Manchester United having Anthony Martial back has finally given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the chance to play Marcus Rashford on the left wing where he’s arguably the most affective.
Jose Mourinho said he’s not a number nine on Sky Sports, and the fact he hadn’t scored for exactly a month before his goal for England down the left in October backs that up. Since Martial’s return against Liverpool, Rashford, playing on the wing, has scored twice and assisted once in three games.
The 22-year-old slotted the ball into the bottom right corner wonderfully against Kosovo on Sunday after coming on as a substitute, and United fans will be hoping to see more of that when the international break comes to an end. He’s scored six goals in 12 appearances for United this season, which wouldn’t be too disappointing if he hadn’t been playing down the middle for most of the time. He isn’t at his best at centre-forward, and it seems Solskjaer has realised that now.
Gareth Southgate has the pleasure of playing Harry Kane up top, so Rashford doesn’t need to play centrally. Manchester United tweeted a video of Rashford’s goal and fans were quick to praise the finish and how good he is down the left wing.
You can see some of their reactions to the tweet below:
Man United, who does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer need to sign in January?
In a recent interview with The Times Jack Ross defended his record with Sunderland, stating he didn’t fail at the club and didn’t operate negatively.
Many have been critical of his tenure in the north-east due to perceived negativity from his side, but the fact the Black Cats drew 19 league games last year indicates there may be a bit of truth in those claims.
Watch Sunderland Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below
However, the Scot has labelled it “fake news”, adding that the only time he played for a draw was in an away match at Barnsley, and believes his team’s strong record in coming from behind shows the willingness they had to win games.
It is natural for a manager to defend his actions, but many supporters reject his comments, with several especially highlighting the number of 1-1 draws they had to sit through last term.
Sunderland did score 80 League One goals in 2018/19, though, and since Ross’ departure the team has only nine goals from eight games, which suggests he wasn’t holding them back.
Regardless, fans still believe the right decision was made in letting him go, as these reactions show.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Eric Dier could be a key man under Jose Mourinho this season for Tottenham Hotspur.
On the chalkboard
The defensive midfielder played the entire 90 minutes as Spurs got the Portuguese’s reign off to the perfect start on Saturday, beating West Ham United 3-2 in a consistently entertaining London derby.
Dier, who had played in just three league games prior to Saturday’s encounter, enjoyed a strong display in the centre of the pitch alongside Harry Winks.
He had the second-highest touches of the ball for Spurs, with 73, and had a pass accuracy of 80%, per WhoScored.
[ad_pod ]
More than that, though, the £27m-rated man also won nine aerial duels, won one tackle, made three clearances and also made one interception.
Alongside Winks, he sat deep and regularly looked to cut off the Hammers’ passing lanes, while also dominating in the air.
A Swiss army knife
Dier is excellent because of his versatility.
Not only can he play in defensive midfield but he also has the ability to play in central defence or even at right-back.
It remains to be seen if Mourinho will ever need to move him but the fact that he has turned in a strong first showing suggests that, if he needed to, he would be able to.
Dier is the kind of player that has to be trusted by his manager to succeed – his role is one where confidence and consistency are key.
That, of course, becomes difficult if the performances are not there to go along with it but, on Saturday, he was excellent. His fabulous numbers showed what a weapon he could be under Mourinho if given the right platform.
Liverpool may have one of the most revered forward tridents in world football but they are lacking strength in depth in that area.
Jurgen Klopp will be acutely aware of the fact that an injury to Sadio Mane, Mo Salah or Roberto Firmino has the potential to have a detrimental impact on the Reds’ form, so the arrival of a versatile attacking player may well be on his agenda when the window reopens for business.
Stuck in isolation? Our mega footy quiz will cure any boredom…
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the club have been linked with Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele.
Indeed, according to Spanish media outlet Sport, Klopp was a huge admirer of the form the Frenchman showed during his one season at Borussia Dortmund, and he considers him to be an ideal reinforcement for his attack.
The club are willing to offer €90m (£80m) for his services.
In response to the rumour, former Liverpool full-back Jose Enrique gave his endorsement for the deal via his Instagram account.
/B-ZsGNFi2-5/
That Enrique has alluded to Dembele’s focus is pertinent here.
The speedster’s attitude has been called into question by Liverpool legend Luis Suarez, who has said he “needs to focus more and be more serious in some ways”.
Issues with excessive gaming and arriving late to team meetings and training sessions have clouded his time at the Nou Camp, so there’s no doubt it would be a risk to bring him to Anfield.
Despite those potential reservations, though, it seems that Enrique is eager to see a deal go through.
In other news, Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a bargain swoop for serial trophy winner…
According to The Daily Express, Everton are set to face competition from fellow Premier League side Leicester for midfielder Baptiste Santamaria.
What’s the word?
