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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

According to London Football News, Leeds United are interested in signing Queens Park Rangers midfielder Massimo Luongo.

This isn’t the first time they have been linked with QPR players as earlier in the transfer window it was reported that they were after Eberechi Eze and Luke Freeman.

The Australian has been fantastic at the London club in recent years, winning the Supporters’ Player of the Year award in 2018.

With Marcelo Bielsa seemingly pretty set on his midfield this may seem a rather unnecessary signing, but in reality it could be a masterstroke as he provides depth in multiple ways.

Leeds’ midfield roles

The Argentine’s 4-1-4-1 system requires different skillsets to play in the three midfield roles. Kalvin Phillips operates as a destructive ball winner who recycles possession whenever he wins it back.

Mateusz Klich operates as a more creative midfielder who looks to exploit space and kickstart attacks while also contributing to them.

The other midfield role has recently been occupied by Tyler Roberts, who operates as a number 10.

It’s clear to see that these roles aren’t often interchangeable and these players require quite specific skillsets to operate in these positions.

Luongo’s versatility

If Leeds brought in Luongo he may find it hard to displace any of the midfielders as a starter, but he would bring some extra depth in two key positions.

He could operate as a ball winner just as effectively as Phillips as he made 3.1 tackles per game last season, which is actually more than the 23-year-old made.

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Not only could he play as a holding midfielder, but he could easily slot into Klich’s place too.

Luongo already plays a role similar to Klich’s at QPR and he completes one key pass per game, which is comparable to the Pole’s 1.4.

The 26-year-old is seemingly a jack of all trades, and while he may not get in above either Phillips or Klich should he sign, he could certainly act as a brilliant back-up option for both men.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking to Football Insider, Darren Bent has tipped Aston Villa’s Andre Green to be an option in the Premier League next season.

What’s he said?

With Villa adding numerous new faces to the side over the summer, it’s easy to forget about a host of their fringe players.

Henri Lansbury and Birkir Bjarnason have both scored in pre-season whilst Scott Hogan even got in on the action last weekend.

However, one man who hasn’t been talked about much over pre-season is 20-year-old Green.

The winger became a bit part of the squad in the second half of 2018/19, but Bent is tipping him to remain an option in the upcoming campaign despite the jump to the Premier League. He told Football Insider:

“I’ve seen a little bit of him. Hopefully, he can get the opportunity, I thought he did well. I’ve seen him a couple of times and he’s impressed me.

“We’re dealing with a completely different animal in the Premier League, to stay in the Premier League you need goal scorers.

“I’d have him there as an option, maybe not as a first choice, he’s got time on his hands which is great.”

Green needs to be involved

The wide man spent the first half of last term on loan at Portsmouth, scoring once in six games in League One.

Therefore, it may have been somewhat of a surprise to see him brought back into the first-team set-up at Villa.

Green struggled for consistency but did show glimpses of the promising quality he has, scoring as a substitute against Sheffield United whilst also claiming an assist versus Sheffield Wednesday.

The fact he only contributed to two goals after returning might mean he’d struggle to make the step up to the top-flight but it would certainly be foolish if he wasn’t retained as an option.

Last season Villa somewhat struggled on the right-hand side with Albert Adomah scoring just four.

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Jota has been brought in to bolster that area of the pitch but behind him, Green can still make an impact if afforded the opportunities.

Of course, the Villans have been linked with another wide player in Trezeguet but there should still be enough games for the youngster to make an impact.

It’ll be a challenge for him, but as Bent says, Green has time on his hands.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Tanguy Ndombele has explained exactly what he hopes to achieve at Tottenham Hotspur after completing his move from Lyon, per the club’s official website.

What’s the word?

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The France international became the club’s record signing on Tuesday, joining in a deal that, per BBC Sport, is worth £53.8m.

Spurs, of course, reached the Champions League final last season and Ndombele has already set his sights on going one better and lifting the trophy in 2019/20.

He said: “For me, I hope we can win the Champions League, just like everyone does.

“You know, the Champions League is a really tough competition to win. Things are decided by small margins and the strongest team doesn’t always win.

“I just hope I can win it next season with Tottenham – that would be perfect for me.”

The signing they needed

This may seem like a pie-in-the-sky statement from Ndombele but there is a precedent.

Spurs reached the final with a relatively weak squad that had received precious little investment last season – they went two transfer windows without making a signing.

Indeed, Liverpool reached the final in 2017/18, lost, and then went on a spending spree, signing the likes of Alisson Becker and Fabinho. They beat Spurs in Madrid.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have now done similar, acquiring a midfield player ahead of the likes of Manchester United, while spending a lavish sum.

They were greater than the sum of their parts last season; Ndombele’s signing could be just what they need to push them over the line this time around.

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According to Turkish media outlet Fanatik, Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke is a €6m (£5.5m) target for Fenerbahce, and lots of Eagles fans have been quick to react to the rumour on Twitter.

