Newcastle fans have been reacting to reports claiming the club is still up for sale this summer, and let’s just say they aren’t totally convinced.There will probably never be a less popular figure on Tyneside than Newcastle Mike Ashley, well besides from Alan Pardew that is.The 53 year-old businessman bought the Magpies back in 2007, and has taken plenty of stick from fans for his penny-pinching tactics in the transfer market.Fans have often felt Ashley uses the club as a business more than a football club, and they are desperate for him to either back the manager in the transfer market or sell to someone who will.[ad_pod ]Rumours of a sale to Amanda Staveley have been on-going for months, and a statement from Wednesday’s fans forum read: “The position has not changed (in response to the club being up for sale). If or when there is anything to update, the club would do so.â€This statement might be music to the ears of a more gullible fan base, but Newcastle fans have been here before, and they are convinced Ashley will not sell the club.With Rafa Benitez’s future at the club hanging in the balance, Newcastle fans are hoping for the best but expecting the worst, and some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
Leeds United are reportedly interested in re-signing Swansea City centre-back Kyle Bartley for the 2018-19 campaign.
Bartley spent last season on loan at Leeds – scoring six times in 50 appearances during an impressive year before returning to his parent club last summer.
The centre-back has only made five Premier League appearances for Swansea this term, and is widely expected to seek another exit in this summer’s transfer window.
Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom addressed the rumours during his press conference on Friday ahead of this weekend’s match against Queens Park Rangers, with the 40-year-old insisting that he is aware of how impressive Bartley performed for the Whites last season.
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The Leeds fans have been discussing a potential return for the 26-year-old this summer, and not everyone is in agreement about the Manchester-born defender’s future.
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It is certainly an interesting one to watch ahead of the opening of the summer window.
A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Leeds fans can be seen below:
Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale scored his side’s second-half equaliser in their 2-2 draw against Barcelona in the latest episode of the El Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday night, and Arsenal fans have urged whoever their new manager is going to be to sign the Wales international.
The forward, who currently earns £350,000-a-week after tax, according to The Guardian, has endured another injury-hit campaign, but has been a regular in the team in recent months.
The versatile Welshman, who can play on either wing or as a centre-forward, has scored 16 goals and provided a further eight assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for Zinedine Zidane’s side this term.
Arsenal supporters, who showed their emotions on Twitter following Arsene Wenger’s final home match on Sunday, were quick to have their say on his latest display and goal via social media, and while one said “Arsenal next manager: Sign Bale”, another said “Arsenal sign him up ASAP”.
Tottenham fans are absolutely loving the latest transfer links, as Geoffrey Kondogbia is reportedly on the list of midfield targets this summer.
According to a report from Sky Sports, Kondogbia is one of four midfielders the North Londoners are targeting, as all three of Mousa Dembele, Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko could leave this summer.
The report from Sky claims Lille enforcer Yves Bissouma, Red Bull Salzburg’s Amadou Haidara, and Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure are all being monitored ahead of a busy summer for Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham.
Bissouma is young and inexperienced, Doucoure has only had one season performing at a high level, and Haidara has been superb recently but in an inferior league, which just leaves Kondogbia.
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The giant Frenchman has spent this season on loan at Valencia, where he has found his niche as a box-to-box midfielder.
The 25 year-old has typically always been an out and out defensive enforcer, but he has added more balance to his game, on top of his typically impressive defensive stats.
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The colossal Kondogbia averages 2.8 tackles and two interceptions per game this season, but is also pitching in an average of four long balls per game, and completing passes at an impressive rate of 87 per cent.
Fans clearly like the links to the Frenchman, and some of the best Twitter reactions can be found down below…
Everton fans are praying they can get a deal for Hirving Lozano over the line, after reports in Spain claimed they now face competition from Valencia.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Everton and Valencia are leading the pack to sign Hirving Lozano this summer.
The report from Spain claims several clubs are keeping an eye on the Mexican international, but Valencia and the Toffees are “the most attentive” to the situation.
