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Tottenham Hotspur have been surrounded by rumours in recent days, with Jack Clarke’s and Tanguy Ndombele’s transfers to North London seemingly on the verge of being complete. However, maybe everything isn’t as clear as it seems. Today’s Spurs transfer roundup includes an update on that Ndombele deal, a blow in the pursuit of a La Liga midfielder and the pursuit of a French central defender.

Nothing confirmed for Ndombele

Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has said that nothing is yet confirmed for midfielder Ndombele. Talking to the Team Duga podcast on Thursday, Aulas said, “If I wait eight more days, it will be €80m (£71.7m). Tottenham made an offer of €45m (£40.3m). Since, we’ve been talking. Nothing is done, I can assure you.” Spurs and Lyon were reported to have agreed on a deal in recent days.

Ceballos wants Madrid stay

Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos does not want a move away from the Spanish side this summer, according to Marca. The 22-year-old reportedly still dreams of succeeding at the Bernabeu and does not want to be sold. Tottenham have been credited with an interest in the player.

Spurs to make Saliba bid

Tottenham have told Saint-Etienne that they will be making a bid for their defender William Saliba according to RMC Sport. It had been believed that Saliba was close to a move to Arsenal, but Spurs’ revelation may throw a spanner in the works.

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Leeds United’s official Twitter account announced on Tuesday afternoon that the team’s Under-14 side had won the Flint Micasa Cup in Norway.

Indeed, the Whites triumphed courtesy of a 2-1 win over Viking in the final.

And the news led to a number of the club’s supporters taking to social media to lavish praise on the youth side.

There is no getting away from the fact that it was a hugely disappointing end to the 2018-19 campaign for the first team.

Indeed, defeat to Frank Lampard’s Derby County in the Championship playoff semi-finals saw their hopes of earning promotion to the Premier League come to an end.

The future certainly looks bright, though, with a number of players impressing for the club’s Under-23 side last term.

And now the Under-14s have shown their quality by triumphing in Norway.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Leeds fans can be seen below:

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Aston Villa have been very busy during this transfer window, but what does the next month or so have up its sleeve for them? Today’s Villa transfer roundup gives you a confirmed arrival, talks for a Ligue 1 defender and interest in a Championship goalkeeper.

Konsa signs

Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Ezri Konsa from Brentford. The Villans have reportedly paid £12m for the 21-year-old defender. Manager Dean Smith said of the purchase, “Ezri fits the profile of the type of player we were searching for.”

Advanced negotiations for Engels

According to L’Equipe Aston Villa are in advanced negotiations with Stade Reims in regards to their centre-back Bjorn Engels. The 24-year-old Belgian could join the Premier League outfit very soon the report adds.

Randolph on Villa radar

The Telegraph is reporting that Villa are looking at Middlesbrough’s Darren Randolph in their search for a new shot-stopper. The 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international played in every single league game for the North East club last campaign.

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Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds will be hoping they can earn promotion to the Premier League next season after heartbreak last campaign, and they will likely need new signings to do so. So far, however, it has been a quiet transfer window, and today’s transfer roundup brings nothing in terms of incomings. Instead, we bring you news on two potential outgoings and an update on a youngster the Whites are set to miss out on.

Chartlon to sign Bonne

According to londonnewsonline.com, Charlton Athletic are set to sign Leyton Orient striker Macauley Bonne for £200,000 deal. Leeds had previously led the race for the 23-year-old, but the Addicks are now close to confirming the Zimbabwean international.

Ideguchi set for Japan return

Yahoo Japan are reporting that Yosuke Ideguchi could be on his way back to his homeland. Gamba Osaka are reported to have made an offer for the Japanese international, who never played for the Elland Road outfit, instead spending time on loan at Cultural Leonesa and Greuther Fürth.

Fulham want Forshaw

Midfielder Adam Forshaw is a target for Fulham according to the Daily Mail. With Jean Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Anguissa expected to depart, Scott Parker is looking at Forshaw to come into his midfield. Forshaw made 44 appearances for the club since signing from Middlesborough in JanuaBry of last year for £4.5m.

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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…

The rumours of Qatari Sports Investments investing in Leeds United just won’t go away.

This week the rumours once again resurfaced, much to the disdain of the fanbase.

Le Parisien this week reported that the financial group that owns PSG want to buy shares in the Yorkshire club in order to make them the French champions’ ‘little brothers’.

We’ve heard in previous reports that Leeds would be able to loan players from the European giants, but other stories this week have states that QSI see the Whites as something of a feeder club for PSG.

This part of the story just doesn’t add up. If QSI wanted to invest in a team in order to use them as a feeder club, Leeds United certainly aren’t the best option.

This might sound a bit harsh on the Whites’ academy, but it’s been almost 20 years since they have produced a player anywhere near good enough to play alongside world superstars such as Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at PSG.

Indeed, when looking at a list of Leeds’ academy graduates the only real candidate from the past two decades who can be considered good enough for the French giants is James Milner.

During that time Leeds have had academy graduates they can be proud of. Fabian Delph and Lewis Cook have become England internationals, and Charlie Taylor has become a Premier League regular after playing 38 games for Burnley last season. But if we’re being honest none of those players are good enough to play for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

If QSI are indeed seriously interested in investing in the Elland Road outfit, then there must be more factors at play than wanting to use them as a feeder club as their track record of producing top-class talents just isn’t up to scratch.

Harry Maguire is likely to join Manchester City this summer after huge contract offer gives them an advantage over rivals United, as per the Mirror.

The Englishman is apparently set to complete a world-record £80million switch to Manchester City this week after being the subject of a transfer tug of war between Pep Guardiola and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, both of whom are chasing defensive reinforcements for very different reasons.

City are rumoured to be prepared to pay Maguire a huge £280,000-a-week to leave the Foxes and move to the Etihad this summer.

The defender is considered to be a natural successor to Vincent Kompany, who recently left City to re-join Anderlecht, the club he left 11 years ago. So, what does that mean for the Blues current starters?

As it stands, Manchester City have Aymeric Laporte, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones at their disposal in the central position.

Frenchman Laporte made the 2018-19 PFA Premier League Team of the Season after a mightily impressive first full campaign in English football and doesn’t look to be going anywhere anytime soon. And while Otamendi has apparently admitted he would be open to a move away from Manchester this summer, the Argentine also noted he isn’t actively looking for a way out.

That leaves John Stones. The Englishman made 24 Premier League appearances last season but managed just 239 minutes in the final 10 games as City closed in on their second title in a row, ultimately finishing a point ahead of rivals Liverpool. But why?

The England defender was once considered one of the brightest young talents in English football in his playing days at Everton. However, the poor run of form he experienced would suggest that he has somewhat fallen off the wagon of late and could quite easily be perceived as a lack of faith shown by Pep Guardiola. And that’s hardly surprising if his recent UEFA Nations League performance is anything to go by, with his “stupid” decision leading to a Netherlands goal which would subsequently see the Three Lions out of the competition, according to former stars Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.

With the Premier League as tight as it is, there is no room for error, and Pep Guardiola, who will be chasing the hat-trick, might just turn to Harry Maguire to free John Stones of pressure. Where that leaves the former Everton man, however, remains to be seen.

Manchester City fans, who would you play at the back if Maguire arrived? Do you think Stones is in danger? Let us know in the comments below…

كشفت تقارير صحفية سودانية النقاب عن موعد وصول المدير الفني الجديد لفريق الكرة الأول بنادي المريخ.

ويستعد المريخ لمواجهة الأهلي في أولى مباريات دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا لنسخة الموسم الحالي 2020-2021. 

وأوضحت صحيفة كوفروتر السودانية، أن نصر الدين النابي سيصل إلى الخرطوم يوم السبت المقبل لتولي مهمة فريق المريخ رسميًا بعد التعاقد معه.

طالع | مجموعة الأهلي.. المريخ يشكو ديديه جوميز بعد تعاقده مع سيمبا التنزاني

ومن المقرر أن يصل النابي رفقة جهازه المعاون، وأن يكون في استقباله مسؤولي نادي المريخ.

تجدر الإشارة إلى أن مجموعة الأهلي والمريخ السوداني تضم إلى جوارهما فيتا كلوب الكونغولي وسيمبا الكونغولي.

ويذكر، أن نصر الدين النابي قد تولى مهمة الإسماعيلي، قبل أن يعلن مسؤولو الدراويش إقالته في يناير 2016.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Tottenham Hotspur have entered the race to sign Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, per the Daily Mirror.

What’s the word?

Spurs have already signed Jack Clarke from the Championship club and are now hopeful of concluding a second deal with the Whites.

The Mirror reports that Aston Villa, Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Wolves are all interested in the 23-year-old, who currently earns £10,000-per-week at Elland Road.

Villa, recently promoted to the Premier League, have already made an £11m bid, per the piece, though it was rejected.

Indeed, Leeds want to receive £30m for Phillips, who can play as a midfielder and a centre-back.

Versatile option

This is a potentially smart deal for Spurs.

Phillips impressed throughout the 2018/19 season as Marcelo Bielsa’s side went close to achieving promotion to the Premier League.

He made 46 appearances in all competitions and would be a relatively low-cost addition in what has turned into a frenzied summer of spending.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Spurs have already broken their transfer record to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon and one feels that they may not have another such acquisition up their sleeves, such was the outlay.

A move for the Englishman would add some depth in midfield and offer cover in defence, too, having featured 13 times as a centre-back last season.

Relations between the two clubs should be in good shape after the signing of Clarke and Phillips could well be an understated gem of a transfer.

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According to Sky Sports, Crystal Palace have rejected a bid worth up to £50m from Manchester United for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, although the report also states that the Eagles would accept the same fee up front, with the Red Devils currently offering an initial £35m plus £15m in add-ons.

If this discrepancy is to be the final obstacle between the player and a switch to Old Trafford, then it seems possible that the 21-year-old will leave Selhurst Park this summer. However, there is no doubt he will be sorely missed, even at that price.

On the chalkboard

Palace’s number 29 is likely to only get better and – especially considering the premium placed on young, English talents these days – he could command a greater fee even after just one more season of top flight football with the SE7 outfit.

On the other hand, the 6 ft talent has just one full season of Premier League action under his belt and full-backs, generally speaking, are amongst the more replaceable players in any team. Palace would arguably be more than justified, then, in snapping United’s hand off if they do indeed come back with £50m upfront.

So why would Wan-Bissaka’s departure be felt so much at Selhurst Park?

A significantly weaker right side

With £50m in the bank, Palace could easily sign a solid right-back and then have some to spare, but rarely can full-backs get fans on their feet if they’re not whipping in inch-perfect crosses or firing home long-range efforts – Wan-Bissaka is a key exception.

The academy graduate’s timing in his tackle and sheer determination to get back and snuff out danger has made him a fan favourite amongst the Selhurst Park faithful, while also making the Eagles’ right side near impenetrable.

Are Crystal Palace right to slap a £100m valuation on Wilfried Zaha’s head? Check out the video below to see why they are…

Last season, Wan-Bissaka averaged 3.7 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game. To illustrate how impressive that is, he ranked in the top ten of all Premier League players on both fronts. The local lad was also dribbled past just 0.3 times per game in 2018/19 – the least in his position for players who have made more than 15 appearances.

It’s pretty safe to assume then, barring some incredible scouting, that Palace will struggle to replace that level of solidity this summer – a level of solidity that has the club rating Wan-Bissaka at £50m. And for a team whose survival last term very much owed to a mean defensive record, ranking sixth for clean sheets, losing such a reliable presence could have a very big effect. It chips away at Palace’s greatest strength, Wilfried Zaha’s talismanic performances excepting.

£50m is a lot of money for a team like Palace, but that doesn’t mean they’d be better off in Wan-Bissaka’s absence.

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Former Celtic favourite Frank McAvennie expects manager Neil Lennon to use Scott Brown in a reduced role next season, as reported by The Scottish Sun.

What’s he said?

With Brendan Rodgers leaving and new manager Lennon embarking on a new era at the club, this summer is something of a transitional one for Celtic.

Plenty of players have left already, most notably in defence, and at the very least it’s a good opportunity for the new boss to assess mainstays in the Celtic side and determine whether they still offer the team everything they once did.

McAvennie reckons that one player who could play less football next season is Brown, who, at 33 years of age, is now entering his 13th season with the Scottish champions.

How can Celtic improve next season? A Hoops fan tells us how in the video below…

As quoted by The Scottish Sun, the former Hoops striker said:

“Neil needs to make sure they are ready to hit the ground running on July 9 or 10. The positive thing is he knows this. He knows the club and the demands.

It’s not like Celtic have appointed a new manager who needs time to get his feet in the door. Lenny will return for pre-season this week ready to go.

He needs to find a balance with the likes of Callum McGregor, who played his last game of the season for Scotland just last week.

I don’t expect Scott Brown to play every week, either. He’ll still be a huge influence on everything that goes on but I think he’ll be used more sparingly.

And I’m also sure Lenny will be especially keen to get some new faces on board by the time they play that first qualifier.”

Should Brown play less next season?

Celtic arguably played their best football of the season last year when Brown was injured and out of the Hoops team.

A midfield three of Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor and Tom Rogic were in superb form in October and November, with a run of four games standing out as particular highlights.

A 3-0 win against Hearts at Murrayfield was followed up directly with 5-0 wins away to Dundee and then at home to the Jam Tarts.

It was in Europe that it truly all came together though, with the team winning 2-1 against RB Leipzig with what was perhaps the best 90 minutes of Celtic’s season in terms of quality of performance.

Brown didn’t play in any of those matches and it does highlight that the team can play some scintillating stuff in the middle of the park with the captain absent.

It must be said though that his leadership qualities shone through in the second half of the season and he is by no means done at Celtic.

Perhaps next season there should be more experimentation in that area, especially in matches where the team doesn’t need his defensive contribution as much.

The Hoops need to plan for life without Brown one day, so why not make it a gradual process?