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

According to The Sun, Manchester United have avoided playing Romelu Lukaku in pre-season despite him being fit, as they do not want to scupper his potential big-money move to Inter this summer.

What’s the word?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Serie A giants Inter are very keen on luring Lukaku to Italy this summer, and Antonio Conte even admitted that the Belgian could be an “important player” for the club.

Whilst United have been on their pre-season tour, Lukaku has continued to miss games for the side with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stating that he was carrying an injury.

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However, The Sun claim that whilst the 26-year-old has been fit enough to take part in matches, both United and Lukaku have decided it is for the best that they do not risk him potentially getting injured in light of a possible move away.

 The smart decision

For all the talk of United’s transfer strategy this summer seeing them continue to struggle to get deals for their top targets over the line, the Red Devils’ stance on Lukaku has to be applauded.

The Manchester side have refused to get bullied into accepting a low-ball offer from Inter, and have seemingly made it abundantly clear that their Italian counterparts need to match their valuation of the striker.

Keeping Lukaku away from the games and wrapped up in cotton wool is a smart precautionary measure to ensure that the risk of injury doesn’t get increased, and potentially put his move to Inter in jeopardy. Solskjaer has looked to implement a fast, pressing game in pre-season, and for all of his qualities, the Belgium international doesn’t quite fit that system.

Ensuring that he is fit and would have no troubles passing a future medical gives United the safety of knowing that Inter will not back out of a possible move due to something out of their control. A smart, well-thought out decision in what has been a crazy transfer window.

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As the Paul Pogba transfer saga heats up, Manchester United are rather unsurprisingly being linked with a host of names to potentially replace the World Cup winner for next season.

Reports in recent weeks had suggested the Red Devils could revive their interest in long-term target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer and it now appears United could be kicking their pursuit of the Serbian into gear.

According to Sky in Italy, United are ready to offer £72m for the 24-year-old in a bid to bring him to Old Trafford, but it has been claimed Lazio’s president Claudio Lotito wants £90m instead.

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After hearing the news the club could be ready to make a move for the Serbia international, United fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the matter.

Many urged the club to get a deal done for the midfielder and even insisted that they would be getting a “big upgrade” on Pogba, were they to sell the Frenchman.

Others however were far more reluctant to see Milinkovic-Savic join the club and pointed back to the midfielder’s rather underwhelming campaign last year as a major reason why they should perhaps turn their attentions elsewhere.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below:

يخوض فريق الكرة بالأهلي مباراة هامة مساء الخميس المقبل أمام منافسه الدحيل ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية.

طالع.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الأهلي والدحيل في كأس العالم للأندية

وتقام مباراة الأهلي والدحيل على أرضية ملعب المدينة التعليمية، بعد غدٍ الخميس في السابعة والنصف مساء بتوقيت القاهرة الثامنة والنصف مساء بتوقيت الدوحة.

ويلتقي الفائز من مباراة الأهلي والدحيل أمام بايرن ميونخ ضمن منافسات دور قبل النهائي من مونديال الأندية. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة الأهلي والدحيل في كأس العالم للأندية

تذاع مباراة الأهلي والدحيل عبر قنوات beIN Sports HD المفتوحة، beIN Sports HD 1، بجانب قناة الكأس الرياضية القطرية الثالثة. تردد قناة بي إن سبورت المفتوحة الناقلة لمباراة الأهلي والدحيل

القمر: النايل سات

التردد: 11054

معدل الاستقطاب: عمودي

معدل الترميز: 27500

معدل تصحيح الخطأ: 4/3

يذكر، أن منافسات كأس العالم للأندية تنطلق في الفترة من 4 حتى 11 من فبراير الجاري في قطر.

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Leeds United fans on Twitter are unsure of what to make of Helder Costa’s recent Instagram activity.

The Wolves winger liked a picture of Barry Douglas in a Leeds kit, and that has got some supporters worked up about a potential move to Elland Road for the 25-year-old.

Last week, the Portugal international followed the Championship club on the social media platform, sending fans into meltdown, but in this instance, the Elland Road faithful were split on what it meant.

While some supporters reacted as if the signing had been confirmed, others were quick to point out that Costa and Douglas are ex-teammates and that this doesn’t mean anything.

It’s been no secret that Leeds are interested in Costa, and for that reason, some people are taking anything he does as a sign that a move is imminent, However, other Twitter users were quick to point out the facts to bring those getting excited back down to earth.

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Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on Twitter…

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Loads of Newcastle fans have been reacting to an update from Bleacher Report, who claim whoever replaces Rafael Benitez will not be given control over transfer activity.

According to Dean Jones of Bleacher Report, Rafa’s replacement will be allowed to bring just one assistant coach with him and will not have the final say on transfers.

Benitez’s exit was officially confirmed on Monday by the club, and now the chase is on to find a new manager before the season begins.

With a potential takeover bid from the Bin Zayed Group still totally up in the air and now no one in the dugout either, St. James’ Park is absolutely shrouded in uncertainty.

“The club is in state!”… The Playmakers give their first impressions on receiving the sudden news of Rafa Benitez’s departure from Newcastle United. See what they have to say here…

One thing is for sure though, not allowing any potential new boss to control the incomings and outgoings is a ridiculous ploy given how poor the club’s transfer activity has been under the current ownership.

Loads of fans have been reacting to Jones’ report, and you can find some of the best comments down below…

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Despite conceding 54 goals in the Premier League last season, one man who could quite arguably hold his head up relatively high was Eric Bailly.

