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Mark Douglas has claimed that Jetro Willems is on the radar of Newcastle United and remains close friends with Allan Saint-Maximin.

However, writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, the football journalist has also claimed that Marseille also want to sign the Frankfurt ace.

Newcastle should sign Willems

Willems did a very good job for the St. James’ Park faithful when he was on loan in the North East, scoring two goals and making a further three assists from left-back in 20 games in total over all competitions across the 2020/21 term (Transfermarkt).

The Netherlands international certainly showed his worth in the Premier League, winning no fewer than 5.1 of his duels per game, as well as averaging two clearances, 1.9 tackles and 1.1 successful dribbles a match (Sofascore).

His performances on the pitch quickly made him become a fans favourite at the Tyneside club, with many members of the Toon Army begging for him to be signed on a permanent deal, and the 27-year-old would certainly give Steve Bruce another handy option.

Nonetheless, a potential reunion with the Magpies could well turn out to be a match made in heaven, but they would probably have to avoid being relegated to the Championship first of all.

In other news, find out what big Bruce update Luke Edwards has dropped here!

Some Liverpool fans have been providing their thoughts on the latest news surrounding Rodrigo de Paul, as the Reds continue to be linked with the Udinese midfielder.

This summer promises to be an interesting one at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp looks to further enhance his playing options. Despite this disappointment of this season, Liverpool’s squad doesn’t need too many tweaks, with injuries still the main reason for their shortcomings.

That being said, Klopp will know that a few new faces are needed in order to take the Reds to another level and continue competing with Manchester City.

De Paul is one player who has been linked with Liverpool in the past, with the Argentine scoring six goals and registering five assists in Serie A this season.

In truth, midfield isn’t an area of the pitch which needs too many changes made given the wealth of options, although Gini Wijnaldum’s potential exit to Barcelona could alter that.

According to Tutto Udinese, Liverpool will need to pay more than £40m if they want to acquire De Paul’s signature, which could be a stumbling block for the often-frugal Anfield club.

Liverpool fans react to De Paul latest

A number of Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to give their thoughts on a possible move for De Paul.

“Would be worth every penny if we decide to sign him”

Credit: @OmegaFalcon19

“How about 25 mil plus Harry Wilson included? Seems fair”

Credit: @Md_Arif02

“We absolutely neeeeed to buy him”

Credit: @jephersyn

“Pay it, stop playin”

Credit: @SirXabi

“Barcelona need to go for Wijnaldum and leave De Paul to us”

Credit: @1892LFC1

“What about 10M + Origi?”

Credit: @andligator

In other news, Liverpool are reportedly close to signing a Premier League player with awful statistics this season. Find out who it is here.

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Harry Winks insists Tottenham Hotspur have shown they cannot be written off this season.

The club remain in the Premier League title race, five points behind both Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the league, and face Leicester City on Sunday.

What’s the word?

Spurs have won their last three Premier League games, against Newcastle United, Watford and Fulham.

Each game has seen a late winner scored – Son Heung-Min netted the only goal of the game in the 83rd minute against the Magpies, Fernando Llorente headed home in the 87th minute to give Spurs a 2-1 victory over the Hornets and Winks himself scored in injury time to complete a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage.

And the England international believes the squad’s mentality is such that they can never be counted out.

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

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “We can never be written off, that’s the most important thing.

“We’ve scored a lot of late goals and it shows how much we persevere in a match and that the manager’s instilled a never-say-die attitude in the lads, and we know the game doesn’t finish until the final whistle.

“If we continue to press the team and try to get the opposition on the back foot until the final minute, we know we’re more than capable of scoring. We’ve done that this season.”

Asked about the prospect of overhauling both City and Liverpool, Winks added:  “We’re more than capable of challenging. We’ve had some great results against big sides this year, but it’s a long way. There’s a lot of matches to go this season, and the table’s fluctuating all the time.

“One minute we’re top, then we’re third battling for fourth. If we keep winning our matches there’s no reason why we can’t, but all we can really do is focus on the next game ahead of us and winning all our matches. We’ll see where that gets us.”

Mentality is key

Winks has exactly the right attitude for a title fight.

Spurs have not known when they are beaten in recent weeks, and have won their last three games without the goalscoring talents of captain Harry Kane.

Dele Alli has also been injured for the last two league encounters but the resilience shown by Pochettino’s men has proved that they are not about to concede the title just yet.

Of course, a win over Leicester is vital if they are to stay in the race – they may have to win every game between now and the end of the season if they are to be champions – but Winks has embodied the desire that all fans want to see from their players.

Spurs may not win the title, but they are certainly going to go down fighting if they don’t.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has suggested Ryan Bertrand’s Southampton career may soon be over.

The Lowdown: Bertrand’s contract is running out

Bertrand has been at St. Mary’s Stadium since 2014, but his contract is set to run out at the end of this current campaign (Transfermarkt).

As of yet, it remains unclear whether the 31-year-old will put pen to paper on a new deal, even though he did say in December that he would like to stay on the south coast for the foreseeable future (via The Daily Echo).

The Latest: Hasenhuttl shares thoughts

Ahead of Southampton’s clash with Liverpool this weekend, Hasenhuttl was discussing the future of the left-back. He said (via Hampshire Live):

“We are looking at other targets because the offer we have made has not been accepted from his side.

“When this happens, when there is no solution for the future in this position, we will have to look at other options.”

The Verdict: On the way out

These latest comments do not indicate that Bertrand has a long-term future at the club, and it appears to be of his own doing. If the £9m-valued former Chelsea defender (Transfermarkt) will not sign a new contract, there is very little Hasenhuttl can do – as such, he must look for alternatives.

The reasons behind Bertrand’s desire to leave are uncertain. At 31, he is approaching the end of his career, and a move to a top club may have already sailed. Unfortunately, if he does leave this summer, it will mean Southampton will not receive a transfer fee, but after 240 matches for the Saints, they may have already had their money’s worth.

In other news, Southampton are interested in this 21-year-old.

Tottenham Hotspur have been offered a current Premier League boss, according to fresh reports this week…

What’s the word?

The Sun claim super-agent Jorge Mendes wants to take Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo to Spurs, and they report that he has made contact with the north London outfit over a potential switch this summer.

It could create a knock-on effect that’ll only benefit the Portuguese representative even further as he would then try to take Bruno Lage to Molineux to replace the 47-year-old ex-goalkeeper.

Mendes also brokered Matt Doherty’s £15m move to Spurs in August.

Mourinho 2.0?

Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy must approach this with serious caution as he risks a repeat scenario with Nuno.

There’s no denying that the Portuguese tactician has masterminded Wolves’ rise in the last few years, going from Championship promotion to the Europa League quarter-finals. And understandably, his reputation has skyrocketed, as a result.

Arch-rivals Arsenal came close to appointing him before settling on Mikel Arteta, according to The Sun’s aforementioned report, too.

The Midlands outfit have found life tough this campaign, drawing many a similarity to Spurs under Mourinho.

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Both teams have endured defensive mistakes and problems, and both seem to rely heavily on that one talisman – Harry Kane in north London, and Raul Jimenez at Molineux.

In the Mexican’s absence, Wolves have lingered in mid-table and haven’t looked like repeating their European exploits once.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Levy gets stung by an infamous super-agent either as Pini Zahavi, who is thought to have a close relationship with the Spurs chairman, was the man to clinch the ‘Special One’ a whopping £15m-per-year, which was double the amount paid to Mauricio Pochettino, who guided them to the Champions League final in 2019.

Mourinho also walked away with a £20m compensation package, according to the Daily Mail, following his sacking two weeks ago.

Levy must remember that these representatives are looking out for their clients, rather than trying to help out Spurs, so this latest claim should be hugely worrying for the Hotspur faithful, who grew tired of Mourinho’s tactics and recently protested against the club’s ownership.

He’ll only risk opening a further can of worms if he trusts Mendes with this appointment.

AND in other news, Levy could fix major Spurs problem by hiring 51 y/o gem who “ticks a lot of boxes”…

Tottenham Hotspur are on the search for their next manager and several names have been linked with the vacant position…

What’s the word?

Daniel Levy sensationally sacked Jose Mourinho earlier this week after a topsy-turvy 17 months in charge, though the writing was on the wall two months ago when the Telegraph suggested his position was under threat if their form didn’t improve.

90min then added fuel to the fire by claiming that the Spurs hierarchy had already drawn up a shortlist of potential candidates, in which Scottish Premiership champion Steven Gerrard was named.

He’s since been backed for the job following developments this week – speaking in The Times, Tony Cascarino said:

“One manager who looks capable of filling that role [at Spurs] is Steven Gerrard. People say he will be the next Liverpool manager but maybe not, or, if so, perhaps he will do another job before then. What he has done at Rangers is extraordinary: the way he handles himself in interviews and the huge improvement of the team on the pitch. Would he excite the likes of Harry Kane? I would say he would.”

Alli boost

Given his deep ties to Anfield, it remains to be seen if Gerrard would swap Rangers for an old Premier League rival but it certainly didn’t stop Jose Mourinho and would have to be considered a major step up from the Scottish top-flight.

