EPL
Man City May Face Fresh Cole Palmer Dilemma as Pep Guardiola Receives Serious Warning
Pep Guardiola has been warned by former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit that Manchester City’s rising talent, Oscar Bobb, may follow in the footsteps of Cole Palmer by leaving the club if he doesn’t receive enough playing time.
Bobb, a promising Norwegian star, was poised to step into a bigger role following Julian Alvarez’s departure to Atletico Madrid in a £82 million move.
Alvarez, who netted 11 goals and contributed nine assists in the Premier League last season, left a gap in City’s attack that Bobb seemed ready to fill.
Earlier this year, Bobb signed a new contract with Manchester City and showed his potential during pre-season, even earning a starting spot in the Community Shield match against Manchester United.
However, just before the start of the season, the 21-year-old suffered a fractured leg during training, sidelining him for three to four months and putting a halt to his breakthrough opportunity.
Despite his injury, Arsenal legend Petit believes Bobb might still need to seek opportunities elsewhere once he’s back in action, drawing comparisons to Cole Palmer’s situation.
Palmer left City for Chelsea in a £42.5 million transfer after finding limited opportunities at the Etihad.
The move proved successful, with Palmer contributing 32 goal involvements and earning the PFA Young Player of the Year award in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking to TVKampen, Petit expressed concerns about Bobb’s future at City. “It’s a risk for Manchester City that Oscar Bobb will want to follow Cole Palmer out of the club, and that decision will come down to playing time,” Petit said. “This guy has shown great qualities on the pitch, but his injury has set him back. Guardiola will likely be patient with him, but if Bobb doesn’t get the minutes he desires, it could become a problem.”
Palmer, who joined City’s academy at eight years old, had long been considered one of the club’s brightest prospects.Despite flashes of brilliance and attempts by Guardiola to integrate him into the first team, Palmer sought consistent playing time, which he found after his move to Chelsea.
Bobb, who came through City’s academy after joining from Norwegian side Valerenga in 2019, similarly made his mark, scoring his first Premier League goal in January to seal a dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle. His efforts were rewarded with a contract extension until 2029.
Following the signing, Bobb expressed his willingness to remain patient, stating, “This is the best place for a young player. I’ve learned so much from Pep, the coaching staff, and my teammates. I’m happy to keep working hard every day and help the club achieve success. If I have to wait a bit longer for more playing time, I don’t mind.”
Real Madrid’s pursuit of Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies has been reinvigorated after a series of developments that suggest the Canadian defender’s future remains undecided. While Bayern had recently shown confidence in retaining Davies, Real Madrid has been given fresh hope of securing his signature.
Davies is unlikely to commit to any decision before January, allowing Real Madrid time to prepare an official contract offer.
According to Christian Falk via The Daily Briefing, Davies’ agent, Nedal Huoseh, was supposed to meet with Bayern officials in Munich.
However, the meeting was shifted to a virtual call, and Bayern’s Director of Football, Max Eberl, did not attend, reportedly frustrating Huoseh. This isn’t the first instance of strained relations between Bayern and Davies’ representative.
The next set of negotiations is now expected to happen in January. Although Bayern remains hopeful that Davies will sign a contract extension, Huoseh has scheduled meetings with both Manchester United and Real Madrid to review their offers.
Real Madrid’s current proposal is similar to Bayern’s, which could give Manchester United an edge if they table a significantly better offer. Despite Bayern’s push for a swift resolution, it appears the situation will extend into the new year.
Mo Salah has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for November, solidifying his status as one of the league’s top performers.
The Liverpool star outshone rivals Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Ryan Gravenberch, Martin Ødegaard, João Pedro, Bukayo Saka, and Yoane Wissa to clinch the award.
In November, Salah played a crucial role in Liverpool’s success, contributing to five of the team’s seven goals through either scoring or assisting.
His contributions helped the Reds secure victories in all three matches, keeping them at the top of the Premier League table.
This marks the sixth time in his career that Salah has claimed the Player of the Month honor.
He now stands alongside football icons Steven Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time rankings. Salah is just one award away from matching the joint record of seven, currently held by Harry Kane and Sergio Agüero.
William Saliba has significantly boosted Arsenal by committing his future to the club. The French defender has been pivotal to Mikel Arteta’s squad since cementing his place in the starting lineup during the 2022-23 season.
At just 23 years old, Saliba has already surpassed 100 appearances for the Gunners and has featured in 13 Premier League matches this season as Arsenal chase the title.
His standout performances have reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants identifying him as a key transfer target.
Despite the speculation, Saliba, who is under contract until 2027, made it clear that he feels “at home” at Arsenal and has no intention of leaving.
When asked about his future, he told The Mirror: “Yeah, of course, I feel at home. I signed for the club five years ago, but this is only my third season, and I’m enjoying everything — the players, the staff, and the fans. I feel at home, so of course, why not?”
Saliba’s consistent form has earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year for the past two seasons.
His defensive contributions have been crucial to Arsenal’s success, helping the team maintain the second-best defensive record in the league with just 14 goals conceded in 14 games. Only league leaders Liverpool have a better record, with 11 goals conceded.
Even though Arsenal trail Liverpool by seven points, Saliba remains confident that the gap can be closed. “Everything is possible,” he said. “The season is very long, and we’ve experienced that in the past two years. We just have to focus on ourselves. It’s still only December, so a lot of things can happen.”
Saliba was instrumental in Arsenal’s recent 2-0 win over Manchester United, scoring a crucial second goal that helped narrow the gap to Liverpool.
The Gunners now aim to build on that momentum when they face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, seeking to avenge last season’s defeat at the same venue.
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