Manchester City are open to selling defender John Stones, who is being monitored by both Liverpool and Arsenal, according to The Sun.
What’s the story?
Stones made a huge step up when he left Everton to join City for a whopping £50m in the summer of 2016.
Over the last two seasons, the England international has shown inconsistencies as part of Pep Guardiola’s system.
After dropping to fourth in the pecking order following the arrival of Aymeric Laporte, questions have been raised over Stones’s future.
According to The Sun, the manager would prefer not to sell the 23-year-old, but the club are open to doing a deal if the player himself decides to move on.
The publication adds that Arsenal could be keen as they are in the market for a new defender, while Liverpool are also keeping tabs.
Should Liverpool and Arsenal be wary?
Stones previously admitted in an interview with the Daily Mail that he does not want to be known as a ball-playing centre-back, but he has adapted to Guardiola’s way of playing, albeit he had some teething problems.
After a shaky spell, he began looking more assured in his role, but this season, Stones has not started a Premier League game since January.
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The defender has all the ability to thrive at either Liverpool or Arsenal, but his inconsistency should be a small red flag for both clubs.
The Gunners are in desperate need of a new leader at the back, so moving for Stones could be too much a risk.
For Liverpool, however, Virgil van Dijk has improved his fellow defenders since his arrival at Anfield in January, so perhaps he could do the same for the Man City man.
It has not exactly been the best of seasons for Leeds United, with a total of 57 points from 45 matches leaving them down in 14th position in the Championship table.
The Whites have only won once in the Championship since the end of March, and suffered a 2-1 defeat at Norwich City last time out.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side will be looking to end on a positive note when they welcome Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, although even a victory in that match would not exactly make the fans forget what has been a poor campaign.
A number of the club’s players have taken criticism from the supporters this season, and perhaps none more so than the skipper Liam Cooper.
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The 26-year-old has made 30 appearances in all competitions during the 2017-18 campaign – scoring once in 28 Championship fixtures.
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Cooper’s suitability for the captain’s role has long been called into question, however, and the centre-back has once again faced scathing criticism from his club’s own fans.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
According to Russian reports, Newcastle are one of three clubs lining up a summer swoop for Spartak Moscow winger Quincy Promes.
What’s the story?
The report from Poka Moscow (via Back Page Football), says Newcastle, Tottenham and Roma are all interested in a €25million (£22m) move for Promes.
The speedy winger has grabbed an impressive 21 goals in all competitions this season, and could potentially prefer Newcastle over the other two options in hopes of being the star man rather than a bit part player.
Rafael Benitez is clearly hunting a new threat from the right wing this summer, with players like Promes, Xherdan Shaqiri and Adama Traore all potentially on the move.
Promes would be the most ambitious of the lot, but if the Magpies could pull it off he would completely transform their attack.
Perfect move for the Magpies?
Newcastle fans are absolutely desperate to secure the permanent signing of loan sensation Kenedy, and the Magpies are still in need of a proper goalscorer, but Promes would be an incredible addition regardless of other moves.
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The 26 year-old has been strongly linked with Liverpool in the past, and it’s not hard to see why Jürgen Klopp would be interested in the electric Dutchman.
Valued at €22million (£19.4m) by Transfermarkt, Promes possesses incredible pace, but it’s his end product that really separates him from other pacey wingers.
Promes, who has 4 goals in 25 Netherlands caps, has scored 15 and assisted seven in 25 league starts this season, an incredible output playing for a Spartak team that has been in a state of civil unrest for most of the season.
His impressive output is no surprise when you delve deeper into the numbers though, as the speedster averages 1.7 successful dribbles, 2.9 key passes and 3.8 shots per game in all competitions.
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It is his desire and hunger to keep getting on the ball, to keep being direct and positive, and to quite simply keep making things happen that make him such a threat, and it is this desire that would quickly endear him to the Toon Army.
Some fans may question the chances of beating two Champions League sides to Promes, but Rafael Benitez is undoubtedly of higher pedigree than the other two managers in the mix, which could tilt the scales in Newcastle’s favour.
So, Newcastle fans, would you like a summer swoop for Promes? Let us know by voting in the poll below…
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Leeds United are in the hunt for Hibernian midfielder John McGinn this summer, rivalling Celtic and Rangers for his signature.
