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Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool could be in for a fiery Champions League final after Damir Skomina was appointed referee for the encounter in Madrid on June 1st.

The name may not be too familiar for either team but Skomina has history in this season’s competition.

Indeed, Manchester United fans owe the Slovenian ref a debt of gratitude, as he was the man in the middle during the Red Devils’ victory over PSG in France.

United lost 2-0 at Old Trafford but won 3-1 in Paris to progress to the quarter-finals, with their third goal coming from the penalty spot in injury time. Indeed, Skomina awarded the spot-kick following a VAR review, judging that Presnel Kimpembe had handled Diogo Dalot’s long-range shot.

He is a card-happy official, too, with WhoScored noting that, in four Champions League appearances this season, he has shown an average of 4.5 yellow cards per game but he is yet to send a player off.

He has also awarded an average of 23.75 fouls per game, while the home team has won just once when he has been in charge; he has not overseen a draw this term.

There should be a winner in 90 minutes, then, when both Spurs and Liverpool lock horns for the right to be called champions of Europe.

Skomina was in charge as Liverpool beat Napoli 1-0 in the group stages, with Mohamed Salah scoring the winner to secure the Reds’ place in the knockout stages.

He refereed the 2017 Europa League final between United and Ajax and was also the fourth official for the 2013 Champions League final, when Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund.

Skomina has yet to referee Spurs this term.

Nottingham Forest have, obviously, been hit-and-miss this season and that goes for defensive midfielder Pele too. Indeed, he looks to be leaving, but that’s not such bad news if the club can capture Jack Colback instead.

Pele has played seven times since arriving on loan in January from Monaco, but nobody’s really sure just how good he is because he’s been so inconsistent. Recently, he dropped a hint on Instagram that he won’t be returning next season, but that won’t bother fans at all.

Jack Colback is an experienced midfielder with bags of consistency. You know what you’re getting from the Sunderland academy graduate, especially in the Championship. He’s played 38 games this season and has proved he’s worth signing permanently from Newcastle.

Rafa Benitez has left him out in the cold at St James’ Park but the Forest faithful love his work-rate and desire. Forest do have an option-to-buy clause in the loan deal according to Transfermarkt, so they could active that to claim the £2.7m-rated Englishman.

He’s shown he’s better than Pele since January and he should be rewarded for fighting off a challenger for his position. He’s the last man standing and that deserves a permanent contract even if other players are brought in around him. Indeed, any Reds fan would be mad not to rate him after his exploits at the City Ground.

The 29-year-old is in his peak, and he has the experience to lead Forest to the play-offs next term. They’ll be hurting from missed opportunities this campaign, so that means Colback will be raring to right some wrongs next term.

Surely, it’s a no-brainer.

Forest fans, who do you think your team should sign this summer? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Wolves take the lead in the race for Liverpool youngster after he rejects the opportunity to stay with the club in a new five-year deal.

After an impressive season in the Premier League and following years of prudent transfer business, Wolves are in pole position to make another smart signing this summer in the form of Liverpool teen ace Rafael Camacho, Football Insider report.

This follows the news that the teenager, who turned 19 yesterday, had rejected the Merseyside giants’ offer of a five-year deal to replace his current contract, which expires in the summer of 2020.

And it seems Liverpool are all too aware of what they’re about to lose, as they brace themselves for offers from England, Germany, France and Portugal for the magisterial under-23s forward.

As it stands, Liverpool fans could be watching their lost talent flourish in the coming 2019/20 season as Premier League rivals Wolves are currently the most likely team to secure his signature ahead of the likes of RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Sporting Lisbon.

Klopp didn’t exactly help his cause when he handed the Portuguese gem just a couple of first-team appearances this season, both of which saw him play in an unnatural right-back role.

The forward later vented his frustration on social media that he is “an attacker who scores goals” and his fine record for the club’s youth teams would testify to that, claiming 12 goals and eight assists from just 20 appearances.

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From our perspective, this transfer saga absolutely stinks of regret and missed opportunities. Klopp had all the time in the world to give the young star some assurances that, at the very least, he would feature in a more natural position in the future. But he didn’t, and now he will have to watch from afar as he develops into a truly wonderful talent.

Liverpool fans, how disappointed would you be if you lost Camacho? What do you think Klopp should have done differently? Let us know in the comments below…

Manchester United need a squad refresh this summer, and it needs to be thorough. To that end, they should bring in Chelsea’s Reece James and throw out the crazily below-par Ashley Young.

The 19-year-old has been on a season-long loan at Wigan in the Championship this season and he’s settled in well, making 44 appearances and even bagging four goals and four assists. He looks a promising talent and United are after him, according to the Daily Mail.

They believe he’ll cost around £15m, but if he is to sign and be as successful as the scouts believe he’ll be, then that’d be a bargain in the long run. Ashley Young was given a one-year extension in February and nobody really knows why, but this transfer could force him out. Fantastic.

That’d be great news for United because they’ll have killed two birds with one stone. They need to get rid of deadwood like Young and bring in young talent like James who is willing to work hard and prove himself at the top level.

His sister lifted the Women’s Championship title for United this month, and who could blame him for following her to Manchester? Indeed, United should go for him this summer and build him up to be one of the country’s best full-backs, as he has the potential to become.

It’s a crunch summer for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United, despite it being his first, so he needs to make a statement that says things are going to change.

He can start that by bringing in James and pushing out Young.

United fans, who do you think should take over Ashley Young’s spot in the team when he leaves? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Things are never simple when it comes to West Bromwich Albion. The fact their entire season boiled down to penalties sums that up.

Just five kicks from 12 yards determined whether they’d have the chance to gain promotion. But, in typical Albion fashion, they fell just short.

This was a chance for redemption after relegation last term. But that was not what they found. Instead, they were left to ponder a host of what-ifs.

What if the club hadn’t sacked Darren Moore? What if Dwight Gayle hadn’t been sent off last weekend? Unfortunately, they can’t go back in time, but it would have been fascinating to see what would have unfolded had those two events not happened.

However, the Baggies now need to prepare for next season and if they are to bounce back to the Premier League, something has to change.

Replace Shan

First on the agenda needs to be finding a permanent manager and whoever comes in mustn’t be a safe option either.

For all too long West Brom have turned to managers who either save the club money or lack of ambition. So by appointing Graham Potter or Patrick Vieira who were the subject of reports linking them to the Hawthorns in The Sun on Sunday (May 5, page 59) and The Telegraph, the club would be heading in the right direction.

Shan has done little wrong, but he’s an academy manager with little experience. Potter and Vieira, on the other hand, are progressive coaches with visions for the future. You only need to look at their spells at Ostersunds and Nice to understand that.

In short, Mark Jenkins needs to buck up his ideas this summer. He needs to find a manager capable of taking West Brom forward, not one who’ll continue to hold them back. Although they’ll want to achieve promotion, they need to think long term too.

Squad overhaul

Things also need to change among the playing staff as well. It’s clear the team isn’t good enough and Albion’s lack of depth compared to Villa’s in the play-offs displayed that.

One player in the squad they simply cannot afford to lose though is Dwight Gayle. He’s a rare exception in the long list of players who may leave the Midlands. The forward scored 24 Championship goals on loan from Newcastle and with another season in the Championship on the cards, he can lead the charge once more.

Elsewhere, things need to be freshened up.

That means getting rid of old heads in Chris Brunt and Jake Livermore and building for the future by giving the likes of Sam Field and Morgan Rogers more game time.

The future shouldn’t include Rekeem Harper, however, whose contract is coming to an end in June. Given his performances at the back end of the season, that will come as a blessing.

Was Darren Moore’s sacking unfair? The Pl>ymaker FC squad name which Championship bosses should have gone instead in the video below…

It’s extremely likely that a number of the Baggies’ best players could now leave, according to The Telegraph. Ahmed Hegazi and Kieran Gibbs have been playing at levels above the Championship, and as a result, there will need to be a strong recruitment drive to replace them should they depart.

The work Albion did in the January window was poor and it arguably cost them promotion. With that in mind, they need to significantly improve their dealings.

West Brom will probably be one of the favourites again when the new campaign rolls around but without change, they could be left to wonder what if once again.

رشح حمادة صدقي مدرب منتخب مصر السابق لاعبين للمشاركة في مباراة الفراعنة وتوجو المقبلة، مشيرًا إلى أن الفريق يحتاج لخدمات أحمد فتحي لاعب الأهلي السابق وبيراميدز الحالي.

منتخب مصر يستعد لمواجهة توجو غدًا الثلاثاء في الجولة الرابعة من التصفيات المؤهلة لأمم إفريقيا.

وقال صدقي في تصريحات إذاعية عبر أثير راديو مصر: “مباراة الغد تحتاج للخبرات، ومشاركة اللاعبين الذين لعبوا سابقًا مع بعضهم، وفريق توجو ليس قويا”.

وتابع: “يجب الدفع بأيمن أشرف في مركز الظهير الأيسر بدلًا من أحمد أبوالفتوح الذي لعب المباراة الماضية وأرشح تواجد طارق حامد بجوار محمد النني”.

وأكمل:” أرشح محمد مجدي أفشة للمشاركة بشكل أساسي، كما يجب الاعتماد على الثنائي محمود تريزيجيه ومصطفى محمد”.

وتطرق للحديث عن أحمد فتحي لاعب الأهلي السابق وبيراميدز الحالي: “المنتخب كان في حاجة لخدمات أحمد فتحي في الوقت الحالي، خاصة بعدما شاهدت المباراة الماضية”.

أردف: “لابد من البحث عن حلول وبدائل في مركز الظهير الأيمن، فمثلا عبدالظاهر السقا لاعب منتخب مصر السابق، تم استبعاده في فترة من الفترات من قبل حسن شحاتة، ولكن عندما احتاجه الفراعنة كان متواجدا”.

وأضاف: “أحمد فتحي يعطى للاعبين قوة، حينما كنت مديرا فنيا لسموحة وتقدمت على الأهلي بهدف، شاهدت أحمد فتحي يعطى زملائه قوة داخل الملعب”.

واختتم: “فتحي كان مثل الشرارة التي أدت لفوز للأهلي في هذه المباراة”.

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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.

For Arsenal fans, having more than one defender capable of playing consistently well seems like an almost impossible feat, but it was once the case when Gabriel Paulista was at the club.

The Brazilian defender joined the Gunners in the winter transfer window of 2015 when Arsene Wenger realised midway through the 2014/15 season that the team needed more than two fully fit centre-backs in Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, and after a few games of Nacho Monreal and Calum Chambers covering in central defence, it was quickly apparent Arsenal needed reinforcements, and Gabriel was brought in.

Signed for £11.2 million from Villarreal, Gabriel joined the Gunners with a respectable reputation after a good half-season with the Yellow Submarine, and good things were expected of the Brazilian defender.

Gabriel’s first season with the Gunners saw the defender establish himself as a solid member of the Arsenal team, with his warrior-attitude and impressive last-ditch tackles the Brazilian quickly became a fan favourite in north London, but it soon became apparent that the centre-back might not last long in the Premier League.

First-team opportunities were hard to come by and there were reports that Gabriel had found it hard to adjust to life in England, which is why it didn’t come as a surprise when Arsene Wenger sold the defender just 18 months after signing him to Valencia for £9.9 million according to Transfermarkt.

It might have seemed like the right move at the time, but since returning to Spain, Gabriel has been nothing short of impressive for the La Liga side, manning a defence that has seen Valencia make it to the Champions League and subsequently the Europa League semi-final, where the Brazilian will face a reunion with his former club.

It will be a bittersweet affair for Arsenal. Whilst the fans will have no quarrels with Gabriel, the club will be kicking themselves for letting the Brazilian go after just 18 months at the club, especially with how poorly the Gunners have been defensively this season.

Gabriel has shown that Arsenal were wrong to sell him two years ago, and Unai Emery will be thinking why his predecessor didn’t keep hold of him just that extra bit longer.

Gunners fans, what are your standout memories of Gabriel? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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According to The Sunday Mirror (May 26, Page 69), Leeds United have slapped a £20 million pricetag on Jack Clarke’s head.

This comes just a few days after Tottenham reportedly offered just half that amount for the 18-year-old’s services.

Is he worth it?

£20 million for a relatively unproven Championship player seems like an excessive amount.

Clarke may have had a breakout season under Marcelo Bielsa, but his form dipped massively after he was taken to hospital partway through the game against Middlesbrough in February.

That incident seems to have severely dented his confidence, and he now doesn’t play with the same amount of confidence and swagger as he used to.

Of course, the form he initially showed could quickly be recaptured, and playing under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino could be the best thing for him, but for the London club to pay £20 million for him would be extremely risky.

Win-Win

Victor Orta will be well aware that the fee they are asking for will prove too much for many of Clarke’s potential suitors, and that asking price is clearly meant to act as a deterrent.

The Whites have asked for £20 million full well knowing that nobody would pay that for a player who has played just 814 minutes of Championship football, but if they do, Bielsa’s side will be getting a significant windfall.

Orta has set up a win-win situation for the Yorkshire outfit as they will now most likely be able to keep hold of their most promising talent, but if he does leave they will be getting a fantastic price for him.

Tottenham surely will look elsewhere after being quoted that price for the youngster, but that doesn’t mean that in a few years they won’t be back to have another look at the teenager after he has developed further.

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The vast majority of the time league tables make perfect sense because that after all is their job: to put order to chaos. This season, however, at the top of the Premier League are two examples that unnerve; they unnerve and confuse because initially at least they make no sense at all.

The first conundrum is Tottenham Hotspur who have lost almost exactly a third of their 37 games to this late juncture. It is not uncommon for teams who skirt relegation and struggle throughout a campaign to end up with a 33% loss ratio. Yet here they are, Mauricio Pochettino’s men scaling the heady heights of third. This is odd.

Then there’s Liverpool who have been defeated only the once this term. It is possible to go through the annals of Premier League winners and find teams who have lost four, five, or six times more than the Reds yet still ended up lifting the trophy. It has been a phenomenal achievement to avoid defeat 36 times out of 37. Yet there they are, lying second to a Manchester City side that have been downed by Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Leicester and Newcastle.

What gives? The answer of course lies in draws.

Liverpool have shared the spoils seven times this term and barring Leicester’s success in 2015/16 (which in every way was a glitch in the matrix) no team has recently won the title by drawing that amount or more. Last year City settled on four occasions. The year before Chelsea did so three times.

Luis Suarez certainly had no qualms about celebrating against his former employers in the video below…

As for Spurs their bizarre record-breaking allergy to drawing – with just the solitary stalemate going all the way back to August – has served them exceedingly well. Yes they may well lose every third weekend but the rest of the time they have accrued maximum points and that has been sufficient in surely securing a Champions League spot.

This begs the question: are draws no longer what they used to be? Is a ‘hard-earned’ point now a dropping of two?

The evidence elsewhere suggests so. In League One Sunderland have lost only five times in 46 games yet have had to settle for a play-off place after drawing a staggering 19, the most of anyone in that division. Last season West Brom ended up rock bottom of the Premier League and that after losing the same number of games as three of their rivals. The reason? Only Southampton drew more often.

Going back further to 2016/17 Manchester United drew every 2.5 games, which incidentally is exactly double the national average. It cost them dear and led to sustained talk of crisis.

A draw of course is still worth the same as it always has. Yet in an era where teams are set up more and more to be adventurous and seek out the three points – and furthermore when away tests no longer hold the same intimidating stature as yesteryear – then we are increasingly seeing sides eke out a disciplined draw only to be over-taken by those that lean towards the all or nothing.