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استقر نادي مانشستر سيتي المنافس في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على البديل الهجومي المناسب حال رحيل مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، سيرجيو أجويرو.

وينتهي عقد أجويرو مع مانشستر سيتي بنهاية الموسم الحالي في يونيو 2021، ولم تفاتحه الإدارة الإنجليزية في تجديد العقد لبعض السنوات القادمة.

ويبدو وأن فترة أجويرو قد قاربت على الانتهاء في مانشستر سيتي حيث ابتعد عن المشاركة في الفترة الأخيرة لإصاباته المكررة وانخفاض مستواه الفني.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوارديولا: مانشستر سيتي ليس بعيدًا عن المنافسة على لقب الدوري الإنجليزي

ووضع نادي مانشستر سيتي أكثر من اسم من أجل تعويض رحيل أجويرو المتوقع وعلى رأسهم هاري كين وروميلو لوكاكو ولكنهما خيارين مستبعدين بحسب الصحافة الإنجليزية لتكلفتهما الباهظة.

لكن هناك بديل مناسب ومميز من الدوري البرتغالي ألا وهو مهاجم نادي بنفيكا، داروين نونيز، البالغ من العمر 21 عامًا فقط، بعدما أظهر تألقه خلال الفترة الماضية بعد انتقاله هذا الصيف من ألميريا مقابل 25 مليون يورو.

أرقام نونيز هي من جعلت بحسب صحيفة “تيليجراف” البريطانية، أنظار جوارديولا وجهاز الفني تتابعه مع بنفيكا حيث سجل 5 أهداف وصنع 6 آخرين في 11 مباراة ليصبح الوريث المتوقع لهجوم منتخب بلده أوروجواي بعد اعتزال لويس سواريز وإدينسون كافاني.

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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has made contact with Derby County boss Frank Lampard about a potential transfer move for defender Max Lowe, according to The Daily Record.

What’s the story?

Lowe is familiar to football fans in Scotland having impressed for Aberdeen in the top-flight on loan from the English Championship this season.

Rangers have made it a transfer policy of theirs over the last few windows to sign the best available talent in the division, both weakening the opposition and strengthening Gerrard’s squad.

The Record report that the club are now looking to ruin the Dons’ intentions of securing another loan deal for Lowe this summer by making a bid for the 22-year-old themselves.

Derby are not keen on letting him leave permanently but the paper reckon Lampard is open to the player continuing elsewhere for another season on a loan basis.

What would he add to Rangers?

With 41 appearances for Aberdeen this season in all competitions, including a Scottish League Cup final and Scottish Cup semi-final, Lowe has proven he can play consistently at the required level.

The mostly unused Lee Wallace’s contract is expiring and there will be a lack of natural cover at left-back next season. The addition of the Derby man would at the very least provide necessary back-up to Borna Barisic.

Jon Flanagan has filled in this season but the majority of his career games have come on the other flank and the current situation isn’t ideal, with Barisic having no real direct competition for his position beyond the right-footed former Liverpool man.

His very presence would also surely help the Croatian unlock his potential at Ibrox after a difficult debut campaign.

Barisic boon

Barisic arrived as one of last summer’s big summer signings, with fans initially being impressed by his performances for NK Osijek in UEFA Europa League qualifying against the Gers.

Gerrard wasted little time in signing him and his initial form was pretty exciting, appearing to have the drive and final product that would make him a strong presence on the left flank.

Injuries and fitness issues took their toll though and the 26-year-old has increasingly found himself on the fringes of the first-team, falling out of favour with Steven Gerrard.

As reported by The Herald, Barisic insists his relationship with the manager remains strong and fans should be hopeful he can make an impact next season. You don’t make competitive appearances for Croatia without having a bit of quality about you.

But the arrival of Lowe, as a fairly low risk loan signing, could create the competitive atmosphere he needs to take his Rangers career to the next level and start reproducing the form that marked his early few months at Ibrox.

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Leeds fans on Twitter have rejoiced after Pablo Hernandez was named as a part of the PFA Championship Team of the Year.

Fans of the Yorkshire club had previously been irked by the fact that the Spaniard was omitted from the EFL’s version.

Hernandez has been in incredible form for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this season netting 12 goals and getting a further 12 assists.

Those supporters now feel less aggrieved as the midfielder earned a spot in the PFA’s side.

While things haven’t gone to plan generally in 2019, the Whites have still had a fantastic campaign under Bielsa so it is no surprise that their players are now getting individual plaudits.

Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper were the other two representatives from the Yorkshire outfit in the Team of the Year, but it was Hernandez who all the fans focused on this time around.

Here’s what Leeds fans have been saying on Twitter…

استعاد خافيير تيباس، رئيس رابطة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم، ذكريات كلاسيكو ريال مدريد وبرشلونة في 2008، والذي فاز به البلوجرانا بسداسية على النادي الملكي.

وتواجد خافيير تيباس في حفل سفراء الليجا الذي أقيم ظهر اليوم الثلاثاء، وتحدث عن الكلاسيكو الذي سيجمع بين برشلونة وريال مدريد السبت المقبل في ملعب كامب نو.

طالع أيضًا.. بارتوميو قد يغيب عن الكلاسيكو بين برشلونة وريال مدريد

وقال تيباس في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “كانت هناك مباريات رائعة بين ريال مدريد وبرشلونة على مر التاريخ”.

وأضاف: “أتذكر عددا من المباريات مثل التي سجل فيها مارادونا هدفًا رائعًا بملعب كامب نو، وقاد برشلونة للفوز، وكذلك عندما قدم برشلونة مباراة استثنائية وفاز 6-2 في ملعب سانتياجو بيرنابيو”.

وشدد تيباس الذي أكد من قبل أنه مشجع لـ ريال مدريد: “لا أتذكر الكثير مما فاز به ريال مدريد، لدرجة أن ذلك تسبب لي في معاناة كبيرة”.

واختتم: “إنه لأمر مخز أن مباراة مثل هذه لن يكون بها جماهير في المدرجات، ولكننا نأمل أن تعود الجماهير إلى أماكنها قريبًا”.

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Nottingham Forest supporters have been begging for Arvin Appiah to play a bigger part in the first team picture after his England U19s call up.

Following the announcement that he’d join up with the England U19 squad, fans of the Reds were quick to plead that he should now be getting more minutes in Forest’s side, displaying a strong show of faith in the youngster.

Certain fans have been calling for him to actually get a start in the team, but there are split opinions with some thinking he should settle for a place on the bench for the time being.

However, there seems to be some agreement that it is about time he was included in Martin O’Neill’s immediate plans.

One fan gave specific reasoning behind why the 18-year-old deserves more minutes, suggesting that with a lack of pace in the side he could have a real impact on the squad. That comes following their defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

The forward has been hotly tipped by the club and recently signed a new long term deal with Forest. In February he was also named among FourFourTwo’s 50 most exciting English teenage footballers.

England will be hoping to seal their place at the U19 Euro finals when they meet Denmark, Greece and Czech Republic this month.

Here’s how supporters reacted to Appiah’s news.

[ad_pod ]Southampton’s heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Manchester United highlighted the need for a player who would take on his man and create something out of very little; aside from the two wonder goals the Saints scored and a couple of dubious penalty claims, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side didn’t do much to rattle the Red Devils in terms of chances.The loss to United might have been a difficult one to take considering how hard their team had worked, but the St Mary’s Stadium faithful watching Ajax’s 4-1 demolition of Champions League holders Real Madrid on Tuesday night would surely have been more frustrated by what they saw in that game.Dusan Tadic tore Los Blancos to shreds and was involved in every goal his side scored, although the moment in which he burst forward and spun Casemiro before teeing up David Neres was particularly spellbinding.In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…The Serb left Southampton in the summer for a measly £10m and fans on Twitter couldn’t believe, having seen what he’d just done at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, that the club had let him go for so little…

[ad_pod ]Dominic Iorfa was a second-half substitute in Sheffield Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Swansea City in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.Indeed, the 23-year-old came on just before the hour and certainly played his part as Steve Bruce’s side picked up a very impressive result.Iorfa is a new signing at Hillsborough, having joined the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers during the January transfer window.The defender scored on his debut against Rotherham United last weekend, before enjoying some more minutes against Welsh outfit Swansea on Saturday afternoon.Iorfa took to social media after the match to reveal his delight, which led to a number of Wednesday fans expressing their feelings on the recent arrival.

Indeed, the former England Under-21 international has not been at the club very long, but already looks to be a very positive addition.

A selection of the best Twitter reaction from the Wednesday supporters can be seen below:

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According to Le 10 Sport, Bayern Munich have entered the race to sign Arsenal target Nicolas Pepe.

What’s the story?

The report states that the German giants are currently leading the charge for his signature, but other major European clubs remain interested in the Lille winger. As well as Bayern and the Gunners, Barcelona and Manchester City are also credited with holding an interest in the 23-year-old.

Considering the 10-cap Ivory Coast international’s prolific form this season it is unsurprising that he is garnering such attention. As per Transfermarkt’s stats, the attacker has already racked up 16 goals and 10 assists in 23 Ligue 1 outings.

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

The aforementioned report claims that Lille accept that Pepe will likely leave the club this summer, and he certainly won’t be short of suitors. Arsenal, for their part, would surely have to offer a huge fee to ensure that they don’t miss out.

Out of reach

The Gunners could certainly do with a new winger. As things stand, Alex Iwobi is the only out and out wide man in Unai Emery’s squad. Pepe, then, would be a very welcome addition at the Emirates Stadium.

However, if it is true that the north London club will only have around £40 million to spend this summer, as reported by The Sun, then they will struggle to strike a deal for Pepe. Beyond that, with a budget so tight, and defensive signings an absolute must, attacking reinforcements shouldn’t be their priority either.

As far as Pepe is concerned, he looks to be a player now beyond the Gunners’ means. They should step down from this chase now and begin focusing their efforts elsewhere.

Eddie Howe must axe Allan Saint-Maximin after a poor showing against Wolves to free up space for several new recruits in the summer.

The Newcastle United star performed disappointingly against Bruno Lage’s side and it has led to discussions around whether now is the time to cash in and let him leave the club.

During that contest, he failed with all three of his dribbles, lost the ball a whopping 23 times and lost a mighty 15 duels. He can be “breathtaking” on his day in the words of Gary Neville but this was fine evidence of why he has the tendency to drive club legend, Alan Shearer, absolutely “mad.”

Also described as the “jewel in Newcastle’s crown” by their former player David Ginola, the Magpies would be looking to get at least £50m for the player who prior to the takeover was a key part in the club’s future.

However, the new owners have shown in January that they have money to spend and want to be in the market for Europe’s best players.

Selling Saint-Maximin would present them with an opportunity to reinvest the profit and put it towards signing a better player, and it would also free up space in the squad.

Even though he’s been involved in more Newcastle goals than any other players this season, if the Toon are serious about competing with the top teams then you have to compare him to the other Premier League players in his position.

The Frenchman ranks in the bottom 50% in Europe this season when it comes to goal creating actions compared to others in his position. It does beg the question, is he really the man to take Newcastle to where they want to be?

He’s proved he isn’t an awful player, and he may still be able to play a part if Newcastle becomes more successful, but if it’s as a squad player then his value will lessen which is why Newcastle should sell now.

One player they have been linked with is Jarrod Bowen. The West Ham United star has shone this season and as a result, has attracted interest from big clubs.

Comparing the two shows that the Englishman could be a perfect replacement for Saint-Maximin. He has better goals and assists average per 90 minutes at 0.35 compared to 0.18.

Newcastle could use the money generated from selling the £93k-per-week Saint-Maximin to buy Bowen and improve their side.

IN other news: Downie drops NUFC transfer claim involving “four or five players”, it’s great news – opinion

Leeds remain top of the Championship table heading into Friday’s crucial fixture against Frank Lampard’s Derby County.

Marcelo Bielsa has hit the ground running after taking charge of the Whites in the summer. The Leeds squad adapted immediately to the Argentine’s methods and their early form has seen them installed as favourites to finally secure a return to the Premier League. Leeds are top of the table, two points ahead of Norwich, heading into a difficult game against Derby County on Friday at Elland Road.

The January transfer window is now open and Bielsa isn’t expected to strengthen his squad significantly. A new goalkeeper is wanted by the former Chile manager to add competition to young Bailey Peacock-Farrell but Bielsa remains confident in his current crop of players. Should they secure a return to the Premier League, the Yorkshire club will be able to attract a higher calibre of player.

One man they must consider signing is Liverpool powerhouse – James Milner. Valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, the former England international has been a crucial player for the Reds since joining from Manchester City on a free transfer. However, the 33-year-old is out of contract in the summer and a return to the club where he started his professional career could be on the cards.

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Milner remains as fit as ever and his experience at the highest level could be crucial to Leeds staying in the division. The midfielder can cover various positions and is a model professional – his knowledge could be of great value to youngsters looking to break into the first-team. Always willing to work hard and perform at his best, Milner is a manager’s dream.

If Leeds manage to complete their Premier League comeback, Milner should be the man to lead them out.

Leeds United fans, thoughts?