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It didn’t take long for Leeds United to do their first bit of transfer business after their Premier League status was confirmed as the ever-reliable Phil Hay reported that the Whites will be keeping Jack Harrison on loan for a third season, with their option to buy the winger for £8m rolling over to next summer.

It had been reported that Harrison was likely to join Leeds permanently this summer, but it seems as though that is no longer the case.

It’s hard to call this anything other than a good bit of business though, and fans were thoroughly pleased with this news.

Harrison has been fantastic this term, leading the Whites’ assist charts, but despite his good form, he’s still never played in the Premier League level, so having another year to analyse him in the top-flight, while still having the option to keep him on beyond that is a wise move.

Supporters on Twitter seemed to believe this was a canny piece of business, and when you consider everything it does seem like a no-lose situation.

Other supporters were excited about the fact that keeping Harrison on loan for another year frees up another £8m to be spent this summer, and with the likes of Said Benrahma being linked and a potential permanent deal for Ben White still on the cards, you can understand why a bit of extra cash has fans pleased.

Of course, it remains to be seen what Leeds do with the money, but the idea of bringing in new players is always exciting.

With Odion Ighalo’s long-term future at Manchester United up in the air, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will certainly need to be on the look-out for a new striker this summer.

The Red Devils started the campaign with just Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood as their front-line options, before Ighalo arrived from Shanghai Shenhua on a loan deal in the January transfer window.

Hilariously obscure Premier League players – Can you name them all?

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But reports in recent weeks have suggested that the Chinese Super League side are intent on seeing Ighalo return to them for the start of their new season, and now, it appears United have set their sights on another centre-forward.

According to French publication Foot Mercato, Solskjaer’s team have entered the race to sign Inter star Lautaro Martinez, and that they are set to face stiff competition for his signing from Barcelona.

And after hearing about their links to the Argentina international, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on their latest transfer target.

A couple of United fans talked up how he could be the “perfect forward” for them, with one supporter even suggesting he is going to be “the best striker in the world”.

With 16 goals in 31 games for Inter, Martinez has enjoyed an impressive campaign with the Nerazzurri this year.

He netted five times in the Champions League group stages, including scoring in both home and away fixtures against Borussia Dortmund, and once against Barcelona.

And at 22, he’s at the age that would fit in well with United’s current crop of young forwards.

It is no doubt still one of the great nights in Rangers history.

The Scottish side’s nail-biting penalty shoot-out triumph over Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup semi-final back in May 2008 is surely up there with some of the great moments the Gers have experienced.

After only drawing 0-0 in the first leg at home, Rangers travelled to Italy knowing they had a tough task to knock out a side containing the likes of Christian Vieri and Adrian Mutu on home turf.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

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But after holding them at bay for 120 minutes, the Scottish giants booked their place in the final after Italy legend Vieri fluffed his lines from the spot.

And with that night coming on May 1, twelve years ago, fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts about that incredible night and occasion.

Some Rangers fans admitted to getting a little teary-eyed at their triumph over Fiorentina.

It’s no surprise that Rangers supporters still have such fond memories of a game that happened more than a decade ago.

The side had reached the final of one of European football’s major competitions, and whilst they may not have gone on to win it in the end, it still served up some fantastic experiences along the way.

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…

Liverpool have taken a massive step towards a maiden Premier League title win after beating Manchester City 3-1 on Sunday afternoon. The defeat leaves the champions nine points behind the Reds in the table after just 12 games and places their credentials this season into serious doubt.

Throughout the game, Pep Guardiola’s men were second best across the pitch, but one area which was exposed in particular was central defence. The injury to Aymeric Laporte has caused problems at the back for City, with the club immediately losing to Norwich and then falling to defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers not long after.

Now, after the loss to Liverpool, it is clear – if it wasn’t already – that the champions made a massive error in not recruiting at the back in the summer window. The loss of Vincent Kompany was always going to be a miss, with the City legend’s 360 appearances helping collect four Premier League titles.

This has left Guardiola with only Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and Laporte as his natural central defensive options, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis only just being promoted and Eric Garcia hugely inexperienced at 18.

Otamendi has struggled this season and was largely at fault for the defeat to Norwich, whilst Stones has looked lost without the Frenchman beside him. Last season at Anfield both Stones and Laporte were in incredible form and managed to keep the Reds at bay.

This time around, however, Stones’ performance simply shined a light on why City should have signed a centre-back in the summer.

The club’s failure to recruit a new defensive talent could ultimately prove to be their downfall as they bid to secure a hat-trick of Premier League titles.

Injuries happen all the time and as unfortunate as Laporte’s injury is, it is not exactly a surprise. Simply put, it is poor anticipation from City in that regard, who have clearly shown down the years that money is not an issue.

Whether the manager will spend in the January window remains to be seen.

However, he most definitely needs to open conversations with Txiki Begiristain about signing a new man at the back, regardless of whether he arrives in the mid-season window or next summer.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to continue their rich vein of form when they welcome Sheffield United to Molineux on Sunday afternoon.

The west Midlanders are proving hard to beat this season as they are currently on an eight-match unbeaten streak, which includes a victory over defending champions Manchester City.

Meanwhile, the Blades are certainly giving last season’s squad a run for their money as they currently find themselves just once place behind Wolves in sixth position.

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It makes for an intriguing encounter, but manager Nuno Santo will have to contest with at least one change to his resolute starting XI…

On the Chalkboard

Romain Saiss is set to miss the match through suspension, leaving the Portuguese boss with a predicament in defence.

The 29-year-old is a midfielder by trade but has often filled in at centre-back, especially in recent weeks with Willy Boly going down injured.

It means one of Ryan Bennett, Jesus Vallejo, Max Kilman or a youth team player will need to be called upon.

Although, there’s only one solution to Nuno’s dilemma.

Kilman is a player that should demand greater trust from the Wolves chief as every time he’s been called upon, he has stepped up to the plate.

His absence against Braga in midweek, despite playing both of their last two Europa League matches, quite possibly hints towards him being prepared for this weekend’s game, particularly as Saiss played.

The 22-year-old has been limited to six appearances this campaign, where he has kept two clean sheets, both of which on the European stage, which is rather impressive.

Bennett still faces doubts over his injury niggles while it is clear to see that Nuno just doesn’t fancy Vallejo.

The Madrid loanee has been left in the dark recently having seen both Saiss and Leander Dendoncker selected above him, and he could well be on his way back to Spain in January if reports are to be believed.

These factors combined make it seem wise for Kilman to come back into the starting fold this weekend. If he takes his opportunity, he may well keep it.

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In other news, another member of Nuno’s squad has been tipped to go all the way to the top this week…

‘Speak it into existence’, that seems to be the message here.

Given owner Andrea Radrizzani’s recent comments about potential investment, former Leeds United defender Noel Whelan believes that the club need to start spending sooner rather than later.

What’s he said?

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan spoke about how Leeds can’t simply wait for the investment to come in the summer, but how there needs to be significant moves in January. He even went so far as to name one of the players they need to go after:

“What Leeds need is investment not just for the Premier League, but for the January window. He should be looking to get a loan or some cash front-loaded for January. There is no guarantee we are going to go up. I’m thinking a loan deal for someone like Dwight Gayle. He’d be perfect for us, a proven striker who could well be available and who has a brilliant record in the Championship. I can see him joining. We would just have to match his Newcastle wages, which Leeds probably wouldn’t be able to afford without new investment. That’s the reality.”

The answer they’ve been looking for?

Whilst it may seem the obvious answer to go for someone like Gayle, especially when you look at his track record in the Championship, at least if you start talking about it, then the process of getting him on the books can start sooner, I mean, all rumours and transfers have to start somewhere.

All this is doing is just putting pressure on Bielsa to change his philosophy, or at the very least change the personnel. It’s been well documented how Leeds United are struggling to convert their chances in front of goal, so if they can get someone in who has a fine history of finding the back of the net, then Leeds should be able to get back on track.

The expected goals table that Experimental361 put together shows just how much Leeds are lacking that clinical striker. If that lack of goals is holding them back now, it could lead to them playing catch up later in the season. The sooner they sort the problem out the better.

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…

Former Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal has said that he did not need to think twice about joining Arsenal in 2013.

What’s the word?

Monreal, 33, departed the club last summer after agreeing to move to Real Sociedad after six and a half seasons at the Emirates.

The Spaniard told Mundo Deportivo (via football.london) how his move to Arsenal happened and how he struggled during the first 12 months.

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“Yes, no doubt (I was right to join Arsenal). I was very happy in Malaga. But the club had financial needs and problems with the sheikh. I was the third to go after (Santi) Cazorla and (Salomon) Rondon.

“Besides, when Arsenal calls, you don’t think about it. I said yes immediately.

In the video below, we look at where it all went wrong for Arsenal’s former ‘saviour’, Mesut Ozil…

“The beginning was difficult. I was very shy; a new country, a new language, new culture, players I didn’t know. It became very hard. I suffered for the first 12 months.

“But I acclimatised to the city, the club and English football and my memories are wonderful. Even being captain of Arsenal. A pride.”

Underappreciated

Within a side that boasted the likes of prime Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, Monreal found himself to be the polar opposite of those names as an unspectacular, no-frills defender that got through games with just hard work and determination.

Former Arsenal legend Ian Wright branded the Spaniard as a “total professional” and someone who always gave 100% during matches.

Monreal was always on the left side on the back four and was well known for operating as a wing-back with his efforts going forward. His best season came during the 2017/18 campaign, with five goals and two assists in the Premier League.

This was accompanied by impressive attacking stats with 0.8 shots per game and 0.5 key passes on average. For a left-back, this illustrates his underappreciated contributions.

The Spaniard was equally as impressive defensively, Monreal accumulated an average of 2.2 aerial duels won, 1.9 tackles and two interceptions per match in that fantastic 17/18 season.

His commanding presence and his capabilities at the back saw him take the captain’s armband and demand more of a leadership role, as he told the club’s official website.

The gap that Monreal left was quickly filled with the arrival of Kieran Tierney from Celtic, but his latest comments are just another reminder of the kind of player he was for the club, perhaps under-appreciated considering his passion for the badge and exploits on the pitch.

