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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Sun, Manchester United are ready to hand young starlet Mason Greenwood a new contract this summer after impressing on the club’s pre-season tour.

What’s the word?

The 17-year-old has been prolific in front of goal this summer, scoring in wins against Leeds and Inter. The forward only signed his first professional contract back in October 2018, but it now appears he could be set to pen a new and improved deal.

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The report claims that Greenwood earns just £800-a-week at the moment but his rise to stardom under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will see him handed a fresh contract ahead of his 18th birthday this October.

Deserved reward

Despite being just 17, Greenwood has taken United by storm this summer and has earned rave reviews for his performances from teammates and manager alike.

Speaking after he scored in a 4-0 win over Leeds, Solskjaer remarked: “He’s got a chance to start that one (against Chelsea) definitely. He’s capable, more than capable. He’ll always be there in and around the box creating chances. I won’t say that that’s not a possibility. It’s a good possibility if he keeps going as he does. It’s difficult to keep players out if they keep playing well.

“You see a talented boy there and he’s got every opportunity to make it as a Man United player.”

As more and more Premier League sides look to give their talented young players more of a chance in the first-team, rewarding Greenwood for his stellar rise following his debut against PSG in the Champions League last season seems like a fitting reward.

It will now be up to Greenwood himself to continue to prove that he is worth every penny of his reported new contract.

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David Prutton’s latest column in the Yorkshire Evening Post has highlighted the need for frugality in the Championship, as transfer fees rise and FFP sanctions become harder and harder to work around.

Prutton highlighted what he thinks is the perfect policy in the Championship, and his words should have Whites fans beaming as he basically outlined Leeds’ transfer policy over the past few years.

What’s been said then?

The former midfielder was writing about Birmingham’s point deduction last season and how that may affect attitudes in the future.

“What’s the damage going to be? It’s created a game of jeopardy for anyone who’s thinking of over-spending. For that reason I think we’ll see a lot of measured work in the transfer market this summer.

“I think the evidence of the season behind us will make a lot of clubs decide that a move away from big-money signings to the little gems no-one else has spotted might be the way to go. There’s never any substitute for quality but in this division and at this level, what matters more is how a team works as a unit and the presence of square pegs in square holes.

“We all love a big transfer deal but it seems to me that the Championship is moving on.”

Ahead of the curve

Leeds United are well ahead of the curve if Prutton thinks that Championship clubs should operate in this way as the Whites have been doing it for years.

The 37-year-old highlighted the need for teamwork in this division, and he may well have been alluding to Marcelo Bielsa’s achievements this season.

The Argentine took a team that finished 13th the season before into third place while not making many changes to the squad, and he achieved that through team cohesion and fantastic tactics.

Bielsa’s side is also built up of these ‘little gems’ as the likes of Mateusz Klich, Pontus Jansson, Kemar Roofe and Ezgjan Alioski joined the team as relatively unknown players, but became stars almost immediately.

Prutton’s view of the future is already Leeds’ present, and that bodes well for them as their transfer policy doesn’t need huge adjustment even as the landscape around them changes.

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Leeds United fans on Twitter are clamouring for the club to sign Luke Freeman from QPR after the attacking midfielder was linked with a move to Elland Road, per London Football News.

The 27-year-old has proven himself to be one of the best number 10s in the Championship in the past few years, and after another successful season at Loftus Road, he has garnered attention from Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

The Yorkshire club were clearly impressed by what they saw from Freeman when they travelled to Loftus Road earlier this season.

The midfielder ran the show as QPR won 1-0 with the 27-year-old netting the only goal of the game.

The Englishman scored seven times in the last campaign while also providing six assists for teammates, and numbers like that show exactly why the playoff semi-finalists are looking at him.

The transfer committee aren’t the only people who want Freeman signed; supporters on social media have been supportive of this potential transfer.

Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on Twitter…

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Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic is a transfer target for Spanish side Alaves this summer, according to The Scottish Sun.

The paper say that the La Liga outfit could make a £4m move for him in the upcoming transfer window.

The centre-back has made 109 career appearances for the Hoops since joining in 2015 and this season has taken to the pitch 29 times.

He’s become a key part of interim manager Neil Lennon’s team in recent months with injuries to Filip Benkovic and Dedryck Boyata hampering Celtic’s campaign.

Heading into a busy few months of summer qualifiers, letting Simunovic go could be seen as something of a mistake considering only Jack Hendry and Marvin Compper are available to partner Kristoffer Ajer in his absence.

“Lionel Messi is Barcelona’s James McFadden!” – Watch Scottish football fans name their clubs’ Lionel Messi in the video below…

Finding two quality replacements for Benkovic and Boyata will be hard enough for club in the upcoming transfer window without seeking one for Simunovic too.

Celtic supporters certainly don’t appear keen to let him leave so quickly, taking to Twitter this week to share their thoughts on the potential deal…

It has been a tough week to be a Doncaster Rovers fan, hasn’t it?

Grant McCann’s side headed into the Easter weekend with a five-point advantage over Peterborough United, who are their nearest challengers for sixth-place in League One.

However, last Friday’s 2-0  defeat to Sunderland was followed by a disappointing display against Accrington Stanley last night which saw Rovers lose at home for the first time since October. Although Posh only managed to pick up two draws from their fixtures, they could move level on points if they win their game in hand against Portsmouth on April 30th.

With crucial clashes against both Oxford United and Coventry City standing in between Donny and a play-off place this season, McCann will be desperately hoping that his players can rise to the occasion over the next two weeks.

In need of a hero to extend their year past the 46-game mark, Rovers may once again have to turn to Mallik Wilks for inspiration. After joining the club on a season-long loan deal from Leeds United last summer, the winger made an instant impact for his new side by scoring in his first two appearances.

Since this initial success, Wilks has added a further 12 league goals to his tally whilst he has also provided six assists for his team-mates during a highly successful campaign. An undeniably talented player, the 20-year-old seemingly has the world at his feet and, therefore, by leading Donny to a top-six finish in May, he will only be adding to what is a growing reputation.

Although he is due to return to Elland Road when his current spell expires, there may even be a chance that Wilks could move to the club on a permanent deal yet this may depend on the outcome of Rovers’ season. Whereas promotion to the Championship may encourage him to extend his stay, another season in the third tier would understandably be less desirable for the winger.

Donny fans, how impressed have you been by Mallik Wilks? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

أكد أشرف صبحي، وزير الشباب والرياضة أن الرياضة المصرية تخطو بخطوات ثابتة نحو العالمية من خلال الإنجازات التي تحققها على كافة المستويات العربية والقارية والدولية، بفضل دعم ورعاية القيادة السياسية للمنظومة الرياضية، والروح التي يتحلى بها لاعبو مصر أثناء مشاركتهم في مختلف المحافل، وتحقيقهم الفوز بالعزيمة والإصرار والاجتهاد والأداء الراقي”.

جاء ذلك تعليقاً على فوز اللاعبة ميار شريف ببطولة تشارلستون الأمريكية، بعد الفوز على منافستها كاتارزينا كاوا في نهائي البطولة.

وتقدمت ميار الشريف من المركز الـ164 إلى المركز 132 عالميًا. شاهد لحظة فوز ميار بالبطولة من هنا

وثمن وزير الشباب والرياضة على أداء اللاعبة ميار شريف، ومداومتها على العروض المتميزة، والنتائج المبهرة التي تحققها في مختلف المشاركات الدولية، والتي كانت أخرها تأهلها للعب بالدور الرئيسي ببطولة رولان جاروس، وتقديم مباراة ماراثونية أمام اللاعبة أمام المصنفة الرابعة كارولينا بلشكوفا، فضلاً عن تأهلها لأوليمبياد طوكيو العام المقبل، مقدماً التهنئة للاعبة على الفوز ببطولة تشارلستون الأمريكية.

وأكد الدكتور أشرف صبحي أن مصر في رياضة التنس الأرضي في طريقها لتحقيق الإنجازات على المستوى الدولي، وعدم الاكتفاء بالعروض المشرفة فقط، وذلك بفضل اللاعبين المصريين الواعدين ومنهم ميار شريف ومحمد صفوت.

وتقوم وزارة الشباب والرياضة بالتنسيق مع اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية وجميع الاتحادات الرياضية؛ بتوفير كافة المتطلبات والدعم المطلوب من أجل تنفيذ جميع خطط الاتحادات المتعلقة بتطوير المنظومة الرياضية، وتجهيز وإعداد لاعبي المنتخبات الوطنية لمختلف البطولات في سياق استمرار الإنجازات التي تشهدها الرياضة المصرية خلال الآونة الراهنة.

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Liverpool’s front three of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have been consistently brilliant this season firing 65 goals between them to ensure the Reds continue to accrue an astonishing points haul in the Premier League while reaching too the Champions League semi-final.

Almost as pertinently as this number however is the amount of minutes the trio have played: a colossal 11,386 in all competitions. Mo Salah has singularly played 3093 minutes and that’s just in the league. Only Alisson and Virgil Van Dijk have been employed more.

There has been nothing fortuitous about Liverpool’s lofty achievements this term but in this regard they can be considered lucky. To have your three best attackers fit, available and on song for pretty much the duration of a long campaign – a few strains and niggles aside – is a boon and especially when the back-up roster contains inferior fare and the injured.

This brings us to Adam Lallana, a player who is certainly in the latter camp, not the former. The ex-Southampton creative has proven himself in the past to be a favourite with Jurgen Klopp, liked for his versatility and ability to make things happen in the final third yet persistent groin and thigh problems have increasingly cast him as a peripheral figure at Anfield with appearances becoming rare even when fully fit. It begs the question then: is there any way back for the 34 cap England international? Can he once again become an integral part of the Reds’ make-up?

The answer alas is that it’s seriously doubtful and largely for the reasons above. Because what we can ascertain with near certainty is that Klopp won’t go into next season requiring his formative stars to remain free from injury throughout – a risk he has taken through necessity this time out – and with the fortunes lavished on his club from their consecutive Champions League adventures he will surely be furnished with the funds to secure a long-overdue like-for-like replacement for Philippe Coutinho.

But what about deployment for Lallana in Liverpool’s midfield? After all many fans believe that is where he is most effective. Again though the fate of the 30-year-old appears to be as an occasional sub – at best – due to being crowded out.

Naby Keita may have underwhelmed for much of this season but a notable improvement post-Christmas suggests there are better things to come from the Guinean in his second term. Elsewhere an engine room that looked functional but in need of a creative spark for much of 2018/19 has recently flourished and with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson impressing and Georginio Wijnaldum now established as the driving force of the team, there is very little room for a player who was only a couple of years ago a pivotal figure for both club and country.

Goals aren’t really coming in huge numbers for West Brom anymore, are they?

Once among the Championship’s highest scoring teams, their attacking urgency has declined in recent weeks and the mood around the Hawthorns looks to have died down. Indeed, despite picking up two big wins under Jimmy Shan, the Baggies strikeforce isn’t as lethal as it was in an earlier part of the season.

Dwight Gayle, in particular, has struggled in recent weeks. He might’ve scored 16 goals for West Brom this season, but is now goalless in his last five games. Clearly, the Newcastle-loanee hasn’t settled into Shan’s system that well either, with the interim manager preferring a more defensive approach, which doesn’t appeal to his style.

Unless West Brom’s attack is firing, the 28-year-old can’t seem to rise up on his own and inspire their attack. This, however, isn’t something which a certain Salomon Rondon lacks. The Venezuelan striker himself is enjoying a beaming loan spell at Newcastle United, having scored 9 goals in 25 Premier League appearances for them, proving perfect in that lone striker role.

While he’s in dreamland up on Tyneside, apparent (as per the Daily Star) internal disputes mean he might not be retained beyond the loan spell. This is something which can work to West Brom’s favour as they can let Gayle go back to Newcastle again and build the team around Rondon, especially if they gain Premier League promotion.

The in-form Rondon’s proved how perfect he is for the Premier League with his striker’s instincts and lethal finishing. He’s moulded himself into a cunning Premier League-fit striker and if asked to repeat his heroics next season, Rondon can make West Brom a formidable Premier League side again.

West Brom fans, would you want to stick with Gayle or bring back Rondon? Join the discussion by commenting below. 

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If you told a Wolves fan at the start of the season they’d be in with a realistic chance of securing European football in their first season back in the Premier League they would have probably laughed in your face.

However, that is the now a realistic aim for the club, who can qualify for the Europa League if they win the FA Cup. Another route into Europe would be by finishing seventh and hoping Manchester City win the FA Cup instead.

Reacting to what the permutations are on Twitter, supporters shared mixed opinions, as some sceptics are not overly enthused by the prospect of a season in Europe.

One individual claimed three summer qualifying rounds could wreck their season whilst another said they’d rather have a few more years in the Premier League to establish themselves before securing qualification.

But one fan was excited by the pulling power the club could have if they were competing in Europe.

At the moment, Nuno Santo’s men are flying high in the table, sitting seventh after being promoted last term.

It has been a magnificent season which has seen them earn plaudits aplenty and, of course, reach the semi-finals of a major domestic trophy.

Here’s the best of the discussion concerning the prospect of qualifying for Europe…

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Liverpool are continuing to monitor Manuel Lanzini ahead of a possible summer bid, sources have told Football FanCast.

The Telegraph reported last summer that Lanzini was being considered as a potential alternative to Nabil Fekir, the Lyon attacking midfielder who failed to complete a move to Anfield, before suffering a serious injury.

And FFC can now reveal that Liverpool have not given up hope of luring the 26-year-old to Merseyside.

Indeed, Lanzini sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury in the summer and was subsequently ruled out of participating in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He made his comeback on Friday, coming on as a substitute in the 3-1 win over Fulham at the London Stadium.

Sources within the London Stadium have confirmed to FFC that Liverpool’s previous interest was genuine and that Klopp remains keen on the prospect of securing a deal for Lanzini.

The 26-year-old’s current contract expires in 2020, but West Ham hold an option to extend that by a further two years should they so wish.

Liverpool have struggled for form in recent weeks, with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah both flattering to deceive.

The Reds, in total, have won just one of their last five games in all competitions – a 3-0 success over Bournemouth.

And there is a fear at West Ham that Liverpool’s lack of goals and creativity will see them turn to their playmaker.

Lanzini was in superb form last season, scoring five goals and laying on nine assists in all competitions. Had he not sustained his injury, he would surely have played a part in Argentina’s World Cup campaign.

It remains to be seen whether West Ham would countenance the prospect of selling one of their prized assets this summer, however.

They have already been forced to endure one saga this season – Marko Arnautovic’s flirtation with China ended with him signing a new contract in January.

There is a clause in that deal, however, that will allow him to leave in the next transfer window if a bid worth £45million is tabled.

The prospect of losing both Lanzini and Arnautovic in the same summer is unthinkable for many Hammers fans.

Co-chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan, then, would surely demand a king’s ransom for Lanzini if they were to sell up.

As it stands, he has returned just in time for the Hammers, with Michail Antonio hopeful that he can aid their push for European football. West Ham are currently ninth, four points behind seventh-placed Watford in the final Europa League qualification spot.

He told Sky Sports: “They call Manu ‘the jewel’ and that’s exactly what he is. He is a special player and hopefully he can come back and keep pushing us up the table.”