Tottenham Hotspur are keeping an eye on Atalanta midfielder Bryan Cristante, according to The Telegraph.
What’s the story?
The majority of transfer gossip surrounding the North London outfit has been centred around the futures of their current players, rather than new arrivals.
Mousa Dembele is one of those members up for discussion, but according to The Telegraph regardless of whether the 30-year-old stays or leaves, the club are keen on bringing in a new central midfielder.
The publication claims that Cristante, who has scored 11 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions this season, is on Spurs’ radar.
There is no mention of how much the 23-year-old, who is currently on loan at Atalanta from Benfica, would cost the Premier League outfit, but Transfermarkt has the midfielder listed with a valuation of £18m.
Do Tottenham need the Italian?
Goals have not been an issue for Mauricio Pochettino and his men this season thanks to Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen chipping in.
In fact, the North London outfit currently have the third-best attack in the top flight, behind Manchester City and Liverpool, having scored 62 times.
In the centre of the park, though, goals have been few and far between, with Dembele, Eric Dier, Victor Wanyama, Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks contributing two league strikes between them this season.
Having Cristante within the pack could potentially boost Tottenham’s goal threat significantly, and he has already shown that he can perform against English opposition.
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In the Europa League group stage, the midfielder scored in both fixtures against Everton, who were eliminated before reaching the knockout rounds.
Declan Rice followed his impressive performance against Chelsea last weekend with a fine display against Stoke City in the Premier League on Monday night.
The West Ham United centre-back’s stock continues to rise as the weeks pass, and it is not a surprise that the club’s supporters are excited about the 19-year-old.
Rice’s composure on the ball against Stoke was there for all to see, and there is every reason to believe that the Republic of Ireland international will be a key player for the Hammers moving forward.
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Rice, who is valued at £1.8m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has actually made 21 Premier League appearances for West Ham this season, and has played the full 90 minutes in each of the club’s last three league matches.
West Ham were frustrated in their 1-1 draw with Stoke at the London Stadium, but the club’s supporters were keen to pay tribute to the performance of youngster Rice once again.
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A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
Manchester City’s Premier League title win has received plaudits from many quarters of the football sphere, and now Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is chiming in.
While speaking to the media during a press conference, the Italian coach spoke of their rivals’ success.
The 48-year-old, who has won five league titles during his time as manager, believes that Pep Guardiola and his team can progress even further.
The Cityzens secured the top-flight title with five games left to spare due to the unassailable 16-point lead that they earned at the weekend.
After overseeing Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at Wembley last Saturday, City knew that their arch rivals Manchester United had to lose to West Bromwich Albion in order for the league trophy to set up shop at the Etihad Stadium.
Not many would have predicted that the bottom-of-the-table Baggies would cause an upset, but Jay Rodriguez did not read the script as his 73rd-minute goal clinched a surprise victory.
There was never much doubt with regards to City’s league form as they have only been beaten twice in 33 games this season, but they stumbled once again in the Champions League.
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The club were roundly mocked by rival fans for losing 5-1 on aggregate to Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the competition, but Chelsea boss Conte, who won the league crown last season, believes that it is only a matter of time before they are dominating Europe.
City fans tweeted reactions to their rival’s praise.
According to Italian reports, Napoli have contacted Rafael Benitez about returning to Naples, but Newcastle fans are having none of it.
The report from Il Mattino (via Football Italia) claims Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis phoned Benitez to enquire about a return to the club.
Benitez was in charge of Napoli before moving to Real Madrid in 2015, and built much of the side that is currently competing with Juventus for the Serie A table.
Current manager Maurizio Sarri has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea to replace Antonio Conte, and the Italian press believe Benitez is on the shortlist to replace him.
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Marco Giampaolo, Lazio’s Simone Inzaghi and soon to be free agent Unai Emery are also of interest to the Italian giants.
Newcastle could yet finish in the top ten this season with a squad barely capable of escaping relegation, so it’s no surprise clubs are sniffing around Benitez.
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The Spaniard is loved on Tyneside, but with his contract running down and not much confidence in owner Mike Ashley to make the right decision, there is certainly cause for concern.
Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
Dejan Lovren has not had the smoothest ride since moving to Liverpool from Southampton in 2014.
The defender has struggled with consistency and has had a mixed relationship with the fans.
Following Virgil van Dijk’s arrival at Anfield in January, Lovren has improved alongside him, and many fans in our recent poll backed the Croatian to keep his spot in defence.
Recently, though, the 28-year-old has come under scrutiny for a lapse in concentration at the back, particularly against Roma in the Champions League semi-finals.
