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Southampton could have a replacement for recent departure Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lined up.

According to L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), the Saints have their sights firmly set on 21-year-old Ibrahima Diallo from Brest. After attracting interest from Leicester in January, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side become the latest to monitor the Frenchman’s situation.

Who is Southampton transfer target Ibrahima Diallo?

The club have named Diallo as their priority signing to secure before the transfer window closes. The Brest ace has represented his country at an U20 level and has made a total of 53 senior appearances in Ligue 1 (via Transfermarkt).

Diallo operates primarily as a defensive midfielder but he has also been known to play further forward as well.

L’Equipe state that the Saints could sign the France youth international for €15million (£13.6m), despite still having three years left on his current contract.

Where would Ibrahima Diallo fit at Southampton?

Southampton are currently strapped in the engine room, having a mere five midfielders listed on their senior roster. However, the likes of Will Smallbone have only recently been promoted from the youth league. Despite his young age, adding Diallo to the ranks could seriously bolster Southampton’s options.

With Hojbjerg no longer in the picture, Hasenhuttl’s side are really lacking depth. Star striker Danny Ings will also see a dip in performance if the midfield is struggling to feed him the chances he is prolific at latching onto.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg vs Ibrahima Diallo

Despite generally playing in a more defensive role than Hojbjerg, Diallo registered the same amount of assists (1) as the Dane during the 2019/20 season, and tallied a better passing percentage with 86% to the new Spurs signing’s 78.1% (via WhoScored).

Diallo also completed more dribbles per match – 1.4 – to Hojbjerg’s 1.2. His discipline was also much better, receiving just two yellow cards in the league season compared to the 25-year-old’s five.

These stats alone suggest that the Frenchman is a more level-headed player and can pull the strings in midfield, whilst helping to protect the backline. With the Saints finishing in a respectable 11th place last campaign, Diallo could be a signing to help push them further up this table this time round.

In other news, Spurs are keen to sign Southampton striker Danny Ings…

Marcel Brands is set to fail in his attempt to resolve a major need of Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton side by pursuing a Deadline Day loan deal for AS Roma goalkeeper Pau Lopez.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Nicolo Schira, Everton have opened talks with Serie A heavyweights Roma over a potential loan deal for Lopez in the hopes of bringing the Spanish shot-stopper to Goodison Park on the final day of the summer transfer window.

The Toffees have previously been linked with potential moves for a new ‘keeper this year in Manchester United’s Sergio Romero, but have turned attentions to Italy following yet another errant performance from Jordan Pickford.

Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion saw the former Sunderland man calamitously drop possession at the feet of forward Neal Maupay when unchallenged, marking Pickford’s 11th mistake leading to a goal since 2017.

It is unclear in the early hours of Deadline Day if Everton plan to sign Lopez on a dry loan with no option to buy, or whether Brands intends to offer Roma a set figure for the 25-year-old payable in 2021.

Calciomercato have also cited Everton’s interest in Lopez and note how both the Blues and Roma are striving to find a solution suitable for each side.

Lopez is not the answer

While Lopez would add first-team ready depth between the sticks Ancelotti otherwise would not be able to call upon beyond the summer market, the £15.3m-rated Spaniard would not be the answer Everton need in their search of competition for Pickford.

Pickford is once again under scrutiny for his performances after yet another blunder moment that could have cost his side heavily, but Lopez proved last season in the Serie A that he is not without fault either.

Over his 32 appearances, SofaScore data shows that Lopez committed three errors that led to goals while only keeping a measly five clean sheets. He also won just 43% of his ground duels, was dribbled past 0.1 times a game and could only complete 49% of his attempted long balls.

If Everton are to sign a goalkeeper capable of challenging Pickford this term, the Blues would have been better served looking elsewhere and earlier in the window than rushing to Italy on Deadline Day.

AND in other news, a Premier League rival is considering a late move to sign an Everton player who recorded just 0.8 key balls a game in 2019/20.

Coventry City have joined Luton Town and Peterborough in the race to sign talented Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Owen Otasowie.

Sky Blues boss Mark Robins has been busy already this summer in bolstering his squad options, bringing in the likes of Gustavo Hamer, Julien Dacosta, Marcel Hilssner, Callum O’Hare and Ryan Giles.

Preparing his side for the Championship next term after gaining promotion from League One as champions, Robins has now been credited with interest in young Wolves talent Otasowie.

The youngster, who was born in New York and has represented his country twice at under-18 level, has been featuring for the Premier League club’s under-23 side.

The 19-year-old’s impressions have gained interest from Luton and Peterborough with Peterborough Telegraph reporting that interest and it is now claimed that Coventry are also keen.

Aside from featuring at under-23 level this term for Wolves, Otasowie has also made a single appearance for the Premier League side’s first team, playing in the Europa League against Turkish side Besiktas.

The report goes on to add that any potential deal for the youngster to go to Luton, Peterborough or Coventry would be a loan deal.

Otasowie has not been able to break into the Wolves first team since appearing in the Europa League and it does seem like a loan deal is the best move for his development.

Coventry would do no harm in bringing the United States youngster in, even if he grabs a handful of appearances, as it would add to their squad depth.

Do you think Otasowie would be a good signing for Coventry? Let us know in the comments section below…

Liverpool have been tipped to land a winger who absolutely tore them apart earlier in the season and it could hint that the club is preparing for life without Mo Salah.

What’s the word?

iNews claim that Watford sensation Ismaila Sarr could find himself at Anfield this summer as Jurgen Klopp eyes him as an understudy to his Senegalese compatriot Sadio Mane.

It comes less than a week after links first emerged mooting the 22-year-old with a switch to Merseyside.

The Hornets were relegated on the final day of the 2019/20 Premier League season and having cost the club £30m in the summer, Sarr could be one of several players on the chopping block not at least due to his impressive form for the Championship newcomers.

Salah successor

Sarr has often been likened to Mane which is no surprise given the pair’s nationality, position and playing style but the Watford man actually plays on the other flank to the Reds’ superstar.

He’d be an interesting heir to Mo Salah’s throne, especially with the 23-goal talisman constantly linked with La Liga giants Real Madrid.

And, of course, those at Anfield know Sarr all too well after he tore Klopp’s defence apart for their first defeat of the season back in February.

The enigmatic winger netted two goals and provided one assist as Watford romped to a 3-0 victory – he also recorded two successful dribbles, one key pass, won five duels and notched a whopping six shots, via SofaScore.

Sarr ran Andy Robertson rugged forcing the Scotsman to lose possession 22 times whilst he couldn’t manage a single tackle and won just one duel.

Mane waxed lyrical about his Senegal teammate ahead of his move to the Hornets whilst Sky Sports’ Gary Neville labelled Sarr “a big, big talent.”

“He’s rapid. I think defenders will struggle,” Mane told The Athletic.“Last time I was speaking to Robbo (Andy Robertson) I said, ‘Watford have a really good player. I will need to help you more otherwise Ismaila Sarr will kill you, because he is a good dribbler and very, very fast.”

It remains to be seen how much he might cost, but Klopp could do no wrong in adding Sarr to his attacking armoury.

AND in other news, Liverpool eyeing £55m raid for Steven Gerrard-like midfielder…

According to The Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder, the issue of piracy has “clearly” been the fact that has “caused tension” behind Newcastle’s proposed takeover.

What did he say?

One of the key reasons behind the Magpies’ takeover still not going through has been the problem brought by the beoutQ channel, and Ryder has revealed that the Premier League is now facing a major dilemma as to whether Saudi Arabia is given an “invitation to the top-flight”.

He said: “People close to the bidding side will still say that this could be approved at any time, but as I mentioned earlier there are fans who are starting to question the length of time. The Premier League are refusing to comment and Newcastle chiefs have said nothing on the record from the boardroom.

Can you name every one of the Magpies’ top goalscorers from the past 15 seasons? It’s a tricky one…

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“Having had legal issues with Saudi Arabia before, it appears the Premier League are now facing the dilemma of handing them an invitation to the top-flight. Assurances from those in the Middle East that they will stamp out piracy have been forthcoming. But it is clearly pirate channel beoutQ that has caused tension around this deal. Further reassurance from Saudi Intellectual Property Authority on Tuesday also arrived via another statement but again how much sway this has on the Premier League remains to be seen.”

More waiting

As Ryder points out, the consortium are trying to make it abundantly clear to the Premier League that the issue of piracy is something they are keen to “stamp out”.

The fact that this whole process has now dragged on for months suggests those responsible for deliberating over the plans are still yet to be wholly convinced.

Ryder further added that despite the delay, the message remains the same that they are still optimistic over the deal eventually going through, but that opposition from MPs and Hatice Cengiz, have ensured the Premier League have had to respond to those claims.

It’s very much a waiting game for now.

Northern Echo writer Scott Wilson has suggested that Sunderland’s supporters ‘no longer believe a word the club say’ as Stewart Donald’s reign at the club continues to drag on.

Life at Sunderland has been heavily documented over the last two to three years with Netflix series Sunderland ‘Til I Die following club matters on and off the pitch.

At the heart of the second series is current owner Donald, who took over from Ellis Short back in April 2018, and criticism directed at the businessman is ongoing.

Revealing that he wanted to sell the club after just 19 months in charge, Donald received much criticism from the club fans who called for him to leave and a recent interview earlier this year has confirmed his desire to move on.

With the season having come to an end for Sunderland on the pitch, the Black Cats failed to gain promotion from League One to the Championship at the second time of asking, mounting huge pressure on the shoulders of boss Phil Parkinson to turn things around in the 2020/2021 campaign.

With such a drop from the Premier League to League One having been at the forefront of the Netflix series, it has now been revealed by Wilson that the fans have lost trust in the club’s word.

“Put simply, Sunderland fans no longer believe a single word that is uttered by the current regime,” Wilson writers in his column for Northern Echo.

“The trust and loyalty that was bestowed so freely when Donald first replaced Ellis Short, promising openness, transparency and a frank two-way dialogue with the fanbase, has completely disappeared.

“In its place, frustration, bitterness and anger have festered to the point where the relationship between Sunderland’s boardroom management and the fans has broken down entirely.

“As a result, every move or utterance that emanates from Sunderland’s executive-level managers is treated with suspicion or open disdain.”

It is fair to say that you simply would not want to be a Sunderland fan at the moment or over the last few years.

The club have gone from Premier League football to quite frankly, nothing, and the fans can’t be blamed for losing patience in the owners and their broken promises and failure on and off the pitch.

What’s next? Surely it should be the end of Donald’s reign.

Do you think Stewart Donald will sell Sunderland this summer? Let us know in the comments section below…

After 126 games at the club, Jozo Simunovic’s spell at Celtic has come to an end.

The Croatian signed for the Bhoys from Dinamo Zagreb back in the summer of 2015, coming in as an immediate replacement for Virgil van Dijk, who had just left for Southampton.

But after the Scottish champions decided not to take up the option of a further year on the defender’s contract, Neil Lennon paid tribute to both him and Jonny Hayes, who was also released.

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He said: “Both leave Celtic as nine-in-a-row champions. It’s an achievement they richly deserve and something I know they will cherish dearly. I would like to sincerely thank both Jozo and Jonny, brilliant lads who have given their all to Celtic over a number of years.”

After Simunovic’s exit from the club was confirmed, Celtic fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the centre-back.

A couple of fans suggested that Simunovic made far too many mistakes, and that it was “long overdue” to be getting rid of him.

One Celtic fan however took a much more pessimistic stance. and claimed that this is a decision they may regret in the future.

This season saw Simunovic play just 16 times across all competitions for the Hoops, with injuries once again takings its toll on the 25-year-old.

How’s your Celtic knowledge? Always been a loyal fan? Well can you spot Stilian Petrov from John Hartson? Give it a go if you’re brave enough …

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According to Transfermarkt, he has missed a massive 110 games due to injury since arriving at Celtic Park, so it’s no surprise that some Celtic fans don’t seem overly bothered by his departure.

Leeds United could go up as champions should a ball not be kicked again this season after the EFL delivered a fresh proposal to its member clubs.

The board announced that it would use an unweighted points-per-game system to decide the final standings in the Championship but only if they look to follow the decisions from League One and League Two.

It will need at least 51% of teams to agree to such a decision and as a result, both the Whites and their nearest challengers West Bromwich Albion will gain promotion to the Premier League.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay delivered his thoughts on the matter to Twitter and plenty of supporters have flocked to his tweet with some reaction.

Hay claims the news is ‘obviously very good’ for the west Yorkshire outfit but they would still ultimately need the top-flight to agree to relegation this campaign.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side currently sit top of the league with a seven-point advantage to the playoff zone.

A true test for any Leeds fan: Can you match these iconic images with the right results?

Some supporters believe they’ll be going up whilst others understandably have their doubts, even going as far as claiming that the EFL would try and screw them over. Leeds received a 15-point deduction back in 2007/08 and that clearly has left a lasting effect on the Whites faithful.

Here’s how fans have responded to Hay…

AND in other news, Leeds fans really would HATE to see 29 y/o back at Elland Road…

Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton has said that Steven Gerrard will be over the moon if the club are able to secure the signature of Ianis Hagi on a permanent basis, in an interview with Football Insider.

What did he say?

Hagi arrived at Rangers on loan from Genk during the January transfer window and has made an immediate impression, bagging three goals and two assists in 12 matches since joining the Ibrox club.

The 21-year-old’s agent told the Daily Mail last week that he could be in line for a permanent move to the club, as a result of his strong form.

Following these quotes, Hutton said that Gerrard would be very pleased if he is able to secure Hagi for the long term.

“I think he’s done brilliant since he’s come in. He’s kind of been that spark when they’ve needed it,” Hutton told Football Insider.

“In certain games he’s really come up trumps for them, scoring the winning goal and really creating that little bit of magic, the final pass – he sees things other players don’t.

“Rangers were missing that, even though I think we’ve got great players in midfield, sometimes they just miss that cutting edge, that final pass and he’s a guy who sees that.

“Obviously he came with real potential and at the moment he’s fulfilling that. I think Gerrard would be over the moon to capture someone of his quality for the season’s coming.”

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

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Making it permanent

Hagi’s form has been a really boost for Rangers since his arrival, with his Europa League exploits, in particular, catching the eye.

As a result, it is no surprise that Rangers will be interested in making his move permanent, but he may have also attracted suitors at other clubs across Europe.

Sunderland’s abysmal run of form continued with the FA Cup exit on Tuesday, and Phil Parkinson is quickly losing the confidence and patience of the fans.

Change is needed, whether that is in playing personnel or the approach taken in matches, otherwise the run of not scoring and not picking up wins will in all likelihood continue.

The new boss has seen 11 goals scored in the nine games he’s managed, with the 5-0 win over Tranmere papering over the cracks in that department.

For a manager who was meant to oversee a change in fortunes not only in terms of results but in making Sunderland more exciting to watch, he has failed so far, yet it is likely he will continue to operate with the same style that has let him down previously.

Parkinson has operated with a 4-2-3-1 formation in every league game so far and in those matches in has mostly been the same players on the pitch, with often the only change being who is chosen to play on the wing.

He has mixed things up in recent cup matches though, operating with a 4-3-3 formation against Scunthorpe and a 3-5-2 against Gillingham, but considering that only yielded more failure he will probably return to basics and stick with his stubborn approach.

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As a result, here is the predicted Sunderland starting line-up to take on Coventry.

It is understandable if Parkinson chooses the XI above, as on paper the likes of Will Grigg, Aiden McGeady and Duncan Watmore can be matchwinners.

Unfortunately for the Black Cats, they have displayed their best football all too scarcely this season, and against a Coventry side flying high in third place with only 19 league goals conceded, it promises to be another difficult outing.

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That is mainly because Grigg has scored just one league goal this term, yet looks set to start once more after Parkinson came out and publicly backed him to start performing.

Such a decision should be questioned if he continues to underperform, though it may not prevent Sunderland from picking up a result as their defence has often looked dependable.

A makeshift backline kept a clean sheet for more than 90 minutes against Gillingham and with Joel Lynch and Jordan Willis returning to the side – as well as George Dobson who will add protection in front – the Black Cats should be difficult to break down.

After all, they have conceded two or more goals just twice under Parkinson, and that foundation could allow his side to sneak victory, especially if they get a moment of magic from the returning Aiden McGeady.