Ahead of the huge clash between Manchester United and Liverpool, we asked you who Jose Mourinho should start at left-back for the game between second and third in the Premier League.
With Daley Blind injured and Matteo Darmian having fallen far down the pecking order, the two men in the frame to be tasked with stopping Reds flier Mo Salah are Luke Shaw and Ashley Young.
The more experienced Young is not a natural full-back but has been getting the nod in recent weeks, despite Mourinho calling Shaw one of the best in the world in his position in January.
The former Southampton man – valued at £13.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk – made a cameo appearance as United eventually overcame Crystal Palace 3-2 on Monday night, replacing Young who had endured a poor match.
The majority of United fans want Shaw to get the nod from the start and be given the hugely important task of keeping Salah quiet while also overlapping Alexis Sanchez when he comes inside.
Indeed, 80% of Red Devils fans want to see the 22-year-old on the pitch from the off tomorrow and you can check out the results of our poll in full below…
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Leeds United announced on Wednesday that Bobby Kamwa had signed his first professional contract with the Championship club.
Kamwa, who has been in impressive form for Leeds’ Under-18 team this season, has signed a contract with the Whites until the summer of 2020.
Jack Clarke and Clarke Oduor have recently put pen to paper on professional contracts with Leeds, and now Kamwa has been handed a deal at Elland Road.
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It would be fair to say that the Leeds supporters have been a frustrated bunch in recent weeks due to the team’s poor form, but they have recently been boosted by the news that Spanish attacker Pablo Hernandez has opened contract talks with the club.
The fans have now been reacting to confirmation that Kamwa has penned a two-and-a-half-year contract with Leeds, and many are looking forward to seeing the 18-year-old in action for the first team.
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A selection of the Twitter reaction in relation to the contract news can be seen below:
As reported by The Daily Record, Ross McCrorie is targeting an imminent return to the Rangers first team, also admitting their recent form hasn’t been good enough for supporters.
What’s the story?
The defender performed consistently well in the first half of the season whether deployed as centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, but has been out of action since the 0-0 draw against the Hoops in December.
Now though he’s looking to play against Dundee this Saturday ahead of next week’s mammoth semi-final against Celtic, where he wants to help deliver success that he feels Rangers fans deserve.
As quoted by The Daily Record, McCrorie said:
They deserve a lot more than what we have been showing.
Hopefully things will pick up soon. And when you play Celtic there’s always a huge incentive. We’ve not won the Scottish Cup since 2009 and Celtic have been winning the league, so I’d love to give the fans a trophy. They deserve it.
I’ve been training since last week and I was hoping to get a bit of game-time last weekend. That never happened, so hopefully this weekend I can get some game-time and if I can feature against Celtic then that would be great.
Can the 20-year-old help the Light Blues defeat Celtic?
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How big is his return?
It’s easy to forget that McCrorie is still in his debut season at Ibrox and that he’s only started 15 times for the club. Helping keep five clean sheets in that period, including one against Celtic, it’s clear he adds defensive stability to the side when selected.
Fans will be hoping his early burst of form can be replicated when he returns from a lengthy injury lay-off. The likes of Bruno Alves and Russell Martin have failed to impress recently, frustrating supporters.
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McCrorie’s performance in the last match against the Hoops was impressive and if he can reach those heights again at Hampden they have a chance.
For the final six games of the season he’ll be crucial too, with the top six gauntlet set to be a particularly tricky one for Rangers as they target finishing ahead of Aberdeen and Hibernian.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Borussia Dortmund are in pole position to sign Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer this summer.
What’s the story?
Ajer has emerged as perhaps the most talented defender at the Hoops this season and was recently rewarded with his first international caps for Norway.
Now it appears his potential has been noted by some big clubs.
TEAMtalk reckon that Borussia Dortmund have already made contact with Celtic about potentially signing the player this summer, but also face competition from English Premier League outfits Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Watford.
The website say Celtic could make a huge profit on the player, who was signed for just £500,000 from Norwegian side Start.
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Is he likely to leave?
It seems unlikely that Ajer will be leaving any time soon.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Celtic were reported this week to be nearing a breakthrough in contract talks with the teenage defender, an indication that they’re eager to fend off interest from clubs in bigger leagues circling for his signature.
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If he signs a new contract as expected, then interest from other clubs is not something Celtic need concern themselves with for a season or two at least.
Still just 19, his immediate future is best served at the Hoops, who can offer him far more football than the teams reported to be interested in him, even if they are clubs that have a track record of nurturing young talent.
According to reports, West Ham will battle Everton and Crystal Palace to sign Xherdan Shaqiri this summer, and fans can’t decide on the wing wizard.
Whether or not David Moyes is still at West Ham next season, the 1-1 draw with Stoke on Monday night showed exactly how much creativity the Hammers are lacking.
The return of Manuel Lanzini will certainly aid the attack, and if Javier Hernandez can find form up front they could form a deadly partnership with Marko Arnautovic.
However, Arnautovic has played his best football as a striker this season, and Hernandez does not seem to be in Moyes’ plans, so it is no surprise to see the Hammers linked to players like Shaqiri.
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The Swiss international has been one of Stoke’s better players this season, and the report claims he will force a move from the club if the Potters get relegated.
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Despite his occasional brilliance though, some fans are concerned about his inconsistency and work ethic, and therefore are hoping the Hammers look elsewhere.
Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
Newcastle goalkeeper Matz Sels claims his Magpies’ career is not over, but Newcastle fans have been quick to disagree with the 26 year-old.
It’s been a wonderful couple of months on Tyneside, so much so that players now practically begging not to leave the club!
Matz Sels joined the Magpies in 2016 but made just nine appearances for the club.
The Belgian goalkeeper was loaned out to Anderlecht last summer, and has of course now fallen down the Newcastle pecking order thanks to the remarkable form of loanee Martin Dubravka.
Everything looks in place to make the Dubravka deal a permanent one, but Sels insists his time at Newcastle is not over.
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“I want to know if the club wants to keep me. But I have not closed the chapter on Newcastle. I remain very grateful to Rafael Benitez for hiring me,” Sels told Belgian magazine SportFoot.
I have to wait. I depend on Newcastle’s project, to which I remain bound for several years. I have not had news in a few months but I do not let it get in my head. As soon as the club has ensured their stay in the Premier League, which seems well started, they will contact me.”
Sels has played 22 league games at Anderlecht, shipping 29 goals and keeping eight clean sheets.
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While 29 goals in 22 games isn’t a terrible record, it’s certainly not good, and fans have been quick to say the goalkeeper has no place on Tyneside.
Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
Per The Daily Mail, Newcastle are interested in signing Hull City forward Abel Hernandez when his contract with the Championship club expires at the end of the campaign. It’s been a strange season for the 27-cap Uruguayan. On the one hand, he’s notched up eight goals in as many league starts; on the other, he’s missed the vast majority of it through injury.
And it appears the majority of Newcastle fans share the club’s interest. When we asked them if they’d back a summer deal for Hernandez, 59% of those who took part in our poll voted yes. But does the South American attacker represent a shrewd piece of business for the Magpies, or should they steer well clear? Football FanCast take a look at three potential consequences – some good, some bad – of Newcastle swooping for the Tigers front-man this summer.
Adam Armstrong’s development is stifled
Armstrong’s spent the vast majority of his senior Newcastle career out on loan, but at the age of 21, the young forward needs to make an impact at first-team level for the Magpies sooner rather than later. Ending the season with a solid loan spell at Blackburn Rovers, netting nine times in 16 League One starts, the timing certainly feels right for Armstrong to step up, carrying that confidence and form into next season.
However, starting opportunities will be even more limited on Tyneside than they already are should Hernandez move there this summer. Rafa Benitez could still have Dwight Gayle, Ayoze Perez and Joselu to choose from as well, potentially placing Amstrong at a lowly fifth in the striker pecking order.
Islam Slimani deal isn’t made permanent
Slimani’s loan spell with the Toon has hardly been a resounding success anyway, but any move for Hernandez would suggest Newcastle aren’t interested in signing the Algerian striker permanently – and that will disappoint some Magpies fans. Although his overall influence has been limited, Slimani’s shown glimpses of what he can offer this Newcastle team in terms of physical presence up front, and Leicester’s seeming keenness to sell had thrown up the prospect of a reasonably-priced summer deal.
It’s unlikely Newcastle will want to sign both though; in addition to Slimani’s potential transfer fee, there’s also the wage bill to think about.
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Newcastle rest scoring hopes on injury-prone player
Scoring goals has probably been the biggest problem on Tyneside this season, with only five Premier League teams netting fewer than the Magpies’ 35. That’s obvious why they’re targeting Hernandez, but the Uruguayan striker comes with huge risk in terms of injuries, having made more than 26 league appearances during just one of his four campaigns in England. Even during the current seasonn, Hernandez was sidelined from August until March with a ruptured Achilles.
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It’s taken a huge toll on Hull City’s season, the Championship side only just moving clear of relegation bother, and could have an even more debasing impact on Newcastle’s 2018/19. After all, their survival hopes for next season will take a huge blow if the 27-year-old limps off during the first few games and isn’t seen again until the end of the season. Even if Hernandez’s next injury isn’t quite so severe, Newcastle are still putting a lot of faith in one injury-prone player.
