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Leeds United’s decision to let Tom Cairney leave Elland Road all the way back in 2007 may go down as one of the club’s biggest ‘what if’ stories in recent memory.

The midfielder was with the Whites for nine years but was released after being deemed “too small” at only 5 foot 1, and Cairney himself has since admitted that the rejection has played a big part in the way he would define his career.

In opening up about it back in 2014, he revealed: “To be honest it crushed me, it crushed me a lot. I was with Leeds from I was seven to 16 so it was a big part of my life. I was going there three-four times a week, missing days of schools, and obviously my mum and dad had put a lot into it too.

“So getting released at 16, it just felt like, ‘oh no, after all that effort’. But I was determined I would not stop there.”

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After shining at Blackburn Rovers, Cairney made the move to Fulham, and he has been a cornerstone of the London side for a number of years now, helping them to the Premier League a couple of seasons ago and now seeing them back in the hunt for promotion again.

Winner of the EFL Player of the Year award back in 2017, it’s no surprise that he has earned rave reviews for his performances with the Cottagers, with former boss Scott Parker waxing lyrical about him following a 1-1 draw against Bristol City.

He said: “Tom Cairney took his goal superbly and was outstanding throughout the game. I thought he was head and shoulder above every other player.

“We all know his quality on the ball, but in the last three games he has showed much more than that and today it was a complete performance.”

Having recovered from the injury that kept him out for most of the first-half of the season, Cairney has resumed his responsibility as Fulham captain, and is helping lead the promotion charge.

The Cottagers currently find themselves in 1st and well-placed to secure a return to the Premier League under Marco Silva, and Cairney’s inspirational displays in the middle of the park have been a catalyst for that.

Indeed, the Cairney back in 2014 has probably delivered the most impactful line of how those back at Elland Road are probably feeling right now.

He joked: “I think the academy staff at Leeds must have got a bit of a shock when they saw me playing in the Premier League! I don’t know what happened to them but I think they may have got a telling off!”

While Cairney may not be playing Premier League football like Leeds just yet, he looks set to do so very soon.

And had the Whites just shown a bit of faith in a small and diminutive 16-year-old, he could well have been turning out for them instead of a potential rival next season.

AND in other news – Leeds facing major nightmare as worrying news emerges, Elland Road would be devastated

Liverpool may face a battle to keep hold of one of their star players next summer after Real Madrid were linked with a move for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

What’s the story?

According to Spanish outlet DefensaCentral (as relayed by the Liverpool ECHO), Los Blancos could be in the market for a new right-back in 12 months’ time as they want extra competition for Dani Carvajal.

The report states that Madrid’s hierarchy have identified three possible options that the La Liga giants have on their radar, with Youcef Atal and Reece James joining Alexander-Arnold on their shortlist.

Liverpool fans may be worried

Although the 22-year-old Liverpool ace was one of several first-team stars to sign a new long-term contract back in July, keeping him at the club until 2025, the supporters may still be worried over the local lad’s future.

In the past, fellow academy graduates Steve McManaman and Michael Owen have been prized away from their boyhood club after the lure of Madrid became too strong, and there could be a worry that the same could happen to Alexander-Arnold.

The 13-time European champions may not be as strong as they once were, but the Bernabeu will always be an exciting and extremely tempting place to play football.

Losing the influential right-back would come as a bitter blow for Jurgen Klopp and his plans to return Liverpool to the Premier League summit during his time at the club.

In 184 appearances for the Reds in all competitions, the England international has bagged 10 goals whilst providing an incredible 47 assists, highlighting his importance to Klopp’s successful system.

Alexander-Arnold has played a pivotal part in Liverpool’s recent Champions League, Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup victories, and his departure would be a significant setback in the club’s development.

Nevertheless, his recent show of commitment by putting pen to paper on fresh terms should reassure Klopp and the fans alike that his immediate future lies on Merseyside, but things can often change quickly in football.

And, in other news…Edwards must secure Liverpool swoop for £28.8m-rated wizard, Klopp would love him 

A number of Liverpool supporters after fuming after a fresh update claimed any new Reds signings will likely be put off until next year.

Jurgen Klopp’s side scraped to a third-place finish in the Premier League last season, despite constant injury problems holding them back.

The hope from some fans was therefore that Liverpool would have a busy summer in the transfer market to alleviate that issue, but things haven’t panned out that way to date.

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Ibrahima Konate is still the only signing to come in, while the likes of Gini Wijnaldum and Xherdan Shaqiri have moved on to new clubs.

There is still time for new faces to arrive before next Tuesday’s transfer cutoff, but The Daily Mail [via LFC Transfer Room on Twitter] claim that signings won’t happen until next summer now, even though David Marshall and Mikkel Damsgaard are mentioned in the report.

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Liverpool fans angry at transfer latest

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to show their frustration at the update.

“Ian Ayre is back”

Credit: @DembeReloaded

“Nextyearpool at it again”

Credit: @DarthMoaner

“That magic ‘next year/summer’ phrase again”

Credit: @LangatGodwin_LG

“Mbappe to David Marshall doesn’t feel like the flex I was hoping for”

Credit: @PaulSenior1

“If I had a pound for every time I heard that Liverpool would spend bigger NEXT summer, I would have enough money to make the signings myself”

Credit: @CosmoKhan

“I hate this club”

Credit: @nasir_l

In other news, some Liverpool fans are fuming at an update ahead of the Premier League clash with Chelsea. Read more here.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to hand midfielder Oliver Skipp an improved contract deal, according to The Scottish Sun.

The Lowdown: Developing well

The 21-year-old has been a near ever-present figure in Nuno Espirito Santo’s side this season after breaking into the squad off the back of a successful loan spell in the Championship with Norwich City.

After making his senior debut in a 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over West Ham United in October 2018, Skipp has made 29 appearances for the club and has started four of Spurs’ opening five league games.

Despite only signing a four-year contract extension last summer, the £25,000-per-week midfielder could be set to land another new deal.

The Latest: New deal on the table

According to The Scottish Sun, Tottenham want to reward Skipp for emerging as a first team regular by increasing his wages to between £35,000 and £40,000 per week.

Norwich’s move for a permanent deal never happened due to Spurs’ high regard for the midfielder and the club were willing to listen to offers for Harry Winks due to the 21-year-old’s emergence.

The report claimed that the deal would run until 2025, when Skipp will be 25 years of age.

The Verdict: Skipp on the rise for Spurs

Skipp didn’t start in Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea and the midfield battle was easily won by Thomas Tuchel’s side without his presence.

Labelled ‘perfect’ by Norwich manager Daniel Farke last season, Skipp’s early season performances have had many Spurs fans praising the academy graduate. He has completed 35.8 (89%) of his passes per game and had formed a good partnership with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the club’s opening few games.

With Skipp being a constant figure in the England under-21 squad, his aspirations will be to make the step up to Gareth Southgate’s squad, and he will need to be playing weekly in the Premier League to attract the interest of the England boss.

A new contract and renewed trust handed to him by Spurs should go some way towards helping him in that aim.

In other news, some Tottenham fans have erupted over the official FIFA 22 rankings for their players. Find out more here.

Reported Everton target Luis Diaz pulled off an ‘outrageous’ piece of skill during Colombia’s World Cup qualifying clash with Brazil on Sunday.

Diaz was under challenge from Marquinhos and Fred and shuffled the ball from his right foot onto his left, which he used to dink it between the two players.

The game would end up finishing 0-0, with FC Porto’s Diaz playing the full 90 minutes.

He was otherwise marshalled pretty effectively, winning only two of his nine ground duels (via SofaScore).

Diaz could have been a Blue

Everton tried to sign Diaz in the final knockings of the transfer window as part of a deal that would have seen James Rodriguez go the other way. Ultimately, James’ salary was an insurmountable hurdle (via Carlos Aleman).

It remains to be seen whether the Blues revisit their interest in subsequent windows. Manager Rafael Benitez ‘clearly wanted more options out wide’.

Portuguese football feed Proxima Jornada posted the footage, and here’s what Everton supporters had to say.

Everton fans flock to Diaz clip

“If only James hadn’t got greedy, Diaz would be at Everton now!”

Credit: @MaxyMj3669

“I’m on my knees Brands”

Credit: @Adam_1878

“Get him in, he’d have Trent all over the gaff in the derby.”

Credit: @Joel_1878

“Get him signed up @Everton ASAP”

Credit: @gflan02

“Get to r’s x”

Credit: @MainManMina

“Feel sick”

Credit: @lucas1878_

In other news, Everton fans will be encouraged by what Greg O’Keeffe said about January.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have begun talks with AS Roma over a potential loan move for Amadou Diawara, according to Ekrem Konur. 

