Newcastle have been brilliant at times this season and if Rafa Benitez does decide to stay, the fans truly believe in a very bright future for the club. Yes, it really is the hope that kills you when it comes to supporting the Toon, isn’t it? 

Frustratingly, the foundations at Newcastle United are there for all to see. With the right backing, it wouldn’t be unthinkable to see the Magpies fighting for a place in Europe but important steps must be taken to reach that stage.

Firstly, either Mike Ashley must leave, or stump up the required funds to make brilliance happen. Secondly, Rafa Benitez has to stay, then real hope can ensue. With that in mind, this summer is essential for their progression as a club. With the right players brought it, not only will they likely remain a Premier League side, they could really kick-on as well.

As much as fans would love to see big name players arrive at St James’ Park, sometimes the acquisition of squad players is also vital. One player previously linked with a move to Newcastle was Andreas Samaris, and that is someone they should look to rekindle an interest in.

Samaris, who was signed for £9 million back in 2014 (as per Transfermarkt), is a talented midfielder that is set to leave Benfica on a free this summer, in search of a new challenge.

The 29-year-old is most definitely experienced, having been capped by Greece 35 times during his career thus far.

Not only that, he has also been a regular in Portugal still this season, despite the brilliant young talent Benfica have breaking through. If he can make 25 appearances, score two goals and assist another two as well, the impact he could make at Newcastle is unthinkable.

Thought to be close to a move to Tyneside in January before a late collapse, the Magpies should relaunch a move, given the state of their current midfielder.

Of course,  it would make perfect sense to sign Samaris with Isaac Hayden reportedly (as per Telegraph) determined to leave St James’ Park this summer. He’d be the perfect replacement for the Englishman as he can produce goals and assists in the final third, as well as using his passing ability and defensive qualities to good effect.

Think a much, much better Mo Diame.

In a deep-lying role, Samaris would be well used by Newcastle to sit and protect their defensive line and who knows, he could be a right bargain if it works out.

Toon fans, still keen on Samaris? If not, why not? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

يرى الدولي الإسباني سيزار أزبيليكويتا ظهير تشيلسي، أنّ وجود البرتغالي جوزيه مورينيو، في توتنهام هوتسبير، لن يضيف ميزة إضافية لمباراة الديربي في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، خاصًة وأنّ سبيشال وان يواجه فريقه السابق.

تشيلسي يستقبل توتنهام مساء الأحد على ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج”، ضمن لقاءات الجولة العاشرة من البريميرليج.

وقال أزبيليكويتا في تصريحات نقلتها شبكة “تريبال فوتبول” البريطانية: “مورينيو لديه تاريخ رائع في تشيلسي، ولكن هذه هي كرة القدم، الحياة تستمر، لعبنا ضده عندما كان في مانشستر يونايتد، والآن هو في توتنهام”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أزبيليكويتا يهدد توتنهام قبل الديربي: نريد أن نصبح الأفضل في لندن

وأضاف: “نحن مُحترفون ونريد أنّ يفوز فريقنا، وأنا مُتأكد من أنّ جوزيه مورينيو سيريد نفس الشيء مثلنا وهو الفوز بالمباراة”.

وواصل: “أي مباراة ضد توتنهام هي دائمًا ديربي كبير، ونحن نعلم أن الجميع يريد أن يكون جزءًا منها، لن يكون هُناك عواطف في هذه المباراة، نحن سندخل للحصول على الثلاث نقاط”.

وأتم تصريحاته: “نحن وتوتنهام في حالة جيدة حقًا، ونتيجة المباراة لن تُحدد شيئًا، الموسم لا يزال أمامنا، إنها مباراة مهمة للجميع، ونحن نأمل أنّ نكون في أفضل حالاتنا”.

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Unai Emery is eager to reunite with Thomas Meunier at Arsenal, according to France Football as reported by Get French Football News.

What’s the word?

The Belgian looks set to depart Paris this summer after falling to third-choice behind both Thilo Kehrer and Colin Dagba in Thomas Tuchel’s right-sided defensive options.

Signed by Emery in 2016 Meunier began to establish himself as a regular under the Spaniard, making 46 appearances in two seasons and earning the starting right-back berth for Belgium’s 2018 World Cup run.