This year’s title victory is several years culmination of the blood, sweat and tears that the former England midfielder has put into his coaching career north of the border, and in reality, is one’s just desserts for his managerial ability.

Over 166 matches, the Gers boss has managed a 65.6% win rate, vastly clear of Mourinho at Spurs (52.3%) and for better comparison, he’s tracking the phenomenal work of Brendan Rodgers, who left Celtic with a 69.8% win rate.

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He’s done pretty well since returning to England, too, with Leicester sat in third-place, looking every bit like a Europe-chasing side – unlike Spurs.

Gerrard’s alternating 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 system would bring that attack-minded style of football that Levy is thought to be pursuing in his next manager.

As described by The Coaches Voice, ‘Committing numbers forward and attacking around opposing defensive blocks ultimately represent two consistent and prominent features of the nature of attack Gerrard demands; to that end, Rangers also regularly deliver crosses into the penalty area.’

Many of Spurs’ current stars could benefit from the 40-year-old as a result, but none more so than Dele Alli, who was once compared to the Liverpool talisman.

“I’ve got to say that I loved Stevie G as a player and Scholesy but Dele Alli for his age is just a freak of a talent,” once claimed Darren Anderton. “I love his arrogance on the pitch, how clever he is in finding the positions that he does and his willingness to try everything. He is a real joy to watch.”

It was only in 2016/17 that Alli bagged a whopping 18 league goals from midfield and clinched a second ‘Young PFA Player of the Year’ award, a feat only done twice in history before.

Under Mourinho, the 25-year-old has become a forgotten man to the point of almost leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in January. He has played only 234 minutes in the top-flight this campaign.

If anyone is to bring out the best in Alli, then it’s surely Gerrard, who the Spurs midfielder can become a carbon copy of.

AND in other news, Spurs, ENIC and Levy hit with blow amid fresh European Super League claim…

After their elimination from the UEFA Champions League in midweek, Liverpool turn their attentions back to the Premier League tonight by travelling to Elland Road to take on Leeds United.

Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to secure three points as the Reds aim to secure a top four finish, despite the looming prospect of the Super League proposals.

In order to do that, he must start midfielder Curtis Jones for the first time in the league since early March.

At just the age of 20, the Reds’ academy graduate is already the club’s highest-scoring midfielder this season with four goals. Couple this with the four assists that he has already managed to accumulate and that takes his total direct goal contributions to eight.

For comparison, the next most productive midfielder in the Reds’ squad is Georginio Wijnaldum who has only managed to score on three occasions, whilst having not managed to tee up his teammates at all.

Considering Jones has started just 21 matches in all competitions for the reigning Premier League champions, that is a remarkable achievement.

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It is no surprise then when looking at Jones’ statistics per match, he continues to outperform his somewhat more illustrious teammates.

According to WhoScored, the £27m-rated midfielder attempts one shot per game, a figure not matched by any other Liverpool option in the centre of the park.

Meanwhile, only Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara account for more key passes per 90 minutes than Jones in league play, whilst the latter only just outdoes his 1.1 dribbles per game.

It goes without saying then that should Jones be included, the Reds will surely be more of a threat, of course, a useful asset as Liverpool attempt to seal what could be a key three points in their pursuit of a top-four finish.

Previously labelled as “unbelievable” by the Reds’ U23 coach Gary O’Neil, the England U21 midfielder simply has to be selected from the start at Elland Road if he’s passed fit after missing out against Aston Villa and Real Madrid.

AND in more news, the Reds could find their perfect Wijnaldum replacement with a current England star…

If you thought the ongoing manager saga at Celtic was providing enough drama, then think again.

The Bhoys hierarchy have been on the hunt for a new manager for nearly three months now but that might not be the only thing Dermot Desmond has on his mind anymore.

What’s the word?

As well as being locked in negotiations to bring Eddie Howe to Paradise, Celtic have been keen to bring in a figure to take on their newly created director of football role.

It’s thought that Fergal Harkin and Richard Hughes are among the contenders but the root of Celtic’s problems stem far deeper than their transfer history.

After all, it is Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell who call the vast majority of the shots.

Lawwell will retire at the end of the season with Dominic McKay arriving to replace him but could a reduced role be on the cards for Desmond as well?

Well, after an audacious claim from the Notorious himself, Mr Conor McGregor, there could be a further change on the cards at Celtic.

Taking to Twitter in the early hours of Monday morning, the MMA superstar revealed that he wanted to invest in the Hoops after being asked whether he could get involved with Manchester United.

The UFC fighter said: “A conversation came up regarding Celtic first to be honest. To acquire shares from Dermot Desmond. I am certainly interested in acquiring a sports team at some stage! Both Celtic and Man United are teams I like for sure. But I am open. I feel I could do big things for a club.”

Time to sell?

McGregor may not have a background in football but if Dermot Desmond’s influence on Celtic is waning, it can only be a good thing for the Bhoys.

The Irishman appears to care about the club, regularly being snapped in Celtic jerseys while he previously professed his love for Kieran Tierney during an interview.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-howe-favre-mcgregor-mccann-tierney” title=”Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

That said, if Desmond does indeed decide to sell some of his shares, it would be a pleasing sight for supporters regardless of who it was going to.

After all, the businessman has left Celtic in the lurch in recent years with mass protests occurring outside Parkhead against his ownership.

The club’s majority shareholder was questioned about his stake as recently as March but his response was defiant.

“I am as passionate about Celtic as any other supporter. My shares are not for sale,” he commented.

Desmond may have been in charge of the club during their haul of nine Premiership titles in a row but it’s hard to argue that things behind the scenes have been run very well.

It was he, alongside Ian Bankier and Lawwell, who sanctioned the arrival of Neil Lennon back in 2019.

Celtic had just been given £10m in compensation fees for Brendan Rodgers but they decided against being ambitious and investing that back into finding a renowned manager. The result of which has been a disastrous season where they now sit 23 points off top spot.

Whether it be transfer strategies or coaching appointments, the Glaswegian’s have been run poorly for a while now.

To have a new investor on board with fresh and ambitious ideas would be a bright sign of hope for the Hoops.

AND in other news, Celtic interview “outstanding” 63 y/o for manager role, Hoops fans should be buzzing…

With Liam Cooper closing in on his return to first-team action following suspension, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa will undoubtedly look to bring his club captain back into the fold.

The skipper received his marching orders in that historic 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Etihad, and will serve the final game of his three-match suspension against Brighton this weekend.

In his absence, Bielsa has opted to go with a centre-back partnership of Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk, and the duo have been impressive in ensuring the Whites picked up big results against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United respectively.

But while Cooper will be expecting to reclaim his place in the back-line, and Llorente is beginning to get a run of games under his belt following his summer arrival, the £25k-a-week earning Struijk must simply be in the team.

The £6.3m-rated powerhouse has been a massive presence at the back, and Noel Whelan has made it clear just how much he has impressed.

He said: “I thought he was phenomenal at the back. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with this kid. He went through a stage of playing in Kalvin’s role but that was the wrong choice by Bielsa for me. He is a centre-half all day long. You can see him growing in that position.

“Even before Cooper came back into the side those two had a really good relationship going. It looks like they have picked up where they left off. Pascal Struijk has taken his opportunity whenever it has been given to him. It is very difficult to drop him when he plays like that against a really strong Man United front three.”

Former Leeds ace Dominic Matteo is also a big fan of him, saying: “He reads the game a lot better than he’s credited for. He’ll get even better too. Struijk is one to look out for.

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“There’s plenty of work to be done but, with the size of him, his physicality, his passing, he’s got it all and can step into midfield. He looks very calm on the ball, players who are a bit erratic are not for me but he looks comfortable in possession.”

So while Cooper is set to return to the squad after the clash against the Seagulls, Bielsa must continue to unleash his 21-year-old starlet, who just appears to be getting better game by game.

Meanwhile, Leeds could finally wave goodbye to this £9m-rated “massive flop”…

Lionel Messi has cemented his status as an Instagram king, passing the 500 million follower mark, but he is still a long way behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

Article continues below

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• Argentine icon hits half-a-billion followers
• Portuguese rival boast 622m
• History being made on & off the field

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who continues to make history on the field, reached another notable landmark off the pitch when hitting half-a-billion followers on his social media channel of choice. He is just the second person on the planet to achieve that feat.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Eternal rival Ronaldo was the first, with the Portuguese icon topping the charts by some distance on 622m. Musician and actress Selena Gomez ranks third (429m), followed by Kylie Jenner (400m) and Hollywood film star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (397m).

• DID YOU KNOW?

  According to , Messi is now followed by 20 per cent of the 2.5 billion monthly active user base on Instagram. He has more followers than all current NFL players combined and tops the cumulative total of the 154 teams in the five major sports leagues in America.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Messi’s fan base exploded on the back of his 2022 World Cup triumph with Argentina, while he now boasts a new legion of supporters following a move to the United States that has seen him link up with MLS side Inter Miami. His following is predominately male (72%), while Brazil is his top country for followers at 12% – followed by India (8.1%), Argentina (6.5%) and the U.S. (6.2%).