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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.

Tottenham Hotspur are ready to challenge AC Milan in the hunt for Real Betis striker Loren Moron, according to Todo Fichajes. 

Although the Spanish outlet claims that negotiations with Milan are ‘well advanced’, Spurs are confident that they can hijack the talks.

Jose Mourinho is keen to bring in a back-up for Harry Kane who can also provide the England international with some healthy competition and the Portuguese has been keeping tabs on Moron as the transfer market approaches.

Tottenham are prepared to make an offer that they think will change the mind of Big Greens’ chairman Angel Haro.

Moron initially joined Betis B from Marbella FC as a free agent before breaking into their senior ranks in 2018 and it is fair to say he hasn’t looked back since. The 26-year-old has scored nine goals in 26 games in La Liga for Rubi’s side this season, supplying two assists and taking 1.6 shots per game via WhoScored.

The report added that Betis will demand €25m (which equates to £22m) for the Spaniard. Moreover, this is a substantial drop from their original asking price, after Diario AS previously suggested Betis were looking for €40m (£35.85m) for the forward earlier this year.

Kane has only just recovered from a hamstring injury and Moron is perhaps the support that Mourinho is seeking to reduce the burden on the Spurs talisman. Indeed, the centre-forward is unafraid of making tackles and he likes to play short passes, which could provide the Spurs head coach with the choice of playing him alongside the club captain or bringing him on from the bench.

However, it remains to be seen if Daniel Levy will splash the cash to sign the Spanish striker in the summer, in light of the economic uncertainty surrounding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, he is definitely one to watch as the Lilywhites have been repeatedly linked to him in recent months.

Tottenham fans, do you think the board should sign Loren Moron? Join the discussion 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.

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.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Loan Watch series, which takes a closer look at those players who are aiming to galvanise their careers away from the spotlight of their parent club.

Although Aston Villa’s transfer business saw the club shell out over £130m on 12 new players, Dean Smith is likely to be keeping tabs on a number of loanees who could return to the newly-promoted side’s ranks in their bid to consolidate the club’s Premier League status.

The likes of Scott Hogan and Andre Green are spending their seasons away from Villa Park with Stoke City and Preston North End respectively, but one loanee who is plying their trade in League One is Rushian Hepburn-Murphy with Tranmere Rovers.

The Villa youth product, who has been capped with England from U16 to U20, has made 11 appearances for Rovers in the 2019/20 campaign, scoring three goals in what was an initially tough spell when he was red-carded on debut.

Micky Mellon’s side currently sit 18th but have scored the joint-most goals of any side in the bottom-13 within the division.

The forward’s most memorable display came against MK Dons, where he netted a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory this month, showing signs that he’s beginning to impress. He has also recorded an impressive record of 0.8 dribbles per game and 0.9 shots per match despite only starting three times.

The 21-year-old forward had spent time on loan at Cambridge United in League Two during the previous campaign, but the Villa hierarchy will be hoping that stepping up a division can provide a basis for development and increase the likelihood of Hepburn-Murphy returning to Vila Park and featuring in Smith’s first-team squad.

With the likes of Keinan Davis vying for a first-team place, the conclusion of the 2019/20 campaign could mark the perfect opportunity for Smith and his coaching staff to assess the forward’s credentials in comparison to other youthful prospects

A potential return to Villa Park could be a distinct possibility if Hepburn-Murphy can continue his promising rate of development at Prenton Park.

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…

Chris Wilder believes it is right that Heung-Min Son is available to play for Tottenham Hotspur when they take on Sheffield United this weekend, per Sky Sports News.

What’s the word?

Son made a slide tackle that led to Everton midfielder Gomes sustaining a fracture-dislocation of his ankle on Sunday as Spurs drew 1-1 with the Toffees.

The South Korea international was left distraught by the extent of the injury and was sent off by referee Martin Atkinson.

The red card has since been rescinded and Son will subsequently be available to play against the Blades at the weekend.

And Wilder, who was at Goodison Park scouting this weekend’s opposition, believes that it was the right decision to overturn Atkinson’s original decision.

He said, when asked if he expected Son, who scored twice in the 4-0 win over Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday, to play: “Yes, I would have done. We went to watch Tottenham and we were right in front of it.

“Straight away you knew the severity of the injury. I imagine all managers and fellow players will be wishing Andre a really speedy recovery but it’s just one of those unfortunate situations.