Now, however, with opportunities dwindling at the Parc des Princes the 27-year old could be on the move for a price of €30m (£26.51m) and Arsenal are said to be interested.

Disaster in the making

This signing has disaster written all over it and the rumours aren’t even at an advanced stage yet.

With just £40m to spend, should Arsenal miss out on Champions League football, Meunier would simply be an appalling use of those funds.

Considering Stephan Lichtsteiner’s impending departure, right-back depth should be a consideration, but not a priority and certainly not for the prices mentioned around Meunier.

Despite a long-term knee injury, Hector Bellerin is still the Gunners’ right-back for the future and should return early next season. While only time will tell whether the Spaniard can fully recover, there is reasonable hope that at just 24 years of age his best days are still ahead.

In addition, Emery also has Ainsley Maitland-Niles at his disposal. Traditionally a midfielder, the Arsenal youth product filled in at right-back on multiple occasions this season and showed enough to suggest he is a capable player in the position, if not the long-term answer.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals what Lasagne-Gate was really like for Tottenham’s food-poisoned stars – Check out the video below…

Spending £26.5m on a player in a filled position is an unwise move and paying that much for a player of Meunier’s ability is downright ludicrous.

Although the Belgian enjoyed a decent spell under Emery, he is a limited footballer who lacks the defensive discipline to excel in the Premier League. Known for his attacking threat, Meunier’s best football has come with the national team where he has the freedom to venture forward that likely would not be available to him in England.

Simply put, there is a reason that Meunier has become third-choice at PSG and Arsenal would be making a huge mistake to chase the big name that doesn’t fit.

When Chris Wilder was given the chance to manage his boyhood club in 2016 following an incredibly successful spell at Northampton Town, not even the most optimistic of Sheffield United supporters would have predicted the impact that he would go on to achieve at Bramall Lane.

In fact, when you consider that the 58-year-old had never managed at League One level during his managerial career, the Blades knew that they were taking quite a big risk by appointing him.

However, United needn’t have worried as upon his arrival, Wilder transformed the club’s fortunes by revolutionising their style of play. With the Blades employing a 3-5-2 system which gave their central defenders the freedom to launch attacks, they stormed to the third tier title, finishing 14 points clear of second-place Bolton Wanderers.

Whereas the prospect of playing in one of the world’s most competitive leagues would have been daunting for some, Wilder’s side thrived at the opportunity to test themselves in the Championship and enjoyed a very fruitful 2017/18 campaign by securing a 10th-place finish.

With the sense that something special was building in South Yorkshire, the former Oxford United boss brought in the likes of David McGoldrick, Dean Henderson, Oliver Norwood and John Egan last summer as he looked to build a squad to challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

After experiencing a mixed start to the season, United finally clicked into gear during the Christmas period as they closed the gap on the top-two in the second tier.

Although Norwich City would avoid the Blades’ clutches, Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United eventually cracked under the pressure of expectancy, allowing Wilder’s side to clinch a return to the top-flight.

With a busy summer ahead of him, the last thing that Wilder will be thinking of is the prospect of leaving Bramall Lane in the immediate future. Indeed, the rumour from the Daily Mail earlier this week touting him as a potential option for Brighton and Hove Albion just seems so out of whack with the project he has in place in the Steel City.

Undeniably one of the best managers in England, he is living the dream by being in charge of the Blades and will be wanting to help the club prolong their stay amongst some of the world’s biggest club sides.

What do you think United fans? What would it take for Wilder to consider leaving in the future? Is he the greatest manager in the history of your club? Let us know below.

While Manchester United’s only goal now should be to appoint a technical director to oversee the rebuilding process, they must’ve been impressed with what they’ve seen from Axel Tuanzebe at Aston Villa.

Indeed, the 20-year-old was once again excellent, helping the Villans book a spot in Wembley for the play-off final.

Despite missing a few months due to injury, Tuanzebe’s been in excellent form since returning last month. He showcased his brilliant defensive skills by restricting West Brom’s attack, dominating Jay Rodriguez in both matches. He helped to make important clearances, timely tackles and also allowed Villa to dominate the games with his stunning distribution skills.

Impressively, throughout this season, Tuanzebe’s been a key part in their success, forming a formidable defensive partnership with Tyrone Mings. Unlike his aggressive counter-part, the youngster’s a much more assertive defender. He’s recorded 1.1 tackles, 3.9 clearances, 3.1 aerials won per game, while also boasting an excellent 84.2% passing accuracy (stats via WhoScored).

