General Football News
Ronald Koeman set to introduce 19-year-old into the first team
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman is set to give youngster Nico Gonzalez his debut with the first team in a friendly against Segunda Division side Gimnastic de Tarragona, reports Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. Despite Barcelona’s recent drop off, La Masia is still producing several talents that have made it into the first team. Ansu Fati was given his first team debut back in 2019 by Ernesto Valverde, and the likes of Riqui Puig, Oscar Mingueza, and Ilaix Moriba made an impact under Quique Setien and Koeman. Fati has shown incredible potential over the last couple of years However, Moriba appears to be falling out of favour with the Dutchman, despite impressing in the latter stages of last season. The teenager has just under a year left on his contract, and negotiations over a new deal are ...
The Athletic: West Ham & Leeds make EPL club an offer for midfielder
West Ham United and Leeds United have made Chelsea an offer for midfielder Lewis Bate, according to The Athletic. The 18-year-old has one year left on his current contract and is refusing to sign an extension, making it clear to the Blues he does not want to agree a new deal. Bate wants to join a club who can provide a clear vision and pathway for him to play first-team football, and reckons a move to West Ham or Leeds could boost his chances. Sportslens View The Hammers have made Declan Rice one of the best midfielders in the Premier League at 22, with the England international making his debut at 18 and going to establish himself as a key player for both club and country afterwards. Bate, 18, would be open to joining such a side, but Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa also gives youth oppor...
English winger admits he regrets leaving Rangers, expresses Ryan Jack shock
Sheffield Wednesday attacking midfielder Josh Windass has admitted he regrets leaving Rangers in 2018. The English forward joined the Scottish giants from Accrington Stanley in 2016, spending two seasons at Ibrox before joining Wigan Athletic. Windass scored 19 goals in 73 games for Rangers but confirmed during a Q&A session on Instagram that he wishes he had stayed longer. The 27-year-old was also asked which player shocked him most for how good they are, and he mentioned Light Blues defensive midfielder Ryan Jack. The 29-year-old has played in 130 games since joining Rangers from Aberdeen in 2017, scoring 11 times. Having seen the Gers win the Scottish Premiership title last term, Windass would have been wishing he was part of the celebrations. Steven Gerrard’s men also impressed in ...
Barcelona star Antoine Griezmann reacts as player seals Celtic move
Kyogo Furuhashi played his last game for J1 League club Vissel Kobe on Saturday after sealing a £5 million move to Celtic the previous day. New Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou recommended the 26-year-old Japan international to the Scottish giants as he knows him well from his three and a half years managing Yokohama F Marinos. Furuhashi is set to link up with Celtic ahead of the new season, and Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta has sent the forward his best wishes on Instagram. Barcelona star Antoine Griezmann has also reacted to the Japanese star’s move. Sportslens View Furuhashi led the J1’s scoring chart prior to his departure, bagging 14 goals in 20 league appearances. He has been tipped to walk straight into Celtic’s starting XI, but adapting to a new league and culture could make hitting...
Reliable journo claims Everton set to sign EPL-winning winger & ex-England int’l
Everton are closing in on deals for Bayer Leverkusen winger Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend, according to The Times’ Paul Joyce. Everton closing in on deals for wingers Demarai Gray (£1.5m from Bayer Leverkusen) and Andros Townsend (free transfer). — paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) July 18, 2021 The Toffees are landing Townsend for free after he left Crystal Palace at the end of his deal last month and will pay £1.5 million for Gray. Sportslens View Everton manager Rafa Benitez wants to strengthen his attack ahead of next season, and landing the two wingers could prove to be a smart move. Townsend brings loads of experience to the table, while Gray has plenty to prove having struggled in his last days at Leicester City and with Bayer Leverkusen. Everton are set to lose Bernard and Cenk Tosun thi...
Tim Krul sends message to NUFC star as he shares injury update with club mute
Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is likely to miss the start of the new season following a broken metatarsal. The Slovakia international has since undergone surgery and provided Magpies fans with an update through his Instagram account. Dubravka missed the start of last season due to a heel injury that required surgery and is unlucky again heading into 2021-22. There has been no word from Newcastle regarding his injury, and the goalie has provided something himself in the absence of an official update. His Norwich City counterpart and former Magpies hero Tim Krul and some of his teammates have all sent him messages of support. The club currently have no senior goalies available after Karl Darlow tested positive for COVID-19 and has had to self-isolate for 10 days. Mark Gillespie...
