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?
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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.
Arsenal fans are all in complete agreement over their latest transfer target, as an overwhelming majority voted to swoop for Lucas Torreira this summer.
According to various reports, Arsenal are in the race to sign Sampdoria’s Torreira this summer.
The feisty little midfielder has bundles of energy, and would inject a lot of life into Unai Emery’s new look Arsenal side.
Napoli and Everton have also been linked with moves for the Uruguayan, who is valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, but the Gunners are thought to be leading the pack, with a report from the Mirror even claiming he will complete a medical this week.
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Averaging 2.8 tackles and 2 interceptions per game along with an impressive 87 per cent pass success rate, the 22 year-old could completely transform Arsenal’s midfield, and give the likes of Ramsey and Xhaka a lot more freedom.
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Fans are completely in favour of a summer swoop, with a whopping 92 per cent backing a move for the 5 ft 5 defensive midfielder.
Tottenham have been linked with a move for Colombia’s Juan Quintero, but it’s West Ham that should be eyeing up the crafty little playmaker.
What’s the word?
According to Argentinian outlet Ole, Tottenham have joined the race to sign Porto playmaker Quintero, who has been wonderful for Colombia at the World Cup.
The report claims River Plate, where he has been on loan from Porto, are set to trigger a clause that makes his move there permanent, but he will then have a new release clause of just €22m (£19.5m).
Mauricio Pochettino is clearly keen to add even more firepower to his exciting young Spurs squad, and Quintero’s performances at the World Cup have shown he may finally be fulfilling his potential.
However, if the player is looking for a fresh start, then West Ham can offer him exactly that, along with the promise of more regular playing time than he would get in North London.
The Hammers must add some creativity to atone for the loss of Manuel Lanzini, despite the Argentine confirming today his injury is not as bad as some media reports have made out, and at just £19.5m a move for Quintero is a no brainer.
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Pellegrini’s perfect project?
Quintero announced himself to the footballing world in Colombia’s first group game, firing a very intelligent free kick under the wall into the bottom corner.
The 25 year-old is a similar style of dribbler to Joaquin Correa, who the Hammers have already been linked with, but has a better eye for a pass than the young Sevilla star.
His creative passing was on display all night in his side’s 3-0 win to eliminate Poland on Sunday, as he attempted several penetrating passes towards front man Radamel Falcao, eventually finding his number nine for the second goal.
The Colombian playmaker has the ability to make something out of nothing, and the only thing holding him back until now has been consistency and discipline.
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Playing under an experienced manager like Pellegrini could help in that regard, and the slight edge to his game would certainly endear him to the fans in East London, just like it has for Marko Arnautovic.
Like Lanzini, Quintero can play on either flank, but is at his best as the number ten. If Pellegrini could get the feisty little playmaker playing to his potential on a consistent basis, the eventual return of Lanzini could give the Hammers one of the most creative and devastating attacks in the league.
So, West Ham fans, should you splash out around £20m on Quintero this summer? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…
West Ham United fans have been impressed with Javier Hernandez at the World Cup and are eager to see him play under Manuel Pellegrini next season.
The Mexican forward has played a key role in their two wins at the summer tournament in Russia so far and scored the winning goal against South Korea on Saturday night, in a 2-1 victory.
His debut season at the London Stadium wasn’t the most rewarding for either the player, his team or the supporters at the London Stadium, but he did show glimpses of the quality that made him such an exciting signing in the first place.
Overall he scored 8 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions.
Now, after watching him in Russia, Hammers fans are hoping that he can reach his potential under new manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Supporters reckon that he can get the best out of ‘Chicharito’ given his preferred formation and the fact he is unlikely to play the striker out of position, as he was last term.
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They took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his future after Saturday’s performance…
Trent Alexander-Arnold came of age last season when he grasped his opportunity in the Liverpool team.
After Joe Gomez suffered injury, the 19-year-old stepped in as right-back and he continued to thrive under Jurgen Klopp’s guidance.
The teenager held his own in high-pressure matches against Manchester City and Roma in the Champions League, while he also put in a decent shift in the 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the final.
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Alexander-Arnold’s impressive performances, which included scoring two goals and creating three assists in all competitions, earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.
The youngster earned his first start on Thursday evening as the Three Lions took on Belgium in their final Group G fixture, which they lost 1-0.
The team may not have won, but Alexander-Arnold gave a lasting impression as he was handed the right wing-back role.
Southgate has opted to go for a back three during the tournament, which means that rather than play in a right-back slot, Alexander-Arnold was pushed further up the field.
During the clash, the teenager delivered more crosses into the danger area than any of his teammates.
The right-sided player, along with Jamie Vardy, produced the most key passes during the match, plus the Liverpool star created an attempt on goal, proving once again that he has an attacking presence.
Alexander-Arnold is going from strength to strength, which can only bode well for Liverpool.
Klopp should soon be able to trust playing the teen in a more advanced role down the right if needs be.
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Daniel Vettori’s responsibilities have increased after it was decided he would bat at No.6 in tomorrow’s decider against Pakistan in Napier
Cricinfo staff10-Dec-2009Daniel Vettori’s responsibilities have increased after it was agreed he would bat at No.6 in tomorrow’s decider against Pakistan in Napier. The decision was made to accommodate an extra bowler on what Vettori has described as a pitch “quite different” from the ones used on previous occasions at the venue.”I just had a brief discussion with Mark Greatbatch, we’ve got our heads round it,” Vettori said. “I’ll be batting at No.6, and we’ll play the extra bowler this time. We’re tossing it up between going with four seamers, or three seamers and two spinners.”Vettori has batted at No.6 in ODIs and the promotion comes at the time when the batting line-up is in dire need of some solidity, following failures in both innings in the second Test in Wellington. “I’m excited about it in some ways and a little nervous as well,” Vettori said about his new role. “When you bat at No.6, your expectations are different and I suppose I have to take a mindset that I have taken into all my batting displays. Batting at No.6 in ODIs has helped a bit, and I realize my role a bit more. If I can do that, it gives us a nice all-round option.”In the event that New Zealand go in with four seamers, Tim Southee, who came in as a replacement for Shane Bond in the squad, is likely to play his first game of the series, while Jeetan Patel remains the spinning option. Grant Elliott, Vettori said, was struggling from a knee injury and a final decision on his place will taken tomorrow. With the inclusion of BJ Watling as opener, Daniel Flynn could be expected to drop down the order.Four of the last five Tests in Napier have ended in a draw, but Vettori felt the track this time had more to offer for the bowlers. “The curator has worked hard on putting a bit more pace in it and wants it to be a touch livelier than in the past,” he said. “He said everytime there’s a new ball taken, there’s a bit in it. We’ve played on some tough decks in the past; the balance will be a lot more even in this game.”The toss, Vettori added, would not be vital. “With the grass cover on it, it will be pretty consistent throughout the Test,” he said. “The new ball will play its part through the five days hopefully, which is what you want and then it turns into a good batting deck.”Only Ross Taylor in the top order has managed to measure up to the accuracy and persistence of Pakistan’s bowlers, and Vettori admitted his batsmen were under pressure to perform, but did not require an overhaul in their technique. “They are under a bit of pressure. Sometimes in these situations you try to reinvent your game and they just need a 5 to 10 percent improvement,” he said. “It’s not completely turning over their game, just a few key areas to improve on and if they do that it’s going to help our resolve. It goes towards bowling and fielding too, and if we rectify just a couple of key areas that will make a difference to us.”Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Mohammad Asif, have made the best use of favourable conditions on offer in the series, and Vettori said his bowlers had much to learn from their counterparts. “Asif has been so successful for the lengths he’s bowled. We need to get it fuller to utilise what movement there is,” he said. The New Zealand batsmen, Vettori said, had to contend with a varied attack. “All three seamers bring something different; the left-armer [Mohammad Aamer] who bangs it in, the line-length bowler [Asif] who bowls in outstanding areas and [Umar] Gul who mixes it up a bit, so it’s important we counter these different factors.”The Napier Test will be Iain O’Brien’s last, and Vettori was full of praise for his “go-to” bowler. “He’s been a really good servant of New Zealand cricket,” he said. “It’s only been a short Test career but most of that has coincided with my captaincy and he has done a great job, and I’ve looked at him as the go-to guy in the team and he hasn’t let me down.”