Reports in recent months had suggested Carlo Ancelotti’s side were looking at a potential move for Santamaria in the January transfer window, but a move failed to materialise.
Now, The Daily Express have revealed that whilst the Toffees have continued to watch the Angers ace, they are now set to face a battle for his signature from Leicester.
Best of the Decade: Top scorers & creators – Can you name them?
The report claims that the Foxes are keeping tabs on Santamaria, and that they have been “keeping a careful eye on him in the last few months”, with La Liga sides Sevilla and Villareal also taking a keen interest in him.
Priority
Given how Morgan Schneiderlin has struggled massively at Goodison Park and arguably needs to be sold this summer, Everton desperately need to tie up a move for Santamaria.
The 25-year-old has been an ever-present for Angers this season, failing to complete the full 90 minutes in just one of the French side’s 28 Ligue 1 games.
He has been one of the best defensive-minded players in France, with his impressive average of 3.3 tackles per game putting him in joint-fourth amongst all players in the division.
Having someone like him to screen the Everton back-line could ensure Ancelotti’s side don’t suffer dismal defeats like the one against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Having an anchor man to just sit and protect would allow the Toffees’ more flair players the chance to shine further forward. It’s no surprise that only five teams have let in more than their abysmal total of 46 goals in the top-flight.
It’s exactly why they need to be very wary of sides both in the Premier League and abroad jumping ahead of them in the race to sign the £8.1m-rated Santamaria.
Meanwhile, Everton fans have reacted to this Richarlison tweet.
It now seems to be only a matter of time before Rangers release the evidence of wrong-doing by the SPFL they claim to have.
The Gers are staunchly against ending the season, but that is the way the rest of the clubs north of the border voted to the governing bodies resolution proposal. However, that was only after Dundee’s initial vote was not registered, and then changed when it finally went through a few days later.
An Emergency General Meeting has now been confirmed for May 12th to see whether another investigation is needed, and there may well need to be if the latest images are anything to go by. Twitter user Joe Black has shared an apparent invoice for a payment between Dundee and Dominic Keane’s company, Scotflow. The latter is not only the president of Livingston, but is also on the SPFL’s board.
As you can imagine, the Rangers fans are in absolute uproar, with one labelling it “corruption.” They have taken to the social media platform to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments below.
With their Premier League survival still somewhat in doubt, planning for the summer is unlikely to be David Moyes’ priority right now.
The Hammers currently sit 16th in the Premier League table, but are only clear of the bottom three on goal difference.
A porous defence has perhaps been their biggest weakness so far this term.
Only Norwich City, Aston Villa and Southampton have conceded more than the Hammers in the league this term, who have let in 50 goals from their 29 fixtures.
Their offensive play has been slightly better, but their remain doubts about the form of Sebastien Haller.
Signed for big money last summer from Eintracht Frankfurt the striker has scored seven goals from 27 league appearances, but has managed just three goals since October.
In midfield, the signing of Pablo Fornals has not yet borne fruit, with the Spaniard making just 15 starts, while injuries have continued to plague Jack Wilshere.
Here, we look at five players the club should target this summer…
Hirving Lozano
A player that has been linked with the Hammers in recent weeks, Lozano is an exciting talent that can play across the front line.
The 24-year-old was highly rated prior to his move to Europe, but has managed just two Serie A goals for Napoli in 16 appearances so far this season.
However, prior to his move to Italy he was prolific for PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie and would hope to rediscover that form at West Ham.
With Felipe Anderson scoring once this term for the Hammers and injuries restricting Yarmolenko to just nine starts, Lozano could add quality in area Moyes needs it.
Serhou Guirassy
Reportedly available for around £15m, Amiens forward Serhou Guirassy is name that has been linked with the club recently.
With nine goals in 23 Ligue 1 appearances this term he has not been prolific, but with Amiens relegated after picking up just 23 points from 28 matches, he was a bright spot.
An able hold up man who excels in the air, Guirassy really found his best form towards the end of the season and scored five times in his last seven matches of the year.
If he was to come to East London he would likely play back up to Haller, but with the ability to also play out wide, he offers a good value option.
William Carvalho
A name that has been linked with a move to the Premier League for many years is William Carvalho, but with the Portugal international apparently keen on a move to England, the deal could finally happen.
Despite his injuries concerns Carvalho is a player of plenty of talent and in the current environment could be available for less than the £20m Real Betis paid for him in the summer of 2018.
The 28-year-old has been restricted to just nine league appearances this term and with Wilshere’s injuries proving a real difficulty for the club, they may want to avoid signing another injury prone midfielder.
However, if they can secure him for a cut price and get him fit, he is an international with plenty of quality that could make a difference.
Tim Krul
With Lukasz Fabianski now 35 years old, finding a solution in the goalkeeper position must be a priority for the summer.
The addition of Roberto Jimenez did not work last year, with the Spaniard making a number of high-profile errors.
If money is short this summer one player that could represent a good option is Tim Krul, who has made the fourth-highest number of saves this term.
The Dutchman’s form this season saw him earn an international recall and with Norwich City likely to be relegated, he could be available at a cut-price.
Gonzalo Montiel
Soccer Football – Copa Libertadores Final – Second Leg – River Plate v Boca Juniors – Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain – December 9, 2018 River Plate’s Gonzalo Montiel reacts REUTERS/Sergio Perez
One player West Ham already look to be closing in on is Argentine defender Gonzalo Montiel.
According to reports in Spain, the River Plate man already agreed to join the Hammers, with a work permit the only potential stumbling block.
At 23 years old, he will bring some much-needed youth to the back line and having just made his national team debut, he is highly-rated back home.
With Pablo Zabaleta now 35 and a potential departure this summer and Ryan Fredericks managing just 19 starts this season, Montiel looks to be a smart deal.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier has caused a massive stir this week after he appeared to break lockdown rules for a third time.
The Sun claim that the north London outfit are set to slap him with a two-week fine, thought to be around £140k, and fans have been left fuming with their right-back with many venting their thoughts to social media.
It’s believed that Spurs feel embarrassed by Aurier’s actions after he posted a fresh haircut to Instagram on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old was first spotted out running with a friend before uploading a snap alongside teammate Moussa Sissoko, to which Jose Mourinho’s side issued an initial warning to the pair.
Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?
Supporters now want rid of the Ivory Coast international, labelling him a “joke” as well as a “clown” – he already divided opinion for his performances on the pitch as seen here, but now his actions off it are causing controversy and bad press.
Aurier has been at the club since the summer of 2017 when he joined in a £23m deal from Paris Saint-Germain, but could time now be running out for him at Tottenham?
Here’s how the Spurs faithful have reacted to news of the fine…
AND in other news, Spurs fans react as Fabrizio Romano delivers Luis Campos update…
Despite the January arrival of Bruno Fernandes, it seems Manchester United are still keen on bringing in another attacking midfielder. And according to Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have set their sights on Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz.
The Germany international has been in prolific form this season for the Bundesliga side, notching 15 goals in 38 games across all competitions, and providing a further eight assists too.
The Greatest Bargains in Premier League history – How much did they cost?
In fact, since German football returned back in May, Havertz has been in red-hot form for Leverkusen, striking five times in four matches, and even captaining the side on three occasions.
As well as what Falk had to say, The Manchester Evening News further boosted United’s potential hopes of signing him, by revealing that Havertz is open to a move to Old Trafford.
And after hearing about their interest in the 20-year-old, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the German starlet.
Some United fans lauded the “pull” Solskjaer has, and seemed to indicate that it’s the Norwegian’s presence that could lure Havertz to the club this summer.
A few United fans seemed to be split over Havertz’s arrival in context of Jadon Sancho, with one supporter urging the club to focus on the latter, and another two drooling at the prospect of seeing them line up alongside each other.
After spending around £47m to bring Fernandes to Old Trafford back in the January transfer window, it is certainly strange to see United targeting Havertz too – particularly with Paul Pogba still in their ranks.
Whilst Havertz has shown he can play both on the right-hand side and even up top, he is still predominantly an attacking midfielder, starting there 21 times this season according to Transfermarkt.
With Sancho still a summer target, it’s difficult to make sense of how United could spend big-money on both him and Sancho in the current circumstances too.
John Lundstram has been an absolute revelation for Sheffield United in the Premier League this season, and fans will be very excited about him returning to action after his recent Instagram post.
There has been lots of talk amongst supporters about the midfielder’s contract and him potentially not signing. Indeed, journalist Alan Biggs revealed in May that Chris Wilder admitted he may lose one player he wants to keep over contract demands, leading to many fans speculating that the player in question was Lundstram.
However, if his
/CBctK40HgaR/”>latest post is anything to go by, it seems like he is very happy at the club as he posted a video of him celebrating supported with the caption, “2 days to go, can’t wait 🙌🏻”.
With Sheffield United playing against Aston Villa in the first Premier League game of the restart, he is clearly excited to be back on the pitch and representing the Blades.
He has earned the respect of the fans after bagging four goals and three assists this season, per WhoScored. He may well now be the next in line for a new deal after Oliver Norwood, Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick all signed new contracts last week.
If he did pen fresh terms, it would be a massive boost for both the squad and also the supporters, whose fears of him leaving may have been eased slightly by his recent Instagram post. They will be delighted to see that, on the surface at least, it looks like the ex-Everton man remains happy at Bramall Lane.
Blades fans, will Lundstram sign a new contract? Let us know your thoughts below…