Journalist Beren Cross has slammed Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca for his "poor performance" in the club's disappointing recent defeat.
What's the latest on Marc Roca and Leeds?
The Whites have now lost three Premier League games in a row as they edge worryingly closer to the relegation zone with just six games left to save them.
Indeed, after losing 5-1 and then 6-1 at home to Crystal Palace and Liverpool, Javi Gracia and his team were away against Fulham this weekend.
In the end, despite a late consultation from Patrick Bamford (that may well be an own goal from Joao Palhinha), goals from Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira saw the home side win 2-1.
Understandably, few players truly impressed in a Leeds shirt but it seems as though Roca may well have been the worst on the pitch.
Cross certainly didn't hold back in his player ratings for LeedsLive as he handed the Spaniard a 4/10 – the joint-worst in the team – and called him "clumsy".
He wrote: "A poor performance neatly summed up by the four consecutive corners he failed to get beyond the first man in the second half. Looked overrun as the sole pivot. Tackles were clumsy or non-existent."
How poor was Marc Roca against Fulham?
Interestingly enough, Graham Smyth also gave Roca a 4/10 in the Yorkshire Evening Post player ratings and wrote: "Couldn't get to grips with the game, gave away free-kicks, gave the ball away ahead of the second."
While these two journalists concurred, the stats also go some way to outlining just how poor the £50k-per-week midfielder played on the day.
Leeds midfielder Marc Roca
Indeed, as per Sofascore, Roca lost the ball 20 times and made four fouls (only Max Wober was poorer than him in both categories). He also was dribbled past once, while he failed with his only dribble attempt and made just one tackle – which shows why Cross calls his defensive work in the middle of the park "non-existent".
This certainly doesn't reflect well on Roca who was slammed by Cross in his LeedsLive player ratings just last week after the Liverpool defeat, handing him a 3/10 and writing: "Dire in possession when Leeds were in half-decent positions. Bypassed too easily at points."
Following that same game, One Leeds Fan Channel host Conor McGilligan said (via Football FanCast): "I've said multiple times, I'm a big fan of Roca. He is embarrassing at the minute, embarrassing."
All in all, it's been a terrible few weeks for both club and player and it could soon get worse if they can't fix things in the near future with the threat of relegation now looming large.
Manchester United's proposed new contract for their goalkeeper David de Gea is ready to go but just waiting on the club to make their final decision.
How much does David de Gea earn?
There were a lot of positives to take from Erik ten Hag's first campaign at Old Trafford after the Red Devils lifted the Carabao Cup and secured Champions League football.
However, the Premier League giants go into the summer transfer window with a lot of significant questions still lingering over the club.
Of course, the future of the current ownership will remain the biggest concern for most fans at Old Trafford with still no real indication as to whether the Glazers will stay or sell.
But another question will remain whether De Gea will be provided with a new deal following the conclusion of his contract at Old Trafford which is set to expire at the end of the month.
It is believed the Spain goalkeeper has been earning in the region of £375k-per-week on his current deal which is set to expire.
However, a potential new deal for the 32-year-old is expected to see him take a significant pay cut which would still see him take home around £200k-per-week.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the proposed contract is ready to go but United are still deciding on whether to stick with the Spaniard:
"I told you guys, the situation looks strange around De Gea because the agreement between De Ge and Man United is almost done; it's about the final details since the end of March.
"But it's also real that at the moment they are not signing the contract and so De Ge is a potential free agent. But at the moment the situation looks really strange more on the club's side than the player's side. De Gea will be ready to sign but at the moment it still doesn't have the final green light from Man United."
What goalkeeper could Man United sign?
Although the Red Devils are said to have this proposed contract at the ready for De Gea this summer, they have been linked with a number of potential options.
Indeed, reports have suggested Ten Hag holds a keen interest in the England and Everton shot-stopper Jordan Pickford this summer.
The report claims the former Sunderland goalkeeper could be made available over the coming weeks for a fee in the region of £30m given the Toffees financial issues.
But it is not just Pickford who has been linked with a potential move to Old Trafford this summer.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Indeed, talkSPORT's report has suggested there is an interest in the 34-year-old Yann Sommer and Inter Milan's Andre Onana.
It was not a season which De Gea will look back on as one of his best – ironically despite winning the Premier League Golden Glove – given some of the criticism he received.
