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Marcelo Bielsa may have faith in Adam Forshaw being Kalvin Phillips’ backup for Leeds United next season, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Whites picked up another impressive Premier League result on Monday evening, drawing 1-1 at home to reigning champions Liverpool.

Sadio Mane and Diego Llorente exchanged goals at Elland Road, as Bielsa’s men more than held their own against top class opposition.

Leeds may be impressing in their first season back in the top flight, but that doesn’t mean new faces won’t be necessary in the next few transfer windows to really cement the squad as top flight quality.

[freshpress-quiz id=“351040″]

Hay makes key claim regarding Leeds’ transfer business

That being said, in a Q&A for The Athletic, Hay played down the prospect of Bielsa bringing in someone to play second fiddle to Phillips, with Forshaw potentially trusted to play that role:

“They would have to think carefully about that because Forshaw is competition for Phillips and Bielsa has always rated him extremely highly.”

Transfer Tavern take

It is refreshing to hear that Bielsa seemingly has lots of faith in Forshaw, but there would be a clear risk element in making him Phillips’ backup.

The 29-year-old has been out injured with a hip problem since September 2019, so there is no guarantee that he will return the same player as before, or remain injury-free after such a long absence.

It may be that the remaining weeks of this season act as an audition for Forshaw, as he edges towards earning some much-needed minutes for Leeds.

Perhaps if he can play those minutes and avoid any injury issues, that would be all the security Bielsa needs behind his star man in midfield.

In other news, one Leeds player has been tipped to leave Elland Road at the end of the season, Find out who it is here.

Bayern Munich lead the German top-flight at the end of the Hinrunde, but which players make our best XI for the 2017-18 season so far?

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  Jiri Pavlenka (Werder Bremen)

  The 25-year-old goalkeeper only joined Werder Bremen from Slavia Prague in the summer, but has already become one of the Riverislanders' key players as they look to battle relegation from the Bundesliga. Werder have had problems all over the pitch, but between the sticks is not one of them, as the Czech stopper's heroics have earned them valuable points. Despite sitting 16th, they have conceded the third fewest goals in the German top-flight.

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• Getty Images
  

  Philipp Max (Augsburg)

  Both Manchester clubs, Everton, Chelsea, Liverpool, in fact, most of the top-half of the Premier League have been linked with left-back Philipp Max. The 24-year-old has provided more assists than any other player in the Bundesliga this season, and has been one of the key reasons why Augsburg have exceeded all expectations in 2017-18.

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  Naldo (Schalke)

  Naldo has been in the Bundesliga for 13 seasons, but might very well be having his best campaign ever at the age of 35. The Brazilian centre-back has been a rock in defence for Schalke, with his powerful performances at both ends of the pitch putting Domenico Tedesco's side in the top two at the winter break. Strangely enough, Tedesco is actually three years and two days younger than Naldo!

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  Salif Sane (Hannover)

  Senegal international defender Lamine Sane moved to the Bundesliga to join Werder Bremen from Bordeaux, but has so far been outshone by his younger brother Salif Sane. The 27-year-old centre-back has been immense in the air, and leads the league by winning 82 per cent of his aerial duels.

Some Arsenal fans have been left to slam some early team news ahead of their game at home against Liverpool in the Premier League.

As per the official website of the Emirates Stadium faithful, David Luiz will not be available for the match, while both Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe are to be assessed after suffering injuries, and Granit Xhaka has been unwell recently casting doubt over whether he will be able to play.

That is four potential starters for Mikel Arteta’s team that could be out of the fixture already, making it a much more difficult task to beat the reigning champions of the top flight.

Nonetheless, the Gunners will have to try and find a way of getting all three points as they look to make a late push to qualify for European football for the 2021/22 term, with a quarter-final first leg tie at home to Slavia Prague in the UEFA Europa League to come on Thursday night.

Arsenal fans on team news

These Gooners slammed the team news on Twitter, with one AFC supporter even going as far as to call it ‘stupid’:

“Stupid international matches injured our players”

Credit: @Saifudd65729089

“Luiz nooooooooooooooooooo”

Credit: @xafcxjayden

“Pain”

Credit: @GX_CR7

“This is a disaster, we need Saka and ESR”

Credit: @XhakaWinter

“Yeah another L incoming…”

Credit: @Assnadude_

“Luiz and Xhaka being doubts isn’t fun”

Credit: @downbadsir

In other news, find out what Martin Odegaard news Gunners are buzzing about here!

Many West Ham United fans have been left to laud a transfer update from ExWHUemployee on Tammy Abraham.

Writing on Patreon, the East London club insider has claimed that the Chelsea ace is now the Hammers’ number one striker target in the summer transfer window.

David Moyes’ team are in desperate need of some cover up top for Michail Antonio, and the England international could well fit the bill at the London Stadium.

Abraham has scored no fewer than 12 goals and made a further six assists in 30 games in total over all competitions across the 2020/21 term so far (Transfermarkt), and at just 23 years of age, will only get better.

They would also of course be weakening one of their rivals in the Premier League – based on this year’s top four battle – and strengthening their own squad in the process.

West Ham fans on Abraham transfer update

These Irons lauded the transfer update on Abraham on Twitter (via West Ham Central), with one WHUFC supporter even going as far as to claim that it was ‘unreal’:

“Happily have Tammy at the club. I’d be super happy with him, Lingard and a CB for signings in the summer”

Credit: @RamdogUK

“@Callum_Tyrie YESSSS!!!”
Credit: @craigtyrie

“Would be more than happy with that.”

Credit: @uptonspark17

“This excites me”

Credit: @westham_bubble

“That would be unreal”

Credit: @JimmyMundee

“I’d take him all day long”

Credit: @TommyBUpdates

“No brainer. Young, Hungry, Eager to play. Moyes making the right move here”

Credit: @whu_sam13

In other news, find out who Hammers want as a potential ‘Noble replacement’ here!

In a recent interview, the former Premier League centre-forward, Gabby Agbonlahor, discussed the interest in Glasgow Rangers centre-back, Filip Helander, ahead of the summer transfer window.

So far this season, Helander has been one of Steven Gerrard’s stand out performers in the Scottish Premiership, with the 27-year-old making an average of 1.6 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 2.1 clearances per match over his 21 league appearances, culminating in an averaging a WhoScored match rating of 7.11 – ranking him as Gers’ seventh-best performer in the Scottish top flight.

As a result of these impressive displays, it has been reported that a number of Premier League clubs, including teams such as Leicester City and Aston Villa, are keeping a very close eye on the £14,000-per-week defender ahead of the upcoming transfer window, with Rangers thought to be demanding a fee of around £6 million in order to part with the Sweden international.

And, speaking recently to Football Insider, Agbonlahor suggested that there will almost certainly be bids submitted for Helander this summer, particularly if he is available for as little as £6 million.

He said: “100 per cent – for that sort of fee, there will be a lot of Premier League clubs looking at him. It’s only £6 million, but money’s tight because of the pandemic. Teams will only go for him if they need him.”

Transfer Tavern Take

Considering the fact that Gers signed Helander from Bologna for £3.02 million just under two years ago, should Gerrard’s side indeed go on to sell the centre-back for the £6 million figure quoted, it would appear to represent a great piece of business from the Ibrox side.

However, despite the financial gain, losing a player whom Gerrard has previously dubbed a “leader” in the Rangers dressing room will undoubtedly be a blow for the Gers boss, who will have to ensure he reinvests the money wisely in his search for a potential replacement for Helander this summer.

In other news: this ‘superb’ £6.2k-p/w star lifted the lid on talks with the Rangers hierarchy – find out more here!

With Celtic’s season as good as done, they can start preparing for next term.
It will be a vital summer for the Hoops, one where they’ll welcome a new manager, a new CEO and a director of football.

What’s the word?

Crucial to Celtic’s future will be the upcoming transfer window. A mass 12-man exodus could occur if you take on board The Athletic’s predictions but they have already signed Liam Shaw on a pre-contract.
Another player who could arrive is Motherwell’s Allan Campbell. Speaking on the latest episode of A Celtic State of Mind podcast, Colin Watt said:
“Someone I’d love to see us pick up – and I believe he’s actually available right now to sign a pre-contract – is Allan Campbell at Motherwell. I think the guy’s got a really big future ahead of him.
“He’s obviously played alongside [David] Turnbull before. And I think he could be the next Scott Brown in that position. He plays a sort of box-to-box the way that Brown did in his younger years.
“And I think as he develops, he’ll drop deeper and deeper into the pitch and he offers a lot. If you had the choice between him and Ferguson, for me, it would be Allan Campbell.”

Imagine him and Soro

If Celtic do indeed end up pursuing the 22-year-old, it would be great news for supporters.
Campbell has been one of the most consistent members of the Motherwell side this term and is incredibly highly rated in various circles.
The midfielder has been capped 24 times by Scotland U21s and although he is yet to get a senior call-up, the chances of achieving that would surely be elevated if he moves to Parkhead.
Though, there’d be plenty of positives for the Bhoys too. That’s because as Watt describes, the 22-year-old plays in a similar way to Brown did when he was younger. Furthermore, he also plays a bit like a certain Aston Villa and Scotland midfielder.
“John McGinn has obviously progressed really quickly but there are definite similarities. I remember playing against him and Kenny McLean and thinking that the two boys could go somewhere,” Motherwell assistant Keith Lasley once said.
Possessing plenty of energy and athleticism, he could create a scintillating partnership with someone like Ismaila Soro.
[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-transfer-news-onuachu-edouard-dembele-turnbull” title=”The latest Celtic news and views!”]
The Ivorian had to wait patiently for his chance at Celtic once he got time on the pitch, he was exceptional. The midfielder is a tough tackler and made as many as ten successful challenges in the club’s win over Lille in the Europa League.
Campbell is very much cut from a similar cloth. He’s made two tackles per game in the SPFL this term, a tally that’s coincidentally identical to Soro’s.
With the two of them playing in the same midfield, Celtic would undeniably be a tougher team to break down. For a unit who have conceded 14 more goals than Rangers in the league, this should be music to the ears of the Green Brigade.

AND in other news, Forget Brown: Celtic must unleash never-seen 19 y/o, he’s a “breath of fresh air”…

Glasgow Rangers fans have been reacting in their droves to a tweet from The Times journalist Graham Spiers following the Gers’ confirmation as Premiership champions.

On Sunday, the Gers clinched the 55th top-tier title in their history – and they didn’t even need to play. It is now mathematically impossible for Celtic to catch them after they could only draw 0-0 with Dundee United – there are still six matches left in the season (BBC).

Unsurprisingly, thousands took to the streets in Glasgow to celebrate the club’s triumph. Not only did they break lockdown regulations, there were also reports of public property being damaged (Sky News). This led Spiers to call the supporters in question a “thorough embarrassment”.

These comments from the writer, which were shared on his Twitter page, did not go down well with some Gers fans, who  took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say to Spiers below

“Someone is upset here!”

Credit: @kennybrown446

“Awwww best tears of all, get it right round you spiers”

Credit: @GP_72

“You’ve done nothing of the sort Graham. You have been the fuel to our fire and for 10 years we’ve had to listen to it. All that the scenes prove over the weekend is that Glasgow Rangers are bigger than a global pandemic.”

Credit: @7_graeme

“Yaaas Spiers is in complete meltdown”

Credit: @Bazzaboy180

“Love your anger almost as much as all the comments on here”

Credit: @skebs78

“Back on the blocked list”

Credit: @bigcheerfull

In other news, some Rangers fans slam this politician’s comments.

Derby face Huddersfield Town at Pride Park on Tuesday night and Wayne Rooney will be desperate to pick up three points against a side who are also at threat of relegation to the third tier.

Following the defeat against Watford last time out, Derby sit in 19th position in the Championship table, just five points clear of the relegation zone.

Huddersfield, meanwhile, moved ahead of the Rams after an impressive 4-1 win against promotion-chasing Swansea City, so will be full of confidence ahead of their trip to Pride Park.

However, form at Derby has drastically improved since Rooney was made permanent manager, with the former Manchester United forward having registered five wins from seven games since then.

If they can continue that form with a win against the Terriers on Tuesday, then it will put some distance between themselves and the relegation spots, but it seems as if changes are likely after failing to register a shot on target last time out.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Rooney to set his side up against Carlos Corberan’s side, with three changes from the side that started against Watford…

David Marshall unsurprisingly keeps his place in goal, and will be hoping to continue Derby’s recent strong clean sheet record with another shut out against Huddersfield.

There’s one change in defence, as Teden Mengi comes in for George Edmundson at centre-back, with the on-loan Manchester United man having been given little chance to impress so far.

In midfield, Kamil Jozwiak comes in for Patrick Roberts, who struggled at Vicarage Road last time out on what was his first start for the club since arriving in January.

Finally, Louis Sibley gets a rare start in attacking-midfield, replacing Jason Knight, and he supports the in-form Colin Kazim-Richards up front in what is arguably a must-win game for the Rams if they want to put relegation fears behind them this season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was the name on the lips of many Liverpool fans once again – but for all the wrong reasons.

The form of the 22-year-old has been incredibly up and down during the 2020/21 campaign, with him having averaged a match rating of just 6.77 from 19 Premier League appearances (Whoscored) prior to the Brighton game.

Alexander-Arnold found himself to be at fault for Brighton’s opener, having lost Dan Burn running in at the far post and he knocked the ball down Steven Alzate to fire home for the Seagulls.

This is not the first time that the England international has come under intense scrutiny this season. His performance against Southampton attracted a similar response at the beginning of January.

In what seems like a regular occurrence, supporters once again made their feelings clear towards Alexander-Arnold crystal clear, as you can see below.

Alexander-Arnold in the Kop’s bad books

“Trent has zero idea what’s going on behind him yet again. #LFC”

Credit: @AustrainRed

“Trent is so defensively naive”

Credit: @sammorris0_

“Trent seen him and then just left him”

Credit: @Kjones1892

“Shocking defending from Trent. Had a quick look and then decided it wasn’t worth his time to track the man at back post”

Credit: @ObiR07

“Trent a disgrace, so lazy”

Credit: @canuhackettlfc

“Trent is a crab”

Credit: @kj_1310

In other news, Star defender reportedly gutted as dream Anfield move collapsed on Deadline Day.

Southampton confirmed earlier this week that Josh Sims has rejoined League One side Doncaster Rovers on loan until the end of the season, in what was a baffling transfer decision for a number of reasons.

The 24-year-old spent time with Darren Moore’s side earlier in the season and impressed, contributing three goals and seven assists in just 14 appearances for the club, before returning to Southampton in January.

As a result of his excellent performances, QPR were reportedly interested in signing the 23-year-old on a permanent deal earlier this month, but instead he has been sent back on loan to the League One club.

Sims’ contract with Southampton is set to expire at the end of the season, which makes it surprising that he was loaned out, as you would now expect him to depart the South Coast club on a free transfer at the end of the season when they perhaps could have collected some sort of fee for the £1.44 million-rated winger this month.

It is even more surprising that Sims was allowed to depart on loan when you consider the injury problems that have beset Ralph Hasenhuttl this season, especially on the wing.

Nathan Redmond has only just returned to the first-team after spending time on the sidelines, whilst Moussa Djenepo has been out injured, meaning that the Austrian manager has been extremely short of wing options.

Youngster Will Smallbone featured there against Leicester City before picking up a long-term injury of his own, so it was confusing why Sims didn’t even feature on the bench for Southampton in recent fixtures when we have seen a plethora of much less-experienced academy talents.

Considering his strong form with Doncaster this season, he surely would’ve been a useful option for Hasenhuttl to have, at least while Djenepo and Redmond get back to full fitness.

Therefore it could definitely be considered something of a disaster by Martin Semmens to allow Sims to leave on loan, from both a footballing and financial perspective.

And, in other news, Southampton must make £9.9m-rated beast January priority after Arsenal disaster…