Forming part of the Lionel Messi circus at Inter Miami is “fun”, says Robert Taylor, with added attention embraced by the Argentine’s club colleagues.
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Some West Ham United fans have been left delighted as a transfer update emerged on Duje Caleta-Car.
As per The Athletic, the East London club are set to re-enter in the race to sign the Marseille central defender once the summer transfer window opens.
Although David Moyes’ team were very impressive in the Premier League in the 2020/21 term, finishing in sixth spot, they conceded no fewer than 47 goals in total, which was more than Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion, who all finished below them in the table (BBC Sport).
Thus, a new centre-back will be needed in order to bolster the defence, especially given that they will be playing in the UEFA Europa League as well.
Caleta-Car could well fit the bill, given his monster six-foot-three frame, which would be useful in both boxes in the top flight and in Europe, as well as coming off the back of an impressive Ligue 1 season in which he won 3.7 of his duels per match and averaged an impressive 3.9 clearances and 1.3 interceptions per game too (Sofascore).
Nonetheless, he is certainly a player that some members of the London Stadium faithful seemingly want to see come through the door.
These Hammers supporters raved as the transfer update was shared on Twitter (via West Ham Central):
“This would be great if we can get it done for £25 million like we was close to before”
Credit: @Irons_Stuff
“I’m on my knees”
Credit: @1bbyWHU
“YESSSSSSSSS”
Credit: @whujoe
“Oooooh yes”
Credit: @_ghzst
“Him and Milenkovic would be a class window”
Credit: @JamieWHU__
“Vroom, vroom, get in me Car!!”
Credit: @whuamen
In other news, find out what transfer update has left Irons buzzing here!
Manchester United have been handed a double injury blow ahead of tonight’s Premier League clash with Liverpool…
The Red Devils will play their third game of four this week when they host the 2019/20 title winners at Old Trafford in this rearranged encounter and it could prove to be an intriguing affair.
United have all but cemented second place once again but will not want to lose to their arch-rivals, whilst the Reds need a victory to bolster their top-four claims.
Ahead of kick-off, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed to MUTV he would be without two key players in skipper Harry Maguire and winger Daniel James.
On Maguire, he said: “He’s obviously had the scans and the good news is there is no fracture. [There is] ligament damage but hopefully we will see him again this season. Hopefully, he’ll be ready for the [Europa League] final.”
And on James, he added: “Dan James is not available. He’s still out for a little while.”
Clinching all three points is imperative for Liverpool this evening and the Manchester giants will want to cause an upset in their rival’s quest to qualify for the Champions League.
Solskjaer certainly showed his intentions on Tuesday night, near enough rotating his entire XI against Leicester City, so we’re expecting a strong line-up here. Whilst their defeat meant that City were crowned champions this season.
However, with games on Tuesday, Sunday and then again on Wednesday, Solskjaer may be a little gutted that he cannot keep rotating in key areas.
In the absence of Maguire, the 48-year-old boss only really has Axel Tuanzebe to come in with Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof likely first-choice options, and United already lack an out-and-out right-winger, so to not have James is another gutting blow.
Of course, the Manchester side have very little to play for in the Premier League but they will also want to build momentum heading into that crucial Europa League final, where Solskjaer could win his first-ever trophy at the club.
He will certainly be sweating on the fitness of these two players heading into that final, with it not certain that either will make it. It would be a gutting blow to not have either available against Villarreal in ten days time.
AND in other news, Exclusive: Pundit claims Man Utd youngster can be the best in the world…
Many Liverpool fans have been buzzing over a transfer update on Yves Bissouma as Sunday World have reported that talks are underway to sign him.
As per the news outlet, sources close to Brighton and Hove Albion have said that the player and his advisers are aware of the interest coming from the Anfield faithful, with a potential £35m deal believed to be discussed.
Bissouma certainly fits Jurgen Klopp’s profile of central midfielder with the energy and athleticism that he offers from the middle of the park, and he has outperformed several Reds players in key aspects of that position so far in the Premier League this season.
The Mali international has averaged more tackles (2.8), interceptions (1.7), shots (1.2) and dribbles (1.5) per game than Gini Wijnaldum, Fabinho and Thiago (Whoscored), and at just 24 years of age, he should only get better over the next few years.
