Tag Futebol

Brighton could face a battle to retain the services of teenage defender Haydon Roberts, who has been the subject of renewed interest from Leeds.

Football Insider reported that the Whites have rejected a second bid for the 18-year-old, having already turned down an initial offer from the Elland Road outfit last week.

A Leeds source indicated to Football Insider that the club went back to the Seagulls with an improved offer of £800,000 for the England under-18 international, but that has also been rebuffed.

Roberts is in the final year of his contract at the Amex Stadium but Brighton do not want to lose the youngster, who they believe is capable of becoming a Premier League player (as per Football Insider).

The 18-year-old made his second senior appearance for the club in last week’s Carabao Cup win against Portsmouth, having also played (and scored in) the competition a year ago against Aston Villa. However, he has yet to even feature in a matchday squad for a Premier League fixture. [via TransferMarkt]

According to Football Insider, the teenager has been compared to Seagulls team-mate Ben White, who plays in the same position and has also been the subject of renewed transfer interest from Leeds. Following a fruitful loan spell at Elland Road last season, the Yorkshire club made three unsuccessful bids to try and sign him permanently, with the 22-year-old signing a new contract at the Amex at the start of this month.

Roberts, who made 14 appearances for Brighton’s under-23 side in Premier League 2 last term, has stiff competition ahead of him in Graham Potter’s first team, with five centre-backs in the senior Albion squad.

Considering that Brighton had assigned a £50m price tag on White to ward off prospective suitors, for Roberts to draw comparisons with the 22-year-old is a glowing reflection on the teenager.

It is quite understandable why the Seagulls are reluctant to sell him, particularly for a measly sum of £800,000; although they ought to give consideration to a potential loan exit for the youngster so that he, like White has done, can gain valuable first team exposure elsewhere before returning to his parent club when the time is right.

Brighton fans, what do you make of Leeds’ reported offer for Roberts? Have your say by commenting below!

After missing out on Callum Wilson, Aston Villa are set to go back to Bournemouth to try and land one of their other attacking stars…

What’s the word?

According to the reliable John Percy at the Telegraph, Dean Smith’s side are set to make a £16m bid for Cherries forward Joshua King as he steps up his pursuit of a new striking option.

It’s claimed that Villa are keen to sign two strikers this summer and that they withdrew their offer for Wilson when it was made clear he was moving to Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

Brentford talisman Ollie Watkins is still a top priority but it appears King is another target for the club.

However, The Sun have previously suggested that the south coast side would want £25m to let him go.

Proven and versatile

If those reports are to be believed, then potentially adding someone like King alongside Watkins could be exactly what Villa need this summer.

Smith’s current striking duo of Wesley Moraes and Mbwana Samatta combined for a mere six goals last season, two fewer than Jack Grealish’s eight – they can’t rely on their skipper every single week.

This struggle for goals has been one of Smith’s biggest nightmares and one of the huge reasons why the club were embroiled in a relegation dogfight for most of the season.

The 28-year-old can play anywhere along the front three and has netted at least six goals in the last five Premier League campaigns with a career-best coming during the 2016/16 season where he bagged a whopping 16 times, via WhoScored.

He still did well in a struggling Cherries outfit, contributing directly to ten goals whilst averaging 2 dribbles and 1.2 key passes per game also.

It’s no wonder Eddie Howe once labelled him a “complete package” as he’s “outstanding physically, technically and mentally” and has also added that he’s “quite unique”.

If Villa are to avoid another relegation scrap, then adding proven PL players such as King is a smart way to go about business – though, they may have to increase that £16m bid if they are to secure him before next month.

AND in other news, £20m target  would be an instant upgrade on Douglas Luiz… 

انتقد ليوناردو المدير الرياضي لنادي باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي، مرة أخرى موقف فلورنتينو بيريز رئيس ريال مدريد، تجاه النجم الشاب كيليان مبابي. 

هذا الأسبوع، أكد كيليان مبابي للصحافة رغبته في الرحيل عن باريس سان جيرمان خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الماضية للانضمام إلى ريال مدريد.

تصريحاته أشعلت إسبانيا ووضعت قادة ريال مدريد على أهبة الاستعداد، وعازموا على وضع أيديهم على المهاجم الفرنسي في الأشهر المقبلة.

كيليان مبابي لديه عقد مع باريس سان جيرمان حتى يونيو 2022 ولا يزال ليس لديه أي خطط لتمديد عقده في هذا الوقت.

وقال رئيس ريال مدريد يوم الثلاثاء: “نأمل أن تتم تسوية كل شيء في الأول من يناير”، وتصريحاته لم تحظِ بتقدير على الإطلاق من قبل باريس سان جيرمان، كما قال ليوناردو لصحيفة “ليكيب” الفرنسية.

وقال المدير الرياضي الباريسي: “أرى عدم احترام لمبابي، إنه ليس لاعبًا عاديًا، إنه أحد أفضل اللاعبين في العالم، ما يحدث هو مجرد استمرار لعدم احترام لباريس سان جيرمان وكيليان، في هذا الصدد”.

وأضاف: “إنها مستمرة منذ عامين، أتذكر فقط أن فترة الانتقالات قد انتهت، وأن الموسم جار، هناك مباريات ولا يمكن لريال مدريد الاستمرار في التصرف بهذه الطريقة، عليهم التوقف!”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بنزيما: أستمتع باللعب مع مبابي ومهاجم برشلونة.. وسنقدم كل ما لدينا أمام إسبانيا

وأردف: “من مدريد ينفون ذلك، لكني أعتقد أن ريال مدريد يعمل منذ فترة طويلة لشراء مبابي [كوكيل حر]، لقد تحدثوا علنًا عن مبابي لمدة عامين، كما لو كان أمرًا طبيعيًا، لقد أبلغناهم عدة مرات أننا لسنا سعداء، أعتقد أن هذا شيء يجب معاقبتهم عليه، إنه ليس طبيعيًا”.

وواصل ليوناردو: “نحن نتحدث عن واحد من الأفضل في العالم، لا أعتقد أنه من الجيد الاقتراب من لاعب مثل هذا لفترة طويلة، الجميع يتحدث عن ذلك، إنه في العام الأخير من عقده، لكن هذا يعد عدم احترام”.

وشدد: “فكرتنا هي تمديد عقد كيليان مبابي، لم يتغير شيء في خططنا، إنه جوهرة، إنه مثالي لباريس سان جيرمان، لدينا كيليان، ميسي، نيمار… لم نخطط للمستقبل بدون مبابي”.

وردا على سؤال عما إذا كان باريس سان جيرمان تحدث إلى جيانلويجي دوناروما قبل نهاية عقده، نفى البرازيلي ذلك، وأوضح: “لم نتصل به قبل يونيو، فتحنا محادثات للتعاقد مع جيانلويجي بمجرد أن أصبح وكيلًا حرًا، بعد إعلان باولو مالديني”.

أفادت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، أن الحكومة وافقت على زيادة أعداد الجماهير في ملاعب كرة القدم داخل إسبانيا بداية من الجولة المقبلة.

الجولة المقبلة من الدوري الإسباني (الثامنة) تنطلق يوم الجمعة بمواجهة أتلتيك بلباو وديبورتيفو ألافيس، على ملعب سان ماميس في أقليم الباسك.

شبكة “كواترو” الإسبانية، أكدت أن الحكومة بصدد الإعلان عن قرار رسمي بشأن زيادة أعداد الجماهير داخل مدرجات كرة القدم والألعاب الرياضية بالكامل.

وأشارت التقارير إلى أن الزيادة ستكون من 60% إلى 80% من سعة كل ملاعب كرة القدم ببطولة الدوري الإسباني.

وعادت الجماهير هذا الموسم بعدما غابت خلال الموسم الماضي عن المدرجات، ولكن بنسبة 60% بسبب إجراءات فيروس كورونا.

وبذلك سيستفاد فريق أتلتيكو مدريد من زيادة عدد الجماهير، حيث يستضيف الروخي بلانكوس نظيره برشلونة ضمن الجولة الثامنة على ملعب واندا ميتروبوليتانو يوم السبت المقبل.