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Everton are of course looking to rebuild their squad with more attacking impetus, and the 22 year-old Lozano, who grabbed 19 goals in all competitions this season, would be an excellent starting point.
The versatile winger averaged over three shots, two key passes and two successful dribbles per game this season, and isn’t afraid to get stuck in on the other end either, averaging over a tackle per game.
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His close relationship with Marcel Brands could help Everton win the race for his signature, and fans are clearly hoping this is the case, as they all agree they should move for the winger.
You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…
The Tottenham Hotspur that Gareth Bale left behind in 2013 almost could not be further removed from the current incarnation under Mauricio Pochettino.
The Welshman was the team’s superstar in his final season at White Hart Lane, scoring a series of spectacular and often late goals for a side that ultimately failed to usurp Arsenal, finishing fifth to the Gunners’ fourth.
A squad that included Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Clint Dempsey, Tom Huddlestone and Steven Caulker, among others, was being hauled along by Bale and Andre Villas Boas’ willingness to indulge him, moving his star turn into a free role in the centre of the pitch.
The current Spurs side is not only plainly a much better outfit but its values are different now.
Pochettino has emphasised the importance of teamwork, togetherness, work ethic and adaptability to create a brilliant team, without any dominant egos and Tottenham are approaching the status of Champions League regulars.
Yet, more is needed. Last season marked ten years without a trophy and allowing Manchester United to come back from 1-0 down to snatch the FA Cup semi-final 2-1 at Spurs’ temporary home stung Pochettino. Badly.
The Argentine has made it clear that his priority is winning either the Premier League or the Champions League and yet the brilliance of Manchester City and the wiliness of Juventus meant that those ambitions did not come close to fruition.
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Spurs are moving into a new and improved stadium, which they hope will allow them to sustainably attract more elite players and reward the ones they already have handsomely enough to keep them away from the clutches of clubs currently higher up European football’s foodchain.
Yet, they are also coming home. Wembley and Tottenham always felt like an awkward fit, so it was vital that, unlike at bitter rivals West Ham, they could upscale their current home as opposed to moving away and having to become settled in new surroundings.
Bale, in some ways, is a perfect metaphor for how moving away in pursuit of greater riches and success – even if it works – can still leave something missing.
For him, Madrid has never felt like home. For Spurs, read Wembley.
Imagine a double homecoming in North London this summer. Spurs have just finished above Arsenal for the second straight season, Arsene Wenger has finally departed across town and Unai Emery is a slightly underwhelming choice to lead the subsequent revolution.
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Tottenham, in a new and improved White Hart Lane, could signal their intent to attract one of the game’s greatest players, by bringing him back home, where he would find that nearly every facet of the club has greatly improved.
Just as Bale has elevated his game in his five seasons away – winning four Champions Leagues in that time and now valued at £81m by Transfermarkt – Pochettino has taken Tottenham to another level.
A vastly improved Bale joining a vastly improved Tottenham as they move into a vastly improved stadium. A double homecoming. There really aren’t too many better ways to kickstart a new era than that.
Stoke City have announced their first signing of the summer and fans are delighted with the news.
Oghenekaro Peter Etebo signed for the Potters for £6.35million on a five-year deal from Feirense, and the midfielder is Gary Rowett’s first signing for the club.
Etebo will be representing Nigeria in the World Cup and featured as a substitute in his country’s warm-up match against England, which they lost 2-1.
The 22-year-old has previously played in Nigeria, Spain and Portugal and has 14 international caps to his name.
Etebo made a name for himself at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, scoring four goals in a dramatic 5-4 win against Japan.
The box-to-box midfielder should be a perfect partner to Joe Allen, providing stability and composure in the heart of the midfield.
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Potters fans have been reacting to the news on social media, with fans in near universal agreement about the quality of the player, and they are looking forward to seeing him don the Stoke shirt after the World Cup.
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Manchester United star Anthony Martial has made his position clear, or at least his agent Philippe Lamboley has.
The attacker’s representative recently told RMC Sport that his client wants to leave Old Trafford, and those comments have caught the attention of Arsenal fans.
The Gunners have attacking talent in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Danny Welbeck, but Martial would certainly take them up a notch.
For some reason, United manager Jose Mourinho was not entirely convinced by the Frenchman as he started him in just 18 Premier League fixtures.
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In 45 appearances in all competitions, Martial found the back of the net 11 times and created seven assists for the North-West outfit, which proves that he is more than capable of influencing a team.
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This latest development is sure to attract the attention of many clubs, but it would be a huge shock if Arsenal managed to get a deal over the line.
That has not stopped the fans from wondering, though.
Reported Arsenal target Lucas Torreira produced a brilliant display for Uruguay in their 3-0 win against hosts Russia in their final 2018 World Cup group fixture on Monday, and Gunners fans were loving his performance.
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Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero confirmed last week that the 22-year-old had left the club amid rumours that the north London outfit had agreed a deal to sign him, but any transfer seems unlikely to be confirmed until after the South American nation are knocked out of the tournament.
The 5ft 6in player certainly impressed in a defensive midfield role for Uruguay, and he showed his positional discipline by sitting in and protecting his back four, even trying to stop a cross by diving on the ground head-first at one point.
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Arsenal supporters, who have also told their club to sign a 25-year-old attacking Premier League flop following a brilliant World Cup display, were quick to have their say on Torreira’s showing via social media, and while one said “this could be a game-changing signing”, another said he is “exactly what we need”.
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Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s World Cup campaign has once again contained impressive doses of enormous potential, even if the Chelsea youngster still doesn’t appear the finished article. But that’s perhaps because it’s still not quite clear what type of midfielder the 22-year-old really is, and which part of the engine room his future ultimately resides in.
Following a season in which roaming No.8s were instrumental aspects of Manchester City’s domineering Premier League title win and Liverpool’s cavalier run to the Champions League final, it feels as if Loftus-Cheek is emerging at the perfect time. Gareth Southgate has carved out similar roles in England’s midfield as part of his 3-1-4-2 setup, taking advantage of a new breed of midfielder that are part No.8 and part No.10, and that’s the position Loftus-Cheek has taken up throughout the World Cup bid – including against Belgium on Thursday night.
With five dribbles to his name, there were plenty of instances in which Loftus-Cheek showed how effective he can be in that role, driving on from the engine room to become part of the forward line. His size wreaks havoc and when he manages to build up speed, he can be unstoppable on the counter – something Roy Hodgson tapped into with great effect at Crystal Palace last season.
But when compared with Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli, there is a key difference. Loftus-Cheek isn’t quite as nimble or offensively threatening. Perhaps his game will get to that point on the latter front – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain provides a great example of a player whose output was questioned but has really exploded into life over the last twelve months – but in his early 20s, the Blues starlet probably won’t become much more agile or faster than he is right now. Growing in strength and power seems more likely.
And thus, moving into a deeper role would perhaps be a better fit for Loftus-Cheek in the long-term. He’s got the strength, dribbling ability and composure to act almost like Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele at No.6 – receiving the ball and moving it forward wisely with effortless elegance. Particularly in the Champions League last season, it was Dembele who gave Spurs the platform to launch attacks from that deep-lying pocket, combining his capacity to muscle opponents off the ball with the technical quality to shift it onto an open man.
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For that kind of transition though, other aspects of Loftus-Cheek’s game still require improvement. He was dispossessed five times by Belgium – for Dembele to do that at the base of Tottenham’s midfield would be sacrilege. Likewise, his passing accuracy was just 78%; Dembele’s in the Premier League last season was 92%, and for Belgium on Thursday night it was 99%. Although that’s no doubt influenced by the obligation for Loftus-Cheek to play riskier passes in a more offensive role, the difference remains distinctly noticeable.
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So, what do you see as Loftus-Cheek’s ultimate position? Should he continued to be used as a powerful and dynamic no.8, or would moving him into a deeper role truly see him thrive in the years to come? Let us know by voting below…
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