Liverpool fans react to Sessegnon revelation

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According to The Express, Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon ‘dreams’ of a move to Liverpool despite reported interest from Manchester United.

United are believed to have approached Fulham with the view to potentially signing Sessegnon in this summer’s transfer window.

However, The Express have claimed that Liverpool could scupper the deal as the 19-year-old is a boyhood fan of the Merseyside giants and ‘dreams’ of a switch to Anfield.

Sessegnon was excellent for the Cottagers during their 2017-18 Championship campaign, which ended with promotion to the Premier League.

The teenager was also a regular for the capital side during the recent season – playing in all but three of their 38 Premier League matches.

It does appear that Sessegnon will be leaving Craven Cottage this summer, reportedly for around £40m.

And the Liverpool fans have been reacting to the report claiming their club could potentially be the player’s preferred destination ahead of bitter rivals United, as well as the alleged price-tag.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Pundit View: Keith Andrews’ praise of Jack Harrison adds to Leeds fans’ frustration

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Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage of Leeds’ playoff semi-final clash (May 11, 7:15 PM) against Derby, pundit Keith Andrews was blown away by the assist Jack Harrison provided for the game’s only goal.

Harrison delivered an early cross to the back post where Kemar Roofe duly applied an excellent finish to put the Whites 1-0 up.

What’s been said then?

The former Republic of Ireland international was full of praise for Harrison after his incredible piece of play.

“It was really good play down the left hand side,” he told Sky Sports.

“They were dangerous down there. I thought the ball was absolutely out of this world so we can’t take anything away from that perspective.

“It’s phenomenal, the ball in, the composure. Quality finish.”

Must keep it up

Harrison has been one of the biggest disappointments for Leeds this season since joining on loan from Manchester City. the winger has scored just four goals and provided three assists for teammates.

There have been glimpses of class from the youngster, but those have been few and far between.

Saturday’s match against Derby was arguably the best performance Harrison has put in in a Leeds shirt, and if he keeps that up for the remaining playoff games, he could yet become a hero at the club.

Andrews’ praise was well deserved at the weekend, but there haven’t been enough times this season that you could say something positive about the former New York City FC man.

Harrison is a Man City player for a reason. The fact that Pep Guardiola’s side have seen enough in him to justify a £51,000-a-week wage says a lot.

The winger may be the one to step up for Leeds in high-pressure situations as he did on Saturday, but he must make a change and be more consistent if he is to be remembered fondly at Elland Road.

Mr Consistent: Sadio Mane’s record over the past seven years speaks volumes

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Consistency is one of the hardest things to achieve in football.

The game has seen plenty of players who look like they could be the next big thing, but ultimately turn out to be a mere flash in the pan: stars such as Ravel Morrison, Adnan Januzaj and Freddy Adu all looked like world beaters at one point.

Liverpool are a club that have been bitten on the backside in recent years by players who have performed well in spells, but ultimately tailed off – however, Jurgen Klopp’s current crop of stars are unerringly efficient.

One man above all has been hitting the high notes on a seasonal basis for seven years now: Sadio Mane.

Has Salomon Rondon had a better season than Bobby Firmino? Matt from The Magpie Channel discusses in the video below…

The Senegalese international has recorded his best ever goal-scoring campaign this year with 26 goals in 49 appearances, averaging roughly a goal every two games. A very impressive strike rate, it must be said.

But how has he done over the course of the last seven years since he really started finding his mojo in Europe with Red Bull Salzburg?

The 27-year-old forward has hit a staggering 129 goals and recorded an excellent 68 assists since the 2012/13 season, averaging around 18 goals each term.

That is a very, very good rate, and highlights in black-and-white just how efficient the former Southampton man is.

One other thing that Mane should be commended on is his fitness. It is all well and good scoring the goals and setting them up, but you have to be present for your team out on the pitch in order to do so.

The Liverpool No.10 is always available for his side and impressively hasn’t missed a game this season, giving his all in the ultimately unsuccessful battle for the Premier League title; there is, however, still the chance to win a sixth Champions League for the club in Madrid soon.

Having scored in the final against Real Madrid last year as Liverpool suffered defeat, Mane should be raring to right the wrongs of that game this time around.

أسامة فيصل يكشف عن تعليمات باتشيكو له قبل هدفه القاتل أمام نادي مصر

قال أسامة فيصل لاعب فريق نادي الزمالك الصاعد، إن الفارس الأبيض دائمًا ما يلعب على الانتصارات، مشيرًا إلى أنه يبذل قصارى جهده من أجل حصد البطولات.

وكان فيصل قد شارك في فوز الزمالك الصعب على نادي مصر، مساء أمس في ربع نهائي بطولة كأس مصر، بهدفين مقابل هدف، وسجل أسامة تعادل الزمالك القاتل في الدقيقة 96.

وأضاف فيصل في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “أون تايم سبورت”: “باتشيكو منحني تعليمات بأن أظل بالقرب من مصطفى محمد وأركز على بعض الكرات”.

عبد الله سيسيه: الزمالك صاحب الفرصة الأكبر في الفوز على الأهلي بنهائي إفريقيا

وأردف: “اللاعبون الكبار يمنحونا دوافع دائمًا، طارق حامد ومحمود شيكابالا أكثر لاعبين يفعلان ذلك ويتحدثان معي دائمًا”.

وواصل: “مباراة نهائي دوري أبطال افريقيا ستجمع بين أكبر فريقين في إفريقيا وإن شاء الله المباراة تمر على أفضل نحو لأننا نلعب باسم مصر وهذا شرف كبير”.

وتابع: “كنت أتمنى أن أكون مقيدًا وألعب في المباراة”.

واختتم: “اللاعبون سواء في الأهلي أو الزمالك جميعهم أصدقاء، التعصب بين الجماهير فقط وأتمنى أن نعبر بالمباراة على خير”.

One telling flick of the boot showcases Dele Alli’s genius

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Dele Alli looked somewhere close to his electric best last night.

On the chalkboard

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder turned in a superb performance on Wednesday as Spurs improbably reached the Champions League final, turning around a three-goal deficit and going through on away goals against Ajax.

Lucas Moura grabbed the headlines with a sensational hat-trick on the night but Alli’s contribution cannot be understated.

The England international, per WhoScored, touched the ball 57 times, completed two dribbles and also laid on four key passes, with two assists, taking his tally to eight for the season in all-competitions.

One of those was proof that the 23-year-old has returned to the swaggering form that saw him prove so effective in the World Cup and in seasons prior.

With the clock ticking down and Spurs seemingly heading out of the competition, Alli tried an impudent flick. He had absolutely no right to be so brazen in the final minute of a semi-final in Europe’s elite club competition but it found its way to Lucas, who sent a low drive beyond Andre Onana.

Straight outta MK Dons.

Spurs, all of a sudden, were in a Champions League final, with Alli playing a key role.

The big-game player

Alli has endured a serious dip in form this season but he remains one of Spurs’ most integral players, particularly in big games.

This was a telling reminder to Mauricio Pochettino and his healthy contingent of doubters that he possesses the mentality to summon his wizardry on the biggest stage. It was a performance which vindicated his £90 million Transfermarkt valuation in a season which has prompted plenty of sceptics to doubt the extent of his ability.

Indeed, perhaps his best performance of the season prior to the clash with Ajax came against Chelsea in the Premier League, where he laid on an assist and scored in a 3-1 victory at Wembley.

Still young and still to hit his peak, Alli’s return to form will be excellent news for his manager.

Spurs, after all, still need to confirm their finish in the top four and, of course, they also face a Champions League final now, on June 1, against Liverpool.

With Alli in excellent form, they have every chance of being called European champions.

Another compelling layer has been added to the narrative of this unlikely prodigy.

Celtic fans still can’t believe they didn’t sign John McGinn after latest display

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Celtic wanted to sign John McGinn to Parkhead during last summer’s transfer window, but after a number of rejected bids he ended up joining Aston Villa in a £2.75m deal instead.

