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Jack Harrison has said that he is not opposed to returning to Manchester City from Leeds United once his loan spell at Elland Road has ended.

The 23-year-old is currently spending the season with the Whites from the Premier League champions – the second term he has now been with the Yorkshire outfit – and he has done well for Marcelo Bielsa’s team. In 40 appearances in all competitions this time out, he has managed a respectable five goals and seven assists.

As it stands, he is set to return to his employers at the end of the campaign, and he has said that although he would like to be with Leeds in the Premier League next term, he is open to going back to City.

Speaking about his situation, he told ESPN: “Me, myself, I want to do everything I can to help them [Leeds] get to the Premier League and hopefully I can still be with them next season. As a player, I always want to play at the highest level and push myself to the limit.

“I am not opposed to going back to Man City if that’s what’s required of me, if that’s what is wanted. I have to be ambitious as a player as well. If it’s playing with Man City or wherever, or with Leeds in the Premiership next season, I’m going to try and play my best wherever it is. We’ll just have to see what happens I think.”

Losing Harrison after two years would be a blow to Leeds, especially if they get promoted to the promised land. He has become an important member of Bielsa’s side, as the number of games he has played in shows, and a hole would be left if he were no longer available.

If they are to be competitive, in the top tier, they must give themselves the best possible chance, and losing a key element of the side will mean they are slightly less settled. Hopefully, Leeds can keep him at the club for the foreseeable future.

Will Harrison be at Leeds next season? Let us know in the comments!

Lev Yashin is considered by many as the greatest goalkeeper of all-time and having researched him, it’s not hard to see why.

He saved over 150 penalties over the course of his career and played in four World Cups for the Soviet Union from 1958 to 1970. He is also the only goalkeeper to have won the Balon D’Or, winning the illustrious award in 1963.

Nicknamed ‘The Black Spider’ as he wore an all-black kit, Yashin was an imposing figure between the sticks.

He was fearless and would dive at oncoming opponent’s feet to get the ball without giving it a second thought.

The Soviet keeper was also imposing for the defenders in front of him, constantly shouting out orders. This was in an era when goalkeepers weren’t known for being particularly vocal, defenders would often orchestrate play from the back.

Yashin won Olympic Gold in the 1956 Games with the Soviet Union and was also part of the side that won the European Championship in 1960.

He won five domestic league titles playing for Dynamo Moscow as well as three Soviet Cups.

In 1967, Yashin was awarded the ‘Order of Lenin’, the highest civilian decoration in the Soviet Union. He was one of only a few sportsmen to win the illustrious award.

Yashin didn’t only just play football, he was also a decent ice-hockey goalkeeper, too. He won a Soviet Cup in 1953 but gave up on his hockey career a year later to concentrate on football.

In his 20 year career, Yashin made 812 career appearances from 1950 until he finally retired in 1970.

Alan Hutton feels the return of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min is ‘absolutely massive’ for Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho, via Football Insider. 

The former Spurs star believes the Premier League’s suspension has benefited the Lilywhites in the long run.

Earlier this week, Mourinho told Sky Sports a number of players, including Kane, Son, Steven Bergwijn and Moussa Sissoko, have recovered from injuries and have returned to first team training.

Their absence led to a slump in form, as the North London club suffered from a string of poor results prior to the season being suspended.

Speaking exclusively to assistant editor Russell Edge, Hutton claims the postponement has been “absolutely massive – we’ve spoken about it a lot about the injury crisis that Tottenham had and they did, we seemed to be talking about it week in, week out.

“They were in dire straits a lot of the same, especially with Kane being injured, they didn’t really have that focal point, that person that was there that you knew was going to score goals, it was a real struggle.

“It looks like with all these players back, Mourinho’s going to have a headache, a good headache, of who to pick. You’ve got the likes of Bergwijn who showed flashes of brilliance as well.

“Going forward, I hate saying this because something so bad has helped Tottenham, it’s given them that little bit of time, that little bit of breathing space to get these players back. I think Mourinho will be very happy to see those guys back in training.”

Kane has been out of action since the defeat to Southampton on New Year’s Day after sustaining a hamstring injury. This required surgery and he has finally been declared fully fit again ahead of a possible Premier League return behind closed doors next month.

This will no doubt be a huge boost for the Spurs head coach, as the club captain has scored 11 goals and created 2 assists in just 20 games in the Premier League. Moreover, the Lilywhites only won won three games in the league as he sat on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Son is the club’s second-highest goalscorer this season, bagging nine goals and creating seven assists in the English top flight, taking three shots per game, averaging more than one key pass and successfully completing at least two dribbles per match on average (via WhoScored).

Mourinho’s side are currently eighth in the table, and the attacking duo will surely be looking to lift the team into the Champions League qualification places in the coming weeks.

The delay in fixtures has allowed ample time for the stars to recover ahead of a busy schedule, and fans will be hoping they can fire on all cylinders as Spurs look to battle for a spot in European football next season.

Tottenham fans, are you excited to see Son Heung-min and Harry Kane linking up again? Let us know down below!

Despite leaving the club on loan last summer, it looks like Alexis Sanchez could still end up playing a hugely beneficial role for Manchester United.

The Chile international had a torrid spell at Old Trafford with just five goals in 45 games, before making the temporary switch to Serie A giants Inter.

The Greatest Bargains in Premier League history – How much did they cost?

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Now, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo claim that United are willing to offer Sanchez to Borussia Dortmund in order to sweeten the deal to sign Jadon Sancho.

The report adds that whilst the winger’s wages may prove to be a stumbling block, a deal remains in possibility. And after hearing about how Sanchez could help them sign Sancho, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the transfer update.

A couple of United fans didn’t seem to buy the idea that Dortmund would be willing to take on Sanchez, with one supporter insisting that the German side wouldn’t want to pay the Chilean’s wages.

In a summer where pulling off big-money deals like the one for Sancho will be extremely difficult, clubs will have to be more creative with the way things get done.

And in Sanchez, United could potentially throw him into the mix to help get Dortmund to sell Sancho for cheaper. It would simultaneously get an under-performing star off their books, and bring in one of their prime transfer targets.

If this gets pulled off, it would be a win-win situation for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

Newcastle United’s prospective £300m takeover has continued on into June with the final decision still in the hands of the Premier League.The Athletic’s George Caulkin has delivered his latest thoughts into the situation, claiming that he is still confident of the deal happening and that supporters need to be a little more patient.He tweeted the following update:

Caulkin also suggests that the buying side are also convinced that the PL will approve their bid whilst the selling side, namely Mike Ashley, is expecting it to happen too.

Reports emerged last week suggesting that the takeover had been thrown into ‘serious doubt’ after the World Trade Organisation’s report into illegal streaming service beoutQ, but it must be demonstrated that the Magpies would-be owners are somehow involved, which doesn’t appear to be the case.

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With the Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’ campaign now firmly on track, it’s time for them to deliver on what supporters have been eagerly awaiting for.

It’s been in their hands for nearly two months and those in the northeast are none the wiser. Yet, money has been taken for next season’s season tickets. They deserve better.

AND in other news, Paul Smith makes claim about how Newcastle’s prospective owners currently feel…

The final decision on the proposed takeover of Newcastle United by the Premier League may be sped up by the news that Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly rejected the chance to manage at SL Benfica, according to Record (via Inside Futbol).

As per the outlet, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss would prefer to manage in one of Europe’s top five leagues: the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A or Ligue 1.

Pochettino apparently wants the opportunity to win some of the biggest trophies in the beautiful game, and is keeping an eye on the current situation at Real Madrid, as Benfica are allegedly looking at former Arsenal coach Unai Emery and ex-manager of Everton Marco Silva as potential alternatives to him.

The 48-year old has been strongly linked with the potential job opening at the Tyneside club if Steve Bruce is deemed surplus to requirements by the would-be owners, and the fact that he has rejected the job in Portugal because he wants to potentially manage again in the Premier League could speed up the decision to approve of the proposed takeover.

Pochettino may also buy into the project of the buying side who will surely be looking to win some silverware for the Magpies, given that they will likely have a lot of money to spend on possibly big transfer deals in upcoming summer  windows.

If the Saudi Arabian-led group are ambitious, then they may want to swoop in for the Argentine sooner rather than later before other teams come in for him. They may therefore ask the Premier League more questions as to when they will be able to take control, which could speed up the takeover process.

Geordies, would you like Poch to be your next manager? Comment below!

Former Sunderland defender Jack Baldwin has reacted after leaving the club and sealing a move to Bristol Rovers.

Black Cats manager Phil Parkinson is expected to see a number of players leave and come in as he looks to bounce back after failing to gain promotion to the Championship earlier this year.

One player who has now departed the club is Baldwin, who spent last season on loan with League Two side Salford City, seeing his deal at the Stadium of Light end on June 30.

Shortly after his exit from Sunderland, it was reported that talks with Bristol Rovers had begun for the defender to sign a permanent deal and it has now been confirmed that the defender has joined The Pirates.

Speaking after exit from Sunderland and move to the Memorial Stadium, the 27-year-old said (as quoted by Sunderland Echo):

“I’m delighted to be here.

“Speaking with Ben [Garner, manager] early on this summer, I’m thrilled that we have managed to get everything sorted so early on, with the current climate.

“I had chats with Ben quite a few times before signing and he’s a positive person. He knows the type of football that he wants his team to play and that style matches the way that I see myself playing.
“There’s a lot of positivity around Bristol Rovers, so that makes it a great time to be joining and I’m excited to get started.”
Baldwin made a total of 42 appearances for Sunderland during his time at the club.

Another player moves on from Sunderland, leaving Parkinson with space in his squad to bring in someone else.

However, the lure of a move to the Stadium of Light is not exactly what it used to be and Baldwin’s decision to move on and join another League One club could act as a signal that Parkinson may have a tough transfer window.

Do you think Sunderland should have kept hold of Baldwin? Let us know in the comments section below…

Kalvin Phillips was undoubtedly one of the best players in the Championship last term.

He started 37 games for the league’s runaway champions, and his incredible performances over the past two years have seen him linked with some of the biggest clubs in the country.

Understandably, his brilliance has seen conversations arise about his potential future at international level, and this weekend we got an update on what could be in store for him, and it’s not quite what you’d expect.

What’s been said then?

The words ‘shock interest in Kalvin Phillips’ are enough to send a shiver down any Leeds fan’s spine, but in this case it’s not another club looking at him.

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Indeed, Alan Nixon has stated that the Jamaica national team are interested in recruiting the Leeds midfielder, due to the fact he is eligible to play for the Caribbean outfit.

The journalist says that they want to build their next World Cup team around the midfielder tweeting: “Shock interest in Kalvin Phillips … from Jamaica. Qualifies for them. Official contact made. Keen to build a team round him for next World Cup.”

Not yet

This is an interesting proposition for Phillips to consider, but you have to wonder why he would choose to pledge his allegiance to Jamaica at this point in time.

Of course, heritage is very important to some people, and Phillips may be very proud of his roots, but from a purely footballing standpoint, he surely has to wait and see if England give him a chance.

Gareth Southgate has watched him a number of times, and United’s promotion to the Premier League will give him the chance to impress at the top-level, meaning that an England call-up is that much more likely if he impresses.

The Three Lions are so much better than Jamaica as well, they’re 44 places above them in the FIFA world rankings, and when you factor in that they haven’t qualified for a World Cup since 1998, you have to say Phillips’ best chance of success is with Southgate’s men.

Of course, it’s up to the 24-year-old to make this call, but from a footballing standpoint, it seems a bit foolish to rush such a decision.

Tottenham Hotspur star Eric Dier has signed a new four-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2024.  

Tottenham had been confident they could convince him to sign a new contract and now their wishes have been granted.

Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips even likened Dier to James Milner, having played with the Liverpool defender during his time at Aston Villa.

The former Sunderland forward believes the Englishman’s switch to centre-back could unleash Tanguy Ndombele next season.

Dier, 26, who was a firm favourite of former boss Mauricio Pochettino, has started as a defender under his successor Jose Mourinho since the Premier League restart.

Phillips insists that the former England international is Tottenham’s answer to Milner because of his versatility. He told football writer Dylan Childs “it is always good to have a utility player in your squad.

“He is like Milner at Liverpool as he can play all sorts of positions. Mourinho sees him as a centre-half so that could be his solution for next season.

“If he comes out of the midfield area it may free up a slot for Ndombele who might perform next season. It is always good to see a long-term servant of the club handed a new deal.”

It is easy to see where Phillips is coming from, as both players can play in the defence or midfield, but surely all similarities must end there.

Dier was moved from the defence to the midfield in his second season with Spurs, before dropping back down to the back line, and he has put in a string of impressive performances in recent weeks. However, he is yet to win a trophy with the north London club.

In the meantime, Milner has won the Premier League three times, the Champions League, the FA Cup and League Cup – to name but a few.

While all of this success can’t entirely be attributed to the veteran, his work ethic is second to none.

He was famously part of the side that beat Pochettino’s team in the European final last year, coming on in the 62nd minute to replace Georginio Wijnaldum, although he was unlucky not to start the match in the first place.

Moreover, Milner has effortlessly continued to put in a hard graft, whereas Dier has struggled for consistency over the years, as he has wrestled with numerous injuries, illness and mixed form.

The 34-year-old, who started his career in 2002, has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon, as Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy for the first time in a special ceremony at Anfield earlier this week.

Can Dier emulate Milner’s longevity? It is too early to say at the moment.

Tottenham fans, do you think the former Sporting Lisbon man is your version of James Milner? Let us know down below!

West Ham United staved off relegation during the final few weeks of the Premier League season, but GSB need to invest in David Moyes’ playing squad this summer if they are to ensure that the same scenario doesn’t repeat itself…

What’s the word?

According to ExWHUemployee, Moyes wants to bring his old Everton centre-back John Stones to the London Stadium this off-season.

Speaking on the West Ham Way Podcast this week, he said: “Even if we approach him (Stones) on loan it might prove tricky with his wages. I can say, however, that David Moyes does want to sign John Stones. He has a list of defenders he wants to sign and Stones is one of the favourites.”

Just last month, The Sun mooted the Hammers’ interest, claiming that the Englishman could be available for just £20m, which now seems even more plausible after Nathan Ake’s move to the Etihad.

Moyes must be backed

Of all the areas that need strengthening, it is probably at the back where the Irons need additions most – namely at right-back – but a new central option shouldn’t go amiss.

Stones may be quite the divisive player across the country, but he’s one that Moyes may know better than anyone else having brought him to the Premier League for the first time at Everton.

In 2017, he labelled him a “top quality defender” who could “play for any team”. The 57-year-old also claims that Stones is “naturally comfortable” on the ball, which is a bonus.

Throughout the course of his top-flight career, Stones has averaged an impressive passing accuracy of 92% managing just under 60 passes per game, via WhoScored.

Not to mention that he’s still firmly in the equation to be a start for Gareth Southgate at next summer’s European Championships having already amassed 39 caps throughout his career.

Although he’s struggled for game time under Pep Guardiola, Moyes could be the man to bring the best back out of him in east London.

It’s signings like this that GSB simply have to sanction if the Scotsman is to have the slightest chance of improving the Hammers’ fortunes – otherwise, it could well be another season marred with a relegation battle.

AND in other news, West Ham could clinch transfer masterstroke in ex -Chelsea flop…