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Southampton announced the appointment of Mauricio Pellegrino as their new manager on Friday, and the 45-year-old was quick to give his thoughts on the role he has taken on.

The former Alaves boss, who led the La Liga side to a ninth-place finish and the Copa Del Rey final in their first season back in the Spanish top flight last term, has signed a three-year deal at St Mary’s and believes that he and the club “will work well together.â€

Pellegrino replaces Claude Puel, who was sacked after just one season in charge of the south coast outfit despite leading the club to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League and to the final of the League Cup.

Southampton supporters were quick to have their say on Pellegrino’s initial comments via social media, and while many were impressed with what the Argentine had to say, others want him to deliver.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

According to The Mirror, Roma are attempting to sign Manchester United attacker Anthony Martial on loan for the 2017-18 campaign.

What’s the story?

Having sold Mohamed Salah to Liverpool in this summer’s transfer window, it is understood that Roma are on the lookout for a new wide player ahead of the new season.

According to The Mirror, the Italian club’s leading transfer target is France international Martial, who struggled for form under Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford last term.

Martial has travelled with the Man United squad for their pre-season tour of the United States, but Roma are also due in North America later this month, and it is thought that the Serie A outfit will attempt to thrash out a deal with the Premier League club whilst overseas.

Martial scored 17 goals during his first season at Man United, but the 21-year-old only netted eight times in 42 appearances during the 2016-17 season as he struggled to hold down a regular spot in Mourinho’s first XI.

Can Man United afford to let him leave?

Romelu Lukaku will soon be confirmed as a Man United player, but Wayne Rooney has left Man United, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has not been offered a new 12-month contract.

Ibrahimovic will continue to train with Man United as he recovers from a serious knee injury, but the Swede, who could reportedly be offered a short-term contract by Mourinho, will not be available until early 2018.

Marcus Rashford is currently Man United’s only senior forward, and the 19-year-old played much of last season in a wide position, which is an indication of the lack of options, currently at least, in that area of the field.

Martial was selected at centre-forward in the latter stages of the season, and there were signs that the former AS Monaco youngster could have a long-term future in that particular role.

Roma will seemingly push hard for Martial this summer, but it is extremely difficult to imagine Man United allowing the attacker to leave, especially considering the form that he showed during the 2015-16 season.

Ivan Perisic might yet arrive from Inter Milan, but there is no question that Martial has a big role to play for the 20-time English champions next season.

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As reported by The Liverpool Echo, Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is desperate to stay and fight for his place in the team at Anfield rather than head out on loan over the coming season.

What’s the story?

Gomez has had a real struggle over the last two years to win his way into first team plans at the Reds after a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury sidelined him for over a year.

Over the last six months he’s tried to convince Jurgen Klopp he deserves more match time but has had to make do with cup appearances only.

According to The Liverpool Echo, that’s led to teams like English Premier League new boys Brighton & Hove Albion hoping to sign him on loan this summer.

However, that’s not what Gomez wants at all.

As quoted by the paper, the defender said:

My main aim is to play here for Liverpool and under this manager. My target is to get regular football and I want to play at the top level and that’s what I am focused on at the moment. I feel 100%. I know that this pre-season is a big opportunity for me to hit the ground running again. I feel like I just have to keep pushing and try to take every opportunity that I can to progress and keep learning.

It’ll be encouraging for Reds fans to hear the young defender has serious ambition to make it at the club although he will have to fight hard for places with Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and even the possibility of an incoming signing to contend with.

According to reports on Italian website Mediaset Premium, via Football Italia, Chelsea are ready to cool their interest in Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches and instead move for Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater.

The report says that the Blues had been targeting a move for the 19-year-old, who looks set to leave the Bundesliga champions this summer following a difficult first season at the Allianz Arena, but now they have switched their attentions to Drinkwater.

The England international would once again link up with N’Golo Kante if he did complete a move to Stamford Bridge, with Mediaset Premium, via Football Italia, claiming that AC Milan have been left in pole position to sign the Portugal international on loan, although a permanent deal could still be possible.

While Antonio Conte is seemingly keen on Drinkwater, he certainly shouldn’t rule out a move for the Portuguese starlet, who could prove to be a better addition for the Premier League holders.

Here are three reasons Chelsea should be targeting Sanches over Drinkwater…

Statistics

While Drinkwater has shown that he is a decent – but not brilliant – passer of the ball, and can take players on when required, Sanches showed exactly what he is capable of for Bayern last season despite only spending a limited time on the pitch.

In 17 Bundesliga appearances the 19-year-old had an average passing accuracy of 88% – showing how comfortable he is in possession – while he proved his ability to get the ball and drive forward from the middle of the park by successfully completing 18 of the 26 take-ons he attempted.

That desire to attack could be a useful tool for Chelsea next season with the likes of N’Golo Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko more likely to get the ball and distribute it rather than running themselves.

Risk

If Chelsea were to complete a big-money move to bring Drinkwater to Stamford Bridge – they are willing to pay £30m according to The Sun – it would certainly be something of a risk despite the great success that N’Golo Kante has been following his transfer to the Blues from the King Power Stadium last summer.

While the 27-year-old was an outstanding performer as Leicester pulled off the most unlikely of Premier League title wins in 2016 he – along with many of his teammates – struggled to replicate that form last term and it remains to be seen whether he has the ability to become a key player for Antonio Conte’s side.

Meanwhile, Football Italia says that Bayern are keen for Sanches to leave on loan, and it would certainly be less of a risky move for the Blues if they brought the young Portuguese star in instead of Drinkwater.

Potential

While Drinkwater has proven to be a consistent performer for Leicester over the years, it’s difficult to see that he has the outstanding qualities to become a regular in the Chelsea side and be preferred to the likes of N’Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas and new boy Tiemoue Bakayoko in the starting line-up.

Sanches may still be raw and may have struggled to impose himself on the Bayern first team in his first season in Germany last time out – he played just 903 minutes in total across 25 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga giants – he has the potential to do something brilliant as he showed by earning the move to the Allianz Arena, as well as for his country at Euro 2016.

Do you agree, Blues fans? Let us know below.

Deadline Day saw Liverpool complete a late transfer swoop for former Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who seemingly sought a move to Anfield to establish himself as one of the Premier League’s top central midfielders rather than an industrious wideman.

But as things stand, it’s hard to imagine where the 29-cap international would fit into Liverpool’s engine room. Georginio Wijnaldum, Emre Can and Jordan Henderson were fantastic in midfield during the Reds’ last two outings, a 4-2 victory over Hoffenheim and a 4-0 demolition of Arsenal on Merseyside prior to the international break, and James Milner is waiting in the wings.

With that in mind, we asked Liverpool supporters earlier this week whether the club’s new signing should come straight into the starting XI for the Reds’ trip to Manchester City on Saturday, or whether Jurgen Klopp should restrict him to featuring from the bench – if at all.

And despite the fanfare surrounding the 5 foot 11 midfielder’s arrival, a whopping 77% of Liverpool fans who took part in our poll don’t think he should be in the starting XI this weekend. Can the 24-year-old make a difference from the bench, Reds supporters? Let us know by commenting below…

Chelsea announced on their official website on Thursday that they had agreed terms with Atletico Madrid for the sale of striker Diego Costa after a long-running summer saga, and Blues fans were quick to have their say on the move.

A transfer away from Stamford Bridge has been in the offing ever since manager Antonio Conte told the Spain international by text in June that he wasn’t going to be part of his plans this season, despite the fact that he was the west London outfit’s top goalscorer as they won the Premier League title last term.

In total, the 28-year-old netted 59 goals in 120 appearances in all competitions for the Blues, winning two English top flight titles and one League Cup in his three years in the capital.

Chelsea supporters were quick to have their say on the centre-forward’s departure via social media, and while some declared that they were “so happy” with the news, others were unsure whether it was “good or bad”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Everton’s disappointing start to the season continued as they were beaten 1-0 by Burnley at Goodison Park on Sunday, and Toffees fans want manager Ronald Koeman to go after the latest disappointment.

The Merseyside outfit came into the clash having won just two of their last nine games in all competitions, and they would have seen a home match against the Clarets as the ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways following the below-par performance in the 2-2 draw against Apollon Limassol in the Europa League on Thursday.

However, Jeff Hendrick’s first-half goal proved to be the difference between the two teams to increase the pressure on Koeman.

Everton supporters were quick to have their say on what the future should hold for the Dutchman via social media, and while some simply said he “has to be sacked”, others said that ‘if he went now it wouldn’t bother them in the slightest’.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Celtic nearly saw their epic unbeaten run come to an end on Saturday after a battling Hibernian almost snatched victory at Celtic Park with an excellent second half performance.

The Hoops opened the scoring through Callum McGregor but Neil Lennon’s men rallied to produce an exceptional display and take the lead through a John McGinn double.

Resilient Celtic were not to be denied though and McGregor netted his second of the match 10 minutes from time to prevent the loss and extend their domestic unbeaten run to 58 matches.

It wasn’t the best of performances from Brendan Rodgers’ men after their midweek exploits against Anderlecht but in avoiding defeat they’ve kept their spot at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

One man in particular that Celtic fans are looking for more from is midfielder Olivier Ntcham. The 21-year-old again looked a bit off the pace in a frantic midfield battle and struggled to assert himself on the match. After a few shaky performances, fans are hoping he can start to show the consistency required to excel in the Hoops.

Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his display on Saturday…

Crystal Palace manager will be targeting experienced Premier League players in the January transfer market, report MailOnline.

The London club currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League having lost all seven of their opening games of the campaign, without scoring a single goal.

Hodgson came in to replace the sacked Frank de Boer but is yet to find a way of halting Palace’s rapid decline, but will his reported plans for the January transfer window give him half a chance of keeping Palace in the big time?

Our writers have their say…

Christy Malyan

We’ve seen some incredible great escapes throughout Premier League history, not least including Sam Allardyce’s at Crystal Palace last season.

But for Roy Hodgson so pull one of this time around would constitute easily the greatest yet; Palace look set to go eight games without a point or a goal when they host Chelsea this weekend, the worst start to a Premier League campaign by a considerable distance.

That being said, there’s no doubt this Palace squad has proven Premier League ability and survival instincts when it comes to the final run in – if Hodgson can bring in a few shrewd signings to balance out a squad that was skewed somewhat by Frank de Boer’s summer signings, the Eagles have half a chance of staying up.

John McGinley

We’re not at the miracle stage with Palace quite yet. Yes their situation is grim but, discounting the de Boer debacle, there are valid reasons.

The fixtures have not been kind to Roy Hodgson since he arrived at the club. The two in-form Manchester teams back-to-back, followed by Chelsea? The fixture computer dealt him a rough hand with that run.

Hodgson has the sense to recruit smartly and if they are still within single digits of escaping the relegation zone by January, I’d back him to get the job done.

Chris McMullan

The obvious comparison will be made with Sam Allardyce because the departure of the former England boss is what led Crystal Palace into their very fine mess in the first place. It’s not an overly accurate one, though.

Mamadou Sakho was clearly Allardyce’s most important January import last season, but surely his second most vital was Luka Milivojevic from Olympiacos. When he kept Sunderland in the Premier League in 2015/16, Allardyce brought in the likes of Jan Kirchhoff, Wahbi Khazri and Lamine Kone, none of whom had previous Premier League experience. What he did was find value in the market.

Indeed, it was David Moyes who spent the second half of last season talking about getting ‘more Britishness’ in the middle of the pitch before taking an abject side to the Championship.

Premier League experience doesn’t mean ‘British’, of course, but Hodgson should make sure he’s looking for the right players to make his squad better, not just Premier League players no-one else wants who will just rearrange the deck chairs on a sinking ship.

James Beavis

Seven defeats from seven fixtures and no goals shows the difficult situation that Crystal Palace find themselves in right now, and a match against Chelsea on Saturday is certainly not what they need right now.

Are they doomed already? Well, while they are in a precarious position you always feel that the first goal and point/win could set the Eagles on a bit of a roll, and I maintain that perhaps outside of the top six in the Premier League, anyone can beat anyone and that will always mean that Hodgson has a chance of keeping them up.

He needs some of those victories on the board before the January transfer window, though.

Prior to the start of the 2017/18, very few fans would have predicted the meteoric rise of Harry Winks. The young midfielder has cemented a place in the Tottenham starting eleven over recent weeks and has been a revelation in the Premier League.

However, on Wednesday evening, the 21-year-old announced himself on the European stage, putting in a sensational performance against current Champions of Europe, Real Madrid. Zinedine Zidane has arguably the best midfield in world football in Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.

And yet Winks, who only made his Premier League debut last season, was the outstanding player on the field. Now, the young midfielder has been rewarded for his efforts with his second call-up to the England team.

Upon the release of the national squad, a number of media outlets were quick to question the omission of Jack Wilshere of Arsenal and wondered how players such as Harry Winks were included ahead of the 25-year-old star.

However, Spurs fans were quick to correct any doubters and explained exactly why their man is in Gareth Southgate’s side ahead of Wilshere…