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Carlo Ancelotti must recall Marcel Brands snubbing FC Barcelona’s approach for Richarlison after Real Madrid were linked with a potential move for Everton’s irresistible striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

What’s the word?

According to TodoFichajes, Madrid have placed Calvert-Lewin on their agenda as Los Blancos begin scouring the market to find Karim Benzema’s replacement at the Santiago Bernabeu having been left unimpressed by Luka Jovic’s form.

The Madrid hierarchy are understood to have no confidence in Jovic being the one to take over from Benzema, just a year after signing the Serbian from Eintracht Frankfurt for around €60million (£53.2m) and awarding the forward a six-year contract on the back of a 27-goal season in Germany.

Los Blancos are expected to attempt moving Jovic on in the upcoming winter market in order to raise funds for his replacement in the Spanish capital, who is thought to be Calvert-Lewin, having only scored twice in 30 games under Zinedine Zidane.

Madrid are said to have already contacted Everton to discuss Calvert-Lewin’s availability, as they are keen to take the lead in any race that may emerge for his services given his form under Ancelotti this term will not have gone unnoticed elsewhere.

Calvert-Lewin is considered one of the great sensations of the new Premier League season after striking seven goals in five games, while stretching his tally to ten for the term thus far across all competitions with a hat-trick against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup.

Real Madrid are preparing a €40m (£36.4m) offer for the 23-year-old and would look to close the deal in June should they fail in offloading Jovic in January.

No need to worry

Despite reports suggesting Madrid consider Calvert-Lewin to be their Benzema successor and that an offer of €40m could be on the cards soon, Ancelotti should have no reason to suspect the striker will be leaving Goodison Park for the Santiago Bernabeu any time soon.

The fee in question alone is reason enough for Ancelotti to scoff at Los Blanco’s alleged interest, as Everton reportedly slapped an £80m asking price on the striker this September amid interest from Manchester United.

That was also before the 23-year-old opened the league season with at least a goal a game, while justifying the Red Devils opting to walk away from their hopes of signing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s attacking target.

Everton refusing to devalue one of their prized assets paid dividends with Calvert-Lewin’s start to the season, and came as the latest signal of intent from the Goodison Park outfit that they wish to strengthen not deplete the options Ancelotti has.

Director of Football Brands immediately snubbed an alleged €100m (£85m) offer for Richarlison back in January as Barcelona’s former Sporting Director Eric Abidal strived to land his long-term target.

Ancelotti had only been at Goodison Park for a month when that offer came through, but will have been buoyed by Brands’ decision and only has to remember those discussions should Madrid come forward with an offer for Calvert-Lewin.

AND in other news, Everton will be in heaven over a 29-year-old whose causing his former side to regret accepting a summer transfer.

Tottenham Hotspur continue to be linked to wingers despite the very impressive signing of Steven Bergwijn during the January transfer.

What’s the word?

According to Defensa Central, Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez could leave the La Liga champions with Spurs willing to offer €16m (£14.5m) for his services.

It’s claimed that the 29-year-old has been told by Zinedine Zidane that he’s the third choice for the right-sided spot behind Marco Asensio and Rodrygo, although Vazquez is more than happy to stay and help their title defence next season.

He’s suffered most this campaign after picking up a freak injury back in November, which had restricted him to just 839 minutes of league action all year.

N’jie, Nkoudou, Vazquez…

What is most perplexing is the fact that Jose Mourinho has a whole armoury of wide options at his disposal, especially on the right. The Portuguese chief is able to pick either Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela or Bergwijn to start there – and maybe even Gedson Fernandes, too.

Is a fifth option really necessary?

Given the club’s unsuccessful winger signings in recent seasons, Bergwijn has been a rare diamond having scored three goals and provided one assist, via WhoScored.

But for every Dutch sensation, there’s a Clinton N’Jie or Georges-Kevin Nkoudou that didn’t make the grade and in some ways, the former bears similarities to Vazquez.

The 26-year-old, who now plies his trade for Dynamo Moscow, arrived in north London for £8.3m but a combination of injuries and lacklustre displays saw him sold within two seasons.

N’Jie failed to score in 14 appearances for Spurs.

Meanwhile, Vazquez’s 24 goals in 205 matches for Los Galacticos is really nothing to shout home about either.

