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Newcastle manager Steve Bruce is reportedly set to be sacked by the club’s new owners PIF in the coming weeks as they attempt to find a replacement for the 60-year-old.

The former Aston Villa boss will be in the dugout against Tottenham on Sunday in the Premier League and it could be his last match in charge of the Magpies.

This could mean that a number of players may have the added motivation of performing to impress anyone watching on from the stands with a view to taking over from Bruce ahead of their next league game.

Keeping this in mind, Bruce could hand a parting gift to one player in particular for this match by unleashing Jacob Murphy against Spurs.

The 26-year-old has only started three of his seven Premier League appearances this season (most recently against Southampton in late August) and the clash on Sunday could offer him a chance to impress Bruce’s successor, whoever that may be, heading into the rest of the season. Putting in a strong performance could go a long way to making him a regular under the new boss, with the same going for the rest of his team-mates ahead of this match.

With Newcastle facing Tottenham and their many talented attackers, Bruce may revert to a three-at-the-back formation, and this would open up a place at right wing-back, which could suit Murphy perfectly. The 26-year-old has provided one goal and one assist in his three league starts this term, with both coming whilst playing as a wing-back.

Former Premier League forward Noel Whelan once hailed Murphy as a fantastic player for the Magpies, saying: “Murphy is a player with so much ability. He was brought to that club to run, be direct, use that pace and skill that he has with the ball at his feet and now he seems to be doing it.

“Murphy seems to be enjoying football again at Newcastle. The surroundings, the manager and the squad all seem to have made a nice connection. Newcastle seems a happier camp right now and Murphy is showing what a fantastic player he is.”

The £25k-per-week dynamo could catch the eye if deployed in a wing-back role against Tottenham, which is why Bruce must unleash him on Sunday. It would be a parting gift from the manager to the 26-year-old, who could be very grateful if he is able to turn in a positive performance and impress the right people at the Tyneside club.

AND in other news, “Would be interested…”: Pete Graves drops major Newcastle claim that’ll excite fans…

Manchester United have reportedly become the favourites to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to add further reinforcements to his first-team squad.

What’s the story?

According to The Sun, United have stolen a march of their rivals in the pursuit of the highly-rated 18-year-old’s signature.

The report states that: “A source said: ‘United may have lost out last year when he moved to Germany, but the groundwork they put in has made a lasting impression on Jude and his family.

“They were really impressed with the effort United made and the respect they were shown by everyone at the club. Meeting Sir Alex Ferguson was the icing on the cake.

“Ultimately, as Jude has made clear since, he decided to move to the club where he could see he would play games straight away and gain top-level experience week in, week out.

“United couldn’t offer that, but his memories from that day and the interactions he had with the club are extremely fond ones. United did everything right so maybe in the future that will work in their favour.'”

Solskjaer would love him

Bellingham was first linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer, but he eventually decided to snub the advances of the 20-time English champions, instead choosing to join Dortmund in a £25m move.

His impressive performances at the Signal Iduna Park earned him a call up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad despite his tender years and he clearly impressed the national team manager.

“Jude is phenomenal. Just in training in the last couple of days, to have a 17-year-old, who wants to compete with senior players, not only has the technique but the competitiveness and maturity… he’s a hugely exciting player,” said Southgate.

After playing a limited role in the Three Lions’ run to the final of the European Championships, Bellingham has hit the ground running for his club this season, bagging two goals and providing four assists in just eight appearances.

It was widely reported that Solskjaer was keen to bring another midfielder to Old Trafford over the summer as Eduardo Camavinga and Saul Niguez were heavily linked, but the pair moved to Real Madrid and Chelsea, respectively.

With Paul Pogba entering the final year of his contract with the Red Devils, potentially seeing him depart on a free transfer in 12 months’ time, it’s easy to understand why the Norwegian tactician is determined to bring in extra options, which is why John Murtough must do all he can to get a deal done.

The arrival of Bellingham would significantly soften the blow of the World Cup winner’s potential exit, allowing Solskjaer to continue his progress in the red half of Manchester.

And, in other news…Forget Lingard: Man Utd gem who won 100% of his duels was Ole’s real star against WHU 

This has been a sluggish start to life at Celtic for the Hoops’ new manager Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian knew things weren’t going to be easy at Parkhead. After all, the size of the rebuild required in Glasgow is colossal.

On the chalkboard

Despite the pure amount of work that needs to be done in order for Celtic to regain their status quo of being Scottish champions, this has been a very poor start to the campaign.

In fact, it’s the worst start to a season that the Bhoys have had in the last 23 years.

Performances are only getting worse and the swashbuckling, exciting attacking football that Postecoglou engrained in the early weeks of the campaign has disappeared.