What’s the story?
Leeds need a positive summer transfer window if they are to match fans’ ambitions of pushing towards the top end of the Championship table next season.
One name on their radar is John McGinn.
That’s according to The Scottish Sun, who say Leeds are considering making a £2.5m bid for the player, who has a year left on his contract at Easter Road.
The paper reckon that the club will try to hold out for £5m however, with Celtic and Rangers also interested in signing him this summer.
What can he offer?
McGinn has emerged as one of the more impressive midfielders in the Scottish Premiership and has measured up well in contests against both Glasgow giants this season.
An all-rounder whose hard work and determination complements ambitious forward play and strong dribbling ability, he’s the kind of passionate performer that Leeds United fans would appreciate.
Already playing at international level with Scotland, the 23-year-old is destined for bigger things after successful spells at St Mirren and Hibs.
He scored six goals and created eight assists this term, helping Hibs to a top four finish in the top-flight and UEFA Europa League qualification after promotion.
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He’s a player Leeds should definitely pursue this summer if the price is right.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur will have to shell out £30m if they want to sign stand-out Celtic star Kieran Tierney this summer.
What’s the story?
Tierney has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in British football under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers and recently signed a six-year deal at the club he supported as a boy.
That makes any potential move for him tricky for buying sides, with Celtic’s motivation to sell him low and the player himself happy with life in Glasgow.
The Daily Mail report that Tottenham Hotspur are one of the teams interested in his signature, along with Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Bournemouth.
However, the paper reckon it will cost close to £30m to get a deal done for the youngster.
Should Tottenham make their move?
With the situation not forced, Tierney is unlikely to leave Celtic Park anytime soon. However, a side like Spurs has resources that even Celtic and the player himself can’t say no to, so if they came in with a fee close to the reported £30m, then it could be a perfect bit of business for all parties.
Any buying club is going to have to make the Scottish international a well rounded offer, and not just in monetary terms.
Tierney loves Celtic but he also has an ambitious character and that’s something Tottenham could tap into if they make their move.
He’s a player with plenty of raw attributes that would make him a success at Spurs – hard work, pace, leadership and attacking ability are all at the fore.
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Mauricio Pochettino would be a great benefit to advancing his game at Premier League level after an excellent football education in Glasgow and Spurs have shown consistently they aren’t afraid to play young players regularly.
If they can move early ahead of rivals and show him he’s wanted, perhaps they could pull the deal off.
Joe Hart’s Manchester City career seemed pretty much done and dusted once he was sent on loan to Torino for the 2016-17 season.
When Pep Guardiola arrived as manager at the Etihad Stadium, it became clear that the England international would not fit into his system.
Following a loan spell in Serie A, Hart returned to English shores and ended up joining West Ham United on another temporary stint.
At one point, the 31-year-old lost the number one spot to Adrian, and it seems that the Hammers have no intention of trying to sign the shot-stopper on a permanent basis.
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This has now left Hart in limbo, particularly as his England career has taken a nosedive after not being named as one of three keepers in the squad for this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
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In a shock turn of events, The Sun recently reported that City’s enemies Manchester United may sign Hart as a replacement for Sergio Romero, who is currently David de Gea’s number two at Old Trafford.
Given the rivalry between the clubs, some City fans have been left shocked by the reports, while others welcome it.
Newcastle must part with £20million in order to permanently sign Kenedy from Chelsea, according to Chronicle Live.
What’s the story?
Brazilian winger Kenedy signed for Chelsea in 2015 and spent the second half of the 2017/18 season on loan at Newcastle United.
The 22-year-old went on to make 13 appearances for the Magpies, scoring two goals and assisting two during his spell in the north east.
With Chelsea in the throes of uncertainty with both their manager and owner unsure of their futures, the Blues are keen to offload some players in order to raise their own transfer funds.
According to the report, Chelsea want £20million for Kenedy which may price Newcastle out of the race to sign him, with RB Leipzig, Arsenal, PSG and Bayern Munich also rumoured to be interested in the player who is valued at £9million on Tranfermarkt.
Is he worth it?
