Category Uncategorized

With the Premier League amid an impromptu hiatus, perhaps it’s unsurprising that the transfer rumours have started early this year, with Manchester United in the thick of it.

Of course, any rumours always need to be taken with a pinch of salt, especially at a time when the football media is desperate for stories to cover, but if recent claims prove true Manchester United’s starting XI could be nothing short of genuinely incredible by the time 2020/21 rolls around.

Here’s a quick rundown of how the Red Devils could look based on current speculation…

Hilariously obscure Premier League players – Can you name them all?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

Goalkeeper – David De Gea: No changes here. Dean Henderson has been impressing on loan at Sheffield United with the second-most clean sheets of any Premier League goalkeeper, but it would surely take a massive offer for the Red Devils to part with De Gea while there’s still three years left on his contract.

Right-Back – Aaron Wan-Bissaka: A strong first season from the former Crystal Palace man in which he’s averaged 3.8 tackles per game in the Premier League suggests he’ll be first-choice next term as well. United have been linked with PSG’s Thomas Meunier, but the 28-year-old could be more of a squad option considering Wan-Bissaka’s done so little wrong.

Right Centre-Back – Matthijs De Ligt: The Daily Star have claimed Manchester United are considering a stunning swoop for De Ligt that would see Paul Pogba go in the other direction to Juventus. The Red Devils were keen on the Dutch defender last summer until he joined Juve in a £67.5m deal, but he’s struggled to impress with an average Whoscored rating of 6.72 in Serie A.

Aged 20, the former Ajax man would still be a wise long-term investment for any top club and certainly provide Harry Maguire with a top-quality partner, something The Star claim Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is determined to find this summer. It’s worth noting, however, that De Ligt’s father-in-law has been quick to quash the rumours.

Left Centre-Back – Harry Maguire: Much like Wan-Bissaka, Maguire has adapted to life at Old Trafford with impressive ease, even taking up the captain’s armband. The England international scored a heroic header in the most recent Manchester Derby and looks like he’ll be a cornerstone of the first team for some time.

Left-Back – Luke Shaw: The Sun claim Solskjaer has been so impressed by Brandon Williams’ development this season that United won’t be on the lookout for another left-back this summer. It’s still early days for the 19-year-old though, so we’re expecting Luke Shaw to remain first choice – at least at the start of the campaign.

Holding Midfield – Saul Niguez: The Star have sensationally reported that United are confident of landing Atletico Madrid’s Niguez this summer in an incredible club-record £135m deal. That might seem like a lot of money to pay for someone who we’ve put in holding midfield but in many ways, that’s the beauty of the Spain international – this season alone he’s played in five different positions, and he seems uniquely adaptable to the demands of whatever team he’s in.

It’s alleged Solskjaer sees the 25-year-old as a potential replacement for Pogba who can operate alongside Bruno Fernandes in midfield, but we’ve dropped him back a little bit to make room for another alleged United incoming.

Central Midfield – Bruno Fernandes: Having already bagged three goals and four assists in his first nine outings for United, it’s safe to assume January signing Fernandes won’t be going anywhere next season. He’s already proving to be a vital cog in Solskjaer’s side and it would be a complete shock to see him bumped down the pecking order next season.

Central Midfield – Jack Grealish: The Aston Villa signing arrives to complete a midfield a la Pep Guardiola, with two roaming playmakers in front of a trusted and tenacious anchorman. Despite once again landing himself in hot water after bizarrely ignoring his own advice about self-isolation, The Daily Mail claim United are still expected to land the Englishman in a deal worth up to £80m.

A fine season for Grealish has seen him reach the League Cup final for Villa and contribute to 13 Premier League goals, despite his side languishing in the relegation zone. He’s certainly got the ability to make the step up to a top club, although there are some question marks over his attitude.

Right Wing – Jadon Sancho: According to Mirror Football, with Liverpool excluding themselves from the race, Manchester United and Chelsea will go head-to-head for the services of Jadon Sancho this summer. The 20-year-old is a frightening prospect, with 17 goals and 19 assists this season alone, and offers a solution to the right wing conundrum that has plagued United this season.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Like De Ligt, he represents another wise long-term investment for a top club. However, Mirror Football also claim United aren’t prepared to match Dortmund’s £100m asking price, so it seems some haggling may have to take place before this deal gets over the line.

Left Wing – Marcus Rashford: We often think of Rashford as the centre-piece in United’s attack but he’s actually made more appearances as a wide forward this season according to Transfermarkt, producing a prolific 15 goals and 4 assists in 19 outings from the left. It’s perhaps not Rashford’s ideal position long-term, but placing him there again next season will allow for another key addition up front.

Striker – Harry Kane: Manchester Evening News have suggested a United swoop for Kane remains unlikely but following on from his admission that he may eventually leave Spurs if there are no clear signs of progress, Rio Ferdinand has defiantly claimed that the Red Devils will be in for the Tottenham star, insisting he’s “perfect” for them.

Daniel Levy is notorious for refusing to do business with Premier League rivals, but Kane would no doubt be a fantastic addition to the Old Trafford ranks as arguably the best striker in the world. Even this season, which has been plagued by injuries and Spurs’ wayward form, the England captain has netted 17 times in 25 games.

The final XI

Meanwhile, Paul Pogba’s transfer priority has been revealed. 

The scoreline may have said it was only 1-0, but Everton were more dominant than that against Brighton.

The Toffees had six shots on target to their opponents’ two, as well as having 53% possession to 47%, but only Richarlison’s goal separated the two sides at the end of 90 minutes. Still, Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to be too unhappy, with this now giving him his third win since joining the club in December.

Call yourself an Everton expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

Whilst there may have been a lack of proficiency up front, there were no problems at the other end of the pitch. The Goodison Park outfit kept another clean sheet – their third since the Italian’s arrival, and they have now conceded just four during that time, which compares to 12 during the six matches preceding his appointment.

Mason Holgate was in particularly good form against the Seagulls. The 23-year-old managed one tackle, two interceptions and a team-leading seven clearances. On the ball, too, he looked composed and comfortable alongside Michael Keane, amassing a 92% passing accuracy whilst also completing 10 of his 12 long balls.

There have been reports that Ancelotti is keen to purchase a centre-back during this January transfer window. The Toffees have been linked with a number of players in that position, in particular Merih Demiral from Serie A champions Juventus. The Turkey international has started just four league matches in Italy this term, but has picked up an average rating of 7.11.

Indeed, the £18m-valued man – as per Transfermarkt – would be a fantastic addition to Ancelotti’s side, but that must be to partner rather than replace the former Barnsley man.

Michael Keane was also in good form against Brighton, with a match rating from WhoScored of 7.64, but he has plenty of chances, and he has been consistently lambasted by portions of the club’s fanbase. It is time for the heart of defence to be rejuvenated, and a partnership of Holgate and Demiral is certainly an intriguing one.

Watch Everton Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Ancelotti will want to put his stamp on this team as soon as possible, and this decision would give him the chance to do it. On Saturday, Holgate may just have forced his way into his manager’s long-term plans.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

In other news, Everton fans are disgusted by one thing in comparison with Liverpool.

Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott is set to be included in the Reds’ squad for tonight’s Carabao Cup match against Arsenal.

Sky Sports reported that the 16-year-old forward is likely to at least be in the matchday squad for the game at Anfield, having recently returned from a two-week suspension over a video he posted on social media in which he used offensive language in mocking Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

According to Sky Sports, the teenager trains with the first team virtually full-time, and Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders praised him as “a very educated boy” and “really passionate for the game”.

In Liverpool’s previous Carabao Cup game against MK Dons last month, Elliott became the youngest-ever player to start a senior competitive match for the Reds at 16 years and 174 days, as noted by Sky Sports.

The ex-Fulham youngster made an impression against the League One outfit that night, twice hitting the woodwork and recording four shots and four successful dribbles (more than anyone else in the match), as well as making three key passes and completing 48 of his 55 passes (87.3% success rate). [via WhoScored]

Former Liverpool player Stephen Warnock told Sky Sports that the winger showed “a maturity way beyond his years” on his Reds debut, adding: “This guy is full of confidence and you could see it in his performance, how well he did. Very unfortunate not to score late on, he can be delighted with his performance.”

Sky Sports reporter Ben Grounds also alluded to the self-belief that Elliott showed against MK Dons, saying that “his head never dropped and he showcased his confidence in stoppage time as he cut onto his weaker foot only to see his effort again come back off the bar”.

