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Portsmouth confirmed on Monday morning that they had secured the signature of experienced defender Lee Brown on a two-year contract.

The 27-year-old will officially join the League One club when his contract with Bristol Rovers expires at the end of June.

Brown started his professional career with Queens Park Rangers, but only made one league appearance for the R’s before joining Bristol Rovers in 2011.

The Englishman has made over 300 appearances for Bristol Rovers – including 33 League One appearances during the 2017-18 campaign.

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Brown has followed Tom Naylor in making the move to Fratton Park as Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett looks to put together a squad capable of challenging for the playoffs next season.

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The Portsmouth supporters have been reacting to the signing on social media, and it would be fair to say that the bulk are pleased with their club’s transfer business.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the League One club’s fans can be seen below:

After various reports linking the Hammers with a move, West Ham fans are desperate for their club to sign Xherdan Shaqiri this summer.

The destination of Stoke City’s Shaqiri will no doubt be one of the transfer stories of the summer, as the fiery little winger has an astounding £12m relegation clause in his contract.

The Swiss international, who will be in action this weekend against Brazil, grabbed eight goals and seven assists in a pretty torrid Stoke side last season, so he could certainly make a big impact in a better side.

West Ham are thought to be one of several teams lining up to activate his release clause, with Everton, Tottenham and Liverpool also interested in a move.

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Last week, a report from Football London added to last month’s claims from The Sun that the Hammers are on the hunt, and fans would love to have the 26 year-old in East London.

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Manuel Lanzini’s injury means Manuel Pellegrini needs to bring in some attacking pace and flair this summer, and signing both Shaqiri and Felipe Anderson would be excellent for the Hammers.

You can find the full poll results below, as a whopping 80 per cent of fans backed a £12m move…

Michy Batshuayi came off the bench to score for Belgium in their 5-2 win over Tunisia at the 2018 World Cup on Saturday afternoon.

The 24-year-old is very much second choice to Romelu Lukaku when it comes to the Belgium national team, but he will be hoping to play a part against England on Thursday night.

Batshuayi was deemed surplus to requirements by Chelsea in the second half of last season, but he went on loan to Borussia Dortmund and scored seven times in 10 Bundesliga appearances for the German outfit.

It remains to be seen whether the forward is part of Chelsea’s plans next season, and a number of clubs have been credited with an interest this summer.

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Batshuayi, who is valued at £36m by transfermarkt.co.uk, might well be the perfect centre-forward acquisition for West Ham United in this summer’s transfer window.

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However, it seems that a number of Everton fans are desperate for the Belgian to make the move to Goodison Park in this summer’s transfer window.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the club’s supporters can be seen below:

Tottenham Hotspur supporters had lots of interest in the England vs Belgium match on Thursday night, with a number of first team stars in action for both countries.One of those was defender Danny Rose, starting his first match of the summer tournament after coming off the bench to feature previously against Panama.Having made just nine Premier League appearances last season, it was an opportunity for Spurs supporters to check on his progress given recent injury problems.The left-sided player performed generally well throughout the 90 minutes, but perhaps should have done better defending Adnan Januzaj when the the ex-Man United man rifled a shot into net for the Belgium victory.Many were left impressed with his showing, believing that if he stays fit he could play a big part in Mauricio Pochettino’s first team squad next season.Can he find the form next season that once made him one of Spurs’ most coveted players?Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on Thursday’s display…

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Manchester United went to Swansea this afternoon knowing that a win would take them to within two points of league leaders and bitter rivals Manchester City.

And they looked nailed on to do just that when Juan Mata popped up at the back post to convert Luke Shaw’s cross in the second half.

But Swansea refused to lie down and a stunning five minute spell just after the hour mark saw Andre Ayew head in the leveller and then Bafetimbi Gomis poked in under goalkeeper Romero to put the hosts ahead.

United huffed and puffed as they search for an equaliser, throwing on Fellaini late on to help cause problems in front of the Swansea goal, but Garry Monk’s side stood firm and defended exceptionally well to secure a third consecutive victory over Man United in the Premier League.

The result will hurt United after their unbeaten start to the season was halted, while they also conceded their first goals of the new campaign.

It proved there is still a long way to go before United get anywhere near to being credible title contenders under Louis Van Gaal, so here’s what we learned from the game today…

Rooney is finished…

Rooney’s hat-trick against Club Brugge in the Champions League earlier this week had many of us believing he’d finally returned to his old, prolific self.

But another awful display in front of goal this afternoon meant he’s now gone 10 Premier League games without a goal for United and is ultimately preventing Van Gaal’s side from pushing on.

