PSG journalist drops behind-scenes Pochettino claim

Writing on Twitter, journalist Bruno Salomon, Paris-Saint Germain correspondent for Radio France, has shared what he has been told ‘internally’ regarding the rumours of Tottenham Hotspur talks for Mauricio Pochettino.

The Lowdown: Tottenham in talks for Pochettino…?

This morning, huge news emerged regarding the future of Pochettino and Tottenham’s hunt for a new manager.

Indeed, The Athletic first reported that Spurs and their former favourite are locked in talks over a sensational return to the club and Pochettino is attracted by the idea of a return to north London.

However, it will be very difficult to pull off given the 49-year-old still has one year left on his PSG deal and the Ligue 1 giants do not want the upheaval of another manager change.

The Latest: PSG journalist drops behind-scenes update

Writing on Twitter, Salomon, PSG correspondent for Radio France, has claimed he has been told ‘internally’ that the Pochettino to Spurs rumours are in fact ‘false’.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-things-spurry/” title=”Spurs news and gossip!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

“On this rumour of Pochettino who could not stay at PSG (because of the desire for a return to Tottenham or the freshness of relations with Leonardo or even departure at the request of Doha), I am clearly told internally that it is false,” he explained (translated via Twitter).

The Verdict: Blow for Tottenham…?

Given the noise surrounding Pochettino’s possible return to Spurs, information from this reporter could be a slight dampener on the mood in north London.

However, he is just one source and the managerial landscape can change very quickly – with Lilywhites supporters possibly hoping that the Argentine’s return to north London is indeed on the cards.

It has been said that Spurs want a manager in the image of Pochettino, so who better than the man himself?

If he can secure a sensational reunion with the Lilywhites, it’s safe to say the appointment would be big, but don’t get your hopes up just yet Tottenham fans.

In other news: Spurs now want to sign this ‘nearly unplayable’ ace, find out more here.

Sheffield United handed huge Jebbison boost

Sheffield United were boosted by the news recently that Daniel Jebbison has signed a professional deal at Bramall Lane, which should hopefully keep him with the Blades for a while longer.

The 17-year-old signed his first professional deal alongside fellow academy talents Femi Seriki, Andre Brooks, Jordan Amissah and Oliver Arblaster, with Sheffield United suggesting that they have all been tied down to long-term deals.

Jebbison has burst onto the scene at Bramall Lane in recent weeks, as he was handed his senior debut as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace before earning a start for the game against Everton at Goodison Park.

The young Englishman scored the only goal of the game as Paul Heckingbottom’s side picked up an impressive win against the Toffees, and the youngster has unsurprisingly started every game since.

It had seemed as if the teenager could well be on the move this summer, with the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund all reportedly interested.

Blades fans would surely be disappointed to lose such a bright young prospect so early, so will be delighted that he has now signed a long-term deal with the Bramall Lane outfit, one which should hopefully increase the chances of him staying with the club this summer, thus allowing him to make a positive impact in the Championship next season.

There seems no reason why, after a promising few appearances in the Premier League, Jebbison can’t have an impact in the second tier next season and potentially help the Blades challenge for promotion back to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards was full of praise for the youngster recently, saying:

“I really like the look of him. He just gets in the right areas, and they needed that with all the negativity that’s gone on at the club.

“You want to bounce back straight away, and you want to go to the end of the season with positivity.

“They’re playing for pride, and he’s the shining light.”

Therefore, Blades fans will be buzzing that one of the few positives from a disappointing season has committed his long-term future to the club, as he looks to have a very bright future at Bramall Lane.

And, in other news… Winckel heading for huge mistake with “very good” SUFC academy gem

MCFC fans unhappy at Nmecha news

Manchester City fans are far from happy after it was revealed the Citizens will not offer Lukas Nmecha a new contract and will instead look to sell him this summer.

22-year-old Nmecha has been with City since 2007 and has progressed through the youth ranks into professional football. So far, he has managed just three appearances for City (Transfermarkt), but he is currently enjoying a fantastic loan campaign with Anderlecht in Belgium – he has managed 17 goals and three assists in 34 games in all competitions.

However, despite his impressive form, it seems the four-time Premier League winners are not eager to keep him at the club in the long-term. They are reportedly not interested in offering him a new deal and will look to move him at the end of the term – he is believed to be valued at just €8m (£7m).

