Everton’s winless run in the English Premier League was extended to three matches on Saturday after a 1-1 draw away to relegation threatened Swansea City.The Toffees have conceded in every one of their away league matches in 2018 and despite taking a first half lead against the Swans, eventually conceded after a composed finish from Jordan Ayew 19 minutes from time.With nothing left to play for between now and the end of the season, Toffees fans are hoping that these are the last games in charge for manager Sam Allardyce, growing increasingly frustrated with his defensive style of play, which they blamed for Saturday’s dropped points.Supporters are looking for a new direction next season, hoping to see a boss brought in that can add new dynamism to their performances and set out teams to win matches convincingly rather than playing for draws and protecting narrow leads.Will the club make a change or will Allardyce be in the dugout after the summer?Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts…
According to a report in the Chronicle, Newcastle will give Rafael Benitez the license to spend this summer as part of a new deal.
With the exception of maybe Alan Shearer, you’d be hard pushed to find a more beloved man on Tyneside than Rafael Benitez.
In the same way he did at Liverpool, Benitez has endeared himself to the Toon Army with his class and composure, and fans want nothing more than to see him take the club to the next level.
Of course, most fans aren’t all that confident about the future even with Benitez, due to the ownership of Mike Ashley.
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Ashley’s penny-pinching tactics have angered fans time and time again, but the Chronicle report claims Rafa’s new deal will come with a green light to improve the squad this summer.
The Spanish magician has worked wonders with the current Newcastle squad, and will probably want to sign a top class striker, along with making the loan deals for Kenedy and Martin Dubravka permanent.
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Benitez has just one year left on his current contract, but Ashley is said to be relaxed about extending the deal, and is hoping the sales of players like Aleksandar Mitrovic, Henri Saviet and Chancel Mbemba can raise even more funds to invest.
Fans have been here before, and they’re pretty much all saying the same thing about the report. Find some of the best Twitter reactions below…
As reported by The Sun, English Premier League side Bournemouth are the latest team to enter the race to sign Celtic star Kieran Tierney.
What’s the story?
The potential and passion of Tierney was again on full display this weekend as the Hoops thrashed Rangers 5-0 at Celtic Park, with the left-back crucial to the performance and leading celebrations with supporters after the match.
Understandable then that he continues to attract interest from the English Premier League.
The Sun say that Bournemouth are the latest team to seek the £20m-rated defender’s signature and are willing to battle with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to land their man.
The paper reckon that the Cherries will attempt to lure him south with the promise of regular first team football in the English top-flight.
Will Tierney be leaving Celtic?
Still just 20 years of age, the Scotland international has plenty of years left at Celtic before entertaining a move away from Glasgow.
The club are in a strong enough financial position to resist attempts to buy him and the player is clearly happy enough at his boyhood heroes.
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With four goals and 11 assists this season, the left-back continues to develop and improve under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers and it’s going to take a massive offer both in terms of financial benefits and personal improvement to lure him away from Glasgow.
The time to leave may come in the future, but in the short-term, the prospect of him leaving seems very slim indeed.
It has been a good 24 hours for Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle-Walker Peters.
Indeed, the 21-year-old made just his second Premier League start of the season against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, before penning a new long-term contract at Spurs.
Walker-Peters is now tied to Tottenham until the summer of 2021, and that is an indication that head coach Mauricio Pochettino sees the defender as a player capable of big things.
Tottenham’s crazy 5-4 victory over Leicester City on Sunday was the match on the final weekend of the 2017-18 Premier League campaign.
It was also the first time that Walker-Peters had started a Premier League fixture since the opening weekend of the season away to Newcastle United.
Kieran Trippier has impressed in the right-back area for Spurs this term, but the same cannot be said for Serge Aurier, who has done more harm than good in that position.
Walker-Peters would have been keen to make his point to Pochettino on the final weekend of the season, and that was indeed the case.
The right-back set up Erik Lamela for both of the Argentine’s goals at Wembley, whilst a passing success rate of 72% for a player that delivered a lot of crosses is a very impressive statistic.
