يشعر بعض الأشخاص داخل الاتحاد البلجيكي لكرة القدم بالشك بشأن الأخبار الواردة من ريال مدريد بشأن إصابة جناح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، إدين هازارد، بوباء فيروس كورونا المستجد، كوفيد 19.

وأعلن ريال مدريد أمس، السبت، إصابة هازارد وزميله كاسيميرو بالفيروس قبل ساعات من مواجهة فالنسيا في الجولة التاسعة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني. (طالع التفاصيل)

وأفادت صحيفة “HLN” البلجيكية بأن الشعور بالشك داخل الاتحاد أمر مفهوم خاصة وأن نتيجة التحاليل تظهر قبل أيام فقط من بداية معسكر المنتخب، وبالتالي، إصابة هازارد ستبعده عن الشياطين الحمر بسبب البروتوكول الطبي في إسبانيا.

وينص البروتوكول الطبي في إسبانيا على عزل اللاعب لمدة 10 أيام من أجل التعافي من فيروس كورونا، ولذلك سيغيب عن 3 مباريات ستُقام في الشهر الحالي أمام سويسرا، إنجلترا والدنمارك.

الجدير بالذكر أن هازارد كان قد عاد للتو إلى مباريات ريال مدريد بعد غياب بسبب إصابة عضلية وتألق في مباراة هويسكا وسجل هدفًا رائعًا في الدوري الإسباني.

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Liverpool have been linked with Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski again, who Jurgen Klopp tried to sign way back in 2016 and was linked with again last year.

What’s the story?

According to reports in Italy, via Sport Witness and CalcioNapoli24, Liverpool are ready to go all in on trying to sign Zielinski this time.

Klopp is clearly a huge fan. The Reds had a bid rejected for the Polish midfielder when he was at Udinese in 2016, per BBC, and he eventually joined Napoli instead, where he has been exceptional.

After links cropped up again last summer, the Italian press are claiming Liverpool are preparing a whopping €60m (£51.8m) offer to secure his services this time.

Is he good enough?

Zielinski was a player with great potential when he took pictures wearing a Liverpool shirt way back in 2016 in the hopes of securing his dream move to Anfield.

Who has the loudest fans in Europe? PSG certainly state their claim in the video below…

He is no longer just “potential” now though, and has blossomed into one of the most technically gifted and intelligent players in Europe.

Known for his ability to weave in and out of tight spaces and find passes between the defensive lines, the 24 year-old has completed 90 per cent of his passes across 30 league showings this season, averaging one dribble and 1.6 key passes per game as well as 1.1 tackles per game (Whoscored).

Having played plenty of times on the left side of midfield this campaign and displaying excellent dribbling, acceleration and vision from midfield, he could be Klopp’s replacement for the creativity that walked out the door with Philippe Coutinho.

Should they pull the trigger?

Quite simply, if Jurgen Klopp thinks Zielinski is a good fit for his style and system, then the Reds should waste no time in making this deal happen.

There were doubts over Andy Robertson. There were doubts of Georginio Wijnaldum. There were even doubts around the price tags of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

The Reds boss has shown time and time again that he and his transfer team are very specific in picking targets who suit their exact specifications, and if Zielinski is the man they see filling the Coutinho-shaped hole in the squad then it feels foolish to suggest otherwise.

Liverpool fans, do you think Zielinski would be a good signing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

When Sheffield Wednesday announced their retained list earlier this week, it would have been a surprise to many of the club’s supporters that Steve Bruce had decided not to offer Gary Hooper a new deal.

Although the 31-year-old’s time at Hillsborough was somewhat tarnished by his struggles with injuries when at his very best for the Owls, he proved to be one of the most deadly strikers in the Championship.

Having initially joined the club in 2016 from Norwich City, Hooper enjoyed a successful debut season in which he fired in 13 goals as Wednesday navigated their way to the play-off final under then-boss Carlos Carvalhal. Despite suffering defeat at Wembley Stadium to Hull City, it seemed almost certain that the former Scunthorpe United star would be destined for big things in South Yorkshire.

However, after spending the majority of the following season on the sidelines, disaster struck yet again for Hooper in December 2017 as he suffered a serious injury which would result in him missing 15 months of action.

Yet despite this setback, when the forward made his return to action in March, he demonstrated glimpses of his undeniable talent against the likes of Aston Villa and Bristol City and so it was somewhat of a shock that he was released by the club.

Although Bruce will be confident that he can secure a replacement for Hooper in the summer, if he slips up in the transfer window, it could result in yet another season of mediocrity for the Owls.

With interest in the forward being expressed by Celtic, Fulham and Villa (via The Scottish Sun), it may turn out to be a costly mistake by Wednesday to let him go.

What do think Owls fans? Did Bruce make the correct call in releasing Hooper? Or was it an error to let him leave Hillsborough? Get in touch below.

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West Ham United are tracking Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, according to the Daily Mirror.

The centre-back has struggled for game time with the Blues this season.

What’s the word?

Cahill has fallen out of favour under Maurizio Sarri this season.

The 33-year-old has played just once in the Premier League this campaign, ironically against West Ham.

He has played four times in the Europa League but has not featured at all in the knockout rounds, while he only played twice in the League Cup, in the third and fourth rounds. He was absent from the latter rounds, including the final against Manchester City and the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Mirror claim that the Irons are interested in the possibility of extricating Cahill from Stamford Bridge when the summer transfer window opens.

A former England international, he is reportedly desperate for first-team football.

Why?

This is a bizarre deal.

West Ham have a number of options at centre-back, including Fabian Balbuena, Angelo Ogbonna, Issa Diop and Winston Reid.

Why, then, would Manuel Pellegrini be interested in signing Cahill?

Yet again, he is a fading talent and Sarri has clearly decided that he is no longer qualified to play at a Premier League level.

Pellegrini should take his lead from the Italian and avoid him at all costs.

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Toby Alderweireld believes that Tottenham Hotspur need to win all four of their remaining matches to guarantee qualification to the Champions League, per The Mirror.

What’s the word?

Spurs lost to Manchester City on Saturday but were boosted in their pursuit to qualify for the competition by other results 24 hours later.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal lost on Sunday with Spurs safely ensconced in third, one point clear of the Gunners and three ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. Chelsea can potentially move above them on Monday night if they beat Burnley, but the north London outfit will have a game in hand on Maurizio Sarri’s team.

Alderweireld and his team-mates face Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday before games against West Ham United, AFC Bournemouth and Everton – they also face Ajax over two legs in the Champions League semi-final – and the Belgian is of the belief that only maximum points will be enough.

Speaking to The Mirror, the 30-year-old said: “Tuesday, we know the pressure is on us.

“We have to get three points, so we have to win all our remaining games in the Premier League. We want to get top four and the Champions League as well. We’ll try to get top four, because it’s important to be in the Champions League next year.

“Last season we were close, so I think we have to do the things that we’re doing now, try to improve and try to close the gap.

“But if you see the last four years how stable we are, always top four, always close, so I think just working hard we will close the gap.”

A major end to the season needed

Spurs cannot afford to take their foot off the gas.

Of course, they face a number of difficult games before the end of the season in the Premier League and they will also play Ajax over two legs in Europe.

If form takes a dip domestically, Tottenham may have to win the Champions League to be in it next season.

Alderweireld, then, is right to remind his team-mates of the battle they face.

Spurs fans had better hope they are listening.

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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Norwich City star Max Aarons, according to BBC journalist David Ornstein per Five Live.

The right-back helped Daniel Farke’s men to promotion from the Championship and will be playing Premier League football next term.

It remains to be seen, however, if that will be for Spurs or for the Canaries; Ornstein claims that Mauricio Pochettino’s men could swoop if either Kieran Trippier or Serge Aurier leave the club.

The Sun report that Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed his side’s interest in the England international.

Should Spurs bring in Aarons as a replacement, then, if the 28-year-old leaves?

Football FanCast writers give their verdicts below!

Billy Meyers

“Definitely. Kieran Trippier has had a woeful season and should certainly not be first-choice for Spurs next season. Max Aarons won the Championship Young Player of the Year award this year and is a huge prospect; imagine what Mauricio Pochettino could do if he gets his hands on him. Luke Shaw rose to prominence under the Argentine’s tutelage, and Aarons could be the next English prodigy to flourish.”

Jack Saville

“Aarons has been a revelation at Norwich this season and he’s the type of player who ticks all of Pochettino’s boxes. He is bursting with potential, English, brilliant on the overlap and comfortable within an expansive system. I think it’s too soon for him to immediately step into the starting XI given his lack of Premier League experience, but with a few months to settle, he could easily replace Trippier at right-back. The England international has had a torrid season and Aarons could be a real breath of fresh air in his place next season.”

Matt Dawson

“Aarons would be a fabulous signing for Tottenham. Tripper has been terrible this term and therefore if the club are serious about challenging, they need a replacement. The Norwich man is far from the finished product but he’d be a statement signing if Spurs were to capture him over some of the other top clubs. Pochettino has worked wonders with young English talent before. It’s now time for him to replicate that again.”

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Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay has claimed that Izzy Brown will not play for Leeds United again before the end of the season, via the Inside Elland Road podcast.

Brown has endured an injury-plagued season at Elland Road appearing only once in the Championship for the Whites this season.