Plenty of Everton fans have been reacting to the latest transfer link to Adrien Rabiot as Spanish outlet Sport have reported that he has been pressing in recent days to force his departure from Juventus and it is clear that his destiny is none other than the Merseyside club, now headed by  Carlo Ancelotti .

One EFC supporter in particular cited ‘Ancelotti’s pulling power’ on Twitter, and this is highlighted by the number of quality players he has been able to attract to the various big clubs he has managed.

As per the publication, Rabiot was admired by Barcelona when he was at PSG, so he must have shown some quality at least whilst he was in France to be involved with household European giants.

However, he has perhaps not adapted to Serie A or to the methods of Maurizio Sarri , who has apparently not trusted him and has spent much of the season on the bench as a substitute and without any role in the team.

Indeed, the 25-year old has only lasted 90 minutes in eight out of the 17 games he’s featured in Italy’s top division so far in the 2019/2020 campaign, according to Transfermarkt.

Another Toffee described the French international as ‘Schneiderlin 2.0’, who was arguably another central midfield player who has been used relatively sparingly during his time at Goodison Park, as per the website.

These Blues reacted to the link, with some rather mixed responses:

Evertonians, what are your thoughts on Rabiot? Comment below!

A legendary player who made 558 league appearances for Arsenal over 17 seasons with the club, as well as earning 68 caps for the Republic of Ireland, David O’Leary dipped his toe into management for the first time at Leeds United.

Having ended his career as a player at Elland Road, O’Leary worked at the club as an assistant before taking on the job full-time.

In his stint at the club he certainly helped bring success, with a Champions League semi-final appearance and the record of Leeds never finishing outside of the top five in the Premier League while he was at the helm.

However, despite significant expense in the transfer market, O’Leary never earned the club a trophy and his departure was followed by a steep and dramatic decline in the club’s fortunes, with a series of important players moving on and Leeds being relegated.

Here, we look back on O’Leary’s spell and see how much of it you can remember with 10 tough questions.

Celtic are on course for domestic success yet again this season and although the January transfer window may not have initially turned out as planned, it now seems that the club may have had a lucky escape.

The Bhoys were embroiled in a transfer battle to sign then Slovan Bratislava striker Andraz Sporar, but missed out on that opportunity when the Slovenia international instead opted for Sporting Lisbon.

That move suggested Celtic had missed out on a fairly prestigious player, particularly as the 26-year-old impressed in his homeland with 20 goals in 27 games prior to his January move.

However, he has failed to replicate that consistency since moving to Portugal. Three goals in nine games is somewhat underwhelming and indicates that Neil Lennon made the right call in deciding not to buy the forward.

Celtic may have had to part with £7m too which is quite a considerable fee for them to have spent in January, particularly as the striker hasn’t been required.

The Glasgow outfit have extended their lead in the Scottish Premiership since and although they were knocked out of the Europa League, Sporar may not have been able to prevent that outcome anyway.

Watch Celtic Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

The image above shows the striker’s reaction to missing a chance in the home leg against Istanbul Basaksehir. Although he did score in that match his other miss was crucial to the Portuguese side being knocked out, as Sporting lost the tie by a single goal.

Meanwhile, are writers have discussed what would happen to Celtic if a key player was to make a move this summer…

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 Bromwich Albion’s season is going as close to perfect as you can get. They have lost just one match all season. They sit top of the league. And they are showing no signs of letting up any time soon.

In fact, if Slaven Bilic’s men can keep this up into 2020, then they are surely a shoo-in for a return to the promised land of the Premier League. It can’t really be argued considering their current rate sees them average 2.2 points per game, above and beyond Norwich City’s 2.06 which was enough to win them the title last term.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

However, for all of the positives, there has to be negatives, right?

Well, in the summer, one of Slaven Bilic’s first decisions was to tie Rekeem Harper down amongst interest from Champions League winners Liverpool and Serie A champions Juventus. The 19-year-old extended his contract for three years, keeping him at the Hawthorns until 2022.

Given the Croatian’s desperation in trying to keep hold of him, it seems rather absurd not to have seen him feature this season barring a six-minute cameo on the opening day – he’s not even been named in a matchday squad since. Bizarre.

There is an argument to be made that skipper Jake Livermore and Romaine Sawyers have been playing out of their skin so he wouldn’t have received a chance anyway, which is true, but then surely Harper was expendable in the summer?

His absence is firstly going to jeopardise his long-term potential and secondly, it will reduce any future fee they want to make on him later down the line.

Therefore, to justify such a decision, it would be wise for the midfield starlet to pursue a loan move in January. That way, he can garner some much-needed game time, show Bilic why he should be in his matchday squad and also keep his value at some sort of sellable level.

[ad_pod ]

Meanwhile, this West Brom colossus has excelled despite manager Slaven Bilic tweaking his position…

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…

As quoted by The Manchester Evening News, Manchester United winger Daniel James has pinpointed exactly how they beat Brighton on Sunday afternoon.

What did he say?

The Red Devils eased past Graham Potter’s side 3-1 in the Premier League, and they looked as menacing going forward as they have been all season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men racked up 21 shots on goal, with 11 of them finding the target. And, according to James, a key part of their victory came down to how the forwards interchanged with one another, and worked hard off the ball to win it back.

He said: “The gaffer at the start of the season… it was about moulding us as a team. As the weeks have gone by, the interplay… We played at Norwich and played at Chelsea, that interplay, creating chances going forward.

“That high press obviously is a big thing for us. Winning the ball high up and going on the counter and that’s how we got our goals (against Brighton). We’ve just got to take every game in our stride and believe we can win every game because we’ve got the ability to do so.”

Playing to your strengths

Make no mistake about it, United have shown that they are a devastating team on the break since Solskjaer took charge. The Marcus Rashford winner against Tottenham last season, or the 4-0 drubbing of Chelsea in the opening game of the Premier League campaign this time around, are just two examples of how the Red Devils are as dangerous as they come when the opposition loses the ball.

Against Brighton on Sunday, United looked fast and decisive going forward, not allowing the Seagulls to even breathe inside their own half. In games where they have looked to dominate the ball and simply try and create chances when teams are defending their own areas, they have looked woefully out of ideas. In that disappointing 1-0 defeat to Newcastle at St James’ Park, Solskjaer’s side had just three shots on target over the course of the 90 minutes.

James’ insight into how they beat Brighton should act as another reminder to the United boss that the club should simply look to play to their strengths.

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…

The Guardian journalist Jamie Jackson has identified Taylor Harwood-Bellis as one to watch for Manchester City this week as they take on Southampton in the EFL Cup.

What did he say?

City will firstly face off with the Saints on Tuesday before they face them at the Etihad Stadium again in the Premier League on Saturday. Pep Guardiola can be expected to make the changes for the upcoming tie given the stature of the competition, and one man Jackson has picked out to step up is Harwood-Bellis.

The teenager made his City senior debut in the last round of the Carabao Cup, playing 90 minutes against Preston North End and keeping a clean sheet.

In an article published by The Guardian regarding young players to watch in the domestic cup this week, Jackson said: ‘When the 17-year-old centre-back made his debut in the 3-0 win at Preston in the previous round the City fan lived the dream of the boy who was at the Etihad to witness Sergio Agüero’s unforgettable late winner against Queens Park Rangers that clinched the 2011-12 title.

‘Pep Guardiola admires Harwood-Bellis’s ball skills and a relish for tackling that the 6ft 2in defender says has only ‘developed in the last four or five years’. Harwood-Bellis, who was composed at Deepdale, is yet to complete his physical development.’

Another chance for him to shine

The Stockport-born defender registered a 7.1 rating in the fixture against Preston – only four outfield players scored higher ratings. In the same game, the youth product looked controlled and confident throughout the entire game, playing 84 passes out from the back at a 93% success rate.

Furthermore, he made 96 touches – only Eric Garcia alongside him had more. This time around, against the Saints, Harwood-Bellis will have the addition of the home crowd on his side, which could add to his confidence.

A positive performance from the youngster may force him into Guardiola’s side a little more often in the future. Injuries to Aymeric Laporte and Rodri have left the defensive spots wide open and, with a good performance on Tuesday, the Spaniard may have be compelled to think about where Harwood-Bellis fits into his long term vision.

This is his chance to show the Etihad faithful what he can do.