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Marko Arnautovic insists that he has matured, despite the transfer saga that plagued West Ham United throughout January, per Kronen Zeitung (via Sport Witness).

The Austria international attempted to engineer a move to China at the turn of the year but was ultimately convinced to stay, signing a new contract with the Hammers.

What’s the word?

Arnautovic has been at the centre of the biggest saga at the Irons since Dimitri Payet’s dramatic mid-season departure.

The striker very nearly moved to the Far East, instead signing a deal that includes a £45million release clause that can be triggered by any interested party in the summer.

He has started one game for the club since in the 4-3 win over Huddersfield Town, and was booed when he was substituted for Lucas Perez.

And he has now made the incredible claim that he has more maturity about him, despite a farcical turn of events under Manuel Pellegrini.

He said, via Sport Witness: “This “Bad Boy” thing will follow me for a long time.

“I used to do things without thinking twice before, today it’s different. I have matured enormously, both as a person and in sports. You just get older and smarter.

“Of course, the family contributes a great deal to this, and my agency Next Sports Marketing has also always given good advice on the side.”

Fans likely to bust a gut

Supporters are likely to bust a gut laughing at these quotes.

Arnautovic has cut a sulky figure since January and is clearly not happy with his lot at the London Stadium.

But he maintains that he puts a great deal of thought behind his every move now.

That, simply, cannot be true; had he decided to think his actions through in January he would not be sitting on the bench quite so often.

Instead, Pellegrini has put his foot down. Arnautovic is set to be out of the team for a while and he is likely to push for a move once again in the summer.

Has he matured? It’s doubtful.

يعتقد الدولي المغربي حكيم زياش، جناح فريق تشيلسي، أنّ زميله السابق، دوني فان دي بيك، قادر على النجاح مع فريقه الجديد، مانشستر يونايتد، وذلك قبل مباراة الفريقين في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

زياش وفان دي بيك، تزاملا سويًا في أياكس أمستردام قبل الانتقال إلى البريميرليج، هذا الصيف.

ويستعد تشيلسي، لملاقاة مانشستر يونايتد، مساء غدًا السبت، ضمن لقاءات الجولة السادسة من البريميرليج.

وقال زياش في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية: “نحن كنا نتحدث في البداية عندما انضم إلى مانشستر يونايتد”.

وأضاف: “ولكن في الأسبوع الماضي، لم نتحدث كثيرًا، ولم أتحدث معه عن وضعه (عدم مشاركته في المُباريات)”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. حكيم زياش يتحدث عن فشل انتقاله لـ آرسنال.. ويؤكد: ذهبت إلى تشيلسي في الوقت المناسب

وواصل: “أعتقد أنّ فان دي بيك، سيكون بحاجة إلى الوقت من أجل التكيف والنجاح، إنه يأتي من بلد مختلف، وبأسلوب مُختلف في اللعب”.

وتابع: “أنا أعلم بالتأكيد أنّ فان دي بيك، سيكون بحاجة إلى الوقت، حتى يتعاد على كل شيء مع مانشستر يونايتد”.

وأتم تصريحاته قائلًا: “ثم في النهاية سيُظهر صفاته وجودته مع الفريق، ولكن أهم شيء بالنسبة لي الآن، هو أنّ يكون هادئًا”.

There’s something in the water at Hale End these days.

For the first time in what feels like forever, Arsenal have an exciting group of youngsters coming through at the club that all look like genuine first-team hopefuls.

Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah are just a few of the prospects to come through Arsenal this season and have an impact in the world of football, but in an era of the game where youngsters are finding it hard to make it into the first-team at the top-level, it is vital Unai Emery keeps hold of this group of youngsters at the club.

As well as the quadrant of players who fans see as the most promising, Ainsley Maitland-Niles has grabbed his sophomore year in the first-team with both hands and has established himself as a vital player going into the second half of the season, a sign that players from the academy can feature for the senior team.

Emery has no desire to sell these players on despite interest from Bundesliga teams for some of these youngsters, and it is important for the future of the club that the Spaniard keeps hold of them.

Without Champions League football, for now, turning to youth is a genuine option Emery could turn too in order to save some money in the transfer market, and fans would agree this could be a beneficial move for the club.

It won’t be a crazy claim to make to say Emery could rely on some youngsters to fill out barebone positions in the Arsenal team, such as the wing where the Gunners currently only have Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the senior team who play their naturally.

This group of players coming through at Arsenal are a once in a generation bunch, a crop of youngsters that only come through at a club once every few decades, and for fans of the club, they know that if they are given the time to develop they will one day star for the first-team.

Arsenal fans, what youngster do you want to see more of in the first-team?

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Dominic Ball will be offered a permanent deal at Aberdeen this summer, manager Derek McInnes has confirmed.

What’s the story?

Well, as reported by The Daily Record, Ball has spent the last 18 months on loan from Rotherham, but his contract with the Millers expires this summer.

This means the versatile defender will be a free agent, putting him well within the Dons’ price range for summer signings.

And McInnes has clearly been impressed by the 23 year-old, openly speaking about his desire to pen him to a permanent deal.

“Dom loves it here and really enjoys it. There is a good chance we might get something done on that front,” McInnes said.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Perfect signing

Ball would hardly be a marquee signing for the Dons, but he would be a very smart addition as the club look to close the gap on the big two next season.

The 23 year-old came through Tottenham’s youth academy before spending time on loan with Cambridge and Rangers, eventually making a permanent switch to Rotherham in 2016.

He has performed at multiple youth levels in both the England and Northern Ireland international set-ups, and has filled in very impressively for Shay Logan while the right-back has been out with an ankle injury.

Ball has racked up 31 appearances in all competitions this season, finding the net twice, and his ability to cover multiple positions in McInnes’ squad makes life so much easier for the boss.

Getting a player with this versatility without spending a penny is just the cherry on top – this would be a perfect way to kick start the Dons’ summer business.

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In recent memory, Birmingham have had a habit of losing their most promising academy players. Nathan Redmond was the first to flee the scene before Damarai Gray also packed his bags and moved on too.

Gray made his first-team debut for the club at 17, Redmond at 16. But the club now has a youngster who can surpass them both.

At the age of 15, Jude Bellingham has already been a part of the first team squad. He’s yet to make his senior bow, but it seems only a matter of time before he does.

However, embroiled in a relegation battle, it may be best for Garry Monk to ease him in slightly more gently next season.

It says a lot about the player, though, that he has been close to appearing in the Championship already. Monk clearly has no fears and if you’re good enough you’ll get your chance.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

In Birmingham’s match with West Brom last month he was the 19th man in the squad, warming up with the team before the game and then watching on from the substitutes bench.

Considering his age it’s quite the achievement and he now has the potential to follow in the footsteps of some of the Blues’ former players currently plying their trade in the Premier League.

Of course, the club will hope he doesn’t make the leap with another side as Redmond and Gray did.

Bellingham is an attacking midfielder but has a habit of getting involved in the goals. He scored four in one game against Liverpool last year and also found the back of the net on his U23 debut this season, popping up with the winner three minutes from time. That says it all about his will and determination.

He’s also shone at youth level for England and has hit double figures for appearances in the U23s this term.

The 15-year-old is incredibly raw but is certainly one that should be monitored closely going into next season.

Not turning 16 until the summer, Bellingham has a serious chance of becoming the club’s youngest player to feature in the Championship. Only time will tell whether he breaks that record.

Please Rafa, sign the contract! For all that Newcastle fans aren’t surprised a deal is yet to be agreed, they’re so desperate to see Benitez stay at St James’ Park beyond this season. He just has to, there’s simply no other option. 

Clearly, there would be a tremendous boost around the ground should the Spaniard stay and it could help Newcastle sustain a better future. The Mike Ashley era has given fans precious little reason to smile but the sight of the former Liverpool boss extending his deal would do exactly that.

Though whether or not it will happen is another matter and that is desperately worrying those adoring fans.

For all that Rafa Benitez has done for the club, it would be horrendous to see him leave and that’s why Mike Ashley needs him to sign a new contract and then make available a stunning war-chest that will ensure Newcastle are very active in the summer transfer window.

Big signings are the ones that fans dream about and Atletico Madrid’s Gelson Martins would certainly be a player who fits that category.

Martins, (who is valued at £25.2 million on Transfermarkt) was a January target for Newcastle (as per Sky Sports), at least until Monaco swooped in and stole him away at the last minute.

Since, the Portuguese winger has scored three times in nine appearances, helping Monaco consequently steer clear of the relegation zone. Though Newcastle seem to be alright and will play Premier League football next season, the addition of Gelson Martins would have been tremendous and could of help seen a more rampant move up the table.

If they have the audacity to try again in the summer, a wing-wizard with the quality that Martins possesses is exactly what they need. Explosive and unpredictable, he’d offer the ultimate upgrade on wide options such as Christian Atsu and Matt Ritchie, as well as making a statement in the transfer market.

Clearly, there’s interest there and surely Monaco will undergo major changes – they already have since Martins’ arrival in January – so perhaps the Toon Army would be wise to try and relaunch a move. Things haven’t worked out in the Spanish capital but the former Sporting Lisbon ace is so obviously a talent.

With pace in abundance, skill and overall end product, Martins is still only 23 and therefore has time on his side to really adapt to life in Newcastle.

Do you agree that Newcastle should try and sign Martins again? If not, why not? Let us know!

As an outsider looking in, being a backup player for any team looks like a lonely job.

Minutes are hard to come by, weeks and months could be spent just sitting on the substitute bench, and it seems no matter how hard they try the only way to start games is either in cup competitions or an injury to other players.

For Carl Jenkinson, though, being a backup has been the story for most of his career, but being second fiddle to Hector Bellerin is something the fans aren’t fazed about one bit.

Dubbed “the professional Arsenal fan” by the supporters, Jenkinson has won a special place in the hearts of fans for being the player that gives it 100% no matter how long he hasn’t played for and for being a well-documented follower of the club.

Since joining the club from Charlton as a 19-year-old in the summer of 2011, Jenkinson has only managed 69 appearances for the club in the eight years the right-back has spent at Arsenal, and although many thought his time would be over when Unai Emery came to the club the 27-year-old defender has been of some use for the Spaniard this season.

Jenkinson has started three Europa League games this season, all of them in the group stage, and in February the England-born defender started his first Premier League game in nearly two years for the Gunners, and his first start in the league at the Emirates Stadium since 2013.

Although Ainsley Maitland-Niles has established himself as the replacement for Hector Bellerin as the Spaniard recovers from an ACL injury, Jenkinson is surely likely to remain at the club next season as a backup yet again.

But not just backup in the right-back, but as reinforcement in every position of the defence. Emery has done some tinkering to Jenkinson’s game this season, transforming him from a right-sided defender and nothing more to a player who can play across the back four.

Jenkinson has played and impressed in every area of defence this season, and with the fullback entering the prime years of his career it won’t be a surprise to see more of the English defender next season as Arsenal’s surprise backup defender.

Arsenal fans, what is your favourite Jenkinson memory?

علّق كينجسلي كومان، على هدفيه في شباك أتلتيكو مدريد، ومساهمته في فوز فريقه بايرن ميونخ برباعية دون رد، بمنافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

والتقى بايرن ميونخ حامل اللقب، مع أتلتيكو مدريد، على ملعب “آليانز آرينا”، ضمن مباريات الجولة الأولى لدور مجموعات دوري أبطال أوروبا. (طالع تقرير المباراة).

وقال كومان في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”: “لعبنا بشكل جيد وسجلت هدفين لذا أنا سعيد”.

وبسؤاله عن هدفه في نهائي الموسم الماضي أمام باريس سان جيرمان، والذي منح اللقب لبايرن ميونخ، أضاف كومان: “أفكر في الأمر أحيانًا، لكننا الآن في موسم جديد ونريد الفوز به مرة أخرى”. أهداف مباراة بايرن ميونخ وأتلتيكو مدريد

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West Ham United are lining up a summer move for long-term target Gary Medel, per Claret & Hugh.

The Hammers were tracking the Besiktas midfielder in January but no move materialised.

What’s the word?

Football FanCast reported at the start of January that Medel was on the club’s radar as a potential signing.

Indeed, sources at the club told FFC that he was being considered as a back-up to Declan Rice.

He will be out of contract in 2020 and Claret & Hugh report that manager Manuel Pellegrini remains wary of the lack of depth behind the 20-year-old.

Indeed, the story claims that were the England international to pick up an injury, there is no obvious replacement at the club.

Medel has subsequently been identified and a fee of around £5million has been touted.

A sensible move

Medel would be a solid if unspectacular signing for the Hammers.

He has experience of English football, having played for Cardiff City in the 2013-14 season, and is a national compatriot of Pellegrini.

With Rice shouldering the burden of being the only natural defensive midfielder at the club, a bargain move for Medel makes all the sense in the world.

He would only play sporadically but, at the age of 31, he is unlikely to care, while he will surely be heartily compensated.

Rice will of course be delighted that the Chilean will only be a reserve for him, but also be pleased about his arrival as he can learn from a player with huge experience in a position he is still learning about.

Sheffield United lost ground this weekend in the race for promotion as they saw Leeds win while losing at home Bristol City themselves.

The Blades, who have been in fine form for much of the season in the Championship, will be hoping to land a top two spot, but will still know a play-off place is a massive bonus for a club who are only in their second year back in the Championship.

With the summer bound to be another big one regardless of their league, the Blades are today being linked with a move for Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie.

The 27-year-old has developed into a fine central midfielder in the Scottish league, and with his contract running out, the Blades are looking to swoop and add the impressive all action midfielder to their ranks over the summer.

And we here in the Tavern feel it would be a shrewd move by the Blades to land Shinnie, who would fit in well with the club ethos at Bramall Lane.

In Shinnie, United would be getting a player who is all action and plenty of heart, something that manager Chris Wilder loves to see in his players.

Add to this their lack of options in the middle of the park outside of John Fleck and Oliver Norwood, and Shinnie’s arrival would appear to make massive sense for the club.

The Blades don’t and never will have the biggest budget in the Championship, so signing someone on a free with the ability, drive, and will to win like Shinnie has could well prove to be a brilliant move by the club.

While others are interested, it has to be said that Shinnie and the Blades look like a match made in heaven.