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West Ham want to sign Jonjo Shelvey in the summer transfer window, and Newcastle United would be foolish to stand in their way.

What’s the story?

According to The Northern Echo, Shelvey is a target for Manuel Pellegrini this summer.

The report claims the Hammers made “a number of enquiries” during the January window, but their approaches were rejected.

Rafael Benitez was “extremely reluctant” to allow the midfielder to leave, claims the aforementioned report, but Pellegrini will come again for the 6-cap England international.

And Benitez won’t stop the move from happening this time, as the Spaniard has “doubts about his work rate and willingness to buy in to the team ethic” reports The Northern Echo.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

Boost for Longstaff

It’s not surprising that Benitez was desperate to hang on to Shelvey even despite the 27 year-old making just 14 appearances in all competitions this season.

At the time, Sean Longstaff had not really made the impression that he is going to be a long-term starter, which he now has, and Ki Sung-yueng was away on international duty and struggling with a hamstring injury.

Now though, the gaffer knows he has the full summer to replace Shelvey, and if the midfielder is not buying into his ideology then there is really no point keeping him around.

The Magpies should bleed West Ham dry for the ex-Liverpool midfield and put the money to good use in finding a long-term partner for Longstaff.

In fact, selling Shelvey might just be the best thing to ever happen to Longstaff, as the 21 year-old’s path to the first team was previously blocked by the ex-Liverpool ace, with both attempting to fill the same role in Benitez’s midfield.

If West Ham are so desperate to secure the long-shot master that they overpay the Magpies, providing the money is put to good use, it would pave the way for Longstaff to have an even better career than he already looks destined for.

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Respected Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague has issued an update on Christian Eriksen’s future on his official YouTube channel, insisting that Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is not convinced about the prospect of signing the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder even though the club wants him.

The Spurs playmaker has been heavily linked with a move to the Spanish capital in recent months.

What’s the word?

Eriksen has yet to commit his future to Spurs, with his contract set to expire at the end of next season.

The Independent reported in January that Real had initiated contact over the possibility of a summer move that they hoped would be worth around £100m.

A Guardian report since has claimed that chairman Daniel Levy values the Denmark international at £130m.

And Balague has now stated that, while the player wants to move to Real, Zidane is not sure he possesses the qualities required by Los Blancos.

In a video posted on his official account, Balague said: “Christian Eriksen hasn’t signed a new contract for Spurs. Real Madrid showed interest in Harry Kane and in Eriksen, at least a year and a half ago, and Harry Kane signed a new contract after that and Eriksen hasn’t.

“So Eriksen is waiting for Real Madrid. Real Madrid feel that he will be the perfect replacement for Modric. Not sure I agree with that, but in any case, that is what Real Madrid are thinking, so they want Eriksen, they will try to get him, the problem will always be will Daniel Levy sell? And that conversation hasn’t taken place yet.

“Do Real Madrid want him? Absolutely, despite the fact that Zinedine Zidane is not absolutely impressed with him, but Real Madrid have had long conversations with Eriksen entourage and the club have identified him as a target for sure.”

The grass isn’t always greener

Eriksen should perhaps think twice about the possibility of moving to Real.

It appears inevitable, at this stage, that he will depart Spurs in the summer but there is no guarantee that he will be a key member of Zidane’s squad from next season.

Indeed, he has flattered to deceive for a while at Spurs and has been largely anonymous during their dip in form, in which they have gone five Premier League games without a win.

A major transfer fee would surely see Spurs sell and they are unlikely to put up too much of a fight if the offer exceeds £100m.

Eriksen, though, may be destined to repeat the feats of Gareth Bale, another former Spurs star who is now regularly whistled at in Madrid.

Spurs are going to fall short once again in the race for the Premier League title, as the club once again just miss out on England’s top prize.

Mauricio Pochettino will be keen to see his team keep progressing in the coming seasons, as he looks to build on a solid foundation and take advantage of the club finally moving into their new home at the former site of White Hart Lane.

The Argentinian will be keen to start bringing some trophies to the club to cap off and have something to show for what has been a fine period in charge of the club, but he will also be aware that there has to be some tweaks at the club if they are to bring that success to the fans.

That got us here in the Tavern thinking a bit, and we think that Pochettino will be keen on ensuring he addresses a few issues at the club this summer.

With that, we looked at TWO areas of concern Pochettino might look to sort out at Spurs during pre-season…

The addition of a quality second striker

While Spurs have one of the best in the world in Harry Kane, the same can’t be said about the second choice forward players at his disposal.