West Ham United are likely to be in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer following a disappointing campaign for Adrian and loanee Joe Hart, but Irons fans on Twitter don’t want their club to sign Southampton’s Fraser Forster.
Just a couple of seasons ago the 30-year-old was rated as one of the best in the Premier League following some impressive performances for the south coast outfit, but that has changed for whatever reason since Ronald Koeman left St Mary’s in 2016, and he is currently number two behind Alex McCarthy.
Meanwhile, both Adrian and Hart have spent time between the sticks for the east London outfit in the top flight this season – and both been dropped for poor displays – with the goalkeeping position becoming a real problem one for David Moyes, and one that the Scot will look to solve this summer if he stays on.
West Ham supporters, who didn’t want Adrian to start against Leicester City before the match on Saturday, were quick to have their say on the potential of signing Forster via social media, and while one said “Southampton hate him”, another said “definitely don’t want Forster”.
Thomas Lemar was one of the big names of the summer transfer window last year due to late interest from Liverpool and Arsenal.
The Monaco midfielder was mentioned as a potential replacement for either Philippe Coutinho at Anfield or Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates.
In the end, though, those two players did not leave their respective clubs until the January window.
According to the Liverpool Echo, the Reds worked hard at trying to get a deal done by offering €90m (£79.3m), but Monaco were holding out for around €100m (£88m).
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It is easy to see why the Frenchman attracted so much attention given that he scored nine goals and created 10 assists in 34 Ligue 1 appearances last season.
In the current campaign, though, the midfielder has been less prolific, nabbing two goals and eight assists in 28 outings.
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In fact, Lemar is struggling to hold down a place in the France national team, which raises concerns over his chances of making the World Cup squad.
Given how things have panned out for the attack-minded star, some Liverpool fans are thankful that a deal to sign him was never agreed.
Comment from discussion We actually bid €90m for Lemar last summer, but Monaco wanted €100m.Comment from discussion We actually bid €90m for Lemar last summer, but Monaco wanted €100m.Comment from discussion We actually bid €90m for Lemar last summer, but Monaco wanted €100m.Comment from discussion We actually bid €90m for Lemar last summer, but Monaco wanted €100m.Comment from discussion We actually bid €90m for Lemar last summer, but Monaco wanted €100m.Comment from discussion We actually bid €90m for Lemar last summer, but Monaco wanted €100m.Comment from discussion We actually bid €90m for Lemar last summer, but Monaco wanted €100m.Comment from discussion We actually bid €90m for Lemar last summer, but Monaco wanted €100m.
Everton supporters in the Transfer Tavern are very much looking forward to the summer transfer window, with many hoping that their team will make key signings in key positions to boost their European chances next season.
The Toffees finished eighth in the Premier League this term with 49 points from their 38 matches, 12 points fewer than they achieved in finishing seventh under Ronald Koeman last time round. Yet that is a disappointing return given the amount of investment there was in the playing squad 12 months ago, with many of our resident Evertonians hoping that their club can buy more sensibly this summer in a bid to challenge the top six next time round.
And with Sam Allardyce no longer the club’s manager, there is some optimism among those Everton fans lining up at the bar, with many intrigued by recent reports linking Willian with a move away from Chelsea this summer.
And while Manchester United are thought to want the £28.8 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt), these recent reports should prompt Everton into an audacious move for the forward this summer in a bid to bolster their attacking ranks.
Ultimately, the Toffees struggled for much of the campaign in the final third of the pitch, with Wayne Rooney eventually finishing the season as the club’s top-scorer with just 11 goals to his name.
And while Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun were brought in during the January window to add further quality to the attacking department, neither have so far set the world alight to suggest that they can be the men to take Everton forward next term.
Whereas it’s clear from Willian’s spell at Chelsea that he is exactly the sort of addition they need to challenge for the European spots.
The Brazil international scored 13 goals and laid on 12 assists for the Blues this term in their run to fifth place in the league and indeed the FA Cup title, thus adding to the 12 goals he netted last time round in their Premier League title-winning success.
In fact, the 29-year-old has scored at least ten times in each of his last three seasons at Stamford Bridge to underline his quality in the final third, and with Everton winger Yannick Bolasie struggling to re-discover his best after injury, Willian would no doubt be a better option than him at present.
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And with a willingness to work hard defensively as well, the Brazilian star appears to be exactly the sort of player any manager would want in their squad – there’s a reason Jose Mourinho reportedly wants a reunion with the 29-year-old at United.
Yet Everton should also seek to lure the unhappy star away from Chelsea this summer, as doing so would without doubt enhance their chances of challenging the top six next time round.