General Football News
‘Interesting’ – €45m centre-back with ‘a body like Van Dijk’ reacts to Liverpool links
Lille defender Sven Botman was heavily linked with Liverpool in January as manager Jurgen Klopp sought a quality centre-back. Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez were all out injured, and the Reds were forced to play Fabinho and Jordan Henderson at the back. Liverpool brought in Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies on transfer deadline day but are still likely to bolster their backline in the summer and have already been linked with RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate. It remains to be seen whether they are still keen on Botman, but he is under consideration at an array of top sides after his impressive campaign with Lille. The French side are two wins away from pipping Paris Saint-Germain to the title, and the 21-year-old has been crucial to their rise. Lille have conceded only 22 league goals, givin...
Mike Ashley reportedly will go after 49y/o should Bruce leave NUFC
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley would consider a move for Burnley manager Sean Dyche if Steve Bruce leave St James’ Park, according to the Sunday Mirror. The Magpies manager is unpopular with the fans despite guiding the side to safety in both of his seasons in charge. The Newcastle faithful hate Bruce’s style of play, and there is a belief that they should be challenging for the top-seven given the quality of players available at his disposal. The 60-year-old has insisted he has no plans to leave Newcastle unless he is sacked, but it does not seem Ashley will be looking to part company with him anytime soon. Dyche is in talks over a new deal at Burnley with just 12 months left on his deal, and Crystal Palace, Everton and Aston Villa are also said to be impressed with how he has ma...
Hammers reportedly join Man City & Ancelotti in race for £30m England international striker
West Ham United are keen on Southampton striker Danny Ings, according to Sunday Mirror. The Hammers are looking to sign a number 9 after not replacing Sebastien Haller in January and have identified striking targets ahead of the summer transfer window. Southampton are hoping Ings would sign a new deal with just a year left on the current contract of the England international. However, they would demand £30 million for his signature should he insist on leaving. West Ham are not the only ones keen on Ings, though, with Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton also monitoring developments ahead of the summer transfer window. Pep Guardiola wants a new striker with Sergio Aguero leaving the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, and Ings appears to have caught his eyes. The 28-year-old ...
Liverpool reportedly will hand player Klopp dubbed ‘very strong character’ new deal
Liverpool will hand goalkeeper Adrian a new contract offer on less cash, according to The Sun. The Spaniard joined the Reds as a free agent in the summer of 2019 and has featured in 24 games across all competitions thus far. Adrian arrived as a cover for Alisson Becker but has dropped to third-choice as he is now behind Caoimhin Kelleher in the pecking order. The 34-year-old has made five errors directly leading to goals and had a bad run in the first-team. While it earlier appeared that Adrian’s days at Anfield were numbered, manager Jurgen Klopp is now happy to keep him. The German dubbed the former West Ham United goalie ‘a very strong character’ of recent, and it seems he would love to have him in the dressing room for much longer. Adrian currently has a year left on his Liverpool cont...
Villa’s England international has reportedly been offered to six-time UCL winners
According to Sportsmail, Aston Villa goalkeeper Tom Heaton has been offered to Liverpool. However, he is now close to agreeing terms with one of his former clubs Manchester United. The 35-year-old is out of contract this summer and is looking to leave Villa Park after playing second fiddle to Emiliano Martinez since returning to full fitness. Heaton has not featured for the Midlands club since January 2020, with an ACL injury keeping him on the sidelines till last December. Nevertheless, six-time Champions League winners Liverpool reckon he could be a quality cover for Alisson Becker. The Reds are eyeing up potential goalkeepers to sign as back-up to the Brazilian after Adrian lost his place as deputy earlier this season to Caoimhin Kelleher. The academy graduate is set to be loaned out ne...
13-time UCL winners reportedly admire Everton man, considering summer move
Real Madrid have Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti on their radar and will weigh up a move for the Italian if Zinedine Zidane leaves the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the campaign, according to Mirror Sports. The Frenchman could leave the La Liga giants at the end of the campaign regardless of whether they pip Atletico Madrid to the title or not. Madrid president Florentino Perez has Ancelotti, Raul and Max Allegri on his list of Zidane’s replacement, but whether the Everton boss would be open to a return remains to be seen. The 61-year-old led the 13-time Champions League winners to their 10th European title in 2014, leaving them the following season after a trophyless campaign. Los Blancos won the Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup under Ancelotti in 2014, and he is sti...
