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According to El Gol Digital, Leeds United are considering a summer move for Real Sociedad midfielder Ruben Pardo.

What’s the word, then?

Leeds are currently second in the Championship table, four points off leaders Norwich City and three points ahead of third-placed Sheffield United.

The Whites are very much in the mix for automatic promotion and will be desperate to secure a return to the Premier League for the 2019-2020 campaign.

If that is the case then it will be very, very busy summer window for the club.

Leeds have a lot of pulling power as it is, but earning promotion to the Premier League would open up a whole new level of players.

According to El Gol Digital, Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa is keen to bring Pardo to Elland Road in this summer’s transfer window.

And the 26-year-old would be a wonderful signing for the club.

What are Pardo’s credentials?

Pardo came through the youth system at Sociedad and has made 187 appearances for the Basque outfit in all competitions.

An incredibly experienced midfielder, Pardo has made 174 La Liga appearances during his time with both Sociedad and Real Betis.

He has not been capped at senior level by Spain, but turned out on seven occasions for the nation’s Under-21 side.

It is unlikely that Leeds would have to break the bank for the midfielder, who would be the perfect summer arrival for the Whites due to his skill set. Pardo is no slouch, but it is his technical quality that would improve Leeds so much.

Bielsa will be aware that signings will be needed if Leeds are to compete in the Premier League next season and Pardo would be a fine summer addition.

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Loads of Rangers fans have been reflecting on the weekend’s action, and they’re absolutely fuming at Connor Goldson.

Goldson has become a very popular figure at Ibrox since his summer move from Brighton, making 44 appearances so far in his first season with the club.

The 26 year-old has been the one fixture in the heart of Steven Gerrard’s defence as the gaffer chops and changes between Gareth McAuley, Nikola Katic and Joe Worrall for the other centre back spot.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he often received racist abuse after North London Derbies – Check out the video below…

However, his form has gone off the deep end in recent weeks, and his showing in Friday’s 1-1 draw at Easter Road is drawing a lot of criticism.

The Gers travelled to take on Hibernian knowing only a win would realistically keep them in the title race, but Florian Kamberi’s second half strike cancelled out a wonderful opener from Daniel Candeias.

Celtic’s goalless draw on Saturday keeps a faint glimmer of hope alive, but fans are fuming nonetheless, and the Twitter reactions down below are pointing a lot of that fume at Goldson…

It’s no secret that Everton need a striker, right? They’ve never really replaced Romelu Lukaku and it’s cost them in front of goal, but Ante Rebic could be the man Everton fans have been waiting for.

The World Cup finalist has been linked to the club by Calciomercato and has scored eight goals in 20 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season. He can be the target man needed to up the Toffees’ goal tally, and with the ability to play out on the left it gives Marco Silva the option to use him out there too.

Everton have a big project on their hands with a new stadium on the way and a manager that demands high-quality attacking football. This season has been hit and miss but there have been positive signs that the current squad just needs a few additions to make it one to challenge for a European place.

One of those positions is certainly a finisher because the forwards currently at Silva’s disposal just aren’t getting into the right areas quick enough. They have the wingers, like Bernard and Theo Walcott, to cause damage to defences but the end product is never good enough.

Rebic can be the man to link the wing play with the centre of the final third and get on the end of all heights of crosses to finish simple chances that Everton just aren’t taking at the moment. The Croatian’s movement would also create space for Gylfi Siggurson to slot through balls into his path.

The 25-year-old is valued at £31.5m (via Transfermarkt), so considering the importance of the position he could fill, it could turn out to be a bargain and even a summer signing that Evertonians will see as a turning point towards goal-scoring consistency.

Everton fans, who do you think your club should sign to play up front next season? Join the discussion by commenting below.

تحدث مدرب فريق مانشستر سيتي بيب جوارديولا، عن الإصابة التي تعرض لها النجم البلجيكي كيفين دي بروين في مباراة الأمس أمام فريق بورنموث.

وفاز السكاي بلو بهدفين مقابل هدف، في دور الـ 32 من بطولة كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية. أهداف مانشستر سيتي وبورنموث

وشارك دي بروين كبديل في الدقيقة 61، وشهدت الدقيقة 90 سقوطه على أرض الملعب عقب اصطدامه بأحد لاعبي الخصم، وظل ساقطًا لعدة دقائق قبل أن يستكمل مشاركته.

وقال جوارديولا، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “manchestereveningnews” الإنجليزية: “لقد شعر ببعض الدوار عقب سقوطه على أرض الملعب”.

وأضاف: “بشكل عام، هو يشعر بحالة جيدة”.

West Ham United are experiencing Deja Vu this month two years after they sold Dimitri Payet to Marseille in a £25 million deal, but it appears that a solution to the Marko Arnautovic saga has been struck which will see him remain at the London Stadium. 

According to a recent report from The London Evening Standard, West Ham have given the green light for the Austria international to leave the club in the summer window, however, crucially, the club remain fearful that he will depart before the end of February.

The window for Premier League clubs is due to close at the end of January but the Chinese window will remain open for business until the end of February, which could ensure an unhealthy and extended power struggle involving Arnautovic and the club’s hierarchy in a saga akin to that involving Payet which dominated the 2017 January window.

Despite the fact the Hammers are willing to be pragmatic with Arnautovic and allow him to leave in the summer, the rise of player power and the lure of a £300k per week contract in China may well leave them powerless to preventing his departure.

A summer move is one which makes sense for all parties involved: it allows the recruitment team time to scout the market and identify a worth replacement, grants Arnautovic his desired move and ensures that West Ham’s results do not suffer as a consequence of a mid-season exit.

Payet’s decision to leave the club in 2017 left a gaping creative void in the attacking midfield unit which the club struggled without in the remainder of the campaign and, while it must be considered that West Ham have greater strength in depth than they did two years ago, the loss of Arnautovic would undoubtedly represent a similar hammer blow to their ambitions for the season.

West Ham’s stance on Arnautovic’s future is wise under the circumstances, but it seems that their willingness to allow him to leave in the summer may not be enough to avoid a similar outcome to the saga which saw Payet leave for Marseille in 2017.

West Ham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

Charlton Athletic signing Sunderland’s Aiden McGeady on loan for the rest of the season has given manager Lee Bowyer a tactical dilemma.

On the chalkboard

The Addicks made three loan additions on deadline day of the January transfer window – Aiden McGeady, Matt Smith and David Davis.

It was vital that they brought players in, due to the fact that the temporary signing of Andre Green had been their only other capture of the window up to that point.

However, when looking specifically at the acquisition of McGeady, things are not necessarily straight forward for the club.

The Republic of Ireland international did not play a single one of the last 10 games that he was available at the Stadium of Light.

However, the bigger issue for Bowyer in terms of the entire season is the tactical dilemma that the 33-year-old gives him.

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Dilemma

Bowyer’s favoured formation has been 3-5-2 at times this season, but it is difficult to see how the Irishman would fit into that system.

First of all, there is absolutely no way that his style would fit the wing-back role, as an ageing player whose game was never built on pace in his prime is highly unlikely to thrive there.

This means that Bowyer would be left with either the striker or centre-midfield positions to deploy him.

Having him as a striker could be detrimental to the team, as they currently have Andre Green and Lyle Taylor – who combined well against Barnsley, both scoring – while there is also Macauley Bonne who is waiting to come in from injury.

Then there is the fact that he has played as a striker just twice in his career – once for Celtic in 2004 and again for Sunderland in 2017.

There are also issues with the prospect of playing him in midfield, mainly that his attacking instincts may end up being restricted.

Who is that?!?! Can you name all of these obscure Charlton players?

In his 13 starts and two substitute appearances, he returned four goals and two assists, while also making 1.4 key passes and 1.7 dribbles per game.

With that in mind, it will be intriguing to see how Bowyer gets the best out of McGeady while sticking to his preferred tactic.

Meanwhile, Charlton fans have been swooning over one man following their contribution against Barnsley.

It’s been an inconsistent season so far for West Ham as the club was handed a tough start to the Premier League season and despite picking up some superb results against Man U and Chelsea, The Hammers are once again facing another dip in form. 

While Felipe Anderson and Marko Arnautovic have been in superb form, after drawing to Huddersfield, the east London club is now 13th in the table.

Aside from their two forwards, Declan Rice has been a star in midfield for Manuel Pellegrini. He may have had a tough start to the season but since the switch to a 4-3-3, Rice has blossomed into a solid player.

According to reports, Man U have now joined the race for the West Ham man and are willing to offer him a huge increase on his current wage.

The Breakdown

Rice’s contract situation has been an ever growing problem at the club as the midfielder is yet to sign an improved deal on his £3,500-a-week wage at the London Stadium.

The midfielder has rejected a £20,000-a-week and if the club can’t sign him to a new deal soon, the possibility of him leaving is becoming ever more likely.

At only 19, he has already become an important member of the squad and his ability to play as a defensive midfielder and as a centreback is huge for West Ham.

In a midfield that isn’t the strongest, Pellegrini can ill afford to lose the West Ham man.

What do you think West Ham fans? 

Leeds United remain keen on former Newcastle United talent Yasin Ben El-Mhanni, according to Goal.

What’s the word?

After two seasons with Newcastle United, El-Mhanni is a free agent in the market after being released by the Magpies earlier this summer and the 22-year-old now faces a race against time to find a new club.

Football League clubs have until Friday to sign unattached players and Leeds have been named amongst a number of clubs who are expressing interest in El-Mhanni, Goal states, although Brentford are currently the leading side to land his services.

El-Mhanni is currently on-trial with high-flying Championship side Brentford and featured for the Bees in a friendly victory over Bournemouth on Tuesday, with the young talent remaining hopeful of earning a deal at Griffin Park.

Further competition in the market for El-Mhanni’s signature is said to come from Eredivisie side Heerenveen and French duo Amiens and Saint-Etienne.

Worth a punt?

Once widely regarded as one of the finest young prospects on the books at Newcastle, El-Mhanni has endured a fall from grace in recent campaigns but it has not been his own doing – having won a grievance case against the Magpies U23 coach Peter Beardsley prior to his exit.

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The 22-year-old is now seeking stability at a new club and first-team opportunities, earning just two senior appearances during his spell on Tyneside, and Marcelo Bielsa could be the ideal manager for the talented winger to develop under and finally unlock the potential he clearly has.

With the likes of Ezgjan Alioski, Pablo Hernandez and Jack Harrison to compete with for opportunities in the wide positions at Elland Road, El-Mhanni would face a fight to earn first-team chances but he is certainly worth a punt due to his free agent status.

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Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez has revealed that full-back Paul Dummett is closing on a return to action.

The Magpies have been without the services of Dummett since he limped out of the clash with Tottenham Hotspur on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

It had been thought that the left-back would miss just two weeks of football, but a hamstring problem is still keeping the popular defender, who is valued at £3.1m by transfermarkt.co.uk, on the sidelines as we approach the latter stages of 2017.

Benitez, speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth, confirmed that the 26-year-old was on the road to recovery, and would soon join full-contact training with the rest of his teammates.

Benitez told reporters:

“We have Paul Dummett training but not with the team yet. He is getting closer.”

After coming through the youth system at Newcastle, Dummett has made more than 120 appearances for the Magpies, and played all but one of their Championship matches during the 2016-17 campaign.

A total of 14 points from 10 matches has left Benitez’s side in ninth position in the Premier League table.

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Newcastle United fans have mocked the club for publishing a very short statement regarding the HMRC’s widespread investigation into suspected £5m tax fraud in football.

The UK tax authority released a statement on Wednesday confirming that “several men” working within football were arrested and that 180 HMRC officers were investigating various properties across the country and in France.

The Guardian reported that Newcastle’s offices, including those at the club’s Darsley Park training ground were raided.

The home of managing director Lee Charnley was also searched, and the man himself was arrested and later released without charge.

The club were silent throughout the day when the events were unfolding, but at 6.18pm they released a very short statement, failing to provide much information.

It read:

“Newcastle United can confirm that a member of its staff has this morning been assisting HMRC with their inquiries. The club will be making no further comment at this time.”

As expected, fans were not particularly impressed with the Magpies’ update.

The HMRC confirmed that business records, financial records, mobile phones and computers have been seized in their widespread raid.

West Ham United’s London Stadium was also searched, while documentation was requested during a visit to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge.

There has been no confirmation yet as to what clubs or individuals are at the centre of this investigation.