Newcastle United are on course for another season in the Premier League, but is signing Ryan Babel really the best way to celebrate?

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and manager Rafael Benitez are in a tug of war over future transfer funds, and it does not look like it is stopping anytime soon. The well-documented frugality of the department store tycoon has become a desperate tale of life at St James’ Park. Fans have pleaded over and over for the club to invest the necessary capital to return the club back to its former glory, and almost every time they have been met with the same answer: no.

However, where this feud has left supporters frustrated in the past, they will surely be hoping, and praying, that Mike Ashley shuts down the move for Benitez’s latest target, Ryan Babel.

As per Football Insider, the Spaniard is lining up a summer move for the Fulham man if he stays on as Newcastle United manager.

The pair have played with each other in the past when Benitez signed the Netherlands man from Ajax in the summer of 2007.

A source close to the player has apparently revealed to Football Insider that Newcastle United are among the clubs keeping tabs on Babel, who has done relatively well since joining Fulham in January – scoring four goals and providing four assists in 13 matches.

Is this enough to inspire the Magpies faithful? We doubt it. Real talent needs to be bought and it needs to be done quickly if Ashley wants to avoid facing a mob at the beginning of next season.

That means supplying the funds necessary and backing Rafael Benitez in the coming window; not forcing him to feed off the left-overs from relegated Fulham.

Newcastle United fans, would you be happy with Ryan Babel this summer? Is he really the player you have been looking for? Let us know in the comments below…

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Leeds United fans are feeling very pessimistic about their chances in the playoff semi-finals after a stat emerged that pointed in their favour.

The stat that was the subject of an article in the Yorkshire Evening Post stated: out of the 17 sides who have won the first leg away from home in the second tier, all 17 teams have gone on to qualify for the final at home.

This means that if Leeds were to follow that trend then they would be headed to Wembley at the end of this month.

Rather than fill supporters with hope however, it has instilled a sense of pessimism amongst the fanbase as they believe it would be typical if their club were the ones to buck this trend.

The Yorkshire club have already broken a spell of teams at the top of the Championship at Christmas going on to be promoted, so it makes sense for fans to be worried after this record emerged.

Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on Twitter…

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Tottenham Hotspur were offered the chance to sign Youri Tielemans from Monaco in January, per HLN journalist Kristof Terreur.

What’s the word?

Tielemans joined Leicester City on loan at the turn of the year, with the Foxes sending Andre Silva the other way.

The Belgium international has enjoyed an exceptional start to his Leicester career, playing 11 times in the Premier League.

He has scored three goals and laid on five assists, emerging as a genuinely classy operator at the King Power Stadium.

Tottenham were linked with a late swoop for Tielemans in January by the Daily Telegraph and Terreur has now confirmed that there is likely to be even more interest in the 21-year-old this summer.

Both Spurs and Manchester United are listed as potential suitors, with Tielemans a long-term target of both clubs.

May have missed the chance

Spurs may have waited too long to do this deal.

One thing is for certain; he would have boosted the club during their current injury crisis.

Following Mousa Dembele’s departure, the likes of Harry Winks, Eric Dier, Victor Wanyama and Dele Alli have all struggled for fitness.

Against Ajax in the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this week, Spurs were overrun and eventually had to task Danny Rose with playing in midfield.

In that game, Alli was clearly half-fit, failing to impact the game in the final third or in defence, as he drifted between attacking and central midfield.

Tielemans would have alleviated the pressure that is currently being placed on the England international – he probably would have started the game instead of him had he been on Spurs’ books – and could also have prevented Pochettino’s men being outmanoeuvred in midfield.

He may not have taken Spurs to victory but he would surely have helped, adding an extra dimension and looking to cut Ajax open with his incisive passing and swift dribbling. Instead, Tottenham conceded an away goal to the Dutch side and have left themselves a huge challenge to overcome in the second leg.

Under Pochettino, he could have become a star, but now, his value is soaring. Spurs, as said, may have waited too long.

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The phone at Selhurst Park will likely ring constantly throughout the summer transfer window, with Crystal Palace surely doing their best to keep Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Wilfried Zaha, both of whom had excellent 2018/19 campaigns and look very capable of playing for a top side.

If a Manchester City or a Manchester United come in with the big bucks we all know they have, though, the Eagles could lose one of their star assets. Fortunately, the latter’s reported first offer for right-back Wan-Bissaka falls well short of the mark and Palace fans are furious.