However, it does seem as if he could still be set to ink a big-money deal to extend his stay at Old Trafford.
Chelsea are expressing "concrete interest" in signing Flamengo youngster Matheus Franca this summer, according to a recent update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Who is Matheus Franca?
The 19-year-old is a bright young prospect in his homeland of Brazil currently, making a name for himself at Flamengo with his attacking quality.
Franca has already scored nine goals in 53 appearances for his current club, invariably taking up an attacking midfield role but being capable of playing deeper or even further forward in attack, and he is also a six-time capped Brazil Under-16s international.
Chelsea are seemingly set to have plenty of competition in any potential move for the teenager, as Newcastle United have been backed to snap him up in the near future, with a move to the Premier League clearly on the cards.
A new update suggests that the Blues are now at the front of the queue to snap up Franca, however, as Mauricio Pochettino looks to bring in the right players during the summer transfer window, hitting the ground running after officially coming in as manager over the weekend.
Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca.
Are Chelsea close to signing Franca?
Taking to Twitter, Romano confirmed Newcastle's interest but said that Chelsea are genuinely interested in signing Franca this summer, with talks set to take place this week, in order for a move to be sealed before others can swoop in:
"Chelsea are showing concrete interest in Brazilian talent Matheus França as per Mail — he was on Newcastle radar in January. Understand there’s still no official bid but talks will take place this week with Flamengo. Negotiations will be around €20/25m fee."
While Franca may not yet be a household name in the English game, there is no doubt that his arrival could be met with excitement, considering the flair and unpredictability that so many young Brazilian footballers can possess, whether it be Ronaldinho, Neymar or Vinicius Jr down the years.
The Blues are also set to sign his compatriot Angelo Gabriel this week, so the club's hierarchy clearly have a focus on building a real fresh dawn for their new manager to work on long into the future. France is someone with a high ceiling who could develop into a real force eventually, but if he does join Chelsea, he should be given time to adjust to his surroundings and get used to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, rather than be expected to be an instant hit.
In Pochettino, the hope is that the Blues have someone who is an expert at dealing with youngsters, as was the case at Tottenham with Harry Kane and Dele Alli at the time, for example, and if the manager sees Franca as an ideal target, he has to be trusted in the transfer window by Todd Boehly.
The Brazilian has been hailed as a "great finisher" by coach Fabio Matias – an attribute that felt lacking at Stamford Bridge too often last season – but he has described so many aspects of his game, too, saying: "He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game. That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well. The most talented players have an understanding of space and how to manage that."
West Ham United have not always had the best of luck, or judgement perhaps, with their dealings in the transfer market over the years.
Who are West Ham's biggest signings?
The Hammers have not been afraid to splash out the cash to bolster their squad, particularly over the last five years or so, in an attempt to push on in the Premier League.
Player
Fee paid
Sebastien Haller
£43m
Mohammed Kudus
£37m
Lucas Paqueta
£37m
Edson Alvarez
£32.7m
Felipe Anderson
£32.7m
Fees via Transfermarkt.
Haller and Anderson, of the five most-expensive signings in the club's history as shown above, did not enjoy the best of times at the London Stadium and David Moyes could be on course to oversee another expensive disaster with Pablo Fornals.
The former Villarreal whiz, Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal, Michail Antonio, and Aaron Cresswell are among the players who are out of contract next summer and will be free to leave for £0.
What's the latest on Pablo Fornals' future?
It was recently reported that Spanish side Sevilla are eyeing up a swoop to sign Fornals from the Hammers as their sporting director Victor Orta, who was previously at Leeds United in England, is keen to secure a deal for him in 2024.
The report stated that the attacking midfielder is free to speak with other clubs from January onwards and that a move to Sevilla would be among his preferences if the option arises.
West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals.
He is allowed to sign a pre-contract with another team in January ahead of a free transfer next summer due to his expiring contract, which is why West Ham must get him to put pen to paper on an extension.
Football Insider claimed, prior to the news of Sevilla's interest, that the Hammers are planning to sit down with Fornals, along with Coufal and Soucek, to discuss a possible contract extension.
They also revealed that teams from Saudi Arabia were showing an interest in the ace, although nothing came of that before the Saudi Pro League transfer deadline earlier this month.
How much did West Ham pay for Pablo Fornals?
In the summer of 2019, West Ham completed the signing of the then-23-year-old wizard from Spanish side Villarreal for a reported fee of £24m, which made him the second-most expensive player in the club's history – behind Felipe Anderson at £33.5m – at the time.
