Crystal Palace fans react as Alfredo Morelos ‘retweets’ post linking him with club

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Many Crystal Palace fans have reacted after Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos retweeted a post saying the Eagles were interested in signing him on his Twitter account, and they appear undecided on whether he would be a good addition or not.

Spanish Twitter account Rincon Escoces was the first to allege that the south London outfit were keen on the 23-year-old last week, while The Scottish Sun report that Roy Hodgson is said to be weighing up a move for the £10m-rated Colombian.

There is little doubt that he could do with adding a striker to his side’s ranks, given Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham only scored one goal between them last season, while fellow centre-forward Alexander Sorloth is still yet to find the net in the Premier League after 16 outings.

Morelos has shown during his time at Ibrox that he can find the net on a regular basis – 49 goals in 92 games for Gers is proof of that – but picking up five red cards just last season also tells its own story.

The South American is hot-headed, and he would need to show more calmness and maturity if he did make the move to Selhurst Park.

In the video below, find out which Chelsea academy prospect is reportedly being lined up to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Crystal Palace…

Palace supporters certainly seem a little split on a potential move for the Rangers attacker, with one saying “Alfredo Morelos would be a great signing for us”, but another disagreed saying they “wouldn’t touch with a barge pole”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Everton’s Joao Virginia talks show they are backing their youngsters to make the grade

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton are in talks with Under-23 goalkeeper Joao Virginia over a new contract, whilst he has also joined Reading on a season-long loan deal.

What’s the word, then?

Well, tying Virginia down to fresh terms won’t be the first move the Toffees have made in securing the future of their young stars this summer, not by any means.

The Merseysiders have already been successful in getting as many as eight precocious young talents to commit their future to the club since the end of last season.

Thogden challenged himself to DM 100 footballers on Instagram. Find out who replied in the video below…

Everton have managed to get Ellis Simms, Einar Iversen, Mackenzie Hunt, Korede Adedoyin, Kieran Phillips, Nicolas Hansen, Joe Anderson and Manasse Mampala to put pen to paper on fresh deals, highlighting their intentions to focus on youth and back their young talent.

Clearly back their youngsters to make the grade

After David Unsworth’s incredible success with the Under-23 side in the 2018/19 campaign, the Toffees are clearly backing their young players to make it.

They were crowned Premier League 2 champions last season, where a number of burgeoning youngsters such as Lewis Gibson and Virginia put their names in the limelight.

In the Under-18’s, Simms hit a quite ridiculous 37 goals in just 29 games, which has attracted interest from German champions Bayern Munich.

We already know what the Goodison Park academy is capable of. It has been home to some excellent talents in previous years such as Wayne Rooney, Jack Rodwell and Ross Barkley, all of whom have gone on to play for England.

However, a true star hasn’t really emerged into the first-team since Barkley – there has evidently been an emphasis on rewarding a number of young players for their efforts in the shape of new contracts though, something that the Toffees wouldn’t do if they weren’t backing the majority of them to make the grade.

Pundit View: Neville digs at Grealish amid international allegiance debate

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Speaking to Sky Sports during their coverage of England’s Nations League encounter with Switzerland on 9 June, Gary Neville had a bizarre dig at Jack Grealish, per quotes relaid by Birmingham Live.

What’s the word?

Back in March, Gareth Southgate hinted that Grealish would have to be playing in the Premier League in order for him to receive an England call-up.

And following on from England’s defeat against the Netherlands last week, Aston Villa fans have since been calling for their star man to be included in the squad. However, a new debate surrounding the player has occurred.

Speaking about Declan Rice switching his allegiance from the Republic of Ireland, Neville chose to attack Grealish, another player eligible for the same nation.

In quotes relaid by Birmingham Live, he declared that it was nonsense that a footballer should ask for assurances over their place in a national side.

Describing an incident that arose when he was among the Three Lions’ coaching setup, he said:

“There was a situation when I was coaching with England when the FA at the time were trying to win the services of Jack Grealish and he wanted meeting with managers, assurances and other such things. It’s nonsense all of that!

“I don’t believe in the idea that you have to persuade someone to play for your country or give them assurances. How can you give them assurances in sport? You have to play well.”

Is he right?

Given the season Grealish has had, Neville’s comments feel very mistimed and rather unusual in their tone.

As the former Manchester United man has said, you need to play well first in order to warrant a place in the squad.

Regardless of the talent you possess, you won’t get an international call-up unless you’ve performed well for your club, or already earned your keep at the highest level of the game.

When Neville was coaching England, though, Grealish’s maturity was not of the level it’s at now and that perhaps explains what happened in the past.

“Finding a Lionel Messi in Sheffield… bit of a tall order!” – Watch Championship fans attempt to name their clubs’ Messi in the video below…

Now a couple of years older, the attacking midfielder has matured greatly, becoming a leading light for his side as well as being given the captaincy.

With Villa now returning to the Premier League, there is every chance Grealish may find himself in the England senior team for the very first time.

It’s highly unlikely that he’ll demand assurances over his place now he’s matured both on and off the field, and the standard of his performances might just give Southgate plenty to ponder over ahead of Euro 2020.

The clause in Andre Gomes’ move from Valencia to Barcelona that proves his pedigree

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The BBC have reported that Everton are closing in on a move for Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes.

Having already starred for the Toffees on loan last season, Marco Silva made it clear that he would like to try and sign the 25-year-old on a permanent basis, and he appears to have got his wish with the move seemingly imminent.

Back in 2017 when the Portuguese international completed a switch from Valencia to Barcelona in 2016, however, the two clubs seemingly thought that Gomes was set for bigger heights than Goodison Park – with all due respect to Everton of course.

Check out a fan’s outrageous call for England to take a leaf of out cricket and rugby’s book after a limp Nations League performance in the video below…

Gomes cost the Catalan giants a fixed €35m (£29.3m) at the time, with €20m (£16.7m) included in the deal in the form of achievement-related add-ons.

What the two clubs also agreed on was a Ballon d’Or clause. Yep, you read that correctly.

Barcelona sealed the deal by agreeing to pay Valencia an additional €15m (£13.3m) if Gomes won the Ballon d’Or during his time at the Camp Nou, an award handed to the best player in the world on a yearly basis.

SPORT reported at the time that the clause was justified due to the “the expectations and potential that FC Barcelona sees in the player.”

Watch Everton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

If one of the biggest clubs in world football thought Gomes could potentially become a Ballon d’Or winner, then that says a lot about the midfielder’s pedigree and just how good he really is.

The Everton fans already know that though. He starred in the middle of the park alongside Idrissa Gueye last term capturing the hearts of the supporters during his loan spell, and they will assumingly be overjoyed to have him come back on a permanent basis.

Whilst he should be expected to be one of their best players once again, one would assume another Ballon d’Or clause will not be included this time around.

Sheffield United: Blades fans shouldn’t worry about Wilder ever leaving Bramall Lane

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.

Transfer Focus: Sheffield United looking for backup strikers as they target Bonne

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According to talkSPORT, Sheffield United are interested in bringing Macauley Bonne to Bramall Lane next season.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic season at Leyton Orient netting 23 goals in the National League, but you have to question any newly-promoted side that chooses to shop around non-league football.

Bonne’s season

The Zimbabwe international has proven over the last two years that he is one of the most potent strikers in the National League.

This season he found the back of the net more than 20 times for the second season running, so he knows how to score.

Whether or not that skill can translate in the Premier League remains to be seen, but it is a tough ask.

Strange signing

What on earth is Chris Wilder thinking when looking in the National League for strikers?

The Blades are headed to the Premier League. They should be able to cough up the funds to sign a top-class striker rather than scouring the bargain basement.

Indeed, there have been players who have come from outside the EFL who have made an impact in the top leagues, namely Jamie Vardy and Rickie Lambert, but those are few and far between.

Bonne’s record when he has played at a higher level doesn’t make for great reading either. Three goals in 33 games in League One with Colchester in the 2015/16 season is poor, and for the Yorkshire club to look at making him their first signing after promotion is baffling.

Perhaps this is a sign that Wilder is looking towards bringing in a backup striker rather than a new starter, meaning that the partnership of Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick will be given a chance in the top flight.

Who has been the Championship’s best player this season? The Pl>ymaker FC squad discuss in the video below…

The Blades have also recently been linked to Gary Madine and Lee Gregory which supports this idea that they want to add depth up front rather than displace their current partnership.

ميندي يزف نبًأ سارًا لـ جوارديولا في مانشستر سيتي

تلقى المدرب الإسباني بيب جوارديولا المدير الفني لنادي مانشستر سيتي، أنباء سارة، اليوم الثلاثاء، في تدريبات السكاي بلو، بشأن ظهير الفريق الأيسر، بنجامين ميندي.

الدولي الفرنسي يغيب عن مانشستر سيتي بسبب مشاكل عضلية، إذ يغيب عن السيتي مُنذ 3 أكتوبر الماضي، بعدما أصيب في مواجهة ليدز يونايتد، بالجولة الرابعة من البريميرليج.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوائز نورث ويست.. دي بروين أفضل لاعب في موسم 2019/2020

ورد ميندي عبر موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “إنستجرام”، بشأن موقفه من العودة لتدريبات الفريق، حيث أوضح أنه عاد بالفعل.

وقال ميندي: “نعم، لقد عدت، وبدأت التدريب مرة أخرى، وكل شيء يسير على ما يرام”.

وبذلك يُمكن أنّ يصبح ميندي مُتاحًا لمباراة توتنهام ومانشستر سيتي، بعد العودة من فترة التوقف الدولية، يوم السبت 21 نوفمبر الجاري.

Manchester United: Moussa Dembele an upgrade over underperforming Romelu Lukaku

A goal-scoring crisis looms at large for Manchester United.

They might’ve scored a ton of goals in the initial dream run under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but everything dried up after reality set in. Indeed, since the inspired Paris-Saint Germain game, Romelu Lukaku’s goal-scoring boots have also vanished.

The 25-year-old Belgian’s yet to score a goal since that eventful night in Paris and is getting frustrated with his situation at United. He’s voiced his ambitions to possibly move to play in the Serie A, as Solskjaer won’t really be hesitant at letting him leave.

United are looking towards striking options for the summer and might’ve found an apt replacement for Lukaku.

According to reports (via the Mirror), the Red Devils have their eyes on Olympique Lyonnais’ marvellous Moussa Dembele. Lyon’s £19.8 million signing had a breakthrough season in Ligue 1, scoring 13 goals from 29 appearances so far. He’s complimented Lyon’s terrific attackers perfectly, producing some special moments throughout.

Dembele’s excellent work in the final third’s allowed him to come under the radar. He’s now only mobile and clinical in front of goal, his overall work is also sound. The 22-year-old’s hold-up play is excellent, while his excellent link-up play, as well as deft finishing ability, makes him a much more complete striker than others.

The Frenchman’s never static, always looking to get in among goals. Dembele’s more energetic, agile and decisive than the erratic Lukaku. He’s the perfect fit for Solskjaer’s fast-paced style perfectly to act as the ruthless striker’s he’s been craving for.

United fans, do you think Dembele can solve the goal-scoring problems? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Opinion: Signing of Scottish star makes plenty of sense for Sheffield United

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.

Cult Heroes: Clint Dempsey at Fulham

Is Clint Dempsey the greatest American footballer to play in the Premier League? If you were to ask Fulham supporters that question, their unanimous response would be to say yes.

The forward began his career in his native country with New England Revolution after being drafted by the club in 2004 and immediately began to send shock-waves through the MLS. Despite only being 21-years-old at the time, he enjoyed a fruitful debut campaign, scoring seven goals in 21 appearances for the Revs.

The following season saw him play an integral role in his club’s route to the MLS Cup final as he recorded nineteen goal contributions in just 26 games. However, New England would end up losing the final to LA Galaxy before being defeated at the same stage in 2006 by Houston Dynamo.

Needing a fresh challenge, Dempsey decided to join Fulham later that year in a deal that according to the BBC was worth £2m, which was a Premier League record-fee for an American-born player at the time. His first season at Craven Cottage was a relatively quiet one compared to his MLS escapades yet he did play a key role in saving his new side from relegation.

With two games to go, Fulham were in desperate need of a hero to ensure that they would keep their top-flight status for another season and Dempsey stepped up to the plate, scoring the winner in their game against Liverpool. If the Cottagers had lost or drawn this particular game, they would have been playing Championship football in the following campaign.

Dempsey added to his legacy at the club by contributing to what is arguably Fulham’s greatest modern-day achievement in 2010. After securing Europa League football for the very first time in their history in the 2008/09 campaign, the Cottagers faced Italian giants Juventus in the last-16 of the competition.

A 3-1 defeat on their travels in the first leg left Roy Hodgson’s side with a mountain to climb at Craven Cottage yet they had levelled the tie by the 60th minute at 4-4 on aggregate courtesy of a brace from Zoltan Gera and a goal from Bobby Zamora which cancelled out David Trezeguet’s early strike for I Bianconeri.

With the game heading for extra-time, Dempsey produced a sublime piece of skill to lob Antonio Chimenti in the Juve goal from just outside of the penalty area. It was a goal which will be forever remembered by the club’s supporters as the moment where they started to believe that their side could go far in the Europa League.

Victories over Bundesliga sides Wolfsburg and Hamburg in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the competition set up a meeting with Atletico Madrid in the final. However, despite playing an integral role in Fulham’s success in the competition, Dempsey only featured as a substitute against Los Rojiblancos as the Spanish side defeated their spirited opponents in extra-time thanks to a brace from Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan.

Despite their heartbreaking defeat, the Cottagers’ players returned to England as heroes for their exploits in Europe with Dempsey leading the way. In the following two seasons for the club, the former New England player top-scored with 12, and 17 Premier League goals before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2012.

Although he did make a brief and albeit unsuccessful return to Craven Cottage in 2014 on loan from MLS side Seattle Sounders, his first spell is what he will be remembered for by the club’s supporters. By scoring 60 goals in 225 appearances, Dempsey changed opinions regarding American players in England and ultimately secured his place as a modern-day legend for Fulham.

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