If reports are correct, new Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers could already be making a huge mistake signing Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson.

Following a disastrous spell under Claude Puel, the Leicester City board were forced into bringing in former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers a little sooner than they had initially planned.

Rodgers, known for his work with youth, having brought through the likes of Raheem Sterling, has a whole host of young talent at his disposal at Leicester. Harvey Barnes, Demarai Gray, James Maddison, Ben Chillwell and Hamza Choudhury to name a few.

So why, we ask, is he interested in blowing the bank on Callum Wilson?

However senseless, The Sun believe it’s a there’s a very good chance that the Bournemouth forward will be the first recruit to join Leicester’s rank under their new boss for a mammoth £40m.

For us, that’s a truly ridiculous sum to be spending on Wilson. Especially with the ever-dangerous Jamie Vardy still going.

Yes, he’s done extremely well this year and we can’t take that away from him. Bournemouth are pretty much safe knowing they’ll be spending another season in the Premier League because of it.

But realistically what does he have over the former England international that screams ‘I’m worth £40m’?

Age, maybe. But the engine of Vardy doesn’t look like it’s slowing anytime soon, and he provides some much-needed experience in an extremely young side.

They’ve both got pace, they both finish well, and by all accounts, they’re both nightmares for defenders.

To sign Wilson wouldn’t so much make a footballing impact than it would a symbolic one: that the man Leicester have always relied on is disposable.

What kind of impact will that have on the dressing room?

Sheffield Wednesday boss Steve Bruce has revealed that he was delighted with the performance of Jordan Thorniley in Saturday’s goalless draw with Reading.

Thorniley made his first Championship appearance since mid-December against the Royals, with captain Tom Lees on the sidelines through injury.

The 22-year-old won four aerial duels, according to WhoScored, and it would be fair to say that Bruce was pleased with the centre-back’s performance.

Wednesday now face a trip to Millwall on Tuesday night, where they can expect to come under some intense aerial pressure.

Bruce has said that Thorniley ‘did very well’ against Reading and has revealed that the defender will keep his spot in the XI for the clash with Millwall.

Bruce told Wednesday’s official website:

“He did very well and the reports back I’ve got from the lads over the last few weeks, he can feel harshly done by for not being in the team because he’s done very well.

“It’s good that the kid has come in and done well, he’ll have it all on tomorrow night that’s for sure because we’ll need our centre backs to be at their best. We know what Millwall will throw at us.”

Wednesday have kept seven clean sheets in their last 11 matches, including back-to-back shut-outs in Bruce’s first two matches in charge of the club.

The Owls currently occupy 16th position in the Championship table, 11 points off the playoff positions.

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West Ham United attacker Martin Samuelsen is seemingly on the verge of leaving the Hammers on another loan.

The 21-year-old has been with West Ham since 2015, making the move to the London club from Manchester City.

The 6ft 2in ace has only made two first-team appearances for the Hammers, though, spending time out on loan at Blackburn Rovers and Burton Albion.

The attacker has most recently been with VVV Venlo in the Eredivisie, but according to Haugesund Avis via Vital West Ham, he is on the verge of agreeing another loan, this time with FK Haugesund.

The West Ham fans have been on social media offering their views on the situation, with his long-term future at the London club extremely uncertain.

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It would be fair to say that the majority of the club’s supporters want Samuelsen to leave on a permanent deal as they feel that he will never be good enough to turn out for the first team.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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Considering Tottenham Hotspur made no signings in either the summer or winter transfer windows, it is remarkable that Mauricio Pochettino’s side have managed to involve themselves in the title race.

However, if Spurs are to kick on from here then they will have to eventually spend some money and improve their squad in certain key areas. For instance, the north London outfit need to find a better back up striker to Harry Kane than Fernando Llorente. On top of that, 32-year-old goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has been a liability at times this season, suggesting a replacement for the Frenchman may be due.

Another area of the Spurs squad that is weak is the full-back positions. Full-backs play a vital role in the modern game, as they’re expected contribute effectively at both ends of the pitch. Spurs’ ‘big six’ rivals all boast fine full-backs, such as Kyle Walker, Andrew Robertson and Hector Bellerin. In this area, Tottenham are lacking.

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The likes of Kieran Trippier, Serge Aurier, Ben Davies and Danny Rose represent an underwhelming set of full-backs at this level of the game. Trippier, especially, is someone who Pochettino should be desperate to find an upgrade for in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Why he has to go

The 28-year-old right-back has been a regular starter for Spurs this season. According to Transfermarkt’s stats, the 16-cap England international has made 21 Premier League appearances.

However, his performances have often left much to be desired. Defensively, the Bury-born star is regularly caught out of position or punished for lapses in concentration. He also lacks the pace to deal with quick attackers.

