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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.

One of the stars of Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last season, Hakim Ziyech has continued to shine for the Dutch side.The Morocco international managed an impressive 21 goals and 24 assists across all competitions last season, but did not join his former teammates in Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong in making high-profile moves away.Ziyech was linked with a move to Arsenal previously, but it was then revealed that the Gunners had apparently turned down the opportunity to sign him and had moved on to other targets.On Wednesday night in the Champions League against Lille, the attacker produced the kind of display that had Arsenal fans on Twitter purring in awe. The 26-year-old scored one and made one as he helped his team to a fine 2-0 victory away from home.[ad_pod ]After seeing his display, Gunners fans revealed their frustrations at missing out on Ziyech, with one fan in particular labelling their decision to go after Nicolas Pepe as “terrible decision-making”.Check out some of the reaction of Arsenal fans below:

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans are fuming with reports linking them with Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

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.

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…

Darren Bent has praised Jonjo Shelvey but stated that he needs to be giving more to the team if Newcastle are to progress.

What did he say?

Steve Bruce has had tricky decisions to make in relation to his midfield in recent weeks, with the Longstaff brothers both playing well in the absence of more senior players such as Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey.

However, with those two becoming available at the time Sean Longstaff got suspended, Bruce decided to recall Shelvey to the side, and the former Swansea man has already repaid that decision.

His inclusion in the previous two matches means Matty Longstaff has had to settle for a place on the bench after an impressive start to his Premier League career, a topic Bent also touched on.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “It was harsh but it showed it was the right decision. He [Shelvey] scored a great free-kick [against West Ham].

“I do like Shelvey, I think he’s a good player. I do think he needs to be giving more to the cause and maybe realise he’s not at Liverpool any more, he’s not playing with these so-called better players any more so he does need to put a shift in.

“It’s going to be tough at times but at the same time he needs to show them he’s willing to fight for the cause. It’s not always as simple as playing with good players, but he showed his quality and he has got a lot of quality.”

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Finding a balance

With each of his central midfielders seemingly in good form it may be difficult for the Longstaff brothers to get a look-in.

Shelvey has proved that he is the better option than Sean Longstaff to play the passing role next to Hayden, and if he takes on board Bent’s advice then he will only increase his value to Bruce.

Despite the claims of the former England international, the Magpies seem to be doing well with the 27-year-old in the side, having won two from two since his return.

Bruce’s organisation of his team makes up for a lack of quality or a lack of effort at times, and with Hayden conducting the dirty work it frees up Shelvey to do what he’s best at.

It seems to be a winning formula currently and with the Longstaff brothers knocking on the door, the senior players will be well aware of the fact that they need to meet their manager’s standards, or they risk being dropped.

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

Brendan Rodgers has suggested that Leicester City could look bring in another centre-back during the January transfer window, as reported by The Leicester Mercury.

What’s the story?

With the winter window beginning to approach, questions are naturally popping up about transfer stories for Premier League teams.

This is no different for Rodgers, whose Foxes currently sit second in the Premier League table, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference.

When asked about his hopes for January, Rodgers was quoted in The Leicester Mercury as replying: “I’ve always tried to be positive in the January window. It’s normally worked fairly well for us when the availability has been there.

“[At centre-back] it’s one where we’re planning forward, if you look at Wes Morgan and where he’s at in his career.

“Cags has done great, that’s why we didn’t go into the market and that’s why we gave him that opportunity because we felt that we had someone there that could develop and he’s been absolutely brilliant. He will get better the more experience he gains.

“Going forward, if we’re looking at our goals and where we want to be, that position is very important for us.”

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Looking ahead

The suggestion of signing another centre-back comes despite Leicester having conceded fewer goals than any other team in the Premier League this season.

This offers an indication of how well the current centre-back pairing of Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans has worked so far, while another is that both players are being considered by Manchester City, as reported by Sky Sports.

That Rodgers is looking to add recruits in such a strong area not only shows that he wants someone who can challenge Morgan to be next in line, but that he is planning ahead, whether that be related to an injury or transfer.

Soyuncu himself has shown how useful it can be to have someone to slot in when a defender leaves, as he has seamlessly filled the void left by Harry Maguire’s move to Manchester United, playing every Premier League game for the Foxes this season.

The approach Rodgers is taking is a smart one, that could ensure Leicester will be set for next season even if one of their current centre-backs leave for the reigning champions.

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.

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 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.

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…

Alan Hutton has called into question Mauricio Pochettino’s selection policy and in particular his tendency to overlook Lucas Moura.

The Brazilian has started just four games this season despite Spurs struggling of late, and some fans believe he is more deserving of an opportunity given the success he has had with the club previously.

Many think his presence would help to get the best out of Harry Kane, arguing that his pace allows him to be a key threat.

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The stats would support their thinking, as the 27-year-old has averaged 1.3 successful dribbles per game, despite averaging just 40 minutes played per match.

Added to that, he is being praised for his attitude and the continued hard work he shows, with Hutton suggesting he looks like he is trying his hardest, alluding to the fact that others may not be.

He also commented that his pace can be a valuable asset for Tottenham even when he is not at the top of his game, and therefore Pochettino is missing out by not picking him, something many fans agree with.