Fornals arrived at the London Stadium after two impressive campaigns in LaLiga, following on from his move to the club from Malaga in 2017.
The creative Spaniard enjoyed a fantastic 2017/18 campaign with Villarreal as he racked up an outstanding 12 assists and created 15 'big chances' for his teammates across 30 league starts, to go along with three goals, as per Sofascore.
Former Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornals.
His teammates then let him down throughout the 2018/19 season as the technical ace produced ten 'big chances' for his fellow attackers over 28 LaLiga starts and was only rewarded with three assists. This suggests that his teammates did not make the most of the opportunities that he created for them.
The talented whiz's performances were impressive enough to convince West Ham and then-manager Manuel Pellegrini to splash out £24m to secure his services.
How well has Fornals performed for West Ham?
Fornals has been a solid performer for the Hammers over the years as he has racked up 184 appearances in all competitions and played 141 times in the Premier League to date.
He has featured in at least 32 top-flight matches in all four of his seasons with the club so far, which speaks to his reliability in terms of his performance level and durability. Managers have rarely not selected him to play, whether that is from the bench or within the starting XI, and he has not had any major injury lay-offs.
His best season in a West Ham shirt to date arguably came during the 2021/22 campaign. The Spanish maestro provided a consistent creative threat and added goals to his game as he delivered brilliant Premier League performers week-in-week-out.
Fornals averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 6.94 across 36 league appearances for the club and contributed with six goals and ten 'big chances' created from midfield. He also showcased his defensive quality with 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game to win the ball back for his side.
The former Villarreal star, who was once dubbed "unbelievable" by journalist Karl Matchett, was the team's outstanding creator as he averaged 1.3 key passes per match throughout the season, which none of his teammates were able to better.
More recently, Fornals caught the eye in the Europa Conference League last term as the club went on to win the competition. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.13 over 12 appearances as he scored three goals and created two 'big chances' from the middle of the park.
What's next for Fornals?
The report of Sevilla's interest and the player potentially being keen on the move is worrying for West Ham as it suggests that there is chance that he will sign a pre-contract with the Spanish team to join them for nothing next summer.
This would mean that the Hammers would not get back a single penny of the £24m that they initially paid to secure his signature back in 2019, which would be a disaster when you consider that he will be 28 and in his prime years ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
FootballTransfers currently has his Expected Transfer Value at €22.2m (£19.1m) and this is an indication of the kind of fee that the club are set to miss out on if they do not tie him down to an extension.
West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals.
Moyes and West Ham have allowed him to enter the final 12 months of his contract before sitting down to have talks over a new deal, as per the aforementioned Football Insider report, and this has allowed Sevilla, and potentially other teams, to show an interest and possibly sway Fornals' thinking.
The situation should have been dealt with before the recent summer transfer window as they could have been able to cash in on him this year if he refused to put pen to paper on an extension.
Therefore, the Hammers are currently on course for a howler with the Spanish magician unless they are able to convince him to turn down Sevilla and remain at the London Stadium beyond the end of this season.
Liverpool are interested in completing a deal to bring PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare to the Premier League, according to reports in the last 48 hours.
What's the latest on Sangare's future?
The Reds have James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all out of contract at the end of the season, whilst Arthur Melo is set to return to Juventus after the board decided not to take up his buy option, so central reinforcements will be needed during the upcoming window.
Jurgen Klopp has been linked with several potential candidates, predominantly Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount, but 25-year-old midfielder Sangare is one of the most recent names to crop up.
The Ivory Coast international's contract at the Philips Stadion isn't set to run out until 2027, but as Ruud van Nistelrooy's best-performing defensive player, as per WhoScored, he's been attracting interest.
Speaking to Voetbal International, the manager himself challenged his standout star to "go to the top" in England and make a name for himself at the highest level – which sounds exactly like what he might be about to do.
The Merseyside outfit, along with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham, are reportedly known admirers and have already been alerted by Sangare's representatives that he is likely to be available for a transfer at the end of the season, while it appears FSG have positively responded to that information and are now considering a swoop.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool are "keen" on a move for Sangare, who has been identified as a player who's seriously "on the radar" of possible targets at Anfield. PSV's maestro was supposedly of interest last summer but a switch failed to materialise, though the club have now been given the perfect second chance, with the Eredivisie giants "open" to letting him go for a fee of around £45m.
PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare.
Would Sangare fit the bill at Liverpool?
Sangare has been lauded as a "class act" and someone who can control a midfield by journalist Josh Bunting, and with him possessing strong qualities in the defensive and offensive aspects of his game, we think he would be the perfect candidate to put pen to paper for Klopp.
The 6 foot 3 colossus, who would add a different dimension to the centre with his height, naturally sits in front of the back four and loves to get stuck in and stop attacks, as shown by him ranking in the 93rd percentile for blocks and in the 90th for tackles among players in his position at similar-level competitions over the past year, as per FBref.
Whilst more used to operating in this position, he also has the versatility to play slightly higher up the field in central and attacking midfield, which gives him the freedom to contribute in the final third.
Sangare has scored seven goals and provided three assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season, so is able to make a positive difference at both ends of the pitch, meaning that the Reds shouldn't even have to think twice about wrapping up a deal.
Leeds United sporting director Victor Orta could make a swift exit from the club if 49ers Enterprises complete their takeover soon, according to a new claim.
The Lowdown: Orta a success at Leeds
The 44-year-old has been a significant figure at Elland Road in recent years, overseeing what has generally been a glorious period in the Whites’ recent history.
Alongside Marcelo Bielsa, Orta helped Leeds return to the Premier League back in 2020, playing a key role in making signings and having a strong relationship with the former manager.
It feels like a time of change at the club, however, and with the 49ers looking to complete their majority takeover, Orta’s future has been thrown into doubt.
The Latest: Exit could happen soon
According to Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, ‘major doubts’ are growing over whether or not the Spaniard will still be in his role next season, given the current takeover situation.
A full summer purchase of the club by the 49ers looks ‘increasingly likely’ and Orta has been picked out as the first senior figure likely to get the sack, given his close ties with Andrea Radrizzani.
The Verdict: Right time to leave?
While Orta has undoubtedly been a success as the Whites’ sporting director – YouTuber Joe Wainman has called him a ‘decent apple in a group of bad apples’ in the boardroom – this summer could feel like a natural time for him to move on to pastures new.
[freshpress-quiz id=“418869″]
As time has gone on, a few controversies have emerged regarding him, including sarcastically chanting ‘sack the board’ after the 4-3 win over Bournemouth, and his behaviour hasn’t always gone down well.
It looks as though 49ers Enterprises don’t see Orta as an important part of their takeover, instead deciding to bring in their own choice of sporting director, which is a decision that would have to be respected.
Should he leave, he will always be looked back on with fondness on the whole, though, being viewed as a pivotal figure in Leeds’ long-awaited return to the Premier League.
Liverpool are interested in a swoop for precocious Bayer Leverkusen ace Florian Wirtz, in a move which could spell the end of Jurgen Klopp's interest in Chelsea star Mason Mount.
What's the latest on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool?
According to renowned transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are interested in signing Wirtz, the transfer guru dubbing him "one of the best talents in the world" and will look to instigate a move, with the 19-year-old maestro valued at a minimum £60m.
European giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are also reported to have a vested interest in the attacking midfielder, while his German Bundesliga outfit are said to be "convinced" that he will remain at the club until 2024.
Contracted until 2027, there is scant possibility of a lucrative price tag being whittled down, and if the Reds wish to capture the German gem, the bank will indeed require breaking.
Should Liverpool sign Wirtz over Mount?
Liverpool have fallen by the wayside this season and are facing an onerous effort in preserving even Champions League status next year, having reached three finals, winning one, since last plying their trade outside Europe's premium continental competition.
So much has gone wrong this season, but the midfield requires glaring reinforcement, to be prioritised above all else; it is perhaps telling that 18-year-old starlet Stefan Bajcetic has been the most heralded figure on Anfield this term, hailed as "so composed and mature for his age" by journalist Ben Bocsak.
Bajcetic is indeed an "incredible prospect" – in the words of Tom Barnes – but Wirtz would be an upgrade of a wholly different nature, with the prodigy having already scored 21 goals and supplied 28 assists from his first 91 professional appearances for Die Werkself.
Having torn his knee ligaments last March, ending a remarkable personal campaign that saw him clinch ten goals and 14 assists from 31 outings across all competitions, Wirtz returned to action roughly ten weeks ago, registering eight direct contributions from 13 appearances since his comeback.
Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz scores against Celtic in the Europa League
The dynamic midfielder ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues for assists, the top 1% for successful take-ons and the top 3% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref, highlighting the impact he would have on instilling life and vibrancy into the fold in Liverpool.
Fellow Liverpool target Mount, listed as a comparable player to the four-cap German, himself ranks among the top 7% of positional peers for progressive passes but fails to catch the eye across a multitude of further metrics including successful take-ons and assists, where he ranks among the top 31% and bottom 17% respectively.
With the England ace holding a reported £50m price tag, shifting focus on Wirtz might be the more prudent avenue for Klopp and co to delve down, especially given Mount's fall from grace this season.
Hailed as "outstanding" by Germany boss Hansi Flick, Wirtz will likely earn a prominent transfer to a European giant at some point over the next few years, and Liverpool must throw the kitchen sink at securing a deal and cementing their future.
It proved to be a summer of change for Tottenham Hotspur, with the most notable departure having been the sale of club record goalscorer, Harry Kane, following the Englishman's £100m move to Bayern Munich.
The 30-year-old goal machine was followed out the door by fellow academy graduate Harry Winks who sealed a £10m switch to Championship side, Leicester City, while Davinson Sanchez was another remnant of the Mauricio Pochettino era to have moved on permanently, joining Galatasaray for a reported fee of £12.8m.
Aside from a raft of further loan departures – including Djed Spence following Joe Rodon to Leeds United – the north Londoners also saw diminutive forward, Lucas Moura move on to pastures new after just over five years on the books at N17.
The experienced Brazilian had originally been snapped up from Paris Saint-Germain back in January 2018, although the 31-year-old was sent packing this summer with chairman Daniel Levy making a sizeable loss on his initial investment.
How much did Tottenham pay for Lucas Moura?
The fleet-footed speedster had caught the attention of Levy and Pochettino following his standout form in France at the Parc des Princes, having racked up 94 goals and assists in 229 games in all competitions for the Ligue 1 giants.
That impressive, trophy-laden spell in Paris persuaded Spurs to fork out around £23m in order to bring the winger to England, with the winter arrival tasked with providing further firepower alongside the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.
While not always a regular fixture of the side over the next few years, Moura did cement his "cult hero" status – as per pundit Paul Robinson – following his remarkable hat-trick against Ajax to fire the club to a maiden Champions League final in 2019.
That stellar showing came as a significant high point in an otherwise mixed spell in north London for the 5 foot 8 enigma, as he was never able to truly kick on from that thrilling night in Amsterdam.
How much did Tottenham sell Moura for?
On reflection, it would appear that the 2018/19 season was as good as it got for the 35-cap international in a Tottenham jersey, as he scored 15 goals in all competitions, including bagging ten goals in 32 league appearances.
Following on from that standout season, Moura would remarkably score just ten top-flight goals across the next four seasons combined, having perhaps suffered as a result of the sacking of Pochettino in November 2019.
The winger's woes were particularly evident in his final season at the club as he failed to start a single league game under Antonio Conte and co, with it somewhat perplexing that Levy did not agree to sanction his departure last summer – amid reported interest from the likes of Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
Tottenham Hotspur forward Lucas Moura.
As it proved, the Lilywhites ultimately allowed the misfiring marksman to leave at the end of his contract back in June, with the club unable to recoup any of their initial investment in the former PSG man.
There may be those who believe that the forgotten figure should have been allowed to depart far sooner amid his slide down the pecking order, with the 2018 transfer having perhaps not quite gone as expected, despite Moura's haul of 39 goals and 27 assists in 221 games in all competitions.
Manchester City have made a “fresh” approach for Lyon forward Bradley Barcola, and a reliable journalist has shared the club’s stance on a deal taking place.
Who is Bradley Barcola?
Barcola, primarily a right-winger, is an academy graduate at the Groupama Stadium having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to Laurent Blanc’s first team back in January 2022, and since that time he’s gone on to make a total of 44 senior appearances to date.
The France youth international still has another three years to run on his contract in his homeland, but having established himself as the Ligue 1 outfit’s third best-performing offensive player last season, he’s grabbed the attention of Pep Guardiola and chiefs at the Etihad.