NUFC reportedly want Europa League-winning 21y/o who played 30 EPL games last term
Newcastle United want Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher on loan next season, according to The Sun. Crystal Palace are also keen on the 21-year-old, with the Blues ready to send him out temporarily again after last year’s spell with West Bromwich Albion. Magpies boss Steve Bruce has very little to spend this summer, and loaning Gallagher fits his summer transfer plans. Sportslens View The Chelsea academy graduate played 30 league games for the Baggies last term, scoring twice and assisting twice, but it was not enough to keep them up. Newcastle want to bolster their midfield, and the 2018-19 Europa League winner has the quality to improve the Magpies. Gallagher is yet to make his Premier League debut for the Blues, spending 2019-20 on loan at Charlton Athletic and Swansea City. Newcastle w...
Leeds reportedly in talks to sign midfielder involved in 14 league goals last term
Leeds United have entered into talks to sign Metz attacking midfielder Farid Boulaya this summer, according to Mohamed Toubache-TER. Ça commence à devenir très sérieux pour @farid_boulaya !! Leeds revient à la charge. 2 très bons clubs en Italie & en Espagne viennent de faire part de leur intérêt pr le milieu offensif du #FCMetz & international algérien !! Le joueur pourrait partir pr 4,5M€. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/g5nQvxBauz — Mohamed TOUBACHE-TER (@MohamedTERParis) July 18, 2021 The trusted French source, often cited by GFFN, claims that a club from Spain and another from Italy have also registered their interest in the Algerian international. Leeds can land Boulaya for around €4.5 million as he has just 12 months left on his current deal. Sportslens View The 28-year-old made it cl...
‘He’s off’, ‘He wants out’ – Some NUFC fans react to Saint-Maximin social media post
Newcastle United attacking midfielder Allan Saint-Maximin has put up a social media post that has sent tongues wagging. The Frenchman has been linked with Everton, with former Magpies boss Rafa Benitez looking to raid his old club. Saint-Maximin took to his Instagram Stories to post a Winston Churchill quote, and Newcastle fans think he is hinting at a potential summer exit. The 24-year-old revealed in June that he wants more than relegation battles ever season, and his latest social media activity has the Toon faithful concerned, with some of them reacting on Twitter to it. On the back of this I feel his agent is probs filling his head and we are standing still pic.twitter.com/3CwEGqyxPw — Seniore13Gaming (@Seniore13Gaming) July 17, 2021 I do love ASM but he needs a decent consistent seas...
25y/o reportedly to be sold by Liverpool without single appearance following £36m deal
Centre-back Ben Davies is set to leave Liverpool without having made a single appearance, according to The Sun. The Reds signed the 25-year-old for £1.5 million in January from Preston North End, but they are ready to sell him, with Sheffield United keen. However, the Blades only want him on a loan deal. Liverpool brought in Davies after losing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to season-ending injuries last year, but no longer have a need for him after the trio returned to full fitness and following the arrival of Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig for £36 million. Sportslens View Davies was unlucky as he suffered from injuries upon joining the Anfield side, while the Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams used that opportunity to shine. Alongside the aforementioned quartet, the duo are also...
Rangers reportedly to blow EPL club out of water with mouthwatering deal for defender
Rangers are interested in bringing veteran English centre-back Gary Cahill to Ibrox and hand him a £35,000-a-week contract, according to The Sun. The 35-year-old is out of contract at Crystal Palace, but the Eagles want him to stay and sign a new deal. However, while Rangers are ready to meet his demands, Palace’s offer is less basic cash, with extras for appearances. Sportslens View Cahill has nothing else to prove in England having won it all with Chelsea, and a move to link up with former Three Lions teammates Steven Gerrard and Jermain Defoe at Rangers could be appealing. The Scottish Premiership champions are giving the defender a chance to add to his medals and also play in Europe, with two qualifying rounds between them and a place in the group stages of the Champions League. Ranger...
‘Baller’, ‘He wasn’t lying’: Some Arsenal fans react to 21-year-old’s display vs Rangers
A section of Arsenal fans on Twitter reacted to Nuno Tavares’ performance during the 2-2 friendly draw at Rangers on Saturday afternoon. The Portuguese remains the club’s only signing of the transfer window, and he made his non-competitive debut at the Ibrox Stadium. The left-back impressed with the attacking facet of his game, but he grabbed the equalising goal for the Gunners (1-1) in the first half. He took advantage of a poor control from James Tavernier and showed good composure to get into the box before unleashing a right-footed shot from a tight angle. In his presentation interview, Tavares highlighted that he can shoot with his weaker right foot, and some fans pointed out the same after he scored. Others were pleased with the goal from the 21-year-old, which was rather unexpected....
