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Manchester City remain interested in Leeds United winger Raphinha and if he joins Pep Guardiola’s side this summer it could perhaps be a factor in Bernardo Silva departing the Etihad, as the Spanish boss seemingly plans a rebuild of his side ahead of the 2021/22 season.

City have regularly been linked with the Brazilian after his impressive debut campaign in the Premier League, with Brazilian news outlet UOL Esporte claiming recently that he is still in City’s plans for this summer transfer window.

Despite a superb campaign which saw them cruise to the Premier League title and win another Carabao Cup, whilst also reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup and final of the Champions League, it has been widely reported that Guardiola is keen for a shake-up this summer, which will require some first-team regulars to leave.

City would certainly be forced to splash the cash if they want to land Raphinha this summer, as Transfermarkt currently values him at £27m, whilst he still has three years left on his contract at Elland Road having signed a four-year deal when joining from Stade Rennais last summer.

The 24-year-old quickly established himself as a key member of Marcelo Bielsa’s side, contributing six goals and nine assists in 30 Premier League appearances last season, averaging an impressive 7.22 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the top-flight.

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Therefore, he could prove to be a superb addition to Guardiola’s side and may even be an upgrade on Bernardo Silva should the Portugal international’s potential departure lead to Raphinha making the switch to Man City.

The former AS Monaco man is reportedly on a list of names who could depart the Etihad this summer, with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona amongst those interested in the 26-year-old.

Silva would manage just two goals and six assists in 26 Premier League appearances last season, averaging a 7.09 rating from WhoScored, so could easily be outed by Raphinha next season if the Brazilian were to maintain his form from Leeds in Guardiola’s side.

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Therefore, if City are truly interested in signing the “phenomenal” Raphinha this summer, it would perhaps not be a surprise to see Bernardo Silva depart in order to fund a move.

And, in other news… Man City suffer huge blow with “world-class” beast, Pep surely fuming

Wolves are reportedly interested in a move for Stade de Reims forward Hugo Ekitke, according to The Telegraph. 

The lowdown: Rising stock

The 19-year-old spent the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan at Danish side Vejle BK, scoring three times and registering two assists in 11 outings before returning to France.

Since then, the speedy frontman has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in Ligue 1 and has been linked with a move to a host of Premier League clubs, including the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.

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Newcastle United were believed to be close to landing Ekitike in January but the move failed to materialise and now the Wanderers could be about to throw their name into the mix ahead of the summer window…

The latest: The Telegraph makes claim

As per the report from journalist for The Telegraph, John Percy, Wolves are the latest club to ‘show interest’ in the teenage sensation.

It’s claimed that officials from Molineux have been ‘scouting’ the France Under 20 international whose running style has been likened to that of compatriot and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.

The report states that Wolves will face ‘serious competition’ for the two-cap youth international in the summer as Bruno Lage attempts to bolster the attacking options at his disposal in the Midlands.

The verdict: An exciting prospect

Described as ‘very special’ by manager Oscar Garcia, Ekitike has scored ten and provided another four assists in 24 appearances across all competitions this season playing as both a centre-forward and a left-winger, with transfer insider Graeme Bailey even reporting that many in France believe he is the ‘next Mbappe’ and would be a ‘huge signing’ in the Premier League.

Per FBref, the young Frenchman is actually a close match to Wolves star Raul Jimenez stylistically and it’s no surprise that Lage would look towards the ace to arrive as an understudy.

Standing at 6 foot 2, Ekitike possesses the necessary physical attributes to handle the rigours of the Premier League, something that until now Fabio Silva has struggled to cope with, and can therefore be considered as a realistic target to add to the ranks this summer.

In other news, Wolves are reportedly eyeing up a move for an exciting player. Find out who it is here.

Plenty of Aston Villa supporters have hit out at Tyrone Mings on social media for his display against Manchester United on Sunday. 

Villa fell to a 3-1 defeat against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, missing out on the chance to return to the top half of the Premier League.

Dean Smith kept with the same starting XI which beat Everton at Goodison Park last week, with Mings making his 33rd Premier League start of the campaign.

It wasn’t one to remember in the eyes of some Villa fans, though, who vented their anger at the centre-back on Twitter. Mings once again partnered Ezri Konsa at the heart of the defence, and things started well for the hosts, who went in 1-0 up at the interval thanks to Bertrand Traore’s goal.

However, in the space of five second half minutes, Villa found themsleves behind. Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty before Mason Greenwood rolled Mings and fired past Emiliano Martinez to put the visitors in front.

Edinson Cavani added a late third for United before Ollie Watkins was shown his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards.

Villa fans react

Here is what these fans had to say on Twitter regarding Mings, with one supporter describing him as ‘shocking’ and another wanting the club ‘to get rid’ of the defender if the club are to progress.

“Need to get rid of Mings if we actually want to progress”Credit: @archie_cullum”I’m throwing the towel in, I cannot defend Mings anymore man.”Credit: @JordAVFCx”Mings has been absolutely humiliated there. Very poor.”Credit: @_porsalin”Shocking from Mings”Credit: @avfc741″Konsa is so clear of Mings it’s unbelievable”Credit: @jackxlynch”Pathetic defending, Mings what are you playing at. “Credit: @HidesGeorgeIn other news: Villa make contact for in-demand defender, find out more here. 

Sheffield United have been handed a major boost in their bid to bring Ben Davies to Bramall Lane this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Sheffield Star, who claim that the Liverpool centre-back is high on Slavisa Jokanovic’s list of transfer targets in the summer window, while the 25-year-old is extremely keen on the idea of securing a move to the Blades.

The report goes on to relay the comments of the United boss following his side’s opening day defeat to Birmingham City, with the 52-year-old appearing very much open to adding a number of new signings to his squad before transfer deadline day.

He said: “We are making plans. But I am really thinking about my people and trying to help everyone here become better about what we do – myself included. Of course, though, there is a plan and we are still working [towards that].”

Jokanovic will be buzzing

With both Kean Bryan and Phil Jagielka having left the club upon the expiry of their contracts at Bramall Lane at the end of last season, and Jokanovic having so far failed to replace either player with a new face this summer, the news that Davies is eager to link up with the Serbian’s side is sure to have left the 52-year-old buzzing.

While Davies is yet to make an appearance for Liverpool since joining the Reds in a rather unusual transfer earlier this year, the defender proved in his time with Preston North End that he is an extremely capable player in the second tier of English football.

Indeed, over his 19 Championship appearances for the Lilywhites last season, the £2.7m-rated man helped his side keep six clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.4 interceptions, 1.2 tackles, 4.3 clearances and winning 4.9 duels per game.

These returns saw the player Jurgen Klopped dubbed a “leader” earn a highly impressive average SofaScore match rating of 6.99, ranking him as the club’s second-best performer in the league.

As such, taking into account just how short United are of options in the centre of defence, as well as Davies’ fine displays with Preston, it would appear highly advisable for Jokanovic to do all he can to get a deal over the line for the centre-back this summer, as the potential transfer would seem to suit all parties involved.

In other news: Jokanovic could be heading for grave Sheff Utd error over “fantastic” £900k-rated gem

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has been reacting to Glasgow Rangers’ continued decision not to feature Cinch either on their sleeves or around Ibrox.

The Lowdown: Gers continue Cinch stance

Earlier this year, the SPFL signed a five-year deal (sportspromedia.com) worth £8m per season with new title sponsor Cinch – it is the biggest such agreement in the organisation’s history.

However, the Gers believe there are gaps in the contract and have therefore refused to advertise the sponsor during their Premiership matches (The Daily Record).

The Latest: Maguire reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire believes that it is a big blow to Cinch and believes they will be furious with the Gers’ stance. He said:

“The SPFL deal is worth £8m, which is a record.

“They were criticised for not having a sponsor last season. As part of the deal, you’ve got to feature Cinch’s logo on the sleeve and in the matchday event.

“It works out at around £34,000 per club, per season. That’s a lot of money for a club in League 2, though I presume the money is tiered not split equally between each team in the league system.

“But there is no love lost between the SPFL and Rangers. The club believes that, under Scottish law, they don’t have to comply with the deal.

“The downside is that Rangers are currently the biggest draw in Scottish football in terms of viewership and interest.

“That means that they are on TV every week. From Cinch’s point of view, if they refuse to play ball, it’s a bitter loss of profile. They’ll be furious.”

The Verdict: Distraction

After a stellar 2020/21 campaign in which the Gers didn’t lose a single league game as they claimed the Premiership title (thefishy.co.uk), the new season has not got off to the best of starts for the 55-time Scottish champions. It has taken them just two league outings to suffer their first defeat this time around, a 1-0 loss to Dundee United (Sky Sports), while they also find themselves 2-1 down after the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie with Malmo.

While the Cinch deal is not directly linked to performances on the pitch, it is becoming a bigger and bigger talking point and may be evolving into a distraction for the Gers. The return leg of the clash with Malmo is on Tuesday – they cannot afford to have their minds elsewhere.

In other news, Rangers are open to offers for this ace.

Charlton must swoop for Norwich centre-back Akin Famewo after Norwich’s loan manager, Neil Adams, admitted that the defender is likely to go back out on loan next season.

What’s the talk?

Adams has opened the door to the “strong” defender Famewo leaving Carrow Road on a temporary basis again next season. The former Luton man spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan to Charlton in League One.

Adams has said that the ultimate goal for Famewo is to be part of their first-team squad, but that it will not happen right away and he needs to have a pathway to reach his target.

He told Norwich’s official website:

“It is different, because when you are sending players on loan what is the ultimate, what is the target, what is the goal? As I said before, it is to come back and play for us but sometimes that needs to be done in stages.

“The goal for Akin was to go and get games under his belt, to go and prove himself at League One level and impress at a good club, a really big club, in Charlton Athletic. He has had a fantastic loan there. He was excellent. He kept six clean sheets in the first seven games, and six clean sheets on the spin, which is pretty much unheard of at any level.

“He was part of that back four and the goalkeeper who did that, along with the team to give Charlton credit. We have seen all his games and he has done really well. He has shown his attributes, that we know he has got. He is strong, he is quick, he can defend, and he can play on the ball.

“He was hampered by one or two injuries, which was a bit of a shame, because it disrupted his flow and frustrated him, but I think overall he went and showed what a good defender he is and, obviously, he has ticked that box and now it is on to next season and what decision and what pathway he has now.”

Fans would love it

Famewo made an instant impact upon his arrival at Charlton at the start of the season, helping to keep six clean sheets in his first seven starts. Charlton kept shutouts against Sunderland, Portsmouth and Oxford during that run of games, with the 22-year-old playing all bar 16 minutes of the six matches. In total, Charlton kept clean sheets in 10 of the 20 League One game Famewo started, whilst Nigel Adkins’ side only kept seven clean sheets in the 26 games Famewo either missed or began on the bench.

Of all the Charlton defenders to start 15 or more League One games, Famewo averaged the highest WhoScored rating in the squad. Famewo averaged a score of 6.96 in 22 games, 7.04 in 20 starts, with Jake Forster-Caskey and Jayden Stockley the only players – out of every position – to manage better than that over the course of the season. Famewo was a dominant defender for Charlton, winning four aerial battles and making one block per game in League One to go along with his 4.5 clearances per game.

Famewo did struggle with injuries during his spell with Adkins’ team. The Norwich defender suffered a hamstring injury in November before missing two months of the campaign with an ankle injury during the festive period. This caused Famewo’s season to stutter and the defender was unable to play the majority of Charlton’s league matches because of it.

Bringing him back to the club for a second season could give him the chance to stay fit for the entire year and play the regular matches that Adams admits Norwich want for him.

Furthermore, Charlton fans should be happy if the club can get a deal done as not only will their team be getting a quality player, but supporters will be given the opportunity to enjoy his impressive defending in person with crowds permitted at matches next season.

AND in other news, Les Reed is delighted to see this key man thriving at Charlton…

West Bromwich Albion are readying a bid for Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah, according to Football Insider.

The lowdown

The 22-year-old came through the Stamford Bridge ranks but has yet to make a senior appearance for the two-time European champions.

He has been sent out on loan on three occasions, firstly to Ipswich Town, then to Huddersfield Town and most recently to FC Lorient.

Chalobah made 24 starts in the French top flight last season, with a further five substitute appearances. He recorded 1.6 tackles and 1.9 clearances per game, while his match average of 2.4 interceptions was the joint fourth-highest in all of Ligue 1 (via WhoScored).

The Englishman is valued at £3.15m by Transfermarkt, with two years remaining on his contract at Chelsea.

The latest

Football Insider reported that Chalobah is expected to leave Stamford Bridge permanently during this summer’s transfer window, and a West Brom source has indicated that an offer for the 22-year-old is in the pipeline.

The Baggies are looking to bolster their midfield ranks after the loan spells of Okay Yokuslu and Ainsley Maitland-Niles came to an end.

There is set to be a ‘race’ for Chalobah’s signature, according to Football Insider, and West Brom are trying to gain the upper hand.

The verdict

Chalobah would be a good and reasonably cheap signing for West Brom. Having impressed in a major European league, he could be a dominant force in the Championship.

He is quite versatile, having operated as both a defensive midfielder and a centre-back, and that experience should give him an expansive skillset.

Yokuslu was arguably West Brom’s strongest performer in the latter half of their disappointing 2020/21 campaign, demonstrating the value of a dominant holding midfielder, so hopefully the links with Chalobah may lead to him following Conor Gallagher to The Hawthorns from Chelsea.

In other news, read the latest on the future of Sam Johnstone.  

It’s not about talent, or natural ability. Becoming a professional footballer is all about how hard you work and the choices that you make during your career. It’s also about who you know! If there are people in your life with connections – like coaches, scouts, agents- then use them to get ahead of the competition. Because it takes more than just skill to become a professional football player these days; it takes drive and determination too!

What qualifications do you need to be a professional footballer?

To play professionally, the most important qualification is that you’re good enough. All players who want to earn money from football can’t be considered for playing in any league or team without meeting all the requirements set out by the individual teams. That means an ability to read and write English well, as well as being able to speak comfortably on behalf of yourself and your teammates. 

The rules vary among countries but they usually involve having no criminal record either in England or abroad, no history of drug or casino abuse (such as no deposit free spins) and medical certificates confirming that there are no conditions preventing you from working.

What are the chances of becoming a professional football player?

Your chances of becoming a professional footballer depend on many different factors. Where you live, the team that you play for, and if you have any sort of connection to a coach or scout all have an effect on your chances. At the end of the day, it is up to you to put in the hard work and dedication necessary to become a professional footballer.

Top tips for becoming a professional footballer Be willing to relocate for the right opportunity: Moving to a new town or country can be difficult, but it is sometimes necessary to give yourself the best possible chance of success. Get as much experience as you can: The more matches and training sessions you play in then the better your chance of being noticed by scouts and coaches. Play well with others: Competition for places is tough at professional clubs so if you want to get noticed than demonstrating your ability and willingness to work hard for your teammates is important too. Learn English: With so many foreign players in the Premier League, it’s crucial that young players understand English so they can speak confidently with their coaches and teammates. Have a back-up plan: All footballers get injured sometimes; if you’re lucky, it will be a minor injury and you’ll only miss a few games. But what about times when injuries can end your career? If that happens then having a solid education could save you from financial hardship in the future. Take up an active hobby: Given how much time football players spend on the field practicing, clubs prefer to sign those who have healthy interests such as horse riding or outdoor sports to help them recover from injury and maintain good mental health. Be coachable: When young players reach professional level, they often find themselves working under managers and coaches with decades of experience playing the game at the highest level. Sometimes younger players don’t feel confident in challenging a coach or manager’s decisions during a match. However, if you demonstrate faith in your colleagues and authority figures then they’ll be more likely to take you seriously on the pitch too. Develop good personal habits: Eating well, getting enough sleep each night and keeping healthy are all important factors in ensuring that players stay motivated and achieve their best performance levels on the football pitch. If you’re not taking care of yourself properly then it will be harder for coaches to trust you with a place in the team. Watch matches closely: Sometimes when watching a football match it can be easy to get caught up in what is happening elsewhere on the field rather than concentrating on your own role within the game. Keeping an eye on what other players are doing lets you learn from their good and bad play. Don’t give up: If you truly want to become a professional footballer then make sure that nothing gets in the way of achieving your dreams. Bad luck, injuries and lack of opportunities can all put talented players off going for their dream, but if that’s what you really want then persistence is key! Moving to a new town or country can be difficult, but it is sometimes necessary to give yourself the best possible chance of success.

The more matches and training sessions you play in then the better your chance of being noticed by scouts and coaches.

Having faith in your colleagues and authority figures then they’ll be more likely to take you seriously on the pitch too.

If you truly want to become a professional footballer then make sure that nothing gets in the way of achieving your dreams.

