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According to Football Insider, Tottenham defender Serge Aurier is one of a number of players who the club are trying to get rid of before Monday’s transfer window deadline.

What’s the word?

The Ivory Coast international has been linked with an exit from the north London side for what feels like the entire summer, with Serie A giants Milan reported to have been one of those teams most heavily on his case.

But with the deadline inching ever closer, the right-back still remains at Spurs, and has even featured in two games this season, playing the full 90 minutes against both Shkendija and Chelsea in the Europa League and Carabao Cup respectively.

Now, Football Insider claim that Aurier is among seven senior players at the club who are all in line for a late exit, with the Lilywhites working hard to trim the wage bill and raise cash through sales.

Levy heading for disaster

The fact that Monday’s deadline is approaching, and Spurs still haven’t seen the back of Aurier yet, is already a huge error on their part. But if the Ivorian stays beyond the start of next week, then it would be an unforgivable mistake from Daniel Levy and co.

Jose Mourinho has made it abundantly clear that he simply doesn’t trust the defender enough, with those who have seen the All or Nothing documentary watching on as the Portuguese man admitted Aurier is a liability and is afraid of him giving away stupid penalties during a game.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand simply said Aurier is “rash”, and that he “lets his team down far too often” – a statement made back in February 2018, and in fact, nothing has really changed since.

Earning around £70k-a-week, the 27-year-old is in the top ten of the club’s highest-earners right now, and each week that passes by without him leaving, is another sum of money being completely wasted.

Spurs have already signed a new first-choice right-back in Matt Doherty from Wolves, and having somebody like Aurier just continue to pick up massive wages whilst being on the bench isn’t a good look. Unless Levy sorts it out sharpish, the north London side would have had a nightmare.

Chelsea suffered an early Premier League blow after title rivals Liverpool opened a three-point cushion between them after just two matches.

The Blues have impressed in the transfer window this year and have recruited potentially the ideal personnel to help them push for their next league title. However, new manager Frank Lampard still has the mission of bridging the gap to last season’s top two Manchester City and Liverpool.

He was unable to do this on his first attempt of the season in a head-to-head against one of their rivals. Chelsea lost their home fixture to the champions after a brace from Sadio Mane ensured maximum points for the Reds on a day of unfortunate incidents for the Blues.

Andreas Christensen was sent off for his last-man challenge on Mane and Jorginho squandered his attempt to put Chelsea back in the game from a second half penalty which could have given Lampard;s team a huge boost, but Alisson was on hand to ensure that the visitors kept a clean sheet.

“I actually am happier today in many ways than I was at Brighton, because Brighton was three points, an OK performance,” the ex-Blues midfielder told Sky Sports, despite the loss (via This is Anfield).

“We’re in pre-season feel, because we haven’t had long enough to train in quite a lot of the individuals and as a collective. Today I saw spirit, I saw a desire to defend by a lot of our players, Reece James, Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori when he comes on, midfield giving everything to block gaps.”

James is one of Lampard’s up-and-coming youngsters who has been making waves in the first team. He opened his 2020/21 season with a superb long-range goal against Brighton last weekend.

His defensive performance against Liverpool was also one of note. According to FotMob, James made the most tackles in the match with four. He also recorded one interception and three clearances, so it is understandable why his manager name-checked him for praise.

Lampard will return to the drawing board ahead of their next match against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup and they will then face West Bromwich Albion on Sunday in a bid to return to winning ways in the league.

How do you think Reece James played against Liverpool? Have your say in the comments below…

Leeds United are edging closer to another club-record signing and this one could help fill the void left behind by former Marcelo Bielsa favourite Samuel Saiz…

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Yorkshire giants have agreed on personal terms with Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, although a fee between the two teams is yet to be finalised.

It’s thought that the Premier League newcomers have offered a lucrative contract that is substantially more than his current €28k-per-week (£25k-per-week) wages.

This comes just a few days after transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Serie A outfit would ask for between €30m (£26.5m) and €35m (£31m). Talks remain ongoing.

Shades of Saiz

Well, this would not only be one incredible signing for Leeds but also one hell of a statement to the rest of the Premier League having already eclipsed their club-record with a £26m swoop for Rodrigo from Valencia last week.

The 26-year-old seems to be the perfect all-round midfielder – per WhoScored, De Paul provided seven goals and six assists in Serie A last season. He also averaged 2.5 shots, 2.3 key passes, 1.8 dribbles and 1.8 tackles per game.

It’s no surprise to see many sing his praises both on a domestic and international level.