The 24-year-old has quickly become a key player for the Championship outfit and helped them reach the play-off final with an impressive display against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night – something that didn’t go unnoticed by Bhoys supporters on Twitter.

Being a fan of the Glasgow giants, it seemed almost nailed on that he was going to make the move from Edinburgh to the Scottish Premiership champions in August, but it never materialised as Celtic failed with offers before the player opted for a move to England.

While it has been another successful campaign for the club which could end with a treble-treble by the end of the month, it hasn’t been forgotten how they effectively missed out on McGinn.

Celtic fans were quick to have their say on the Scotland international’s latest performance via social media, and it’s fair to say that they still can’t believe he isn’t lining up for the Hoops this term.

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While one labelled it as a “howling decision”, another said “Celtic really missed a trick by not signing John McGinn”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Celtic: Another treble may beckon should Patrick Roberts make long-awaited Hoops return

Celtic fans have cause to get excited in the coming days if this particular rumor can get off the ground. The Bhoys will still be suffering from sore heads from their treble-treble celebrations this weekend, but they have the consoling good news of transfer links in The Sun claiming their in the market for Patrick Roberts, their former livewire winger.

There is a twist to the tale, though, as Neil Lennon's Celtic will face competition for the winger from none other than Brendan Rodgers' Celtic. That won't be easy for the Hoops to come to terms with, but they should still be doing everything they can to secure the signing of Patrick Roberts, who has already spent two seasons with the Hoops in their first and second treble-winning season.

It wouldn't be too hard to convince the wide-man to sign again either. The season just gone has seen the young £4.5 million-rated ace, as per Transfermarkt, flop hard on-loan in La Liga with Girona, where he's managed just one assist and not a single goal in 21 appearances in all competitions. If the 22-year-old is targeting a quick return to form, there's only one place for it: Glasgow.

At his young age, Roberts can still go on to become a star and his numbers from his Celtic days prove that. In his two separate loan spells with the treble-treble winners beforehand the Manchester City man racked up 18 goals and 26 assists in his 78 appearances and if he returns to add to that then the Hoops can rest easy knowing that they'd be a little bit closer to securing fourth domestic treble.

Celtic fans, would you be happy with a move for Patrick Roberts? Let us know!

Transfer Focus: Leeds United’s interest in Gallagher suggests they want two strikers

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According to Football Insider, Leeds United are interested in signing Sam Gallagher from Southampton after he was told he could leave the club this summer.

United’s desire to bring in a striker has been no secret as they have been continuously linked with forward players since the window opened, but perhaps this move signals that they want multiple new centre-forwards in their ranks.

Gallagher’s credentials

The Southampton man is no stranger to Championship football having spent two of the last three seasons out on loan in the division.

He didn’t fare too badly either. He was Birmingham’s top scorer in the 2017/18 season, and he netted 11 goals for Blackburn Rovers the term prior to that.

A move to the Championship permanently may be exactly what he needs as he would have something to prove and would finally be playing regular football at his parent club rather than continuously being shipped out on loan.

Two strikers

The Yorkshire outfit have constantly been linked with attackers in this window, but they have been looking at two different types of striker. Dwight Gayle and Eamonn Brophy are more poachers and they have reportedly been looked at, but the Whites have also targetted Gallagher and Michael Frey who are better utilised as target men.

Gayle and Brophy are two forwards who would provide something completely different to the 23-year-old, and the fact that Leeds are targeting such different types of front men may indicate that they are looking to sign multiple forward players.

Kemar Roofe’s contract situation still hasn’t been resolved, so Victor Orta may be looking at another addition to replace him, but it would be a massive surprise if the only centre forward Leeds signed this summer was the Southampton man.

مورينيو قبل مواجهة تشيلسي: مجرد مباراة وأمامنا ثلاثة احتمالات

يصر جوزيه مورينيو، المدير الفني لفريق توتنهام، على أنه لا يوجد شيء مميز في العودة إلى ملعب ستامفورد بريدج لمواجهة تشيلسي.

أصبح مورينيو بطلاً في ملعب ستامفورد بريدج عندما وصل في عام 2004 وحقق أول لقب للنادي منذ 50 عامًا.

وقال مدرب توتنهام في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية: “إنها مجرد مباراة أخرى بالنسبة لي، لا مشكلة على الإطلاق”.

وأضاف: “ربما لا نذهب إلى هناك في صدارة الدوري، ربما يحصل ليفربول على نقطة أو فوز في برايتون ثم لا نذهب إلى هناك في صدارة الدوري”.

وأردف مورينيو: “الذهاب إلى هناك في صدارة الدوري أو الذهاب وليفربول متصدر، لا يغير شيئًا بالنسبة لنا”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أزبيليكويتا عن مواجهة توتنهام: مورينيو يملك تاريخًا رائعًا مع تشيلسي.. ولا مجال للعواطف!

وأكمل البرتغالي: “نحن دائما متنافسون للفوز بالمباراة القادمة، لا شيء أكثر من ذلك، سنكون هناك وأمامنا ثلاث نتائج محتملة، نعلم أن أي شيء يمكن أن يحدث، لكننا نذهب إلى هناك وهدفنا هو الفوز بالمباراة”.

وأكد: “تشيلسي لديه فريق رائع، يلعبون بميندي أو أغلى حارس مرمى في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي؟ للعب بريس جيمس أو أزبيلكويتا، اللعب ببن تشيلويل، ماركوس ألونسو أو إيمرسون؟ لست قلقًا بشأن من سيلعب لأن لديهم لاعبين جيدين فقط”.

وعن موقف ثلاثي توتنهام، هوجو لوريس وجيوفاني لو سيلسو وستيفن بيرجوين، أتم: أريد أن أصدق إمكانية مشاركتهم، إذا أردت الضغط وإذا أردت المخاطرة قليلاً، فيمكنهم فعل ذلك”.

Leeds United: Losing Kalvin Phillips this summer would be disastrous for the Whites

It has been quite a year for Kalvin Phillips at Leeds United, hasn’t it?

One of a plethora of players who have benefited from chairman Andrea Radrizzani’s decision to appoint Marcelo Bielsa as the Whites’ manager last summer, the 23-year-old has taken his game to new heights in recent months.

A fantastic midfielder who has an eye for a pass as well as tackle, Phillips was undeniably one of the main reasons for why Leeds were able to secure a third-place finish in the Championship during the 2018/19 campaign.

Yet despite delivering two outstanding individual performances in the play-offs against Derby County, he was ultimately powerless to stop his side from crashing out of the competition last Wednesday.

With Leeds facing another season in the second tier, it is clear that in order to be competitive, they must do everything they can to convince Phillips to stay at Elland Road. Indeed, losing the midfielder could prove to be very costly as his defensive contributions were priceless this season and it would be almost impossible to find a midfielder like the Englishman who has the ability to fit in at the heart of the defence as well.

The middle of midfield is such a key position as everything goes through Phillips, with attacks often being started, opposition attacks being halted and he also chips in with the odd contribution in the final third. It would be almost impossible to replace him at Elland Road, which is why Leeds’ play-off bid could be over before it’s already begun.

According to Football Insider, the midfielder is reportedly on the radar of AFC Bournemouth who are keen to add him to their growing roster of young, exciting British players.

Having already completed the signing of England under-21 international Lloyd Kelly from Bristol City, it would not be at all surprising if Eddie Howe does indeed swoop for Phillips in the coming weeks. Although Bielsa will be reluctant to let the midfielder leave given his influence for the Whites, he may be tempted to sell him if the Cherries come in with a big offer.

However, with the Whites’ future at stake, it is clear that the Argentine should not even consider letting Phillips leave when the transfer window opens in July as if he does, it could lead to disaster.

Without the midfielder’s domineering presence next season, it would not be at all surprising if Leeds end up struggling to compete in the Championship.

What do you think Whites fans? How important is it that Bielsa convinces Phillips to stay this summer? Are you confident that your side can bounce back next season? Let us know below.

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