The 16-year-old has been turning in some effective performances for the Reds’ underage teams, providing an assist in all three UEFA Youth League games so far this season and scoring in the EFL Trophy against Oldham, in addition to two further assists in Premier League 2. [via TransferMarkt]

Tonight’s match offers Elliott an ideal chance to put the indiscretions of his Kane-themed social media video behind him by turning in another impressive performance, if he is selected by Jurgen Klopp.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

His frequent goal involvements at youth level and his confident display against MK Dons suggest that the teenage winger would not be fazed by starting against Arsenal.

Plus, with the Reds’ senior right wingers Mohamed Salah and Xherdan Shaqiri both experiencing recent injury problems, this seems the perfect opportunity to let Elliott express himself and further add to his confidence and experience.

Liverpool fans, do you think Elliott should start against Arsenal tonight? Give us your views in the comments section below!

[ad_pod ]

Ousmane Dembele’s stay at Barcelona has been a real roller coaster ride so far. The Frenchman joined the Catalan giant two years ago from Borussia Dortmund, and he was coming off a brilliant stint with the German side.

Despite him being a youngster in development back then, he was easily one of their most influential players in the current squad. In a total of 50 games, the young forward scored ten goals and assisted a further 22. While those numbers are not nearly as stratospheric as his future price tag would suggest, one crucial thing to note is that he was still just 20 years old when he entered his final campaign with Dortmund.

It’s difficult to find players of such age scoring and assisting as regularly as Dembele has done, and in the top-flight no less. The exception being, of course, his French compatriot, Kylian Mbappe. But Paris Saint-Germain’s talisman is a story for a different time.

Going back to Dembele, though, it was only a matter of time before someone would come knocking on the door of the German team, and that someone ended up being Barcelona themselves. Naturally, suitors came and went but the Catalans’ interest was by far the biggest and it landed them the coveted signature in the end.

But it was difficult – the player went on strike, missed training sessions and was “missing in action”, hiding from the club and the media. Needless to say, it was a soap opera until the official announcement finally arrived from Barcelona and the deal was done. Dembele would become Barcelona’s second most expensive signing in history – first until Philippe Coutinho joined a couple of months later.

And with that huge price tag on his head and quite the reputation from his time at Borussia Dortmund, he was very much expected to hit the ground running and show his worth immediately. But, as fate would have it, his beginnings were much more difficult than the player and the club would have wished for.

Just weeks into his stint with the Blaugrana, he picked up an injury that would sideline him for a total of 106 days, meaning he would miss 20 games of his maiden season with his new club. Catastrophe struck and suddenly Barcelona were desperate without Neymar, who left just prior to Dembele’s acquisition, and now without their prized replacement. But it was only the beginning.

The Frenchman returned to full fitness months later only to pick up another problematic injury in January of the following year, this time to be sidelined for seven games. At this point, it was starting to become pretty clear – the Frenchman was not at the required fitness level and it showed.

The 2018/19 season continued mostly in the same vein. Two injuries were collected in a relatively short space of time and a total of eight games were missed in the second part of the campaign.

More importantly, Dembele missed some crucial final games that saw Barcelona plunge into despair, going from a perfect season to a disappointing one in two games: the debacle at Anfield and the defeat to Valencia in the Copa del Rey final. Both games were missed by Dembele and both ended in catastrophe.

At this point, doubts started to rise both among the fans and, more importantly, in the club’s upper hierarchy with some reports even claiming he was to be included in the alleged Neymar deal. Should the Frenchman be sold? Should Barcelona cut their losses and face the harsh reality of another failed transfer? It may be tough but the answer to both of these questions should be a resounding no and here’s why.

The first reason is his renowned determination. Dembele was among the very first players who came back to training after their holidays, cutting his time off short in order to arrive at pre-season at his absolute best. This shows that he’s slowly maturing and is ready to take on more responsibility for his own development.

The Dembele of the past couple of years would not have been back in training so soon. That Dembele was staying up late playing video games, partying with friends and lacking professionalism.

And now, the first signs of improvement were already there in pre-season of 2019. Dembele was among the ones who impressed in the final games against Napoli, bagging a goal and an assist in the process.

When he’s fit and motivated, he is without a doubt an incredible player with huge potential. Despite his limited game time, he already scored 18 goals and assisted 17 in the 68 games he played in Blaugrana colours so far. On top of that, he is valuable because he offers versatility due to his comfort playing with both feet.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

At Barcelona, he played 35 games as the right-winger and 26 on the opposite side, offering flexibility to Ernesto Valverde, which is invaluable to the team as a whole.