Two injury-prone players with very disappointing returns in front of goal.

Mourinho simply must steer clear of a swoop for his old Madridista colleague and avoid falling down the same winger traps his predecessor did.

AND in other news, Daniel Levy is setting Mourinho up for instant failure at Spurs…

Having secured Premier League football for another season, all attentions at Aston Villa will firmly be on how the club can strengthen their squad for the start of the new campaign next month.

Dean Smith’s side spent heavily last summer in a bid to beat the drop, and The Athletic claim that “as much as £80m could be invested”, with “two or three signings expected to go straight into Dean Smith’s strongest starting XI and a couple of others targeted to freshen up the squad”.

One man who has been linked with a move to Villa Park, is Brentford defender Rico Henry. Reports have suggested that Villa are searching for players with pace, and are keen on bringing in some wing-backs this summer, with the Bees ace fitting that description to a tee.

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The 23-year-old played 51 games last season as Brentford fell short at the last hurdle in the Championship play-off final against Fulham, playing the majority of his games at left-back, and at left-midfield too.

Henry has actually previously worked with Villa boss Dean Smith, when the pair were at Walsall together.

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And speaking after the youngster was voted Football League Young Player of the Month back in October 2015, Smith said: “If I were to liken him to anyone it would be a young Ashley Cole. And it’s up to him how far he can now go in the game. I’ve recommended him a couple of times to the England Under-19s because, if there’s a better left-sided player in the country at 18 years of age, I’d like to see them.

“He’s a pleasure to coach and to have around the place, not just as a footballer but as a person. He’s got a great personality, which will hold him in good stead. He’s got a good engine and pace, he can get up and down the pitch and he’s got two goals already this season which is very good for a left-back.”

With Smith himself knowing all about Henry’s qualities, Villa can strike gold by bringing the Brentford speedster to the club this summer. It would give them a left-back who could potentially be a part of the back-line for at least the next five years or so.

Tottenham are interested in signing another Lille defender, but this time it is not Gabriel Magalhaes. 

Lille are willing to let Zeki Celik leave for a mere £10.8m this summer, according to Le10 Sport.

Jose Mourinho faces an exodus of defenders at the end of the season, as Jan Vertonghen and Juan Foyth are seemingly set to leave.

Like any good manager, Mourinho will no doubt be aware sorting out a solid defence is just as important as having a strong attack.

The Portuguese is therefore keen to sign Celik, amid interest from West Ham.

Serge Aurier has angered the club’s hierarchy, as they feel he has embarrassed Spurs with several infractions so far.

Alongside his off-field issues, he has struggled for consistency this season, and Mourinho is on the hunt for a new full-back.

The Turkish international arguably fits the profile of the type of player he is looking for, as he is an attacking threat on the right-flank.

Celik has played 23 games in Ligue 1 this season, supplying two assists, making 2.3 tackles per game, averaging 1.1 interceptions, and completing 1.4 clearances on average (via WhoScored).

Moreover, he made six appearances in the Champions League, which is surely an added bonus.

The Times revealed Mourinho wants to sell Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters as he will have limited funds to spend, and the Ivorian could be on his way out the door in the summer.

As the 23-year-old will be available for a bargain fee, he may be a gamble worth paying for, as he is still in the early stages of his career. Even in the event a move doesn’t work out as planned, Spurs will have gained a valuable asset for no extra cost.

Tottenham fans, should the board sign Celik this summer? Let us know down below!

Manchester United’s dominant display against Bournemouth showcased the wealth of attacking talents Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has at his disposal. 

United romped to a 5-2 victory over Bournemouth at Old Trafford which has kept them in fifth place in the Premier League, only two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, with only five games remaining.

However, Solskjaer still isn’t satisfied, and has made it clear he wants to sign a new striker and right winger in the summer.

The Red Devils had been in the middle of planning for a long-term rebuild before the nationwide lockdown was imposed in response to the pandemic.

United have been chasing Jadon Sancho for more than three years now and are seemingly no further forward.

Solskjaer considers Sancho central to his plans for the future but has already started drafting up a list of possible replacements in the event he cannot bring the Englishman back to the Premier League.

According to David Ornstein, as per @utdreport, the Red Devils have now entered the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Leon Bailey.