Walker-Peters, who is valued at £2.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, also made two tackles during the 90 minutes, and was not afraid to venture forward, which is shown by his three dribbles on the afternoon.
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The fact that the young Englishman had 79 touches is also extremely impressive, and there is no question that Tottenham benefited from his strong running in a wide position.
Walker-Peters must work on his defensive skills if he is to become a feature for Tottenham in the coming years, but all of the core skills are there, and it was a fine attacking performance from the defender against the Foxes.
Tottenham Hotspur fans have been reflecting on their season, which once again ended without any silverware being won.
Despite this, the North London outfit managed to secure Champions League football for the third consecutive season.
In addition, the team finished third behind champions Manchester City and second-placed Manchester United in the table.
Harry Kane continued his goalscoring heroics by netting 30 in the top flight, but it was not enough to secure a third Golden Boot award.
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Instead, that gong went to Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who ended the campaign with 32 league goals to his name.
Ahead of the new season, in which Tottenham will compete in a brand new stadium adjacent to White Hart Lane, rumours have begum rumbling regarding potential summer signings.
A surprise name has emerged from the rumour mill in the form of Stoke City attacker Xherdan Shaqiri, who could be looking for pastures new after suffering relegation to the Championship.
The winger – valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt – scored eight goals and created seven assists in 36 Premier League outings for the Potters this season.
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According to Teamtalk, the North London outfit have enquired about the Switzerland international’s availability.
The report claims that Spurs could potentially snap up Shaqiri for £12m as there is a clause in his contract that comes into effect due to Stoke’s relegation from the Premier League.
It is believed that Pochettino has been an admirer of the winger for some time, but plenty of fans do not share the same opinion.
According to reports in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United are competing to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Angus Gunn on a season-long loan deal, but they should be targeting a permanent move for Brentford stopper Daniel Bentley instead.
What’s the word, then?
Angus Gunn on loan at Norwich last season
Well, the Yorkshire Evening Post report that the Whites are looking to improve their options between the sticks, with 21-year-old Bailey Peacock-Farrell being their first choice under Paul Heckingbottom towards the end of the campaign after previous number one Felix Wiedwald fell out of favour and was unpopular with the fans, who have urged their club to bring a £35,000-a-week Premier League defender to Elland Road this summer.
The Yorkshire Evening Post says that the German will be sold this summer just one year into his three-year contract, and that they want the highly-rated Gunn to ensure they don’t find themselves in any difficult situations again next term.
How did Gunn do this season?
He impressed during a loan spell with Leeds’ Championship rivals Norwich City, and even earned an England call-up in November after Jack Butland had withdrawn from the squad due to injury.
The 22-year-old played every single minute of a league campaign which ended in mid-table disappointment – much like the Yorkshire outfit – keeping 15 clean sheets and conceding 60 goals.
He most impressively only conceded once across 210 minutes of football against Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup in January, before the Canaries were eventually beaten 6-4 on penalties.
What about Bentley?
The 24-year-old made an uncharacteristic mistake in his side’s 3-1 win against Leeds at Griffin Park in November when he missed the ball completely, but in general he has been brilliant for Brentford over the course of the last few seasons, and he kept 15 clean sheets and conceded 51 goals in 45 Championship outings this term.
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Why should Leeds get him instead of Gunn?
Firstly, Bentley has played almost double the matches the 22-year-old has at this level, and there is no doubt that experience can play a huge part in terms of winning promotion from this division.
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The Bees keeper has shown the quality that he has throughout his time with the west London outfit, and he is also a big character on the pitch – something that would make him popular with the Elland Road faithful.
The fact that Bentley could be theirs whereas Gunn would only be on loan is another huge reason why they should be targeting the former instead.
Tottenham Hotspur supporters are keen on signing Southampton goalkeeper this summer, after the player was linked with a move to London earlier this week.
The Mirror report that Spurs are interested in making him Hugo Lloris’ number two at the club, with Michel Vorm set to seek a new challenge.
McCarthy has emerged as an impressive shot-stopper at Saints this season, overtaking Fraser Forster in the pecking order at St Mary’s.
As number two signings go, there aren’t likely to be many better available. The 6ft 4in ‘keeper has just a year left on his contract at Southampton so may not command a massive transfer fee.
Tottenham fans certainly appear eager to get the deal done, with a massive 69% of respondents to a poll we published earlier this week believing that the club should sign him this summer.
Can Spurs now negotiate a favourable deal for the 28-year-old?
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Tottenham are looking to steal a march on their rivals by putting a big bid on the table for young Dutch central defender Mattijis De Ligt.
Whats the story, then?
Italian news outlet Tutto Mercado Web are reporting that Spurs have beaten Juventus to the punch by putting in a bid in the region of €55 million (£48 million) for the 18-year-old.
It has been widely speculated that Toby Alderweireld is expected to leave the club in the summer after failing to agree to a new deal with Spurs, with Manchester United seen as one of the prime suitors for his services, according to The Express.
A strong footballing pedigree
De Ligt learnt his craft in the famed Ajax academy having joined at the age of nine and representing his country in under age football from fourteen.
De Ligt started his senior career with Jong Ajax, who are the reserve team of Ajax, and quickly progressed to the senior side where he looked completely at ease.
So much so, that after starting just two games, De Ligt was selected for the national team where he became the youngest Dutch debutant since 1931 – to this point he has made seven appearances for the Netherlands.
De Ligt made 33 league appearances in the recently completed season showing a level of poise well above his age and he averaged 4.4 clearances, 1.7 interceptions and 1 tackle a game as Ajax finished runners-up to PSV EindHoven.
A tough challenge
As many Dutch players would attest to, crossing over from the Eredivisie to the Premier League is a big gap to close and you have to be a pretty special talent to thrive in the unforgiving environment that is English Football.
For someone as young as De Ligt, that task is even tougher, especially when you think most players his age are still playing academy football.
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However, if a club such as Tottenham are willing to pay such a large fee for De Ligt, then you have to bow to their better judgement.
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Newcastle are reportedly eyeing up a move for Swansea City midfielder Roque Mesa, but would they be better off sticking with what they already have?
According to Spanish outlet ABC Sevilla, Newcastle and Fulham are rivalling Sevilla’s move for Swansea’s Mesa.
The little midfield maestro joined the Spanish side on loan in January, but it seems they could face plenty of competition to secure his services on a permanent basis.
Mesa joined Swansea for £11m last summer, but struggled to make an impact for the Swans, making just 11 league appearances before going out on loan.
The 29 year-old was much better during the loan spell, but his struggles with Swansea suggest his size, or lack thereof, is a problem in the Premier League.
Newcastle are looking to buff up their midfield options this summer, as Mo Diame turns 31 this week and Mikel Merino could leave the club.
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Many fans want Merino to stay though, and it could be a big mistake to let the 21 year-old leave only to replace him with Mesa.
Both players are very technically gifted, but Merino has the size and strength to perform better in a Premier League midfield, and what he lacks in experience he makes up for in talent.
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Mesa, valued at £6.3m by Transfermarkt, is a very smart player, but at 29 it seems unlikely he would be a huge hit on Tyneside after being so poor in south Wales.
So, Newcastle fans, would you rather stick with Merino? Or would the experienced Mesa be a good addition? Let us know by voting in the poll below…
Adama Traore is being widely tipped to leave Middlesbrough this summer, and a number of clubs are said to be closely monitoring developments.
Traore can leave Boro for £18m – as covered by Arab News – and Paris Saint-Germain are said to be considering an approach for the former Barcelona youngster.
Newcastle United are also believed to be in the hunt, and the Premier League club’s supporters have been reacting to the transfer speculation.
Rafael Benitez’s side are believed to be keen to add a new winger to their squad this summer, but it would be fair to say that the Newcastle fans do not want Traore to arrive.
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The 22-year-old scored five times and registered 10 assists in 34 Championship appearances for Boro last term, but there remain question marks over his end product.
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There is no doubting that Traore has talent, although the Newcastle fans are not interested in a deal at £18m.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below: