Sky Sports pundit Matt Le Tissier has claimed that Toby Alderweireld is a cut above his teammate Davinson Sanchez.
Plenty of the fans’ focus has been on Alderweireld’s contract situation given that he is yet to sign fresh terms at the North London outfit.
However, the centre-back has barely spent any time on the pitch since November due to injury problems.
After suffering the blow against Real Madrid in the Champions League, the Belgian spent almost three months on the treatment table.
The 29-year-old returned to Mauricio Pochettino’s side in February, but only for two fixtures, both of which were in the FA Cup.
Alderweireld has been working on his fitness behind the scenes, but Sanchez has also been keeping his teammate out of the XI.
The 21-year-old joined Spurs from Ajax last summer and has gone on to start 23 Premier League games and eight in the Champions League.
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Ahead of Sunday’s showdown against Chelsea, though, pundit Le Tissier selected Alderweireld to partner Jan Vertonghen at the back of a combined XI for Sky Sports.
“I’m going for the Belgian centre-back pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, who is on a different level to Davinson Sanchez. I think it would be a big blow if Tottenham fail to keep hold of Toby.”
Arsenal fans coped with the disappointment of losing Alexis Sanchez in the January window by celebrating the news of Mesut Ozil’s new contract.
The German World Cup winner penned a deal that would keep him at the North London outfit until 2021.
Throughout his five years at the Emirates, the midfielder has received mixed reviews for his performances.
Many times, the 29-year-old has been accused of going missing in big matches, but he has also been influential in certain games this season.
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On Thursday, Ozil was named in Arsene Wenger’s starting XI for the team’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against CSKA Moscow in Russia.
The Gunners almost suffered a scare when the hosts went 2-0 up, but goals from Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey gave the team a 6-3 aggregate win.
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Ozil has created 12 assists in all competitions for Arsenal this season, but he was unable to contribute on Thursday night, which left some fans frustrated with his performance.
Others, though, were satisfied with the 29-year-old’s display.
Everton fans are once again not happy with Sam Allardyce, after the manager said the pressure to get results has prevented him from playing Davy Klaassen.
It’s been a disappointing season for Everton fans, as the high hopes of breaking into the top six quickly dissipated at the start of the season.
The Toffees had a very busy summer transfer window, and continued to add to their squad in January, signing two immediate starters in Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott.
Jordan Pickford’s excellent performance in the derby draw with Liverpool showed exactly why the club splashed out on him, but one summer signing who is yet to make any impact is Davy Klaassen, and Big Sam explained why on Saturday.
“Davy Klaassen is still an anomaly to me, as to will he or won’t he,” said Allardyce.
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“If I had the opportunity to play him I would, but I haven’t because I’ve got to win. So I don’t have the luxury of saying ‘go on, give it a go lad!’ because if we lose it’s me that gets the stick.
“So if I haven’t got that luxury. If the opportunity comes along for anybody, be it through injury or suspension, hopefully he can show us what he’s got.”
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Klaassen has played just five times in the league this season, and hasn’t featured since he was given a warm welcome by fans in the win against Brighton last month.
With a European place looking very unlikely, fans are calling for the Dutch playmaker to get a chance before the end of the season, and some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
Leeds United will look to pick up their second successive Championship win, and just their fourth of 2018, when they face fellow mid-table side Norwich City in the penultimate league game of their season at Carrow Road on Saturday.
The Whites have endured tough few months but while they have little to play for in terms of promotion or relegation in the final weeks of the campaign, they will be determined to finish on a high in order to build some momentum for the 2018/19 season.
They certainly did that last weekend when they beat Yorkshire rivals Barnsley 2-1 at Elland Road, with goals in either half from left-back Tom Pearce and winger Ezgjan Alioski securing the three points for the hosts.
Paul Heckingbottom may have only succeeded Thomas Christiansen in February, but his long-term position certainly hasn’t been guaranteed considering that results haven’t improved greatly, and he will know that his side need to finish the season well to ensure that he leads the team out next term.
The 40-year-old stuck with a 4-2-3-1 system against the Tykes but brought Pontus Jansson and Samu Saiz into the XI following the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa previously, and he may be considering making more alterations against the Canaries as he looks to decide which squad members will be with him going forward.
