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…

[ad_pod ]Charlton fans surely struggled for sleep on Monday night after a stunning club statement detailed the imminent departure of manager Lee Bowyer, who had failed to agree on terms for a new contract with the controversial owner, Roland Duchatelet.The Belgian, who has been in the hot-seat since 2014 when his company, Staprix NV, acquired 100% of shares, is desperate to sell the club and is therefore reluctant to pump any more of his own money into it – the source of many Charlton fans’ hatred towards him – and this meant that meeting Bowyer’s demands was always going to be difficult.The Monday afternoon statement concluded that the ball was in Bowyer’s court, although he would have to accept terms well below what he was hoping for, with The Evening Standard reporting earlier in the day that the offer put to him was on par with “managers in the bottom half of League One”.Meanwhile, star striker Lyle Taylor, who tried to enjoy an innocent afternoon on Twitter, was bombarded with questions by the fans, who demanded to know what he thought of the situation. The 29-year-old was eventually forced to comment on the matter, as below, and he perfectly sums up the confusion and frustration felt by everyone involved…

It seemed certain, then, that Bowyer would depart The Valley having guided the Addicks into the Championship against all odds, although the situation would flip on its head by 7am the next morning.

Another club statement followed early on Tuesday with the exciting news that the 42-year-old had agreed to stay on at SE7 and continue his marvellous work – of course, this was very well-received by the Charlton faithful and Taylor, presumably, who joined the Addicks to work with Bowyer.

Lionel Messis have been spotted at The Valley, Boundary Park and even in Wales in the video below…

It has been a truly remarkable 24 hours for Charlton fans – an emotional rollercoaster, although they surely can’t expect anything less from their club. Perhaps, as Taylor says, laughing is the best therapy for the Addicks fans until Duchatelet finally ends his and their nightmare.

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Since 2005 the Glazer family have come under protest and condemnation from Manchester United supporters, and understandably so given the nature of their takeover of the club and how the owners have run it thereafter.

Financing the takeover riddled the club with immense debt – which amounted to more than $1 billion at one stage in 2010 – and with a stadium in increasing need of renovation and an ever-diminishing transfer budget the American clan’s presence considerably gripes.

As per David Conn in the Guardian, the selling of a portion of their shares in 2017 garnered them a whopping £56m, and that’s on top of their annual dividends paid out between them.

If things were positively rosy on the pitch then perhaps all this would be grumbled about a little more beyond the hardcore support but of course things aren’t rosy, not at all. Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 United have finished 7th, 4th, 5th, 6th, 2nd and 6th in the league. Last season they fell behind their rivals Man City by a colossal 32 points.

And now, with the team in urgent need of an overhaul after several years of under-achievement, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reportedly been restricted to a budget of £100m this summer, though United’s reported £70m bid for Harry Maguire – arriving just days after the club signed Aaron Wan-Bissaka for £50m – suggests that those reports have underestimated their spending power. Alternatively, it may well indicate that a departure will be sanctioned to finance a move for the Leicester powerhouse.

Some years ago, so intense was the anger felt towards the Glazer family that an off-shoot club was formed by the name of FC United as fans became disillusioned with it all and began anew. In addition to this a ‘Love United/Hate Glazers’ campaign took hold and persisted, complete with scarves, banners and stickers adorned in green and gold to denote the club’s original colours when they were Newton Heath.

Now the latest protest has taken to social media with a #GlazersOut crusade that has trended – at various junctures – across the globe.

These thousands of tweets have had an impact. They have brought attention to the fan’s cause from as far a field as America. They have got the media talking about the fight. Most encouragingly of all they have got the club running scared, as their recent decision to scrap phone-in shows on MUTV have proven.

Watch a Man Utd fan’s epic Ed Woodward rant in the video below…

Yet as laudable as these achievements are they will still amount to the status quo continuing for as long as the Glazers wish to be in charge.

Why? Because a section of the club’s support upping roots and starting afresh didn’t sway them. A prolonged and very public campaign – that even had the backing of David Beckham – didn’t come close to dislodging them. Constant criticism doesn’t shame them and they are impervious to it all so long as the money keeps flowing in and being the major shareholders remains a profitable enterprise.

They’re not stopping now for anyone, least of all angry strangers in the Twittersphere.

It’s been unpleasant reading for Tottenham fans over the last couple of weeks, with Ekstra Bladet just one of a number of outlets to report that midfield maestro Christian Eriksen is on the lookout for a new challenge.

Indeed, the news might well have divided fans, considering his importance to the team over the years, though some fans believed the fact he reportedly (per the Evening Standard) Mauricio Pochettino he wanted to leave prior to the Champions League final was the wrong move. Yet, while the Dane has certainly shown his hand early, there’s no room for grudges here.

It’s never too late for the midfielder to change his mind.

The Eriksen “saga” began before the end of the season, with Spanish outlet El Confidencial reporting Zinedine Zidane was keen to bring the midfielder to Madrid and such rumours were perhaps fueled upon the Dane’s rather apparent desire to ‘try something new’.

Yet, it has more recently emerged that Madrid may turn their attention elsewhere, with Marca reporting Zidane is prioritising a move for Paul Pogba. Moreover, AS have reported that Eriksen is beginning to change his mind, recognising that a potential Tottenham stay is actually on the cards.

While fans may have already got used to the idea of the potential incoming of Giovani Lo Celso, who The Mirror report is the imminent subject of a second Tottenham bid, perhaps the idea of an Eriksen U-turn isn’t such a daft idea.

Let’s go back to March of last year, where Toby Alderweireld had almost entirely lost his place in the team to Davinson Sanchez, the regular favourite after missing the first three months of the season with injury, while contract talks were reportedly in tatters.

The once Tottenham favourite had become somewhat of an outcast at the club. The Sun had reported a number of clubs were chasing his signature, with United leading the race. With his contract just a year from expiring (albeit with an optional extension that would add a release clause), the Belgian’s time at Tottenham was in jeopardy.

This season, however, Alderweireld played 34 league games alongside a further 12 in the Champions League. He has also talked of his desire to stay for another season (as per Sport360).

If Alderweireld can experience this type of turnaround, there’s no reason it couldn’t happen for Eriksen. If anything, the former was in a worse situation. He was actually out of the team, after all.

Eriksen, on the other hand, played in nearly every game this season, including 35 in the league and 12 in the Champions League. Despite some suggestions that he’s been out of form, he also contributed 10 goals and 16 assists in that time.

The midfielder, valued at £76.5m (as per TransferMarkt), is still a hugely important player for the club. Jan Vertonghen has recently expressed his desire for the Dane to remain a Tottenham player, describing him as ‘exceptional’, so it’s clear he retains support behind the scenes.

Should Eriksen decide to stay, it can only be recognised as good news for Tottenham fans. Since his £12m signing in 2013, he has contributed towards 109 goals in 208 Premier League appearances, which really isn’t bad going, is it?

If a U-turn is on the cards, take it.

Tottenham fans, would you like to see Eriksen stay at the club? Or is it time for him to move on? Comment below. 

تحدث حسين ياسر المحمدي لاعب منتخب قطر والأهلي والزمالك الأسبق، عن قرعة كأس العالم للأندية، مشيرًا إلى أن شقيقه يلعب ضمن صفوف الدحيل القطري، كما توقع التألق لـ3 لاعبين في صفوف المارد الأحمر.

الأهلي يواجه الدحيل القطري في كأس العالم للأندية وبايرن ميونخ ينتظر الفائز

وقال ياسر المحمدي في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “صدى البلد” ببرنامج “الماتش”: “أحمد شقيقي الصغير سيشارك في كأس العالم للأنية لأول مرة مع نادي الدحيل القطري وأتمنى له التوفيق، ستكون مباراته أمام الأهلي جميلة وننتظرنها جميعًا، فريقان كبار على المستوى العربي”.

وأضاف: “شقيقي من اللاعبين المميزين جدًا، يلعب في مركز الدفاع، يجيد بناء الهجمة بشكل جيد وإرسال الكرات الطويلة وأتمنى أن أرى مستوى جيدًا منه”.

وأردف: “الدحيل يضم نجوم كبار ومنافس دائمًا لنادي السد والريان على الدوري القطري”.

واستكمل: “ستكون مباراة قوية، الدحيل يمتلك نجوم كثر محترفين، ولديهم مدير فني على مستوى عال، صبري لاموشي، ويمتلك عناصر كثيرة مميزة، بجانب أحمد شقيقي، مهدي بن عطيه لاعب منتخب المغرب، كل الخطوط مميزة، ستكون مباراة قوية جدًا ومنافسة قوية جدًا للأهلي”.

وتابع: “الدحيل سيكون ندًا قويًا يلعب على أرضه، الأهلي ناد كبير ويمتلك طموحات دائمًا تجعله ينافس على كل البطولات، لكن هذه بطولة خاصة ولها شكل آخر، الدحيل دعم صفوفه في كل الخطوط بمستويات كبيرة”.

واستكمل: “الفترة الأخيرة يوجد لاعبون في الأهلي يقدمون مستويات جيدة بعد حصولهم على دوري أبطال إفريقيا، مثل محمد مجدي أفشة في الفترة الأخيرة صاحب المعنويات العالية بعد هدفه في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا وهذه مباراة مؤثرة”.

وأتم: “أفشة من اللاعبين المميزين ويستطيع في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية أن يظهر على المستوى الدولي بأنه لاعب على مستوى عالي، أتوقع تألق أفشة ومحمد الشناوي وعلي معلول في مباراة الدحيل، وهناك لاعبون آخرون يستطيعون صناعة الفارق في الملعب خلال البطولة”.

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A selection of West Ham United fans have expressed an interest in signing West Bromwich Albion attacker Jay Rodriguez in this summer’s transfer window.

According to The Telegraph, Rodriguez can leave the Baggies for £5m ahead of the 2019-20 campaign due to a clause in his contract.

And the West Ham supporters have been on social media calling for their club to move for the 29-year-old, potentially as a replacement for Lucas Perez.

Rodriguez, who was capped by England back in 2013, scored 22 times in 48 appearances for West Brom during the 2018-19 campaign.

Meanwhile, the attacker has netted 33 goals in 90 appearances for the Championship club since arriving from Southampton in 2017.

Losing Rodriguez would be a big blow for West Brom, who will be looking to launch another challenge for promotion next season.

However, a number of Hammers fans are keen for the versatile attacker to arrive at the London Stadium this summer.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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Everton are reportedly interested in Torino centre-back Armando Izzo, but the once-capped Italian international has one major red flag.

What’s the story?

Well, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, Arsenal and Everton are both eyeing a €25m (£22.39m) swoop for the 27 year-old.

Both sides are of course crying out for defensive help – Arsenal conceded 51 goals last season while Everton have lost Kurt Zouma and Phil Jagielka this summer already.

The report claims that Torino are keen to extend Izzo’s current contract, which runs until 2022.

Watch the best fails from the world of indoor football in the video below…

How good is he?

Izzo started in Napoli’s youth academy and has since bounced around various Italian clubs, finally finding his feet in Turin.

He produced by far his best and most consistent form this past season, starting 37 out of 38 league matches and averaging 3.2 aerial wins, 2.1 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game, per Whoscored. He also chipped in with four goals, such is the dominance of his aerial prowess.

Roberto Mancini handed the towering defender his first Italy cap earlier this year, in a 6-0 mauling of Liechtenstein during Euro 2020 qualifying.

So what’s the problem?

There is one extremely worrying red flag in the player’s past – a six-month ban for match-fixing.

In March of 2017, the Italian Football Federation’s prosecutor requested Izzo be banned from football for six years for his involvement in a mafia match-fixing scandal.

He, along with midfielders Luca Pini and Francesco Millesi, were accused of altering the results of two Serie B matches in coordination with a Secondigliano-based Camorra mafia clan.

The punishment was reduced to six months by May of 2017, but the Toffees will surely steer clear of a player who has so recently diced with danger.

Watch Everton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The last thing Marcel Brands and the club needs is one of their big summer signings to draw attention for all the wrong reasons.

While it may sound like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster, this is one red flag that is simply too great to overlook.

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West Ham United are said to be closing in on a swoop for Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornals ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

Fornals, 23, scored five times and registered six assists in 50 appearances for the Yellow Submarine last season.

The midfielder actually has a contract with Villarreal until June 2022 but will seemingly be on the move in this summer’s transfer window.

And it would be fair to say that the West Ham fans are excited by the prospect of the two-time Spain international arriving at the London Stadium.

It is a very important transfer window for the Hammers as they look to close the gap on the top seven during the 2019-20 season.

And there is every reason to believe that Manuel Pellegrini’s side could become the best of the rest – outside of the top six – if they enjoy a strong summer.

A selection of the Twitter reaction in relation to Fornals can be seen below:

Manchester United are set to seal the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka after he caught the eye during a stellar campaign at Crystal Palace, ranking third throughout Premier League for tackles per match.

The Englishman’s arrival could see him replace Ashley Young, who certainly struggled at right-back last season as part of a Red Devils defence that conceded 65 Premier League goals.

The 33-year-old’s commitment cannot be questioned, but he is no longer good enough to start on a regular basis for a club of Manchester United stature. He has lost his pace and his output dropped from four assists in the previous campaign to just two.

Aaron Cikaya, who can be seen in the video above filling out his Panini Tabloid, believes that Wan-Bissaka would be a massive improvement on Young, who has now been at Old Trafford for eight years.

Check out Aaron’s thoughts on Young in full in the video above.

The Premier League Panini Tabloid is a special commemorative newspaper sticker collection celebrating the exciting new partnership between the greatest league in the world and the legendary name in football publishing, Panini. As the official collectable licensee to the Premier League, Panini are delighted to bring consumers a new era of collectables and the best collecting experience. See more here: http://bit.ly/PaniniFFCEditorial

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Ukraine manager Andriy Shevchenko has been talking up the ability of new Celtic signing Maryan Shved, as reported by The Scottish Sun.

What’s he said?

Shved was called up to the Ukraine squad for recent qualifying matches against Serbia and Luxembourg, although was an unused substitute in both matches as his country picked up important wins.

Despite not handing him another cap, Shevchenko remains a massive fan of the 21-year-old and believes the player is motivated to succeed at Celtic when he arrives for pre-season later this month.

How does Neil Lennon turn his doubters into believers? The answer lies in the video below…

As quoted by The Scottish Sun, the AC Milan legend said:

“I’ve been watching him closely for the past two weeks in our training camp. It’s clear he has a lot of talent. There is still work to be done, but he has progressed hugely.

He has just made a very big transfer for a massive club like Celtic and he is motivated to show them what he can do when he goes to Scotland.

There’s no doubt he has improved a lot and he will go on to be a big player for Ukraine.”

Long-awaited impact

Shved’s arrival at Celtic was announced back in January, but the player did not move to Scotland, instead staying in Ukraine to finish out the season with Karpaty Lviv.

Celtic fans have had to watch on with keen interest as the player scored and created goals on a regular basis, netting 15 last season playing from the right flank and through the middle in attack.

Shevchenko knows a thing or two about being a successful attacker, so to hear him so full of praise for Shved should be exciting for supporters, as should the fact he has seen significant progress in the player’s game.

That suggests he has the potential to improve even further in Scotland.

With Celtic needing competition and cover for James Forrest, as well as relief for Odsonne Edouard, the early signs suggest they could be onto a winner with this signing.