Going forwards he struggles to create regularly too. Aside from good set piece delivery, Trippier contributes little in the final third. 

If Spurs are to go from also-rans to champions, they must have top class full-backs. Finding an upgrade for Trippier in the summer would be a positive step forward in that regard.

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Former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers striker Alan Shearer, writing in his BBC Sport column, believes Tottenham Hotspur have the ability to stay the course in the Premier League title race, and believes they deserve more respect than they are perhaps getting.

Spurs beat Leicester City 3-1 on Sunday to stay five points behind both Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the table.

What he said

Shearer, who won the title with Blackburn in the 1994-95 season, has given his thoughts on the weekend fixtures, with Spurs, City and Liverpool all winning.

City, of course, ran up the most eye-catching score, thumping Chelsea 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium, while the Reds beat AFC Bournemouth 3-0 on Saturday.

Shearer, though, insists that Mauricio Pochettino’s men are candidates alongside the Reds and the Blues.

He wrote: “It is a little disrespectful that not many people are talking about Tottenham as potential Premier League winners because they are in the title race – and they have shown they are not going away.

“It was typical really that, on a day where Manchester City were sensational and made the headlines with the way they demolished Chelsea to go back above Liverpool at the top of the table, Spurs ground out another unspectacular victory.

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“Mauricio Pochettino’s side have done something similar in each of their past four league games, but it is actually very impressive that they keep getting results when none of those performances have been particularly great.”

Shearer believes that Spurs will have to improve when they face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, but he maintains that they have the mentality needed to keep going in the title race.

He added: “Yes, in an ideal world Tottenham would be doing what City did on Sunday, and tearing teams apart, but they are at a stage of their season when their squad is stretched and getting results is the only thing that matters.

“We know they can play much better than they have done recently, but the fact they are still winning at all with two of their best players in Harry Kane and Dele Alli injured, shows the character of Pochettino and his team.

“City and Liverpool might be playing the better football but Spurs have got a great attitude, which is more evidence of how good their manager is.”

Spot on from Shearer

Shearer is absolutely right to mark Spurs out as genuine contenders.

They are five points back but look well-placed to capitalise on any slips from either City or Liverpool.

Of course, Shearer is correct in his assertion that the Reds and the Blues are playing the better football, but that matters little when the results are coming in.

If Spurs win every game 1-0 between now and the end of the season, they will likely win the league.

Few fans would criticise that approach – at the end of the day you get the same number of points for squeaking past Leicester as you do for battering Chelsea.

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Tottenham fell out of the title race in a matter of days last week, but former Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway may have gone a bit too far with his comments on Mauricio Pochettino.

It’s been a disastrous week for Spurs in the build-up to the north London derby, as they are now four points further behind leaders Liverpool than they already were.

If the Lilywhites had beaten Burnley then their destiny was techinally in their hands, as wins in all their other games (including at Anfield) would hand them the title.

Things went from bad to worse after the defeat to Burnley though with a lifeless loss at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, and Holloway has absolutely slammed Pochettino.

What’s he said?

Speaking on TalkSPORT, the 55 year-old was asked if Real Madrid would go for Pochettino.

He said: “Well they (Madrid) are used to winning things, and he hasn’t won anything yet.

“The best in the world they win those games (against Burnley and Chelsea), and he hasn’t won, and it must be getting to him now.

“At the end of the day, as a manager, you can produce the best players in the world and help them get through, but if you haven’t got any wins on your CV then you are not a good manager.”

Does he have a point?

Holloway did draw reference to Pochettino’s attitude towards trophies as well, and he was right to do so.

The charismatic Spurs boss can only get so far by babying his players and insisting that progress is more important than silverware, and he needs to go all the way while he has such a talented core group of players in their primes.

However, for Holloway to say that the Argentinian isn’t a good manager because he hasn’t put a Carabao Cup win on his resume is quite simply outrageous.

Like Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, Pochettino had a remarkable amount of work to do when he arrived at his club, and he has done it almost perfectly so far.

Whether or not the Lilywhites can grab some trophies under his leadership is yet to be seen, but Holloway has absolutely no right to disrespect the incredible job Pochettino has done so far in north London, even if he is incapable of taking the next step over that final hurdle known as success.

Well that was easier than the weekend, wasn’t it? Leeds trampled over Reading on Tuesday, and it proved their form is peaking in the period it’s faltered in previous years – the most important time.

After a nervy 1-0 victory against Bristol at the weekend, Leeds proved they can win in both scrappy and emphatic styles as the final few months of the season rumble on. If Saturday proved their grit, then Tuesday showed off their flair, brushing past Reading as if the Whites were already a top-flight team.

