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Lille president Gerard Lopez has confirmed that the French side have made a £16m bid for Glasgow Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos.

The speculation surrounding the future of the Colombia international has been intense, and the Ligue 1 side appear to have been in pole position to sign the 24-year-old – Morelos was even said to have agreed personal terms with Les Dogues. However, the signing of Jonathan David looks to have cooled Lille’s interest.

Lopez has been speaking to talkSPORT, and he has admitted that his side have already tabled an offer for Morelos. He explained:

“We have (bid £16m). He’s obviously a good player.

“We had a primary target who was Jonathan David and who we got. He’s locked into a certain system with a number of players already around him.

“We obviously are entering a transfer window that is longer than usual.

“The key thing for us is to analyse how what we have already comes together and that is something the coach is looking at before we make any other additions.

“He’s a great player, we’ve bid for him and we like him but at this stage we are in a situation where we want to understand… we haven’t had time to prepare at all. It’s been a really odd preparation.

“We know we have a lot of talent. We have lots of offensive material and we’ve hit the pause button at this stage.

“We will wait it out a couple of weeks and see where we are. Then make a final decision on if we need someone else in the transfer market.”

After 79 goals in 142 matches for the Gers, it is no surprise to see that a side would make such a substantial offer for the striker – clearly, though, it wasn’t good enough for the the 54-time Scottish champions, and there have been reports that they want £20m for their star asset.

Whilst Lopez has not shut the door on another move for the forward, it does now look less likely. That leaves the likes of Marseille and AC Milan, both of whom have been linked, to make their move.

Let us know what you think below!

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce admitted that he should have withdrawn Allan Saint-Maximin earlier in Sunday’s 0-3 defeat against Brighton.

The 23-year-old picked up a knock in last week’s Carabao Cup win over Blackburn but recovered in time to make the starting XI yesterday. However, he was taken off with an ankle injury on 33 minutes and, even at that, Bruce conceded that he should have made the substitution earlier.

As per The Shields Gazette, the Magpies boss said of the winger: “He needed to recover today against the boy he was playing against (Tariq Lamptey), who was all action. In hindsight maybe I should have took him off a bit earlier.”

Saint-Maximin had been passed fit to play by Bruce in the days leading up to the Brighton game, with the manager claiming on Friday that “he’s fine”. However, the 59-year-old’s decision to start the Frenchman backfired in the very early stages at St James’ Park.

There were only four minutes gone when the 23-year-old, perhaps not at his explosive best, gave away a penalty for a foul on sprightly youngster Lamptey which was converted by Neal Maupay for the first of the Seagulls’ three goals (as per Sky Sports).

Saint-Maximin lasted just over half an hour before being replaced by Ryan Fraser and Bruce confirmed after the match that he had sustained an ankle injury, the severity of which is as yet unknown.

In hindsight it is easy to castigate Bruce for starting the French winger considering that he may not have been fully fit after he went off against Blackburn. However, with Saint-Maximin finishing last season strongly and impressing against West Ham, when he drew seven fouls from the Londoners, it was understandable why the manager wanted to start him yesterday.

Unfortunately the calculated gamble backfired on Bruce, who is now set to be without his main creative threat from 2019/20 for a potentially lengthy period of time. These are the flip-a-coin selection calls which managers must make and, in this instance, it did not pay off for the Magpies boss.

Newcastle fans, what do you make of Bruce’s admission that he should have substituted Saint-Maximin earlier? Comment below with your views!

As per Football.London correspondent Alasdair Gold’s latest update, Tottenham’s top target, Inter defender Milan Skriniar, is ‘very keen’ on a north London move, but the clubs remain some £10m apart in terms of valuation over the Serie A star’s signature.

Skriniar, who played a huge role in Antonio Conte’s attempted title challenge last season, starting 30 games and averaging a 92% passing accuracy out from the back as per WhoScored, is now at the top of Tottenham’s transfer wish list as deadline day looms.

Indeed, reliable Tottenham journalist Gold has confirmed that both the Lilywhites and Inter Milan are in talks over a deal but, as it stands, both clubs remain on different wavelengths when it comes to payment.

The Italian giants value Skriniar at around £45m but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is hoping for a fee closer to £32m plus add-ons for the Slovakian colossus.

However, while the clubs are still locked in negotiations with just two days of the transfer window left, Spurs fans can take hope in reports that Skriniar is reportedly ‘very keen’ on a Tottenham move and is willing to make the switch to north London.

Therefore, if both Inter and Spurs can meet halfway on a valuation, there shouldn’t be any trouble in bringing the 25-year-old to the Premier League, with a centre-back now Jose Mourinho’s final puzzle piece.

It’s been a stellar window for Tottenham with six signings having already come through the door in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Joe Hart, Matt Doherty, Sergio Reguilon, Carlos Vinicius and the sensational return of club icon Gareth Bale on loan.

If Mourinho can add a top-quality defender to his roster ahead of a gruelling and congested 2020/21 campaign, this could be deemed Spurs’ best window in years.

Spurs fans, should your club put the cherry on top with a Skriniar deal? Have your say in the comments down below…

Plenty of Manchester United fans have welcomed transfer reports linking Andreas Pereira with a possible move to Lazio.

According to Sky Sport Italy, and as tweeted by @utdreport, the Serie A side are weighing up a move for the 24-year-old in an initial loan deal with an option to buy for €15m (£13.61m). However, there is a ‘distance’ between Lazio’s reported offer and the player’s demands, while the Biancocelesti would also need to sell Felipe Caicedo in order to fund such a move.

Brazil midfielder Pereira has made 75 senior appearances for United but has struggled to hold down a regular first team place under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while he hasn’t even been included among the substitutes for any of their games so far this season. Also, over the summer, the 24-year-old was involved in an online spat with some supporters who had been critical of his ability.

These Red Devils supporters on Twitter hope that Lazio will clinch a deal for Pereira, with one calling for the much-maligned and peripheral Phil Jones to also be offloaded to the Italian club:

Man United fans, do you think Pereira will leave in the next few days? Would it be a good idea to offload him? Join in the discussion by commenting below!

West Ham are interested in signing Troy Deeney, according to a report in The Daily Star,

Late move for Deeney

West Ham were quiet on transfer deadline day, but it seems they will be busy before the domestic window shuts on October 16th. They are said to have agreed a deal for Said Benrahma, and are now looking at Deeney as back-up to Michail Antonio.

The Hornets are reportedly open to offers for the 32-year-old, with West Brom also interested.

Controversial but effective foil to Antonio

Antonio has been in fantastic form so far this term for the Hammers. In the first four Premier League matches of the campaign, he has scored twice, helping David Moyes’ side to two wins along the way.

Deeney is, therefore, unlikely to come in as a first-choice option if he does sign, but he could be a fantastic back-up. Although Watford were relegated last season, he scored 10 goals in 27 league games, and has 160 strikes throughout his career. Deeney also won 7.3 headers per game last term, showing just how much of a handful he can be.

It could be a controversial signing, though. Deeney has previously admitted that West Ham fans give him a lot of stick, with him goading supporters on one occasion after scoring at The London Stadium. Whether the fans would take him is up for debate, but he certainly has plenty to offer on the pitch.

Let us know what you think below!

Carlo Ancelotti has an easy decision to make in calling on Everton winger Alex Iwobi to stand in for Richarlison against Southampton this Sunday, with the Brazilian suspended.

Richarlison was shown a straight red card during last weekend’s Merseyside Derby for an over-the-top challenge on midfielder Thiago Alcantara, which added another injury to the Premier League champions’ squad after Virgil van Dijk was forced off early in the first half.

Ancelotti will now be without Richarlison for Everton’s upcoming Premier League meeting with Southampton this Sunday, along with the unbeaten Toffees’ fixtures against Newcastle and Manchester United.

Whoever performs well in place of Richarlison at St. Mary’s this weekend will stand the best hopes of retaining the position against the Toon and Red Devils, knowing that Everton will be far weaker without the Brazil international on the field.

Richarlison has only offered one goal in the Premier League thus far this season, but has provided the Blues’ highest number of successful dribbles (16), the second-most assists (two) and contributed the second-most shots (16) though only directing three on target, per WhoScored.

Iwobi should stand as a strong candidate to deputise for Richarlison against Southampton this weekend, despite Ancelotti only calling on the Nigerian to start one fixture across all competitions and earn the remainder of his 219 minutes through various cameo outings.

His sole start came in September’s 5-2 win over Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup, in which Iwobi scored and assisted while penning his only Premier League assist in October’s 4-2 win at home to Brighton.

Ancelotti called on Iwobi to enter the action in the 25th-minute against the Seagulls following an injury to Richarlison, and stated earlier in the year during Project Restart that he still has a great deal of confidence in the 24-year-old.

“I changed him against Tottenham because he had a little problem with his hamstring,” Ancelotti told The Guardian in July. “Against Southampton, I changed him to put more energy on that side and above all to change the system to a line of five.

“It is true he didn’t score, it’s true that he can do better sometimes, but it’s also true that I have a lot of confidence in him.”

Iwobi was later touted as one of several players whose futures were in doubt on Merseyside, with the Mirror suggesting he and teammate Moise Kean could head an exodus of outcasts should Director of Football Marcel Brands receive decent offers.

Everton signed Iwobi from Arsenal for an initial £28million just last year in a deal that could reach £34m, and was awarded a £50,000-per-week, five-year contract, but only featured nine times under Ancelotti following a hamstring injury sustained in December.

Ancelotti could now look to offer Iwobi his first start of the current Premier League season with Richarlison unavailable, given the Nigerian’s form in his substitute appearances only trails James Rodriguez for big chances created per 90 minutes.

Across Everton’s opening five Premier League matches, Rodriguez’s has averaged a team-high 1.07 big chances created per 90 to Iwobi’s 0.86 and Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 0.53. Richarlison, meanwhile, ranks just sixth with 0.23, and has offered a lower output for key balls than Iwobi with 0.94 to the Nigerian’s 1.71, per SofaScore.

Where Iwobi’s limited game time has hindered his output is in crosses with zero recorded to date, though he offered an accurate delivery with every one in four crosses in the top-flight last term while beating opposing players with 62% of his attempted dribbles.

Ancelotti will no doubt miss Richarlison in Everton’s next three games, but his absence will offer Iwobi a great opportunity to impress.

AND in other news, a permanent transfer could be imminent for a £1.44m-rated Everton man after his latest comments.

Tottenham Hotspur are enjoying life under Jose Mourinho this season and they can continue that run when they head to the Midlands to face West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns this lunchtime.

It’s been a run of just one defeat in their last 13 matches. A victory against the side third from bottom would take the north Londoners to the top of the Premier League table before both Leicester City and Liverpool play later today.

The Special One has a dilemma in terms of team selection, though it’s a good one aside from the injury troubles facing both Erik Lamela and Serge Aurier.

So, here’s the XI we’re predicting at the Baggies…

Mourinho could make as many as six changes from the side that defeated Ludogorets in Bulgaria on Thursday.

In between the sticks, there is likely to be a return for Spurs skipper Hugo Lloris over Joe Hart whilst the Portuguese’s team selection in the Europa League could provide a hint towards his backline.

Matt Doherty and Eric Dier will be two players that remain but we may well see Davinson Sanchez come back into the lineup as he did not feature in midweek, though that would come at the expense of Toby Alderweireld.

While Sergio Reguilon is in line to return from illness after Mourinho claiming he would be fine for this encounter.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg should also come back into the starting fold, replacing Harry Winks at the base of a three-man midfield with Tanguy Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko taking up more advanced roles.

It means that Mourinho has axed £31.5m-rated playmaker Giovani Lo Celso despite his impressive display.

Spurs’ prolific duo Heung-min Son and Harry Kane start together having both received less than a 45-minute runout in Bulgaria and they could be joined by Gareth Bale for the first time in the Premier League this season.

It means there are no places in the starting XI for the likes of Lucas Moura, Steven Bergwijn, Joe Rodon or Carlos Vinicius.

AND in other news, Mourinho heading towards another inexcusable Spurs mistake over “exciting” £40.5m star…

Many Liverpool fans were pleased to hear that referee David Coote was removed from VAR duties for the Reds’ Premier League game against Leicester City this weekend.

Coote was the man in charge of VAR during the 2-2 draw against Everton last month, where Jordan Pickford escaped punishment after a high tackle on Virgil van Dijk, leaving him needing surgery on a serious knee injury.

After Liverpool contacted the Premier League to question the failure in scrutinising Pickford, no further action was taken as it was not deemed to be a red card offence at the time (via BBC Sport).

With little explanation, the Premier League themselves announced that there was a change to the officials’ line-up for Matchweek Nine, which will now see Andre Marriner make decisions on the proceedings at Anfield.

With this in mind, supporters were delighted with the news, with the injustice of Van Dijk’s injury still looming like a dark cloud over their heads.

Fans hail decision to drop Coote

In other news, Darren Bent believes Liverpool will avoid repeat of 2016 transfer event after recent reports.

With just two wins in their last five matches, Celtic will hope that their meeting with Hibernian on Saturday will aid their pursuit of the top spot in the league table. As it stands, Rangers have the lead on the Hoops by nine points, but the reigning champions have a crucial two games in-hand.

Their last match was a much-needed win on the road against Motherwell after Neil Lennon’s side fired four past the Steelmen. Celtic will be away from home again as Hibs play hosts at Easter Road following the international break.

And speaking of the international break, one man who has impressed for his country is Odsonne Edouard, who looks to have rediscovered his goalscoring form.

Edouard will be key against Hibernian

Since the Frenchman was forced to self-isolate after a positive coronavirus test, he has been off in his performances for the Hoops. He has managed to grab just one assist in his last five domestic appearances, resulting in him being dropped on more than one occasion by Lennon.

Edouard made an impact off the bench against Motherwell to set up Olivier Ntcham for Celtic’s fourth goal of the day. But it’s likely that the manager will opt to start him for the Hibs game in hopes that he can recreate his fiery performance for France U21s.

The striker netted a brace in his native’s 3-1 win over Switzerland last time out, which will have massively raised his confidence. Ex-Celtic forward John Hartson recently praised Edouard’s ability and labelled him an “outstanding” player. Indeed, last season was extremely successful for the Frenchman, who notched an astonishing 21 goals and 12 assists in the Premiership alone (via Transfermarkt).

If he can resurrect his form this campaign, he will not only help Celtic win another league title but he will put himself in the shop window for potential suitors as he continues to be linked to a move away.

In other news, Desperation for Neil Lennon as Celtic consider move for Dean Henderson…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Sheffield Wednesday legend Carlton Palmer has tipped Tony Pulis to make a bold move when the transfer market opens next month.

The 62-year-old took over from Garry Monk at the start of November but is yet to record his first win in charge of the Owls having lost two and drawn three in the Championship.

During that run, the Hillsborough giants have scored just three goals, failing to score more than once in any outing as well as managing just 0.6 goals per game.

It can be argued that the Yorkshiremen are yet to truly replace the presence of Steven Fletcher as their two top goalscorers, Barry Bannan and Callum Paterson, only sit on two for the season.

And when asked if he thought his former club would make any moves in the upcoming transfer window, Palmer hinted that a new forward could be in order before naming Newcastle United talisman, Dwight Gayle.

He told FFC:

“Dwight Gayle. He’d be a good fit.

“I mean, there are lots of players. Right now, I know the types of money that Sheffield Wednesday pay and they pay very good salaries, so you could get players down from the Premier League.

“The way to get out of the Championship is to get players who played in the Premier League, right?”

The 30-year-old, who is valued at £7.2m by Transfermarkt, is yet to play this campaign having undergone knee surgery back in September, but his initial diagnosis was positive for a return to action by 2021.

It was only two seasons ago that Gayle scored for fun in this division whilst on loan to West Brom. He bagged 23 goals in just 39 appearances before the Baggies were unable to strike a permanent switch due to his wage demands.

According to Spotrac, the Magpies outcast is earning £40k-per-week at St James’ Park and with that contract due to expire in the summer, it would not be a surprise to see him leave next month.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Carlton Palmer makes Chris Wilder claim…