Brendan Rodgers lauds Kasper Schmeichel as Leicester City win FA Cup
Brendan Rodgers has spoken of his delight after winning the FA Cup with Leicester City. The Foxes defeated Chelsea in the final at Wembley thanks to a fine strike by Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans. The 23-year-old picked out the top left corner with a world class effort from 30 yards. Tielemans hit a stunning winner in the 63rd minute With 22,000 fans in attendance, it was a cracking atmosphere. Those fans were put through the full range of emotions, especially when the Blues had a late equaliser ruled out by VAR in the dying moments. Wes Morgan diverted the ball into his own net, but replays showed that Ben Chilwell was marginally offside in the build up. After the match, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers was full of joy after securing his first piece of silverware in England. Speaking t...
‘Dereliction of his duties’ – The Athletic journo shares why Bielsa hasn’t signed Leeds contract
According to The Athletic’s Philip Buckingham, Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa believes to be distracted by contract talks would be a dereliction of his duties with fixtures still to be fulfilled. The Whites have two more Premier League games left in the campaign, and the Argentine wants to remain fully focused ahead of the tasks ahead. With just a few months left on his current contract, Bielsa has been linked with the Tottenham Hotspur job as Jose Mourinho’s potential replacement, while Leeds have reportedly contacted AS Roma manager Paulo Fonseca as they make contingency plans should the 65-year-old walk away. However, it does not appear that Spurs will be getting their hands on the Argentine anytime soon. Bielsa is expected to sign another one-year deal once the season ends, and...
Everton reportedly in contact with French attacker with 10 goals & 13 assists this term
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Moussa Diaby has caught the attention of Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, according to Fussball Transfers. The Toffees want to challenge for a top-six finish next season and are looking to bolster their squad for the mission ahead. They have already gotten in touch with Diaby’s representatives, and the first feedback from the 21-year-old is said to have been positive. Sportslens View The Frenchman has bagged 10 goals and 13 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions this term, and he has what it takes to help improve Everton in the final third. Diaby can play on both wings and behind a striker, and such versatility would be a welcome boost for Ancelotti’s side if a move works out. He has four years left on his current contract at the Bundesliga club,...
Hammers reportedly ahead of Spurs in race for chart-topping star Southgate dubbed ‘very good’
West Ham United have moved ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in the race for West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, according to Football Insider. The Manchester United academy graduate is expected to remain in the top-flight following the Baggies’ relegation, and he is not short of suitors amongst the teams in the top half of the Premier League table. Sportslens View Spurs want to bring in a replacement for Hugo Lloris with just a year left on his current deal, and they reckon Johnstone would be perfect for the job. However, their lack of a permanent manager appears to have given West Ham a chance in the race. Leeds United have also been linked with the 28-year-old who currently tops the charts for most saves made (148) in the Premier League this term, but it is the Hammers that are now ...
Newcastle reportedly in contact with French right-back, Marseille keen too
Newcastle United are keen on signing Southampton right-back Yan Valery, according to FootMercato. Borussia Monchengladbach and Marseille are also keen on the Frenchman who is looking to leave the Saints at the end of the season. Valery has been on loan with Championship outfit Birmingham City since January after struggling for playing chances at the St Mary’s. Having been in England since he was 16 and with 37 Premier League games under his belt, the 22-year-old has the necessary experience to play for Newcastle, and they have made contact with his representatives. Magpies boss Steve Bruce has deployed Jacob Murphy at right-back for most of this season and is keen to sign a specialist for the position after DeAndre Yedlin left in February. Emil Krafth has failed to impress since joini...
Thomas Tuchel confirms Chelsea duo are fit, reveals starting goalkeeper vs Leicester City
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has provided a fitness update on N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic ahead of the FA Cup final against Leicester City on Saturday. The Blues recently suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League, and they will be aiming to make amends by lifting silverware this weekend. Tuchel provided an update on Kante and Kovacic ahead of the Wembley showdown, with both players in line to feature this weekend. He told football.london: “It was pain management, not a huge injury. He trained yesterday and today full, no complaints. He will start tomorrow and hopefully finish the game for us.” Kovacic has also returned to full training, and Tuchel confirmed he is excited by the return of the Croatian who last played on April 10. He added: “It’s huge because M...