This news was shared via Sport Witness on Twitter by @City_Xtra, and it attracted plenty of attention from the City supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Nmecha news below

“Rhian Brewster for £20m means nmecha should be £50m”

Credit: @CanceloProp

“dying out for a striker and he’s banging them in, watch us get about £3m for him. If he was a Liverpool player they’d be getting £15m+”

Credit: @jackcainus

“Damn.”

Credit: @tacticalfoul47

“We don’t value our players enough, exactly why our Catalan board should bore off soon.”

Credit: @Seer9789

“Aw man this is a mistake”

Credit: @BluuMoonRising

“8m you having a laugh when Liverpool are flogging solanke and brewster for 25+ each”

Credit: @Adamod91

In other news, Man City fans are delighted with this Ilkay Gundogan news.

West Ham fans slam Issa Diop vs Burnley

Many West Ham United fans were far from happy with the performance of Issa Diop despite their 2-1 win over Burnley on Monday.

David Moyes’ side picked up a huge three points against the Lancashire outfit to maintain their hopes of clinching a European place. Chris Wood opened the scoring for Burnley before Michail Antonio netted twice to give his side the lead. The Irons are now back up to fifth in the table and are just three points behind Chelsea in fourth (Sky Sports).

However, despite the win, the performance of Diop left a lot to be desired. He did improve after the  interval but that was not too difficult after a very poor first 45 minutes. He often struggled when put under pressure by Burnley’s physical play, and he made a couple of particularly worrying mistakes.

These Hammers fans were far from happy with what they saw, and they took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what these fans had to say about Diop

“Diop does worry me. One of the only players who’s gotten worse under Moyes”

Credit: @Daveyboymarra

“Diop is a liability, needs dropping, why is Moyes has a question mark over Benrahma but he always plays Nobes”

Credit: @Markwake14

“Diop was the weak link last night for me”

Credit: @brind_jon

“Harsh to drop Lanzini so I’d put him at the back over Diop. He’s been a bit of a liability lately”

Credit: @Hammer_Brooker

“Great performance although I’m unsure about Diop as I think he’s an accident waiting to happen. Lanzini was outstanding in that role. Great interplay between the players on the counter. Good win. Vital”

Credit: @ThomasT55927675

“Great performance aside of Diop who looks out his depth. Hopefully Ogbonna fit again soon.”

Credit: @bigvinwestham

In other news, many West Ham fans want this man signed.

Cenk Tosun set for Everton return

Reports by FotoMac earlier this week claimed Besiktas are already lining up replacements for Cenk Tosun, which will come as a huge blow for Marcel Brands as Everton strive to find a potential suitor this summer.

The Toffees are thought to be open to offers for Tosun at the end of the season as he will enter the final year of his contract in June, and efforts are being made to find new clubs for those out of favour under Carlo Ancelotti.

Tosun made just seven appearances and scored once across all competitions for Everton this season before joining Besiktas on loan during the winter transfer market, but the Super Lig giants do not feel the Turkey international has been a success back at Vodafone Park.

Tosun has featured on only two occasions since heading back to Istanbul three years after leaving the club in a £27m deal to join the Toffees, having struggled with a knee injury and fitness issues.

Everton would likely have hoped to see Tosun hit the ground running under Sergen Yalcin to potentially seal a permanent return to his former side, or to create interest from alternative suitors in a forward Darren Bent claims “just hasn’t worked out” for the Goodison Park side.

But the Besiktas management have now turned their attentions away from Tosun and have already held preliminary discussions with Dynamo Kyiv striker Gerson Rodrigues.

The Black Eagles have moved to speak with the Luxembourg international as it is felt that the 25-year-old’s last-minute winner over the Republic of Ireland and goal at home to Portugal in the March international break increased his market value.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-everton-news-and-views” title=”The latest Everton news and views!”]

Rodrigues now has five goals in 31 international fixtures and has scored six times in 30 games for Dynamo Kyiv across all competitions this term, including against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Super Cup.

Besiktas’ interest in Rodrigues and stance on Tosun will be expected to see the 29-year-old return to Everton at the end of the season to face an uncertain future, with a year remaining on his £60,000-per-week contract.

Besiktas’ position will come as a blow for Brands, also, as the Blues’ Director of Football will have to scour the market for striker-hungry sides willing to sign a forward who has only played a combined nine times since returning from cruciate ligament surgery in November.

Everton will no doubt fear Tosun now becoming the second-coming of Yannick Bolasie, who is due to leave the Merseysiders this summer on a free transfer once his £75k-p/w deal expires.

The Toffees had long sought to sell Bolasie and included a €4m (£3.5m) option for Sporting CP to purchase the DR Congo international in their loan agreement for the 2019/20 season, but the Liga NOS giants chose against taking up the clause.

As Ancelotti did not expect Bolasie to play a role in his plans for the current season, either, reports suggested a £3m fee would have been enough to sign the 31-year-old last summer, which dropped to just £2m in January on a player they paid Crystal Palace £25m for in 2016.

Everton now have a difficult few months ahead of them assessing where to value Tosun in the summer market, having demanded £20m from Crystal Palace last year, knowing the risk that pricing him out of a move will carry.

AND in other news, Everton have landed a huge boost in the race to sign a £20m “victim of circumstance”…

Allegri replacing Bielsa at Leeds would be risk

Former Newcastle United and England midfielder Rob Lee has told Football FanCast that Leeds would be taking a gamble by appointing Massimiliano Allegri to replace Marcelo Bielsa as manager.

The Argentinian has been with the club since 2018 and has overseen their rise from the Championship to the Premier League.

He has been exceptional this season, too, with Leeds currently 11th and looking up the table rather than down.

However, his contract expires at the end of the season and there have been reports of Leeds putting a contingency plan in place in case Bielsa does decide to move on.

Allegri has been mentioned as a potential recruit, with journalist Duncan Castles, via The Sun, naming the former Juventus boss as a potential replacement.

Lee hopes that Bielsa stays at the club but he has urged Leeds to tread carefully, with foreign managers being rather hit and miss in the Premier League.

He told FFC: “I think you always take a chance when you bring a foreign manager in.

“Bielsa’s done it at Leeds so it does work but I think it was slightly different because he was in the Championship. He’s brought the club up.

“When you bring a foreign manager in and chuck them straight into Leeds, as good as Allegri would be, you’re always taking a chance on whether he gets to grips with the Premier League, with where Leeds is, with whether the players like him. I hope Bielsa stays because I think he’s been brilliant.”

Lee believes Bielsa operates differently to most managers and has hailed the success he has found at Elland Road.

Indeed, he believes it will not be Leeds’ decision if he stays, rather Bielsa’s.

He added: “Bielsa’s done brilliantly, I love him. I think he’s a breath of fresh air. He’s different. He does things differently.

“And I presume it’ll be his decision whether he wants to stay in England. I don’t think he’ll manage anybody else in England but whether he wants to be around and do that (is up to him).”

كوكا: وصولي لـ 100 هدف في أوروبا إنجاز يعود لوالدي

علق الدولي المصري أحمد حسن كوكا، مهاجم فريق كونيا سبور التركي، على وصوله للهدف رقم 100 في مسيرته، مشيرًا إلى أن تحقيقه هذا الرقم يعود لوالده.

كوكا سجل هدفه رقم 100 في أوروبا مع مختلف الأندية، عندما أحرز ركلة الجزاء في مواجهة ألتاي، وقاد كونيا سبور للفوز بهدف نظيف يوم الأحد الماضي. شاهد هدف أحمد حسن كوكا رقم 100 في مسيرته الأوروبية

طالع أيضًا.. أحمد حسن كوكا يُعلق على وصوله لـ100 هدف في مشواره الاحترافي

ونشر كوكا فيديو عبر حسابه على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي تويتر، وعلق: “100 هدف في أوروبا، الحمد لله حمدًا كثيرًا”.

وأضاف: “كل ما أحققه الآن يعود لوالدي الله يرحمه، فقد كان أكبر سند لي في كل شيء، ومهما كانت الأيام والمواقف صعبة، كان يحفزني ويقودني للاستمرار”.

واختتم: “اللهم اني أشهدك أنه كان لي نعم الأب ونعم السند ونعم الصديق، ونعم المعلم والحبيب، رحمة الله عليك يا أعز الناس”.

Celtic: Hoops yet to approach Chris Wilder

Celtic have been heavily linked with a move for former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder since his Bramall Lane exit.

Reports claimed that the delay to the 53-year-old’s recent departure in Yorkshire was actually down to interest from the Hoops, but a potential move to Glasgow is yet to gather any real pace.

No Wilder approach from Celtic

According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are yet to make contact with Wilder, but an approach would reportedly prove hard to turn down.

The report claims that Wilder would miss out on a huge chunk of his United payoff if he made a swift return to management, with the Englishman still being paid by the club for the next six months.

Transfer Tavern take

Wilder is already looking around for vacancies, so it seems as if he isn’t too worried about losing a chunk of change from his former employers.

Bringing him in to replace Neil Lennon could be a smart move, as he has previous experience of rebuilding a side successfully. He took Sheffield United from League One to the Premier League after moving to the club in 2016, finishing in ninth position in the club’s first campaign back in the top flight.

A Parkhead rebuild appears to be on the cards both on and off the pitch this summer, and Wilder may be tempted to replicate his achievements with the Blades at Celtic Park.

In other news: Major Celtic appointment reportedly ‘90% done’ – find out more here. 

Ivan Toney tipped for West Ham move

Former Sheffield United Dean Windass has exclusively told Football FanCast that he thinks Ivan Toney would be a great signing for West Ham.

Toney has taken the Championship by storm this season, and is just five goals short of matching Glenn Murray’s record of 30 goals in a single campaign set back in 2012-2013.

The 24-year-old only signed from Peterborough United last summer, but is already six clear of former Newcastle United teammate Adam Armstrong in the race for the Golden Boot after notching an impressive 25 times in 33 appearances.

And following the January departure of record-signing Sebastien Haller to Ajax, the Hammers don’t have a recognised senior frontman in their squad – with the versatile Michail Antonio currently playing as their number nine.

Antonio has done an excellent job for West Ham this season, netting seven Premier League goals, including the equaliser at Manchester City last Saturday and opener against Tottenham, but has a history of injuries, and has already missed 10 games this term.

With the East Londoners also facing the possibility of being in Europe next season, adding a striker to their squad would appear a priority for David Moyes.

Eurosport reported last month that Toney is on West Ham’s radar, with Football Insider reporting that the could cost more than £30m, and Windass believes that the London Stadium would be a good destination for Brentford man.

He exclusively told Football FanCast:

“Ivan Toney has taken the baton from Ollie Watkins at Brentford. When you play in the Premier League, you do play with better players, you do get more chances. Ivan Toney would be a great fit for West Ham, would be a great buy. I don’t think that Brentford will keep him.”

Wolves have a decision to make over Vitinha

The winter window has only just closed but after landing just one acquisition in January, Wolves are already being linked with some new faces ahead of the summer.

On the chalkboard

One player linked with Wolves in recent days has been Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

According to TuttoJuve, the Welshman’s future in Italy is now in doubt and thus, the Serie A giants may choose to cash in.

It’s reported that both the Old Gold and Tottenham are interested in signing Ramsey who could cost €10m-€15m (£9m-£13m).

Ramsey is currently on a wage of £300k-per-week in Turin so it seems far-fetched that Wolves would pursue a deal like this. After all, one of the main reasons they didn’t end up targeting Christian Eriksen and Diego Costa in January was because of their wages.

Claims from Tim Spiers suggest that Joao Moutinho could be in his final season of regular football at the club so Wolves will need to find alternative midfielders from somewhere.

The solution

Wolves signed 20-year-old Vitinha on loan from Porto in the summer but after his arrival, he’s started just two Premier League outings.

It’s been a difficult campaign for the Portuguese but he’s progressed well and demonstrated that he has the potential to thrive in Nuno Santo’s system.

Hailed as “special” by Jeff Shi when he first penned terms, he scored an absolute peach against Chorley in the FA Cup. Arguably, his best performance of the season came against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

As the Old Gold tasted defeat late on against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, Vitinha won 100% of his duels and also completed all of the dribbles he attempted. It was a high-class performance on what his very first start in the top-flight of English football.

The youngster may not have had many chances to prove his worth this term but the small glimpses we’ve seen should be enough to convince Wolves to lure him to the Midlands permanently next summer.

Just like they do with Willian Jose, the Old Gold have an option to buy Vitinha next summer. As good as a player like Ramsey is, this would be a smart way for Wolves to save some cash.

Ramsey’s wage demands would be astronomical but in Vitinha, they’d be assured of not only having a player they can develop for the future – a mantra that fits the club’s policies – but also of having a high-class performer on low wages.

Nuno must continue to nurture him this season before unleashing him properly in 2021/22.

AND in other news, 67% duels lost: Nuno must axe £73k-p/w “liability”, he’s been costing Wolves for weeks…

Game
Register
Service
Bonus