The Norwegian has indicated the right flank is an area that urgently needs addressing, as Daniel James has struggled for consistency this season, and scouts have also been monitoring Argentine winger Thiago Almada and Welsh youngsters David Brooks and Rabbi Matondo.

Bailey, who is currently valued at £40m by Leverkusen, would be significantly cheaper than Sancho. Indeed, Dortmund are demanding £108m for the club’s top scorer.

The 22-year-old, who can play on the left or right of the midfield, played 22 games in the Bundesliga this season, scoring five goals, supplying three assists, taking 1.3 shots per game, averaging 1 key pass, and completing 1.6 dribbles on average (via WhoScored).

However, it is worth noting he has received a lower WhoScored rating than Sancho.

While his versatility could prove useful, Ornstein adds Bailey is not a first-choice target for United or their rivals Manchester City.

Failing to sign Sancho would be a bitter blow for Solskjaer, who has been pursuing the England international for several months now, as he missed out on his teammate Erling Braut Haaland last year.

Despite his insistence Sancho remains his top priority, the fact the board are considering other options shows they are unwilling to take any risk.

United fans, do you think the board should sign Leon Bailey instead of Jadon Sancho? Let us know in the comments below!

Wolverhampton Wanderers have agreed a loan deal for Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, according to reports in Turkey.

What does the report say?

Karius has spent the last two seasons on loan at Besiktas, but appears keen on a return to England this summer.

The German is contracted at Liverpool until 2021 and is now being linked with a move to Wolves.

According to reports in Turkey, Wolves have agreed a deal to take Karius on loan next season, whenever that is set to begin.

The current number one at Molineux is Rui Patricio, but it appears Karius is being targeted as a back-up option given that the existing number two John Ruddy is set to see his contract expire in the summer.

Bizarre move

Any move for Karius from Wolves would be something of a surprise given the German’s reputation for high profile errors.

Ruddy, a former England international and a player who made 45 starts during Wolves’ promotion campaign, is a solid back-up option and while he may be out of contract, offering him a new deal would appear the smarter – and safer – option.

Of course, Ruddy could be keen to earn a number one shirt elsewhere, but swapping him for Karius does not appear the best decision and appears to be a risky move given Karius’ current reputation.

Liverpool fans have waited 30 years to win a league title – they are now within touching distance of doing just that.

The Reds, of course, are currently top of the Premier League by a huge 25 points, and they are just two wins and six points away from confirming their status as champions. They would have likely long since been confirmed as the winners had the current pandemic not led to football across the continent and the globe being suspended.

In recent days, though, there have been positive signs that the top tier in England may soon be on the way back. It has been reported that football could be played from June 1st, and now there has been another development. The Daily Mail say that games could be played at home grounds instead of neutral venues if the clubs cover the cost of keeping fans away from the stadiums.

As you can imagine, this has absolutely delighted the Reds supporters – one fan called the news “huge”. They have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Let us know what you think!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has urged Gareth Bale to join Tottenham Hotspur, per The Athletic.

What’s the word?

The Wales international caused a furore over the weekend as he posed with a flag emblazoned with the words, “Wales, golf, Madrid. In that order”, per the aforementioned report. Those pictures came after his country’s 2-0 win over Hungary, which sealed their qualification for Euro 2020.

Bale has been linked with a move to China in the past but Calderon believes that he should link up with Jose Mourinho at Spurs following the ex-Chelsea man’s appointment.

Wales Online have claimed that Mourinho is a huge fan of the forward and would like to sign him in the January transfer window.

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And Calderon said: “Bale has at least three or four more years at the top level. Could he join Jose Mourinho at Tottenham? Why not?

“It depends on what Mourinho thinks of him but I’m sure the fans at Tottenham have very good memories of him there.

“For Bale to go back to where he really belongs would be ideal for everyone because going to China would be a pity.”

A PR win

This would be a major win for both Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and for Mourinho.

Fans reacted with genuine shock to the news of Mauricio Pochettino’s exit, particularly with the Portuguese appointed fewer than 12 hours later.

Indeed, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust said in a statement: “We’re shocked and saddened to hear our Club has sacked Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff.

“During his time at Spurs, Poch gave us many of our best moments as supporters, made Tottenham Hotspur a force to be reckoned with again, and forged a strong link with the fans. We will never forget the joy he brought us.