These Kopites were buzzing upon reading the transfer update after it was shared on Twitter, with one Liverpool supporter believing that a £35m deal for Bissouma would be a ‘bargain’:
“Please man please”
Credit: @lfcarish
“Take him all day me.”
Credit: @jaytaylor1892
“Music to my ears.”
Credit: @Abyss90709335
“LET’S GOOO”
Credit: @thebeckerstyle
“Get it done”
Credit: @declanwhitaker
“Bargain if that’s true”
Credit: @lewieblue
In other news, find out which Liverpool ace could leave Anfield after news of transfer talks emerged.
A journalist has claimed that Newcastle United are ‘ready’ to change manager, with Gennaro Gattuso named as a potential successor to Steve Bruce.
Writing in his latest piece for Calciomercato, Marco Giordano has claimed that both the St. James’ Park faithful and Wolves are looking to bring a new coach into their respective clubs, with the North East club’s interest in Gattuso only just coming into fruition.
While Bruce’s time on Tyneside could be up in the eyes of some members of the Toon Army, the Magpies should be wary over appointing Gattuso should the former end up leaving.
There is no doubt that the 43-year-old had a glittering playing career, in which he won the FIFA World Cup with Italy and two UEFA Champions League titles with AC Milan to name just a few major honours (Transfermarkt).
However, his time as a manager has not always been successful, having being sacked at both FC Sion and Palermo as well as underwhelming spells at Milan and his current club Napoli, with the latter currently at risk of failing to qualify for the UCL as they sit outside of the qualification spots at the moment.
Although a change of boss may be the way forward at NUFC, perhaps they should think twice before moving for a maverick like Gattuso.
In other news, find out which Magpie Liam Kennedy has slammed for his displays so far this season here!
Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, ex-Sheffield United striker Brian Deane is worried those in charge at his old club could target a big name in their manager search just to divert pressure.
The Blades are currently being linked with John Terry following Chris Wilder’s departure last month despite the Chelsea legend having no managerial experience.
Terry’s only experience in a dugout has come in his current role as Aston Villa assistant head coach, meaning Sheffield United have no track record to go off.
Considering that, Deane is unconvinced about appointing Terry, suggesting that Prince Abdullah and the rest of the decision makers at Bramall Lane may just want to bring in a big name so that all of the pressure is on them, rather than the board and owners.
On the links to the former England captain, Deane told FFC:
“I think you need to be very careful when you start handing out these jobs, and it’s a big job, by the way. Sometimes I’ve seen it where, you know, owners give these big names the jobs to take the heat off themselves. ‘Ok, I’ve given somebody the job. He can take that on board; he is somebody who is used to performing at the top level.’ “
With Sheffield United’s relegation officially confirmed following their recent 1-0 defeat to Wolves, the Yorkshire club can now put all of their efforts into finding a new manager, although they received a rare 2020/21 boost following their victory against Brighton and Hove Albion across the weekend.
Liverpool are back in Premier League action tonight as they tackle Leeds United at Elland Road.
The match takes place on the backdrop of the huge news revolving around the European Super League proposals but Jurgen Klopp will certainly be attempting to keep the Reds focused on their task to earn a position in the top-four following their elimination in the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.
How many changes could the German be tempted to make for the trip to Yorkshire?
We are expecting as many as three alterations for Klopp tonight.
Despite that, there will not be any in the defence where Alisson will once again be shielded by the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ozan Kabak, Nathaniel Phillips and Andrew Robertson.
There will, however, be two changes in the centre of the park.
Fabinho will retain his spot just in front of the backline but will have different colleagues to look out for. Due to the quick turnaround, James Milner and the £90k per week Georginio Wijnaldum could well drop out.
This would usually have given Thiago Alcantara an opportunity to start. However, with the Spaniard having not yet registered a goal or an assist for the Reds since a summer move, it would possibly be better to reintroduce Curtis Jones who has eight direct goal contributions to his name this season.
Meanwhile, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has not started in the Premier League since mid-January, could also potentially be introduced for a more attacking threat.
Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino could well remain in the starting line-up but Sadio Mane surely has to be benched having not scored in any of his last nine Premier League games.
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He could once again be replaced by Diogo Jota.
AND in more news, read about how Liverpool’s decision to sign up for the European Super League has betrayed Jurgen Klopp…
Leeds United defender Gaetano Berardi’s time at Elland Road will come to an end this summer, according to The Athletic‘s Phil Hay.
The once-capped Switzerland international joined the Whites back in 2014, arriving from Sampdoria for an undisclosed fee.
Berardi has gone on to make a total of 155 appearances for Leeds, performing solidly in that time and being more of a regular during his early years at the club.
Under Marcelo Bielsa, however, the 32-year-old has featured far less and he is now coming to the end of the one-year contract extension he signed last October.
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The reliable Hay confirmed that he doesn’t expect Leeds to retain Berardi’s services beyond this summer, such is the depth now at Bielsa’s disposal:
“And I won’t be surprised if Gaetano Berardi leaves at the end of his latest contract too.”
Hay continued to explain that the Whites are very well covered at centre-back, and thus it makes perfect sense for the club to move Berardi on, getting him off the club’s wage bill and freeing up funds for potential reinforcements to come in.
He is currently on approximately £32,ooo per week (the fifth highest paid player in the squad), and considering he suffered an ACL injury last summer, he is unlikely to fully return the same player again.
Leeds have moved on without Berardi and should now be looking at younger players who can help take the team forward in the long-term – perhaps another striker given the rumours surrounding Rodrigo’s future.
In other news, a former Leeds star has given his take on the Whites’ summer transfer budget. Read more here.
Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, ex-Celtic striker Frank McAvennie said he believes Celtic have missed a trick by not playing “best finisher at the club” Leigh Griffiths more often this season.
The former Scottish striker has been restricted to a bit-part role at Celtic Park this term, starting just seven Scottish Premiership matches, and hasn’t been included in the XI since January.
Despite his lack of opportunities under both Neil Lennon and now John Kennedy, Griffiths has still chipped in with six goals and two assists in all competitions, in under 750 minutes of action.
And his lack of game-time has led to speculation surrounding his future – with Aberdeen, who’ve recently signed Scott Brown on a player-coach role, interested in making a double-swoop in order to bring Griffiths to the North of Scotland.
The former Wolves and Hibs striker has been an outstanding servant to Celtic, scoring more than 100 goals in his eight seasons in Glasgow, but has under 14 months remaining on his contract with the Hoops, which could lead to a summer departure.
And given his goalscoring prowess, McAvennie believes that Griffiths has been unused this season. He told Football FanCast:
“I look at him and think, he’s the best striker at Celtic. At the moment he’s better than Edouard, finishing I mean, he’s the best finisher at the club. You give him a chance and he’ll put it away, that’s what he does.
“I’d have played Griffiths, I’d have stuck with it. I don’t get this in the modern day game, people saying he’s not fit. I’ve heard John Kennedy saying he’s not fit, Neil Lennon saying he’s not, that’s on you, you’re the manager. What are all these fitness coaches getting paid for?”
It’s been a difficult campaign for Celtic, but with Odsonne Edouard the only player to reach double figures in the league, they might have missed a trick by not playing Griffiths slightly more.
Leeds must win the race to sign Crystal Palace star Patrick van Aanholt in this summer transfer window amid reports linking him with a move elsewhere.
Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side have got their eye on signing the Dutchman on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.
However, Football Insider now claim that Galatasaray have offered a contract to Van Aanholt as they look to beat the Whites to his signing, with the Turkish giants also the team who have supposedly agreed a deal to land Leeds’ Gjanni Alioski.
Van Aanholt is battle-hardened in English football, having played 209 times in the Premier League, and would surely be more of a guarantee in terms of hitting the ground running at Elland Road.
His more attacking style of play as a left-back is also right up Bielsa’s wheelhouse, with Gus Poyet, his former manager at Sunderland, saying: “You need to be really on top of him for his defensive duties and maybe have people around who can help him to maintain the mentality you need to defend. He’s a very offensive full back. He has an explosive ability to go forward and help the team to create chances.
“I would say use him as much as you can on the offensive side, and convince him to help with his defensive duties. But that’s his character. It is what it is. We can’t change that and he can’t be a different player than he is.”
The £55,000-a-week earning Dutchman would be a shrewd signing for Leeds given his Premier League experience and the fact he would arrive as a free agent once his contract expires.
It’s a deal which Victor Orta and co should be all over.
Meanwhile, Leeds must surely rue letting this star leave…