Here is how Leeds must line up when they travel to Norwich, ahead of Bailey Peacock-Farrell in goal…
With Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas injured and Gaetano Berardi suspended, Heckingbottom had something of a conundrum at right-back against Barnsley.
However, with Pontus Jansson fit to start he decided to move Matthew Pennington from the centre of the defence to the right, and he certainly did a good job given he was blasted by fans on Twitter for his Aston Villa performance.
With Tom Pearce getting on the score-sheet he has to start at left-back, but Heckingbottom should bring captain Liam Cooper back into the XI for the trip to Carrow Road in place of 20-year-old Paudie O’Connor, to see if he really does have the quality to be in the team regularly next term.
With January addition Adam Forshaw only fit enough for the substitutes’ bench after injury, Heckingbottom went with a central midfield duo of Kalvin Phillips and Ronaldo Vieira against the Tykes.
It would certainly be a surprise if the former Middlesbrough man doesn’t return to the XI against Norwich however, considering he has been their most in-form player in the middle of the park in the last couple of months.
In that case, one of Phillips or Vieira would need to drop out, and the 40-year-old boss should look to take the former out given he has been struggling for form for much of the campaign.
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Heckingbottom brought Samu Saiz back into the starting XI in place of Caleb Ekuban against the Tykes, with the latter appearing to be suffering from a real lack of confidence in front of goal.
Being taken out of the limelight should have done him the world of good, and given Saiz threw something of a tantrum when he was substituted off in the 84th minute, he should be left on the bench at Carrow Road with Ekuban back in the XI.
That change would see Kemar Roofe drop back into an attacking midfield role, alongside Ezgjan Alioski and Pablo Hernandez, whom Leeds fans were delighted to see sign a new two-year deal on Thursday.
As reported by The Times, Manchester United are interested in signing Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon this summer.
What’s the story?
As Jose Mourinho continues his rebuilding process at Old Trafford, it’s expected to be another busy transfer window at the Red Devils this summer. The Portuguese is looking to build the next great generation of trophy winners at the club, but can he secure the necessary talent?
One name on Man United’s radar is Fulham stand-out Ryan Sessegnon, according to The Times.
The paper reckon that United have been monitoring the teenager all season and will look to convince him his future lies in Manchester after his exceptional season in the second-tier.
Rated at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, can they get a summer deal for the left-sided prospect?
Would he be a good signing?
Although Sessegnon is just 17, he’s already showing enough ability and consistency in his game to be regarded a Premier League calibre talent.
With 15 goals and 6 assists playing in a variety positions for Fulham this season, he’s demonstrated the potential he holds and the interest from big clubs like Manchester United is not surprising at all.
Whether at left-back or left-wing he has a future at Old Trafford and surrounded by better players and with elite coaching can fulfil that obvious potential and become the player he promises to be.
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He’s a player that the Red Devils should certainly be keeping an eye on this summer.
Portuguese reports are once again claiming Bas Dost could move to Newcastle, and Newcastle fans are starting to feel like they’re stuck in a time loop.
Bas Dost, who has 33 goals in all competitions this season, has been linked with a move to Tyneside in every transfer window since the dawn of time, and Portuguese outlet A Bola claim the Sporting CP striker will definitely leave this summer.
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According to A Bola (via Sport Witness), the big Dutchman wants to leave Portugal after a fallout with Sporting CP president Bruno de Carvalho.
Not long after the report from A Bola that claimed several key players wanted to leave, the squad was attacked on Tuesday by their own fans. Dost needed six stiches in his head after being hit by a belt.
It’s no secret by now that Rafael Benitez wants a target man, but Islam Slimani failed to impress and the links to Nicolai Jorgensen have died down, so could this finally be the year when Dost takes the plunge and becomes a Magpie?
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Fans have been discussing the links on Twitter, and some of the best reactions can be found below…
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Rangers are keen on signing Swansea City defender Kyle Bartley this summer.
What’s the story?
Bartley is of course a former player of the Ibrox club, spending a season-and-a-half on loan from Arsenal in 2011 and 2012.
He became something of a fan favourite and many supporters have harboured ambitions to sign him again ever since.
The Scottish Sun report that this could become a reality this summer, with Rangers hoping they can sign him for half of the £5m that Swansea City value him at.
However, Steven Gerrard will face competition for his signature with another former loan club Leeds United also interested in his services, according to the report.
The paper say the player is open to a move north of the border to join Gerrard’s new era at the Gers.
Would he be a good signing?
Bartley wasn’t the most polished of defenders in his first spell at Ibrox but it’s important to remember he was only 19 when he initially arrived at the club and had limited first team experience.
Since departing he’s made almost 90 appearances for the likes of Swansea, Birmingham City and, most successfully, at Leeds.
He is a better, more experienced player now, who still possesses the physical attributes that helped him cope with the Scottish game the first time around.
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Bartley is a player who brings passion and determination to every defence he is a part of, something Rangers have arguably lacked this season, having to endure lacklustre performances from the likes of Fabio Cardoso and Bruno Alves.
With Ross McCrorie now clearly a better option in midfield and David Bates moving on to Hamburg, the Light Blues badly need defensive reinforcements and if they can get the deal done, they could do a lot worse than Bartley.
Tottenham fans have been debating a move for Wilfried Zaha, and they’re convinced he would be an upgrade on Erik Lamela.
Tottenham are clearly on the hunt for more attacking depth this summer, with links to Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha adding to Monday’s links to Spartak Moscow winger Quincy Promes.
Mauricio Pochettino currently has five top class players competing for the three places behind Harry Kane in his 4-2-3-1 system, and if one of them were to make way for a new signing it would probably be Erik Lamela.
The Argentine winger scored a brace in the final day win over Leicester, but has struggled for game time this season for various reasons.
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Fans love the 26 year-old’s passion and work rate, but he has taken plenty of flak this season for some less than stellar performances.
According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham are “keen on a move” for Zaha this summer, despite Palace putting a whopping £60m price tag on the skilful winger.
The 25 year-old scored nine goals and added three assists this season, while averaging an impressive 4.1 completed dribbles per game.
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Fans have been debating a swap of Zaha for Lamela, and it seems most would rather have the Palace man.
Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
The mid-season arrival of Alexis Sanchez at Manchester United was supposed to elevate the club’s faltering attack to new heights, with his sprinkling of experience guiding Jose Mourinho’s young attackers.
Instead, the Chilean has shunted Anthony Martial down the pecking order, while looking like an awkward fit in a team that was not free-flowing before his arrival and losing the ball far too often.
The frequent turnovers of possession became acceptable at Arsenal, where he was the club’s talisman and given a free ride by the fans who were just glad to see a player trying their heart out in a team that constantly fell short.
That has been picked up on at United, where the scrutiny is sharper – so we asked their fans; what is to blame for Sanchez’s poor form?
You can see the full options below but the one that got over half the votes was Mourinho’s conservative playing style…
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Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata won’t have much rest this summer but insists he is ready to shine for both club and country over the coming months, as reported by The Daily Record.
What’s the story?
The Belgian international is in on his way to the World Cup in Russia and is in line to feature prominently for Roberto Martinez’s squad given the injury doubts surrounding legend Vincent Kompany.
The defender has played in matches against Portugal, Egypt and Costa Rica recently and could end up being an unlikely starter in the country’s group matches.
The Hoops kick-off their summer qualifiers before the tournament in Russia is even over and as such could even be without the likes of Boyata or Mikael Lustig initially.
However, the 27-year-old insists he will be ready to go for Brendan Rodgers’ side when he returns to Glasgow.
As quoted by The Daily Record, Boyata said:
It will be a long season with the World Cup – and coming straight back for Champions League qualifiers with Celtic – but for me that is no problem. The World Cup and Champions League are the two biggest places you can be as a player – it is a challenge that excites me.
I worked hard to get here – and if I am needed to play then I will play. He (Kompany) has been working very hard to be ready – and he is an important leader for us. We hope he is available but if the coach needs me I am ready to do my job.
Should Celtic be worried that Boyata is involved too heavily for his country over the coming weeks?
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]
Fantastic learning experience
There have been doubts about Boyata’s ability to play at the highest level for Celtic, with the player making a number of high profile errors in his time in Scotland. Gaining experience in an elite squad like Belgium’s can only be a massive positive for the Hoops, especially if he goes on to feature in a tournament such as the World Cup.
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The Hoops should have plenty about them to make it through the early rounds of Champions League qualifying and by the time the step up in competition comes, Boyata should be available and ready to continue his decent progress under Brendan Rodgers, with the exposure to elite competition in Russia only preparing him better.