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According to the printed version of L’Equipe, via Foot Mercato, Southampton striker Sofiane Boufal is interesting Marseille after a difficult time on the south coast.

What’s the deal, then?

The Moroccan spent last season on loan at Celta Vigo after he had a bust up with former Saints boss Mark Hughes and subsequently fell out of favour.

But he struggled to make an impact in Spain as he scored just three goals in 35 La Liga appearances in what has to be deemed an unsuccessful spell.

On top of that, Boufal’s future was called into question when new boss Ralph Hasenhuttl decided to purchase forward Moussa Djenepo earlier this month.

And now L’Equipe believe Marseille are interested in the 25-year-old despite the fact that they have had to sell players to try and balance the books and ensure they are not in breach of financial fair play regulations.

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Marseille’s situation means Saints will have to take a loss on Boufal

Given the situation Marseille are reportedly in when it comes to their delicately positioned financial situation, it would seem unlikely those in charge at St Mary’s will be able to claim back the full £16million they paid for him from fellow French side Lille back in 2016.

It is safe to assume they would have had to take a hit on Boufal’s price tag anyway given he has scored just four goals in a staggering 59 appearances for the Premier League side.

And that reduced figure may have to be lowered even further if they are to ensure he is removed from the wage bill because of the supposed financial strain that Marseille are competing with.

It is a tricky situation for Saints because L’OM will drive a hard price given their predicament, while Hasenhuttl’s men want to generate further funds themselves by being open to offers for players like the Moroccan, as per The Telegraph.

Southampton’s new man Moussa Djenepo divides opinion amongst fans in the video below…

But when it comes to the Moroccan, going back to Ligue 1 – the division where he managed double figures in a season for the only time in his career to date – is a step he must take to try and resurrect his career.

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Lots of Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to praise Jordan Henderson after a video emerged of the midfielder embracing his dad after the final whistle.

It was a truly touching moment between a player who has been written off time and time again at Anfield, and a man who may not have been around to see his son’s best career achievement after battling throat cancer last year.

Has Salomon Rondon had a better season than Bobby Firmino? Matt from The Magpie Channel discusses in the video below…

Henderson had previously been the subject of an attempted swap deal with former Fulham striker Clint Dempsey, and had also endured four cup final losses already as a Liverpool player, so watching him lift the cup in Madrid was a beautiful moment involving the captain.

You could see the emotion in the Sunderland academy graduate’s face as he lifted the famous trophy, and he was in tears as he hugged his dad in what was a truly special moment.

Let’s take a look at some of the best tweets praising the 28-year-old…

The play-offs are a very unforgiving competition, aren’t they?

Having achieved a third-place finish in the Championship under Marcelo Bielsa in the regular season, the Whites looked almost certain to book their place at Wembley Stadium on May 27th after winning the first leg of their semi-final against Derby County 1-0 last Saturday.

Yet the Rams had other ideas.

Boosted by the news that Kemar Roofe would be absent from the return clash at Elland Road, Frank Lampard’s side took the game to their opponents last night by deploying an attacking formation that ultimately paid dividends.

Although Stuart Dallas managed to fire in a fantastic brace for Leeds, a double from Jack Marriot combined with goals from Mason Mount and Harry Wilson secured a famous 4-2 victory for Derby who are now just 90 minutes away from the Premier League.

Whereas the East Midlands-based outfit’s key players stepped to the mark in their biggest match of the season to date, the same cannot be said for Patrick Bamford.

Brought in as a replacement for Roofe, the forward had the chance to justify why the Whites splashed out £7.11m (via Transfermarkt) to bring him to Elland Road from Middlesbrough last summer.

Yet with the pressure to deliver proving too much for Bamford, he produced a shocking performance against Derby in which he offered very little up-front for his side.

Already on thin ice with Bielsa after picking up a two-game ban for deceiving an official in Leeds’ 1-1 draw against Aston Villa last month, the fact that the 25-year-old was booked for diving by Anthony Taylor during Wednesday’s clash suggests that he hasn’t learned his lesson at all.

With Bamford’s lack of discipline costing the Whites in recent weeks, it may be time for the club to consider cutting ties with the forward if they are to bounce back next season.

Having only managed to fire in a measly total of nine goals in the Championship during the 2018/19 campaign, it is obvious that the former Chelsea ace is simply not good enough to lead a club to promotion with his latest failure being the fourth time he has failed in the play-offs in his career.

If Bielsa can offload him in the summer, the Argentine could use the money gained from a sale to make some much-needed improvements to his squad.

What do you think Leeds fans? Would you be happy to see Bamford leave Elland Road following his recent antics? Can your side bounce back from their play-off heartbreak in the 2019/20 campaign? Let us know below.

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Mauricio Pochettino is once again to be asked to work within limited financial constraints this summer, though the club could make a £30million move for Barcelona’s Andre Gomes, according to the Daily Telegraph.

What’s the word?

The report states that Spurs are likely to break their self-imposed transfer ban that has been running since January 2018. Their last signing, indeed, was Lucas Moura, who moved to the club from PSG.

The Telegraph claim that two or three signings could be made, along with a deal for a homegrown player that will help boost the club’s quota.

Barca’s Gomes, currently on loan at Everton, Nice right-back Youcef Atal, Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish are all listed as potential signings this summer and the figure could reach in excess of £100million.

However, there is a claim that such a number will only be reached if attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen, right-back Kieran Trippier and centre-back Toby Alderweireld leave the club.

Gomes has made a total of 28 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring once and providing two assists.

Patience required with Gomes

The move for Gomes is something of a strange one.

He has not set the world alight at Everton and a deal at £30m seems steep.

But there is history here; the club signed Moussa Sissoko for the same fee in 2016 and he endured a rocky start to his career at the club.

The France international had previous experience in the Premier League, but that did not ensure a smooth transition to life at Spurs.

This season, however, he has been the club’s best midfielder, having finally bought into the Argentine’s methods.

Fans may need similar patience with Gomes, who does not appear to suit the high-pressing, high-intensity game favoured by Pochettino.

His season at Everton has been promising in patches, with fleeting spells of class providing reason to believe that he could be a hit at Tottenham, but question marks remain over whether he is truly at the level required to cement his place in a Champions League standard midfield.

Similar questions were asked of Sissoko when he arrived and it took him more than two seasons to answer those with interest.

It remains to be seen if Pochettino will be forced to work his magic with Gomes or if the playmaker will instantly thrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Former Celtic star Frank McAvennie has told The Scottish Sun that he believes James Forrest has no reason to want to leave the club this summer, and believes he wouldn’t be suited to English football.

What’s the word, then?

The 27-year-old has enjoyed another impressive campaign for the Glasgow giants, and was this week named as the Scottish PFA Player of the Year after scoring 17 goals and providing a further 20 assists in 55 appearances in all competitions.

His standout performances may well see him linked to some clubs south of the border during the summer transfer window, but McAvennie has told the Scottish Sun that the winger would be wrong to make a move to England if the opportunity arose.

The 59-year-old former Bhoy said: “I don’t know if he’s big enough to go down to England.

“If you go somewhere new you have all the upheaval that goes with a move. Does he want that? I’m not too sure.

“He’s going to get a game for Celtic for years to come. So why would you want to move?”

Has he got a point?

He certainly has in some ways.

Forrest is already a Parkhead hero, can win plenty of trophies and can continue to play Champions League football.

In that respect it would be a risky move to go to a Premier League club, similarly to when Stuart Armstrong left the Scottish capital for Southampton last summer.

The midfielder has found regular first-team starts hard to come by and has found himself embroiled in a relegation battle with the south coast club.

Controversial. Uncompromising. Leader. C’mon the Hoops’ Keith talks the future of Celtic’s evergreen captain Scott Brown in the video below…

Forrest could easily find himself in the same situation if he joined a mid-table or lower English top flight team, and he should stick to what he knows.

His comments on the 27-year-old not being good enough because of his size are slightly more confusing though, given how well Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser has fared this term.

يعتقد جاري نيفيل أسطورة مانشستر يونايتد، أن يورجن كلوب المدير الفني لنادي ليفربول الإنجليزي، سيكون متوترًا في مواجهة مانشستر سيتي الأسبوع المقبل.

بطل الدوري الإنجليزي يتصدر المسابقة بعد الفوز الأخير على وست هام، وخسارة إيفرتون أمام نيوكاسل، قبل أسبوع من مواجهة مانشستر سيتي، في قمة الجولة الثامنة.

طالع أيضًا.. أسطورة ليفربول يدافع عن محمد صلاح ضد الانتقادات القاسية: ليس غشاشًا ويغيب عن ليفربول الثلاثي فان دايك وماتيب وفابيينو، ما جعل المدرب الألماني يدفع بالثنائي الشاب ناثانيل فيليبس وريس ويليامز، من أجل المشاركة في قلب الدفاع بجانب جو جوميز.

لذلك، قال نيفيل في تصريحات لشبكة “سكاي” البريطانية: “يمكنهم جلب مدافع جيد من فريق الشباب، وربما بعد أسابيع قليلة مع فتح سوق الانتقالات الشتوية، سيتم استعارة لاعب أو التعاقد معه، لتغطية مكان فيرجيل”.

وأكمل: “سيعود فابيينو أيضَا وجويل ماتيب قبل فان دايك، لكن فيرجيل لا غنى عنه بالتأكيد، وهو ما يجعل يورجن كلوب متوترًا ومضغوطًا طوال الوقت”.

واختتم: “كلوب سيواجه مانشستر سيتي يوم الأحد المقبل، وهو متوتر، لأنه فريق جوارديولا سيكون مرشح أكبر للفوز”.

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Not many Arsenal fans will go to matches expecting centre-back Shkodran Mustafi to be the best player on the pitch, but that is exactly what happened against Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Monday – according to WhoScored stats anyway as he posted a rating of 8.02.

The 26-year-old has been almost constantly criticised – sometimes justly and sometimes not – throughout his spell with the north London outfit, with costly mistakes and questionable defending being combined with more mature performances like the latest one against the Magpies.

The main brunt of vitriol against the Germany international has come from supporters on Twitter following previous displays, and it was the same again against Rafa Benitez’s men.

Despite those comments, there is no mistaking the fact that he was the top-rated player on the pitch as per WhoScored.

He made more interceptions and clearances than any of his teammates, while he also showed that he can be useful as a full-back on occasions following a couple of impressive runs down the flank, although the less said about his final delivery one particular time the better.

So do Arsenal fans have a point?

The problem is that when you hear a player being turned on by the masses time and time again, you will pick up and subsequently magnify every poor thing they do, and it is no different with Mustafi.

That said the 26-year-old visibly isn’t without his shortcomings, and his decision-making and positioning on and off the ball are two things he seriously needs to improve in the future if he wants to progress and continue being a starter for Arsenal under Unai Emery.

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Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Jacob Mensah from non-league Ramsgate FC, with the defender set to link up with the Under-23’s until Eagles chiefs feel he can make the gargantuan step up to the Premier League. Which of two paths will he take having made the move?

Who is he?

The 18-year-old, who was previously linked with Wolves and Cardiff, has been likened to Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling – the former England international was also plucked from obscurity.

Ramsgate boss Nick Davis has said of the switch:

“I congratulate Jacob on his move as I feel Jacob has the opportunity to make the grade within the professional game and thank him for his time at Ramsgate FC.”

Who will he be?

The last time Palace signed a young(ish) centre-back was when they brought Jaroslaw Jach to south London from Zaglebie Lubin in a woeful January transfer window – the Pole has yet to make an appearance for the first team.

Instead, the defender signed for Turkish outfit Caykur Rizespor on loan in the summer and then, with that stint failing, joined Sheriff Tiraspol in the Moldovan top flight – ouch.

Now 25, Jach’s career in SE25 seems to be over before it has even begun – Mensah will be hoping that he doesn’t follow a similar path, instead achieving the success Smalling has found since leaving Maidstone all those years ago.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

Certainly, Mensah will have his work cut out in the coming years to oust any of the current first team crop from the starting XI but he could be the next young defender to come through the ranks – or, like Jach’s career looks set to pan out, be sent out on a number of loans before eventually being sold for peanuts or leaving on a free.

It’s nearly that time again Celtic fans, nearly time to lift that Premiership trophy yet again. Eight in a row, how good does that sound? Indeed, Neil Lennon is looking to have what is an unexpected reunion with the Scottish trophy, though he’ll know more than anyone that there’s still work to be done. 

Lennon started the year planning his holidays, but since Brendan Rodgers took an unexpected U-turn on the Hoops, the club legend once again finds himself back in the driving seat at Celtic Park and looking to bring yet another title to his cabinet. Comfortable at the top of the tree, it’s not as if the Bhoys are playing blistering football, and the ex-Hibs coach will be looking to make his mark ahead of the club’s managerial search this summer.

So, with an away trip Dundee up next later today, we take a look at how Lennon can improve from the 0-0 draw last week.

Drop Ewan Henderson 

After featuring in the 0-0 draw with Aberdeen, only his third appearance for the first team in the league, it may be time for someone who has a bit more about them to really push Celtic over that line.

Despite grabbing an assist in his first appearance, it has been made clear to see that a step up to the first team may have been too soon for the 18-year-old, who should be blooded in once everything is wrapped up.

While not looking ready yet, the Scottish international has certainly shown why fans should be excited and look forward to what this young talent can bring next season. Don’t burn him, Neil.

Start Odsonne Edouard 

Showing exactly why fans should be excited about him, scoring 12 goals and grabbing 5 assists in 24 Premiership games, the 21-year-old forward has certainly had a season to remember.

Indeed, the last game Edouard played against Dundee resulted in a 0-5 away win, bagging himself a goal and an assist during the game, proving that he knows how to haunt their defence. Feed the Frenchman and he will score, making it an easy end of season for the Bhoys.

Spurs continue to trundle along nicely in the Premier League and remain in the title picture despite a host of bad injuries and a lack of spending in recent times.

Their new stadium is almost ready for it’s grand opening, and it’s certainly an exciting time to be a Spurs fan under the stewardship of Mauricio Pochettino.

However, we at the Tavern think the club do need some help up top, and we think they need to be making big moves in the summer to bring in some fresh faces.

That’s why we think they should make a move to sign Lazio forward Ciro Immobile, who has once again been in fine form for the Rome based club, firing in the goals once again to prove himself as one of the most lethal strikers on the continent when he is at his best.

Immobile would provide movement, finishing, and genuine class as back up to Harry Kane, and there’s an argument there to be made that both could form a fine partnership too if given the chance.

While Spurs would need to splash the cash on Immobile if they wanted to secure his signature, he would be value for money, and in a team which is ever improving, he’d even more quality and depth to the attacking aspect of the London club’s play.

If Spurs do want to take the title challenge seriously and make their move, then signing someone like Immobile is the perfect sort of statement to make.

Spurs fans, what do you think? Good signing? Let us know in the comments!