Liverpool’s Kamil Grabara taking the first steps to challenging Alisson’s No.1 spot

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies…

Not many players in the world look capable of challenging Alisson Becker’s position at Liverpool No.1 right now.

The Brazil international – who cost the Reds £66.8m when they signed him from Roma last summer – won the Premier League Golden Glove for his efforts last season, and also recorded the most clean sheets in the Champions League as the Merseysiders won the competition.

Alisson also won the Golden Glove at this summer’s Copa America, again ending the tournament on the winning side.

He seems practically immovable inbetween the sticks right now.

However, he won’t be Liverpool’s No.1 forever. Nor will 31-year-old Simon Mignolet be his backup for much longer given his age.

The Reds will eventually need fresh blood, and 20-year-old Kamil Grabara could well become Alisson’s successor later down the line.

The Poland Under-21 international – who appeared at this summer’s European Championships – recently joined Huddersfield on a season-long loan deal.

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Whilst that alone would’ve been an encouraging sign, he looks set to be Jan Siewert’s No.1 for the 2019/20 campaign after first-choice stopper Jonas Lossl joined Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton earlier in the window.

The 6 foot 5 glovesman is expected to start the Terriers’ Monday night curtain-raiser against Derby County, where in doing so, he will be making his senior debut in English football.

Kamara has only ever appeared on the bench for the Liverpool first-team in a competitive fixture, but signed a new long-term contract before being shipped out on loan to the John Smith’s Stadium – the Reds clearly have a lot of faith in him for the future.

The Championship is an extremely tough division consisting of 46 long, gruelling games between a number of committed outfits, so Kamara should learn his trade in the senior game pretty quickly given the circumstances.

Alisson may have the shirt for the next four, five or even six seasons, but Kamara is definitely taking the right steps to put pressure on the Brazilian for his spot a few years down the line.

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West Ham prepare major pay rise in bid to convince Maxi Gomez to join

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

West Ham United are prepared to offer Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez a weekly wage of £75,000 if he joins the Hammers this summer, sources have told Football FanCast.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side have already lost three strikers this summer after the departure of Marko Arnautovic to Shanghai SIPG on Monday. Lucas Perez and Andy Carroll had previously departed the Hammers.

The Irons boss has identified Gomez as the man he wants to replace the departed Austria international and has instructed the club’s Director of Football Mario Husillos to attempt to seal a deal, sources have said.

Husillos has subsequently spent the past few weeks in negotiations with the Spanish club as they attempt to reach a deal.

Gomez has a release clause in his contract that totals around €50m (£44.9m) and the Hammers are prepared to pay that, having been emboldened by the fee received for Arnautovic.

Shanghai paid around £23m for the striker and ClaretandHugh report that the fee has been paid up front, an unusual practice in transfers involving European clubs.

As such, they have been able to make a major push to sign Gomez, who has also been heavily linked with Valencia.

Representatives from the Hammers have told the striker’s camp that they are willing to offer him a wage of £75,000 plus bonuses related to his performance.

Arnautovic, who negotiated a pay rise in January, earned £130,000-per-week prior to his departure and has doubled his money with a move to the Far East, per a club insider.

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Gomez will be a cheaper option, then, but it would be a major boon for the player, who currently earns under £20,000-per-week at Celta.

Nevertheless, they will be forced to wait for the player to make a decision; sources claimed last month that he was keen to remain in Spain and Valencia’s offer remains on the table.

West Ham are confident that they have outbid Los Che, but their offer is complicated by the fact that the second Liga club are offering players as part of the deal.

One figure within the Hammers with knowledge of the negotiations for Gomez told FFC that Valencia offered an initial £16m plus Santi Mina and another player on loan.

It remains to be seen if the east London outfit will eventually win out as they look to make Gomez their most expensive purchase ever, eclipsing the £36m paid for Felipe Anderson last summer.

حال التسجيل أمام توتنهام.. رقم تاريخي يضع محمد صلاح ضمن أساطير ليفربول

يخوض نادي ليفربول المنافس في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز مباراة قوية مساء اليوم، الخميس، أمام توتنهام في الجولة العشرين على ملعب “توتنهام هوتسبر” في العاصمة البريطانية “لندن”.

وتنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” بقيادة الحكم الدولي، مايكل أتكينسون.

ويسعى ليفربول في تلك المباراة للعودة إلى النتائج الإيجابية بعد غياب الفوز عن الفريق الإنجليزي في البطولة المحلية في آخر 5 مباريات، بالإضافة إلى الخروج من كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي على يد مانشستر يونايتد يوم، الأحد الماضي.

اقرأ أيضًا | محمد صلاح بعد خسارة مصر أمام الدنمارك: مباراة تاريخية.. فخورون بكم

ولكن هناك معضلة أخرى بسبب هجوم ليفربول الحالي وخاصة، محمد صلاح، الذي لم يسجل في آخر 5 مباريات أيضًا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، ولكنه يظل على رأس قائمة الهدافين في البطولة برصيد 13 هدفا حتى الآن.

وبالتالي، يرغب محمد صلاح في استغلال صحوته في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي وتسجيله هدفين في مرمى مانشستر يونايتد رغم الخسارة 2-3، للعودة مرة أخرى للتسجيل في الدوري الممتاز.

تسجيل محمد صلاح لهدف جديد مع ليفربول اليوم يعني وصوله إلى 20 هدفًا، وهذا يمنحه فرصة الانضمام إلى 4 أساطير من النادي الإنجليزي قد نجحوا في تسجيل 20 هدفًا أو أكثر في 4 مواسم متتالية.

حتى الآن، نجح محمد صلاح في تسجيل 19 هدفًا في جميع البطولات التي خاضها مع ليفربول هذا الموسم بإجمالي 113 هدفا في 180 مباراة فقط، بحسب صحيفة “مترو” البريطانية.

وإليكم أرقام الأساطير الأربع الذين سجلوا 20 هدفا أو أكثر في 4 مواسم أو ما يزيد:

1- جوردون هودسون سجل أكثر من 20 هدفًا في كل موسم من 5 مواسم متتالية من الفترة بين 1930 وحتى 1935.

2- بيلي ليدل سجل أكثر من 20 هدفا في كل موسم من 4 مواسم في الفترة بين 1954 وحتى 1958.

3- روجر هانت سجل أكثر من 20 هدفًا في 5 مواسم متتالية في فترة الستينيات من القرن الماضي.

4- إيان راش سجل أكثر من 20 هدفًا في 6 مواسم متتالية ما بين 1981 وحتى 1987 قبل الرحيل إلى يوفنتوس.

Rangers: Board have dodged a bullet by ruling out Pavol Safranko signing

Whichever way you look at it, Rangers need to bring in another 20-goal-a-season forward to partner Alfredo Morelos but Pavol Safranko certainly isn’t that man. Indeed, they could have dodged a bullet if they pull out of the race.

The Daily Record (28/05, p47), via HITC, have reported the Gers board have ruled out bringing the Slovakian to Scotland. Frankly, that’s one of the best moves they’ll make all summer because he’s just not good enough to take Rangers to the title.

He’s scored 12 in 33 appearances on loan at Dundee United this season, which isn’t too shabby, but it’s not the numbers that the Gers are looking for. Simply put, they’ll need to add a significant goal threat if they’re to challenge Celtic next season.

The 24-year-old would need to be scoring around 10 more per-season to be considered to play under the lights of Ibrox. Anything less and bringing him in would be a step sideways in the title race, and the Gers can’t afford to do that next season.

There’s huge pressure on Steven Gerrard to deliver the first major trophy since their return to the top division, and if he doesn’t have the squad he needs to compete, he’s got no chance of succeeding and might as well find himself another job.

They’ve dodged a huge bullet if the board decide not to invest in the £300,000-rated striker. It leaves a space in the squad for a more prolific talent that could fire the Gers all the way to the Scottish Premiership title.

Rangers fans, who do you think your club needs to buy this summer to win the league next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Mixed opinions: Tottenham fans disagree on Eriksen future

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A number of Tottenham Hotspur fans have mixed views on the latest speculation surrounding attacker Christian Eriksen.

Indeed, according to Football.london, Spurs are willing to offer Eriksen as much as £200,000-a-week in a bid to keep him at the club.

Whilst some of the London club’s supporters are keen for that to happen due to the Denmark international’s importance to the team, others want Mauricio Pochettino’s side to cut their losses this summer.

Eriksen will see his current deal with last season’s Champions League finalists expire at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.

The 27-year-old scored 10 times and provided 17 assists during an impressive 2018-19 season. That said, Eriksen did go missing on a number of occasions.

It remains to be seen what happens with the former Ajax youngster.

And a number of Spurs supporters are struggling to agree on what should happen with the attacker – as shown by the tweets below:

مدافع الزمالك الأسبق: ذكرياتي مع القمة سيئة.. وفرص الأبيض أكبر للفوز بنهائي إفريقيا

تحدث المدافع التونسي يامن بن ذكري لاعب الزمالك الأسبق عن مواجهة القمة أمام الأهلي في نهائي بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وقال يامن في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “إم بي سي مصر” عبر برنامج “اللعيب”: “ذكرياتي مع الأهلي في مباريات القمة سيئة”.

الزمالك: رعب في الفريق بسبب مسحة الكاف.. ولا يوجد ما يمنع مرتضى منصور من حضور النهائي

وأضاف: “أتمنى وأتوقع أن يفوز الزمالك بالبطولة لأسباب عديدة، أهمها ارتفاع معنويات الزمالك بسبب تفوقه في نهائيات المباراة الواحدة”.

وأردف: “الزمالك يحتاج إلى الفوز بالنسخة الجديدة من دوري أبطال إفريقيا واللعب في كأس العالم للأندية”.

واختتم: “لا أريد أن أرى تكرار للأحداث التي وقعت في السوبر المصري بالإمارات وتوقيع عقوبات على اللاعبين”.

Jamie Redknapp suggests Lewis Dunk could solve Arsenal’s defensive problems

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Arsenal could not find their way past a sturdy Brighton rearguard on Sunday afternoon as they effectively resigned themselves to Europa League football with a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

What’s the word?

The Gunners are staring down the barrel of a place in the Europa League for a third straight season.

Unai Emery’s arrival has seemingly injected some level of improvement into the club but his impact has not been enough to take Arsenal back into the Champions League.

A weekend draw with the Seagulls effectively confirmed they will finish outside of the top-four, with defensive frailties throughout the season proving to be their undoing.

But Jamie Redknapp believes that Brighton’s Lewis Dunk could actually hold the key to resolving some of their fundamental issues.

Indeed, the Sky Sports pundit had some glowing words to say about in his team of the week column, as published by the Daily Mail.

‘Arsenal have conceded 50 goals for the second season running but the solution to their leaky defence was staring them in the face on Sunday.

‘Brighton’s Lewis Dunk defended like a warrior and would be an upgrade on any of the centre halves at the Emirates.

‘He may not be the most easy on the eye but he just loves the art of defending. He is exactly what this Arsenal team needs.’

Perfect fit for Arsenal?

Dunk, valued at £10.8 million by Transfermarkt, is blessed with Premier League experience and a proven track record at this level.

Valiant, brave, composed, intelligent and a born leader, Brighton’s brilliant enforcer would be a smart addition to Arsenal’s defensive unit.

The central defender was deservedly handed his first England cap back in November 2018 and Gareth Southgate’s decision to bring him into the squad was symptomatic of how highly rated he is.

As Redknapp has alluded to, he may not be the most exotic or technically astute option in the market, but he is a master of the defensive basics and his presence in the defensive unit could be a reassuring presence for the entire club.

Brighton won’t want to lose a star player but their hand may be forced if a hefty bid is tabled in the summer.

In the Pipeline: Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson

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It may not be a great time to be a Nottingham Forest fan at the moment. The club find themselves in poor form and have fallen away from the play-offs after previously having hopes of potentially gaining promotion.

If there was a positive to take from it though, then it would the fact Arvin Appiah has just made his first-team breakthrough. However, there is a player who potentially has the ability to surpass his development.

Forward Brennan Johnson has been in magnificent form of late and is showing plenty of tricky attributes that could make him a force to be reckoned with in the Championship in the near future.

At 17 years of age, he is still exceptionally raw but his latest performances have shown just how promising he is.

This week, he scored a hat-trick for the club’s U23 side as they hammered Ipswich 4-1. All of his goals were of extreme quality. He first displayed his dead-ball technique, striking a free-kick home from 25 yards, before his second came courtesy of a sweetly struck long-range effort.

If that wasn’t enough, he then found the back of the net once again from a cleverly worked set-piece, coming short, before bouncing the ball over a crowd of players.

It was three goals that showed the confidence of the player, having scored twice against Millwall a week previous too.

It’s no surprise that the attacker has attracted the interest of Everton before. The Premier League side were sniffing around the player in March 2017, only for Forest to issue a hands-off warning.

And they will be counting their blessings that they were able to keep him.

All of the debate surrounding the youth academy at the moment appears to be whether he can become better than Appiah.

Only last week, Chris Cohen, Forest’s U23 assistant coach said this: “The debate in the staff room for a number of years has been who is going to be better, Brennan or Arvin. And not everyone always says Arvin, so that probably shows you the level that we believe Brennan can get to.”

Johnson already has Forest pedigree running through his blood. His father, David Johnson was a huge hit at the City Ground between 2001 and 2006 but if his son continues at the rate he’s going, he may well be able to surpass him.

Pundit View: Gray slams Morelos, wants striker sold

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Rangers fans will take a long time to forgive Alfredo Morelos for his actions on Sunday, but for ex-Ger Andy Gray, the Colombian has already gone one step too far.

The Gers suffered a second Old Firm defeat of the season on Sunday, thanks to goals from Odsonne Edouard and James Forrest either side of a wonderfully taken Ryan Kent effort.

Of course, the major talking points of the match aren’t the goals, but the incidents involving Celtic skipper Scott Brown and several Rangers stars.

Morelos and Andy Halliday both saw red while Kent could face retrospective action, and Gray thinks the former has used up all his chances.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

What did he say?

“I’d sell him. I know it’s an easy thing to say but I’d seriously have to think about selling him,” the 63 year-old said.

“He cost Rangers again. He’s scored 29 goals this season – against who? Not Celtic.

“Not in the games that matter because he’s been sitting in the dressing room by himself and with his thoughts.

“Listen, I think Morelos is semi-talented. But where has he been in the games we have lost?

“Look at the League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen. He wasn’t there. Why?

“Because he was suspended for something stupid against Ayr United in an easy game at Ibrox.

“We need a man to do the business but he’s not shown up.”

Untrue and unfair

The once-formidable target man explained even further that he simply does not think Morelos is good enough for the club, mainly due to his lack of goals in big games.

The feisty youngster has yet to score against Celtic, while Hoops wonderkid Edouard can’t stop scoring against the Gers.

However, he has scored against three times against Aberdeen since moving to Ibrox and bagged four goals and four assists in Europe this season, proving he can do perform when it matters most.

The 22 year-old has a problem with his temperament, but to say he is not good enough for the club, despite being their best player all season, all because of a few moments of madness is perhaps the only thing madder than Morelos himself.

How many games has he gobbled up the one chance created in an otherwise unconvincing performance? How many times has he saved the Gers points while Steven Gerrard continues to learn the managerial ropes? Gray is being extremely naive.

Yet another error: Tottenham fans moan about Hugo Lloris after last-gasp Anfield clanger

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Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter to criticise Hugo Lloris, after the 32-year-old Frenchman’s inability to hold a tame Mohamed Salah effort saw Spurs concede a last-gasp winner against Liverpool at Anfield.

It is not the first time this season that the French international has made a mistake, most notably against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, and fans are beginning to run out of patience with the former Lyon stopper.

The North London Derby of 2008 may never be matched for drama. Lewis from Norwich City Central explains why it’s his all time favourite derby in the video below…

Salah’s effort was weak, as the Egyptian attempted to make something of a high, lofted ball. The 26-year-old nodded towards Lloris, who spilled the ball onto Toby Alderweireld before both men watched it agonisingly trickle over the line.

It was certainly an effort that Lloris could’ve held onto, and it is another error that has cost his teammates in a game where they were arguably the better side – as captain, he should be a key figure, but he is proving to be a huge liability.

Let’s see what the Tottenham supporters on Twitter have been saying about the howler…

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