It’s clear United need a world class striker to come in before Tuesday evening’s transfer window deadline, otherwise the prospect of having a misfiring Rooney and a make-shift striker in Fellaini as options up front until January at least could seriously damage their title/top four ambitions.

They need to keep De Gea

Sergio Romero had initially looked like a shrewd replacement for David De Gea, who’s place in the side hinges on a potential move to Real Madrid before Tuesday deadline.

Van Gaal claims De Gea hasn’t been in the side all season because he feels he isn’t focused enough, mostly due to the fact he wants to go home to Spain and sign for Real.

However, today proved that they need to do everything they can to keep him at Old Trafford. Romero had kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League before today, but today he conceded two goals that many fans will believe wouldn’t have gone in had they had a truly world class keeper like De Gea between the sticks.

If they don’t keep him at the club then they’ve two days to bring in proper replacement…

Blind isn’t up to it…

…as a defender, that is.

Louis Van Gaal’s decision to deploy Blind as a centre-half is another one that looked to be justified after going the first three games without conceding this season.

But today the Dutch international came up against his first real test against a physical Bafetimbi Gomis and he struggled big time.

Ed Woodward really, really needs to go out and buy a world class centre back in the next 48 hours, otherwise it could be very long few months before the window opens again in January.

As Manchester collided and City took on United, you could have been forgiven for expecting a glamorous, high scoring, end to end game.

Alas, that is not we got, as the two titans of English football played out a stalemate in front of a packed out Old Trafford, as the blue side of the city returned to the top of the Premier League.

With so many attacking players, bought for huge money, on display – it was perhaps odd that neither side could force a way through.

Jesse Lingard and Chris Smalling came close late on for the hosts, though the crossbar and Joe Hart kept them at bay respectively.

£49m man Raheem Sterling was excellent in last outing against Bournemouth, but failed to replicate his heroic form and was hooked less than minutes after half-time for Jesus Navas.

Red Devils captain Wayne Rooney continued to struggle, and Juan Mata was largely ineffective.

Here are THREE other things we learned in a defensive masterclass.

OTAMENDI ISN’T COMPLETELY RUBBISH

The Argentine arrived this summer for around £33m, but had so far been unable to prove just why the Etihad outfit shelled out such a stellar fee for him. Until now.

Reportedly a Manchester United target over the summer, the 27-year old looked pure class next to returning captain Vincent Kompany as they kept the slightly better Red Devils at bay.

A physically imposing, fiery defender, he looks right at home and in good Kompany next to Vincent….

KEVIN DE BRUYNE IS NOT INVINCBLE

The Belgian ace has been a revelation since his £55m from Wolfsburg this summer, scoring five goals and registering four assists.

However, Marcos Rojo kept him at bay all afternoon. The former Chelsea man was unable to pop up in the pockets that are so hard to mark, and Rojo figured out a way of playing against him.

Whether he was drifting out wide or cutting inside, the Belgian was easily dealt with.

WE KNOW LITERALLY NOTHING ABOUT ANTHONY MARTIAL

Manchester United forward Anthony Martial is a completely unknown quantity. After capturing the hearts and imaginations of so many fans for his goal scoring exploits, the 19-year old has been placed out wide.

He keeps surprising us. The ball through to Lingard in order to tee him up for his chance was unbelievable. The Frenchman is showing new sides to his game week in, week out.

Everton are back to their normal selves again it seems after a pretty disappointing campaign last year. Without the distraction of the Europa League and flourishing young stars throughout the spine of the team, the Toffees once again are proving sweet.

John Stones, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku have all improved on their already pretty high standards and the returning Gerard Deulofeu is showing what made him a Barcelona player in the first place at last.

It’s no surprise to see that quartet all linked with moves away, but as the club showed in the summer during the John Stones saga, they aren’t likely to sell their players without a fight. What’s more important as we approach the winter market is adding to what they’ve already got.

With Chelsea in disarray and the footballing world unsure just how likely Leicester are to keep up their good form, there is potentially a place up for grabs in the race for Champions League football this season. Arch rivals Liverpool and a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur seem to be the favourites to land the much coveted space, but there’s no ruling Everton out with the form they’ve been in this year.

With some additions this January, there’s no reason why they can’t launch a serious assault on the top four this season.

With that in mind, here are FIVE bold January transfer Everton can make to boost their Champions League hopes..

DENIS CHERYSHEV – Real Madrid

The Russian wide man has been linked with a move away from the Spanish capital in recent times, with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal. As Euro 2016 approaches, the 26-year-old is keen to get some first-team football under his belt in order to prepare for next summer’s showpiece.

