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According to reports in The Sun on Sunday (June 9, page 59), Leeds are set to miss out on Reece Brown as Huddersfield Town are now looking the more likely land the Forest Green Rovers midfielder, who is out of contract this summer.

What’s the story?

The midfielder is available on a free transfer. His contract with Forest Green Rovers is expiring, and it is looking increasingly likely that he will leave after their failed play-off campaign.

The midfielder made it into the League Two Team of the Year, and his impressive performances have drawn interest from Championship clubs.

It looked for a while that Leeds would be the side to secure his signature, but the latest report indicates that their Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield will be the ones to sign him.

Proven entities

Leeds are undoubtedly amongst the favourites for promotion next season, but they may fall short in their top-flight ambitions if they target League Two standard players.

The Whites must identify players that are definite improvements on what they already have, and Brown doesn’t slot into that category.

Indeed he was fantastic in League Two, but it is a huge step up from the fourth tier into the Championship.

In recent weeks, the Whites have shown an interest in bringing Harry Wilson and Luke Freeman, two targets who appear well-suited to the demands of a promotion-chasing outfit.

Wilson netted 16 goals for Derby last season as the Rams were almost promoted to the Premier League, while Freeman has been one of the standout performers in the second tier for the past few years.

It remains to be seen whether Brown can light up the Championship following a move to Huddersfield.

Considering he is available on a free, Leeds fans may feel disappointed at missing out on the League Two star, ions both in the transfer market and in the imminent future.

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Celtic fans aren’t keen on reports linking Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna with a move to Glasgow.

The Scottish Sun reported over the weekend that the Hoops had a £5m rejected for the Scotland international, as the club continue to search for replacements for Dedryck Boyata and Filip Benkovic.

How can Celtic improve next season? A Hoops fan tells us how in the video below…

The Dons are holding firm on their £10m valuation, according to the paper.

McKenna has previously been touted as the best centre-back in the country by his manager after strong defensive displays under Derek McInnes. It’s form that’s been good enough for him to win 12 Scotland caps as well.

With Celtic already possessing good young talent in Kristoffer Ajer and Jozo Simunovic though, there’s an argument to say that McKenna is no improvement on players available to Neil Lennon currently.

Celtic supporters certainly don’t seem to want him in Glasgow, with many taking to Twitter over the last 48 hours to share their thoughts on the transfer report…

Surely Aston Villa simply have to sign a striker on a permanent deal this summer to have some stability at the club. However, we are of the opinion that Andre Ayew would actually be a terrible replacement for Tammy Abraham.

Indeed, Football Ghana reported that the Midlands giants are apparently eyeing a swoop for the Swansea striker who, we think it’s fair to say, has had a pretty woeful loan spell at Fenerbahce this season. Frankly, just five goals from 38 appearances in all competitions is nowhere near good enough for Villa.

The 29-year-old has played for both the Swans and West Ham in England and the fact he was sold to the Hammers for £21.69m and then sold back a season-and-a-half later for £20.52m shows he hasn’t cut it in England. There’s been a lot of money spent on the former Marseille man for fairly little return over the years.

So, why Villa think he’ll be any different if they buy him this summer, we’ve no idea. Currently, he’s valued at £5.4m on Transfermarkt and that seems steep for a player who just can’t seem to find a club where he’s best utilised.

Tammy Abraham scored 25 goals in 37 appearances in the Championship this season, after all. Now, that’s a quality striker’s tally! All in all, if Villa think Ayew will be able to come into the Premier League and get near to replicating anything like that, they’ve got another thing coming.

Villa must do all they can to tie up Abraham, but if they can’t then there’s still no point in signing Ayew. To stay in the Premier League they need consistent goals and he just won’t provide that.

Villa fans, who do you think should be your main striker next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

رد المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، رونالد كومان، على تصريحات المدير الرياضي لنادي باريس سان جيرمان، ليوناردو أروخو، بشأن اهتمامهم بضم، ليونيل ميسي.

وخرج ليوناردو وأكد في تصريحات صحفية لمجلة “فرانس فوتبول” وأكد على وجود اسم ميسي دائمًا على قائمة اللاعبين المرغوبين في ضمهم بالمستقبل. (طالع التفاصيل)

وعلق كومان على هذه التصريحات في مؤتمره الصحفي لمباراة الغد أمام كورنيا في كأس ملك إسبانيا، وقال: “اعتقد أن حرية الرأي متاحة للجميع في أن يقولوا ما يريدون”.

وتابع: “إذا سألوني عما إذا كنت مهتمًا بضم نيمار ومبابي، فسأقول نعم، وهذا هو ما فعله ليوناردو”.

وأضاف في النهاية: “لا يمكنني التعليق على تصريحات ليوناردو أو بوتشيتينو لأنني لا أعرف ما سيحدث في المستقبل”.

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Many Arsenal fans on Twitter don’t want to see right-back Hector Bellerin installed as the club’s next permanent captain following in the footsteps of Laurent Koscielny.

This came after Football.London Arsenal correspondent James Benge shared his article on why the Spaniard should take up the role on the social media platform.

In the piece he claims that the 24-year-old is the man to lead the Gunners into a new era of unity under Unai Emery with many of the Spanish gaffer’s current captain options heading for the Emirates Stadium exit door this summer.

The club’s present captain France defender Koscielny is comfortably into his 30s, getting more and more injury prone and has just one year left on his current contract in north London. It’s hard to see him not leaving next summer.

However, Gooners have made it clear on Twitter that the 33-year-old’s replacement shouldn’t be his fellow defender, disagreeing with the journalist.

See for yourself, below…

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

It’s hard not to admire Aston Villa’s transfer business so far this summer.

They’ve completed shrewd deals by bringing Kortney Hause and Anwar El Ghazi back after their loan spells with the club whilst they’ve also completed a £22m deal to land Wesley Moraes.

The Brazilian is a powerhouse, winning 2.5 aerial duels per game in last season’s Champions League, but he could become even better for Villa if they sign another forward.

On the chalkboard

Last weekend, the Villans were reported to be in the running to sign Lille striker Rafael Leao.

In the past, he’s been described as the ‘Portuguese Mbappe’ by French journalist Julien Laurens, and it’s easy to see why. He’s quick, can get in behind and is a natural finisher having scored eight in 16 starts in Ligue 1 last term.

At 20 years of age, he’s very much one for the future but he’s still shown great strides in the senior game, playing 26 domestic matches in 2018/19.

But how could he benefit Wesley?

Well, playing him alongside another striker could be game-changing. After all, he played in a two when he was at Club Brugge, proving to be a menace for opposition defenders.

Therefore, adding someone who has pace alongside him, could mean a devastating new combination for Villa.

Leao is at his best when he’s on the shoulder of the defender, making clever runs in behind after being slipped through by his teammates.

Wesley stands at 6 ft 3 and therefore they could be an ideal partnership given he plays in a different manner. If Leao does indeed arrive, Villa could opt to play more direct if they choose to play with two strikers.

Their new signing from Belgium could come slightly deeper for the ball, using his strength and excellent ability in the air to flick and feed the ball in behind the defence for Leao to run onto.

Throughout last season, Villa’s new striker supplied his teammates with ten goals, proving to be an efficient creator, as well as a goal scorer, netting 17 times.

His all-around play seems to come to the fore when playing alongside another striker, so the potential arrival of Leao could prove extremely beneficial in terms of Wesley’s creative nous.

Football fans up and down the country can rejoice as the 2019/20 Premier League fixture list is now out.

It means that despite the long break from any actual football, the clubs and fans can start preparing for the opening day of the season. Get your diaries out, guys, those away days need booking up.

Indeed, Southampton are probably one of the teams who will be looking forward to its beginning, after a solid end to the season under Ralph Hasenhüttl will have left the fans feeling optimistic. Clearly, it’s been difficult for the fans over the past few years but a new regime is now in place, though it wouldn’t be fair to suggest that all the worries are gone.

It’s hard to put the last few seasons behind the Saints, such has been their malaise of late. Yes, there are many reasons to be excited but caution must be applied here.

So, let’s have a look at some of the more concerning fixtures ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

Southampton vs Sheffield United

Now, this is perhaps a rather pessimistic choice. However, with league finishes of 16th and 17th in the last two seasons, it’s somewhat understandable.

Southampton will finish the 2019/20 season at home to newly-promoted Sheffield United.

Indeed, this is not a fixture that alone strikes fear in the hearts of Saints fans. But it’s one that could have so much significance in the race to avoid relegation. Frankly, it would not be at all surprising to see the two clubs fighting for their lives come the last game of the season.

With Southampton playing Arsenal, Watford, Manchester City, Everton and Manchester United consecutive before the final three games of the season, they could well be desperate for a win come the final game.

The history in this one favours Sheffield United, who have won 25 of their meetings, as opposed to Southampton’s 16.

Manchester City vs Southampton

This is a fixture that will terrify most football fans out there

However, for Southampton, the game arrives during a particularly horrific looking spell of fixtures. Southampton travel to City on the 2nd of November, during a run of eight games that sees them play Tottenham, Chelsea, Wolves, Leicester, City, Everton, Arsenal and Watford consecutively. Should Southampton fail to win a single one of those games, it would surprise few.

Perhaps things look even worse when noted that Southampton have won just one of the last 12 meetings between the two, a 4-2 victory at home in 2016. They shipped nine goals against City last season, with a goal difference of -7 so it certainly doesn’t make for pretty reading.

It’s one Saints fans will not look forward to, especially given the number of difficult games surrounding it.

Southampton fans, what do you make of the fixture list? Are there any other noteworthy nightmare games? Comment below… 

Given Christian Benteke’s struggles last season, it’s not had to imagine that Crystal Palace might want to sign a new striker this summer.

At the end of the recent Premier League campaign, Roy Hodgson confirmed that he wanted to bring Michy Batshuayi back to Selhurst Park following a successful loan spell with the south London club, though there has not been any movement just yet.

Since then, Crystal Palace have gone on to be linked with a host of other No.9s including Spezia’s David Okereke.

Speaking to All Nigeria Soccer, Okereke’s agent Ben Itorho said: “Southampton, Crystal Palace and Newcastle are showing interest but there are other clubs who want him. Club Brugge, Genk and Sassuolo have strong interest in him.

“They want Okereke in the Premier League but the player has to take a decision with his footballing future in mind.”

Based on Itorho’s comments, competition for Okereke looks set to be fierce, meaning Crystal Palace must act as soon as possible if they seriously want the 21-year-old, who scored 10 goals and created another 10 in Serie B last season.

If not, then Hodgson must quickly turn his attention elsewhere. The last thing the former England boss will probably want to do is spend the whole summer chasing a new forward, especially with the transfer window now closing before the start of the Premier League season.

He will surely feel that other positions also need strengthening, meaning the club cannot afford to spend so much time on trying to improve just a sole area.

With Benteke, Connor Wickham and Jordan Ayew all scoring a measly two Premier League goals combined last term, Hodgson desperately needs the addition of another frontman, be it Okereke or someone else.

Crystal Palace fans, are you disappointed with the lack of progress that has been made over signing a new striker, or is it way too soon to start panicking? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below! 

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Rangers midfielder Ross McCrorie has moved to Portsmouth on loan for the coming season.

Neither club have yet confirmed the switch, but Football Scotland reported on Friday that the 21-year-old has signed a one-year loan deal, rejecting the chance to join Sunderland instead.

The outlet believe that the English League One side will also have the option to buy the player next summer should he impress, although no fee has been reported.

Thogden challenged himself to DM 100 footballers on Instagram. Find out who replied in the video below…

McCrorie played 31 matches for Steven Gerrard last season, but only 16 of those were starts and he’ll now have the opportunity to play regular week-to-week football in England.

The arrivals of Glen Kamara and Steven Davis in January saw the midfielder fall down the pecking order at Ibrox, with the signing of Joe Aribo this summer adding even more competition.

Plenty of Rangers fans were supportive of a loan move for the player after reports on Thursday, but many have been taken by surprise with the option to buy element of the reported deal.

Supporters can’t quite believe that Gerrard would potentially let the player leave on a permanent basis, taking to Twitter to share their thoughts…

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، عن عرض نادي باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي، لقائد ومدافع ريال مدريد، سيرجيو راموس، لضمه في الصيف المقبل.

سيرجيو راموس الذي يلعب لـ ريال مدريد منذ 2005، يبدو وأن رحلته مع النادي الملكي قد انتهت، في ظل عدم التوصل إلى اتفاق حول تجديد العقد الذي ينتهي في الصيف المقبل.

طالع أيضًا.. إذاعة إسبانية توضح موقف ريال مدريد الصادم من تجديد عقد راموس

تجديد راموس لايزال عالقًا، وفي ظل التعقيدات بين ريال مدريد وسيرجيو، أفادت شبكة “أوندا سيرو” الإسبانية، أن باريس سان جيرمان يقدم عرضا خرافيا لضم قائد الدفاع الملكي.

وحسب ما أكدت الشبكة، عرض باريس سان جيرمان، عقدًا لمدة 3 سنوات، براتب 15 مليون يورو في الموسم، أكبر بكثير مما يقدمه ريال مدريد.

ريال مدريد يرغب في تخفيض عقد راموس وتمديد العقد لمدة موسمين، وهو أمر لا يقبله سيرجيو راموس، رغم موافقة إدارة النادي الإسباني على التمديد لمدة عامين، خاصة وأن سيرجيو تخطى الـ30 من عمره.

ريال مدريد لا يمدد أكثر من موسم واحد فقط مع اللاعبين الذين يتخطون الـ30 من عمرهم.

جميع الأمور تشير إلى أن راموس قريب من مغادرة ريال مدريد، في ظل عدم الاجتماع وجهًا لوجه مع فلورنتينو بيريز، واقتراب عقده من النهاية، وتحديدًا بعد العرض الكبير من باريس سان جيرمان.