All of this makes him a player who’s worth betting on in the future, especially since he is showing signs of improvement. He’s been put on a special diet and training regiments to decrease the chances of getting injured and his mind seems to be set on success. That combined with his natural talent and young age suggest Barcelona would be foolish to let him go.

Being in Catalonia for two years now, it’s understandable that the club might be getting impatient with their highly-valued asset but both Lionel Messi and Neymar, two extremely successful Barcelona players, also had rough patches at the very beginning of their La Liga careers.

Injuries are a big concern and seem to be preventing Dembele from living up to his potential but with improved determination and responsibility, both on and off the pitch, the Frenchman is still very much set to take the stage by storm in the not too distant future.

All he needs is a bit more belief. It will be worth it.

[long_read]

Manchester City are champions, Liverpool ran the Blues close, Chelsea somehow sneaked into the top three and Tottenham Hotspur, despite their brilliant Champions League campaign, lost 13 times but managed to hold off both Arsenal and Manchester United to finish in the top four.

Huddersfield Town endured one of the worst top-flight campaigns of all time and dropped back into the Championship along with Fulham, so ravaged by financial mismanagement, and Neil Warnock’s Cardiff City.

With the summer transfer window looming, and the managerial merry-go-round already in full swing – Brighton & Hove Albion have sacked Chris Hughton despite a 17th-placed finish – Football FanCast takes a close look at every club’s managerial situation.

Who is in danger of the sack? And who is certain to be leading their current employers out on the first day of the 2019-20 campaign?

Take a look below!

[snack_break title=”Manchester City”]

Do we even need to write anything here? Pep Guardiola’s job security is about as secure as a triple-bolted door boarded up with wood. The Spaniard has won 198 points across the last two seasons and has just secured a domestic treble of trophies.

Imagine sacking him!

[snack_break title=”Liverpool”]

The likelihood of Jurgen Klopp getting sacked is about as improbable as Mike Dean not making everything about himself; pretty far-fetched. The German has begun what feels like a legacy at the club, and even if he doesn’t deliver a trophy this year, his connection with his players and the fanbase is unique.

[snack_break title=”Wolves”]

Nuno Santo’s job at Wolves is as safe as houses. He’s done an exceptional job since taking over and it seems like the sky is the limit for the club at the moment. There’s room for improvement but he’s learning all the time and that will only benefit them even further going forward.

[snack_break title=”Tottenham Hotspur”]

Mauricio Pochettino is probably the safest manager in the Premier League when it comes to the project but there are rumblings from the Argentine that he could leave if Spurs win the Champions League. It would be difficult to blame him if he did; it’s a bit like completing Football Manager. Chairman Daniel Levy, though, will be desperate for him to stay.

[snack_break title=”Burnley”]

Sean Dyche basically is Burnley Football Club. He has made them a Premier League club and deserves an immense amount of credit for it – he’s got no chance of being sacked this summer.

[snack_break title=”Leicester City”]

Brendan Rodgers is in no danger of losing his job this summer. He’s made the King Power faithful feel positive about their club again and there are so many reasons for Leicester supporters to feel positive about their chances under Rodgers going into the summer and beyond. It’s an exciting time to be involved with the club.

[snack_break title=”Watford”]

Javi Gracia has done a phenomenal job at a Watford team that were expected to struggle this season. An 11th-placed finish – well above the relegation zone – and an FA Cup final marks a very successful season that can be built on in the seasons to come.

[snack_break title=”AFC Bournemouth”]

It’s been a strange season for the Cherries, who flirted with relegation but ultimately finished 14th. One feels Eddie Howe might have taken the club as far as they can go; he is perhaps more likely to walk away than get the boot, however.

[snack_break title=”Arsenal”]

Unai Emery, one would think, is safe as houses but he needs help. He’s done well to take the Gunners to the Europa League final and, though a top-four finish was beyond them, investment could take them back into the upper echelons of the table next season.

[snack_break title=”Everton”]

Everton and Marco Silva went through a bit of a sticky patch just after the turn of the year, but the former Hull boss seems to have ironed out the issues to turn his side into a well-oiled machine. We know what the Goodison Park faithful can get like, however, so he must show that the good end to the season can be sustained or things could go sour.

[snack_break title=”Southampton”]

Ralph Hasenhuttl will be absolutely fine. He was appointed in December after the genuinely awful reign of Mark Hughes and he now has a full summer to bring in the players he feels he needs to realise his exciting philosophy at St Mary’s.

[snack_break title=”West Ham United”]

Manuel Pellegrini endured a couple of wobbles this season but West Ham ultimately finished the season in 10th, winning all of their last three games. Investment is likely this summer but the Hammers will be looking to mount a sustained challenge for Europa League football next term.

[snack_break title=”Huddersfield Town”]

The worst Premier League side of the last decade, Jan Siewert was dealt a truly terrible hand when he took over in mid-season. He perhaps deserves a shot at bringing them back from the second-tier but, after the rise in quality in the Championship, that would take yet another Terriers miracle.

[snack_break title=”Chelsea”]

Maurizio Sarri endured a difficult season for the majority of 2018-19 but he somehow guided the club into the top three. They will be playing Champions League football next season but they will also be under a transfer ban; persuading another manager to move to Stamford Bridge would be a remarkably tough ask. Sarri, then, might just be safe.

[snack_break title=”Manchester United”]

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer probably shouldn’t have even got the job permanently in the first place, but here we are. United’s terrible run of form isn’t being solely blamed on him, but start next season off in similar fashion, and the finger will be pointed at the Norwegian.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[snack_break title=”Cardiff City”]

Neil Warnock is one of the most charismatic managers in the game and he did all he could to keep Cardiff up, though he ultimately succumbed to the brutal reality of the Premier League. They could well dispense with him as they look to make an instant return.

[snack_break title=”Newcastle United”]

This will be a fascinating summer for Newcastle and Rafa Benitez. He’s in no danger of being sacked but there is the possibility that he’ll leave. He’s one of the best managers in the league still and the Magpies simply have to back him in regards to transfers funds. Otherwise, they can wave adios to their heralded Spanish manager.

[snack_break title=”Crystal Palace”]

Roy Hodgson and the Eagles ended the season well; they won three of their last five games and lost just once, perhaps pointing to a brighter 2019-20 season. They cannot afford to have such awful home form, however; they won just five games at Selhurst Park. Similar struggles next term could see Hodgson dismissed.

[snack_break title=”Fulham”]

Although the Cottagers have only just given Scott Parker the reins, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was packing his bags again soon. His record with Fulham to date hasn’t been fantastic and you have to doubt whether he’s got the ability to take them back to the top-flight. We could well see another managerial change at Craven Cottage very shortly.

[snack_break title=”Brighton & Hove Albion”]

Chris Hughton was sacked after a 17th-placed finish. Graham Potter has now stepped into his shoes after enjoying a promising campaign with Swansea City, and the Seagulls faithful can now look forward to watching him implement an exciting brand of football. Patience is a virtue that may not be afforded to Potter, however, and his players will need to deliver both style and results to keep him at the helm.

[/long_read]

West Ham fans have had a really good season this campaign so far, Manuel Pellegrini is undoubtedly the best manager that they’ve had in a while and to your every day Hammer, the thought of sacking him is absolutely absurd. However, in football, you always get those strange few as one West Ham fans has called for a Slaven Bilic return.

Yes, just in case you thought that you must have misread the previous paragraph and the tweet above, there is a genuine supporter of West Ham United who would happily see Pellegrini, a former Premier League winner, sacked for a gaffer who was recently sacked in the Suadi Arabian League. It is up there with one of the most ridiculous calls this year, and Hammers everywhere have been rubbishing it.

Whilst Slaven Bilic was at West Ham, he may have completed some tidy transfer business. His signing of Dimitri Payet was the obvious highlight, but then things went downhill as he brought in Gokhan Tore and Simone Zaza, players that were destined to flop in the big leagues of the Premier League. Now it seems that they have a manager who really knows what he’s doing, poaches quality players in the market and knows how to win, yet some still aren’t happy.

You can see what the Hammers have made of the Pellegrini out comments here:

The Hammers hate the idea of losing Pellegrini and want to hear no more talk from their own fans that he should go.

[ad_pod ]

At the beginning of this season, Harry Kane was undroppable for Tottenham, despite the fact that he almost certainly needed to be rested after his summer exertions at the World Cup with England.

However, Mauricio Pochettino finally left the 25-year-old out of his starting line up this weekend away at Leicester, and the Argentine boss will have been pleased to find that he can rely on Heung-min Son to step up when his main man needs a break.

Son had an even busier summer than Kane, as almost straight after South Korea were knocked out of the main tournament in Russia, he was back on the plane to eventually win a gold medal for his country at the Asian Games.

Playmaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

Since then though he has been eased back into action by Pochettino, and the 26-year-old now looks like he is back to his best form.

After a somewhat frustrating start, Son broke the deadlock for Spurs in added time of the first-half with a beautiful curling finish beyond the outstretched arms of Kasper Schmeichel.

Playing from the left-hand side with Lucas Moura up front, Son then turned provider in the second half as he put a cross on a plate for Dele Alli to head home and secure all three points at the King Power Stadium.

In total, the South Korean star made eight crosses in the win, whilst also having four shots as he was by far the greatest threat for Pochettino’s side.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

His two key passes and 81 per cent pass accuracy also show an end product that is sometimes missing from his game when he’s off form.

Off form he is certainly not at the moment though, having netted three times in his last four Premier League games. With Fernando Llorente struggling, Tottenham have at least found their man who will step up when Kane is unavailable this season.

According to Le 10 Sport, Manchester United are amongst the number of big name European clubs to have made contact with Flamengo over Lucas Paqueta.

What’s the story?

The aforementioned report claims that PSG, Barcelona and AC Milan are all also in the hunt for the 21-year-old.

The attacking midfielder has been in stellar form of late and is beginning to add end product in terms of goals and assists to his game too. 

[ad_pod ]

The youngster already boasts exquisite technique and no shortage of confidence. His dynamic, attacking style, combined with his flair and fearlessly tricky dribbling could see him have a huge impact in the Premier League.

There are flaws in his game to iron out – occasional selfishness and inconsistent finishing, for instance – but Paqueta is certainly a potential star of the future. United would be wise to do all they can to beat off the competition and secure the Brazilian’s signature for themselves.

Gambling on Paqueta

Paqueta’s arrival at Old Trafford could provide an injection of a lot of the qualities that are currently in short supply in Jose Mourinho’s squad. A young, explosive No. 10, able to forge something out of nothing, is currently missing from the Red Devils’ ranks, while he is also capable of challenging Alexis Sanchez given he has played on the left side during his short career as well.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Equally, a switch to the Premier League giants would represent a huge step forward in Paqueta’s career. The opportunity to train, play and learn alongside the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku should aid the youngster’s development. 

Signing any young prospect is a risk, and with a Transfermarkt valuation of £13.5 million Paqueta likely wouldn’t come cheap. However, United have the financial might to be able to roll the dice on the playmaker’s potential and should do so.

Danny Ings was brought into a rotated Liverpool lineup for Saturday’s Merseyside derby as Jurgen Klopp prioritised the Champions League quarter-final second leg tie against Manchester City in midweek.

The Englishman – valued at £7.2m by Transfermarkt – has had a real struggle with injuries in recent years, which has blighted his Anfield career since his arrival from Burnley in 2015.

While that has been disappointing for the striker, it appears that he simply isn’t good enough for what Jurgen Klopp wants to do and with Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge to come back from their respective loan deals in the summer, his days at Liverpool look numbered.

The numbers behind his struggles against Everton back that up. No shots on goal, no key passes and no dribbles are evidence of a man who was unable to influence proceedings at all, despite being handed a huge opportunity in a big game.

He was successful with just over half his passes, which is poor for a forward playing in a team that was largely able to dominate the ball without too much competition from the hosts until the closing stages.

46 touches also showed Klopp a man who couldn’t get involved in the Liverpool build-up and the German will surely be looking for an upgrade once the summer rolls around.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod ]

There is a tendency in the football world for players to be linked with moves away once they start performing well at their respective clubs.

Harry Winks has become one of those individuals as the London Evening Standard reports that Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez has been left impressed by the midfielder.

The Barca chief is believed to have been in the stands when the 21-year-old helped Spurs earn a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu earlier this month in the Champions League.

[ad_pod ]

Winks was one of the stars of the show, and the midfielder put on another decent display when the team defeated Los Blancos 3-1 at Wembley on Wednesday.

The report does not state that Barcelona will swoop any time soon for the homegrown talent, but with the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli also getting linked elsewhere, it is no big surprise that Winks would attract similar interest.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Tottenham fans, though, do not seem worried about the speculation.