The lowdown

Diawara actually made more starts in the Europa League (ten) than he did in Serie A (seven) last season. Admittedly Roma made it all the way to the semi-finals of the continental tournament, with the defensive midfielder averaging 2.3 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 1.3 clearances per game (via WhoScored).

The 24-year-old has previously been heralded as a ‘phenomenon’ and likened to France legend Marcel Desailly.

Wolves have already done business with Jose Mourinho’s Roma in this summer’s transfer window, agreeing to sell goalkeeper Rui Patricio to the Giallorossi for £9.8m.

The latest

Konur tweeted that Wolves had opened discussions over a loan move for Diawara ‘at the request of Bruno Lage’.

The Midlands outfit are said to ‘have offered’ to take the Guinea international on a ‘one-year loan’, but it’s not clear if that arrangement would include an option or obligation to buy.

The verdict

It doesn’t look like Paulo Fonseca’s departure will open the first team door for Diawara, who’s competing with the likes of Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolo Zaniolo for a place in Roma’s starting XI.

On the other hand, Lage is clearly a fan of the Guinean and might see his signing as a means of putting his own stamp on the Wolves midfield. That’s one area where they have not made any additions so far this summer – indeed, it’s worth noting that Lage is also said to be keen on FC Porto’s Sergio Oliveira.

A one-year loan move for Diawara could be well worth pursuing, giving Wolves a robust midfield option without the big commitment of a permanent signing if the temporary spell doesn’t work out.

In other news, this Wolves star could leave Molineux before the window is out.

Some Manchester City fans have slammed the news that Newcastle United will make a formal complaint about refereeing standards.

The Telegraph are reporting that Newcastle are set to submit a formal complaint questioning the quality of refereeing from their last three games.

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Eddie Howe’s side will ask for clarity over controversial decisions that the Magpies suffered in their recent defeats to Leicester, Liverpool and the Sky Blues.

Howe has become increasingly frustrated by these decisions and has asked staff at the club to package together a set of clips to illustrate how these controversies have contributed to their recent defeats.

However, one single controversial decision, namely when Ederson clattered into Ryan Fraser in the penalty area at 2-0, would not have greatly affected the result on Sunday as Pep Guardiola’s side beat Newcastle 4-0 away from home, after the stellar performances of goalscorers Rúben Dias, Joāo Cancelo, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling lit up St James’ Park.

These Man City fans react to Newcastle’s complaint

Twitter fan feed City Xtra relayed the news of the complaint on social media. Lots of City fans met this with disdain, while others responded with sarcastic comments and one called it “weird behaviour” from the Magpies.

Here’s what these fans had to say regarding Newcastle’s intentions to make a formal complaint over refereeing:

“Richest club in the world complaining”

Credit: @SxrgioSZN

“4-1 loss wouldn’t have made any difference in their standing lol”

Credit: @kunsologist

“I’ve always found it a bit weird when all managers talk about in their post match interview after a 0-4 thrashing is a penalty that they should have got. If Pep did that I’d be absolutely furious. There’s a time and a place, you need to apologise for your own performance first”

Credit: @mcfcIeo_

“City should make these types of complaints almost every game. We just trying to be as perfect as we can be, not to give the referees much to do us over.”

Credit: @jgedeon1717

“Maybe they should make a formal complaint to their defence about the standard of defending in their last three games vs Leicester, Liverpool and Man City.”

Credit: @RCorless33

“Weird behaviour”

Credit: @Kafkaesque_10

In other news: Man City lead race for ‘outstanding’ predator; Guardiola is ‘in love’ with him

Celtic have the chance to add some more points to their tally for the season and take a step closer to the Premiership title this afternoon. 

Their latest league outing sees them take on St Johnstone at Parkhead after securing a 2-1 victory in the Old Firm derby last weekend. 

However, it seems as though Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou will have to do without one of his main attacking options today.

What’s the news?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday (via 67 Hail Hail), the 56-year-old revealed that James Forrest is the only player not available to him for selection this afternoon. 

Having missed Celtic’s two previous league games as a result of a knock he picked up during the club’s Scottish Cup win against Dundee United last month, it will be a huge blow for Postecoglou to still have the winger sidelined. 

A product of the Parkhead club’s youth academy, Forrest has made 440 senior appearances in a Celtic shirt across all competitions. In that time, the 30-year-old has scored 97 goals and provided 97 assists, showing how significant figure a he has been across such a long period. 

Postecoglou will be fuming

Even though the Hoops are in a good position in the league following on from their victory over Rangers last week, Postecoglou will still surely be furious that Forrest hasn’t yet managed to recover from this latest injury, despite playing it down at the time.

An even bigger worry for the winger, the manager and the Celtic fans is that he has a reputation for picking up injuries and missing a lot of games over the years.

With Postecoglou saying that the Scotland international should be a week away from making a recovery, the Celtic manager will undoubtedly be hoping that this will indeed be the case and that he can have Forrest fit and available to see out the remainder of the season and hopefully drive his team to the title.

For the time being, it seems as though the Hoops boss will have to rely on the likes of Jota, Daizen Maeda and Liel Abada to provide an adequate attacking force for the team while Forrest is out.

Having scored a combined total of 20 league goals between them, at least it’s safe to say that the trio have what it takes to be a suitable threat for the Bhoys in the 30-year-old’s continued absence.

In other news: Ange must unleash “phenomenal” £5.85m-rated Celtic ace, he could fire them to glory

An update has emerged on Newcastle forward Ryan Fraser, regarding his place in the Scotland national team squad.

What’s the latest?

According to The Chronicle, the Magpies winger has been forced to withdraw from the squad due to an injury picked up over the weekend.

The report claims that the extent of the injury remains unclear at this moment in time, with the only update being that he will be absent for Scotland’s matches.

Gutted

This news will surely leave Newcastle fans feeling gutted due to the awful timing of the knock. Eddie Howe has been confirmed as the club’s new manager this week and supporters should be excited by the prospect of the pair reuniting after their spell together at Bournemouth in the Premier League earlier in his career.

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The ex-Cherries coach has only just been appointed but this could represent his first big blow as manager and provide an insight into what he could be dealing with in the coming months; adversity. Newcastle are 19th in the Premier League and are yet to win a match, which means that his first few matches could be a slog that they need to grind through in order to pull themselves closer to safety.

Fraser has started two of the club’s last three games and the arrival of Howe could signal an upturn in form for the winger. In his final two seasons for Bournemouth under the 43-year-old, he managed eight goals and a whopping 18 assists in the Premier League as he showed that he can provide end product at the top level. Reaching those sort of figures again would surely delight Newcastle supporters who are yet see him bag a league goal for Newcastle since joining the club in 2020.

News of an injury, therefore, is not only a blow to Howe but it’s also gutting for supporters as it could hinder his progress in the coming weeks as he tries to rediscover himself under his former manager.

Hopefully, a positive update emerges ahead of the clash with Brentford on the other side of the break and Howe can get to work on improving Fraser and getting him back to his best.

AND in other news, PIF must avoid 1st Newcastle howler with deal for rarely-seen £36k-p/w liability…

Newcastle United have reportedly now made an ‘indispensable proposal’ to sign Axel Witsel in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Work behind the scenes

Newcastle World journalist Liam Kennedy recently revealed that the St. James’ Park faithful are already working to strengthen the squad ‘behind the scenes’, and Witsel is a player who has been talked about.

They are understood to be ‘weighing up a move’ for the Borussia Dortmund midfield player in the January transfer window, and he could be made available by the Bundesliga club.

The Latest: Proposal

As per Tutto Juve, the North East club have now made an ‘indispensable proposal’ to Witsel in order to try and persuade him to sign in January, despite the fact that he can leave on a free transfer in the summer.

They have offered the Belgium international a deal worth almost €10m (£8.4m) a season, much more than the €7m (£5.9m) a campaign that he currently earns, which would price Juventus out of a potential move.

The Verdict: Get it done

Given that he is 32 years of age, and seemingly unwanted by Dortmund, Witsel should not cost too much money, meaning that the Tyneside outfit could get themselves a potential bargain in January.

Lauded as a ‘top professional’ by footballing legend Fabio Cannavaro, he can lead by example both off of the pitch as well as on it, given the glittering career that he has had.

Nonetheless, he would be an upgrade to Eddie Howe’s current options in the middle of the park, averaging more interceptions, clearances and passes at a higher success rate than Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey and Sean Longstaff in their respective domestic leagues so far this term (WhoScored).

Given his previous work as assistant manager at Belgium, Graeme Jones will also have a good understanding with the player, and so he can aid Howe in helping to get the best out of him on the field, providing that he signs of course.

In other news, find out which three January signings PIF are plotting here!