Lining the ex-Villarreal loan star up on the opposing flank to Deulofeu, either side of Ross Barkley is a potentially mouth-watering prospect. The future of Kevin Mirallas is uncertain at the moment as the Belgian has been linked with AC Milan so there is potentially some wiggle room in wide areas.

Securing the Madridista, even on a six month loan deal, would boost the attacking ranks at Goodison Park and give a speedy, direct option in contrast to the more technical Deulofeu on the right.

JACK BUTLAND – Stoke City

Jack Butland has been mightily impressive between the sticks for Stoke this season, emerging as a genuine contender for Joe Hart’s previously undisputed role as Number 1 for England. The former Birmingham man has as a result been linked with Merseyside duo Liverpool and Everton.

An ambitious move, but Toffees custodian Tim Howard has come under fire this season for some shaky performances and Butland could presumably play for another 15 years.

Reportedly a £17m target, Roberto Martinez could boast a spine of Butland-Stones-Barkley-Lukaku at Goodison Park, a fearsome quintet.

It would not be an easy move to pull off, but an excellent long term option.

ANDRIY YARMOLENKO – DYNAMO KIEV

We’ve heard a lot about this man in recent months, with a host of Premier League clubs thought to be keen on landing the Ukrainian international. Despite recently signing a new deal in the Ukrainian capital, manager Sergei Rebrov recently admitted he is powerless from letting the 26-year-old star leave.

A versatile forward, Yarmolenko would add another layer of quality to the frontline to supplement the electric Lukaku. Arouna Kone has been reliable when called upon but the thought of the Dynamo Kiev star lining up on Merseyside is without doubt an improvement.

KEISUKE HONDA – AC MILAN

AC Milan’s Keisuke Honda is in and out of the Rossoneri team at the moment, and reportedly unhappy with his role at the San Siro. The attacking midfielder is understood to be on Everton’s radar this January, and what a signing he would be.

Able to play across the frontline, the Japanese international is an expert deadball specialist and able to dribble past defenders as if they weren’t there. The 29-year-old has an outstanding pedigree in European competition and his arrival would no doubt add quality to attacking positions.

His versatility could prove valuable into the winter months and towards the business end of the season.

INAKI WILLIAMS – ATHLETIC BILBAO

Inaki Williams has emerged as one of Spain’s most exciting talents this year. His early form was added to with an astounding volley for the Basque club against Espanyol, alerting Premier League clubs to his situation.

Should Everton follow up their reported interest in the Spanish under-21 international, it would be quiet the statement of intent. Though his buyout clause is understood to be in the region of €20m, a hefty sum of money for a 21-year-old, Williams has the potential to go on to great things in the game.

Now the £28m for Lukaku is reaping the rewards, Williams might just be a gamble worth taking if Everton want to sustain their attempts to break into the top four for the first time in a decade.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has blasted his players following their dismal performance in a 3-0 loss to Watford on Sunday, according to reports from the Express.

The Reds started the game with a disastrous howler from back-up goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, with Hornets defender Nathan Ake capitalizing on the error to give his side an early lead in the third minute.

And Klopp’s men couldn’t find an answer as they tried to break down Quique Sanchez Flores’ in-form side, and fell down further behind after a brace from Odion Ighalo.

The German was shocked by the result, and slammed his squad for losing their minds and ultimately showcasing a lacklustre display.

He said: “We lost our mind after the first goal, we lost our compact formation, we didn’t play easy, as we should have done. It was really bad.

“We made bigger mistakes than the referee. But the goalkeeper had both hands on the ball, so it’s a foul. That’s what happened. But mistakes, fouls, whatever, can happen. The reaction has to be better.

“Hopefully it’s the most disappointing moment in my whole Liverpool FC life so far.

“We don’t feel good, of course, because we came here to do something really different. There was a big space between what we wanted to do and what happen and that’s what we have to fill before the next game against Leicester [on Boxing Day].

“We have to accept the result, we have to keep on working and play better football.

“After the wins we have had, everybody thought, ‘wow’. But that was one part of the thing. Now we saw completely the other side. Maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle.

“I know how strong this team can be. It’s my job to help them so they can show it much more often than we have.”

Watford’s win has now pushed the newly-promoted club just one point away from a Champions League place on 28 points, while Liverpool are now dangling in mid-table at ninth with 24.

The Reds have another tough task in their next fixture, with league leaders Leicester City travelling to Anfield this coming weekend.

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Liverpool youngster Tiago Ilori has claimed that he’s working hard to make sure he’s ready to step in should Jurgen Klopp need him for Wednesday’s game against Arsenal.

The 22-year-old Portuguese centre-back was re-called from his loan spell at Aston Villa by the Merseysiders last week and made his official debut for the club after just one full training session against Exeter in the 2-2 FA Cup draw in Devon.

Jurgen Klopp was somewhat forced into fielding a team of youth and fringe players given his side’s injury woes, with his centre-back ranks having suffered the most.

Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel were all unavailable on Friday night, and although the former is likely be back for the crunch Arsenal game, Ilori may find himself thrust in if Sakho cannot regain fitness.

And speaking to the Liverpool Echo about the possibility of lining up alongside the veteran Ivorian, the former Sporting Lisbon man claimed that he’s doing all he can to be ready to play if needed:

“Obviously, there are some defenders out injured at the moment but I don’t know what the manager will decide, we’ll have to see what happens now,

“I just try to work hard every day. I’ll keep doing my best so that when the opportunities come along I can perform.”

Despite having signed for Liverpool way back in 2013, the Exeter game was Ilori’s competitive debut for the club, and he revealed that it was a proud moment for him:

“I’d waited a long time for that and I loved it,

“It was a dream come true. Hopefully there will be more minutes to come for me in a Liverpool shirt.

“I’m pleased to be back. This is where I feel most comfortable. This is my parent club. I love being here.”

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The recent draw with Tottenham may have left Arsenal having to do it the hard way if they are to win the league, but at least it showed they have some character and a modicum of fight left in them. Ultimately it is two points dropped, but equalising with 10 men surely saved Arsenal fans from going into complete meltdown.

The annual collapse, usually around February, is too much of a coincidence for mental frailty not to be a factor with the Gunners though. If Alexis Sanchez can spot it, calling out his team-mates recently, remarking “sometimes we lack this hunger to believe that we can be champions”, then why not the others and the manager? He’s been there less than two seasons and it’s already apparent to him.

The desire to fight back from a goal and a man down at White Hart Lane will be scant consolation to the fans following defeats to Man Utd and Swansea, but at least the ‘bottle’ they are so often accused of lacking was evident, to a degree, and just about keeps them in the race for the title.

As much of a factor as their supposed lack of character though, in my eyes, is the appalling injury record at the Emirates. As regularly as their ‘faltering February’ comes about, so does the list of crocks on Arsenal’s books every season. One can only speculate as to why they suffer significantly more injuries (and often set-backs to those injuries) on a regular basis than the majority of other Premier League sides, but medium to long-term injuries to key players come around with such alarming regularity that this too must be seen as a strong factor in their yearly struggles.

And one particular injury this time around can be seen as a major factor in the slide… that of Santi Cazorla. Injured against Norwich at the end of November, the diminutive Spaniard’s role in this Arsenal side is often under-stated and many of Wenger’s troubles can be accounted for by his absence in midfield, particularly this campaign.

Indeed, this season had seen Cazorla shifted in to a more central, deep-lying position which had worked wonders for the side in the early weeks and months of the Premier League campaign. Playing alongside Francis Coquelin as part of the ‘two’ in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the former Malaga and Villarreal man had discovered a new role as a deep-lying playmaker and was excelling at the position.

With Sanchez now preferred on the left wing, Cazorla’s shift inside was brought about part by accident and part by necessity, but it certainly had an influence on Arsenal’s good start to the season. Having played predominantly on the left during his Arsenal career, Cazorla was effectively running games from his newly adopted position in the middle of the park.

His range of passing, vision and creativity lent themselves well to the role, setting up attacks from further back than either Mesut Ozil or Sanchez would normally operate. His positioning in and around the centre-circle gave Arsenal a creative force where they have often lacked one, at least when Jack Wilshere is injured – which is most of the time, to be fair.

Able to release others with swift accurate passing, as well as get forward himself, Cazorla had the insurance of Coquelin next to him that allowed him to express his full range of passing, movement and creativity. Aaron Ramsey has come in to that position since the Spaniard’s injury, but does not have quite the same skill set as his team-mate, his effectiveness in the same position not up to the standard displayed by Cazorla, despite being a more natural fit.

With mixed reports on Cazorla’s return from injury, some suggesting he has suffered a setback and will miss the remainder of the season, whilst the player himself has rubbished these and stated he will be back on April 1st. You’d be a fool for thinking an injured player will come back smoothly from injury for Arsenal, but should he return to action soon it could help rescue their league campaign and title challenge. Just don’t hold your breath.

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