What’s been said then?

Hay has been very frank with his prediction on Brown’s future, he believes that the Chelsea loanee will not get another chance to impress at Elland Road.

Speaking on the Inside Elland Road podcast Hay said:

“It does seem strange that with a few games to go you’ve got Phillips getting 45 minutes for the 23s. It’s how Bielsa likes to keep them sharp but there are so few games left you’d think it would be a case of battening down the hatches. Instead you had others involved, you had Berardi, Izzy Brown, who I am convinced is not going to play again. There just seems no way back for him.”

What a waste

This season has to be written off as an absolute waste for both parties as Brown hasn’t developed at all at Leeds, whilst Marcelo Bielsa hasn’t gotten anything worthwhile from the deal.

The 23-year-old will return to Chelsea having lost a year of his career on the treatment table and rotting in the Under 23s.

Although Hay’s synopsis is realistic and it is unlikely that Brown will feature for Leeds again this term, it may not be a wise move for the Argentine to leave him out of his plans altogether.

Brown is the only member of the Leeds squad to be promoted through the Championship play-offs already, and that experience may prove to be invaluable should the Yorkshire outfit be faced with that particular lottery.

The midfielder certainly would’ve offered something to the squad had he been able to stay fit for a sustained period, but his spell in Yorkshire will leave a lot of Whites fans asking; what if?

فاز المنتخب الإنجليزي على نظيره الأيرلندي وديًا بثلاثية نظيفة، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء اليوم الخميس على ملعب “ويمبلي” وديًا، ضمن استعدادات منتخب الأسود الثلاثة لدوري الأمم الأوروبية. شاهد أهداف مباراة إنجلترا وأيرلندا

وانتهى الشوط الأول من المباراة بتقدم أصحاب الأرض، بثنائية نظيفة، الهدف الأول سجّله هاري ماجواير في الدقيقة 18، وفي الدقيقة 31 سجّل جادون سانشو الهدف الثاني.

وفي الشوط الثاني من المباراة، تمكن مهاجم إيفرتون دومينيك كالفيرت ليوين من إحراز الهدف الثالث لـ إنجلترا في الدقيقة 56 من علامة الجزاء.

إنجلترا تستعد لخوض مباراتين الأسبوع المُقبل بمواجهة بلجيكا وآيسلندا في دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

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Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to reveal that they wouldn’t want to see Wilfried Zaha arrive at Anfield.

The 26-year-old Ivory Coast international appears to be on the market this summer after stating his intention to play in the Champions League, although Crystal Palace have said that they want £80m for their talisman.

Chelsea fans were giving it large at Anfield on Sunday. Watch their afternoon get slowly ruined in the video below…

Zaha dazzled the Emirates on Sunday as he and the Eagles pulled off a shock 3-2 victory over Arsenal, where the mercurial forward managed to get on the scoresheet and provide a constant threat throughout.

When of player of his calibre becomes available, any top club would be silly not to take a look at him, but Liverpool fans aren’t sold on the idea of seeing the Palace No.11 arrive on Merseyside.

He would undoubtedly offer something to a side lacking quality depth on the wings behind Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, but that factor hasn’t been enough to sway the Liverpool fanbase on Twitter who remain unconvinced…

As their biggest test this season lies await against bitter rivals Aston Villa, Jimmy Shan obviously needs to get his combination spot on to move ahead to the play-off final.

Thankfully, he has a variety of options to choose from to win bragging rights in the Midlands derby and take one step closer to the Premier League.

In the next few days, he’ll need his best players to turn up big time to resist the upcoming storm. During this crucial period, lacklustre performances cannot be tolerated. With that in mind, and regardless of how experienced he is, Gareth Barry cannot be played in the crunch games ahead.

The 38-year-old’s been a loyal servant for the Baggies but has declined heavily in the past few months. Despite having made 24 appearances, he’s proven to be a very error-prone midfielder who’s struggled in the fast-paced game.

Barry’s tended to often give away possession, unable to track marauding midfielders or stop attacks in and around his side’s final third. He’s picked up 8 yellow cards in the Championship, itself proving how callous the former Villa star’s become. Indeed, he’s shaky against mobile attacks, making him prone to causing fatal errors for the Baggies.

Up against a side who play in a system such as the vibrant and attacking one Dean Smith has become rather famous for, it’s pretty much a death wish. Experience might be a factor in top-level football but far too much of it can be a bad thing, as it would be in this case.

The Baggies should go with their strongest teams with energetic young players, taking the game to Villa. Barry will probably end up being humiliated Jack Grealish and co, bringing more consequences to sink Jimmy Shan’s aspirations for promotion.

West Brom fans, do you want Barry to be involved against Villa? Join the discussion by commenting below…