After Leeds failed in their bid for promotion last season, some of their star men have garnered interest from the top flight.
It’s been widely reported that Tottenham want to sign Jack Clarke, while Bournemouth and Norwich are reportedly interested in Kalvin Phillips.
Both players were brilliant last season, so it should come as no surprise that they are being looked at by Premier League clubs.
Another player who has been linked with a move away from Elland Road is Pontus Jansson. Years of good performances from the Swedish centre-back has led to many speculating that his time at the club is up.
The Whites will certainly struggle to hold onto all three of these players, but it’s hard to choose which individual would be the most important to keep.
Football FanCast’s writers have had their say as to which player of the trio should the men in charge at Elland Road be focused on keeping.
Billy Meyers
“The young prospect should always be prioritised, in my opinion, as they are the future of the club. Of course, Tottenham look likely to offer a fair chunk of cash for Clarke, but his value could more than double with another good season next year – the teenager should be Leeds’ main priority to keep hold of this summer.”
Luke Glanville
“If they can, Leeds United will want to keep all three as it’s hard to choose which one out of the trio is the most important to them. However, keeping the youngest in Clarke undoubtedly makes the most sense. As well as promotion back to the Premier League next season, the Whites need to be thinking about the future and can’t get too sucked in looking at the short-term. Clarke is one of the brightest prospects in English football and he is vital to Leeds’ lofty ambitions.”
Matt Dawson
“Out of the three men in question then Jansson should be the choice to depart Elland Road this summer. He’s one of the most enigmatic members of the Leeds squad and if an offer comes in they’d be doing the right thing by accepting it. However, Clarke is clearly the priority here. He is someone that the club can build their future around and simply has to be kept at all costs.”
Unai Emery’s men finished the season in fifth place and all of their Champions League eggs now sit in one basket; winning the Europa League.
The Gunners take on Chelsea in the final but, regardless of the result, the squad needs a major overhaul this summer.
Reports suggest that Emery will only have £40million to work with if they don’t qualify for Europe’s premier club competition, but who should the club keep around and who should they bin off in a bid to boost the coffers?
Football FanCast has taken a look…
[snack_break title=”Goalkeepers – Bernd Leno, Petr Cech, Dejan Iliev “]
Soccer Football – Premier League – Southampton v Arsenal – St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, Britain – December 16, 2018 Arsenal’s Bernd Leno looks dejected as he applauds the fans at the end of the match REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your accou
Bernd Leno – The best goalkeeper Arsenal have had in a really long time. Keep him.
Petr Cech – Already gone – retiring at the end of a distinguished career.
Dejan Iliev – Nobody knows. Keep him and play him in the Carabao Cup.
[snack_break title=”Full-backs – Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Sead Kolasinac, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Carl Jenkinson “]
Soccer Football – Premier League – Arsenal v Huddersfield Town – Emirates Stadium, London, Britain – December 8, 2018 Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin prepares to take a throw in REUTERS/Hannah McKay EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further
Hector Bellerin – The best defender Arsenal have but injuries have ravaged him this season. Keep him but wrap him up in cotton wool.
Nacho Monreal – Ageing but has another year on his contract. Sell him if a bid comes in.
Sead Kolasinac – Has struggled to nail down the left-back position and seems unsuited to the Premier League. Would be a wrench to sell him after such a short Gunners career but it makes sense if he can be replaced.
Stephan Lichtsteiner – He’s too old for the Premier League. Sell and replace.
Carl Jenkinson – Amazingly still on the books at the club. Sell him and give him the chance to reignite his career elsewhere.
Laurent Koscielny – The only defender to emerge from this season with any real credit. Keep him but ensure that a succession plan is put in place as he turns 34 in September.
Rob Holding – He does not appear good enough but he’s just 23. Keep him and hope he delivers on his long-held potential.
Shkodran Mustafi – An absolute disgrace of a defender, crowbar him out of the club.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – Loan him out and hope he gets the minutes he needs to improve; has looked out of his depth at times this season.
Sokratis – He’s not quite as good as Koscielny but he’s nowhere near as bad as Mustafi. Keep him.