The Belgium international has already been linked with a move to the Turkish giants this month as he enters the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, and the recent Fanatik report suggests that Fener sporting director Damien Comolli is in talks with the south London outfit over a deal for the 28-year-old.

The story adds that it is hoped that a swift £5.5m deal can be completed, with manager Ersun Yanal wanting the centre-forward in his team for next season.

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The departure of Benteke would leave Palace short of options up top as things stand though, with Connor Wickham and Alexander Sorloth the only other out-and-out first-team strikers in Roy Hodgson’s squad.

That is something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by many Eagles supporters who have had their say with one claiming his exit “would be a disaster”, however there are others who feel it is time to move the former Aston Villa man on with one individual telling their club to “take the money and run”.

An understandable reaction on both sides with Benteke only netting four goals in the previous two seasons, but with the south London outfit being linked with a double swoop for Ollie Watkins and Fedor Chalov suggests they could be preparing for a departure.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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أكد محمد عبد العظيم مدرب الأهلي الأسبق أن الفرص بين القلعة الحمراء ومنافسه بايرن ميونخ متساوية خلال المواجهة المرتقبة بينهما ضمن منافسات كأس العالم للأندية.

وفاز الأهلي على الدحيل القطري بهدف دون رد، ليتأهل الفريق إلى دور نصف النهائي من البطولة، لمواجهة بايرن ميونخ الألماني، يوم الإثنين المقبل.

وقال محمد عبد العظيم في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “الأجواء في الدوحة كلها أهلاوية وهذا يساعد الأهلي، وبايرن ميونخ لعب مباراة اليوم الجمعة وأمامه يومين استشفاء فقط وهذا سيكون حمل بدني عليهم، والأحمر كان لديه يوم زائد ويعيش حالة معنوية عالية”.

وأكمل: “الأهلي بالنسبة لـ بايرن ميونخ فريق مبهم، والبافاري فاز على برشلونة 8-2 ولكنه كان يحفظه ويلعب معه في دوري ابطال أوروبا”.

وتابع: “لاعبو البايرن سيدرسون الأهلي، ولكن لن يكون بنفس التركيز مثلما يدرسوم لاعبي الفرق الأوروبية”.

طالع | خالد مرتجي: الأهلي سيلعب أمام بايرن ميونخ للاستمتاع وبدون ضغوط

واستطرد: “قدمنا شوط أول جيد جدًا أمام الدحيل وكان المنافس متوترًا جدًا، بين الشوطين حدث العكس، ولكن الأهلي لم يتوتر بل استسهل المباراة ولم يأخذ الأمور بجدية، والجانبان النفسي والمعنوي مهمان جدًا، والحديث قبل مباراة بايرن هام جدًا”.

وأوضح: “أرى نسب الفوز في المباراة متساوية، لأن البايرن فريق محترم جدًا وخططيًا على مستوى عالي، وفريق الأهلي مبهم بالنسبة لهم وهذا سيكون لصالحنا”.

واختتم: “الأهلي نادي كبير ويمتلك فريقًا جيدًا وقدمنا مباراة عالمية في الشوط الأول، وإن شاء الله نقدم مباراة جيدة أمام البايرن”.

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On this day in 2002, the Red Devils signed one of the most promising defenders in world football, Rio Ferdinand.

The rest, as they say, is history.

And indeed, 17 years ago Ferdinand was unveiled as Manchester United’s newest signing under Sir Alex Ferguson and the player went on to become an integral figure at the club, establishing an iconic and formidable partnership with Nemanja Vidic in the process.

Ferdinand left United after 12 long years of service and joined QPR for the final year of his career before retiring from the beautiful game.

Now, he has taken to social media and

/B0NhMEzgpZ1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram to celebrate this great anniversary with his beloved club, one which included a cheeky message and a great throwback image.

During his stay at Old Trafford, Ferdinand managed to accumulate a total of 455 games, also scoring eight goals and assisting a further nine in the process.

He also won a plethora of different titles as a Red Devil, including six Premier League crowns and one Champions League title among many others.

The image is bound to induce nostalgic memories amongst the United supporters during a period of time in which they would love a player of Ferdinand’s influence to slot into their defensive unit.

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp so far has just the one new face to add to his current squad, with Sepp van den Berg the sole arrival this summer. Today’s Reds transfer roundup includes an update in the rumoured pursuit of a La Liga ace, the potential departure of one of the club’s youngsters, and news on the future of a Croatian centre-back.

Dembele wants Barcelona stay

L’Equipe is reporting that Liverpool target Ousmane Dembele has told Barcelona that he wishes to stay with the Catalan club this summer. The Anfield outfit had reportedly been interested in a move for the Frenchman, but the former Borussia Dortmund man does not want to leave.

Adekanye joins Lazio

Former Reds youngster 20-year-old Bobby Adekanye has joined Lazio, the Serie A side have announced. The winger never made a first-team appearance for Liverpool but did represent them nine times in Premier League 2 last season.

