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Manchester United fans have taken to Twitter to react after Juan Mata was offered a new contract, and it’s safe to say that the fanbase is split over the decision.

The Spaniard’s current deal expires this summer, and he has been offered a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.

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Mata, who signed from Chelsea for £37.1m back in 2014, has made 21 Premier League appearances this season, 15 of those being starts, although he is keen for the club to offer him a longer deal.

At 31 years of age, Mata currently earns £170,000-a-week at Old Trafford, which is a bit of a sticking point in contract discussions as he is not a first-team regular and arguably not worth that weekly wage – he has scored just three league goals and assisted two more this term.

As a result of his age and status in the team, it is debatable whether or not Mata should be offered a new contract, a sentiment echoed by some on Twitter, although others seem happy with the decision…

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Leeds United fans are struggling to agree with each other about the selection headache presented to Marcelo Bielsa after Kemar Roofe was cleared to return to first-team action.

Fans have been calling for Patrick Bamford’s head after his poor performance and penalty miss against Millwall this weekend, and with Roofe cleared to return from injury before the next game Leeds fans are speculating that Bamford might not get another sniff at the first team this season.

Roofe has been one of Leeds’ most important players this season netting 14 Championship goals as the Whites battle it out for spot in the top two.

Bamford himself has shown flashes of brilliance with a brace against West Brom a particular highlight of his Leeds career.

Leeds fans have been at odds about which striker should get the nod on Twitter after Roofe was cleared to return to full training following his knee injury, which saw him miss over a month of action.

Here’s a look at how Leeds fans reacted to news of Roofe’s potential return on Twitter…

Steven Gerrard’s admission that Rangers will not be in a position to sign winger Ryan Kent from Liverpool on a permanent basis is a blow for fans, who have taken the player to their hearts.

Gerrard did also say he hopes to persuade the Merseyside giants to let the 22-year-old continue has development at Ibrox for another year, and with his contacts at Anfield, it is always a possibility.

But it remains to be seen whether it will be a viable option, with Liverpool possibly wanting him to be loaned out to an English Premier League or Championship side next term.

But all is not lost for Rangers, and should Kent not return to Glasgow next season, they may have a ready-made replacement for him at the club already.

Glenn Middleton, the 19-year-old sensation, has been in fine form for Graeme Murty’s reserve side this season, and having had a taste of first team action at the start of the season, it may be time for the teenager to get an opportunity again.

Middleton scored twice for Murty’s second string side, in their 3-2 win over Hibs yesterday — one of which was a superb curling strike — and his all-round display was top drawer.

The Northampton-born player (who is valued at £135k by Transfermarkt) never looked out of place when he was given an opportunity at the start of the season, which saw him score goals in the league, League Cup and Europa League, and is a hot prospect for the Ibrox club.

With only five games of the season remaining, and Rangers having an eight point cushion to Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, in third and fourth respectively, it could be the perfect time to slip Middleton back into the first team fold, and give him a run of games.

The extra experience would be invaluable for the player, and should he look the part, he could become a regular next season — whether Kent returns or not.

It is a move that could save Dave King and Rangers money, and would allow Gerrard to use his limited budget to strengthen other areas.

It seems like a logical choice to bring him into the side, but whether Gerrard chooses to do so with Rangers’ reserves now in the mix to topple Celtic, and win the reserve league, is another story.

Do you think Middleton could be the answer if Kent does not return? Would you give him a run in the side for the remainder of the season? Let us know your thoughts…

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Interim Celtic manager Neil Lennon was on hand to watch the reserves smash Dundee 6-0 on Tuesday, and 17 year-old Armstrong Okoflex must have put himself in contention for a first team call-up.

With the senior side flying at the moment, Lennon took the time to watch Celtic’s reserves on Tuesday, and Vakoun Issouf Bayo grabbed his first goal for the Hoops.

While Bayo impressed with a goal and assist though, it was Okoflex who really stole the show, also pitching in with both a goal and an assist.

The 17 year-old, who joined the club from Arsenal last summer, is on a “rapid ascent” to Celtic’s first team according to The Boot Room, and Tuesday’s performance won’t have done him any harm.

Operating from the wing, the teenager terrorised the Dundee defence with his skill, speed and directness, all with Lennon watching on from the stands.

The Bhoys aren’t exactly stocked up on wingers with Leigh Griffiths still absent, so could Okoflex be the one to fill the 28 year-old’s void?

Celtic fans, let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

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Brighton did the double on Crystal Palace as they succeeded their 3-1 victory in December with a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Saturday, with Luka Milivojevic’s second-half equaliser negated by a Anthony Knockaert wondergoal.

The home loss was the Eagles’ eighth of the season and it meant that Roy Hodgson’s side have now won just once in their last seven games at SE25 – a record that simply cannot continue if Palace are to end year after year of relegation battles.

What has Hodgson said about it?

The former England boss has conceded that this terrible return is an issue but declined to take responsibility for the record – he may, instead, have pointed the finger at the fans. Here’s what the 71-year-old had to say:

“It [Palace’s poor record at home this season] could be down to expectations, I guess.

“That might be weighing on players, there’s no doubt that expectation will weigh on people. We do our best to prevent that from happening but we don’t play in a vacuum.

“We play in a world where things are written and said. The players feel pressure to do things.”

Is Palace’s biggest strength their weakness?

Indeed, Selhurst Park is widely regarded as one of the most vocal stadiums in the Premier League and, while Palace fans surely feel that the atmosphere is a huge boost to their beloved team, Hodgson has indicated that perhaps it is becoming their downfall.

Eagles captain Milivojevic has previously hailed the Selhurst Park faithful as the best, most supportive fans in the top flight, so it does seem strange that honcho Hodgson would point to that as a possible reason for their poor form at home.

The Croydon outfit have been a Premier League side for five years now and Palace fans, who have become accustomed to season after season of looking over their shoulder, surely don’t expect too much from their team.

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Sure, their squad, on paper, should probably be doing better than it is but Palace fans understand that it is never simple – each season since their promotion has been an emotional rollercoaster.

Hodgson has a wealth of experience under his belt and it’s baffling that he has been so foolish as to make such incendiary comments to a fanbase that are so immensely proud of their atmosphere and stadium.

Marcelo Bielsa is the man at Leeds United. There is no doubting it, and his presence at one of the world’s most iconic clubs has been felt.

First and foremost, you need to remind yourself what fans have endured since departing the top-flight of English football to understand why Bielsa is considered the messiah in West Yorkshire.

Pure, unadulterated misery has ensued since 2004.

Ranging from poor performances to bitterly close encounters with promotion; to the unthinkable relegation to the third-tier; a management merry-go-round consisting of the likes of Neil Warnock, Darko Milanic, Brian McDermott, Uwe Rosler, Gary Monk, Thomas Christiansen, and Paul Heckingbottom. All underlined by the plague that was Massimo Cellino.

The only constant in this mess: the Leeds United supporters.

They have followed with the same admirable grit and determination throughout all the club’s hardships; average home attendances shaming some of the top teams in English football, and a staunch away following that outmatches the hosts wherever they travel.

So, it probably comes as no surprise then that the club have recently announced that over 6,000 season tickets have already been renewed for the 2019/20 campaign, their largest opening week of sales on record (LUFC Twitter).

A quality haul, even by the standards of Leeds United. And, Times writer Henry Winter has claimed, it is all down to their new man Marcelo Bielsa and the man who introduced him to the club, Radrizanni.

The new owner has made a hugely positive impact since taking over from former embarrassment Cellino, whose name hardly warrants mention. Money has been spent, optimism spread, and the appointment of one of the world’s best made.

Evidently no complaints from the Leeds camp, even without the guarantee of promotion.

The IPL Governing Council will meet in Mumbai on Friday to discuss an agenda that includes the format of the 2011 tournament. While the meeting’s main purpose is to approve the 2010 IPL financials, it is also scheduled to discuss the number of matches to be played next season, with the focus on reducing the players’ workload.”They will discuss the number of matches,” a franchise official told Cricinfo. “But mostly, it will be dominated by the closing of accounts.”The rules and regulations for the 2011 tournament have been up in the air since the suspension of IPL chairman Lalit Modi. The league added two new teams for next year, increasing the total number of matches to be played on a home and away basis from 60 to 94. The greater workload for the players became a contentious issue after India’s poor performance in the World Twenty20 this year, with some suggesting their exit from the tournament was a consequence of a hectic IPL schedule.At the time, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, a member of the Governing Council, said they could consider reviewing the number of matches for the league next season. However, the franchises are opposed to a shorter tournament not only because playing fewer matches means the tournament will generate less revenue, but also because the original eight franchises only agreed to add the two new teams on the basis of more matches and a larger share of the pie.”If they roll back on the number of matches but the number of teams remains 10, it is unfair to all,” a franchise official said.The board and the teams met in June this year to discuss their respective concerns and the BCCI set up a three-man committee consisting of Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi to make recommendations to the board based on their discussions with team owners. Gavaskar, Shastri and Pataudi are all members of the IPL Governing Council. The committee is expected to present is recommendations to the Governing Council tomorrow. The rules for player regulations, however, are, unlikely to be determined until after the Champions League in September.The BCCI’s finance and marketing committees are also meeting. For the first time in its history, the board has solicited bids for corporate sponsorship of all international cricket played by India in India for the next three years. The previous period’s sponsorship rights were with World Sport Group, who sold the sponsorships on an individual tournament basis. Under the latest proposal, one company will become the exclusive sponsor of Indian cricket for the next three years.The board has received bids from ten companies, including Airtel, Idea Cellular, Karbonn Mobile and MicroMax, according to a BCCI statement. The bids will be opened at the marketing committee meeting in front of the bidders.”The reserve price has been fixed as Rs 2 crore ($428,815) per match.” BCCI chief-executive Ratnakar Shetty told

Newcastle could have a busy end to the transfer window as Italian journalist Louis Giraldi reports that the club is showing an interest in AC Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu.

What’s the word, then?

The Magpies confirmed the loan signing of Nabil Bentaleb this week but it seems that Steve Bruce is not satisfied at stopping there, and is keen to add the Turkey midfielder as well.

Giraldi suggests an offer has been made for the 25-year-old, who was signed by the Rossoneri for €25m (£21m) back in 2017, and has been part of Gennaro Gattuso’s plans this year with 18 appearances made.

Big ambition

Mike Ashley provided more funds than he usually does in the summer with big fees spent on Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin, but with Newcastle still looking over their shoulders at relegation he may be tempted to dip his hand into his pocket once more.

Bentaleb arriving on loan is a sensible option that didn’t risk too much financial outlay, and if Inter Milan target Valentino Lazaro arrives he would also fit into a similar category.

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Calhanoglu, however, is a different kettle of fish, and would mark a significant change of pace from the north-east outfit.

He has been a regular for one of the biggest clubs in Europe over the past two-and-a-half years making 85 Serie A appearances, and to pursue a player with international and Champions League experience sends a statement to league rivals and the fanbase.

Furthermore, the midfielder may be still to hit his prime given his age, and he possesses the kind of quality that would serve the Toon well in midfield, with 1.6 key passes and 1.1 dribbles made per game this term.

Added to that, his flexibility and versatility would be a key addition during this troubling period for Newcastle. He can play in central midfield as well as on either flank, which could prove vital given how many of their players have been struck by injury – Saint-Maximin missing out once more against Everton on Tuesday.

In 2017/18 he recorded his most productive season for Milan with 13 goal contributions in Serie A alone, and with the technique he possesses from set-pieces he could be key to finally getting Joelinton firing.

In other news, Newcastle fans may be grateful for the club targeting new recruits following the match against Everton.

Celtic ensured they would top the Scottish Premiership table on Christmas Day with a routine 3-0 victory against Dundee.

Odsonne Edouard’s injury had left Brendan Rodgers without a senior forward following the departure of Moussa Dembele and the absence of Leigh Griffiths. However, it was youngster Mikey Johnston who was the hero yet again. After scoring his first senior goal in mid-week, the 19-year-old bagged a brace to ensure that Celtic were top of the standings heading into the Boxing Day fixtures.

While the 19-year-old’s form will be hugely encouraging for Rodgers, the Northern Irishman simply must target a new forward in the January transfer window. It remains to be seen whether Johnston can maintain his current levels throughout the season and another injury could be catastrophic. Bolstering his offensive options must be a priority.

One man who Rodgers could target is Brentford forward – Neil Maupay. Valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, the 22-year-old began his professional career but was sent on various loans around France. The forward was eventually sold to Brentford in the summer of 2017 where he hit the ground running and has earned a reputation as one of the best forwards in the Championship.

The Frenchman ended his debut season in England with a fantastic return of 12 goals as well as registering four assists for his team-mates. Eager to show he was not a one-season wonder, Maupay has reached even greater heights in the current campaign, scoring 14 league goals already as well as creating six. The youngster is finally starting to realise his potential and Celtic must be quick to lure him to Scotland before Premier League sides come calling.

Maupay would give Rodgers another quality option in attack to help secure another league title and progression in the Europa League.

Celtic fans, thoughts?

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Brighton are plotting a January swoop to land Callum McGregor from Celtic, according to The Scottish Sun.

What’s the word?

After record-breaking campaigns and numerous successes in recent years, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic have found things more challenging this term and face a fight to retain their title after falling six points behind Hearts.

Keeping the Bhoys squad intact will be crucial to improving in the months ahead but Celtic could be set for a stern battle in the market, as The Scottish Sun states Brighton are eyeing a swoop for midfielder Callum McGregor in January.

McGregor has often gone under the radar compared to his team-mates at Celtic but he has established himself as an important member of Rodgers’ side in recent campaigns, featuring seven times in the league this season.

Should he be sold?

Capable of playing across the midfield, McGregor is the sort of player who is invaluable to a squad fighting across numerous fronts over the course of the season and links to Brighton should be a big concern to Brendan Rodgers.

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No player has appeared more times in the league this season for Celtic and replacing the 25-year-old Scotland international in the mid-season window would prove to be a difficult task for the Scottish champions.

Unlike Moussa Dembele, McGregor would also not hand Celtic a huge lump of cash if he was sold and there is, therefore, no need for the thought to even cross Rodgers’ mind when the window reopens.