Despite boasting a woeful defensive record this season, some pieces of the puzzle are coming together for West Ham United.

Indeed, it doesn’t take a genius to assume Manuel Pellegrini may be looking to upgrade over many positions in his side, yet the right-back spot is one he surely isn’t touching anytime soon.

While Pablo Zabaleta’s ageing nature might’ve caused some headaches, Ryan Fredericks is working wonders to consolidate the role as his. The 26-year-old’s given some inspired performances in recent weeks, proving himself as a vital cog to keep the Hammers defence in check.

Granted that West Ham haven’t kept many clean-sheets with him playing, but the 26-year-old’s insane work-rate has helped keep his side in games. Amazingly, he’s rarely allowed wingers to outsmart him and quickly adapted to life in the Premier League. The right-back’s averaged 2.7 tackles, 2.8 clearances per game(stats via WhoScored), being a diligent figure hunting down the ball whenever necessary.

Not only have his defensive solidity bloomed over in recent weeks, his heroics against Southampton probably sealed the right-back slot. Fredericks put in his best performance in a Hammers shirt, being absolutely everyone to avert danger. The 26-year-old made 4 clearances, won 10 aerial challenges, made 4 tackles and successfully completed 4 dribbles (stats via Fotmob) in an amazing display.

To top off his insane performance, he proved his attacking prowess by scoring his first Premier League goal in a special way. By dancing past half of Southampton’s defence, Fredericks netted a majestic goal, attaining fan-favourite status among fans and solidifying his regular role under Pellegrini next season.

West Ham fans, do you think Fredericks deserves a starting spot next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Tottenham fans on Twitter are miffed after the London Evening Standard reported that Moussa Sissoko would be one of 12 players allowed to leave the club this summer.

Sissoko has enjoyed a good season at Tottenham which has made him somewhat of a fan favourite at Spurs after a shaky start to his career in north London.

Sissoko has made 26 appearances in the league for Tottenham this term, cementing himself as a key player in Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Tottenham have already allowed Moussa Dembele to leave the club this season and the departure of Sissoko in the summer would leave the squad incredibly light in midfield unless signings were made.

The Frenchman was signed for £30million from Newcastle in 2016 but was widely considered a flop after his first season at the club.

His form has picked up this campaign and Spurs fans want to see him stay at the club next season.

Here’s what Spurs fans have been saying on Twitter…

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Tim Sherwood believes that Son Heung-Min can make the difference when Tottenham Hotspur face Ajax in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, per Sky Sports’ The Debate.

What’s he said?

Spurs fell to a 1-0 defeat against the Dutch giants at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Donny van de Beek scored the only goal of the game, crowning a dazzling passing move with an ice-cool finish in the first half.

The result means that Spurs will have to win in Amsterdam to have any chance of qualifying for the final, where they could face either Liverpool or Barcelona.

But Mauricio Pochettino’s men will be boosted by the return of Son next week, with the South Korea international having missed the first leg through suspension.

And Sherwood feels that the 26-year-old could hold the keys to any potential success in the Netherlands, with his directness likely to provoke panic in Ajax’s backline, such is the club’s desire to keep the ball.

Speaking to The Debate (03:45), he said: “Son’s going to be a massive plus for them in the return leg, hopefully, he gets through the next game in the Premier League, which is a vital game as well, they need to keep winning and getting maximum points in their league campaign.

“But there is space in behind, he can use his pace to get in behind. He’ll be looking at that game there, we saw him in the stand, he’ll be licking his lips, thinking they’re a fantastic side on the ball, out of possession they do give you chances and I think that he will capitalise on that.

“It’s not dead, the game is certainly not dead, Tottenham can go over there and they can score.”

Ace in the pack

Next week’s game is going to be a completely different kettle of fish.

One feels that Spurs did well to escape the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with only a one-goal deficit, such was the dominance of the Dutch side in the first half.

But with both Moussa Sissoko and Son fit to start next week, Pochettino has far more attacking weapons at his disposal than he had on Tuesday.

Son has been in excellent form this season, too, and has scored 20 goals in all competitions.

With the club likely to set up to play on the counter next week, his pace going forward will be vital and will offer a completely different threat to the one posed by Fernando Llorente, the lumbering striker who huffed and puffed his way through the first leg.

Ajax, then, dare not underestimate the Premier League giants.

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Reports in Italy claim Manchester United are ready to swoop for Roma centre back Kostas Manolas.

What’s the story?

Earlier this week, Sport Witness translated a report from Leggo that claimed the Red Devils ‘ready to pay’ the Greece international’s release clause of €36m (£31m).

Now, TuttoMercatoWeb have thrown their hat in the ring, also claiming that United will trigger his release clause at the end of the season.

Milan Skriniar of Inter Milan was another target, the report claims, but he will seemingly be too expensive to pry away from the San Siro.

A perfect partnership?

Manolas is 6 ft 2, incredibly fast for such a big, physical threat, and loves throwing his body on the line – as you would expect from a man who has spent his career in Greece and Rome, two places that require gladiatorial bravery from every player.

This bravery is something that has maybe been missing at Old Trafford too, so the 39-cap Greek ace could well be the commanding leader the Red Devils have been missing at the back.

In fact, he could the perfect partner for the ever-improving Victor Lindelof, as the one aspect of the modern game Manolas struggles with is when he has the ball at his feet, an area where Lindelof just so happens to excel.

The young Swedish international needs an experienced head next to him, and what could be better than pairing a ball-playing viking with a fearless gladiator?

With the release clause currently standing at just £31m, Ed Woodward and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be fools not to make this happen.

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.”