According to 90min, the Sky Blues regularly scouted the 20-year-old during the previous campaign, and after being hugely impressed by the talent they saw on offer, have reportedly identified him as an ideal replacement for Riyad Mahrez who left last month to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in a £30m move.
Are Man City signing Bradley Barcola?
Taking to Twitter X, Gianluigi Longari revealed that Man City have taken their initial interest in Barcola one step further by holding preliminary discussions with Lyon to discover what it would take to bring him to the Premier League before the end of the transfer window. He wrote:
“Fresh contact between Manchester City #MCFC and Olympique Lyon #OL for Bradley #Barcola. He’s one of the City’s target.”
Lyon forward Bradley Barcola.
How good is Bradley Barcola?
Man City have reportedly seen an opening £70m offer for West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta turned down, but with outlets claiming that a second bid is being prepared, Barcola could be following in the formerly mentioned player’s footsteps to put pen to paper with the reigning champions should negotiations continue in a positive manner, and what an exciting double move it would be.
Lyon’s £6k-per-week earner has posted 19 goal contributions (12 assists and seven goals) in 44 senior outings at his club, not to mention that last season he ranked in the 94th percentile for attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area, highlighting his desire to create chances for himself and his fellow teammates in the final third, and this form saw him receive three man-of-the-match awards from WhoScored.
The Villeurbanne native, who has been dubbed an “elite” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has the versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline and even on the left side of the midfield, so he would give the manager great flexibility when it comes to choosing his formation and team selection should he want to include several different players altogether.
Finally, Barcola shares the same agent, Gestifute, as Ederson, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva, as per Transfermarkt, so this existing connection that his representative already has to the club could them a potential small advantage should they decide to continue pursuing a deal for the attacker in the closing stages of the summer market.
Newcastle United are back in action tonight, as the Magpies host Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park in the third fixture of the Champions League group stages.
Eddie Howe’s side were placed as far from the favourites when the lineup for Group E was revealed, with it being dubbed the 2023/24 edition of the ‘ Group of Death’ due to its challenges.
So far, the Geordies have secured a draw with AC Milan and an emphatic 4-1 win over Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint-Germain, giving Howe’s squad added confidence going into tonight's big fixture.
What is the latest Newcastle team news against Dortmund?
After schooling PSG in their previous fixture in the Champions League, Newcastle will face another big challenge this evening when hosting the in-form Dortmund.
The German outfit remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga from their opening eight games, having won six and drawn two to put them in good stead to give the Magpies a battle.
Their start to the Champions League, however, has been a different story, having claimed just one point from a 0-0 draw against AC Milan, placing them at the bottom of Group E.
Newcastle defender Fabian Schar.
Newcastle will hope to take the victory over Dortmund this evening, however they will have to be at their best to do so, with some squad selection decisions to be made by Howe.
The talk of the Magpies’ squad is Sandro Tonali’s pending punishment over betting offences, yet the midfielder is in contention to play against the well-oiled Bundesliga side, albeit with the likes of Sven Botman and Harvey Barnes still sidelined.
Starting as a substitute last weekend, Tonali was joined by Alexander Isak, who came off the bench despite nursing a slight knee problem, opening a potential door for another forward to lead the line from the start tonight.
Should Callum Wilson start against Dortmund?
Howe is lucky to have two impressive goalscorers to rotate between, and despite being in fine form, Callum Wilson could have an argument over his claim to start against Dortmund.
The Englishman, who was once lauded as “clinical” by journalist Chris Waugh, has already scored five goals in the Premier League this season, with his tally added to last time out against Crystal Palace.
Wilson has played just 27 minutes in the Champions League this term, and could be in good stead to claim his first start of the tournament, in a rotation up-front that could cause the opposition added problems.
The £46k-per-week talisman is no stranger to scoring goals, and could be the ideal inclusion into the squad should Howe opt to keep Isak as a substitute and rotate from the side that beat PSG.
In the league this term, the former Bournemouth sensation has a scoring frequency of just 68 minutes, averaging 1.5 shots on target per game, despite only averaging 42 minutes of play per game, via Sofascore.
Newcastle striker Callum Wilson.
By fielding a scorer as clinical as Wilson, Howe could deal Dortmund additional blows by unleashing arguably his most prolific hitman on the defence, who have only conceded eight goals in the Bundesliga this season.
Newcastle will have to be at their best in the final third to break down Edin Terzic’s well-structured side, who will be desperate for a win against the Magpies at St James’ Park.