According to The Evening Standard, the Red Devils are set to test the waters with a £25m bid, although this is likely to be scoffed at by Steve Parish and co, with Wan-Bissaka surely valued at near double that figure if not more.

Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…

The 21-year-old has established himself as one of the best one-on-one defenders in the Premier League and has impressed greatly with his excellent timing in the tackle and athleticism down the right flank since breaking through to the first team in early 2018.

Here’s what the SE25 faithful had to say about the eight-figure offer on Twitter…

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Swansea City attacker Jordan Ayew has found himself at the centre of transfer tussle with a report in The Sun suggesting both Crystal Palace and Southampton are eager to sign him up, but the former should move quickly to tie him down despite his disappointing goalscoring record.

What’s the word, then?

Ayew spent the season on loan at Crystal Palace, and although he wasn’t a permanent fixture in the first team, he proved himself an able back-up and may have convinced Roy Hodgson that he could be a worthwhile option off the bench.

However, there could be fierce competition for his signature with Swansea keen to offload him from their wage bill. That would mean Palace would have to act early to have the best chance of making his loan permanent.

So far, the two clubs are yet to reach an agreement, giving encouragement to others that the Ghanaian forward may still be available. The Sun suggests that Palace may instead bide their time and wait until later in the transfer window to secure a better deal, for a player who could cost less than £5m.

What it means for Palace

News of this potential transfer may ring alarm bells for Palace fans, but it would actually be a smart move for that price.

There’s some exciting changes happening at Crystal Palace next summer. Find out what in the video below…

The 27-year-old has proven that he can do a job at this level, can play in a number of different positions and works hard for the club – knowing his teammates well already is obviously another big bonus.

With Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke both linked with moves away from Selhurst Park in recent weeks, the Eagles could do with having a player in those attacking positions in early, and Ayew woud fit the bill.

Signing him for £5m or less would also allow them to spend big on other areas of the squad, such as on the wing or for another new centre-forward.

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Mauricio Pochettino is once again to be asked to work within limited financial constraints this summer, though the club could make a £30million move for Barcelona’s Andre Gomes, according to the Daily Telegraph.

What’s the word?

The report states that Spurs are likely to break their self-imposed transfer ban that has been running since January 2018. Their last signing, indeed, was Lucas Moura, who moved to the club from PSG.

The Telegraph claim that two or three signings could be made, along with a deal for a homegrown player that will help boost the club’s quota.

Barca’s Gomes, currently on loan at Everton, Nice right-back Youcef Atal, Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish are all listed as potential signings this summer and the figure could reach in excess of £100million.

However, there is a claim that such a number will only be reached if attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen, right-back Kieran Trippier and centre-back Toby Alderweireld leave the club.

Gomes has made a total of 28 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring once and providing two assists.

Patience required with Gomes

The move for Gomes is something of a strange one.

He has not set the world alight at Everton and a deal at £30m seems steep.

But there is history here; the club signed Moussa Sissoko for the same fee in 2016 and he endured a rocky start to his career at the club.

The France international had previous experience in the Premier League, but that did not ensure a smooth transition to life at Spurs.

This season, however, he has been the club’s best midfielder, having finally bought into the Argentine’s methods.

Fans may need similar patience with Gomes, who does not appear to suit the high-pressing, high-intensity game favoured by Pochettino.

His season at Everton has been promising in patches, with fleeting spells of class providing reason to believe that he could be a hit at Tottenham, but question marks remain over whether he is truly at the level required to cement his place in a Champions League standard midfield.

Similar questions were asked of Sissoko when he arrived and it took him more than two seasons to answer those with interest.

It remains to be seen if Pochettino will be forced to work his magic with Gomes or if the playmaker will instantly thrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

كشف إيفان راكيتيتش لاعب وسط إشبيلية الإسباني أفضل ذكرياته مع منتخب كرواتيا في مونديال روسيا 2018 بعدما حل وصيفًا لـ الديوك الفرنسية.

راكيتيتش قدم مونديال كبير مع منتخب كرواتيا بعد الوصول إلى النهائي وإقصاء المنتخب الإنجليزي، لكن الهزيمة أمام الديوك الفرنسية 4/2 جردتهم من اللقب.

طالع أيضًا.. راكيتيتش: أشكر ميسي على اللعب بجواره.. وكنت جزءً من أكبر فريق في العالم

وقال راكيتيتش: “من المستحيل التقاط ذكرى واحدة فقط، لأن كل يوم في روسيا وقبل البطولة كذلك، كانت أيام مميزة للغاية، والأجواء جميلة”.

وأضاف في تصريحات للموقع الرسمي للاتحاد الدولي: “لقد عملنا بجد وقدمنا أفضل ما لدينا، ورغم أن المباراة النهائية كانت خسارة كبيرة، إلا أننا تمكنا من الحصول على الحب والاحترام لكرواتيا من جميع أنحاء العالم”.

وأكمل: “كان ذلك مذهلاً حقًا، لتلقي العديد من الرسائل من جميع أنحاء العالم، والجميع يشيد بنا، أنا متأكد من أن 90 في المائة من العالم كانوا وراءنا في النهائي”.

وواصل: “هذه الخسارة بالطبع لن ننساها أبدًا، لأننا كنا قريبين من الحلم وتحقيق اللقب، أكبر لقب يمكن لأي لاعب الفوز به في مسيرته الكروية، لكنني كنت فخورًا بما فعلناه”.

واستكمل: “كنا الفريق الأفضل أمام فرنسا لمدة 60 دقيقة، لكن هذه هي كرة القدم، أحيانًا في كرة القدم يمكنك أن تكون أفضل فريق لكنك تخسر، مع احترامنا لفرنسا، وبالتأكيد استحقوا ذلك على مدار البطولة، لكننا قدمنا أداء جيد للغاية في هذه المباراة تحديدًا”.

وعن مواطنه لوكا مودريتش لاعب ريال مدريد: “أفضل شيء حدث لكرواتيا كان لوكا مودريتش، بالنسبة لي هو مثل الأخ الأكبر”.

وتابع: “13 عامًا معًا في منتخب كرواتيا، الكثير من المعارك بيننا في الكلاسيكو، لكننا كنا نضحك ونبتسم في نهاية المباراة، وأن يكون هناك لاعبان كرواتيان في أكبر مباراة للأندية في كرة القدم، فقد كان أمرًا لا يصدق لبلدنا”.

وعن مسيرته الدولية، قال راكيتتش: “عندما بدأت مسيرتي في التاسعة عشرة من عمري، لم أكن أتخيل أنني سأشارك في أكبر مباراة في تاريخ كرة القدم، وأكبر بطولة في العالم، و100 مباراة دولية، ولكن الشعور بارتداء قميص منتخب كرواتيا والإشادة من الشعب الكرواتي، هذا فقط يدعوا للفخر”.

وشدد: “اعتزالي الدولي كانت أصعب لحظة في مسيرتي الكرية، لكن في بعض الأحيان عليك أن تدرك أن اللحظة قد حانت، 13 عامًا وأكثر من 100 مباراة، ومع عودتي إلى إشبيلية، في ظل تفشي فيروس كورونا، كان عليّ اتخاذ القرار، والتركيز مع فريقي وتخصيص المزيد من الوقت لعائلتي، كما أن منتخب بلادنا يمتلك العديد من المواهب، ويسحتقون الفرصة”.

وتطرق للحديث عن إشبيلية: “الأجواء في إشبيلية مُذهلة حقًا، ربما تكون هي المدينة الأكثر جنونًا في إسبانيا من حيث الشغف بكرة القدم”.

واختتم: “هناك إشبيلية وبيتيس وكلاهما في الدرجة الأولى، والتنافس بينهما كبيرًا، 5 دقائق بين ملعب كل فريق، كل هذه الأشياء تجعل الجميع في حالة جنون بكرة القدم”.

He might not have been the impact signing many Liverpool fans expected, but Naby Keita is finally starting to show why the club shelled out so much money for him.

The £48 million signing from RB Leipzig has taken some time to adapt to life in the Premier League and has found it difficult at times to find his form that made the midfielder such a prized asset in Germany, but heading into the business end of the season, Keita is finally starting to find his rhythm again.

The Guinean international has scored his first goals for the club against Southampton and Huddersfield, the latter of which came within the first 15 seconds of kick-off, and as well as Keita managing to score goals for Liverpool the central midfielder is beginning to show signs that next season will be the time he really takes up the mantle of Steven Gerrard’s replacement.

Keita has taken control of the Liverpool midfielder since his run of form started against the Saints, and since then has gone on to be one of the Reds’ best players in the team and is one of the driving forces behind Jurgen Klopp’s mean taking Manchester City all the way to the end for the Premier League title.

The midfielder failed to live up to the hype at the start of the season after a year of Liverpool fans waiting for his arrival and taking the prestigious number eight shirt from Gerrard, but Keita has found his feet in English football at the right time, and there is no doubt that next season the former RB Leipzig man will flourish for the Merseyside club if he carries on this form he has found.

Liverpool fans, will Keita step up next season? Let us know!

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This week Aston Villa, Derby, Leeds and West Brom all do battle to determine who enjoys a memorable day at Wembley and gain access to the Premier League’s executive washroom.

Only one can ultimately make it of course, courtesy of the Play-Offs, which means not only will three sides who have contributed significantly to an enthralling Championship season miss out but also too several of their brightest young stars will face another campaign away from the spotlights.

Football Fancast picks out three brilliant talents who deserve top flight football under those spotlights next August whether it’s with their present employer or elsewhere.

Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)

The nimble-footed 23-year-old may have Villa in his bones but surely must be preparing for an emotional departure this summer should Dean Smith’s side fail to cap an impressive season with promotion.

Having played his way through a prolonged decline in form Grealish’s development has taken a quantum leap forward in 2018/19, gaining the captain’s armband and becoming an inspirational figure at Villa Park; a go-to player for creativity and drive. The extent of which is hugely impressive as noted by Sky Sports recently who pointed out that the Villans win ratio dropped from 54.8% to 20% when the midfielder was absent while his six goals and six assists have been crucial.

Grealish has rightfully been included in every Championship Team of the Year going and his remarkable displays have reportedly resurrected serious interest from Tottenham among others.

He is far too good for the second tier. It’s as simple as that.

Jack Clarke (Leeds United)

The York-born winger may have only played a cameo role in Leeds’ soap operatic season but there is a straightforward reason for that – he is still only 18, callow and learning all the time,

That takes nothing away from the impact he has made however in his 22 Championship appearances, 21 of which have come from the bench. His care-free, ambitious wing-play has lit up Elland Road, displaying devilish footwork and balanced movement while his gleeful propensity to take on defenders presumably has those who can recall the days of Waddle and Barnes regarding him as ‘a breath of fresh air’.

So highly is the teen rated that in January TalkSport reported that he is being tracked by both Tottenham and Manchester City though this week former Leeds star Danny Mills espoused caution on behalf of the player saying: “I think Jack Clarke should stay. When I look at players who have left Leeds United too early in the past, it’s very, very difficult not to.”

Should those words be heeded let us hope that Bielsa’s side go up so we can all better enjoy the lad’s unquestionable ability.

Harry Wilson (Derby County)

With his successful season-long loan spell at Pride Park set to end this summer the 22-year-old right winger arrives at an important crossroads in his career. Does he return to his parent club Liverpool? Does he move on? Does he accept another temporary stint elsewhere in a bid to prove he has what it takes to excel at the highest level?

We can safely rule out the last option as Wilson has undoubtedly now shown he has the attacking chops to flourish in the Premier League. A weighty 17 goals and three assists in the Championship will have plenty of potential suitors knocking on Anfield’s front door and perhaps a move is the best decision as there is a risk of regressing should he go back there. As Noel Whelan suggested recently the Welsh flyer will struggle to get game-time ahead of Firmino, Salah and Mane yet he is clearly ready to make his mark at the top. A transfer then it is, only to where?

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Tottenham Hotspur fans want the club to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa this summer.

The club attempted to sign the attacking midfielder in the summer of 2018.

Per Sky Sports, they tabled a bid worth £25million in August as they attempted to prise the 23-year-old away from Villa Park.

Villa, of course, stood firm and Grealish has been a key part of the club’s push for promotion in the Championship this term.

He has played a total of 32 times in all competitions, scoring six goals and laying on six assists.

Since returning from an injury lay-off in March, Grealish, who is valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, has been in exceptional form, playing a key role in a run of 10 successive victories that took Villa to the Championship play-offs.

And Spurs fans want Grealish signed this summer as the club look to buy their first player since the January 2018 transfer window.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!