“Of course, results in the league have been disappointing for some time. But many fans thought Poch had earned the right to turn it around in the first sustained period of poor form we’ve had during his time at the Club. We now have to look forward and take stock. But there are questions that must be asked of the Board of THFC.

“The Club’s statement makes it clear the Board has decided to sack the manager and coaching staff. It is their decision.

But a good way to get those supporters back onside in the January transfer window would be to secure a marquee deal.

Bale, who Transfermarkt value at £54m, appears to have run his race at Real, making just six La Liga appearances this season.

Several outlets have hit out at his behaviour following Wales’ win. An exit, and a return to a club where he made his name, could get the love flowing once again, both at Spurs and for Bale.

Mourinho, naturally, will need to get Spurs into a position where they are more attractive than they are now – they are languishing in 14th in the table – but perhaps Bale and the Portuguese could be a surprise match made in heaven.

Loads of Tottenham Hotspur fans have been reacting on Twitter after Ricky Sacks relayed an interview with reported transfer target Kalvin Phillips in FourFourTwo magazine, via The Sun, where he said he wants to spend his career at Leeds United.

Phillips said: “I want to spend my career at Leeds and see the club doing well in the Premier League.

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“I’m just enjoying every minute right now.”

Football Insider reported last month that Spurs would join the race to sign the 24-year-old this summer if the Yorkshire outfit fail to win promotion to the Premier League, prior to the season coming to a standstill because of what is happening in the United Kingdom right now.

However, it appears as though the midfielder is ready to stay at Elland Road whatever happens, although Marcelo Bielsa’s men are in a good position at the top of the standings if and when the campaign resumes.

Phillips has certainly impressed from a defensive point of view for Leeds this term, winning 2.8 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game according to WhoScored, as well as averaging an impressive 1.9 key passes per outing in the Championship in 2019/20.

Meanwhile, Spurs have struggled defensively conceding 40 goals in 29 Premier League games, and it just hasn’t worked with the likes of Eric Dier, Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele playing in the defensive midfield position.

Tottenham supporters have been quick to have their say on the Englishman’s comments, and while one said they “would have loved him at Spurs” and another was “gutted”, others suggested that they don’t believe this to be the end of the story.

Here is a selection of the Twitter reaction…

In other Tottenham news, Alasdair Gold has named two forwards Spurs could target if they lose Harry Kane, including one familiar 13-goal ace…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

Arsenal and Liverpool produced a thriller at Anfield in the fourth round of the League Cup.

Many will remember the 4-4 draw between the two sides in 2009, with Andrey Arshavin bagging four goals. On Wednesday night, both sides went one better, with the final score ending 5-5 before the Reds won in a penalty shootout.

Watch the moment Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal career may have come to an ugly end in the video below…

Unai Emery made a lot of changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace last weekend, and one of those to be given a starting berth was Uruguay international Lucas Torreira. The 23-year-old impressed in the middle of the park, and may have given his boss something to think about in the future.

First and foremost, he got himself on the scoresheet, which will have caught the eye of most watching him. But there were plenty of other positives on Merseyside against the European champions.

He lost possession just six times, which was the joint-lowest of any outfield player who started the match, whilst he also managed to win 55.5% of the ground duels he contested.

His 84% pass accuracy was only bettered by Joe Willock and Mesut Ozil amongst his teammates as well, which showed he was calm and confident in possession.

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Defensively, he did make just one tackle, but was also dribbled past just once despite Jurgen Klopp’s side having 67% possession.

All in all, it was a good showing from the former Sampdoria man, and Unai Emery should be considering playing him on a more regular basis. So far this season, the £49.5m-valued (as per Transfermarkt) midfielder has started just two Premier League games, with Granit Xhaka being one of those regularly fancied ahead of him.

The Switzerland international, of course, has recently grabbed the headlines for all the wrong reasons following the unsavoury incident against the Eagles last Sunday.

As such, his future in north London looks under serious threat at the moment. According to Sky Deutschland, the Gunners are interested in taking Borussia Monchengladbach 22-year-old Denis Zakaria to the Emirates Stadium, who could act as Xhaka’s replacement.

However, with the 27-year-old’s position surely under threat, Emery has his alternative in midfield right under his nose in Torreira.

Why spend millions on a new face when the popular 21-cap man has the ability to do a great job in the middle of the park? He deserves his chance to shine and, on this display, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be given that opportunity.