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…

Gary Neville stated that Trent Alexander-Arnold is on the verge of being a world-class right-back, but made it clear that he needs to work on one area of his game if that is to happen.

What did he say?

The Liverpool right-back is praised frequently, primarily for his ability on the ball, with Jamie Carragher previously labelling him as the Reds’ version of Kevin De Bruyne – suggesting that a future in midfield could perhaps await.

Alexander-Arnold was key to a lot of what Liverpool did well against Spurs, too, leading to plaudits from Neville about his attacking play.

However, the former Manchester United player is concerned about the defensive side of his game. He often finds himself out of position – it was an area exploited in the match against Sheffield United – and Neville believes that until he addresses the weakness, he can’t be considered world-class.

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Speaking post-match on Sky Sports’ coverage of Liverpool vs Tottenham, he said: “Liverpool’s full-backs are quite simply sensational.

“Robertson is a better full-back than Trent Alexander-Arnold in my opinion.

After reminiscing over his full Premier League debut away at Man United and describing him as one of the best attacking full-backs he’s ever seen, Neville delivered a frank verdict on how he needs to improve from a defensive standpoint.

“He’s got to become as serious about his defending as he is about his attacking player and you’ve got a world class full back there,” Neville said.

“I took the Man of the Match off him because his defensive play could have cost his team.”

Due to Liverpool’s dominance of the ball – with an average of 58% possession this term – his positioning often goes punished, but it could be a reason why he is often left out of the England starting line-up; on his last start against Kosovo his poor defending cost his team goals.

Harsh from Neville

The pundit is quick to criticise Alexander-Arnold – who is valued at £72m by Transfermarkt – but the 21-year-old barely put a foot wrong in a defensive aspect against Spurs, and arguably his only poor moment came in failing to close down Heung-min Son in the build-up to the visitors’ goal.

Jamie Carragher was quick to leap to his defence, describing him as Liverpool’s most creative outlet, and since his 19 assists from the beginning of 2018/19 – with three this term – are not bettered by a teammate, it is clear how crucial he is to his side.

He was a threat all afternoon against Tottenham, making seven key passes, and he almost rifled the ball home from distance, too.

It is easy for Neville to point to defensive weaknesses but it is something he has improved on in the last few weeks, and he made two tackles and one interception on Sunday.

Prior to that, he made one tackle and five interceptions against Leicester but that did not prevent him from tallying five key passes, stats that underline the great balance he has in his game.

The fact he is performing this well in a side that has won the European Cup and lost just one league match in 48 suggests that he is in fact world-class.

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Ousmane Dembele just made his big return a couple of days ago when Barcelona welcomed Villarreal to the Camp Nou.

The 22-year-old star participated in Blaugrana’s curtain-raiser on the opening day of the 2019/20 La Liga season but got injured straight after and we didn’t see him on the pitch for quite a long time.

Now, however, he is finally fully fit and tallied 45 minutes in the clash against the Yellow Submarine.

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Still, if the recent reports coming from the Independent are true, Dembele is on Manchester United’s radar and the Red Devils could move for the young forward soon.

Upon seeing this transfer update, loads of Barcelona fans took to Twitter and social media to voice their opinions on the matter.

And as it turns out, really many of them want to see the 22-year-old sold and they are urging the club to do so and recoup some of the money they invested in the Frenchman.

You can see some of their comments down in the collection of tweets below:

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Over the course of the summer transfer window, Manchester United’s pursuit of Sean Longstaff hit the headlines. The Newcastle prospect had just enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, making nine appearances in the Premier League, and had earned huge comparisons with Michael Carrick.

But after reportedly being quoted £50m for his signature, the Red Devils walked away from a potential swoop, and failed to sign another central midfielder in the end. The man to benefit the most from that decision? Scott McTominay. The Scotland international has been an ever-present in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season, featuring in all seven Premier League games this season.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…

On Sunday, the duo are likely to line up in the middle of midfield for their respective sides. And for McTominay in particular, it is a chance to really under-line why the Red Devils made the right choice not to replace him this summer.

Both Longstaff and McTominay make up one half of the midfield two for their respective sides, and there is an all-action element to their games.

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While their key passes and tackles per game are quite similar, it is in the other main categories outlined in the graphic however, that the United midfielder really has the edge.

The 22-year-old makes more than double the amount of interceptions as his Magpies counterpart, whilst he also registers 18 more passes per game too. The passing numbers are perhaps always likely to be skewed in the Red Devils’ favour however, due to their superior possession (they average 54.5% compared to Newcastle’s measly 37.6%).

If McTominay can use his 6 foot 4 frame to dominate the centre of midfield, then Longstaff will struggle considerably in getting a foothold in the game for the Magpies. The former displayed his attacking credentials with a fine strike against Arsenal on Monday night, and will surely be heading into the contest with a bounce in his step.

At St James’ Park this weekend, the Scot has the perfect opportunity to really hammer home that it was a blessing in disguise that United opted against a move for Longstaff. And if his start to the season is anything to go by, then he will do exactly that.