[ad_pod ]

According to a report in The Daily Record, Celtic have placed a £15m price tag upon midfielder Tom Rogic’s head following interest from English Premier League clubs Leicester City and Southampton, but the club should be doing everything in their power to keep him at Parkhead.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Daily Record report that former Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers is ready to spark a bidding war for the 26-year-old international this summer as he is keen to bring him to the King Power Stadium.

The Daily Record report that Saints as well as a number of other sides across Europe are also keeping tabs on the 26-year-old, who still has four years remaining on his contract with the Glasgow giants.

The source adds that Celtic, who are yet to decide whether Neil Lennon will get the job on a permanent basis, are facing a mass exodus of players at the end of the season, with Oliver Burke, Timo Weah, Filip Benkovic, Jeremy Toljan, Dedryck Boyata, Mikael Lustig, Emilio Izaguirre, Cristian Gamboa and Dorus de Vries all expected to depart.

Need to keep Rogic

While a fee of £15m or more may be tempting to the Scottish Premiership champions, they shouldn’t even consider cashing in on one of their key men.

Controversial. Uncompromising. Leader. C’mon the Hoops’ Keith talks the future of Celtic’s evergreen captain Scott Brown in the video below…

The fact that he has scored eight goals and provided a further nine assists in all competitions this term despite suffering a knee injury mid-season tells you all you need to know about the quality the Australian has in his locker.

It wouldn’t be easy for Celtic to simply go out and find another attacking midfielder like the 26-year-old, who should be approaching the peak years of his career.

Far too often in recent years the club has let their players leave for England far too easily, and this summer needs to be different if they want to hold off the ever-improving Rangers in the Scottish top flight, and make waves again in the Champions League.

Rogic is a player that can undoubtedly help them do that, and he must stay exactly where he is.

For Manuel Pellegrini to make them contenders for a European spot, West Ham United need to stock up on some special talents. Yes, they did so last summer, but there’s a lot of work to do still. 

Indeed, in the summer overhaul, the Hammers need to attract the best players and especially stock on decisive talent up front.

They’ve been scouting many attacking players recently and according to reports from SportBild (via Tutto Mercato Web), Andrej Kramaric is the latest star on their radar. Excitingly, the Croatian international’s having another stunning season at the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim, leading their line in commendable fashion.

Interestingly, Hoffenheim only paid £9.9 million to sign the forward back in 2016.

Kramaric – valued at a big pretty big £31.5m by Transfermarkt – has added a lethal to their attack, finishing off chances effortlessly and rising up to score goals whenever most needed. He’s scored 15 goals in 25 appearances, currently leading the goal-scoring charts at his club. However, he’s not only there to finish off chances, he can create quite a few as well.

A proactive figure who is at the heart of attacking moves throughout, he can revitalize the Hammers attack with his endless vigour. Kramaric’s averaged 3.7 shots per game and 1.7 key passes per game (stats via WhoScored), proving just how influential he is when it comes to stitching together attacks.

Yes, his stint with Leicester City did very little to convince, but the Croatian can work wonders with the creative Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini to produce gold in the attack. Imagine how nice that would be, Hammers fans, a striker who can score actual, real-life goals?

Furthermore, his versatility in attack means he can play as a striker or advanced midfielder as well. Not only would he be the perfect replacement to Marko Arnautovic, but the confident Croatian can add more depth in attack and help create sparks with his overall influence in overseeing devastating attacking moves.

West Ham fans, do you think Kramaric can be the world-class signing required? Join the discussion by commenting below…

If any team is planning to take Wilfried Zaha out of Crystal Palace this summer, it is not going to be easy for them.

According to the Daily Mail, the south London club will demand a staggering £80m fee for their star man.

And should one outfit be willing to pay that, then they will look to Jack Grealish and Ademola Lookman as potential replacements, the same outlet reports.

Struggling to break into Everton’s starting XI, a transfer to a side like Crystal Palace could be a good move.

And from the Eagles’ perspective, it is not hard to see why they would want the 21-year-old.

Quick and a capable dribbler, with his direct style of play, Lookman looks an ideal fit for the 4-4-2 formation Roy Hodgson often goes with.

The England U21 international alone, though, will not be enough to make up for the loss of Zaha.

Arriving with another creative attacker like Grealish would obviously lighten the blow but, if not, Crystal Palace could find themselves in big trouble next season.

For as good as Lookman is, asking the Everton man to instantly deliver and replicate Zaha’s impact might be a bit too much.

Considering his talent and potential, Lookman is certainly worth bringing in. But if the Eagles are going to be without their Ivorian talisman, then the ex-Charlton winger’s arrival has to come alongside another attacker and a goalscorer.

Crystal Palace fans, do you want to see Lookman arrive at Selhurst Park? Join the discussion by commenting below.

[ad_pod ]

Southampton are on the brink of securing their Premier League status for next season after a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night, a result that saw them go within three points of the 40-point target.

The result continued an impressive run for the Saints that has seen them win four of their last nine games, including wins against Tottenham and Wolves, and an impressive showing against Manchester United and Liverpool as well.

Despite their resurgence under Ralph Hasenhüttl, one player has come under particular criticism from the Saints’ faithful.

25 year-old Jack Stephens has been subject to much online criticism throughout Southampton’s bid for survival, but has remained involved under the Austrian manager despite some difficult individual performances.

These fans weren’t afraid to show how they feel about Stephens…

Southampton fans have enjoyed a plethora of talent in the centre-back position, with World Cup finalist Dejan Lovren, Southampton legend Jose Fonte and Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk all wearing the red and white stripes in recent years.

Despite the quality that fans have had the pleasure of enjoying in that position, there are many who continue to support Stephens amongst all the criticism, and have taken to Twitter to defend the centre-back, who’s been at the club since 2011.

أعلن عمرو الجنايني رئيس الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم عن استضافة مصر لمباراة السوبر الإفريقي.

نهضة بركان نجح في الفوز ببطولة الكونفدرالية على حساب بيراميدز بهدف دون رد.

طالع أيضًا.. عمرو الجنايني: محمد صلاح سيظل في مصر حتى تتحول مسحته إلى سلبية

وقال الجنايني في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر فضائية “أون تايم سبورت”: “الجهد والعبء الذي كان على عاتقنا طوال الموسم توج بوجود الأهلي والزمالك في نهائي إفريقيا، ووصول بيراميدز لنهائي الكونفدرالية”.

وأوضح: “السوبر الإفريقي سيلعب في مصر، ونناقش الموعد الآن مع الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم”.

ويستعد الأهلي لمواجهة الزمالك في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا والذي سيقام يوم 27 نوفمبر الجاري على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي.

جدير بالذكر أن نهضة بركان ينتظر الفائز من مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في دوري أبطال إفريقيا، لمواجهته في السوبر الإفريقي.

[ad_pod ]

Almost a decade ago, Liverpool were managed by Roy Hodgson, and we all know how that ended up.

Appointed in the summer of 2010, the current Crystal Palace manager lasted less than six months at Anfield, winning only seven of his 20 games and leaving the Reds just four points clear of the relegation zone.

Whilst that in itself is fairly humorous, some of the signings Hodgson made during his time on Merseyside were horrendous, to say the least.

Watch “Jurgen Klopp’s” hilarious masterplan for winning the title in the video below…

The likes of Christian Poulsen, Milan Jokanovic, Paul Konchesky and Fabio Aurelio, who was signed on a free transfer having only left the club a few months prior, were all baffling acquisitions by Hodgson – but, it gets worse.

Amazingly, the now 71-year-old boss wanted to bring Carlton Cole to Anfield with just days remaining of the transfer window, and was willing to exchange Ryan Babel in order to get his man.

The move never materialised, luckily for Liverpool looking back on it – just to make matters even more ridiculous, the pursuit of Cole came after Hodgson missed out on Ola Toivonen, who recently played for Sunderland and had hit just 13 Eredivisie goals in the season before Liverpool’s interest. Hardly phenomenal numbers.

Throughout his entire Premier League career, Cole has never hit over 10 goals in a single season – it was that figure that he reached in the campaign before Liverpool’s interest in him.

In the term that saw Hodgson last just six months before Kenny Dalglish replaced him, the West Ham forward netted only five goals in 35 appearances – a bullet well and truly dodged for Liverpool.

Cole, a Chelsea academy graduate, is now 35 years of age and plays in Indonesia for Persib Bandung.

It is truly astounding to think Hodgson felt that Cole would add anything to a side of Liverpool’s magnitude, and the fact that he was even a target sums up the former England manager’s botched reign at the club.

[ad_pod ]

Loads of Newcastle fans have been reacting to the latest transfer news, as reports claim the Magpies are eyeing Juan Mata.

According to The Sun, Rafael Benitez will look to bring Mata to Tyneside if he continues as Newcastle manager.

The report claims the Magpies boss is keen on a reunion with Mata, who he coached at Chelsea.

The Manchester United playmaker will be out of contract this summer, and it looks unlikely that he will be offered a new deal at Old Trafford.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

Of course, Mike Ashley infamously does not sign older players, especially ones with bad injury histories and high wage demands, so a move for the 31 year-old would surely be at the command of Benitez.

Mata scored five goals and added two assists on limited playing time this campaign, and his creativity from the middle of the park would certainly give the Magpies a necessary boost in carving out chances for their front men.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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…

[ad_pod ]

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…

[ad_pod ]

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.