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According to Correio de Manha via The Mirror, Sporting’s Bruno Fernandes is on Liverpool’s radar as Jurgen Klopp looks to add to his attacking contingent having missed out on signing Lyon’s Nabil Fekir. Could he be the missing piece in the jigsaw?

What’s the word?

Well, The Mirror reports (via Correio de Manha) that the Portuguese is a target for both AC Milan and the Reds as the club look to negotiate his exit amid crushing debt that amounts to around €281m.

The midfielder’s release clause of €100million (£87m) is unlikely to be met by either of the aforementioned suitors and Sporting will surely have to negotiate a lower price in order to get the player off their books.

Having already seen the likes of William Carvalho and Rui Patricio leave over the summer in controversial fashion, the Lisbon-based outfit could be set to lose yet another star at the end of the season. What would be their undoubted loss, though, would be of enormous benefit to Jurgen Klopp and his side.

Finally… a playmaker

Klopp’s tactical flexibility has seen the Reds flirt with a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-2, while also frequenting the 4-3-3 that has helped them become masters of Gegenpressing.

The former has required centre-forward Roberto Firmino to be deployed in the number 10 role while Mohamed Salah has been moved up front. Although the famous front three’s linkup is as glorious as ever, there still remains the lack of an out-and-out playmaker.

Bayern Munich were resolute in their defending at Anfield on Tuesday night and it was clear the home side were crying out for a player who could create something out of nothing and unpick the Bavarians’ defence with a special pass, as pinpointed by frustrated Reds fans below…

This has been a weakness of Liverpool’s since the departure of Philippe Coutinho and Klopp surely feels this needs addressing. Fekir was intended to plug this gap but a switch to Merseyside never materialised and so the title challengers remain an incomplete puzzle.

Are fan nerves to blame for Liverpool’s recent form? Pl>ymaker FC’s Tom Skinner discusses in the video below…

If Manchester City prove too good once again this term, the signing of 24-year-old Fernandes, who has chalked up an impressive 21 goals and 11 assists in 2018/19, could be the addition that takes the Reds beyond their title rivals next season.

أكد لاعب فريق مانشستر يونايتد، دوني فان دي بيك، أنه يشعر بحالة من الإحباط بعد خسارتهم اليوم أمام كريستال بالاس في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وخسر الشياطين الحمر بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، في الجولة الثانية من البطولة، في ملعب الأولد ترافورد.

وسجل فان دي بيك هدف مانشستر يونايتد الوحيد، في مباراته الأولى مع كتيبة أولي جونار سولشاير بعد انتقاله إلى الفريق قادمًا من أياكس، هذا الصيف.

وقال فان دي بيك، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “أول مباراة لي مع الفريق يوم تريد الفوز فيه، لا يهم كيف تريد الفوز وأنا محبط حقًا لأننا خسرنا 3-1 على أرضنا، هذا أمر سيئ حقًا”.

وأضاف: “في أسبوع التدريب قدمنا أداءً جيدًا حقًا، تدربنا جيدًا لذا كان شعوري إيجابيًا حقًا، لكننا اليوم لعبنا ببطء شديد لفترة طويلة مع الكرة”.

واختتم: “أعتقد أنه ضد خصم مثل كريستال بالاس يجب عليك تسريع اللعبة لبناء الهجمات، لم يكن ذلك جيدًا بما يكفي”.

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The Daily Star recently reported that Chelsea are considering a summer bid to sign Everton star Richarlison. However, the Toffees are thought to want £80million in return for the 21-year-old forward.

Considering the Merseyside club paid an initial £35million – which could rise to £50 million – to prise the Brazilian away from Watford only last summer, it is unsurprising that they’ve put such a huge price tag on him. 

The 5 foot 10 attacker is certainly a favourite of Marco Silva’s and is tied up in a long-term contract at Goodison Park. What’s more, he is also the club’s top scorer this season with ten Premier League goals, as per Transfermarkt’s statistics.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

If Everton were to sanction Richarlison’s sale in the summer it would have some huge knock-on effects. We take a look at the potential consequences below…

Big money to reinvest

If Everton were to receive a fee in the region of £80million for Richarlison, then they could reinvest those funds into the squad. Even with Richarlison, Everton still need to find some more firepower this summer. 

With that £80million though they would stand a great chance of finding a goalscorer capable of replacing Richarlison’s end product. The Toffees could perhaps even attempt a bold move to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Goodison Park. 

Manchester United paid £75million to sign the Belgian in 2017, but he has struggled this season and has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford of late. With Marcus Rashford clearly preferred by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Lukaku could be moved on at the end of this season if the Norwegian coach gets the United job on a permanent basis. 

