All posts by h716a5.icu

Former Portsmouth midfielder Michael Brown has looked ahead to the League One play-off tie with Oxford United, admitting that he has concerns.

With the League One season curtailed via a points-per-game system, Kenny Jackett’s side missed out on promotion to the Championship and will instead look to attempt to go up via the play-off route.

Set to face Oxford at the start of July over two legs, Jackett will be busy preparing his side after returning to training following the pandemic which has kept them out of action since March.

Touching on his former side’s season so far and play-off hopes, Brown has now revealed that he has concerns.

Speaking in an interview with his fellow EFL on Quest pundits as quoted by Hampshire LIVE, Brown said: “He started really slowly, didn’t he, Kenny Jackett? He had a difficult time with a bit of uncertainty with financial plans and backing going forward.

“I think one of the problems is Brett Pittman, I don’t think he has returned back to training. That’s a talking point in itself with Kenny Jackett and him not seeing eye-to-eye.

“I believe (Steve) Seddon, (Cameron) McGheehan and (Ross) McCrorie, all those loans have been extended, so that will be great news for the supporters.

“I think they have come strong and hopefully it is their year because the amount of uncertainty they have had.

“The only uncertainty going forward is the finances and the budget and if they do go to the next league, whether they can cope.”

Ross McCrorie, Steve Seddon, Cameron McGeehan and Sean Raggett are available for the play-offs with Jackett confirmed those extended deals last week.

Brown’s concerns will be met with a negative response from Portsmouth fans and it is quite strange that the former midfielder has come out just before the play-offs begin with those comments.

Portsmouth have as good a chance as any to gain promotion to the Championship and they must give their all to do so, indeed the play-offs are something of a lottery.

Do you think Portsmouth will gain promotion to the Championship? Let us know in the comments section below…

Manchester United have entered ‘advanced’ talks with Jadon Sancho, according to The Daily Express.Â

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has identified the Borussia Dortmund star as the signing he needs to rebuild the Red Devils in the summer.

Man United have been chasing Sancho for several years now, but it seems they are now one step closer to bringing him to Old Trafford.

Ed Woodward has the difficult task of striking a deal with Dortmund so Sancho can travel to the Theatre of Dreams in time for next season.

Nicolo Schira tweeted both sides are in close negotiations as the Englishman would like to leave Germany and return to his homeland.

Recent reports revealed the executive vice-chairman will launch a bid worth £80m once Champions League football is secured.

However, Dortmund are still demanding more than £100m for the club’s top scorer, and it seems as though United will fall short of their asking price.

If United do sign Sancho before the start of next season, it is likely they will have to break the record set by Paul Pogba in 2016.

Woodward has warned the board’s spending may be limited in light of the unprecedented circumstances, so it seems a deal is far from certain.

Indeed, this contradicts a claim from The Daily Mirror’s John Cross, who suggested talks between the two clubs have stalled, as they have not been able to agree on a fixed price.

Once again, everything hinges on whether or not United will qualify for the Champions League, which is not guaranteed.

If Solskjaer fails to sign Sancho in the summer, it will be a huge personal blow for the Norwegian, as he has made it his mission to sign him for the past couple of years.

United fans, do you think Woodward will sign Sancho this summer? Let us know down below!

West Ham boss David Moyes may have just found West Ham their next Jermain Defoe as he plots a move for one of his former players.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports, the Irons have an interest in Josh Maja who has impressed since joining Bordeaux in January 2019 from Moyes’ old club, Sunderland.

It’s claimed that the Ligue 1 outfit could look to sell the 21-year-old striker as their finances have been implicated by the global pandemic.

Scottish giants Rangers are also keen on Maja as a potential replacement for Alfredo Morelos.

The Sun have previously mooted a £10m fee for his signature, but it remains to be seen exactly how much he could command this summer.

Defoe 2.0

Moyes was the man to give Maja his debut at the Black Cats back in 2016 before he went on to bag 17 goals in 49 senior appearances for the club.

Interestingly, former Hammers legend Defoe became a bit of a mentor for the young Nigerian during their time together in the northeast, helping improve his finishing and how to become a better player overall.

There will undoubtedly be similarities between the two as a result.

“Jermain Defoe was probably one of my biggest admirers because I think he just liked the fact that I was good at finishing.”

Maja on Defoe.

This campaign, Maja bagged eight goals in 24 appearances, though he only played a total of 894 minutes via Transfermarkt, which makes it all that more impressive.

The young striker’s head coach at the Girondins, Paolo Sousa, claims that he’s a goalscorer with both “sharp and strong qualities” whilst Chris Coleman, the successor to Moyes’ successor at the Stadium of Light, believed Maja offered his side a “different threat”.

It would make perfect sense for the Hammers to pull the trigger on Maja, particularly with Sebastian Haller’s struggles this campaign, and if they get half the player Defoe was, then Moyes is onto a huge winner.

AND in other news, 17-goal target can bring excitement back to the London Stadium

Chelsea have reportedly joined the race to bank the signature of Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel this summer.

The Denmark international is reportedly high on the priority list of Manchester United after being linked with a familiar move to Old Trafford. Schmeichel would follow in his father’s footsteps if the move comes to fruition, but according to The Times, Chelsea are also considering a swoop for the shot-stopper.

A report from The Mirror claims Man United are eyeing up the son of their legendary ex-goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. The Dane made 96 saves in the Premier League last season, the same amount as David de Gea and also kept the same amount of clean sheets with 13 (via Premier League).

No price tag has been specified but Schmeichel’s current Transfermarkt value is £8.5million, although it’s highly unlikely Leicester will let him go for such a low fee.

Chelsea have now added themselves to the running as they look to improve on the mistakes caused by Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard hasn’t been up to scratch over the last campaign and Frank Lampard no longer trusts him to safeguard his side in the net.

Whilst United may be the favourites for Schmeichel due to the family connection, Chelsea could arguably table the better offer. Not only are they looking to make a new goalkeeper their first choice, but Roman Abramovich has lined Lampard’s pockets with £120million for this transfer window.

Armed with a hefty summer budget, the Blues could have enough to convince the Foxes to let Schmeichel make the move to West London.

Marina Granovskaia could also outdo herself if she gets this deal over the line, having already snagged Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, with Kai Havertz also agreeing personal terms.

Do you want to see Kasper Schmeichel join Chelsea? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Arsenal’s chase of Gabriel has been the story for the Gunners in the ongoing summer transfer window. But now, they really do seem like just one step away from announcing the defender and finally getting the deal over the line.

Or so Newcastle United would hope, at least. And this is a rather interesting situation as well because Steve Bruce is reportedly counting on Mikel Arteta to land his target so that he has a chance of scooping up Rob Holding on loan.

That’s what the Daily Mail have stated in their latest update and it seems the Magpies are keen on taking the 24-year-old to St. James Park. The same source confirms, however, that Holding would only be allowed to leave if Gabriel’s signature is first secured by Arsenal.

So Newcastle are very much rooting for their rivals to land the big-money target from Lille but will also have to be wary of other potential suitors. The Daily Mail say Leeds United are also interested since Marcelo Bielsa is looking for a Ben White alternative.

As things currently stand, Holding could very well quickly become a wanted man once his club does finalise the deal for Gabriel. And that could be just around the corner as well.

The transfer window is heating up and the Magpies are on a lookout for their first big signing of the summer.

Verdict

Even though he seems to be expendable and has been struggling at the Emirates as of late, Holding can still be a big reinforcement for Bruce. All that remains is beating the opposition in the race and secure the defender’s signature as soon as Arsenal announce Gabriel.

If the latest reports are to be believed, that should be done sooner rather than later. Maybe even today of all days.

Only time will tell.

Portsmouth are ‘unlikely’ to offer former Swansea City winger Mason Jones-Thomas a contract despite his trial at the club.

With the new season fast approaching, Pompey manager Kenny Jackett is seeking to improve his squad after failing to gain promotion from League One to the Championship last term.

Despite the summer transfer window being open, just two new players have come into Fratton Park so far, with Sean Raggett agreeing a move following his exit from Championship side Norwich City and Cameron Pring coming in from Bristol City on loan.

Portsmouth, who faced AFC Totton last week, handed trialist Jones-Thomas some minutes ahead of what looked possible like turning into a potential summer move.

