All posts by h716a5.icu

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According to The Daily Mail, Garry Monk has become the leading candidate for the West Brom job next season with James Shan only set to be in charge until the end of the current campaign.

What’s the word?

Although the managerial debacle that faced West Brom has been put to bed for the time being, it won’t be long before it becomes the centre of everyone’s attention at the Hawthorns again.

In March, Darren Moore was dismissed from his position, before the club then failed to land two targets in Slavisa Jokanovic and Alex Neil.

It didn’t ever seem like the Baggies board had a proper plan in place, and as such, caretaker boss Shan was given the reins.

However, he’s done an impressive job so far, negotiating choppy waters to steady the ship, winning six out of his nine games in charge.

But Birmingham manager Monk could be about to make a controversial switch from their Midlands rivals, per The Daily Mail. He has been revealed as the leading candidate to take over permanently, regardless of whether Albion achieve promotion.

Not a long term answer

West Brom need managerial stability. In recent years they’ve had plenty of short term appointments, which never seem to end well.

Monk is a fantastic manager at Championship level but the 40-year-old doesn’t stick around for too long. He’s never been at a club for longer than a season, departing Swansea, Middlesbrough and Leeds in pretty quick time.

As a result, there’s no guarantee he stay for the long haul at Albion, particularly if they went up and were to fail in the Premier League.

Was Darren Moore’s sacking unfair? The Pl>ymaker FC squad name which Championship bosses should have gone instead in the video below…

If West Brom achieve promotion then they’ll likely need someone who’s previously done well in the top-flight. Meanwhile, if they fail to go up, then Monk would only represent a short term fix.

Shan has offered stability in his short term in charge of the club so far and there isn’t too much to suggest that Monk would do a better job.

Although he was able to resolve Birmingham’s problems before a points deduction, his potential appointment would show a distinct lack of ambition from the hierarchy at the Hawthorns. They must look elsewhere.

Look away now Leeds fans: Manchester United are apparently favourites to sign Swansea prodigy Daniel James

According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United have emerged as frontrunners to land Swansea and Wales prospect Daniel James, a man Leeds United vehemently chased in the previous transfer window.

The winger saw a deadline-day move collapse at the last in January when Swansea got cold, leaving Leeds United hanging out to dry.

He has since continued his form and any hopes of a return bid have been slashed by incoming interest from Premier League clubs Manchester United and Liverpool, both of whom arguably possess greater pulling power (at least on paper) than Leeds – though we would question the sanity of anyone willing to go to Old Trafford at the moment.

It is no surprise that United have joined the party given James’ immense talents, as a versatile, pacey winger – he is the classic style of player the club have modelled their success on for years (until recently, of course).

With just one year left on his contract at the end of the season he is valued at around £10million.

Manchester United legend and current Wales manager Ryan Giggs said: ‘He’s a talent. When you’ve got that raw pace, you’re a threat at any level so as a winger, obviously for me playing as a winger, when I was younger, you then have to develop the other parts of your game which I feel he is doing.

‘He’s played up front as well which will help him because that gives you an appreciation of what you need to do.’

Given just how many injuries Leeds United have faced this season and the ineptitude of their current forwards, who often go missing, it would be a disaster if James linked up with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this summer instead of Bielsa.

After the automatic promotion collapse to Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United, too, it’s not hard to imagine Whites fans thinking the end to this campaign couldn’t get much worse.

With Jack Harrison departing and young Jack Clarke not yet ready to take on a full season, though he is close, Leeds are desperately short of viable options on the wing. Manchester United, on the other hand, are not.

A bitter pill to swallow.

Leeds fans, would you like to see Bielsa go all out for James’ signature? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish led his side to the Championship play-off final with another impressive display as his team beat West Bromwich Albion on penalties on Tuesday night, and while some West Ham United supporters would love to sign the midfielder, not everyone is convinced.

The 24-year-old has undoubtedly been of the Midlands outfit’s key players in their run to Wembley, with his return from injury earlier in 2019 proving to be the catalyst for the remarkable run of form that saw Dean Smith’s men clinch what, at one stage, looked to be an unattainable top-six finish.

