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• 'Super simple' – Lille president rules out January exit for Jonathan David

  Lille president Olivier Letang has categorically ruled out a January exit for forward Jonathan David amid links with a number of European clubs.

  David is out of contract at the end of the season and has been touted as a target for the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona.

  Speaking this week, the Canada international named Barcelona as his "dream" club but suggested he would prefer not to leave Lille mid-season.

  And in an interview with After Foot RMC, Letang confirmed no bids have yet been tabled ahead of the January window.

  "We are not going to sell him in January, and we have not received any offer for him," he said.

  "Jonathan's situation is super simple. We are very happy to have him with us. 

  "Last season he had one more year left on his contract. We were trying to qualify for the Champions League. 

  "You have a guy who scores 20 to 25 goals a season. We had no obligation to sell him."

  David is into his fifth season with Lille and has scored 97 goals in 202 games for the Ligue 1 side in all competitions while assisting a further 18.

  Seven of those goals have arrived in 11 appearances this term, including in Champions League games against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.

  The 24-year-old's best league season with Lille saw him score 24 goals in 2022-23, while he has netted 19, 15 and 13 in the other full campaigns.

  Lille chief Letang reiterated that David has been offered a new deal to stay on at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, but selling him has never been an option.

  "He is a player who scores between 20 and 25 goals and helps us qualify for the Champions League," he said. 

  "Plus, Jonathan loves Lille, which is his club. Our position was very clear from the beginning – we think of the athlete. 

  "Obviously, he already has an offer that is in his hands, the ball is in his court."

• Guardiola suggests Man City's recent form played part in signing new contract

  Pep Guardiola suggested Manchester City's run of four successive defeats was part of the reason for his contract extension.

  The 53-year-old recently signed a two-year deal, which will run out in 2027, ending months of speculation about his future after his contract had been due to run out at the end of the campaign.

  Following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton before the international break, Guardiola's side have lost each of their last four matches in all competitions for the first time in his managerial career.

  "I felt I could not leave now. Maybe the four defeats was why," he told the club's website.

  "I think we deserve, after four defeats in a row, to bounce back and try to turn the situation. I think we deserve to be here. I am not arrogant to say, but it's the truth."

  Guardiola has led Manchester City to 18 major trophies during his nine-year stint at the club and posted a 72% win ratio.

  He added that he was determined to help the club get back to a state where they are "more stable and more consistent".

  "We have to recover that because right now we don't have it and that's the target we have to do," he said.

  City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak added: "Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep's journey with Manchester City will continue, allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game.

  "His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club, and the English game at large."

• Silva expects Iwobi to hit new heights for in-form Fulham

  Fulham boss Marco Silva is counting on Alex Iwobi to provide his best-ever Premier League season as the Nigerian looks to continue his strong start to 2024-25 versus Wolves.

  Fulham signed off for the November international break with back-to-back wins over Brentford (2-1) and Crystal Palace (2-0) and currently sit seventh in the table.

  They are among a host of teams within distance of the Champions League spots, with Iwobi's performances a major factor in their strong start.

  He has two goals and two assists so far this term, and Silva believes he is in the form of his life.

  "For me, last season was the best season from him in the Premier League, in my opinion, and I'm sure that he's going to be better this season," Silva told Fulham's website.

  "It's the same thing that I've been saying to him.

  "I know him very well, I brought him to Everton, and when we got the chance to have him with us here at Fulham, it was a moment for us to go to sign him.

  "First, he is a really versatile player that can play in many, many positions, he can do many roles. I know where he's capable, where he feels that he can perform better.

  "He likes to be around in the middle of the pitch. But now he's playing more on the right, where he's capable, like he showed against Crystal Palace."

   

  Wolves, meanwhile, picked up their first victory of the season at the 11th attempt prior to the international break, beating Southampton 2-0 at Molineux.

  That result steadied the ship after coach Gary O'Neil had seen his position come under threat, and captain Mario Lemina thinks it will also provide a much-needed confidence boost.

   "It was really hard. We just believed since day one," Lemina told the club's media channels.

  "The whole city has been missing that sensation. To finish with this win, it's going to be good for our mental health. 

  "To be honest, we were sad for the fans, sad for the club, but now we can build from that and try to get back. We're really in a positive mentality."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Fulham – Alex Iwobi

  Only Dejan Kulusevski (25), Cole Palmer (25), and Bernardo Silva (23) have created more chances from open play in the Premier League this season than Iwobi (22).

  His expected assists total from open play of 2.9 xA is the second-highest in the competition, behind James Maddison (3.2), and he has scored more than twice as many Premier League goals against Wolves (five) than he has versus any other opponent.

  Wolves – Matheus Cunha

  Since the start of last season, only three players have been involved in a higher proportion of their side's goals in the Premier League than Wolves' Cunha (39%; 17 goals, nine assists).

  Furthermore, the Brazilian has netted in each of his last three away league games and has five goal involvements in his last five outings overall (three goals, two assists).

  MATCH PREDICTION – FULHAM WIN

  Fulham have won just one of their last eight Premier League games against Wolves (three draws, four losses), though it was in this exact fixture last season (3-2).

  However, Silva's men enter this match in excellent form, and they could win three successive Premier League games for the first time since a run of four victories in January 2023, which is the only time they have accomplished the feat since returning to the top flight in 2022.

  Wolves, meanwhile, have not won successive Premier League games since February last season and are winless in their last 11 away league matches, drawing four and losing seven while conceding 28 goals in that time.

  They have also lost seven of their last 10 Premier League matches in London including both such games this season versus Arsenal and Brentford (three wins).

  As well as Iwobi, Wolves will have to be particularly wary of their former striker Raul Jimenez. All six of his Premier League goal involvements this season (four goals, two assists) have put Fulham ahead, the best 100% rate managed in the competition so far this term.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Fulham – 54.8%

  Wolves – 22.2%

  Draw – 23%