Liverpool have two huge games left on their calendar, the first of which will be against Brighton at home on the final day of the season this Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side need to win in order to secure a place in the top four, but if they fail to do so, the Reds could still end up playing Champions League football next season.
If the Merseyside outfit drop out of contention but defeat Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Kiev on May 26, then they will qualify for the 2018-19 tournament.
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Ahead of this weekend’s action, Lovren said in an interview with the club’s official website that the team are confident of getting a result against Brighton.
The fans, though, are not massively interested in what the centre-back has to say.
West Ham United picked up a huge three points against Leicester City on Saturday afternoon, with the victory at the King Power Stadium ultimately securing Premier League survival.
Skipper Mark Noble has faced some criticism from the club’s supporters in recent weeks, but he scored a wonderful goal in the 2-0 win over the Foxes.
There is no question that it was a sensational strike, but it has been plastered over social media for the last few days, and it appears that even some of the West Ham fans are getting fed up with seeing it.
West Ham’s official Twitter account again posted the video on Tuesday afternoon, and whilst there were a number of the club’s fans that hailed the strike, there were also those that told the Hammers to stop ‘milking it’.
Next up for West Ham is a home match against Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United on Thursday night, and the Hammers will be looking to put another three points on the board.
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A selection of the Twitter reaction to the Noble strike can be seen below:
Marseille right-back Bouna Sarr impressed for his side despite their 3-0 Europa League final defeat against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, and Manchester United fans have told Jose Mourinho to sign the 26-year-old this summer.
The Portuguese boss may well be looking for a long-term replacement for stand-in captain Antonio Valencia, who has come under heavy criticism from his own supporters on Twitter this season because of some of his displays, and the Frenchman may have caught the manager’s eye.
Sarr looked more than comfortable from a defensive point of view and was largely successful in the tackle, while he also got forward well to help his team, although this game suggested he would need some more work on his crossing if he was to be a first-team star at Old Trafford.
Man United supporters were quick to have their say on the right-back’s performance via social media, and while one said “Sarr from Marseille looks like an awesome replacement for Tony Valencia”, another said he “already looks better than Valencia” during the match.
One of the most important objectives for Aston Villa this summer is to keep Jack Grealish.
Why is it so important?
In the past, the versatile midfielder has struggled with off-field activities.
However, this season, in particular, he has been a crucial member of Steve Bruce’s team.
The 22-year-old, who is valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt – made 31 appearances in all competitions.
In that time, Grealish created seven assists and scored three goals, and during his injury absence towards the end of the campaign, he was heavily missed.
According to the Express & Star, Villa could be forced to sell a number of players in order to balance the books following their failure to earn promotion to the Premier League.
On Saturday, the midlands outfit were beaten 1-0 by Fulham at Wembley, and even though they failed to reach the promised land, Grealish was a strong performer.
If the midfielder moves on, it would cause a huge blow for Villa, which is the opposite of what they need following their disappointment at Wembley.
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Will he leave?
At the age of 22, Grealish is still young enough to wait for a major move elsewhere, but it could be hard for Villa to convince the midfielder to stay put.
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The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international will feel that he has the potential to thrive elsewhere.
He has spent his entire career at Villa so far, therefore he has an emotional connection to the club.
However, if Premier League clubs come in for him this summer, Grealish cannot be blamed for having his head turned.
The first signing of Unai Emery’s tenure at Arsenal has come in the somewhat surprising form of a 34-year-old right-back.
It doesn’t exactly scream out new era but Arsene Wenger’s successor is reportedly a huge fan of Stephan Lichtsteiner and his track record at the top of the European game is tough to dispute.
So, have Arsenal paid good money for old rope or could the Switzerland international become a crucial component in changing the mindset at the Emirates Stadium, restoring the Gunners to their former glories? Football FanCast take a look at the potential consequences – some positive and some negative – of Arsenal signing the Juventus star in a bosman deal…
Hector Bellerin ups his game
Soccer Football – Europa League Semi Final Second Leg – Atletico Madrid v Arsenal – Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain – May 3, 2018 Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Juan Medina
Certainly over the last 18 months, Hector Bellerin’s form just hasn’t matched the levels of his first few seasons in Arsenal’s senior squad, when he kept Mathieu Debuchy out of the team and was tipped for a mega-money return to Barcelona as Dani Alves’ natural successor. He’s by no means the only young Gunner who failed to show clear signs of progression during Wenger’s final few seasons in charge, but perhaps this instance isn’t a consequence of such institutional problems.