It’s tough trying to find someone to play second fiddle to Kane, but this is something Pochettino needs to try and sort out, and signing a quality new striker could well take his side to the next level.

Improving the mentality of this players

Despite their brilliant football, Spurs are in danger of becoming the nearly men of English football, with the club falling short at crucial stages in the last three campaigns now.

Pochettino needs to address this within his squad before falling at the final hurdle almost becomes a bad habit.

Its easier said than done of course, but it’s something the Spurs boss simply has to look at going forward.

What a missed opportunity that was! Manchester United had the chance to reach an FA Cup semi-final where only Manchester City looked a threat, but they blew it and it proves how right United are not give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the job just yet.

The attacking football has been exciting. It’s fast, it’s dynamic and it does what Jose Mourinho failed to do in his tenure, get the most out of their wealth of forward-facing talent. However, when they lose the ball, the whole United side looks at sea and that’s down to Solskjaer’s careless nature.

There’s a reason he didn’t succeed at Cardiff, and that’s because they weren’t organised enough to deal with playing against teams who had more of the ball and were better than them, which was probably every team in the Premier League at the time. This weakness is shown less at United because they’re on the front foot in most games, but it rears its head on occasions.

Wolves are confident on their home turf, and it showed in their ability to retain the ball and attack with intent. That will have been encouraged by their knowledge that Solskjaer’s side are there for the taking if you go at them. PSG at Old Trafford and Arsenal last week proved this.

It’s clear United need investment at the back in the summer. Jose Mourinho obviously knew it, and that seems to be the reason why he didn’t feel he could attack with the freedom the current manager is doing. If he did, then United would struggle to defend the large spaces they leave at the back, just as they did against Wolves.

Mourinho would most probably have won that game on Saturday, and it once again shows that United must be cautious not to make a romantic appointment and bide their time to see if the Norweigan wises up defensively between now and the end of the season.

Man United fans, do you think the Wolves defeat was Solskjaer’s fault or his players’? Join the discussion by commenting below…

سجّل أنتوني لوزانو لاعب قادش، هدف فريقه الأول في مرمى فريق ريال مدريد بالدوري الإسباني.

ريال مدريد يواجه قادش على ملعب “ألفريدو دي ستيفانو”، ضمن لقاءات الجولة السادسة من الليجا.

وجاء الهدف في الدقيقة 16، عبر لوزانو، الذي استغل خطأ دفاعي، وغالط تيبو كورتوا، وسدد الكرة من أعلى الحارس البلجيكي، ليُسجّل الهدف الأول في المباراة. شاهد هدف قادش الاول في مرمي ريال مدريد

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Tottenham fans are fuming at Erik Lamela, as the winger is set to miss out on Tuesday’s epic Champions League showdown against Manchester City.

According to Football.London’s Alasdair Gold, Lamela was one of three players who did not train with the group ahead of Tuesday’s clash.

Serge Aurier is missing for personal reasons, while Eric Dier is struggling with a hip problem.

For Lamela, it is his hamstring this time, as the Argentine international just cannot get fit for any extended period of time.

Already this season, the 27 year-old has missed games due to personal reasons, a lower leg injury and several other knocks and strains, and fans are getting fed up of seeing him on the pitch for one game before going back to the treatment table for the next six.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

Mauricio Pochettino will need every tool at his disposal to take down Pep Guardiola’s centurions on Tuesday, and while there is no confirmation that Lamela is officially out of the match, fans have pretty much already given up on the Argentine.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, look away now Erik…

It’s fair to say that Manchester United have been brilliant over the last few months but they need to continue that form in order to cement a top-four spot this season. Frankly, there’s nothing like a good winger to come in and light up Old Trafford, is there? 

To say it has been a rollercoaster ride for all involved with the club this season would be an understatement and, considering at one point under Jose Mourinho they were ready to write the season off completely, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done well to restore the faith around Old Trafford.

It hasn’t been easy to do but with a number of massive victories and superb turnaround’s, the team are now looking to consider themselves as one of the best in England, once again.

With the hope for this season being that they can get into the top four and qualify for the Champions League, Man United must also consider what they will do in the summer in a bid to improve next season.

Another winger would be a sensible move but links with Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi should be ignored. Surely, either one of those two would be ludicrously expensive and United need to focus on a number of positions, so focusing on a previously reported target (from TMW via talkSPORT) makes so much more sense.

Indeed, Leon Bailey would definitely be an inspired choice.

Bailey, (who is valued at £31.5 million on Transfermarkt) is a winger with exceptional quality that is hoping to progress into being one of the world’s best.

At the age of 21, Bailey has the world at his feet and his footballing ability is one of the highest quality.

He was described as a “real weapon” by former Bayer Leverkusen manager Heiko Herrlich (as per i News), so it’s clear to see that he’s very highly-rated in the final third and could pose a real threat in England.

The youngster has again been impressive in-front of goal this season, scoring five times whilst setting-up a further five goals as well. For his constant efforts to be effective in-front of goal, Manchester United would probably be one of many interested teams who look at Leon Bailey as a genuine option for their team going forward.

With options ranging from Rashford to Martial, Sanchez to Bailey, United will be blessed with some of the most influential wingers around. So good, even Romelu Lukaku would struggle not to score.

We joke, of course, but just imagine that front line…

Do you agree that Leon Bailey could make a difference at Old Trafford… Let us know!

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Andy Carroll is to leave West Ham on a free transfer after his season was ended with injury according to The Chronicle, and Toon fans have reacted to the news.

Carroll who is now 30, has had a career plighted by injury and it is thought he is considering a fresh start in the MLS.

The former Liverpool man could however, end up staying in East London because the Hammers have an option to extend his contract by two years.

The Geordie, who left Newcastle for a club-record £35 million in 2011 has consistently been linked with a return to Tyneside, which has often caused mixed reaction within the Newcastle fan-base.

He has made 102 appearances for West Ham scoring 26 goals since he signed permanently for the club back in June 2013.

His record for the Magpies was better making 80 appearances and scoring 31 goals, but some Toon fans certainly do not want him back at the club if the thoughts of the following fans are anything to go by.

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Tottenham Hotspur fans on Twitter are ecstatic after a club announcement was made regarding their first game at the New White Hart Lane against Crystal Palace on Wednesday 3 April.

Spurs supporters learned that the historic match will kick off at 7:45pm and be preceded by an Opening Ceremony that will take place around 30 minutes before the London derby gets underway.

The news increased an already high excitement level among the fan-base about the new stadium, which will be tested out for the first time by an U18 Premier League clash and Tottenham Legends encounter later in March.

It came after the club revealed on Monday the Eagles would be the first visitors to the site nine months after it was originally scheduled to open in September 2018.

Some fans simply replied to the announcement with a “can’t wait” comment, while others used GIFs to display their unbridled joy at the “beautiful news.”

Here’s our list of the most delight-filled reactions from Lilywhites on Twitter…

The West Brom manager search seems no closer to being resolved than it did last week, and is becoming a fiasco that smacks of poor foresight and hasty decisions by chief executive Mark Jenkins.

We have said on more than one occasion, that sacking a manager at this late stage of a season — in which your club is still in touching distance of the Premier League — with no plan B is baffling.

Slavisa Jokanovic and Alex Neil are the two names that have been bandied around in most circles, with caretaker boss James Shan being considered as an interim appointment until the summer.

But a new name was mentioned by a handful of fans yesterday, and if they could lure him to the club, he could be the right person to take the Baggies forward.

Graham Potter was appointed as manager at Swansea City last summer, having been in charge at Swedish side Östersunds FK for seven years prior to that, and has done a steady job at the Welsh club.

When Swansea were relegated from the Premier League, most of their first team squad left, or were released, in a bid to manage the budget for a spell in the Championship, and the job Potter has done, under difficult circumstances, is better than it would appear on paper.

With a raft of incoming signings being from the bargain basement, he has built a squad aimed at consolidating their position, and he has succeeded in that, with relegation not looking likely.

His side pushed star-studded Manchester City to the limits in their recent FA Cup quarter-final, losing only to a dubious penalty and a missed offside decision.

With a growing reputation in England, it would be an intriguing appointment by West Brom, and it would be interesting to see how he would do with a bigger budget to work with.

As a player, Potter had something of a journeyman’s career, which included a spell at the Hawthorns, and being just 43-years-old he has the potential to become a long-term appointment — something that Albion fans are desperate to see, with the chopping and changing in recent seasons not helping anyone.

We think that Potter would be an inspired choice for West Brom, and although his name has not been mentioned in the local media outlets, clearly Baggies fans have their heads screwed on, and know what they want.

What do you think about the West Brom manager situation? Do you think someone like Graham Potter has all the attributes to take your club forward in years to come? Let us know below…