The Ivory Coast international seemed to thrive under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s leadership once the Norwegian had taken over at Old Trafford, but an injury sustained against Chelsea in April ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.

Now, French publication L’Equipe (via Sport Witness) have claimed that Ligue 1 side Lyon are “primarily” aiming for Bailly this summer, ahead of alternative targets Laurent Koscielny and Joachim Andersen.

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The report saw United fans take to Twitter to voice their opinion on the rumours and many were adamant that the 25-year-old should not be sold.

Some were left to wonder how the likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones could remain at the club whilst Bailly could be on the verge of leaving.

Indeed, reports in recent weeks had suggested United’s Premier League rivals Tottenham were closing in on a deal for midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, and supporters of the Red Devils wondered whether Lyon would be open to a potential deal involving Bailly to bring the Frenchman to Old Trafford instead.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below:

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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.

The summer is always a hectic period for any football club, but no team this summer has had it quite as bad as Nottingham Forest.

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The 28th June saw Martin O’Neill surprisingly sacked as manager of Forest, only for the club to announce a replacement for the club icon 18 minutes later in the form of former Stade Rennais boss Sabri Lamouchi (per BBC Sport). Assistant manager Roy Keane also departed the club a few days earlier (per BBC Sport).

As Matchday with Max from Two-Footed Talk explains in the video below, it has been a mad summer so far for Forest supporters.

Indeed, it has been a hectic window for Forest as well in terms of players arriving and leaving. The Nottingham-based club signed a trio of Portuguese players in the form of Yuri Ribeiro and Alfa Semedo from Benfica (per BBC Sport) as well as Tiago Silva from Feirense (per BBC Sport).

Forest also recruited two players from Premier League sides in the form of Arijanet Muric from Manchester City on loan for the season (per BBC Sport) as well as Aston Villa winger Albert Adomah on a permanent deal (per BBC Sport).

Nottingham Forest fans, where can the club finish next season? Let us know!

It hasn’t even been a year since Arsenal loosened their purse strings to poach Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria in a £26m move (via Sky Sports). However, the talk is now that the Uruguayan could again be on the move, as according to Gazzetta dello Sport, AC Milan are eyeing the midfielder and have offered both Ricardo Rodriguez and Franck Kessie as part of a potential swap deal. 

AC Milan could reunite him with his former boss, Marco Giampaolo, who, like Torreira, left Sampdoria for a new home when he took the Milan job (Marca). However, prising the player from The Emirates won’t be easy, and to try and sweeten the deal the San Siro club have offered both Ricardo Rodriguez and Franck Kessie, as stated above.

If Arsenal were to accept this offer, perhaps it would be understandable given what the Gunners would be gaining from it. In Franck Kessie, they’d have a player who recorded more completed passes, blocks and dispossessed more players in the Serie A than Torreira did in the Premier League this past season (as per Squawka’s Comparison Matrix). He also won 20 out of 29 tackles which gives him a better tackle success rate than the Uruguayan who recorded 29 tackles from 50 attempts (stats via Squawka’s Comparison Matrix).

Last season the Ivorian scored seven goals and registered three assists in Serie A, so he can influence the game in the final third as well.

But, the real praise for the midfielder came in January 2018.

After scoring in a 2-1 over Cagliari, then Milan manager and club legend Gennaro Gattuso lauded Kessie, claiming that the midfielder is far better than he ever was as a player. You can read those comments on Football-Italia, and surely it’s worth bringing him to the Emirates if he’s supposedly better than Gattuso, a player who finds himself in AC Milan’s Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Ruud Gullit.

The other part of the swap deal would see a completely different player rock up in north London, Ricardo Rodriguez. The Swiss full-back would be a good option at The Emirates, and when compared to the club’s current left-backs Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac, he fares very well.

According to the WhoScored player comparison tool, Rodriguez averages more crosses, tackles and shots than the Arsenal pairing per game, which will no doubt benefit Arsenal’s current system as Unai Emery spoke about how he likes to use wing-backs (as per Arsenal). “They can offer a surprise with an attacking moment”.

The fact that he’s shown to be dependable could be key for Rodriguez at Arsenal too as he didn’t miss a single game due to injury last season (as per Transfermarkt), something Emery could do with. Monreal is now 33-years-old and missed 12 games with a hamstring injury during the 2018-19 season (as per Transfermarkt) whilst Kolasinac missed seven games with a knee problem.

Considering all that’s been stated above, it looks like the Kessie, Rodriguez – Torreira swap deal is something that the Gunners should perhaps consider.

Arsenal fans, what do you think of this proposed swap deal? Let us know!

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Former Celtic star and pundit Chris Sutton has lambasted the negativity around the club directed at manager Neil Lennon and many Bhoys fans on Twitter agree with him.

Sutton defended Lennon in his column for The Daily Record: “I can’t believe the grumblings after just two competitive games – and wins – as Celtic sailed through their toughest ever first-round Champions League qualifier against Sarajevo with a 5-2 aggregate win.”

This has gone down well with some of the club’s supporters, many insisting fans should stand behind the manager and others questioning the true loyalty of the boo brigade.

Lennon returned to Parkhead for a second time in February having replaced the Leicester-bound Brendan Rodgers. The Northern Irishman secured the eighth and ninth instalments of the historic treble treble last season by capturing the Scottish Cup and Premiership titles.

The discontent surprisingly comes after the club eased past Bosnian champions FK Sarajevo over two legs and prepare to face Estonian’s Nomme Kalju in the second round of the Champions League qualifiers.

This is what the Celtic supporters had to say about Sutton’s comments on Twitter: