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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news… Liverpool may move their deal for Genk’s Sander Berge forward to January following Fabinho’s injury, according to The Mirror . What’s the story? The Brazilian midfielder sustained ligament damage during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw in the Champions League against Napoli, which is expected to keep him out beyond the New Year. If his recovery does not go as well as is hoped, the club could make a January move for Berge to help ease the burden left by his absence. It is expected that the deal would cost around £18m, with the 21-year-old’s contract keeping him at the Belgian outfit coming to an end in the summer of 2021 . Big shoes to fill If Berge were to be brought to Anfield, then he would have big shoes to fill while acting as the replacement for Fabinho. The 26-year-old has been an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s side, starting 16 games across the Pr

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news… Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is willing to sell Jonathan Kodjia during the January transfer window, according to Football Insider . What’s the story? Their report suggests that Smith will allow the Ivory Coast international to leave Villa Park if he is able to find a replacement to offer cover for Wesley. The club are said to have rejected a £7m bid from Qatari outfit Al-Gharafa in the summer, as the Premier League transfer window had already come to an end. However, they are now ready to listen to offers for the 30-year-old, with Cardiff City among those interested in signing him. An end to his obscurity Kodjia has been a figure firmly stuck in the background at Villa Park this season, having played just 20 minutes of Premier League football across two substitute appearances – he also came off the bench once in the Carabao Cup. Injuries ha

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Phil Hay has provided an update on the several transfers which could happen with Leeds in January and it is causing a little bit of concern amongst the Leeds fanbase. Liverpool remain interested in stand-out performer Ben White and Arsenal may consider recalling Eddie Nketiah , as they would have the opportunity to send him to a club where he is more likely to get game time. The youngster is still yet to start a league game under Marcelo Bielsa despite making a valuable contribution in certain games, scoring five times, and that means Leeds could find themselves desperately searching for a back-up striker in the winter window. Such a possibility has seen a little frustration rise from supporters, who are urging the board to invest and make new additions, having failed to do so last January. Some believe that failure ended up contributing to Leeds dropping out of the automatic promotion places, as a drop in results around February and March possibly came about due to burnout

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Manchester City are back in Premier League action having secured their trip to the knockout stages of the Champions League following a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar in midweek. But while Pep Guardiola’s men didn’t really have the best of nights in Europe – with a slightly rotated squad – their chase for the third English crown is all but easy back home, and Newcastle are someone they simply cannot underestimate. With Liverpool slowly but surely getting out of their sights and with Leicester to topple in the table as well, the Citizens will have to treat every game like a final if they’re going to pull through. So with that in mind, here is the XI Pep Guardiola could start on Saturday lunchtime: Most of the changes that could occur from the game against Shakhtar will likely take place in City’s defence. Ederson is very much expected to start the game between the sticks but his back four could see some tweaks. Benjamin Mendy should return at left-back, replacing Angelino who was g

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Liverpool face Brighton on Saturday as they look to maintain their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. The Reds come into the match off the back of a 1-1 draw against Napoli in the Champions League at Anfield. As such, they will be looking to return to winning ways. With so many games to play over the coming weeks, it will be interesting to see what team Jurgen Klopp puts out against the Seagulls. Here, we try to predict his starting XI. As Alisson did not pick up an injury against the Italian team in midweek, there is no need for him to drop out of the side. Therefore, he will start between the sticks. Check out footballers’ biggest fashion disasters in the video below… Andrew Robertson came through the European fixture unscathed, and should therefore keep his place in the side for the visit of Graham Potter’s men. In the middle, Virgil van Dijk is unlikely to be removed, but Joe Gomez could come in alongside him. He struggled at right-back on Wednes

It seems that Jose Mourinho is slowly but surely gelling into his new squad and times are good over at Tottenham Hotspur at the moment. After all, the first two clashes with the Special One at the helm – despite being chaotic and highly tense – both ended in a victory for the London club and we’re already seeing signs of progress for the squad as a whole. A lot of that most likely has to do with Mourinho’s relationship with his players, and just recently, Football Daily released some footage showing the gaffer’s talk with Heung-Min Son, one of the stars of the squad. You can tell Jose Mourinho already loves Heung-min Son 🤣 pic.twitter.com/4ImPrP7LPp — Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 28, 2019 And even though the video only shows the two walking and talking during a training session, many fans seem to think it’s a sign Mourinho is already falling in love with his player. They were quick to state that it’s only natural to love Son and that no one can blame the c

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers… Willian’s future at Chelsea seems secure but if his recent words are any indication at all, as quoted by Sky Sports , the Brazilian knows what he wants to do and is waiting for the Blues to make their move. And this could be a blessing in disguise for Barcelona. What did he say, then? The winger is now already 31 years old and his contract is due to expire next summer. That means he is now eligible to talk to other teams in January and Chelsea risk losing the player for free. But if his latest admission is anything to go by, Willian would very much prefer staying at Stamford Bridge. And interestingly enough, he was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, which was not the first time we’ve seen those rumours appear. But it seems that despite the Catalans’ reported interest, Willian wants to stay put. Here

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers… Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has issued a hands-off warning to any potential suitors for Alfredo Morelos, claiming that the striker is not for sale at any price following yet another masterclass on the European stage. Morelos became the first player in Rangers’ history to score in four successive major European ties, while the Colombia international also surpassed the great Henrik Larsson’s record of 12 goals in a single European campaign after netting his 13th of the season. What did he say? As reported by the Belfast Telegraph , Gerrard said: “Do you believe me now? He’s not for sale. He’s not for sale at any price!” Before kick-off, the former Liverpool captain reinforced Gers chairman Dave King’s statement that he wouldn’t sell Morelos for £40m, saying: “No – and you can add another £10m on as well.” O

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers… Despite the fact that Marcelo Bielsa has a rather small first-team squad, Leeds United have a huge amount of players at their disposal. In fact, it’s easy to forget that some of these players are actually on the books at Elland Road. However, a couple of these forgotten men may not be at the club for much longer after Phil Hay provided an update on two Leeds outcasts. What’s been said then? During a Q&A session with the Athletic on Thursday, the reporter was asked about a couple of players that haven’t been in Bielsa’s plans since his arrival. Firstly he was asked whether or not Jay-Roy Grot has a chance of featuring in the future, to which he gave a very blunt reply. “No, it’s not going to happen for Grot here.” Hay said . Another fan went on to jokingly ask Hay if Eunan O’Kane is still alive, and Hay g

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles… Sunderland’s dire run of form shows no sign of getting better any time soon due to the repeated failings of players and the manager, with the quality of the squad simply not good enough. That explains why Phil Parkinson has been unable to lift the performances of the players since coming in, the same players who underperformed under Jack Ross and cost him his job. There are several areas in need of strengthening. Even the defence now seems a worry with Joel Lynch’s terrible display against Burton , and that had been one department Parkinson could rely on somewhat. Of most concern currently is the lack of goals, however. Aside from the 5-0 win over Tranmere – which is increasingly looking like an anomaly – Sunderland have scored eight goals in ten other games Parkinson has m

It was a frustrating night for Liverpool against Napoli on Wednesday. The Reds dominated possession, taking control of the ball for 71% of the 90 minutes, but they were only able to score one time through a powerful Dejan Lovren header. For the vast majority of the game, they were unable to break through the sturdy defence of Carlo Ancelotti’s team, and the solitary point now leaves them needing to get at least the same against RB Salzburg. Check out footballers’ biggest fashion disasters in the video below… The Anfield outfit were dealt another cruel blow in the 19th minute, as well, when Brazil international Fabinho was forced off the pitch with an ankle injury . He had tried to play on, but it became apparent that he would be unable to last the course. Called the best defensive midfielder in the world in September by Gary Neville (Sky Sports via Metro ), his absence could be a huge blow. The club’s supporters were worried by his removal from the pitch. They took to Tw

Toby Alderweireld is one of the big Tottenham Hotspur’s stars whose future is still up in the air. With his contract due to expire next summer, the 30-year-old defender’s departure from London might be on the cards. But recently he came out with a statement that might indicate Jose Mourinho is slowly but surely turning his head and could actually make him stay at the club – a suggestion that came to light shortly after the Portuguese manager’s arrival, per The Telegraph . Kristof Terreur quoted the 30-year-old centre-back saying that he’s happy he’s playing and that he wants to repay this trust the Special One has shown him with good performances.  Toby Alderweireld: “I am happy that I’m playing. I’m proud to work with a manager that has won it all. I am grateful that I can become a better player under him. I want to repay him for the faith he has shows in me.” #thfc pic.twitter.com/j9zlK9uHtI — Kristof Terreur 📰🎥 (@HLNinEngeland) November 27, 2019 Upon seeing this

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles… West Ham United’s 3-2 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur last time out meant they had taken just two points from the last 21 available, and whatever Manuel Pellegrini is doing now clearly isn’t working. In fact, the late two goals they scored at the London Stadium actually flattered them considering how poor they were in the first hour or so, and it seems pretty clear that some sort of changes are needed on the pitch if the Irons are to get back to winning ways. The experienced Chilean has largely stuck with the same XI players in recent weeks with a couple of changes here and there, but it hasn’t yielded a change or results. It certainly won’t be easy to avoid a fourth successive Premier League defeat when they face Frank Lampard’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, giv

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers… Can you believe it’s been just over six months since the first story about QSI investing in Leeds United was published? Over half a year of rumours have swirled, the deal has been on and off more times than a light switch, but the whispers still haven’t died down. Surprisingly, we’ve not heard much on that front for a couple of weeks, but Phil Hay has given us some insight into the current ownership and how willing they’d be to allow the Qataris to invest in the Yorkshire club. What’s been said then? The Athletic’s Leeds United correspondent was hosting a Q&A on the website, and one fan asked if there was any update on QSI and if it was likely. “I’m not aware of any more progress but there’s a chance that it will. I think it depends on various factors. If, for example, Leeds don’t make it out of the Champ

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One of the hottest properties in European football right now, Jadon Sancho’s future is the big topic of conversation at the moment. The Borussia Dortmund star appears to be heading for the exit door either in January or at the end of the season, with reports in recent weeks suggesting Manchester United “remain front-runners” for his signature despite interest from the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona. And on Wednesday night, Sancho delivered a strong message to his suitors with an impressive cameo against Barcelona in the Champions League. Having come on for the second-half, the 19-year-old scored a stunning strike for Dortmund, before seeing another effort hit the bar later on. After seeing his display, United fans flooded to Twitter to make their voices heard about their rumoured transfer target. Many supporters of the Manchester side urged their club to ensure they fended off the competition to sign him, and simply insisted he is a quality footballer that the

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…  Chelsea drew 2-2 with Valencia at the Mestalla on Wednesday in the Champions League. Reece James, making just his second start in Europe for the Blues, has made himself undroppable after another impressive display. On the chalkboard The Stamford Bridge outfit’s battle with Los Ches was a captivating one, with both sides have chances to pick up all three points. In the end, though, both teams had to make do with a draw. James, 19, was in the starting line-up in what was a huge test of his ability. His displays this campaign have made him impossible to drop for Frank Lampard. Undroppable Cesar Azpilicueta has played most of his games at right-back for Chelsea so far this season, with him having started just one match on the opposite flank. However, he does have plenty of experience on the left of the back four.

One of the stars of Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last season, Hakim Ziyech has continued to shine for the Dutch side. The Morocco international managed an impressive 21 goals and 24 assists across all competitions last season, but did not join his former teammates in Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong in making high-profile moves away. Ziyech was linked with a move to Arsenal previously, but it was then revealed that the Gunners had apparently turned down the opportunity to sign him and had moved on to other targets. On Wednesday night in the Champions League against Lille, the attacker produced the kind of display that had Arsenal fans on Twitter purring in awe. The 26-year-old scored one and made one as he helped his team to a fine 2-0 victory away from home. After seeing his display, Gunners fans revealed their frustrations at missing out on Ziyech, with one fan in particular labelling their decision to go after Nicolas Pepe as “terrible decision-mak

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles… The fact that Liverpool midfielder Fabinho had to be substituted off in the 19th minute against Napoli and then was pictured wearing a protective boot post-match isn’t a good sign, and if his injury proves to be serious then manager Jurgen Klopp could choose to lean on a man with only three starts to his name this season – Adam Lallana. The former Southampton midfielder has unsurprisingly found his game-time limited so far in 2019/20, with the Reds unstoppable in the Premier League, although a little shaky in the Champions League. Nevertheless, the 31-year-old has only featured for 304 minutes in total, with 180 of those coming in the Carabao Cup victories against the MK Dons and Arsenal. His only other start came in the Premier League against Aston Villa earlier this mon

Even though it has been a long while since Tottenham Hotspur last won a trophy, there have still been many quality players passing through their ranks in the past decade. Of course, some of those players, like Harry Kane or Christian Eriksen, are still at the club, at least for the very moment, but some, like Luka Modric or Gareth Bale, are long gone. Still, that didn’t stop The Athletic from trying to build their own Tottenham Hotspur team of the decade, ranging from 2010 until today. It's our Spurs team of the decade! Me and @CDEccleshare have gone for 4-3-3, which means Dele Alli misses out. No Van der Vaart either. What do you think? https://t.co/T9aiGbwoYL pic.twitter.com/bBlnvZW8lQ — Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) November 28, 2019 And it seems that many Spurs fans were actually delighted with that squad with some of them pointing out that this is truly a terrific team that would no doubt do well on the pitch. The lineup included some of the current pla

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