Everton could then swoop to bring back their prolific former marksman, paying for the deal with the proceeds raised from Richarlison’s exit. Lukaku would not only provide a more reliable goal threat than Richarlison, he also represents a huge upgrade on struggling striker Cenk Tosun.

Massive chance for Lookman

With Richarlison out of the picture, there’d be a gap in the starting XI for 21-year-old winger Ademola Lookman to potentially fill.

Since impressing during a loan spell with RB Leipzig last season, the England under-21 international has struggled to sustain a run in the first team on Merseyside. However, without the Brazilian ahead of him in the pecking order, Lookman may finally get the chance to prove his worth to Silva that he craves.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is another promising Everton youngster who may be afforded greater game time in the Brazilian’s absence.

All faith lost in Silva

Silva loves Richarlison. He first brought the forward to England during his time in charge at Vicarage Road, and was then instrumental in Everton acquiring his services a year later. Richarlison himself has stated that he sees the Portuguese coach “as a father”.

However, Silva is currently under pressure at Everton following a dismal run of results. He has admitted as much himself recently. Even if things improve before the end of the season, he will still have plenty of doubters amongst the Everton faithful heading into the new campaign. 

Should Silva lose Richarlison – a player clearly so central in his plans – this summer, then that could be the final straw. The inability of the manager to retain his prized asset could see all remaining belief in his abilities to lead the club forward disappear.

The exit of Richarlison could bring about the ousting of Silva too.

Manchester United giving Jose Mourinho the boot seems to have freed Paul Pogba from his defensive shackles, but a world-class holding midfielder does need to be found and Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele is the man.

Le10 Sport claim United representatives have already contacted the Lyon midfield general and if the reports are to be believed, it could be great news for United fans. The 22-year-old has impressed in Ligue 1 and against the other side of Manchester this season.

Ndombele was the architect in Lyon’s shock 2-1 victory against City in the Champions League group stage, continually making passes that broke the opposition’s intense press and then making key interceptions to prevent Pep’s side from attacking at pace. Does that remind you of anyone?

Fernandinho’s importance has been proven by City’s poor form when he was injured. He allows midfielders around him like Kevin De Bruyne and Bernado Silva to play more advanced roles when in possession because the danger of conceding chances is vastly reduced with Fernandinho in the firefighter role just behind.

United’s supposed target fits this bill perfectly and at such a young age he could be the breath of fresh air United need in the centre of the park where Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini have lacked Fernandinho’s energy.

All things seem great at United for now, but the club and their fans shouldn’t let their recent form blind them from seeing just how weak their squad is when you look behind the forward talent they possess. A team can never truly attack with full force if they have to worry about the stability of their defence, so the back line and the holding midfield role must be strengthened.

Pogba’s performances have improved massively since Mourinho’s sacking but imagine the leap forward he could take with Ndombele behind him. We’ve already had a taste of that when N’Golo Kante played the holding role for France at the World Cup, and we all know what happened there.

Indeed, Ndombele could be a game-changing signing at Old Trafford.

Do you think Ndombele would be the perfect fit for Manchester United?

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Since Steve Bruce took over as Sheffield Wednesday manager last month, the Owls have been completely revitalised. Now, after seven matches in charge – including his first Steel City derby – Bruce is yet to lose a game with his new club.

Three wins and four draws have seen what looked destined to be a drab, disappointing season transformed into one where the prospect of qualifying for the play-offs is genuinely on the cards. 

A new-found defensive solidity is the reason for the Hillsborough club’s recent upturn in form. Bruce himself has taken the time to credit his side for their recent resilience.

Did Chris Wilder get it wrong in the Steel City derby? Check out the thoughts of Ingood Nick below…

What he said

As quoted by the club’s official website, on the prospect of vying for promotion through the play-offs, Bruce said: “We’ve given ourselves a chance because of our defensive record all of a sudden…we’ve made sure that we are difficult to beat and I think that was vitally important…it gives us a chance to not give up the dream.”

The manager further noted that his players have had to work extremely hard for him to get to this point.

“I’ve only been here a month but already they are showing a bit of resilience and I’m pleased with that…they are giving me everything they have got.”

Quick impact

Wednesday certainly have looked a far more resilient side in recent weeks. They produced an immaculate defensive performance to hold off their bitter rivals Sheffield United last time out. The commitment, discipline and diligence they showed at the back in that derby clash was a testament to Bruce’s impact.

They may still fall short of the play-offs this season, but what the manager has already achieved so far in his short time in charge should give the Owls plenty of confidence heading into the next campaign.

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Miguel Almiron is already proving his worth to Newcastle United.

Signed from Atlanta United for a club-record £20million fee in January, the diminutive playmaker has shown that he has already adapted to the rigours of the Premier League in his first three outings.

On the chalkboard

There was some understandable scepticism surrounding the question of whether the slight Almiron could hack it in the Premier League after he put pen to paper for the Magpies.

Indeed, they had just broken a transfer record that had stood since 2005, when they signed Michael Owen from Real Madrid.

But Almiron’s form has been exemplary since his debut, with him having played twice as a starter and once as a substitute.

Indeed, per WhoScored, Almiron averages three key passes per game.

Now, while he has a smaller sample size than the majority of other players in the competition due to his January signing, that is higher than the likes of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen.

He has yet to score a goal or register an assist but he is involved in every move Newcastle put together, usually pulling the strings and making the pass before the final ball.

This is evidenced by the fact that he rarely dribbles opponents – he has an average dribble rate of 0.3 per game – and instead looks for a pass.

His completion rate in that regard is 85.3% from an average of 20.7 passes per game.

Newcastle had previously lacked an incisive attacking midfielder with the ability to pick a defensive lock but Almiron doesn’t even need to do that, as he has seemingly come armed with the keys.

A sound investment

It seems crazy to think that £20m is not considered a lot of money.

But, in football, it’s a relative pittance in this transfer market and Newcastle appear to have got the bang for their buck.

Almiron is quick, skilful, excellent on the ball and also a truly brilliant creator of chances.

Newcastle have not had that kind of player since Yohan Cabaye left for PSG and Almiron may well provide the spark the Magpies need to keep climbing the table.

Rafael Benitez’s men are now closer to 10th than 18th after their 2-0 win over Burnley and, with the Paraguay international in the team, they are only likely to keep climbing.

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Aston Villa produced a remarkable comeback on Saturday night to cancel out a three goal deficit and claim a point against Sheffield United.

The Blades could have consolidated their place at the top of the table with a win, and Billy Sharp’s hat-trick set them well on their way to doing just that. However, three late goals, from Tyrone Mings, Tammy Abraham, and Andre Green, brought the Villans level in dramatic circumstances.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

The result was a major setback for Sheffield United, but a positive outcome for Dean Smith’s side whose form has been decidedly average of late. The draw was also great news for Leeds United, as it prevented Sheffield United from pulling away from them at the top of the table.

Instead, the result meant that a point against Middlesbrough would be enough to restore Marcelo Bielsa’s side to first place. The Whites duly got that point via a late Kalvin Phillips equaliser.

After Villa’s comeback, plenty of Leeds fans took to Twitter to join in the celebrations of the Midlands club’s result…

أوضح المدرب الفرنسي زين الدين زيدان، المدير الفني لنادي ريال مدريد، موقف الثلاثي إيدين هازارد، ماركو أسينسيو، وفرانشيسكو إيسكو من التواجد في مباراة ريال بيتيس بالدوري الإسباني.

ريال مدريد يستقبل ريال بيتيس مساء السبت على ملعب “بينيتو فيامارين”، ضمن لقاءات الجولة الثالثة من الليجا.

وقال زيدان في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة: “في البداية نحن نعرف أننا سنواجه فريقا جيدا للغاية، ريال بيتيس فريق قوي، نريد أنّ نقدم مباراة جيدة، علينا تحسّين ما فعلناه في أنويتا”.

وأضاف: “نحن الآن لا نفكر في مباراة ريال سوسييداد، فقط نفكر في المباراة التالية، نريد القيام بعمل جيد، بيتيس فريق جيد، لقد أصبح لديهم مدرب جديد، وبيليجريني لديه خبرة وسيقدم الكثير لـ ريال بيتيس، لطالما كان بيتيس فريقًا ذو جودة، ونعرف أننا سنواجه فريق يريد تقديم مباراة جيدة”.

وبسؤاله “هل يُمكن أنّ يُسافر هازارد وأسينسيو وإيسكو؟”، أجاب: “يُمكنهم بكل تأكيد، لقد تدربوا، لكننا سنرى، الشيء المهم أنهم بصحة جيدة، سنرى غدًا، ثم سنلعب يوم الأربعاء؛ هُناك العديد من المباريات، سنرى ما سيحدث”.