Kenedy shone during his spell at Newcastle and quickly became a fan-favourite.
It is no surprise that Rafa Benitez wants the winger back at St James’ Park, but can Newcastle afford to spend £20million on one player when they have many areas to invest in this summer?
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If they can raise the funds and see off the competition, Kenedy could become a really important player who is still improving, and is the sort of exciting talent that Newcastle fans will adore.
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It’s been nearly eight months since my home team failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but the bitter taste left in American mouths after their team dropped a decisive 2-1 defeat to Trinidad & Tobago remains nonetheless. Mexico later failed to bail out the USMNT, losing to Honduras 3-2 and making that fateful October an utter catastrophe for the Stars and Stripes.This is still all too tragic, because it comes four years after the US impressively clawed their way out of a tough group stage — made up of Germany, Portugal and Ghana — making it the second straight instance they made it to the knockout round. But the seeming renaissance of American soccer has been abruptly halted, and we now must watch on our couches as other teams experience the euphoria that is the World Cup.C’est la vie. It’s no way to live life sulking while watching other fans proudly wave their flags and chant their songs in jubilation. The only option is to adopt a new team for the next month and a half, and I believe there is a great selection of countries whom I’d be delighted to root for.Below are five teams any fan should feel great about cheering for in the coming World Cup…
Iceland
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One simple reason making Iceland a fantastic candidate is the fact they’re the smallest-ever country to qualify for the World Cup. It’s a puny country that’s had little to no history of football until the past decade. Iceland might come across as an underdog story, but their recent, unlikely excursion into the quarterfinals of Euro 2016 — defeating Portugal, Austria and England — put their name on the football map.
Since then, Iceland haveÂestablished themselves as a team that belongs. The country is ranked 22nd in FIFA’s world rankings, marking an impressive ascension. It’s come as a result of a local investment in the sport — Iceland built several huge indoor football facilities and made sure to pack them with experienced coaches in order to build a new era of local players.
Equally as important, though, is that Iceland are straight up out there. So are their fans. This isn’t news anymore, but their coach — Heimir HallgrÃmsson — spends the other half of his life as a dentist. Aron Gunnarsson leads a band of bearded giant-killers with a “thunderclapping†fanbase behind them. Iceland’s odds to win the World Cup stand just at 250/1, but they’ve overcome long odds before.
Nigeria
There are a multitude of reasons to back the Super Eagles other than because they just unveiled what is undoubtedly the best kit in the World Cup field.
Unlike Iceland, Nigeria do have somewhat of a significant football history. They ranked fifth in the FIFA world rankings as recently as 1994 and of the last seven World Cups, Nigeria have qualified for six.
Nigeria’s had just modest success since, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in that year and again in 2013, but they bring a strong team to Russia this year. They wrangled through a stalwart qualifying group — containing the current African champion Cameroon, Zambia and Algeria — and were the first team from the continent to qualify.
They’re led by the likes of Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi and Chelsea midfielder Victor Moses.ÂNigeria have had a lack of stability the past few decades with 20 different managers serving since 2000, but they might have finally found some in current coach Gernot Rohr. There are six Premier League players in the World Cup squad, so don’t be surprised if they advance to the knockout stage for the second straight time.
Egypt
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You’d be hard-pressed to find a World Cup team that relies more on a single player. One-man bands are not exactly the formula for a winning team, but Mohamed Salah proved he’s capable of bearing that load when he scored a team and league-leading 44 goals this past season for Liverpool. He carried the Reds all the way to the Champions League final, and he’ll have to overcome a shoulder injury and serve a similar role for Egypt.
Probably the only reason Egypt are even here is because of Salah, who scored five goals in six qualifying matches. The Pharaohs are historically great with seven Africa Cup of Nations titles, but they didn’t even qualify once from 2012-2015.
On one hand, this Egypt team — the first to make the World Cup since 1990 — isn’t one that inspires confidence. They’re ranked by FIFA as the 46th best team in the world. On the other, they employ one of the best players in the game right now and that can be enough to suffice if Salah plays to his capabilities in every match.
There’s something beautiful-if-infuriating about watching a deeply flawed team led by a football demigod. If that’s what you’re looking for, Egypt is your team.
ÂPanama
Tied with Saudi Arabia, Panama has the longest odds to win the World Cup final at 1000 to 1, and that alone should rouse undying support. That, and the fact that this is the country’s first qualification ever. Their president declared a national holiday last October after it happened.
Panama are the prototypical “happy to be here†team which has virtually no chance to do any damage past the group stage, but the idea of that happening is intoxicating. Imagine a scenario in which Panama make a run similar to what Senegal did in 2002. That Senegal team was also making its first World Cup appearance, and they defeated France and Sweden on their way to making the quarterfinals.
Panama are in a group with Belgium and England, two countries with top-1o odds to win the whole thing. But it’s not like they don’t have experience. Forward Luis Tejada has scored 43 goals in his 105 appearances for the Central American country, and coach Hernan Dario Gomez has led two other teams — Colombia and Ecuador — into the World Cup before.
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The qualification has brought profound pride and meaning to Panama as the nation has come to a standstill to watch these matches. A swift exit is the most likely outcome, but enjoy this delightful story while it lasts.
ÂCroatia
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Of the five teams listed here, Croatia are the one with the best odds to win at 28/1. Whereas Iceland and Panama are unlikely to play more than three matches in Russia, Croatia represent the group’s best chance to make noise past the group stage.
Croatia are a quality football team, ranked 18th in the world with four World Cup appearances since 1998. They’re led by captain Luka Modric, a midfielder for Real Madrid heavily regarded as one of the best disseminators in the world. He’s backed up by great players like forward Mario Mandzukic and midfielder Ivan Rakitić.
While still an underdog when compared to countries like Brazil and Germany, Croatia are by no means worth snubbing. But their play in the qualifying games was suspect as they lost to Iceland and Turkey last year and fell to Peru earlier this year. Croatia have the pieces to make a run into the later rounds of the bracket — it’s just about individual players meshing together in a formidable way.
Russia 2018 is giving fans the opportunity to see some of their new signings in action.
One of those individuals is Stephan Lichtsteiner, who recently agreed to join Arsenal on a free transfer from Juventus.
The 34-year-old is an experienced right-back, who has won eight league titles across his career.
Some fans think that the former Lazio player will challenge Hector Bellerin for a starting spot, but judging from his recent performance at the World Cup, perhaps Lichtsteiner will be fighting for a different position.
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The defender was named in Switzerland’s starting XI for their opening Group E match against tournament favourites Brazil.
The Arsenal man’s team were automatic underdogs, but they managed to come away with a 1-1 draw after Steven Zuber cancelled out Philippe Coutinho’s opener.
On an individual level, Lichsteiner performed his defensive duties well considering that he was up against Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar.
As the graphic shows, during the match, the ex-Juventus player prevented two shots from reaching the back of the net, and also made the most interceptions than any other Swiss player.
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However, in terms of causing an attacking threat down the right-hand side, Lichsteiner struggled to make an impact.
Bellerin is known for his pace, which is something that Arsenal’s new arrival does not possess much of.
Based on the showing against Brazil, Gunners manager Unai Emery should maybe consider Lichtsteiner for a centre-back role instead.
Harry Kane’s talent has been clear to see at Tottenham Hotspur over the last few years, but now the striker is proving his quality on the international stage.
The 24-year-old is currently leading the race for the Golden Boot at the World Cup in Russia.
Kane has scored five goals for England so far in the tournament, including a hat-trick in the nation’s shock 6-1 victory over Panama – the country’s highest ever World Cup triumph.
Last season for Spurs, Kane missed out on the Premier League Golden Boot by a whisker, but he still finished the campaign with 30 goals.
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In all competitions, the hitman struck the back of the net 41 times and claimed five assists.
At the World Cup, Manchester United and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku is not behind on four strikes, while Cristiano Ronaldo has also found the back of the net four times for Portugal.
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The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had the chance to draw level with Kane during Monday night’s Group B clash with Iran, but he had a penalty saved in the 53rd minute of the 1-1 draw.
Instantly, Tottenham fans took to Twitter to brag about Kane’s goalscoring antics, with some even suggesting that the England star is better than the five-time Champions League winner.