Our daily round-up of the latest news from clubs and players across the Premier League
Here is your daily briefing for the latest Premier League stories on Tuesday 12 May.
Guehi ‘an unbelievable signing’, says Pep
It is surely no coincidence that Manchester City’s end-of-season charge towards the title has come since Marc Guehi signed from Crystal Palace in January.
Man City are unbeaten in the Premier League since Guehi joined, winning nine and drawing four of their 13 games.
Although the 25-year-old had a moment to forget earlier this month when his backpass gifted Everton a goal in a costly 3-3 draw, Pep Guardiola has hailed Guehi’s overall influence as the centre-back prepares to face his former club Palace on Wednesday.”He is an incredible signing,” the Man City manager said. “He’s focused in every single detail in every game, in his private life, to be a professional. He is an unbelievable signing for this club.
“We are really pleased. He is behaving how we expected in moments, how we turn around immediately. That defines the big players at the big clubs.”
Palace have a significant role to play in the title race, facing second-placed Man City 11 days before hosting league leaders Arsenal on the final day.
If Man City and Arsenal both take maximum points between now and then, only two points would separate them going into the last game.Oliver Glasner’s side could be forgiven for having one eye on their UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano, which comes three days after hosting the Gunners. But Guardiola is confident they will give their all against the Gunners.
“I am sure they will do their best, knowing that they have the final three days later,” Guardiola said.
“They are so professional, the teams. Crystal Palace will play top. We saw Leeds yesterday against Spurs (a 1-1 draw), how even being out of the relegation battle… how they compete.”
De Zerbi hopes Leeds will also frustrate West Ham
Leeds’ battling display on Monday was also noteworthy for Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi.
Despite Leeds now being safe from relegation, they came from behind away from home to frustrate the north Londoners on Monday, with former Spurs defender Joe Rodon epitomising his side’s effort when he made a heroic block to deny Richarlison a crucial winner in the 15th minute of stoppage time.
It leaves Spurs just two points ahead of West Ham United in the fight to avoid the final relegation place – and Leeds visit West Ham on the final day.”In the end, I think we have to fight until the end of the season,” De Zerbi told Sky Sports. “Leeds played a good game. We hope they play like this against West Ham because it is right like this.
“We didn’t play well but fighting relegation is like this, you cannot play all games calm.”
Watch: How the relegation battle CHANGED in Spurs 1-1 LeedsWhite suffers ‘significant’ knee injury
Arsenal hope Ben White will be fit for pre-season after announcing the defender sustained a “significant” knee injury against West Ham on Sunday.White has damaged his medial knee ligament, ruling him out of Arsenal’s final two games as they chase a first Premier League title in 22 years and then prepare for the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.Given the nature of the injury, it looks highly unlikely White will be available for England at the FIFA World Cup. He had been recalled by England manager Thomas Tuchel for the March friendlies – his first involvement with the national team since the Qatar 2022 World Cup.An Arsenal statement said: “Our medical team are now managing Ben’s recovery and rehabilitation programme, with everyone fully focused on supporting the aim of Ben being ready for the start of our pre-season preparations.”
Defoe compares Rayan with Bale
“I’m going to make a big statement. He reminds me of Gareth Bale to be honest – he plays so effortlessly.”
It was the biggest of statements from Jermain Defoe, the former Spurs striker, comparing AFC Bournemouth’s 19-year-old forward Rayan to Premier League great Bale.
Defoe saw Bale’s rise first-hand at Spurs, where the Welshman won the EFL Cup and several Player of the Season awards before moving to Real Madrid and winning the UEFA Champions League five times.
“You get a lot of players, like [Lionel] Messi and [Eden] Hazard, who dribble with it close to their foot, but he (Rayan) knocks it out of his feet and gets onto it,” Defoe said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (MNF).
“He’s so dynamic, quick, strong. One v one he never turns it down – I love players like that. He comes inside, he’s efficient in front of goal. He’s been amazing. This is a kid that can go to the next level.”
The MNF analysts displayed Rayan’s season shot map. He has scored five goals from 25 shots – a mix of right-foot, left-foot and headers.Rayan, signed from Brazilian side Vasco da Gama in January, has scored in his last three Premier League games. Only three teenagers have scored in four successive matches: Robbie Fowler, Nicolas Anelka and Francis Jeffers.
Casemiro compares Fernandes with Modric
Rio Ferdinand picked Casemiro up from his house in a taxi and interviewed the Manchester United midfielder on the way to the club’s Carrington training ground in the latest episode of the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube show.
During the conversation, Casemiro discussed FWA Footballer of the Year Bruno Fernandes and compared his direct style with that of Luka Modric.
Casemiro played alongside midfielder Modric for nine years at Real Madrid, where they won five Champions Leagues and three LaLiga titles together.
“I love Bruno,” Casemiro said. “What I love about Bruno, he plays forward every time. Every time he kills the opposition team.
“I love this because sometimes you lose two or three goals but he looks forward all the time. I love Bruno’s game because of this. Every time, assist, pass, pass, pass, pass forward, pass forward.
“Luka, every time he turns, he plays forward. Every time. Turn, play it forward. You pass to him, he never controls it back.”
Ferdinand added that it reminded him of playing alongside Paul Scholes at Man Utd.
Omens good for Hull City as they target promotion
On Monday, Hull City became the first side to book their place in the Championship playoff final – and history suggests they have a strong chance of winning the match and earning promotion to the Premier League.
The Tigers have reached the final twice before and won both times through stunning long-range strikes.
In 2008 they beat Bristol City 1-0 thanks to Dean Windass’s volley from the edge of the box. They were relegated in their second Premier League season, returned after finishing second in 2012/13 and were relegated again in their second season back.
But they came straight back up via the playoffs, beating Sheffield Wednesday in the 2016 playoff final, again by only a single goal. Mohamed Diame scored the winner from even further out than Windass.
Hull’s story this season is even more remarkable considering they began the campaign under a transfer embargo.
Manager Sergej Jakirovic told the BBC ahead of the semi-final second leg against Millwall that anyone who said they would be this close to the Premier League would have been “crazy”.
Hull will face either Southampton or Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 23 May.
The Briefing: Pep hails Guehi, Rayan compared with Bale and more