وردًا على “روبرتو مارتينيز قال إنّ هازارد جاهز من الناحية الطبية 100%؟”؛: “هذا رأيي أيضًا، ليس لديه أي إزعاج من إصابته، هو فقط يفتقر للإيقاع، عليه أنّ يذهب شيئًا فشيئًا، هذا كل شيء، سيكون ما مع الفريق، يُمكن أنّ يتواجد في المباراة، وسنرى ما سيحدث”.

أقرأ أيضًا.. زيدان يكشف موقف ريال مدريد من التعاقد مع كافاني ويُصرّح: لن أرد على بيل

وعن غياب كاسيميرو عن مباراة سوسييداد: “إنها اختياراتي، في مباراة سوسييداد كان بديلًا، وغدًا سيكون هناك لاعبين ستأسلوا عليهم أيضًا، ومن الواضح أنّ الأمر سيستمر طوال الموسم، ولكن هذه هي الأمور هُنا البعض يلعب والآخر يلعب أوقات أقل، أنا أهتم بالجميع، وأشعر أنّ كل لاعب يُمكنه المُساهمة بشيء معي”.

وعن إمكانية لعب يوفيتش وبنزيما معًا: “نعم، يُمكنهم اللعب معًا، نحن هذا الموسم سنخوض العديد من المباريات، يُمكننا اللعب بشكل مُختلف، كل مباراة مختلفة عن الأخرى، وهناك العديد من الخيارات، وأنا لم أعتقد أبدًا أنّ يوفيتش وكريم لا يستطيعان اللعب معًا”.

وعن أوديجارد وإمكانية اللعب في مركز صانع الألعاب: “أنا أعرفه، إنه لاعب مُختلف، يُمكنه المُساهمة بكل شيء، إنه يعلم أنّ هناك العديد من المراكز يُمكنه اللعب فيها، إنه جيد من الناحية البدنية، سيكون هناك الكثير من المباريات، والجميع مُستعدين”.

وبسؤاله “كيف ترى ما يحدث في برشلونة؟”، أجاب: “أنا مُحترم، ولا أردى ماذا يحدث هُناك من الجانب الآخر”.

وأتم تصريحاته قائلًا: “لا أريد أنّ أشارك في ما يحدث، كل الأندية لديها أشياء وأمورها الخاصة، وبرشلونة سيقتال من أجل كل شيء، ليس لديّ أي شك في ذلك”.

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Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to react after it was revealed that Martin Kelly had signed a new contract with the club.

The England international’s new deal will keep him at Selhurst Park until June 2021, and is a big move for Palace as they tie down their third-choice centre-back for the foreseeable future.

Kelly has been with the club since 2014 after arriving from Liverpool, and has made 110 appearances for the south London-based club.

At 28 years of age, Kelly could be forgiven for wanting to leave as he finds game time hard to come by as a result of James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho’s formidable partnership, but he has always displayed model professionalism when called upon by Roy Hodgson.

Kelly has made 10 appearances for the Eagles this season, emerging as somewhat of a fans’ favourite thanks to his excellent attitude and committed performances.

Let’s take a look at how the Palace supporters reacted to the news on Twitter…

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Aaron Cresswell and Fabian Balbuena are fit to play for West Ham United against Cardiff City this weekend, the club have confirmed.

The pair could return to Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI as the club looks to continue their push for European football.

What’s the word?

Cresswell was kicked in the head against Newcastle United and was substituted after 34 minutes.

But he has recovered from the problem and will be fit to play against Neil Warnock’s relegation-threatened Bluebirds.

Balbuena, meanwhile, has been absent since December, when he sustained a knee injury in the 2-0 defeat to Watford.

He is now ready to return, leaving Hammers boss Pellegrini with a selection headache after previously selecting Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna at centre-back.

Without Balbuena, the Irons have played 11 Premier League games, winning four and losing four, while drawing with Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

Pellegrini, in quotes reported by the club’s website, said: “The injury update is Cresswell worked with the team the last two days so he will not have any problems.

“Fabian Balbuena played 45 minutes for the U23 team on Monday, also without any problems so both of them are fit. I think they are available for selection at Cardiff.”

Balbuena’s brilliance

The return of Balbuena will be music to the ears of many Hammers fans.

The Paraguay international endured a rocky start to his career at the club – losing his first four matches – but soon forged a superb partnership with Diop.

The pair were central to an impressive run between October and December in which West Ham lost just one game from eight in the top-flight.

Cresswell, too, has been in impressive form this season and, after suffering a potentially serious injury, it is good news that he will be available for selection this weekend.

The Hammers are currently ninth, four points behind seventh-placed Wolves and the final Europa League qualification spot; they need all the help they can get to overhaul the promoted side between now and May.