Conclusion

It’s not impossible to become a professional football player, but it is difficult. You need to be willing and able to relocate in order for your skillset to reach its full potential. It will also take time, effort, and dedication on your part.

Rangers have been told not to block any approach from Cardiff City for their coach Michael Beale.

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was discussing the 41-year-old coach’s future with Football Insider.

The lowdown

BBC Sport reported last month that Beale was on Cardiff’s shortlist of potential replacements for the sacked Mick McCarthy.

Formerly an under-23 coach at Liverpool, he took up an assistant role at Ibrox when Steven Gerrard was appointed as manager in 2018. He was part of the coaching setup which steered Rangers to an unbeaten 2020/21 season and ended Celtic’s run of nine consecutive Premiership titles.

Gerrard admitted earlier this year that it would take him ’15/20 years’ to become as good an ‘on-pitch coach’ as the ‘expert’ Beale, while Kyle Lafferty has claimed that the 41-year-old is ‘the brains’ behind Rangers’ success and described him as ‘amazing’ from a tactical point of view.

The latest

Kenny has said that Rangers will be ‘desperate’ to retain Beale’s services, knowing that losing him would be a significant blow to their domestic and continental prospects, but he urged the club ‘to do the right thing’ if the opportunity to take over at the Bluebirds arises.

The Irish former goalkeeper told Football Insider: “The last thing they need is for him to leave. I’m sure they’ll be desperate to keep him.

“But if he’s got a chance to become a manager, can you stand in his way? I think you’ve got to do the right thing.”

The verdict

When you read the glowing appraisals of Beale, it’s surprising that he hasn’t had a crack at senior management already, so Rangers might well have been bracing themselves for this scenario.

Fans may be worried, particularly in light of Lafferty’s comments, but they can take solace from the experiences of Gerrard’s former club. Zeljko Buvac, labelled ‘The Brain’ in Jurgen Klopp’s setup, left Liverpool in 2018, but the Reds went on to win the Champions League and Premier League over the next two seasons.

As Kenny has said, it would be tough for the Gers to lose Beale, but it could also be hard to deny him his first senior managerial role if he is intent on taking the reins at Cardiff.

In other news, many Rangers fans were left fuming by this post

An update has emerged on Newcastle target Omar Colley, regarding Sampdoria’s valuation of the defender…

What’s the talk?

According to SampNews24, as relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle are one of a number of clubs keeping close tabs on Sampdoria central defender Omar Colley this summer. Fellow Premier League sides Leeds and West Ham are also said to be keen on the enforcer, whose future in Italy is said to be uncertain at this moment in time.

The report claims that Sampdoria’s president, Massimo Ferrero, is unwilling to budge on his valuation and will not allow Newcastle, or anyone else, to negotiate a fee under £8.5m for the centre-back.

Better than Fernandez

Mike Ashley must ensure that he can get a deal over the line for Colley in the coming weeks as he could be a fantastic signing for Steve Bruce’s squad. He would up the quality of the ex-Villa boss’ centre-back options and that could make the £8.5m fee a dream deal for Newcastle.

Federico Fernandez started 24 of Newcastle’s Premier League matches last season and averaged an unimpressive WhoScored rating of 6.64. The 32-year-old was not a weak link in the side or a consistently poor performer, but his displays suggest that the Magpies could improve on his position in the team. He could revert to the role of a back-up and provide strong competition for places, with Bruce knowing that he can come in and do a reliable job when needed.

Colley, however, could come in and be an impressive player at the back. The 28-year-old averaged a superb WhoScored rating of 6.92 in 28 Serie A starts for Sampdoria, which shows that he is a stronger centre-back than Fernandez at the top level. He made 2.3 interceptions per game compared to Fernandez’s 0.7, suggesting that he is able to read the game more effectively than the Argentine.

Therefore, the Sampdoria beast could be a superb signing for Newcastle and good value for money at £8.5m. He is in the peak years of his career, at 28, and has proven himself to be an excellent performer on the pitch. Hopefully, Ashley will be able to oust West Ham and Leeds in the race for his signature and add the towering 6ft 3 powerhouse to Bruce’s squad ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

AND in other news, “Absolutely worth a punt” – Exclusive: Pundit urges NUFC to seal bargain deal for 6 ft 4 beast…