“From our point of view [Son] is obviously a quality player but he seems a right down-to-earth lad as well.

“But we’ll be up not just against him but some other very high-quality players on Saturday afternoon.”

Initial VAR failure

Wilder is absolutely right.

Atkinson, in completely understandable circumstances, officiated on emotion following the horror of Gomes’ injury.

Even still, VAR is there for occasions like that and the red card should have been overturned on the pitch.

While Son was probably too distraught to carry on anyway and would have needed to have been substituted, the red card irreversibly altered the flow of the game.

Spurs went on to concede in the 97th minute, as Cenk Tosun rescued a point, and those points won’t be coming back, even if Son will.

That Wilder, the manager Spurs will be facing this weekend, instantly knew the decision would be overturned speaks volumes to how VAR failed both Spurs and Atkinson.

Some Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to point the finger at Jordan Henderson for his involvement in Harry Kane’s opener at Anfield on Sunday.

The 55-cap England international misplaced a pass in the opening minute of the game against Tottenham, and then saw his side come under attack from Mauricio Pochettino’s side after his error.

He failed to win the ball back before helplessly watching Kane nod the north Londoners in front, and his incompetence did not go unnoticed by some Liverpool fans on Twitter.

Henderson’s error left the European champions chasing the game throughout the first half, but he then scored a second-half equaliser against the side who Liverpool beat in the Champions League final to kickstart a comeback – Mohamed Salah’s penalty earned the Reds a 2-1 win.

One supporter said that the former Sunderland man should never have started in the first place, whereas another said that the 29-year-old is having a “shocker” of a campaign so far.

Let’s take a look at some more of the Twitter reaction…

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

They’ve got a fight on their hands to sign him, but it would be a great one if they can pull it off.

According to Football Insider, Leeds United are set to double their efforts when it comes to scouting young West Bromwich Albion defender Nathan Ferguson.

The 19-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and Leeds will face some stiff competition to sign him as Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Juventus & Marseille are all also reportedly showing an interest.

So Leeds might not be the biggest name when it comes to the fight for his services, but how would he fit in if he did come to Elland Road?

On the chalkboard

The biggest benefit to Leeds signing a defender like Ferguson is the fact that he can play multiple positions across the backline.

Marcelo Bielsa has stated before his preference to carry a small squad, and when you have players that can play multiple positions it takes some of the burden off the numbers you have to carry.

Having played the majority of his youth career as a centre-back, he has switched to a full-back now that he is part of the senior team, sharing time between being a right-back and a left-back, with a preference of playing on the right.

Until they can tie him down to one particular role straight away, there is a way for him to earn his way into the set-up in the meantime, and that’s by taking the reins from Stuart Dallas.

Whilst he might not be as flexible yet, especially when it comes to going forward, he could easily replace Dallas as Leeds’ go-to utility man at either full-back spot.

The Northern Irishman has filled in at both positions when necessary for Leeds over the years, but if they were to bring in Ferguson then it would give him a little bit of breathing space and allow him to focus more on his play as a winger.

Dallas was exceptional at left-back in 2018/19, scoring twice against Derby in one game in the playoffs and that’s a role Ferguson has recently taken off former Arsenal man Kieran Gibbs at West Brom.

However, he started off the campaign by earning the Man of the Match award when playing on the right on his senior debut.

On this evidence, there is a reason to suggest he could take on the mantle from Dallas if he signed.

According to a report by Italian media outlet CalcioMercato, AC Milan are interested in a January deal that would potentially see Franck Kessie move to Tottenham Hotspur and Eric Dier go the other way, and loads of Spurs fans have been quick to have their say on the story.

The report says that the England international will be put on the market in the New Year – something The Times has already reported – and that Milan could be interested as they look to strengthen their squad while staying within FFP regulations.

CalcioMercato say that given the north London outfit have been interested in Kessie in the past, an exchange deal could be possible if it means that the San Siro outfit don’t have to fork out too much from a financial point of view.

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According to Transfermarkt, the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international has scored one goal in seven appearances for the Serie A club this term, and has 13 goals and eight assists in 103 outings for them in total.

Tottenham supporters have certainly had their say on the transfer link via the popular social media platform, with many replying to a thread from Ricky Sacks.

While one individual described the potential move as an “incredible swap”, another said there would be “so much power with him and Ndombele”, the club-record buy.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…