The 19-year-old featured in a right-wing role for Pompey, playing a total of 55 minutes which saw the teenager win Portsmouth’s second penalty at the Snows Stadium, which was converted by Alfie Stanley.

Jones-Thomas is available on a free transfer after leaving Swansea’s under-23 setup but The News have now said that a potential move to Pompey is ‘unlikely’ to materialise.

It seems that Portsmouth are going to head into the new season with just two new signings and that could leave fans wondering just how the campaign could finish.

Two consecutive play-off failures have resulted in increased desperation to finally get back into the Championship and Jackett’s transfer business is likely to be judged throughout the season, especially if he is unable to bring in many more new faces.

Do you think Portsmouth should have signed Jones-Thomas? Let us know your views in the comments section below…

Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed that Max Power will be the new team captain for the 2020/2021 season.

After last season’s disappointment which saw the Black Cats finish eighth in League One and fail to secure either a promotion or play-off place, Parkinson has been busy preparing his side for a third stint in England’s third tier.

Six new signings have arrived at the Stadium of Light with Danny Graham being the biggest name to sign on the dotted line for the Wearsiders.

With the pressure firmly on Parkinson’s shoulders, a decision has now been made on Power being the new team captain.

Aside from confirming Power’s captaincy, it has also been confirmed that Grant Leadbitter and Bailey Wright be Club Captain and Vice-Captain, respectively.

Former Wigan Athletic midfielder Power has made 85 appearances for the Black Cats, netting seven goals and gaining 4 assists.

Speaking about the announcement on captains, Parkinson said: “Grant has returned to the group for pre-season and has been a massive plus for us. He has come back to the club in excellent condition and trained well, and he has also really helped the younger players within the group. He has the club at heart and is desperate to have an impact on the pitch, which I’m sure he will, and he will be an invaluable asset for us throughout the season.

“We are fortunate to have a squad of players with an abundance of leadership qualities, and Max and Bailey epitomise that. They both lead by example and like Grant, they will be key to establishing a culture within the dressing room that will drive the club forward throughout the season.”

Sunderland will face Bristol Rovers this coming Saturday (12/9) as the League One season kicks off.

This seems like a good decision as Power has the experience and will likely be a key player for Sunderland next season.

With Power, Leadbitter and Wright all leading the club for the new season, Parkinson can feel assured that he has the right men by his side.

Do you think Power is the right choice to be Sunderland captain? Let us know in the comments section below….

Everton’s run in the EFL Cup continues later this evening with a third-round clash at Joey Barton’s League One outfit Fleetwood Town but will Carlo Ancelotti stick or twist with his winning team?

The Toffees won convincingly at Salford City in the last round with the Italian primarily opting for fringe players and youngsters and then at the weekend, the strongest XI thrashed West Brom 5-2 in the Premier League.

With injuries mounting in defence, he certainly has plenty to think about.

Here’s the lineup we’re predicting at Highbury Stadium tonight…

Ancelotti could make as many as eight changes, though there’s a couple of spots for some that started on Saturday afternoon.

Usual number one Jordan Pickford hands the reigns to young shot-stopper Joao Virginia, who signed a contract extension in midweek and he’ll be protected by the first-choice duo of Michael Keane and Yerry Mina as the only two senior centre-backs available.

19-year-old Niels Nkounkou, who was signed this window from Marseille, replaces Lucas Digne on the left with Jonjoe Kenny coming in for Seamus Coleman on the right.

In midfield, £20m summer signing Abdoulaye Doucoure could well keep his place with Tom Davies a reported target for Premier League rivals Southampton. He may partner Gylfi Sigurdsson at the base of a three-man engine room with Brazilian winger Bernard taking up the number ten role once again.

Meanwhile, on the wings, there’s another opportunity for Alex Iwobi to impress after a cameo from the bench at the weekend. He gets the nod over Theo Walcott. Young 19-year-old prospect Anthony Gordon takes up a place on the left.

Without risking injury to the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison, Ancelotti may well opt for £27.5m-rated Moise Kean to lead the line again.

It also means there are no places for Allan or James Rodriguez, who are handed a rest before they face Crystal Palace this weekend.

AND in other news, Everton have been the real winners from £22.5m Ademola Lookman sale

Gini Wijnaldum, who cost £25m in 2016, has been singing the praises of recent Liverpool transfer Thiago Alcantara, claiming that he is the “perfect match” for the club.

In a recent interview posted via the official LFC Instagram, the Dutch midfielder has tipped his new teammate to play a huge part in Liverpool’s success moving forwards. Indeed, Thiago was one man that fans were desperate to see join the club after months of ongoing speculation.

“He’s such a quality player that is going to make this team even better than we were before,” Wijnaldum said. “So, I’m really happy, everyone is really happy, to have him here. He’s also happy to be here.”

What Thiago’s arrival could mean for Wijnaldum

Jurgen Klopp’s midfield has been in need of a makeover for some time. Since the eagle-eyed Philippe Coutinho left for Barcelona, Liverpool have been without a stand-out creative midfielder to assist the front three. The Brazilian’s ability to score from way outside the area is a trait the Premier League title holders could hugely benefit from this season as they look to hold onto their crown.

Thiago’s presence has already lifted spirits despite the fact he is currently sidelined due to illness. But upon his return, he may begin the process of edging teammate Wijnaldum out of the starting line-up.

As it stands, the Netherlands international is yet to pen a new deal with the club, despite talks of a move to Barcelona being debunked by the player himself. He now has less than 12 months left on his current contract and could be leaving the club next season as a free agent. For now at least, it certainly seems to look this way and Wijnaldum’s comments may only confirm it.

Should the two part ways, it will be done with the greatest respect for each other and his recent praise for Thiago, who Klopp has already labelled as “world class”, only indicates that whilst he may personally seek a new chapter, he wants nothing but the best for Liverpool.

In other news, Roberto Firmino Brazil performance could hint at transformed Liverpool role…

West Ham United brought Javier Hernandez back to the Premier League in 2017 for £16million, but failed to see value for money in the Mexican before selling the striker to Sevilla two years later.

Hernandez had arrived at the London Stadium as Slaven Bilic sought to build a side capable of climbing back inside the top-half of the table following an 11th place finish, having already welcomed Marko Arnautovic and Joe Hart to the club.

A poor start to the season ultimately led to Bilic being sacked that November and replaced by David Moyes, but the change in leadership failed to inspire Hernandez to thrive in front of the net as he ended his debut campaign with just eight goals in all competitions.

Another change at the helm saw Manuel Pellegrini hired to replace Moyes but the Chilean likewise failed to spark a fire under the Mexican, who could not improve his numbers across the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup whilst seeing his starts reduce to a mere 17 games.

Yet unlike with Hernandez’s form, West Ham improved to climb up the Premier League standings to avoid a third season in succession of regression, and the decision was made to cash in amid interest from Sevilla in the summer of 2019.

The deal to sell Chicharito to the La Liga outfit saw the Irons lose almost £10m in transfer fees alone, with the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium natives paying just £7.2m for a player the Hammers had awarded a £140,000-per-week contract to, totalling £15.4m over his 110 weeks under contract.

The heavy hit to the accounts after a tepid record of 17 goals in 63 games for West Ham was proven right by Hernandez’s struggles in Spain, with the striker managing to fire home just three times before the Andalusian outfit agreed a deal with LA Galaxy worth $10m (£8m) in January.

Struggles have persisted in the 109-cap international’s game since moving to Major League Soccer, though, with Hernandez managing just one goal in 692 minutes of action to date while ostracising himself from the dressing room.

ESPN journalist Diego Cora reports Hernandez only speaks with players of his own nationality, likely just Jonathan dos Santos, while their fellow Galaxy teammates feel the 32-year-old considers himself to be a megastar.

“The players look at him from the side and he thinks he’s a megastar,” Cora said.

“When I was in Leverkusen, I had to cover him once, and many around the club said he was an ‘ego man’. In West Ham, they told me something similar and now the same thing. One of his teammates says that he thinks he is Cristiano Ronaldo.”

West Ham’s decision to accept a £24.2m hit for Hernandez would have been a hard pill to swallow, but the perfectly-timed deal with Sevilla removed a negative stimulus from the dressing room and one that has not flourished since securing pastures new.

AND in other news, West Ham won’t be missing a £22.5m-rated man after his summer transfer after a forlorn debut with his new side.