Who (allegedly) signs a third-choice goalkeeper when the club does not have a second-choice already in place? West Ham United, that’s who.

According to a report by the South London Press, the Hammers are set to bring Millwall goalkeeper David Martin to the London Stadium in such a capacity. Hopefully, the fans can forgive him for his ties with his former club, although there are lines that can never be crossed.

Firstly, regarding the move, we can see why the Irons are keen on snapping the player up and there are a number of reasons as to why it makes sense.

Martin is available on a free transfer after his contract expired at Millwall and has become the norm for clubs to snap up veteran goalkeepers when they become available – former Hammer Rob Green is at Chelsea whilst Lee Grant is at Manchester United. Still can’t quite believe those names and clubs are in the same sentence other than when they have had to pick up the ball out of the back of the net against them.

The 33-year-old is an experienced shot-stopper and can provide back-up, should the likes of Lukasz Fabianski and their second-choice ‘keeper get injured or become unavailable – their name escapes me at the moment… wait! that’s because there isn’t one at the club yet.

Unless Nathan Trott will make the jump up and deputise for the experienced Pole following Adrian’s departure? It is a possibility.

Manuel Pellegrini has brought youngsters into the team at points over the last season, with the likes of Grady Diangana, Joe Powell and Ben Johnson getting opportunities to express themselves in the first-team.

The Berumda-born ‘keeper, who did sign a new contract back in March, has been on the substitutes bench for the senior side in the past, however, whether he is ready to deputise remains to be seen.

Maybe the Hammers have another name on their wish list and just have not managed to get a deal already done for him? It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few months.

Signing Martin is smart business, however, the question regarding who will be second-choice still remains and is one Pellegrini must look to answer this summer.

West Ham fans, what do you think regarding Martin and the second-choice option? Do you think Trott will step up? Let us know below!

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Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to criticise Jurgen Klopp’s team selection against Barcelona on Wednesday evening.

The former Borussia Dortmund boss left out right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, a player with an impressive 11 assists to his name this season, in favour of Joe Gomez, a natural centre-back and a man with just 30 minutes under his belt since returning from injury.

There were absolute scenes on Sunday as Liverpool moved back to the top of the league. Thogden was at Anfield to capture the exact moment in the video below…

Additionally, Klopp left Roberto Firmino on the bench despite being given the all-clear to play the Brazilian, and instead opted to deploy Gini Wijnaldum as a false nine.

As a result, the German watched on as his side crashed to a 3-0 defeat against the Spanish champions, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the second leg at Anfield.

There’s not much you can do when Lionel Messi is in the mood he was in on Wednesday, but a number of Liverpool supporters on Twitter have pointed the finger at Klopp’s team selection as the reason for such a poor result…

أعلن أحمد دياب العضو المنتدب لنادي زد فشل مفاوضات التعاقد مع عصام الحضري حارس مرمى منتخب مصر الأسبق.

وكان عصام الحضري قد أعلن مساء أمس عن وجود مفاوضات مع نادي زد للانضمام إليهم بداية من الموسم الجديد.

وقال أحمد دياب في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “النهار”: “أشكر عصام الحضري على أنه فكر في أن يكون نادي زد بوابته للعودة إلى الملاعب، هو السد العالي ويمتلك تاريخ كبيرة وأفضل حارس مرمى في إفريقيا، وإضافة لأي نادي يلعب فيه”.

طالع | عصام الحضري يعلنها: تلقيت عرضًا جديدًا ومستعد للعودة إلى الملاعب!

وتابع: “الحضري يرى أننا صنعنا حالة وشكل معين وأنه مكان يقدر يؤدي فيه، حدثت جلسة فنية مع اللاعب وشاهد المنشآت والملعب، أننا في فترة تكوين الفريق ومقبلين على مباريات ودية في الفترة المقبلة”.

وأضاف: كانت هناك جلسة فنية بحتة ما بين عصام الحضري وأسامة نبيه مدرب الفريق، والقرار أن الوقت غير كافي للتعاقد معه هذا الموسم، ولكنه شرف وقيمة وقامة لأي مكان”.

واختتم: “الحضري اتفق مع أسامة أن الوقت غير كافي، وفكرة التعاقد معه لم تتم نظرًا لضيق الوقت، والأمر ليس اختلاف مالي بيننا وبين عصام الحضري، لم نصل للماديات من الأساس لكي نتحدث فيها”.

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Hull City fans must be livid after reports emerged that the club were willing to let Kamil Grosicki leave on a free this summer in order to reduce the club’s wage bill.

The Polish winger is one of the star players at the KCOM Stadium having netted nine goals and provided 12 assists last campaign.

For the Tigers to allow him to leave for free, their financial situation must be worse than many initially thought.

Won’t be short of suitors

One thing is for sure, Grosicki won’t have a hard time finding a new club due to the form he has shown this year.

Indeed, any team in the Championship would be lucky to have a player of the Pole’s ability, but he may be headed for the Champions League next year, as potential Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir are apparently interested.

The Yorkshire club will certainly miss the winger, but it seems as though there are set to be massive cutbacks at the KCOM Stadium this summer as their parachute payments end.

Ridiculous decision

With Jarrod Bowen also looking likely to leave Hull this summer, to let the 30-year-old go for free is a ludicrous decision.

Between them, the pair scored or assisted over half of their goals this season, and if they lose both players, then their squad will be wafer thin when it comes to quality talent.

If the Tigers are unable to pay Grosicki’s reported £25,000 weekly wage, then the club must be in terrible shape financially.

That amount isn’t a massive wage in the Championship, and if Hull can’t get a reasonable fee for Bowen, then they may well be in danger of being relegated next time around.

They were in big trouble early in the last campaign, but a significant turnaround in form which was largely sparked by their two wingers saw them clear of any relegation worries.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

If they are without their two key men next season, the Tigers will undoubtedly be a lot closer to the bottom of the table than the top.

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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.

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… 

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According to Football League World, Aston Villa have joined the race for in-demand Charlton man Joe Aribo, with the midfielder’s contract set to expire this summer, meaning he could leave The Valley on a free despite an impressive campaign.

Villa scouts will be in attendance at Wembley Stadium this weekend, when the Addicks face Sunderland in the League One play-off final – a game which could see the SE7 outfit finally return to the Championship. Aribo’s teammate Darren Pratley has indicated that this is exactly where the dynamic number 7 belongs.

What’s the word?

Well, with the Villans also just one big step away from promotion, it’s no surprise that Dean Smith is looking to bring in some young, hungry faces in the coming months to either strengthen the squad for a Premier League campaign or a third crack at promotion from the Championship next term.

If Aribo was to make the switch to the Midlands, he could be making a two-league jump if Charlton are denied by the Black Cats on Sunday and the Villa Park outfit emerge victorious over Derby County.

Veteran Pratley seems to think that the 22-year-old would flourish at a higher level, as he heaped praise on some of his more youthful teammates after the victory over Doncaster:

“When you’re young you’re fearless, you don’t care. You see players like Joe (Aribo), (Josh) Cullen, even Dillon (Phillips), they’re fearless and they just want to play football. The players deserve to be playing at a higher level than League One so hopefully we can do it at Wembley.”

Take it back, Darren

The 34-year-old may yet regret his kind words if Villa do indeed snatch Aribo away from The Valley in the coming months, although it has to be said that he’s spot on.

Check out what happened when two of Charlton’s best players faced-off in a game of ‘Splat’ in the video below…

With 10 goals and five assists to his name this campaign, the London-born ace has established himself as a reliable, goal-scoring midfielder and has been a crucial part of Charlton’s thus-far successful season. Pratley and Co will be hoping that they can lift the trophy at Wembley Stadium and give Aribo what he deserves without having to see him head out the door.

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Leeds fans have taken to Twitter to praise Jamie Shackleton, after the youngster came off the bench to put in a terrific performance against Derby in the play-off semi-final.

The 19-year-old was subbed on by Marcelo Bielsa in the 24th-minute after an injury to Adam Forshaw, and impressed hugely during his time on the pitch.

As the debate over THAT Leeds goal rumbles on, Pl>ymaker FC’s newest squad member has his say in the video below…

Shackleton made one key pass, and also had a shot on target, whilst also helping out defensively by making two tackles and a clearance.

The midfielder has only made three league starts this season, and his inspired performance against Frank Lampard’s men has left many Leeds supporters questioning why the teenager hasn’t featured in the starting lineup more often this term.

Bielsa’s men earned a crucial advantage going into the second leg with a 1-0 victory over the Rams at the Pride Park Stadium, thanks to Kemar Roofe’s second-half strike.

Let’s see what the Leeds fans have been saying about Shackleton’s performance…

It has been a hugely frustrating season for Adam Forshaw at Leeds United, hasn’t it Whites fans?

After moving to Elland Road last summer for a reported fee of £4.5m (via the Yorkshire Evening Post), the 27-year-old seemed to be the perfect fit for Marcelo Bielsa’s system having impressed during his three year stint at Middlesbrough.

However, despite featuring in 29 of Leeds’ 45 Championship games, Forshaw has failed to register a single goal or assist for the club which has led to him regularly falling in and out of favour with his Argentine boss.

With this worrying lack of attacking creativity clearly affecting the Whites, it is not surprising whatsoever that they have been linked with a move for Wolfsburg prospect Elvis Rexhbecaj in the summer. According to German news outlet Bild (as quoted by the 72), the 21-year-old is on Bielsa’s radar after delivering a number of promising performances in the Bundesliga this year for Die Wolfe.

Although his current deal at the club does not run out until 2020, the £3.15m-rated maestro (via Transfermarkt) is reportedly open to a move to England with Norwich City also interested in securing his signature.

Having been directly involved in two goals for Wolfsburg this season, Rexhbecaj would arguably be a considerable upgrade on Forshaw and could forge a lethal partnership with the hugely impressive Mateusz Klich if he decides to commit to a future in West Yorkshire.

Regardless of what division Leeds find themselves in next season, it is obvious that they need to strengthen their squad and so the club’s director of football Victor Orta must commit to bringing in the Wolfsburg ace as missing out on him could quite easily turn out to be a huge mistake.

What do you think Whites fans? Should Leeds sign Rexhbecaj in the summer as a replacement for Forshaw? Or is it too much of a risk to bring in a player who has no previous experience of playing in England? Get in touch below.

اعترف كيفين دي بروين نجم فريق مانشستر سيتي إنهم يفتقدون الحدة أمام المرمى، وذلك بعد خسارتهم أمام توتنهام اليوم في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وخسر مانشستر سيتي بهدفين دون رد، في الجولة التاسعة من البريميرليج، في ملعب توتنهام.

وقال دي بروين في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للنادي: “أعتقد أننا لعبنا بشكل جيد ولكننا افتقدنا الحدة أمام المرمى، هددنا توتنهام بثلاث أو أربع فرص، هذا جيد جدًا، ولكن إذا لم تكن جيدًا بدرجة كافية أمام المرمى، فإن الأمر يصبح صعبًا”.

وأضاف: “لقد كان لدينا لحظات صعود وهبوط مع دخول وخروج اللاعبين، من الصعب على اللاعبين العائدين من الإصابة أن يكونوا أقوياء على الفور”.

وواصل: “نحن نقوم بعمل جيد في الثلثين الأولين، ولكن ليس بنفس الجودة في الثلث الأخير، ولكن هذا سيأتي”.

وتابع: “نحن بحاجة إلى أن نكون أكثر حدة، ولكن كما أقول ذلك سيأتي قريبًا”.

وأكد دي بروين أنه ليس في كامل لياقته البدنية، حيث قال: “كان الأمر صعبًا، كان لدينا حوالي سبعة أيام في فترة ما قبل الموسم، الأسبوع الماضي لعبت مع المنتخب الوطني بعد جلسة تدريبية واحدة”.

واختتم: “عدت ليلة الأربعاء من بلجيكا ولم أتمكن من الذهاب إلى النادي لأنه يتعين علينا إجراء اختبار كورونا، لذلك لم أتمكن من العودة إلى كامل لياقتي”.