He is struggling with an injury to Kyogo Furuhashi and Callum McGregor’s absence in the middle of the park has also been huge.

One of the biggest reasons for the club’s downfall in recent weeks has been the balance of the midfield.

David Turnbull’s performances have been questionable with just one goal in his last nine outings since a hat-trick against St Mirren.

Ismaila Soro and James McCarthy have also been poor this term but Tom Rogic isn’t delivering either.

The Australian looked like a player reborn after Postecoglou’s arrival on the scene, being described as “majestic” by the cast of ACSOM. Sadly, his displays have been abject in the last few weeks.

He’s contributed just a solitary goal in his last 11 matches and is struggling next to Turnbull in the middle of the park.

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Their pairing simply hasn’t worked but after the Hoops sold Ryan Christie and got rid of Olivier Ntcham this summer, they are lacking options in a central area.

Rogic seems to be getting worse and that was typified by a laboured showing against Dundee United last weekend.

Celtic drew 1-1 and the Aussie midfielder failed to provide them with much penetration or impetus.

He did produce four key passes for his teammates but ultimately, it was a troubled day at the office where he was too slow in possession and surrendered the ball on a regular basis.

During the course of the stalemate, the £16k-per-week earner lost the ball on 21 occasions. That happened to be the second-worst tally of any Celtic player on the pitch.

When the Hoops take on Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League on Thursday, Postecoglou will need a far more reliable midfield pairing.

He cannot afford to play Turnbull and Rogic in the same team against the Bundesliga side; it sounds like a recipe for disaster.

The former is still capable of producing magical moments so it’s the latter that should be axed instead.

AND in other news, Forget Rogic: Postecoglou must unleash Celtic’s “first-class” rarely-seen 19 y/o…

Leeds United left-back Niall Huggins is on the verge of completing a move to Sunderland, with the youngster undergoing a medical at the Stadium of Light on Thursday.

The Lowdown: Leeds’ summer clearout

Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta may have sealed some exciting incomings this summer, most notably signing Junior Firpo from Barcelona, but there have also been plenty of outgoings.

A total of nine players have departed, either permanently or on loan, including experienced fan favourites like Pablo Hernandez and Ezgjan Alioski, and it now looks as though Leeds have cleared another name from their squad.

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The Latest: Huggins set to join Sunderland

According to Football Insider, Huggins is extremely close to sealing a permanent move to Sunderland, with his medical taking place on Thursday morning after the two clubs agreed terms on a deal.

The 20-year-old only signed a new Whites contract last December, but it appears as though Bielsa has U-turned and sees no long-term future for him at the club.

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The Verdict: Right time to leave

At 20, Huggins will no doubt be keen to enjoy regular playing time and that wasn’t going to come his way at Leeds.

With Firpo coming in as the Whites’ new first-choice left-back, and Leif Davis a strong long-term option, it is hard to see where he would fit in.

Huggins will hope to become a key man at a Sunderland side amongst the favourites to be promoted from League One this season, forging a strong career for himself away from Leeds.

It is not yet clear if there is a buy-back or sell-on clause in the deal, but one would have to assume Orta would be clever enough to add something along those lines.

In other news, Leeds have reportedly made contact with a Premier League player over a move to Elland Road. Read more here.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ meeting with Arsenal over his future did not go well, Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge has told Football FanCast.

Maitland-Niles has made it abundantly clear that he wants to leave Arsenal and has attracted strong interest from Everton at this closing stage of the transfer window.

In fact, according to Sky Sports, Everton made an offer on Monday to take the 24-year-old midfielder, who can also play at right-back, on loan.

Maitland-Niles has held discussions with the club as he tries to force an exit, but Bridge has been informed that those talks did not go to plan.

“He had a meeting yesterday about his future and it didn’t go very well,” the Sky Sports journalist told FFC. “I don’t know what’s going on with Arsenal, I really don’t.”

Maitland-Niles has played just 19 minutes of Premier League football this season, which came in the 5-0 thrashing to Manchester City at the Etihad.

The England international was also loaned out to West Brom last term, so he is clearly a player Mikel Arteta can live without.

From Maitland-Niles’ perspective, it is easy to understand why he is upset and frustrated with his club’s decision. In January, perhaps they may reconsider their stance.

Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for West Ham United centre-back Issa Diop as new manager Patrick Vieira looks to continue his overhaul of the first-team squad.

What’s the story?

According to French outlet FootMercato, the Eagles are one of three Premier League clubs keen on acquiring the 24-year-old’s services this summer, with Wolves and Southampton also credited with an interest.

The Hammers are thought to be closing in on the signature of Fiorentina centre-back Nikola Milenkovic, so David Moyes could be prepared to let Diop depart the London Stadium over the coming weeks.

With Palace now reportedly pulling out of the race to sign Ozan Kabak, everything could be lined up for the former France under-21 international to make the short switch from east to south London.

Heir to Gary Cahill

Following his move from boyhood club Toulouse in a £22m deal three years ago, Diop settled into life on English shores well, quickly establishing himself in the Irons’ starting XI. The £16.2m-rated gem made 33 Premier League appearances in his debut season, and his domineering displays earned several admirers, including former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

“Their centre-backs had a fantastic match,” said the then-Red Devils boss following the Hammers’ 3-1 victory over United back in 2018. “Congratulations to the scout who found Diop, a monster who dictated everything.”

However, the 24-year-old has struggled to live up to his early promise over the last couple of campaigns. Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna established a formidable partnership in the heart of West Ham’s defence last term, limiting Diop to just 15 top-flight starts.

As a result, the Frenchman has been linked with an imminent exit from the London Stadium, and Palace could be an ideal destination. With Mamadou Sakho, Scott Dann and Gary Cahill all being released on free transfers this summer, Vieira has already been forced to add several reinforcements to his backline.

The arrivals of Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi have strengthened the Eagles’ options in central defence, but their attempts to re-sign Cahill ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Indeed, like the Irons defender, the 35-year-old is renowned for his aerial prowess, having won 3.5 headers per game in each of the last two Premier League seasons. The Frenchman won 2.5 aerial duels per match in the 2019/20 campaign, also illustrating his ability in the air.

Therefore, Diop could prove to be the perfect heir to the former Chelsea ace. A fresh challenge and new surroundings may be the ideal combinations for the player to rediscover his best form, adding another valuable asset to Palace’s new era.

In other news… Ed Aarons drops big Crystal Palace transfer update, Vieira will be gutted 

Noel Whelan has offered his thoughts on Everton’s attempts to land Aston Villa beast Marvelous Nakamba.

What’s the talk?

Former Premier League forward Noel Whelan has suggested that Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba could add some “energy and life” to Everton’s squad this summer. He told Football Insider:

“Everton bought a couple of midfield players last season, very good ones at that, who bring energy.

“Maybe Rafa Benitez has seen something in the side that he feels they need to be successful and progress. Look, you can never have enough energy in midfield. That’s the place on the field that you want to control and dominate.

“To have somebody with a bit more energy and tenacity about him… You’ve got Allan that they brought in last year in that defensive role.

“We know every time a new manager comes in he always wants to bring in his own players. That’s his stamp on the team. This could be one player he’s looked at before and feels could bring some energy and life to that midfield.”

This comes after it was revealed by The Telegraph earlier this month that Everton and Watford are both interested in signing the enforcer from Villa before the end of the transfer window.

Re-energise

Marcel Brands could re-energise Everton’s midfield options with a deal for Nakamba in the closing weeks of the window. The Toffees chief must work hard to ensure that he can land the powerhouse ahead of Watford to bolster Rafa Benitez’s squad and bring in extra depth and energy the Spaniard’s arsenal of workmen in the middle of the park.

Nakamba struggled for game time in the 2020/21 campaign, but comparing his form in 2019/20 to that of Tom Davies and Andre Gomes last season makes him appear to be a shrewd signing on paper. Per 90 in the Premier League, the Villa man made more ball recoveries, tackles and interceptions than the Toffees duo. He also made more clearances and blocks combined and won more duels than Davies and was level with Gomes on that front.

This suggests that he is able to get around the pitch more than the pair at Premier League level. He has proven that he can win the ball back with a higher degree of efficiency, backing up Whelan’s comments about him bringing more life and energy to the team.

Benitez could love having another busy body in the midfield to rat about and recover possession as it not only helps the defence but also gives Everton more chances to hit teams on the counter. Nakamba could make a crucial tackle and then set, for example, Andros Townsend away on the wing for him to then cross it into the box for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to score.

As Whelan says, with Allan already on the team, Benitez could build a dynamic midfield partnership with the £30k-a-week earning Nakamba alongside him.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano delivers exciting Everton transfer update, fans must be buzzing…

The Evening Standard’s Jack Rosser wouldn’t rule out a move to Tottenham for Southampton striker Danny Ings this summer.

The 29-year-old Saints forward was in inspired form last season scoring 13 goals in all competitions, and has 46 in 100 appearances for the south coast outfit in total, and with only one year remaining on his current contract, Southampton may look to cash in on their prized asset this summer and avoid the risk of losing him on a free next year.

Eurosport also confirmed earlier this week that Spurs were observing the situation of Ings, with Rosser telling TT: “Ings might be looking a bit higher but if nothing comes from City, United or Chelsea someone like that and Spurs come knocking with a nice little wage offer.

“The chance to live in London and play at the stadium, there’s not too many that would turn it down, so I wouldn’t rule it out.”

After failing to qualify for Champions League football last season finishing seventh in the league table, Spurs hired former Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo as their new manager and he will be looking to bring in his own players this summer.

With that in mind, although Espirito Santo will want to keep hold of his best players, Spurs may have to delve into the transfer market for a new striker, with Harry Kane heavily linked with a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur stadium this summer.

Leeds United have opened talks to sign Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien this summer.

What’s the story?

Journalist Alan Nixon previously revealed via Twitter that O’Brien was “very near” to the top of the shortlist for Leeds this summer as they look to strengthen their midfield options ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Football Insider have now claimed that preliminary discussions have taken place over the Whites securing the 22-year-old, with Huddersfield set to demand a significant price for one of their star players.

Bielsa will love him

In O’Brien, Leeds could find someone who could be ready to make that step up from the Championship to the Premier League, with Huddersfield Town writer Steven Chicken waxing lyrical about the midfielder’s potential.

He said: “O’Brien is a left-footed, tough-tackling central midfielder.

“Former Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley often praised O’Brien as being ‘like having two players’, with the midfielder receiving particular praise from his manager and fans alike for his ability and willingness to rush back and win the ball with a clean sliding tackle whenever his side were caught on the counter-attack.

“He certainly has the potential to be (a Premier League player), if he’s not already. His fitness is incredible and he just never seems to get tired, which is one of the biggest difficulties Championship players have when stepping up to the Premier League.

“He’s never going to be a big glamorous name in the Premier League, but he is the kind of wholehearted, committed player that managers love because they do so much of the hard work that helps other players to shine.”

As per WhoScored, O’Brien averaged two tackles and one interception per game in the Championship last season, which is only slightly less than the 2.6 tackles and 1.6 interceptions Phillips managed per Premier League match.

Judging by those figures and the endorsement from Cowley, the 1.73m (5 foot 8) midfielder clearly has the defensive tenacity that the highly demanding Bielsa would love at Elland Road.

Meanwhile, Leeds United have had a bid accepted for this player…

An update has emerged regarding Southampton’s valuation of Newcastle transfer target Mario Lemina. 

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Saints are interested in signing Isaac Hayden from the Magpies and are now willing to offer Lemina in exchange for the 26-year-old.

The report claims that the Saints are in talks over a possible swap deal with Newcastle, with Hayden valued at £12m and Lemina at £4m, although it remains to be seen whether it would be a straight swap or cash coming Steve Bruce’s way along with the former Juventus man.

Bruce would love it

Newcastle must sanction a deal to sign Lemina from Southampton. Even if a swap deal with Hayden does not materialise, the Magpies should be looking to snap up the Saints enforcer if he is available for £4m as it could be a bargain deal for the Tyneside club.

Lemina is valued at £9m by Transfermarkt and arrived at St Mary’s from Juventus for around £15.5m in the summer of 2017. This suggests that £4m could be a terrific price for the midfielder, who has one year left on his contract on the south coast.

In terms of how he stacks up against Hayden, the Gabon international could be a significant improvement. In 11 starts as a central midfielder for Fulham in the Premier League, Lemina averaged an impressive WhoScored rating of 6.88. Hayden, on the other hand, recorded an average rating of 6.66 in 16 starts in the same position for Bruce’s side, suggesting that Mike Ashley would be improving the squad by swapping the two players.

Garth Crooks once labelled the 27-year-old a midfield “powerhouse” and claimed that he was good enough to play for a Champions League club, citing his experience with Juventus in the Serie A earlier in his career.

The BBC Sport pundit said: “My goodness, this lad looks a powerhouse. I suppose when you’ve played for one of the biggest clubs in the world in Juventus, you should have all the tools to survive in any league.

“The former Juve man was composed on the ball and timely in the tackle – and for a holding midfielder, he was very capable of hurting the opposition. Lemina is a top-four player in my opinion.”

Therefore, Bruce would surely be buzzing if Lemina arrived at St James’ Park. He could be getting a top-class midfielder who is an upgrade on Hayden, whilst potentially getting money to spend because of Lemina’s bargain £4m valuation. If Bruce can get the Gabon midfielder on song and playing at his best, then he could land a real coup this summer judging his performances for Fulham and Crooks’ previous comments about him.

AND in other news, “Would be unbelievable” – Exclusive: Howey drops verdict on potential next Newcastle owners…