Tottenham fans beg for new Eriksen contract after Burnley winner

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Loads of Tottenham fans have been running the rule over their win against Burnley, and they are desperate for the club to extend Christian Eriksen’s contract.

Tottenham grabbed another three points by the skin of their teeth on Saturday afternoon, maintaining their place as the only side in the Premier League yet to register a draw this season.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side were sluggish in the first half, but created plenty of chances after the break, most of which were missed by a misfiring Erik Lamela.

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Eriksen replaced Lucas Moura shortly after the hour mark, and the 26 year-old found the game’s only goal deep into stoppage time, arriving at the back post to slam home the winner.

The Danish international is perhaps Tottenham’s most influential player, and the links to Real Madrid are worrying to say the least.

His contract expires in the summer of 2020, and fans are desperate to get him tied down to a long-term deal.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Between The Lines: Could Gerrard change his transfer strategy with Ejaria unsettled?

Steven Gerrard told BBC Sport on Thursday that Liverpool loanee Ovie Ejaria is unsettled at Rangers, and if he does return to his parent club it could signal a change of transfer strategy for the Gers boss.

What did he say?

“I had a chat with him a couple of days ago and he’s slightly unsettled.”

“The next time I see Ovie is on Friday and we’ll have a conversation then and see where we go from there. Liverpool are aware of the situation and we’re in dialogue with them.”

What did he really mean?

By mentioning that Ejaria’s parent club Liverpool were aware of the situation, Gerrard hinted that there is a real possibility that the 21-year-old midfielder may leave Rangers before his season-long loan deal expires.

The London-born youngster got off to a bright start north of the border, and he has played 28 times so far this season under Gerrard, with all but five of those being from the start.

However, his performances have dropped off recently and Gerrard’s latest comments perhaps go some way to explaining why. The England U21 international was not even involved in the squad as the Gers crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday, losing 1-0 to Austrian side Rapid Vienna.

Change in strategy

If Ejaria does return to Merseyside, it could signal a change in strategy for Gerrard in the transfer market.

When he joined Rangers in the summer, it was a clear tactic for the Liverpool legend to attempt to sign players that he knew from his time spent working with the academy at his former club.

However, with ex-Liverpool players like Jon Flanagan and Jordan Rossiter struggling for game time and Ejaria’s fellow loanee Ryan Kent out injured, we could see Gerrard divert his attentions away from the Reds and to other sources that would provide the necessary quality for a title challenge.

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The Chalkboard: Where will Manuel Lanzini fit in this West Ham side upon his return?

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According to ExWHUemployee on Twitter, West Ham’s playmaker in chief Manuel Lanzini is set to return from injury just after January, and will most likely be back in the team by the end of the month given his immense ability. Having said that, where will he fit in the side amongst the vast array of attacking talent the Hammers currently possess?

License to roam

Before his untimely knee injury back in the summer, which also saw him miss out on the World Cup with Argentina, Lanzini had enjoyed an excellent season at the London Stadium.

The 25-year-old scored five goals and recorded seven assists in 27 Premier League appearances, catching the eye with his usual antics in that centre-attacking midfield role that West Ham fans love watching him in.

Whilst he has been out, Manuel Pellegrini has since replaced David Moyes in the dugout, and has also bought £35m man Felipe Anderson to the club to provide the attacking spark in Lanzini’s absence. Given the fact that the Brazilian plays on the left, and the revitalised Robert Snodgrass operates on the right with Declan Rice and Mark Noble in the centre, the Argentina international’s number 10 position is still his and one that he will come straight back into.

His reputation at the club, as well as his outstanding ability, should see Pellegrini give him free reign in behind the striker in east London, where he will link up the play between midfield and attack – that freedom, along with the vast array of talent in the Hammers’ attacking ranks, should result in us seeing the best version of Lanzini yet.

How will they line up with him in the side?

The attacking quartet that Pellegrini is expected to line up with is frighteningly good, and will definitely be one of the best outside the top six. Lanzini will most likely sit behind Marko Arnautovic in the no.10 role, with Anderson on the left and Snodgrass or Andriy Yarmolenko on the right.