[snack_break title=”Central midfielders – Mohamed Elneny, Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Joe Willock, Denis Suarez “]
Soccer Football – Premier League – Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Emirates Stadium, London, Britain – November 11, 2018 Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey reacts Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further
Mohamed Elneny – Sell him and bring in a defensive midfielder who can actually, you know, defend.
Aaron Ramsey – It’d make sense to write ‘keep him with bells on’ here, but he’s already gone after perhaps the worst transfer decision in the club’s recent history. Juventus will love him.
Granit Xhaka – He has shown signs of becoming the midfield general Arsenal thought they were signing this season and deserves another shot next season.
Lucas Torreira – A pleasingly effective terrier of a midfielder, keep him and give him some support in midfield.
Matteo Guendouzi – Perhaps the best signing the Gunners have made in recent years, given the fee and the context of his rise, Guendouzi has a high ceiling and should be kept.
Joe Willock – Loan him out and ensure he gets some minutes under his belt; sometimes cup competitions don’t cut it.
Denis Suarez – Already gone. A waste of a signing, he’s injured and he’s off. Bye.
[snack_break title=”Attacking midfielders and wingers – Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Danny Welbeck “]
Soccer Football – Europa League Semi Final First Leg – Arsenal v Valencia – Emirates Stadium, London, Britain – May 2, 2019 Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil looks dejected after Valencia’s Mouctar Diakhaby scored their first goal REUTERS/David Klein
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Played his part in perhaps the worst transfer in Premier League history, joining the Gunners as Alexis Sanchez went to Manchester United. Both teams lost; if a buyer can be found, sell him.
Mesut Ozil – His £350,000-per-week wages are an albatross around Arsenal’s neck. Sell and ensure no such luxury players are bought again.
Alex Iwobi – He’s got the raw talent to be a success. Give him another season and hope he starts to deliver.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – Nail down his best position and give him a run of games there; stop chopping and changing between playing him in defence and on the wing.
Danny Welbeck – Already gone with contract expiring. He doesn’t have the ability to score regularly and he’s too injury-prone.
[snack_break title=”Strikers – Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Eddie Nketiah “]
Alexandre Lacazette – Reports claim that Barcelona could come knocking this summer; if they do, extract a massive fee, sell and reinvest. If they don’t, hope he keeps banging them in next season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Keep him but teach him to score the gilt-edged chances as well as the difficult ones.
Eddie Nketiah – Promote him to the first-team and start playing him; his pace and finishing ability is frightening.
If Leeds are promoted (yes, we know), they’ll need firepower to keep them up, and if they’re not, they’ll need the same to keep excitement high. To that end, Reece Brown can replace Samu Saiz and keep the Marcelo Bielsa project alive.
Football Insider believe Samu Saiz will be rejected by his loan club Getafe this summer, so Leeds are looking elsewhere to make sure they get some money for the attacking midfielder. Indeed, the same outlet also believe Reece Brown could move in to replace him.
The 23-year-old has scored 10 goals and made 14 assists from 41 appearances for League Two outfit Forest Green this season. That’s a very impressive tally at the 5th-placed side, and it proves he can add more killer instinct to the Whites’ line-up next season.
He can play in attacking midfield or down the left or right flanks, and Bielsa will be excited about his flexibility. In his fluid system, players able to cover different positions allows for quicker, more successful attacks, so he seems like a perfect fit.
He’ll be available on a free this summer, so there’s little risk to the transfer at all. That means the club can spend more of their money on buying defenders, which is certainly an area they’ll need to improve in if they do go up or even if they are forced to try for promotion again next season.
If the report is right, and Leeds have made an approach for Brown, it’ll be a decision they won’t regret. Getting rid of dead wood and replacing it with young talent will stand them in good stead for next season.
Leeds fans, who do you think should start in Leeds’ midfield next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…
Liverpool may be dominant now, but if Jurgen Klopp neglects his duty and fails to rebuild for the future then he could find his side slumbering to the depths from which he dragged them.
Developing youth is an essential part of the programme. It helps develop a clubs identity, excites fans to the prospect of ‘one of their own’ ‘making it’ and has countless financial benefits – be that through selling players or saving in the market.