Last season particularly, Bellerin was one of the first names on the team sheet simply due to a lack of competition at right-back. Calum Chambers represented an emergency option at best, lacking Bellerin’s pace and creativity, and Debuchy was shipped off to Ligue 1 in January. In short, the 23-year-old has been far too comfortable for far too long, but signing such a proven and dependable alternative in Lichtsteiner should put the Spaniard back on his toes – making the kind of consistent impact a dynamic and technical player of his talent should be capable of.
In terms of improving his game too, especially defensively, there’s plenty Bellerin can learn from the Switzerland hero. Juventus’ iconic defence know all the dark arts of the trade, but Bellerin often seems to lack that cute shrewdness.
Arsenal gain a new leader
Soccer Football – FA Cup Third Round – Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal – The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain – January 7, 2018 Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker in action with Nottingham Forest’s Ben Brereton REUTERS/Darren Staples
Perhaps the biggest motivation for signing Lichtsteiner is the leadership and responsibility he’ll bring to a defence that often seems to lack it, even when star centre-back Laurent Koscielny is on the pitch. And that only rings truer with Per Mertesacker leaving the Gunners this summer; the German World Cup winner may have been far from his best during his final few seasons at the Emirates Stadium, but he brought a lot to the team in terms of his captaincy and his vast experience.
Lichtsteiner’s of a similar mould; he’s just lifted a seventh Serie A title with Juventus and that winning mentality could make a massive difference to a squad that seemed only too content with mediocrity at times last season, especially away from home where they picked up just four Premier League wins. Likewise, if there’s any doubts over Lichtsteiner’s experience, he’ll likely surpass 100 caps for Switzerland at the World Cup in Russia this summer, currently on 98.
Wage bill gets eaten up by a squad player & contract demands are raised
While Lichtsteiner may initially represent something of a bargain swoop because he’s able to move on a free transfer, that will likely only have inflated any wage demands the veteran full-back made. Lichtsteiner’s reported salary at Juventus wasn’t the largest with Totalsportek claiming he picked up £1.75million (€2million) a season. But that figure could well have jumped up to facilitate the Arsenal move, especially as it will very likely be the last contract of Lichtsteiner’s career and he’s (at least on the surface) saving the club a small fortune in transfer fees.
Arsenal showed a willingness to break their wage structure when they handed Mesut Ozil a new contract earlier this year, but this isn’t a superstar of the first team we’re talking about. Lichtsteiner will be a squad player at best, rotating with Bellerin and playing in the cup competitions, so it becomes a question of how much Arsenal really think that kind of service is worth.
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After all, it will affect their capacity to meet the wage demands of other targets they may have in mind this summer and perhaps more worryingly, it could raise the monetary expectations of the rest of the squad too. With Aaron Ramsey, Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere’s contracts expiring either this summer or the next, if it becomes apparent he’s on a big deal that could seriously hamper those negotiations.
The Welshman has already been offered a substantial improvement on his current terms but The Telegraph suggest it’s still on the modest side compared to the rest of the market. Should it emerge Lichsteiner is on handsome money, Ramsey will inevitably start to feel like he’s being short-changed.
According to the Express & Star, Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce wants to bring Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe back to Villa Park for the 2018-19 campaign.
What’s the story?
Tuanzebe joined Villa on loan from United in the latter stages of the January transfer window, but the defender struggled to secure a regular spot in the team.
Indeed, the 20-year-old made just five Championship appearances in the second half of the campaign due to the form of John Terry and James Chester at centre-back.
Terry has already left Villa Park, however, whilst Chester could be sold this summer as Villa look to balance their books.
Chris Samba is also believed to be on the verge of leaving the club, and according to the Express & Star, Bruce wants Tuanzebe back at Villa Park next term.
Tuanzebe is believed to have impressed Villa’s coaching staff with his attitude last season, but it remains to be seen whether United boss Jose Mourinho is prepared to send the defender on loan for another campaign.
Would it be a good move?
Tuanzebe’s lack of football in the second half of last season says more about the form of Terry and Chester than the United defender’s own problems.
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The simple fact of the matter is that Villa will not have big money to spend on new signings this summer, and securing a player of Tuanzebe’s quality on loan would be an excellent piece of business for a club struggling financially.
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United boss Mourinho might well want assurances that the Englishman is going to be a regular starter before sanctioning another loan move, but as mentioned above, Terry has already left the club, and Chester and Samba could soon follow.
There are still doubts surrounding Bruce’s position at the club, but the former centre-back is preparing for the new season.
Tuanzebe needs a whole season of first-team football to show whether he can be a future Premier League centre-back for United, and Villa could provide that platform.