It goes without saying that the diminutive Argentine will be unstoppable in this role with this calibre of player surrounding him. His low centre of gravity and unbelievable dribbling skills will cause havoc in the space that Arnautovic’s movement will create for him, and opposition defences will struggle massively with his and Anderson’s flair – it’s an exciting time to be a West Ham fan.

Sunderland fans react as Maja rejects new contract

Loads of Sunderland fans have been reacting to the latest news on Josh Maja, who now looks likely to leave the club after deciding not to sign the club’s latest contract offer.

According to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Maja has told the club that he will not sign a new deal, despite being offered seven times his current wages.

The 20 year-old reportedly had until today to accept the club’s offer, but a last minute U-turn seems to have ended all hope of a new deal.

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Owner Stewart Donald even took to Twitter to express his annoyance at the collapse of the deal, saying everything was agreed until the agent and player changed their minds.

Maja has been perhaps the Black Cats’ most important player as they push for promotion back to the Championship, scoring 14 League One goals already this campaign.

Losing him would hurt an awful lot more than the summer departure of Joel Asoro, and the Twitter reactions down below do not make pretty reading…

West Brom should move for Southampton’s Slattery if Leicester recall Barnes

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Darren Moore could lose Leicester City’s Harvey Barnes at any moment, but the West Bromwich Albion manager should not fret and instead make a move to sign Southampton’s Callum Slattery on loan.

What’s the latest?

Claude Puel is yet to announce whether he will be recalling Barnes back to the Foxes or not, with the midfielder impressing during the first half of a season-long loan.

The Leicester manager gave a clear indication last week that a recall is on the cards, however, when he noted that there are more positives for his side should they bring the 21-year-old home rather than allowing the attacking midfielder to see out the season at the Hawthorns.

In the care of Moore, Barnes has featured in every Championship fixture to date, netting nine times and creating a further six goals for his Baggies teammates.

If he were to be recalled, West Brom would have to fill the void left with another clever attacking midfielder, and Southampton’s Slattery would fit the bill.

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Who is Callum Slattery?

Slattery may not yet be a household name, but the teenager has a big future set out for him on the south coast having worked his way through the academy system before earning his senior debut in the FA Cup last weekend.

In a starting role, the 19-year-old starred and displayed a similar style of play to that of Barnes, making the transition in Moore’s tactics less of a worry than proceeding in the Championship without a like-for-like replacement.

The former England youth international, who joined the Saints aged eight, is just the latest to break through a prestigious junior programme that brought the likes of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Luke Shaw and, more recently, Matt Targett and Yan Valery to the fore, who are all plying their trade in the top-tiers of football.

Slattery also understands the need to keep things calm when under pressure, and hails the breakthrough of James Ward-Prowse as an inspiration and someone he looks to for guidance.

Phil Hay delivers transfer update on Daniel James as Leeds close in on Kiko Casilla

Leeds United are closing in on a deal to sign Real Madrid goalkeeper Kiko Casilla to boost their promotion bid this month, but Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Phil Hay has suggested he won’t be the only new player arriving at Elland Road this month.Â

Following weeks of speculation linking Leeds with a move for Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow, it seems that a completely different talent altogether is on his way to the Championship league leaders.

With a rich history in La Liga, where Casilla has played for both Real Madrid and Espanyol, the supporters have plenty of reason to believe they are set to welcome a game-changing talent to the club.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s form has been questionable at times and the need for a stopper to challenge him for the number one shirt has been evident since Jamal Blackman returned to Chelsea, and it appears that notable void will be filled in a matter of days.

But Leeds are crying out for further reinforcements throughout the squad, particularly in midfield after losing both Samu Saiz and Lewis Baker this month. With that said, it is no surprise that the club’s hierarchy are reportedly interested in signing Swansea City prodigy and versatile winger Daniel James, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Previous reports have claimed Leeds would be willing to pay £20 million to secure his signature, but Phil Hay has stepped in to clarify the finer details of Leeds’ interest on Twitter.

Not only does James have the green light from Bielsa, Hay has revealed that he should also be available for a fee in the region of £3-5 millionÂ- which is clearly much more realistic than the £20 million fee quoted in previous reports – but any potential deal will take a back seat until the Casilla deal has been concluded.

Despite James’ lack of experience at this level, there is reason to suggest that Leeds would be wise to secure his signature if he is indeed available for a fee in the region of £3-5 million.

The 21-year-old made the step up into Swansea’s first-team this season under Graham Potter, and he has already managed to score one goal and provide four assists from 12 Championship starts.

That record is far from ground breaking but it must be considered that he made his debut at this level at the beginning of the season and, under a manager of Bielsa’s expertise, he is bound to improve at an exponential rate following a potential move to Leeds.

Whether Andrea Radrizzani will have funds remaining to sanction a deal following Casilla’s arrival remains to be seen, but Hay’s revelation suggests Leeds are showing serious interest in adding to their ranks this month.

Leeds fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

Winning PL race for Che Adams could finally rid Newcastle United of awful Joselu

According to a recent report from The Daily Mirror, Che Adams’ future is far from certain heading into the remainder of the January transfer window. The 22-year-old currently plays his football at Championship side Birmingham City and has done so since leaving Sheffield United back in 2016, with his impressive efforts upfront for the Blues seemingly attracting interest from the Premier League.

And that’s because reports suggest that as many as 12 top-flight teams scouted the £2.25 million-rated sensation (as per Transfermarkt) at the weekend in Birmingham’s defeat against Middlesbrough, and while it’s unclear whether Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United were one of those sides, they certainly should seek to win the race for Adams in a bid to rid them of awful Joselu.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, 22-year-old Adams shone at Sheffield United in the 2015/16 season to thus earn a step up to the Championship with Birmingham that summer, with the striker then very much proving his worth with seven goals in his first season at St Andrew’s, and then nine the campaign after.

Yet the former England Under-20 international has this term taken it up another level by netting a sensational 13 goals in just 27 Championship appearances for Garry Monk’s men, the latest of which coming in front of those 12 scouts in the Blues’ 2-1 loss to Tony Pulis’ Boro on Saturday.

And with four assists as well, Adams appears to be developing into the ideal all round forward – yet the same simply cannot be said of Joselu at Newcastle.

The 28-year-old made the move to St James’ Park back in the summer of 2017 as Benitez sought attacking reinforcements upon Newcastle’s return to the Premier League, although Joselu’s pretty poor record at Stoke City in the years previous, scoring just four times for the Potters between 2015 and 2017, was very much a sign of things to come.

And that’s because the Galicia international has unsurprisingly struggled for goals in the North East with only seven to his name in 49 appearances for the Magpies, just two of which have come in the Premier League this term, and they came all the way back in August.

Yes, the 28-year-old does have ability in the forward role in terms of holding the ball up and bringing others into play, but he simply doesn’t have the necessary predatory instincts in front of goal to turn golden opportunities into goals – there have been plenty of occasions in his Newcastle career in which he has missed glaring chances.

And that simply isn’t good enough for a team seeking to move up the Premier League table in the second half of the season – yes, Salomon Rondon appears to be the main man at the club presently, but that’s not to say that Joselu won’t be used by Benitez as the season progresses.

And that is why the Magpies simply have to win the race for Birmingham’s Adams – he has that predatory instinct in front of goal, and at the tender age of 22, he is surely only going to get better, especially under the guidance of an outstanding coach like Benitez.

Thus, Newcastle must seek to beat their Premier League rivals to the striker, as doing so would not only bolster their forward ranks, but it could also rid them of awful Joselu.

Newcastle fans… what do you think? Let us know!

Crystal Palace fans react to Roy Hodgson’s worrying transfer comments

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Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to express their concern at Roy Hodgson’s comments regarding their transfer business this month, with his words not exactly being music to the ears of a fanbase desperate to see a striker arrive.

The 71-year-old Eagles boss said in his pre-match press conference before the trip to Liverpool: “We have two more weeks like everybody else; the work will continue if there are more possibilities that suit us, so nothing changes in that respect.

“But to say I’m expecting it, I’d have to have a definite name in the frame who is on the verge of signing and that’s not the case.”

The Eagles travel to a Liverpool side on Saturday that have conceded just three home goals in the Premier League this season, though Christian Benteke did grab a brace in a recent visit to his former home.

Fans of the south London club are understandably concerned at Hodgon’s comments, as they are in desperate need of a proper goalscorer.

Jordan Ayew is the only Eagles striker to register a Premier League goal this season, and Hodgson’s side are the joint-fourth lowest scoring team in the league with just 20 goals in 22 games.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Mignolet hails Liverpool squad depth as they continue to lead title race

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Simon Mignolet has told the Liverpool Echo that Liverpool have the squad depth to win the Premier League title.

The Belgian was involved in the Reds’ last title chase, in 2013-14, as the Reds came agonisingly close to winning the league, only to capitulate at the last, allowing Manchester City to become champions.

What’s the word?

Liverpool are currently four points clear of City at the top of the Premier League table, with 15 games still to play.

However, Mignolet has been in this position before, seeing Brendan Rodgers’ side dramatically fail to clinch the title, despite building a seemingly unassailable lead at the top of the table.

The Belgium international, though, says that there is more quality running throughout the entirety of the squad this time around, and believes they have the numbers to weather all but the most serious injury crisis.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he said: “So much has changed over the past five years here.

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“It’s only Hendo (Jordan Henderson), Studge (Daniel Sturridge) and myself still here from the last time we really fought for the title.

“Back then a lot of it was about Luis Suarez and Studge, whereas now the goals are shared about more. We had a really good team in 2013/14 but the moment we got one or two injuries it became difficult.

“We’ve got a broad squad now which means we can cope with injuries. That’s probably the biggest difference with last time.”

The Reds face Leicester City on Wednesday before a weekend meeting with West Ham United.

Depth is key

In 2013-14, Liverpool were all too reliant on the mercurial talents of Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan scored 31 goals and provided 17 assists in the top flight, as per Transfermarkt, in what was undoubtedly one of the finest individual seasons in Premier League history.

However, this time around the Reds can call on Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, with the likes of Naby Keita, Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum all too happy to chip in as well.

Jurgen Klopp is blessed with a fantastic array of talent on his bench; ironically, perhaps only Pep Guardiola can lay claim to having more in reserve than the Reds.

It is set up to be a fascinating run-in, particularly with the amount of talent packed in each squad.

One thing is for sure; if either side slips up, the other is certain to take advantage.

Vital Cog: Lucas Digne

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Everton signed Lucas Digne from Barcelona in the summer for £18 million, as reported by the BBC.

The left-back came to Goodison Park to serve as the successor to the veteran Leighton Baines, who at 34 years of age can no longer play week in, week out at the highest level.

As a Toffees hero, Baines left big boots to fill as the club’s first choice left-back, but Digne has quickly become a fan favourite on Merseyside.

His role

The 25-year-old has become an integral part of Marco Silva’s starting XI. The 23-cap France international has now made 23 Premier League appearances for the Toffees, 21 of which have been starts. In that time, he has racked up three goals and three assists, as per Transfermarkt’s stats.

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Aside from end-product going forwards, Digne has also brought some extra top-level experience to the Everton rearguard, and he is one of the most consistent and reliable defenders at Silva’s disposal.

His importance

Digne’s ability on the ball, honed in his years spent playing with PSG and Barcelona, make him a truly dynamic and modern full-back.

According to WhoScored’s stats, he has averaged 1.1 shots and 1.8 key passes per Premier League game this season. His average record of 2.2 accurate crosses and 1.6 successful long balls per match only serves to further highlight the impact he can have in the final third. 

Digne has been equally impressive defensively. His average of 2.1 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 2.2 clearances per game demonstrates what a vital contribution he makes for his side at the back.

In what has been a fairly underwhelming season at Goodison Park so far, Digne’s form has been one of the highlights, and Everton fans will hope that they can look forward to watching the French full-back impress for many years to come.

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