Grealish’s quick feet and his dribbling ability are one of the main reasons he has been the most fouled player in England football this term, while he has proven time and time again that he can make a real impact in the final third for his side.

Should a move – which would surely be more likely if Villa don’t go up – be pulled off by David Sullivan and David Gold, the midfielder would likely be competing with the likes of Mark Noble and Manuel Lanzini for a spot in Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI.

While some Irons fans would like to see the signing with one saying “I would love Jack Grealish at West Ham”, another isn’t sure after describing him as a “class A Sullivan signing”.

West Ham ruined Arsenal’s unbeaten record at the Emirates in 2007 and history repeated itself at the weekend. Spurs fans don’t take it well in the video below…

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

But not everyone is convinced…

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Speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan has highlighted the one signing Leeds United need to prioritise above all others this summer.

The BBC Radio Leeds pundit has claimed that above any possible moves in the transfer market the Whites must keep Marcelo Bielsa at the club.

What’s been said then?

Amongst all the speculation that the former Marseille boss is set to leave Elland Road Whelan has said that his former club need to tie their manager down.

“If Leeds can get Bielsa to stay for one more season that would be the best signing of the summer.

“The way he goes about his job and gets the best out of the players at his disposal, the attractiveness of the playing style, he leaves no corner unturned.

“His first season was a great effort, no doubt about that and I’m sure he has learned a lot from it that would hold him in good stead if he returns.

“If we can get a deal over the line that is absolutely key. It’s been difficult for the club and Mr Bielsa to make plans because we don’t know what league we’re going to be in next season. Keeping Bielsa will put a lot of the players’ minds at ease.”

Statement of intent

The 44-year-old has never been more right when talking about United.

What the Argentine brings to the team couldn’t be replaced by any potential signing this summer, and therefore keeping him at the club must be Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani’s priority.

Tying the 63-year-old down to a new contract amidst interest from Roma, Girona and Celta Vigo would not only benefit them on the pitch next season, but it would act as a statement of intent that could entice new signings to Elland Road.

For Leeds to beat out these European clubs for Bielsa’s signature shows that they are serious about getting back into the Premier League, and perhaps that would encourage other players to join the Yorkshire outfit.

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Loads of Manchester United fans are fuming at some comments from Marcos Rojo, which seem to suggest Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to keep the defender at the club.

It was a truly horrific end to the season for the Red Devils, and while their inability to create chances from open play was well documented, there’s no question the defence was the biggest weakness.

Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young and David De Gea all endured some extremely poor form to end the campaign, while Rojo returned from injury to play a small role in the catastrophic climax to the season.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

And yet, it appears the injury-prone, mistake-laden jack-of-all-trades but master of none will be kept at Old Trafford for at least another season.

“For now, I continue at United,” he told El Dia, as translated by Sport Witness.

“I spoke to the manager before the holidays and about what he planned to do with me. He told me that he had me in mind, that I was an important player, that he was going to take me into account.”

The 29 year-old started just two Premier League games this season, and United fans can’t quite believe the gaffer is intent on keeping him.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

What a damn shame it is that Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not be playing any part in the Europa League final for Arsenal! A real travesty!

In what will be the club’s biggest game of the season, it is really disappointing to see that a player cannot play because of external factors and not because of footballing reasons.

It’s even more disconcerting as it may have been the last match that fans would have been able to see of Mkhitaryan in an Arsenal shirt if the latest reports hold any truth to them.

The Sun are running with a claim that the Armenian international could be sold this summer by Unai Emery as the club do not feel that he will ever reach his full potential in the Premier League.

And, despite the whole saga regarding next week’s clash against Chelsea, it is actually quite hard to argue against the idea that the Gunners might actually be prepared to wave goodbye to him.

Mkhitaryan has hardly set the Emirates Stadium alight with his performances; in fact, he has left fans disappointed with his performances on numerous outings.

Valued at £27million by Transfermarkt, the 30-year-old has only managed six goals and seven assists in his 39 matches across all competitions this season; figures that might not be worth shouting too much about when people truly know how talented you are and what you are actually capable of achieving.

And, selling him in the summer would actually go as far as benefitting Arsenal and Emery.

The Gunners should ideally receive an attractive transfer fee for his services, whilst they would also be able to get his huge wages off their books, freeing more money up in the process.

Those extra funds would then be able to go towards improving the squad further, which could allow for the Gunners to compete in the Premier League and look to finally win Champions League football via the top-four route instead of having to hang their hopes on the Europa League and start to invest in their squad for the future.

With everything that has gone on recently regarding Mkhitaryan, it would be upsetting to see him go and not give him the chance to say a proper goodbye, however, for the sake of the club and their future, offloading him this summer would be a smart move by Emery and co.

Arsenal fans, what do you think? Should the club look to offload Mkhitaryan this summer? Let us know below!

Forgive and forget. That is going to have to be the slogan for Southampton fans after what was a below average season from the Saints. But with Ralph Hasenhüttl at the helm from the very beginning, it is time to look forward for a new Premier League season and hope that his energy will be installed into every player at the club from the first whistle.

Of course, it’s going to be a dream scenario for you Southampton fans to have Hasenhüttl starting a pre-season with this side.

But can he actually fix everything before the start of the new campaign?

Here we are going to take a look at a couple of players we feel will struggle under the Austrian next term.

Charlie Austin 

After making 25 appearances in the Premier League this season, Charlie Austin as well as the fans would have expected a lot more from the English striker. Only managing to score two goals in that time has led many to rightfully think that if Southampton want to move forward, they must ship out Austin.

With Danny Ings coming back into the side, following his permanent move from Liverpool, Austin will only find it more difficult to get back into the starting XI, especially if his compatriot hits the ground running at the start of next season.

Maya Yoshida 

It really does look like it is the end for a lot of the older Southampton players. After making only 17 appearances in the league this season, Maya Yoshida has seen multiple new central defenders come into the side and impress Hasenhüttl.

It really would bring no surprise if we are to see the 30-year-old want a move away from St. Marys, as it is going to be a long and hard campaign should he end up staying. It really is hard to tell as to whether the Japanese defender will even make the Saints’ bench going forward.

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Per a report from Football Insider, Aston Villa are planning a swoop for Chelsea man Todd Kane.

What’s the word?

At the age of 25 it’s remarkable that Kane is still on Chelsea’s books. The right back has never really been able to get a look-in as a combination of injury and indifferent loan spells have led to a stuttering career.

Kane spent last season on loan at Hull where he impressed in what was his first full season in English football. And he could now finally make a permanent switch away from the Blues after eight different loan spells.

Football Insider suggest that newly promoted Villa are planning a swoop on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.

Danger for Elmohamady?

After Dean Smith released Micah Richards and Alan Hutton it’s no surprise to see another body in that position potentially arriving.

Yet after the imminent arrival of Frederic Guilbert, who signed in January before heading to Caen on loan, it could spell the end of Ahmed Elmohamady as a permanent fixture in the team.

The Egyptian was crucial for the Villans last season, claiming eight assists from both right midfield and further back in defence. He played a pivotal hand in the play-off final too, laying on the opening goal for Anwar El Ghazi.

Elmohamady has been the victim of two relegations from the Premier League with Hull but his experience of the top-flight could be key next season.

However, with the possibility of Kane arriving it could force him out of the team. The former Oxford United loanee is extremely versatile, possessing the ability to play further up the field on both wings, as well as in a right back position.

“Finding a Lionel Messi in Sheffield… bit of a tall order!” – Watch Championship fans attempt to name their clubs’ Messi in the video below…

Although playing predominantly on the left hand side of midfield when he has been favoured in attacking areas, he also featured on the right wing on multiple occasions in 2018/19. As well as that he played 25 times as a full-back.

In comparison, Villa’s current number 27 can play also play on the right of midfield, a role he made 13 starts in last term.

Bearing that in mind, it’s easy to view Kane’s transfer as a potential like-for-like replacement for Elmohamady. With Guilbert also returning, the Egypt international’s place in the side will be in danger.

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It would be nothing short of elitism to suggest that Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson needs to move on this summer in order to fully realise his ambitions.

After all the Cherries striker is doing pretty well at Dean Court thank you very much, scoring for fun and establishing himself in the England set-up after finally freeing himself of two exceedingly cruel long-term injuries. The 27-year-old found the net on 14 occasions last season in the Premier League and, back in November, scored on his international debut in front of a suitably impressed Wembley crowd.

Yet there are levels, there are always levels and this week it was apparent that the next one on Wilson’s ascendancy was beyond him through absolutely no fault of his own. In Guimaraes on Thursday evening, the Three Lions were a goal down in extra-time in their Nations League semi-final against Holland. Excluding goalkeepers Gareth Southgate’s options on the bench – with one sub still permitted – were two full-backs, two centre-backs, a holding midfielder, Dele Alli, and a proven finisher who scored just three shy of Harry Kane this term – after similarly missing a chunk of the campaign to injury – yet made more than double the number of assists.

With Twitter perplexed Southgate plumped for Alli.

Would Wilson have been chosen if he had scored those 14 goals for Tottenham? To answer is to indulge in speculation but instinct tells us that the answer lies somewhere between probably and hell yes, and that is surely the conclusion Callum Wilson and his agent will also come to in the weeks ahead.

In March the Mail reported that the Toffees had joined Leicester and the Hammers in a £40m chase for the pacey forward. That trail has long gone cold. In May The Sun coupled Wilson with David Brooks in a purported ‘£80m double swoop’ being prepared by Tottenham.

There were no follow-ups from elsewhere. Even a Bournemouth fan-site admitted last month that their star player would likely be the subject of much interest over the summer.

Yet so far, there has been very little indeed. It surprises then, given his home-grown status and demonstrated ability to trouble top six defences last term – Wilson notched poacher-fashion against Manchester United and scored at the Etihad to boot – that his name so rarely appears in the transfer rumour maelstrom that is presently in over-drive.

A player of his ilk is an invaluable, highly sought-after commodity and more so a case can be made for several leading clubs needing him quite badly. Spurs are likely to seek cover for Kane with Fernando Llorente on his way out of the club. It has long been noted that Everton and West Ham could jump into European contention should they finally nail a leading man. Manchester United seemingly remain dissatisfied with Romelu Lukaku, yet Wilson’s credentials to replace him are seldom if ever touted in the media.

Instead, the usual big-name foreign fare has been trotted out, and for three times the fee that could conceivably snag a player who has numerous advantages over them.

It would be a welcome development if the south coast outfit can retain their biggest talent. It’s odd, however, that the battle to do so has been straightforward so far.

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Just the one signing has been made so far by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United, but several more are anticipated before the transfer window slams shut on August 8th as the Norwegian aims to close the gap to the top four. Today’s United transfer roundup includes an update on a potential deal for a Premier League defender, a new contract for a star player and a new contract offer for a want away midfielder.

West Ham want Martial for Diop

The Independent is reporting that West Ham are demanding Anthony Martial be included in a deal for centre-back Issa Diop. So far, the Hammers have not shown willingness to sell their 22-year-old player, but that may change if the Red Devils would allow Martial to go the other way.

Rashford to commit future to United

Marcus Rashford is set to sign a new long-term contract at Old Trafford according to the Times. Negotiations are nearing completion says the report, with the 21-year-old keen to help inspire a drastic change in fortunes for the Old Trafford club.

Red Devils to offer Pogba new contract

Despite Paul Pogba having already expressed a desire to move away from the club this summer, United are preparing to offer the Frenchman a whopping £500,000-a-week contract to persuade him to stay according to the Daily Mail. This would be a weekly rise of £210,000. Pogba has two years left on his current deal.