Liverpool, at the moment, have a lot of young talent making waves in the game, the likes of Ryan Kent and Harry Wilson, for example, are turning heads at their respective loan sides.
Then there is Ki-Jana Hoever, Bobby Duncan, Rhian Brewster and Rafael Camacho kicking about in the youth system – waiting for their big opportunity.
For the latter, Rafael Camacho, however, ‘pending star’ status may be the only thing he achieves at Anfield.
He’s produced nine goals and eight assists in all competitions for the Under-23s this season.
Indeed, despite Camacho being handed a club debut in Liverpool’s ill-fated FA Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers and a substitute appearance in the league, there appears to be no future in Merseyside for the Portugal under-20 winger, with contract negotiations reported to have stalled (as per Sky Sports).
To allow top class talent to so easily slip through the net is a major concern. If Liverpool are to win the Premier League this season, which is looking likely, Klopp will want to build on upon that success for years to come, but this simply will not be possible if he keeps throwing away his brightest young players.
Liverpool fans, should tying Rafael Camacho down to a new contract be your priority? Let us know in the comments below…
أكد كالوم هودسون أودوي لاعب فريق تشيلسي أنهم قدموا أداءً جيدًا في مباراة اليوم أمام كراسنودار الروسي، في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وتواجه الفريقان في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات، حيث فاز تشيلسي بأربعة أهداف دون رد.
وأحرز أودوي هدف كتيبة فرانك لامبارد الأول.
وقال أودوي، في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للبطولة: “لقد كانت مباراة رائعة بالنسبة لنا، بدأنا بشكل جيد، عملنا بجد منذ البداية واستحقينا أهدافنا بالنظر إلى الطريقة التي لعبنا بها”.
وأضاف: “لقد تطورنا في المباراة ونجحنا في استغلال فرصنا ودافعنا كفريق، وتقدمنا سويًا، نحن نستحق ما حصلنا عليه بشكل جماعي”.
واختتم: “أي هدف يأتي في طريقي أنا سعيد به، أريد أن أستمر في التحسن وأسجل المزيد من الأهداف وأقدم المزيد من التمريرات”.
Amid the era of Youtube highlight reels, FIFA ratings and ridiculous transfer fees, it’s incredibly easy for a player’s hype to spiral beyond all proportion, leaving reality in the rear-view mirror. And after a summer spending spree at West Ham, followed by notable improvement in performance, there’s an obvious danger in some of the stars at the London Stadium featuring a little too highly in our estimations.
So, Football FanCast’s writers have answered a curious question: Who is the most overrated player at West Ham? Check out their verdicts below…
James Beavis – Felipe Anderson
“It might be a controversial shout but he just doesn’t do enough for me given how much he cost West Ham in the summer. Yes, he has eight goals and four assists in 31 Premier League appearances in his debut season in England, but in his previous 12 top-flight outings he has produced just two assists. That simply isn’t good enough for a player of his quality given he started all of those games, and the fact he was taken off at half-time against Cardiff shows you all you need to know about how he is doing at the moment.”
Billy Meyers – Jack Wilshere
“Admittedly, the hype surrounding the England international has worn off over the years, but the fact that he is still as highly rated as he is – hence the Hammers’ decision to offer him a three-year contract – is baffling. Of course, he is a decent player, but his crippling injury problems should see his status reduced to that of merely a Premier League also-ran, unless he can prove his fitness.”
Jack Saville – Javier Hernandez
“He may not be the most widely praised or popular player at West Ham but the Little Pea has been stealing a living at the top level for years. The predatory instincts he offers are a useful weapon to have from the substitutes bench, but he doesn’t possess the complete skill set which strikers need to thrive in the Premier League. Pellegrini needs an upgrade to take the Hammers to the next level.”
Maddison? Wan-Bisakka? The Pl>ymaker FC squad name who they think were unfairly overlooked by Gareth Southgate for his latest England squad…
Christy Malyan – Mark Noble
“He’s not rated particularly highly but the point remains that if Mark Noble wasn’t West Ham through-and-through, he probably would be playing at a lower level. Relentless on his day and a clinical penalty taker, however those days have petered out somewhat in recent years and his passing has become increasingly passive. He’s great value and of course, every team needs players who embody the heart and sole of the club. But in terms of actual ability, sometimes it feels as though he’s being carried but those around him.”
[ad_pod ]Manchester United fans on Twitter are riled after Paul Pogba spoke of his admiration for Real Madrid in the media, saying that they are a ‘dream club for every player’.The France international has been at Old Trafford for three years now since returning to the club in 2016 for a then world-record fee of £89m, having been let go by the Red Devils in 2012 – Pogba ended up joining Juventus on a free transfer.Which “global superstar” has just been named Man Utd’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video above…Talk of the World Cup winner being unhappy in Manchester was rife towards the end of Jose Mourinho’s tenure in charge of the 20-time Premier League champions, and whilst he appears happier under the tutelage of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, that hasn’t stopped him flirting with the Spanish giants.Understandably, United fans aren’t too happy with the 26-year-old’s comments, especially at a time where it looks like the club is heading in the right direction under Solskjaer.Many have questioned his commitment to the cause, so let’s take a look at what some of the United fans on Twitter are saying about Pogba’s silly comments…
Crystal Palace face Leicester this weekend at the King Power Stadium and, having won their last three clashes with the Foxes without conceding a goal, Palace will be hoping that they can continue their unprecedented run of good results against the 2015/16 champions.
However, BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson, though, thinks that the game could be won or lost depending on whether one Leicester remains benched or not.
What did he say?
Discussing his predictions for the weekend’s round of football in his regular column, the former defender said:
“There always seems to be speculation over the future of Foxes boss Claude Puel, and he really needs to return to winning ways here.
“A lot depends on Puel’s line-up – and whether Jamie Vardy starts this time – but I actually quite fancy Leicester here.
“Crystal Palace are having a good run in the FA Cup and have taken five points from their past three games too.
“The Eagles have been playing quite well and creating loads of chances, but they are still hovering just above the relegation zone and they will have to be careful they don’t get sucked in.”
Lawrenson tipping Vardy to get Leicester back on form
As Lawrenson says, the Eagles have been putting in solid performances but their finishing needs to be far better if they are to fly away from the relegation zone. They will fancy themselves against the Foxes considering the results from their last few meetings and the possible absence of lynchpin James Maddison, but former England international Vardy will cause them problems should be given the nod.
In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…
The hitman was surprisingly left out of the starting XI in the 3-1 loss to Spurs last time out, with Demarai Gray deputising up front, but came on to score the consolation for his side. Selhurst Park outfit Palace will have to be wary of the 32-year-old’s pace if they are to get the win but also pray that their forwards’ finishing is as exemplary as Vardy’s typically is.
According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to offer Premier League strugglers Fulham £20 million to sign Ryan and Steven Sessegnon in the upcoming summer transfer window.
What’s the story?
Ryan Sessegnon has been in and out of the Cottagers’ starting XI this season. Last year, in the west London club’s promotion campaign from the Championship, the 18-year-old was an integral part of the side, scoring fifteen goals and racking up six assists over the course of the league season.
Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…
The left-sided starlet has failed to truly find his feet in the top flight so far though. However, his efforts to acclimatise to the Premier League have been hampered by Fulham’s wider issues on and off the pitch – which has led them to the their current position in the relegation zone.
Sessegnon’s twin brother, Steven, is also on the books at Craven Cottage. The right-back is highly-rated by the club’s academy staff, but is yet to make his Premier League bow.
A double steal
Whilst Ryan Sessegnon has struggled to really shine this season, the England under-21 international remains a hugely exciting talent. He certainly belongs at the top level, and should Fulham get relegated this season then there ought to be plenty of Premier League clubs interested in his services.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has already demonstrated his ability to aid the development of young English talent with Dele Alli and Harry Winks. Ryan Sessegnon could be the next man on the conveyor belt.
What’s more, the Fulham ace could also prove to be the answer to Spurs’ left-back woes. Ben Davies lacks attacking quality whilst Danny Rose is inconsistent and injury prone. If Sessegnon were able to mature defensively then he could become a key weapon in Pochettino’s arsenal.
His brother is also a talent and worth a punt, especially if he helps Ryan settle in north London. All in all, £20 million for the pair would have to be considered an absolute steal.