Lovren latest

Predrag Mijatovic, an intermediary for Dejan Lovren’s agent, has been pictured in Milan. There was reportedly a meeting between Mijatovic and the AC Milan hierarchy. Milan have previously been credited with an interest in the former Southampton centre-back, but it remains to be seen whether the Rossoneri will make a strong move for the defender this summer.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking to Liverpool’s official club website, former Reds defender Stephen Warnock has tipped two of the club’s academy players to potentially step-up and fill the shoes of the departing Alberto Moreno.

What did he say?

After confirmation that Moreno would leave Anfield at the expiration of his contract, the natural talk has been who the club would use to fill the void as the second-choice option at left-back.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

Scotland international Andrew Robertson has well and truly nailed down a place in the first-team, and now according to Warnock, youngsters Adam Lewis and Yasser Larouci should be looking to put a marker down to Jurgen Klopp during pre-season.

He said: “When you see one of the first-team players in Moreno leaving the club, Adam has got to look at that now and think, ‘Is this an opportunity for me?’

“We know the manager will look at the youth and give them a chance, but I think he will also be looking to bring someone in as well. Can the likes of Adam and Yasser put a seed in the manager’s mind of positivity towards the way they play?”

A bit too soon

Despite impressing at academy level, the step-up in level in playing for the first-team of the reigning Champions League holders will surely be a bit too far. Robertson was a cornerstone of the team’s success in Europe and was a major factor in Jurgen Klopp’s side’s title challenge in the Premier League.

If the Scotsman were to suffer an injury next campaign, Liverpool would feel rather concerned about having to throw in the inexperience of the 19-year-old Lewis or the 18-year-old Larouci in the major competitions. Whilst the Anfield side were rewarded handsomely for placing their faith in fellow academy product Trent Alexander-Arnold, the right-back could be eased into action.

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In the high-pressure situations, it would be a major oversight on Liverpool’s part to go into the next season with just Robertson as their senior left-back option. The likes of Lewis and Larouci however could feature in the domestic cup competitions as 16-year-old Ki-Jana Hoever did against Wolves in the FA Cup earlier this year.

So whilst Warnock’s comments are understandable in trying to encouraging the club’s youth talents that there could be an immediate route into the first-team with a good showing in pre-season, Lewis and Larouci may not be in Klopp’s plans just yet.

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The wait is finally over.

At last, Premier League football returns to our lives tonight when Liverpool welcome Norwich to Anfield, and the Reds will undoubtedly be looking to get off to a flying start as they aim for another title surge.

Jurgen Klopp’s men last appeared in a competitive fixture (the Community Shield shouldn’t count!) in Madrid for the Champions League final, where they ended that game with gold medals around their necks and a place in the history books.

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Newly-promoted Norwich went up as champions last term, and will be keen to re-establish themselves in the top-flight after spending three years away from the big time.

Let’s take a look at who we think Klopp will include in his starting XI for the big game…

As you can see, we don’t think the former Borussia Dortmund boss will make any drastic changes.

Sadio Mane only recently returned to Merseyside, as he was granted extra holiday due to his international commitments in helping Senegal reach the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Klopp has said the 22-goal forward is looking good, although we presume that no risks will be taken when Divock Origi has a full pre-season under his belt and is raring to go.

At the back, Alisson, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold pick themselves, with the Dutchman’s centre-back partner the only real question mark.

Joe Gomez started the Community Shield final, but was caught in possession numerous times in dangerous areas and the Reds looked a lot better when Joel Matip was subbed on – the Cameroonian defender also scored in that game.

In midfield, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have both enjoyed full pre-seasons and are seemingly ready to go, although the third spot in the middle of the park is up for debate.

James Milner – who missed the game at Wembley with a minor muscle issue – is okay according to Klopp, but we think that no risks will be taken with the 33-year-old either.

Klopp has spoken glowingly of Naby Keita and the Guinean’s adventurous qualities could be of use against a Norwich side who will presumably sit back and look to pick their moments against last season’s runners up.

We think the £52.8m former RB Leipzig man will get the nod ahead of Gini Wijnaldum, who was awful against Manchester City at Wembley and also missed the decisive spot kick in the shootout.

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In what promises to be one of the long drawn-out sagas of this summer, the battle to sign Harry Maguire is beginning to hot up.

Reports in recent weeks had suggested Manchester United were competing with the club’s rivals Manchester City over the England international’s signature, and it now appears the Red Devils have stolen a march.

According to Sky Sports, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side put in a second bid in the region of £70m for the 26-year-old, but the Foxes turned the new offer down.

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After hearing that their side had not quite convinced their Premier League rivals to sell, United fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the matter.

Many felt slightly frustrated that the Foxes hadn’t given into the club’s latest bid and felt that United were getting exploited in the transfer market once again by having to pay top dollar for a British talent.

However, some expressed their relief at the bid being turned down and suggested that the club take the hint and go after alternative options like Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and West Ham’s Issa Diop.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below: