English Premier League
Predicted Leeds starting XI: Bielsa to make two changes; 27-year-old set to return
Leeds United will travel to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday. The Whites are heading into this game on the back of a 2-1 win over Sheffield United last week. However, they are up against Pep Guardiola’s Man City who sit 14 points clear at the top of the table. Marcelo Bielsa confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Leeds have no fresh injury worries. However, the Whites will be without Jack Harrison who is ineligible to play, as per the conditions of his loan agreement from City. Ezgjan Alioski and Helder Costa and the most likely option down the left. And yet, Alioski has not fared well as a full-back against top sides, while it will be a massive gamble to put him up against the likes of Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and...
Predicted Aston Villa XI vs Liverpool: Smith to make one change, 26-yr-old to start
Aston Villa take on Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend and Dean Smith’s side will be looking to build on their impressive win over Fulham last time out. Villa have only managed to win one of their last five league games and they need to start putting together a winning run now. The West Midlands club started the season in impressive form but they are currently 9th in the table and the fans will be slightly disappointed with the decline. It remains to be seen whether Villa can finish the season strongly and secure a top-eight finish now. The last time these two sides met in the Premier League, Liverpool were crushed 7-2 and the Reds will be looking to avenge that defeat here. Liverpool are coming into this game on the back of a disappointing defeat against Real Madrid in the Champ...
Lingard and Garner steal the headlines, but how are the rest of Man Utd’s loanees doing this season?
Manchester United’s link with their academy is synonymous and the list of talent which has come through the ranks onto the pitch at Old Trafford is endless. However, progression into the first team isn’t something which comes easy, and even those of the most fame now – including David Beckham – sometimes have to go out on loan to prove their worth. We’ve profiled some of the United players currently out on loan this season – both young and old – and assessed what their chances are of returning to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s line-up at Old Trafford anytime soon. Jesse Lingard We’re going to start off with the players currently loaned out to clubs within the United Kingdom and undoubtedly, Jesse Lingard has started to shine since his move to West Ham United. The 28-year-old is the only name on th...
West Ham suffer huge blow as £70k-per-week star could miss most of remaining PL games
West Ham striker Michail Antonio could miss most of the Premier League run-in due to a hamstring injury. According to reports from The Times, the Hammers striker’s hamstring injury is worse than first feared. The club is unsure of how long he will be out. The report claims that his potential long-injury lay off could be a “blow to West Ham United’s bid” to qualify for the Champions League. The Hammers have punched above their weight this season, with David Moyes doing a fabulous job with the players he has at his disposal. West Ham find themselves fourth in the Premier League table, and they are expected to put up a strong fight to stay there, with several clubs like – Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham – looking to get an entry. SL View Antonio, who is on £70k-per-week wage...
When Grealish will reportedly make Villa return following latest injury setback
According to The Sun, Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish will miss his side’s clash against Liverpool at Anfield this weekend and is set to be out for the rest of April. The England international was widely expected to return to action last weekend against Fulham having missed their last six Premier League games and Three Lions’ World Cup qualifiers due to a shin injury. However, the Villa star felt discomfort in the shin again, and the club medical team has advised him to spend the next three weeks on the sidelines in order to fully recover. As a result, Grealish is likely to miss the games against Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion later this month, with Villa’s trip to Everton on May 1 identified as the most probable date for his return. Sportslens View Dean Smith’s side have won j...
‘I’m told’: Phil Hay delivers exciting Leeds transfer update…but one player likely to leave
Phil Hay of The Athletic has shared information on what he has heard about Leeds United’s summer transfer plans. Speaking with David Ornstein on The Athletic’s Youtube channel, Hay has shared what he knows about Leeds’ transfer plans. [embedded content] On Leeds transfer budget Hay claims that he doesn’t think Leeds will spend anything close to £100m, like what they did last summer. However, there will be a “healthy budget” in place for Marcelo Bielsa. The club feel that spending such outlay year after year is not a sustainable model, and also not necessary. If Bielsa stays, the club will focus on retaining the core group of players that are playing under him, as they know his methods in and out. How many signings Hay feels that the club will look for quality pl...
Gary Neville’s three-word reply when asked if Kane can break NUFC legend’s EPL goal record
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer proudly holds the record for most goals (260) scored in the Premier League, and nobody has come close to breaking it 15 years after he hung up his boots. Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero, Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane and Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy are the three current EPL footballers in the top-20 list of most top-flight goals, and the trio are not any close to Shearer’s record. Aguero has 181 goals, Kane has 162 goals while Vardy has 115. Only the Spurs star is in his twenties out of the trio, and many have tipped him to become the Premier League’s highest goalscorer of all time someday should he remain in England for the remainder of his career. Manchester United legend Gary Neville has been asked what Kane’s chances of breaking Shearer’s goa...
Burnley and Fulham could compete to sign this Manchester-born defender
Burnley, Fulham and Swansea City are among the clubs looking to sign Sheffield United defender Kean Bryan when his contract expires this summer, Football Insider claims. The 24-year-old has been a regular for the Blades during the back end of the current season, featuring in eight of the previous 12 league games. 11 of those outings have come at centre-back, with the other from the left wing-back role from where he scored the winner in the shock 2-1 victory at Manchester United. Earlier last month, Kean stated his ambition to stay with the Blades despite their imminent relegation, but the club have yet to renew his contract which expires in June. It is now reported that Burnley, Fulham and Championship play-off hopefuls Swansea are in the running to sign the Manchester-born player on ...
West Ham monitoring the situation of 22-yr-old who has impressed in La Liga this season
West Ham United are keeping tabs on the Granada midfielder Yangel Herrera. The 22-year-old is currently on loan at the Spanish club from Manchester City and has been outstanding. The report from Goal.com adds that Southampton and several La Liga clubs are also keen on the Venezuelan midfielder. SL View: Move to West Ham seems unlikely Herrera might be brought back to City at the end of this season, with Fernandinho nearing the end of his deal at the Premier League club. The Venezuelan is a tactically intelligent midfielder who is a strong tackler and a good reader of the game. He has an impressive passing range and a good awareness of space. Apart from his defensive qualities, Herrera also has eight goals and two assists in all competitions this season. Given his talent, West Ham’s in...
Liverpool linked with a move for 29-yr-old, could face competition from PL rivals
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Inter Milan defender Stefan De Vrij. According to Corriere dello Sport (translated by Sportwitness), Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on the player and are willing to submit an offer. SL View: De Vrij unlikely to join Liverpool There is no doubt that Liverpool need to sign a quality centre-back this summer, and De Vrij would be a superb addition if they manage to pull it off. The Dutchman has developed into a key player under Antonio Conte, and the Italian outfit are eager to tie him down to a new contract. On that basis, it seems highly unlikely that they will cash in on the 29-year-old this summer. The Reds were recently linked with Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig, with some pundits claiming he was close to agreeing a move. ...
Tottenham linked with 24-yr-old defender, some of their fans react: ‘No brainer’, ‘Sign him up’
Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Joachim Andersen after his impressive performances for Fulham in the Premier League this season. The 24-year-old defender has formed a quality partnership with Tosin Adarabioyo, and the likes of Manchester United and Leicester City are also monitoring his situation. According to the Telegraph, Lyon could sell the player permanently for a fee of around £25 million this summer. The transfer could prove to be a major bargain if Spurs can snap up the defender for that price. Jose Mourinho needs to add more depth to his central defensive unit, and Andersen would be a superb addition. He has already adapted to the Premier League and could make an immediate impact at Spurs next season. Davinson Sanchez has been linked with a move away from Spurs, and Andersen...
Chelsea star angling to complete €50m move this summer
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho is eager to return to Serie A this summer. The 29-year-old was linked with a return to Napoli last month following comments made by his agent, Joao Santos, on the Serie A club’s official radio station. Santos cranked things up a notch earlier today, telling the same outlet that the €50 million rated star is keen to go back to Italy. He cited Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan as possible destinations but believes that his client would prefer to rejoin Napoli. “Jorge wants to go back to Italy and Naples to win the Scudetto – he is a ball that wants to take off,” said Santos. “It will be important for him to do well at the European Championships and the World Cup with Italy. (Roberto) Mancini is making it even stronger.” SL View Jorginho still has two years left o...