His manager Luca Gotti told Tuttomercato: “I think he is a player who has all the requirements for the high level. From a mental attitude point of view, he has a great personality.”

Meanwhile, former Valencia coach Juan Antonio Pizzi believes the box-to-box maestro “is the best prospect to come through in Argentina in the last five years.”

He very much sounds like a certain Saiz, described as a “natural, head-up dribbler capable of cutting in dangerously from the left and firing powerful and accurate efforts on goal,” this is certainly something United could do in that transition from defensive midfield to attack.

Saiz was the perfect complement to veteran Pablo Hernandez, but now that door is opened for De Paul should Victor Orta and co manage to secure him this summer.

AND in other news, Leeds told to pay £20m for Premier League winger…

Manchester United finally seem to be getting their transfers right.

For years they’ve been chasing big names who haven’t performed with the likes of Angel Di Maria, Falcao, Alexis Sanchez and Bastian Schweinsteiger disappointing after joining the Red Devils, with three of the four aforementioned names leaving the club after just one season, while Sanchez seems to be on his way out as well.

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Last summer seemed to be something of a turning point as United aimed for younger talents with the likes of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Dan James coming in, before Bruno Fernandes joined in January.

It seems like United turned a corner, but a recent transfer report indicates that they could soon go back to their old ways, and that isn’t a good thing.

What’s the story then?

The Express are reporting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are chasing 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez.

The Colombian has just one year remaining on his deal in the Spanish capital, and he’s reportedly available for a fee of £23m.

Even at that price, it’s hard to justify United shelling out for him.

Sanchez 2.0

There’s no doubting that Rodriguez has the natural ability to be a success for Manchester United, having won a World Cup Golden Boot, but it’s been six years since what was arguably the peak of his career.

The midfielder has played just 419 league minutes for Zinedine Zidane’s side this term, and that’s after Bayern Munich decided to let him go back to his parent club, refusing to take up their option to buy after his two-year loan.

There’s no shame in being rejected by Bayern and struggling to get a game for Real Madrid, after all, they’re two of the biggest teams in the world, but at 29-years-old with a litany of injury problems on his record, you have to say that this is a risk not worth taking.

With Fernandes and Paul Pogba as midfield options you also have to ask why United would even need him at this point?

If he did come in it’s hard to imagine him being anything but another sap on their wage budget in a similar vein to Sanchez.

Leeds United could be eyeing up a new number one this summer, according to fresh reports from the Daily Mail this week.

What’s the word?

It’s claimed that Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn has been mooted with a move to Elland Road even despite Illan Meslier making his loan move permanent.

The young Frenchman deputised between the sticks during the Championship run-in and signed a three-year contract on Thursday.

Casilla has featured just once since the restart after he served the remainder of his eight-match ban for racial abuse and his future in west Yorkshire is by no means certain.

Casilla replacement

The reliable Phil Hay over at The Athletic believes he’ll be off this summer, in a fan Q&A, he said: “My gut feeling is that they’ll replace Casilla. I’m not sure he’d be that keen to stay himself after what’s gone on in the past six months.”

Therefore, an addition to the goalkeeping department does begin to make much more sense and it’s definitely not a surprise to see the colossal 6 foot 5 Saints man mentioned as Marcelo Bielsa was keen on him during his first season at the club.

Gunn joined the PL outfit for £13.5m from Manchester City in 2018 and has lost his starting spot under Ralph Hasenhuttl this season, failing to notch an appearance since their 9-0 drubbing by Leicester City back in October.

Although he’s yet to feature for the Three Lions he has previously been called up to Gareth Southgate’s senior side whilst his former boss Mark Hughes lauded Gunn’s “excellent” penalty-saving skills against Everton very early on in his Saints career.

He and Meslier would certainly be a very good duo to have in the Premier League next season.

AND in other news, Is Bielsa eyeing an exciting move for his new Samuel Saiz?

A recent transfer claim from former striker Noel Whelan has caused a stir amongst the Leeds United faithful this week.

Speaking in an interview with Football Insider, he tipped the west Yorkshiremen to sign veteran goalkeeper Joe Hart from Burnley with him set to be out of contract in the summer.

Whelan said: “If he is available on a free transfer you are not going to be losing out on much. His wages will be big though, do not get me wrong but we could possibly get two years out of him.”

Before adding: “He has the experience and I am sure he’s the leader we need.”

And it hasn’t gone down well at Elland Road.

The 33-year-old has struggled ever since his departure from Manchester City in 2018, although the fruits of that labour started to come into effect in 2016.

He was shifted out on loan to Torino and West Ham before joining the Clarets permanently, where he has been behind Nick Pope in the pecking order for over a season.

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Hart has managed just 24 appearances in that time, keeping six clean sheets, via Transfermarkt.

It has led to calls from some supporters that the veteran shot-stopper isn’t needed as they should be signing Illan Meslier on a permanent basis.

There were also claims that Hart wouldn’t fit the system Bielsa tries to deploy – and they could well be right given he wasn’t able to cement his name down under Guardiola, who developed his tactics from the Argentine.

Many also believe the former England number one is ‘past his sell-by date’ too.

It remains to be seen whether or not Leeds would actually be in for Hart, especially with him being on £45k-per-week, via Spotrac.

But clearly those at Elland Road would rather he didn’t sign if presented the opportunity.

AND in other news, Leeds fans react as Phil Hay relays Premier League news…

Many Newcastle United fans have welcomed a piece about the prospective takeover in the northeast from Michael Martin as he wrote for the True Faith website.

The title of the piece is ‘Takeover – smelling a rat!’ and touches upon many subjects to do with what exactly is going on at St. James’ Park. Martin talks about how various reports suggested that the deal was about to be completed as early as last weekend, but since then news has broken about further delays that has put the bid in some doubt.

The Guardian reported on Monday that new legal documents had been presented to the Premier League which could have an effect on their decision to approve of the takeover, a verdict that has yet to be delivered. Martin concluded from this that there are forces conspiring against the deal about which members of the Toon faithful can speculate, as was shared on NUFC 360’s Twitter page.

Nevertheless, these Magpies fans drooled over the piece:

Geordies, what do you make of Martin’s piece? Comment below with your views!

Loads of Celtic fans have been reacting to a story from The Daily Record’s Keith Jackson, as he claims an SPFL summit could soon crown the Hoops champions

According to Jackson’s report, league bosses will hold conference calls next week after Belgium’s Jupiler League ended their season – the table in Belgium will stand, meaning Club Brugge will be declared champions. Brugge were 15 points clear of Gent, while Celtic are 13 points clear of Rangers.

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Jackson claims that the crisis talks will discuss whether or not to follow the Jupiler League’s example and end the season, and states that if they do opt to “pull the plug” on the campaign then results will stand, meaning Celtic will be champions “with immediate effect”.

The option of a null and void season is not on the table, says Jackson, despite calls from many at Ibrox.

Of course, ending the season now would cause quite the divide in Glasgow, and it’s fair to say the Parkhead faithful are enjoying this one on Twitter.

Loads of Bhoys have flocked to Jackson’s post to mock their rivals and jokingly celebrate being “Championes”, and you can find some of the best Twitter responses down below…

Fans have been stunned by something Virgil van Dijk admitted about Celtic this week…

Garry Monk is engaged in a dispute with former assistant manager Pep Clotet after the Spaniard took on the role of Birmingham City manager after Monk was sacked by the club last summer.

The former Leeds boss views Clotet’s actions as a betrayal and that led him to avoid contact with his opposite number ahead of the meeting between Blues and Sheffield Wednesday in mid-week.

However, Monk has little sympathy from Leeds fans. They know all about Monk from his time at Elland Road and many still haven’t forgiven him for the way he departed the club.

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He had a successful time in Yorkshire, guiding the Whites to a seventh-place finish in 2016/17 before deciding that the prospect of managing Middlesbrough was an opportunity that was too good to turn down.

Because of that departure he is viewed as a “snake” by some supporters, and in the debacle with Clotet they believe that it was Monk who acted like a child and was without class.

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Here is what fans have been saying in response to Monk’s actions on Wednesday evening.

In other Leeds news, Phil Hay has provided an interesting transfer update which may not be the news that fans want to hear.

When George Baldock scored Sheffield United’s equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur, he didn’t bother to really celebrate it.It was the 26-year-old’s first-ever Premier League goal, having scored at every other level between the Championship and National League, so it should have been a special moment, especially as it was a well-worked strike that had brought the Blades level.However, VAR overshadowed the occasion, as he was made to wait for confirmation of the goal, just minutes after David McGoldrick was robbed of his season’s first:

While Blades fans were happy to see their team back on level terms, they were still furious with the decision that went against them, as well as how long it took for the goal to be confirmed.

VAR has been a big talking point so far this season in the Premier League, due to the controversy that has often surrounded it, which is the case with this game.

Many at Sheffield United feel they have been robbed of a win, as well as the enjoyment of getting their equaliser.

A selection of Twitter reaction to the goal, including frustrated Sheffield United fans, can be seen below: