All posts by h79snht.top

According to 90min, Everton look set to battle it out with bitter rivals Liverpool for the signing of Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes. 

The 24-year-old is currently at Primeria Liga outfit Sporting SP, where he is having a barnstorming season, already scoring six goals and registering five assists in 15 league matches.

Of course, Everton will want to beat rivals Liverpool to the player’s signature simply to get one over The Reds. That could be a huge confidence booster if the midfielder opts to go to Goodison Park rather than Anfield, particularly given the season that Liverpool are having.

Primarily, however, this deal would hopefully provide Everton with more goal-scoring options from midfield. Fernandes is renowned for his lethal long-shots, which, as a central midfielder, is an invaluable asset. This is something that Everton’s other central midfielders perhaps do not offer, and gives the club another string to their bow.

The Toffees have largely been reliant on winger/ striker Richarlison and attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurðsson for goals so far this season; to add another natural goal-scorer will fill manager Marco Silva with delight.

The midfielder currently has a release clause of €100m, which seems slightly outlandish from his club. There is almost no way that either Everton or Liverpool would spend that, particularly as both clubs spent a lot of money in the summer. The Reds are currently the form team in England, so this would be a major feather in the cap of The Toffees is they could get one over their rivals.

[ad_pod ]

West Ham are set to tell Marko Arnautovic that he will not be sold this month, despite interest from Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG.

The Austria international has already been the subject of a bid from the CSL outfit, worth £31million, and, while the club expect a second offer, they are now understood to have resolved to keep Arnautovic.

What’s the word?

This represents a U-turn from the Hammers.

The club had placed a £40m asking price on Arnautovic, but sources have confirmed that talks with potential replacements have hit a brick wall.

West Ham had hoped to sign a striker this month, and Callum Wilson was near the top of their shortlist.

Exploratory talks with Bournemouth have bore little fruit, however, as the Cherries are keen to receive over £50m for their star striker.

There remains an acceptance that they could be forced to sell Arnautovic if a massive Chinese bid is tabled.

But Manuel Pellegrini has informed the club’s board that he would prefer to retain the Austrian rather than sell and see the club forced to pay through the nose for a replacement.

There is also a feeling at the club that they should not be held to ransom by a player actively seeking an exit.

Twists and turns

West Ham would prefer this to be the end of the matter.

However, it remains to be seen what will happen if Shanghai SIPG table a significantly higher bid before the end of the transfer window.

Nevertheless, the Irons are confident that they can keep Arnautovic at the club, even if another offer is tabled.

As the transfer window ticks on, there is an acceptance that there is little chance of purchasing an experienced Premier League player from another English club.

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

Wilson, in particular, is currently seen as prohibitively expensive; even Chelsea were spooked by the club’s initial demand of £75m, per The Sun.

Sources have confirmed that Arnautovic’s situation will be reviewed in the summer, provided there are no more twists in a story that is threatening to become a saga.

With no permanent manager in place, Manchester United are unlikely to make any signings this month. 

The Red Devils, however, are certain to bring in some fresh faces in the summer whether it is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or someone else in charge with the talented Cengiz Under of AS Roma just one name being touted with a transfer to Old Trafford, which could be good news for a certain Romelu Lukaku.

The Breakdown

ESPN reports Manchester United will do battle with Arsenal, Tottenham and Bayern Munich for Under, a player who could help bring out the best of the Belgian.

The Turkey international, much like his potential manager in the future Solskjaer during his playing days, is extremely versatile in attack with his ability on the ball being just what Lukaku needs for various reasons.

The 21-year-old is a creative individual who would have no trouble picking out Lukaku using difference tools in his arsenal, while the danger he poses on the ball can draw defenders towards him and allow space to open up for his centre-forward.

Lukaku tends to struggle when there is not a lot of room in behind and he has to get heavily involved in build-up play.

But with someone like Under on the pitch, it should make life much easier for the Belgium international or whoever is leading Manchester United’s line come next season.

[ad_pod ]

West Ham outcast Reece Oxford should be given a rare chance to prove his worth in the FA Cup this weekend as the Hammers prepare to take on AFC Wimbledon.

Per Football.London, Oxford is desperate to leave the club in January, and, with Manuel Pellegrini short of options at centre-back, a rare start could be the perfect opportunity for the defender to put himself in the shop window.

On the chalkboard

Oxford made his return to action in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Gillingham earlier this week but has been out of the first-team reckoning for some time.

The 20-year-old has not played for the senior side this season, instead captaining the club’s Under-23 side in Premier League 2.

He has made a total of 17 first team appearances for the Irons, per Transfermarkt, and made his debut for the club in 2015 at the age of 16.

Check out the video below to see Pl>ymaker FC’s American Soccer Fan give his take on all six ‘field goals’ in West Ham v Burnley…

But he has spent the last two seasons on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach and now seems desperate to leave the London Stadium.

Indeed, the Daily Mail reported earlier this month that he was set to hold talks with his agency, Colossal Sports Management, in a bid to iron out his future plans.

However, West Ham will struggle to attract any bids for the youngster if they do not give scouts the opportunity to see him play in the senior squad.

No-brainer

With Pellegrini struggling for centre-back options, and Fabian Balbuena injured, selecting Oxford is a low-risk-high-reward strategy.

Playing the likes of Issa Diop or Angelo Ogbonna instead increases the risk of Pellegrini losing another centre-back to injury, especially at Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium.

Instead, Oxford should be given a rare chance – it would mark his first appearance for the club since he played four minutes in January 2018 against Crystal Palace.

The England Under-20 international would have the opportunity to put himself in the shop window, and West Ham could then end the transfer window fielding bids for the centre-back.

It should be something of a no-brainer for boss Pellegrini.

Everton fans will be concerned with the future of Idrissa Gueye still unresolved on deadline day.

The Senegal international has been a pivotal player for the Blues since joining from Aston Villa back in 2016. Gueye has been ever-present at Goodison Park yet again enjoying a crucial role under Marco Silva. His performances have not gone unnoticed with French champions Paris St Germain aiming (via the Mirror’s transfer blog) to lure the dynamic midfielder to Parc de Princes.

Everton are reportedly unwilling to lose their influential star unless their large asking price is met. The Toffees would have limited time to source a replacement and could be forced to pay a premium themselves.

One man Silva could target is Leicester City lynchpin – Wilfred Ndidi. Valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, the Nigerian midfielder has been an instant hit in the Premier League since joining the club from Genk. Ndidi is improving with every season in England and has been tipped for a big move away from the King Power Stadium in the future.

The 22-year-old has been in fine form once again in the current campaign and has been a shining light in a poor season under Claude Puel. Ndidi’s arrival would easily replace the layer of protection that Gueye offered the Blues defence as he has averaged an impressive 3.2 tackles per game this season. Ndidi also reads the game expertly, completing 1.9 interceptions per 90 minutes in the league (WhoScored). Leicester would demand a large fee for their prized asset but Gueye’s sale should give the Toffees plenty of funds to tempt them into a sale.

The Nigeria international is still developing and would be a star midfielder on Merseyside for years to come.

Everton fans, thoughts?

[ad_pod ]

Leeds were comfortably beaten by a really impressive Norwich performance on Saturday evening, and Marcelo Bielsa must now rest Mateusz Klich after his ineffectual performance.

Klich was perhaps the standout player of the season in the early stages, regularly chipping in with goals from midfield as Leeds raced out to an early Championship lead.

After opening the season with five goals and five assists in 16 Championship games though, he has just two goals and one assist since the beginning of November, with both of those goals coming last week at Rotherham.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

Any hopes that the brace at the New York Stadium would kick-start his form have surely now faded, after the 28 year-old really struggled to make an impact on Saturday.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side had 63 per cent of the ball in the 3-1 defeat, but managed just six shots on target, and when your best attacking midfielder is struggling this much it’s hardly a surprise.

The Polish international completed just one key pass and one dribble in the game, worryingly low numbers for an attack-minded player in a side that dominated the ball.

He completed just 73 per cent of his overall passes and was responsible for four of the Whites’ 21 shots, only one of which he managed to get on target.

Perhaps what will concern Bielsa most is simply how sloppy his side were, and Klich was the biggest culprit of this, losing the ball six times, more than any other player on the pitch.

The Polish midfielder has quickly become a fan favourite this season, but having already racked up over 2,500 minutes played in his first proper campaign of English football, it may just be time to give him a few weeks on the bench.

[ad_pod ]

According to The Express, Liverpool are keen on a move for Leeds’ Jack Clarke as Jurgen Klopp plans for the future amidst a title race that is very much in the present – having kept their money in their wallets and their wallets in their pockets in January, another summer spending spree is surely on the cards at Anfield and Clarke could be a part of that.

The 18-year-old has chalked up two goals and two assists for the Whites, who currently sit second in the Championship standings, as Marcelo Bielsa bloods youth amid his thin squad’s bid for the title.

Should Leeds be promoted to the Premier League, the Elland Road outfit will be in a far better position to keep hold of the starlet but, should they fall at the final hurdle, there will be almost nothing standing in Klopp’s way.

Signing the attacker might seem like a pretty harmless move but there could be some big consequences at Anfield. Football FanCast consider the potential ramifications below…

Bad news for Ben Woodburn and Harry Wilson

As Liverpool look to steal Manchester City’s crown, their revered front three remain undroppable and so chances for youth talent hoping to star in the front line are next to non-existent.

Dominic Solanke sealed a switch to Bournemouth last month while wingers Ben Woodburn and Harry Wilson completed loan moves to the Championship with Sheffield United and Derby County respectively in the summer.

The former has endured a torrid time with the Blades but the latter is excelling with the Rams, stealing headlines with some wonder strikes.

Signing Clarke could prove terminal for Woodburn in particular and make the duo’s challenge to break into the first team even harder than it already is, with another youngster vying for a spot in the attack. Good news, though, for Frank Lampard, who will surely be keen to bring Wilson back to Pride Park next season.

Sold on for big profit

Sporting director Michael Edwards has been behind many of the big name transfers Liverpool have completed since November 2016 and will have likely played a role in the signing of the aforementioned Solanke from Chelsea, whom the Reds sold on for a whopping £19m in January.

The striker made 27 appearances for the Reds, scoring one goal, yet was offloaded for a disproportionate fee a year-and-a-half later. It would take something special to oust any of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane from the starting lineup and Clarke could spend some years developing and impressing with the Under-23’s but never get a chance in the first team.

Perhaps it’s more likely that he would be sold on for enormous profit instead and that Solanke’s Liverpool journey is one many Reds youngsters could be set to follow from now on.

A change of approach for Liverpool

The focus at Anfield for the last few years has been to get into a position where Liverpool are able to challenge for and win titles – whether they can dethrone City this time around could go down to the very last day of the season.

Jurgen Klopp has gotten quite inventive with his excuses this season. FFC’s James Jones think he has no one but himself to blame for Liverpol’s poor form in the video below…

Now that they are there, though, securing that status for years to come should be high on the agenda and the signing of Clarke would indicate that as a look to the future rather than the present. At 18 years old, the Leeds starlet has plenty of room to grow and, if he manages to avoid being sold for a big profit, he could play a key role in Liverpool staying at the very top of the Premier League for the next decade.

[ad_pod ]

Brighton & Hove Albion fell to a disappointing defeat to Burnley on Saturday evening.

The Seagulls were beaten 3-1 by Sean Dyche’s men and were, at one stage, 3-0 down before a Shane Duffy header reduced the deficit.

Brighton subsequently sit 14th in the Premier League table, just three points ahead of 18th-placed Southampton.

Brighton have not won any of their last six league outings, losing to the Clarets, Fulham, Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as drawing with Watford and West Ham United.

Check out Neymar’s controversial new haircut for 2019 and Xherdan Shaqiri as you’ve never seen him before in the video below…

Chris Hughton’s men, indeed, last took all three points at the end of December, in a 1-0 win over Everton.

Their latest defeat extends a woeful run and will have supporters worried – only Huddersfield Town, who are rock bottom of the table – have a worse record in their last five games.

And supporters took to Twitter to vent their frustrations after seeing their side beaten yet again in the Premier League. Here’s a look at what they’ve been saying on social media.

According to TEAMtalk, West Bromwich Albion are one of several Championship clubs chasing Sheffield Wednesday left-back Morgan Fox.

What’s the word?

It is believed that the 26-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, is wanted by the Baggies but they face stiff competition from Preston North End, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Fox has seen the turnaround of his fortunes under Garry Monk, playing in 11 straight matches as the Owls try to mount a playoff challenge this term.

However, the club faces uncertainty off the pitch after the EFL charged them for financial misconduct, which could potentially result in a 21-point deduction – you’d imagine that would swing a player’s mind only one way.

Must avoid

The left-back position at the Hawthorns could be a particular area of need as January approaches.

Kieran Gibbs faces another spell on the sidelines, leading to calls from Football FanCast to cut ties with him in the future while Conor Townsend is appearing a little out of his depth at this level, at least according to fans at the club.

Nathan Ferguson, who can play the role, could also be sold in the winter window as question marks continue to appear over his future – the club appear ready to cash in on him.

While Fox would be a worthy contender to earn a contract extension at Hillsborough – Monk lacks considerable options in the role and it is only under his stewardship that such a drastic change in performance has occurred – he just wouldn’t be the right man for West Brom.

Would he be any better than Townsend? Probably not.

They are the same age and offer a very similar style of football. Both players produce high numbers for tackles and clearances per game, of which Fox tops with 2.1 and 2.6 respectively, but they both lack on the attacking side of the game, failing to provide more than 0.9 crosses per game.

Calling all Premier League experts: Who do these unique statistics belong to? Find out below….

Bilic’s system requires his full-backs to be rather attacking. Thus an option such as Sam McCallum could bear fruit with the Coventry man playing in a more advanced wing-back role for the League One outfit. The Baggies were linked to him back in September.

And in other news, West Brom fans have been discussing this 30 y/o ace after their win over Birmingham City…

West Bromwich Albion missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the summit of the Championship table on Boxing Day as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Barnsley.

Slaven Bilic’s side took an early lead when Filip Krovinovic capitalised on a goalkeeping error with a long range effort, but the hosts scored a deserved late equaliser through former Leeds United defender Aapo Halme.

Barnsley had been knocking on the door for some time and recorded 22 shots in all.

Indeed, the result could have swung in the relegation threatened side’s favour if it weren’t for the heroics of Sam Johnstone in West Brom’s goal.

And the quality of Johnstone’s display was acknowledged on social media in the aftermath of proceedings, with fans lavishing praise in their numbers…

Amidst the pool of adjectives and gushing praise, one fan suggested that their goalkeeper was the undisputed choice for the man of the match award.

But it hasn’t always been a unanimous love-in for Johnstone.

The goalkeeper has been scrutinised for his performances in the past, and two fans suggested he has done enough to silence those doubters once and for all following another outstanding individual display.

Finally, one fan has labelled the 26-year-old as a Premier League standard stopper.

The true test of that particular claim could well be looming on the imminent horizon in 2020…