He’s kept some daunting forwards quiet with smart defending and definitely must have impressed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Excitingly, the Norwegian’s already voiced his excitement at uniting with the centre-back in pre-season. If his impressive loan stint proves anything, Tuanzebe should be integrated into the team quickly.

The 21-year-old’s definitely much better on the ball than Chris Smalling or Phil Jones and not as error-prone as either. He’s very mature considering his age, having the capability of maintaining a calm vibe in his defending. The reliable Tuanzebe’s ready for the spotlight and can add more depth to fortify United’s defensive structure next season.

United fans, do you think Tuanzebe should be a first-teamer next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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According to The Times, Chinese club Shandong Luneng Taishan have offered £15m for Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke, who has struggled for form in front of goal in the past two seasons, netting just four league goals since the start of the 2017/18 campaign.

The Belgian behemoth fell behind Michy Batshuayi in the pecking order once his compatriot signed for the Eagles on loan in January and it seems now that he could be on his way out.

What’s the word?

Well, The Times report that the 28-year-old could join his international teammate, Marouane Fellaini, in the Far East this summer after three mixed seasons at Selhurst Park.

The former Aston Villa and Liverpool striker was signed for £27m in 2016 and went on to score 17 goals in his first campaign in red and blue under Alan Pardew and then Sam Allardyce, although it’s all been downhill since.

Injuries have curtailed the hitman’s opportunities in the starting XI but his performances when fit haven’t helped either – Palace fans in the Holmesdale end will be familiar with the 6 ft 3 flop taking aim at goal, mainly because the ball usually hits them rather than the back of the net.

Take it and run, Palace

The Selhurst Park outfit could face a big reshuffle in the coming months, with the futures of star men Wilfried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka uncertain and a number of players surely deemed surplus to requirements. While the transfer sagas concerning the aforementioned duo will likely dominate the remainder of the window, Palace should have no doubts about accepting this bid for Benteke.

A Crystal Palace fan shares his most gutting moment of the last 10 years supporting the Eagles in the video below…

The striker takes up an extraordinary amount of the Eagles’ wage budget, raking in £130,000-a-week – a figure Palace surely can’t justify any longer – and, with just a year left on the 34-cap international’s current deal, they could face losing him on a free next summer if they don’t sell him soon.

Steve Parish and co likely won’t get a better offer than this between now and January so they should be biting the Chinese suitor’s hand off and packing Benteke’s bags.

Manchester United’s summer transfer business is set to be the main focus of many press releases in the coming weeks you would imagine.

The Red Devils, led by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, are looking to rebuild following a terrible end to the season which saw plenty of question marks asked about the club yet again.

United have already allowed the likes of Ander Herrera to move on from the club, so it’s now a case of seeing just who the club can add, following on from the signing of Welsh winger Daniel James this past week.

Defence is going to be the big issue United need to resolve though, with the 54 goals conceded last season only second to West Ham in the top ten in the Premier League.

This weekend has seen the club reportedly make a massive £84m bid for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who has been in superb form for the Naples club over the last 12 months.

Koulibaly has been a dominant force in Serie A, with his impressive stats backing up his potential to take the Premier League by storm. Averages of 1.7 tackles per game, 1.1 interceptions per game, as well as getting in a block per game, all point to Koulibaly being the sort of defender who is nothing but all action in his work.

Speed too is something the Senegalese star brings to the table, and we have seen at the likes of Man City with the likes of Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker that having pace in the backline is something which can be a massive asset.

United have to make a stand this summer and propel themselves back into the limelight. While signing the likes of James is all well and good for the future, a marquee signing who can shore up the defence like Koulibaly can is just what the club needs.

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Liverpool fans are not interested in their club making a summer swoop for Borussia Dortmund attacker Mario Gotze.

The 26-year-old ended the 2018-19 campaign with seven goals and seven assists in 34 appearances in all competitions.

There is absolutely no question that the 63-time Germany international is a talent but injuries have harmed him throughout his career.

The Liverpool Echo have claimed that the Reds should look to sign Gotze on the cheap this summer with his contract due to expire in June 2020.

However, the majority of the Merseyside club’s fans are simply not interested in a swoop for the versatile attacker.

Gotze, who won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, has played 66 times for Dortmund over the last two seasons despite concerns over his fitness.

Has Alisson been Liverpool’s most important signing of the season? Check out the video below to find out why Jurgen Klopp thinks so…

The Liverpool fans are not convinced, though, and have told their club to forget a move for the 5 ft 9 ace in this summer’s transfer window.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United might be “tempted” to revive their interest in Danny Rose after the Tottenham star’s admission that he could be leaving the north London side this summer.

What’s the word?

The report centres around the 28-year-old’s comments after England’s penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland in the Nations League, when he admitted he would just have to wait and see what happens over the next few weeks.

United’s interest in Rose has been long-standing, with a report by The Independent back in the summer of 2017 claiming that the England international was interested in making a move back up ‘north’.

A move for the defender even two years later still makes sense, particularly with Luke Shaw the only out-and-out left-back at the club and the future of versatile full-back Matteo Darmian uncertain.

Could Harry Maguire be on his way to Old Trafford? Check out the video below to see why it would make so much sense…

Experienced and proven quality

The jury has been out on how good a player Rose actually is, but bear in mind this is a defender who was the first-choice left-back of a Tottenham team that reached the Champions League final.

Whilst Shaw came good particularly in the second-half of the season, former boss Jose Mourinho’s public comments and constant jibes about his fitness and character are something for United to really consider in the long-term; can he be a consistent performer for the side? Are his injury problems well and truly behind him? Does he have the required attitude to make it to the top?

Rose on the other hand has proven year in and year out at Spurs that he can be regarded as one of the finest full-backs on his day, and often turns up for the big games on the big occasion.

When the north London side’s Champions League future was on the line at the Camp Nou, Rose enjoyed one of his finest games in a Tottenham shirt and but for some profligate finishing from his teammates, could have ended up with a couple of assists.

At 28, Rose is at the perfect age and the proverbial peak years of his career, and moving back to more comfortable surroundings up in Manchester might just see him step his game up another level; some of the world’s best players have struggled in environments away from home, and yet Rose has shown the professionalism and temperament to put that to one side and deliver impressive performances in London.

So whilst Shaw might have won United’s Players’ Player of the Year award, signing Rose as a back-up to the Englishman would present Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a huge selection dilemma, and it’s hard to envisage a world where Rose doesn’t win that battle.

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Former Scotland international Jackie McNamara thinks Alfredo Morelos won’t be at Rangers next season, as reported by Football Insider.

What’s he said?

Morelos has had an excellent season at Ibrox, netting 30 goals in all competitions for Steven Gerrard’s side.

It’s the kind of attacking output that makes him an attractive transfer proposition for teams all over Europe and many expect that interest to firm up when the summer window opens for business.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

McNamara is one of those who thinks he may leave, believing that the player’s desire to play elsewhere, along with his record in big matches, will tempt Rangers into cashing in.

As quoted by Football Insider, he said:

“From what I hear and read, he’s off. Morelos has made it clear with what he’s said publicly that’s what he wants.

“I think Rangers will have a valuation and if that’s met he will go, maybe £10million, a bit more perhaps.

“Don’t think he’s [Gerrard] lost patience, I think he’ll look at it about reliability in certain games. He’s not scored in any Old Firm games, where he’s judged, he’s been sent off a number of times.

“If they get the right money for him, you imagine they take that money and try to invest it in other positions they’ll need to try and get closer to Celtic.”

Keep or sell?

Before Rangers consider selling Morelos they need to have an elite replacement ready to come into Ibrox.

His goal contribution needs to be replaced and although Jermain Defoe has shown his class since arriving in January, another top striker will be needed to net on a regular basis.

Still, Morelos’ sale should definitely be considered.

Unless he goes on to have a stellar season in Europe next season, he is arguably at his peak transfer value as it stands right now. It’s important Rangers take that into account and cash in on that market value when it’s available.

That allows them to invest in a new wave of talented young players that again can be sold at peak value. It’s that kind of cycle that will allow the Gers to truly progress in the long-term.

In the short-term it would of course allow Gerrard to strengthen in other positions too.

Morelos will be a big miss for Rangers supporters, but letting him go may be the best thing for the club.