just think no club has ever offered the sum of money that would get Spurs' interest."

Did Sanchez deserve to be booed by his own fans?

There will be a debate as to whether fans should boo a player on their own them regardless of the situation and there will be divided opinions in this case.

It certainly was an afternoon to forget for Sanchez who was making his 15th league appearance of the campaign (via Transfermarkt).

There is a lot of frustration among the fans in N17 currently and a lot of that is being directed at Daniel Levy with sections of the fanbase letting their anger be known.

And perhaps some of that anger spilt over onto Sanchez in the heat of the moment on the weekend.

After all, this is a player who is now nearly six years deep into life in north London and has proven a significant amount of money invested for a player who has failed to nail down a spot in the starting XI.

Perhaps the biggest frustration surrounding the £65k-per-week defender is his evident struggle to enter a game and provide immediate cover in defence.

It was seen on Saturday and in the game against Everton where his arrival on the pitch caused major concerns for what is already a shaky Spurs defence.