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Journalist Conor McGilligan has questioned the Elland Road desire to see Sam Greenwood play more regularly for Leeds United.

What's the latest on Sam Greenwood and Leeds?

The 21-year-old was handed a rare chance to impress on the weekend as the Whites took on Newcastle United.

Indeed, the midfielder was handed only his third Premier League start of the season but lasted just 45 minutes before being hooked by Sam Allardyce at halftime.

In the end, Leeds had to settle for a point as they missed a penalty, gave two away, and picked up a red card in the drama-packed 2-2 draw with the Magpies.

And following the draw, when speaking about the match on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan claimed he can't understand why fans have wanted to see more of Greenwood this season.

He said (05:26): "I thought Sam [Allardyce] got it right when brought [Adam] Forshaw on for Greenwood. I don't really understand why there is a clamour all the time for Greenwood.

“Fans seem to think he's the next coming, above Marc Roca, which I'll never ever in my life understand. But it is what it is.”

How bad was Greenwood against Newcastle?

There certainly has been a bit of interest in seeing more of Greenwood in recent weeks. Even ahead of the game, Allardyce was asked specifically if the midfielder would play against Newcastle.

He said in his press conference: “Everyone has trained well enough to be involved. We will make a couple of changes against Newcastle but you’ll have to wait and see when we name the team."

In the end, though, it's safe to say the £30k-p/w midfielder didn't really take his chance. Indeed, in the player rating for LeedsLive, he got a 5/10 and journalist Beren Cross wrote: "Struggled. A few rushes of blood to the head."

In comparison, he said of Adam Forshaw who came on for Greenwood during the break: "Didn't see a huge amount from him as Newcastle tried to pen the hosts in. Some composure and solid tackles towards the end."

What's more, across the span of the league season, his average match rating on WhoScored is down at 6.31 – which ranks him 22nd out of 29 Leeds players.

During his brief display on Saturday, Greenwood only managed to complete two of his attempted eight passes (25%) and managed to lose possession 10 times (via SofaScore).

With that being the case, it's not hard to see why McGilligan has his doubts about the player and it remains unclear if Allardyce will turn to him again in the final two games of the season after this underwhelming cameo.

Aston Villa take on Fulham at Villa Park on Tuesday night, with Unai Emery's side hoping to earn another three points in their push for European football.

How does the Premier League table look ahead of Aston Villa vs Fulham?

The Villans' winning run came to an end in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Brentford, but they remain just eight points off Newcastle United in third, with six points remaining.

It would be a big ask for the Midlands outfit to secure a top-four spot, especially given their less-than-impressive start to the season under Steven Gerrard, but a European finish is certainly on the cards.

Fulham also harbour hopes of a top-eight finish under Marco Silva and boast consecutive wins in the Premier League, which should make this evening's game an exciting spectacle.

How could Aston Villa line up against Fulham?

Here is how Football FanCast expects Emery to line his side up tonight, with three changes from the side that started against Brentford last time out.

(4-2-3-1) – Olsen; Chambers, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; McGinn, Luiz; Traore, Buendia, Ramsey; Watkins.

Emiliano Martinez was forced off at half-time in the draw with Brentford due to a stomach bug, which suggests that Robin Olsen could be forced to deputise in between the sticks against Fulham this evening.

There is one change at right-back, as Ashley Young is rested after starting a lot of games recently in the absence of Matty Cash, with Calum Chambers replacing him in the defence.

Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings continue their partnership at centre-back, although summer signing Diego Carlos will surely be itching for a start having returned from his long-term injury recently, while Alex Moreno continues at left-back.

There is one change in the midfield, as Leander Dendoncker drops out with John McGinn moving into a more familiar central midfield position alongside Douglas Luiz, to give the Villans more of an attacking look ahead of a must-win game at Villa Park.

This allows Bertrand Traore to come into the side on the right wing after two impressive cameos from the bench in recent weeks, with the Burkina Faso international, who was dubbed "marvellous" by former manager Dean Smith, notching important goals against Nottingham Forest and Leicester.

Jacob Ramsey will be looking to continue his fine recent performances on the left wing, with Emiliano Buendia playing through the centre at Villa Park in support of the in-form Ollie Watkins in the attack.

Newcastle United's season has been unprecedented, as somehow Eddie Howe managed to carry their blistering form from the second half of last campaign and turn it into a genuine push for Champions League places.

Such has been their impressive work, amidst the disappointment of that EFL Cup final loss, the Magpies are now firmly in the driving seat to remain in that coveted third-placed spot which has been hotly-contested.

Should they achieve this unthinkable accomplishment, fast-tracking the development of a club still buoyed by their new ownership, it will likely widen their opportunities for player acquisition too. Previously, money was no object, but now with the promise of European football assured, suddenly Tyneside once again becomes an attractive proposition for Europe's top talent.

That would therefore explain the shift in focus to this summer, which promises to be an enthralling transfer window for a team that has already bolstered with intelligence.

The likes of Sven Botman and Bruno Guimaraes were immediate hits at St James' Park, but Alexander Isak has had to bide his time before truly showcasing his talents. His return to fitness has proved vital, and now the hulking forward cannot stop scoring.

That makes the links to Moussa Diaby all the more frightening, as adding another top-quality asset to this ever-improving outfit could not only push the team even further forward, but offer a fine creative presence to provide for the Swedish international.

Could Newcastle sign Moussa Diaby?

Having been noted among the favourites to acquire the Frenchman earlier in the week, this new development almost encourages them to act with haste among the growing list of suitors. They will likely still have to overcome the reported €75m (£66m) price tag that was touted in January too.

The interest this tricky wide man has drummed up hardly comes as a surprise given the consistency of the 23-year-old, who continues to thrive for Bayer Leverkusen.

Explosive with his turn of pace and possessing lightning-quick feet, these intangible qualities gave way to what has also been a fine goalscoring season for the former Paris Saint-Germain star. He boasts nine goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga, seeking to surpass his 13-goal and 12-assist tally from the season prior.

Such consistency across various campaigns only adds to the intrigue of this potential move, which Isak would likely endorse given the space and added chances someone like Diaby would command.

With five goals in his last five games, the club-record acquisition has thrived even when surrounded by the likes of Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff. Although both have impressed this season, to instead replace them with the talent being mentioned could see the 6 foot 4 finisher explode on Tyneside.

After all, his potential new teammate does average 1.9 key passes per game alongside the 46% dribble success rate that likely spurred journalist Julien Froment to laud him as someone who "creates gaps and danger as soon as he touches the ball," back during his time in the French capital.

With the future on Tyneside brighter than ever, and a calibre of players like Diaby potentially on the horizon too, Isak must be licking his lips at the prospect of this future superteam he will spearhead.

Greg O’Keeffe has questioned how Demarai Gray may have responded to Sean Dyche’s methods at Everton’s training ground.

The Lowdown: Dyche not taking it easy at Everton

When Dyche was appointed as the Everton manager, a lot was made of how he was putting his foot down at Finch Farm as he banned snoods and hats from training sessions.

While this was said to be so the players trained as they played on the weekend, which would make sense, it remains to be seen what benefit that has had on the squad.

Since taking over from Frank Lampard at the end of January, Dyche has overseen two wins against Leeds United and Arsenal, while managing to get a misfiring Everton side to score twice in one game last weekend after putting installing top scorer Gray into the starting lineup.

The Latest: Gray may not be a Dyche favourite

However, O’Keeffe has been left less than convinced on the All Together Now podcast about whether or not Gray will have responded well to Dyche’s more straight-talking ways at Finch Farm, having started just once under the new boss.

He said: “It’s a very old-school attitude what Dyche has done there. It’s just a tactic to try and deploy some discipline and get some grit and strength about the group.

“It’ll work for some and it won’t work for others, and I think Gray’s the type who just wouldn’t have it, or certainly, if he had to have it, he would be unhappy and sulky about it.”

The Verdict: Dyche must find a spot for Gray

It’s rather strange that it took Dyche until his sixth game in charge to start Gray given that he was the club’s top scorer and looks to be the only person capable of finding the back of the net on a consistent basis.

The English winger has netted six times this season across all competitions, and even when deployed in an unnatural striker spot as he was last weekend, he still managed to impose himself on the game by netting a penalty.

Even if it was true that Gray wasn’t having Dyche’s methods behind the scenes, the Everton boss may well have to swallow his pride until at least the summer and get Gray into his team, or the goals may continue to be sparse within his team.

Arsenal fans have slammed the news that the FA are investigating their celebrations after Reiss Nelson’s late winner against Bournemouth.

The Lowdown: Investigation

Nelson’s last-minute winner in the 3-2 victory over Bournemouth sparked wild celebrations from the home side as they came back from 2-0 down to get all three points.

They kept themselves five points clear at the top of the table, with Manchester City beating Newcastle United 2-0 in the earlier kick-off.

However, it has been reported that the FA are investigating those celebrations as Arsenal players and staff ran onto the pitch, with referee Chris Kavanagh noting it to the governing body.

The Latest: Arsenal fans fuming

Taking to Twitter after the update was shared, Arsenal fans voiced their fume over the decision to investigate their celebrations:

“This is getting embarrassing now, the FA and it’s officials clearly can’t cope with us doing well and us overcoming everything they throw our way.” – @SimplyScalvini

“This has got to be a wind up.” – @Hugojha23

“The agenda is real TBH.” – @taophyc_AFC

“This is madness.” – @kendrickmclare1

“They are corrupt. They’re issuing out fines because we hurt their feelings. It’s disgusting.” – @marco4549

“Incredible this. After 3 penalties not given. A goal awarded that should have been ruled out and loads of time wasting, the ref reports this.” – @TheCockneyTurk

The Verdict: Enjoy the moment!

The Gunners needed to enjoy the moment of Nelson’s shot hitting the back of the net, which was the difference between three points and just one.

The goal could be a vital moment in the title race, and one that they look back on if they win the Premier League.

We have to be careful not to take the emotional side of out of the game, and so the FA and Kavanagh need to apply a little bit of common sense here.

Aston Villa are looking to end a run of three defeats in succession in the Premier League as they travel away from home to face Everton on Saturday.

Unai Emery’s side travel to Goodison Park after losing to Leicester City, Manchester City, and Arsenal in their last three matches in the top-flight and are up against a rejuvenated Toffees.

Sean Dyche has won two of his first three matches in charge of the club and taken them out of the bottom three – keeping clean sheets in both of his wins.

Villa, meanwhile, are off the back of conceding at least three goals in each of their last three games and let in four in their most recent clash with Arsenal.

Emery’s team went 1-0 and 2-1 up against the Gunners but were unable to finish off the match by taking a two-goal lead and that allowed Mikel Arteta’s men to rally and end up picking up all three points in stoppage time.

Should Unai Emery start Jhon Duran against Everton?

The Spanish head coach could blow Everton away and stop them from getting back into the match by going all-out in attack with Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran up front.

Villa could claim all three points by simply outscoring the opposition, if they are unable to – on recent evidence – defend well enough, and unleashing their January signing could play a big role in that.

The £18m dynamo is yet to start a match in the Premier League since his move from Chicago Fire but his form in the MLS last year suggests that the marksman has the potential to be an excellent player for the club.

Duran scored eight goals and provided three assists in 14 starts in the division in 2022 – averaging a Sofascore rating of 6.91 – and this shows that the gem has the quality to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

The 19-year-old powerhouse showcased his ability in the final third by creating two ‘big chances’ for his teammates and taking 2.2 shots per game, which highlights how much of a threat he is at both creating openings for others and himself.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once described the gem as an “aggressive” forward who can be a “counter-attacking weapon” and the teenager could form an exciting partnership with Watkins, who has scored five goals in his last eight appearances in the Premier League.

Emi Buendia started alongside the England international last time out but the Argentine’s tally of seven league goals in 58 outings does not suggest that he has the goalscoring capability to blow Everton away, whereas Duran’s record in the MLS does.

Manchester United could be a team to watch in the summer if Ansu Fati is to leave Barcelona as they have an excellent relationship with his agent.

What’s the latest?

There is the feeling Fati could potentially move away from the Spanish giants in the summer with Bayern Munich linked by certain reports as a possible landing spot.

However, Fabrizio Romano has indicated the Bundesliga side are not working on a deal to bring the youngster to Germany at the moment.

But he did suggest that the Red Devils could be a side to watch as a result of their relationship with Fati’s agent.

Speaking on his latest YouTube video, Romano issued an update on the 20-year-old’s future but claimed there is yet to be any contact from the Premier League side over the forward:

“We have to say also, what happens with Manchester United, because Man United have an excellent relationship with his agent. And so this could be a point, but at the moment from Man United, [there is] still no direct contact with Ansu Fati.

“Ansu Fati is one to watch with English clubs always being interested in him; for example, Ansu Fati was in Manchester United’s list two years ago. He’s a player that they have always appreciated.”

Old Trafford-bound?

There have been a number of clubs who have been linked with the 20-year-old by certain reports coming from Spain who suggest his future could well be away from Camp Nou.

Mundo Deportivo has claimed Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are two sides who make up four of the potential English suitors ahead of the summer.

However, it does seem as if United could potentially hold an upper hand if they are to pursue Fati over the coming months given the strong relationship they have with his agent.

Fati is a player who has been tipped for big things with his fellow teammate, Eric Garcia, having some positive words to say about the talented 20-year-old: “Ansu is one of these players that are born with that talent and that magic,” he said.

But it has not been an easy campaign for the Spaniard who has made 20 appearances in La Liga thus far where he’s returned three goals and three assists.

The struggles lie in his lack of opportunities from the starting XI with just seven of those 20 league appearances coming from Xavi’s starting side.

Despite making 20 appearances in La Liga, he has racked up just 772 minutes of action meaning an average of under 39 minutes per game.

But it has to be said, with Marcus Rashford in such stunning form on the left-wing, would his situation be any different if he was to make the move to Old Trafford in the summer?

Liverpool have found themselves unable to retain their domestic dominance over the Premier League season so far and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that a much-needed refresh in the summer will get the club back where they belong and competing at the highest level.

The Reds are currently ninth in the top-flight table due to a disappointing run of poor performances that have led to the side falling 10 points behind in the race to secure a Champions League qualifying spot inside the top four after 19 outings.

Indeed, the powerbrokers at Anfield have rebuilt the attacking threat with the acquirement of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo over the last 12 months, however, the increasingly dire situation in midfield remains to be solved.

James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all set to leave the club at the end of the season when their contracts expire whilst remaining midfielders Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are both well into their 30s at this point, leaving just Fabinho as the most experienced player that will likely be part of the future in the centre of the pitch.

As a result, the signing of more than one high-quality midfielder will be imperative in their pursuit to improve and compete with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City domestically going forward.

One player who has been linked with a move to Merseyside this month is Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and after it was reported that Liverpool have cooled their interest in Moises Caicedo, he could be the dream alternative.

Over 16 Serie A appearances, the 26-year-old talent – hailed as “outstanding” by Joe Cole – has tallied up an impressive 90% pass completion rate and successfully completed 58% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 40.7 accurate passes, 1.1 tackles, 53.8 touches and 2.8 duels per game.

Not only that, the Moroccan international ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for passes attempted, pass completion and progressive passes, whilst ranking in the top 17% for blocks.

Amrabat’s ability to read games, offer good defensive traits and make incisive passes in the centre of the pitch made him one of the stand-out performers at the FIFA World Cup 2022 and clearly what helped him catch the eye of the recruitment and scouting team at Anfield.

With that being said, if Liverpool could acquire the services of Amrabat in their midfield recruitment drive it would be a major coup as he could be a valuable asset to Klopp in his pursuit to build the next generation of success.

Loris Karius could reportedly leave Newcastle United by Monday because of a clause in his contract.

The Lowdown: Karius signs

The 29-year-old was signed as a free agent on a short-term contract until January, with Eddie Howe praising him as a ‘very good goalkeeper’ upon his arrival on Tyneside.

However, the German is still played in the 2-1 loss at Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup last weekend after his loan spell at Manchester United ended recently.

The Latest: Could leave soon

As per Football Insider, Newcastle have until Monday 16 January to decide whether to extend or end Karius’ deal on Tyneside, due to a clause in his contract.

His future has been ‘complicated’ by the early return of Dubravka, which has left Howe with five senior goalkeepers in his squad.

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The Verdict: Let him go…

With Dubravka’s return, Newcastle simply have no need to keep Karius at the club, so they should just let him go.

Hailed as a ‘mentality monster’ by his agent Corey Anton for his mental recovery after making two howlers which cost Liverpool the Champions League final against Real Madrid in 2018, the German is still experienced at Premier League level.

However, the Magpies can also call upon the likes of Nick Pope and Karl Darlow alongside Dubravka to play in goal, so the 29-year-old is no longer needed.

He also earns £20,000 per week at St James’ Park, so losing him would also help to free up the wage bill slightly ahead of any potential January incomings.

Reports have claimed Emerson Royal looks set to leave Tottenham Hotspur after a training ground bust-up with a member of staff.

What’s the word?

The Brazilian has been disappointing for Spurs this season, receiving heavy criticism for his performances, and Tottenham fans may not be too displeased that he could leave the club.

The 23-year-old joined from Barcelona in the summer of 2021 but has been underwhelming for the majority of his Spurs career, with the defender booed as he entered the pitch as a substitute during his side’s 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa.

Prior to their weekend clash, Football Insider revealed that the wing-back is now out of favour following a disagreement on the training ground.

Royal was then left out of the starting XI against Villa in favour of Matt Doherty, while he was unused in their Boxing Day draw with Brentford.

The report said: “It is believed that Emerson has fallen out of favour with Spurs after being involved in a training ground disagreement with a member of the first-team coaching staff.

“Spurs will listen to offers for him and he is now more likely to leave than Doherty, who is expected to stay in light of recent events.

“The Londoners had targeted a new right wing-back even before the training ground row involving Emerson and the coach.”

An opportunity for Spence

If Emerson, who is rated at £31 million (CIES Football Observatory), does leave in January, it could mean that summer signing Djed Spence finally gets a chance to prove himself.

The Englishman has played just five minutes of Premier League football since his £20m move from Middlesbrough, and already deserved an opportunity given his strong form for Nottingham Forest last season.

If Spurs lose Emerson and struggle to find a replacement, Antonio Conte may be forced to give the 22-year-old game time, and if he plays well, he may be able to nail down a regular role in the team.