The game was finished by half time, with all three goals coming before the 43rdminute, and that’s also a key target that must be achieved more regularly by Marcelo Bielsa’s team. With games coming thick and fast, the squad need to be as fit as possible to take on every challenge, and by killing games against weaker opposition in the first half, it gives them chance to relax.

Saturday’s game was gruelling and will have taken every inch of Leeds’ energy to hold on to the win, so to see them so dominant just three days later proves the resilience and determination required to earn that promotion they’ve craved for over 15 years now. Their 62 per cent possession and almost double Reading’s passing numbers, 369-604, illustrates this perfectly.

They play third-placed Sheffield United at Elland Road on Saturday and Bielsa will be happy with the way the team are heading into the promotion six-pointer. Emphatic victories like the one against Reading really get the confidence high for the big games and the squad will now truly believe they deserve their place in next season’s Premier League.

The Blades are only two points behind Leeds after their 2-0 win against Brentford on Tuesday, so they’ll be confident too, but the Whites’ momentum might just be too much for them to handle.

Leeds fans, how do you think your club will fare against Sheffield United this weekend? Join the discussion by commenting below.

علّق جيمي باتشيكو المدير الفني الجديد لفريق الكرة بالزمالك على توليه مهمته مع القلعة البيضاء خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وكان مجلس إدارة الزمالك برئاسة مرتضى منصور قد اتفق مع باتشيكو لتولي المهمة الفنية للقلعة البيضاء، خلفًا للفرنسي باتريس كارتيرون بعد رحيل الأخير لتدريب التعاون السعودي.

وقال باتشيكو في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “الزمالك”: “مرت سنوات على رحيلي من نادي الزمالك، وأبناءك أصدقاء جيدين لي”.

طالع.. مرتضى منصور: اخترنا باتشيكو بين 25 مدربًا.. وأغلقنا صفحة الماضي

وأكمل: “أشكر مرتضى منصور وإدارة الزمالك وجماهيره على أنكم أعطوتني الفرصة مرة أخرى”.

وتابع: “أول مرة لي مع الزمالك كان معي مجموعة جيدة، وهذه المرة مجموعة ممتازة، هدفي مع الزمالك هو تحقيق بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا”.

طالع | آس: ناديان إسبانيان يتنافسان على ضم مصطفى محمد

واختتم: “أشعر بالفخر والسعادة أن أكون جزءً من أسرة الزمالك والتواجد مع القلعة البيضاء”.

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On-loan Aston Villa forward Tammy Abraham has revealed that he is desperate to become part of the Chelsea first team for the 2019-2020 campaign.

What’s the word, then?

Abraham told Sky Sports:

“That’s the aim going into next season. As a young kid, I’ve always believed I will play for Chelsea. I always believe that. I think I have the ability to. I just have to, when I get the opportunity, grab it with two hands.”

The 21-year-old joined Villa in last summer’s transfer window and he has been in excellent form for the Championship outfit this season.

Indeed, the two-time senior England international has scored 21 times in 31 Championship matches thus far.

Only Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki and Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp have found the back of the net on more occasions in the second tier than Abraham this term.

The striker has revealed that he is desperate to become a first-team player at Chelsea next season, though, and his words are a blow to Villa.

Have Villa got a chance of keeping him?

If they remain in the Championship then it is an obvious no.

Abraham will feel that he has now had enough football in the second tier, having also starred at Bristol City during the 2016-17 season.

It is worth remembering that the striker spent last season in the Premier League with Swansea City, but dropped back to the Championship last summer.

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Villa are currently in the playoff positions following an excellent run of form and will be looking to Abraham for more goals before the end of the campaign.

Even if Dean Smith’s side are promoted, though, it seems extremely unlikely that they will be able to re-sign the attacker for the 2019-2020 season.

Chelsea are short of strike options and with a two-window transfer ban looming, it looks as though they’ll be forced to finally maximise the potential of their vast loan army – in which Abraham is a part of.

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Sheffield United picked up a huge win in the Championship on Saturday, with Kieran Dowell scoring the only goal of the match in a 1-0 win away to West Bromwich Albion.

The Blades currently sit second in the table, just two points off leaders Norwich City, although third-placed Leeds United do have a game in hand.

It was a huge performance from the visitors at the Hawthorns and the type of result that showed their credentials.

Dowell grabbed the headlines with his goal, but it would be fair to say that the Sheffield United fans were delighted with what they saw from defender Enda Stevens during the 90 minutes.

According to WhoScored, Stevens – a 2017 arrival on a free transfer – won three headers and made three tackles against the Baggies.

Sheffield United’s official Twitter account drew attention to Stevens after the match, which led to a host of the club’s supporters revealing their views on the 28-year-old.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below: