West Bromwich Albion are keen on signing Everton midfielder Gareth Barry on a two-year deal, according to the Express & Star.
What’s the story?
The former England international is entering the final 12 months of his contract at Goodison Park.
The 36-year-old has been part of the Merseyside outfit since his 2014 switch from Manchester City.
With the signing of Davy Klaassen and the club’s pursuit of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Barry may struggle to gain first-team minutes this season.
The Express & Star reports that West Brom boss wants Barry at The Hawthorns and a two-year deal could be on the table.
However, the publication states that Everton manager Ronald Koeman may refuse a deal due to his admiration of the midfielder.
What’s best for Barry?
Despite being on the wrong side of 30, the former Aston Villa man started 23 Premier League games for Everton last season and came off the bench in a further 10.
Barry still has a role to play at Goodison Park, but his appearances are likely to be limited due to the new signings.
The midfielder has proven that he still has a role to play, but he needs to be careful as his next move is likely to be a final one before retiring.
Barry will have to ask himself whether his desire to play more regularly outweighs his commitment to Everton.
The Merseyside club have made a statement in their spending power this summer, and they will not be far away from challenging the elite clubs in the division.
It would be understandable if Barry wanted to stay in order to be part of the club’s transformation, but he may not have an influential role on the pitch.
Speaking to the press ahead of Tottenham’s clash against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, Mauricio Pochettino joked that he would “kill” new boy Serge Aurier if he steps out of line.
The Independent says the right-back’s move from Paris Saint-Germain to Spurs was held up because the player has an assault conviction against him, while he also used homophobic language against former PSG boss Laurent Blanc and some of his teammates during his time at the Parc des Princes.
However, Pochettino says that the Ivory Coast international “starts at zero” following his deadline day transfer to the north London outfit, but warned the full-back what will happen if he does misbehave.
Asked if he had spoken to Aurier about his conduct, Pochettino joked: “I said to him, ‘I’ll kill you,'” mimicking a head-butt.
Tottenham supporters were quick to have their say on their manager’s comments via social media, and they believe they are “lucky to have him”.
It’s easy to understand why Celtic fans are so confident heading into Saturday’s fixture against Rangers. The Hoops have arguably never been so dominant in Scottish football. No team can get close to them right now and they still haven’t been beaten by a domestic side since Brendan Rodgers came into the club last summer.
A recent humbling by Paris Saint-Germain could have thrown them off their game but they’ve bounced back from that with two victories in which they’ve scored four goals. In fact they’ve scored four goals in a massive eight of their 15 fixtures so far this season in all competitions. It’s remarkable form and ominous for Rangers. It’s true too that the last time the two sides met at Ibrox the Bhoys ran out 5-1 winners.
However, derbies can be curious things and sometimes all logic goes out of the window. Is there any hope for the Light Blues?
Here are three reasons why they might be quite the walkover that Celtic fans think they’ll be…
Alfredo Morelos is in lightning form
Alfredo Morelos has been impossible to ignore at the start of the 2017/18. A summer arrival from HJK Helsinki, he’s taken the Scottish top-flight by storm and currently sits as the league’s top scorer over established goalscoring talents like Leigh Griffiths, Scott Sinclair and Louis Moult. In all competitions he’s scored 8 goals in his first 10 appearances for the club which is an outstanding return by any standard.
It’s clear too with his form for the Finnish side that the Colombian’s recent exploits are not a flash in the pan. For Helsinki and Rangers he’s scored an incredible 24 goals in 29 appearances. No matter the level he’s been banging in the goals at, that makes him a danger when Celtic face him on Saturday.
They’ll need to counteract his threat if they’re to come away from Ibrox with a clean sheet. The 21-year-old has shown a real knack for getting into space in and around the box and full concentration will be required to keep him at bay.
Their midfield is better than last season
Another improvement Rangers have made over the summer is in their central midfield area. That was the area of the pitch that Celtic’s encounters with the Light Blues were won last season. The likes of Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and Callum McGregor thrived in the central areas, the catalysts and inspirations for their team to go on and secure five derby victories out of six last term.
Players like Andy Halliday were simply not up to the task of matching the Hoops and Rangers fans will be hoping that new arrivals Graham Dorrans and Ryan Jack can show much more on Saturday.
Dorrans has experience at the highest level, while Jack has been part of the Aberdeen that have come closest to competing with Celtic over the last few years. That’s not a guarantee that the Hoops will be bested at Ibrox, but it at least gives Pedro Caixinha’s team a much better chance of competing and avoiding a result similar to the 5-1 disaster in April.
Over-confidence can be a burden
Regardless of Rangers’ strengths, perhaps the biggest danger Celtic face is within themselves through complacency. It’s a story in football as old as the game itself – massively successful team get so good that games become too routine, even big ones, and the opposition turn out to be more committed and more motivated.
It has to be said, Celtic have shown little of that since Brendan Rodgers arrived at the club. They’ve shown a remarkable ability to grind out results regardless of the occasion, even if they’re not at the top of the game.
However, it must also be noted that the fixture in which the Hoops were expected to dominate Rangers most last season was also the one that Rangers got closest to the Hoops and came away with a 1-1 draw.
Football is an unpredictable beast, it’s why we love it, and derbies even more so. Celtic will need to arrive at Ibrox with the right attitude first and foremost.
As reported by The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Fulham prospect Ryan Sessegnon next summer.
What’s the story?
Spurs have a settled squad full of young talent that are on their way to reaching their full potential under manager Mauricio Pochettino and when it comes to transfers, the philosophy seems to be securing future stars and developing them rather than investing in established, experienced professionals.
One player who fits that profile is Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon. The 17-year-old has caught the eye in the Championship with dynamic performances on the left flank and The Sun say Tottenham are interested.
The report states that Spurs will make a fresh bid for the youngster next summer, despite him carrying a valuation of £50m after signing a new contract at Craven Cottage.
Is he worth that kind of fuss?
It’s difficult to say with certainty whether any player is worth the reported £50m but Ryan Sessegnon has certainly shown he has enormous potential so far in his limited appearances for the London club.
He’s only made 43 senior appearances for Fulham but whether at left-back or at left-midfield he’s shown ability beyond his years to become an important and consistent performer, scoring eight goals and providing six assists.
Spurs could be the perfect place for him to make that next step too. Mauricio Pochettino has done wonders for the likes of Dele Alli coming through the English leagues and is not afraid to give players a chance regardless of their age.
If he is to progress he needs regular football at the top level and Tottenham are well placed to offer him that.
Could Sessegnon become the next left flank wonder at the club, following in the footsteps of Gareth Bale?
Jose Mourinho has been heavily criticised for his tactics in Manchester United and Liverpool’s goalless affair at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
So much so, that MailOnline columnist Martin Samuel claimed afterwards that the Portuguese’ chosen approach had effectively cost Man United a chance to win their first Premier League crown since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. But does Samuel have a point here? We asked our writers what they think…
Christy Malyan
Mourinho will paint the draw as a victory but on the same weekend as Man City’s demolition job over Stoke, it’s clearly two points lost.
City have already beaten Liverpool at home and Chelsea away this season; that was United’s first big-six encounter of the campaign and they really should have been making a statement about their title intentions, especially considering Liverpool’s well-documented defensive problems and the absence of their most influential player, Saido Mane.
The top six mini-league will have much more relevance this term than previously with those clubs so far ahead of the rest of the pack. Anfield isn’t an easy place to go but United now need to make up the deficit at either Wembley, the Emirates, the Etihad or Stamford Bridge.
They took just one point from all four of those grounds last season.
Oliver Huddlestone
It’s too early to say that Man United, or Liverpool for that matter, have blown the title, but Mourinho’s first big test of the season proves that he needs to change his style of play when coming up against the top sides. Failure to do so will see too many points dropped.
Chris McMullan
There are some mitigating factors when it comes to how dull the North West derby was on Saturday, and not just the negative way in which Jose Mourinho set up his team.
Missing Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford (for the first 65 minutes) and Eric Bailly in particular could be characterised as big losses, whilst Marouane Fellaini is clearly a player Mourinho would always like to be able to call upon. These absences mean we can be a bit more charitable.
But perhaps not much. United failed to trouble a Liverpool defence with the third-worst record in the Premier League, and settled for a point.
Whether or not you think that they did well to come away with what they came for, that decision to settle for a 0-0 draw starts to look particularly strange in light of what happened just hours later, when Manchester City walked off the pitch with a 7-2 victory over Stoke City, giving them a two-point lead over Mourinho’s side, and a six-goal lead on goal difference.
It’s that goal difference which could come back to haunt the red side of Manchester, just like it did in 2012.
Celtic midfielder Scott Brown has been a regular for club and country for over ten years now.
He’s had an enormously successful career at the Hoops and while Scotland have ultimately failed in every one of their major tournament qualifying campaigns, in recent times the midfielder has been one of the nation’s stand-outs.
Reports from The Daily Record this morning suggest he is set to continue his relationship with the national team, should Gordon Strachan not be removed from his post by the SFA.
That news hasn’t gone down particularly well with Scotland supporters, who feel he’s showing a lack of loyalty to the country and instead purely showing loyalty to his manager.
With fans growing tired of Strachan’s reign, even people who recognise Brown’s worth to the team are ready to say goodbye to the Celtic midfielder if it means he continues as manager.
Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on Brown staying on…
According to Sky Sports, out of favour Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has written in the epilogue of Guillem Balague’s new book about Mauricio Pochettino, and he appears to have opened the door on a potential move to Tottenham Hotspur by saying he’d love to work under the Argentine boss again.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the pair worked together at Southampton before Shaw moved on to Old Trafford and Pochettino joined Spurs, but now it appears as though the left-back has something of a come-and-get-me plea to his former manager as he continues to struggle for game time under Jose Mourinho.
Britain Football Soccer – Manchester United v RSC Anderlecht – UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg – Old Trafford, Manchester, England – 20/4/17 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho speaks with Luke Shaw Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic
According to the Manchester United editor for the Manchester Evening News, Samuel Luckhurst, on Twitter, Shaw is the fourth-choice left-back for the Red Devils right now and he could look to secure a move away either during the January transfer window or next summer, with Tottenham appearing to be his preferred destination.
What did Shaw say?
Writing in the epilogue of Guillem Balague’s Brave New World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs, the England international said: “I think with Southampton he achieved the impossible. We were one of the best footballing teams in the league.
“I do hope that I can play for him again one day. And I think he really wants me to play under him again.”
“He made me feel that I was the best.”
Is that a bit of a dig at Mourinho?
It probably is a little bit and certainly won’t endear him to the Portuguese boss any more.
It is no secret that the two haven’t really got along over the course of the last year or so with Mourinho often criticising the 22-year-old in public.
Could a move to Tottenham happen?
It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise, but he may have to prove that he is back to full fitness and can get back to the form he has shown in recent years first.
Following his explosive interview with The Sun during the summer, Danny Rose has certainly thrown his long-term Spurs future into doubt and if the north London outfit did need to sign a replacement, then Shaw would undoubtedly be near the top of their list.
Considering Rose has been linked with Manchester United in the past a swap deal could be possible, although Tottenham would expect a fair bit of cash too as part of any deal like that.
West Ham confirmed David Moyes is the man to replace Slaven Bilic as manager on Tuesday after the Croat’s two-and-a-half years in East London was brought to an end on Monday.That decision has been met with sheer disgust by Hammers fans, who believe the co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan have showed a complete lack of ambition by seemingly opting for the cheapest possible candidate to replace Bilic.Of course, Moyes’ managerial reputation has been severely damaged in recent years after failed spells with Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland, hence the anger and confusion over the decision to trust him to save West Ham from relegation this season.But could he turn out to be a good appointment? Our writers have had their say on the matter below…
Chris McMullan
Over the past few months it’s been striking how both Everton fans and West Ham fans seem to view themselves as competitiors for the same space, just below the top six. Neither club is anywhere near that at the moment, but in terms of sheer size, that’s broadly an accurate description.
It’s not surprising that David Moyes’s appointment at West Ham has created so much anger and despair amongst Hammers fans, given his two high-profile Premier League failures in the last four years, but following Alex Ferguson was probably an impossible job, and Sunderland may well have been, too.
That’s not to say that this is an imaginative or exciting appointment, but perhaps he does deserve one final chance to prove that his time at Everton is really the level he should be at. And if that’s true, then the Hammers may well have made a more shrewd choice than it looks on first glance.
Matt Pegg
Given how uninspiring West Ham’s start to the season has been, it seems equally uninspiring to hire a man who has failed overwhelmingly in his last three managerial roles.
While Hammers fans have every reason to be perplexed at the appointment, they now need to get behind Moyes to ensure that this campaign doesn’t end in disaster.
The former Everton boss must make the most of the international break and find a way to turn a bunch of underperforming players and underwhelmed fans into one positive unit, and given the understandable fury of the supporters at his appointment, it may be a tougher job than he realises.
James Beavis
Is it really that bad? Yes, Moyes was probably out of his depth at Manchester United but he was also treated unfairly considering they were in a transitional period and didn’t have the quality of players that they had under Sir Alex Ferguson previously. While he did also struggle with Sunderland, their current position in the Championship table suggests they were a sinking ship that just couldn’t be saved.
It’s a different story with West Ham, though, who have a decent squad that should be able to secure a mid-table finish under the Scot this term.
We have already seen in the early stages of the campaign that organisation and almost anti-football (sit behind the ball and hope to nick a goal) seems to be key for those clubs outside of the top six (see the positions of Burnley, Brighton and Huddersfield in the table), and Moyes should not only make the Irons tough to beat, but he also knows how to play effective football at this level.
Rather than the appointment of Moyes being a concern, the biggest worry for me would be the six-month contract he has been given which once again highlights the short-termism and poor planning at the top.
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Christy Malyan
The bigger problem than David Moyes is the lack of faith West Ham fans have in the board.
Sure, it may not be the most inspiring appointment but Moyes is a decent manager who should be able to keep that squad in the top flight at a bare minimum – something that seemed a risk with Slaven Bilic still in charge due to the sheer inconsistency of performances and clear disorganisation behind them. And yet, West Ham fans aren’t even willing to give the board’s decision a chance – they’re already condemning it with predictions of a doom-and-gloom campaign.
Perhaps Moyes has that effect on fans after his torrid Sunderland spell, but other fan bases of other clubs would at least wait a few games before passing judgement, to see if the board’s thinking behind the appointment becomes more evident.
Take Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace as the most recent example; Eagles fans weren’t overly impressed, but still waited to see if it was the right call from Steve Parish and most would now back the decision.
The hugely negative reaction to Moyes shows how West Ham fans don’t trust their board and how little legitimacy David Sullivan and David Gold still have. Of course, that hasn’t started with the Moyes appointment; from the stadium move and promises of European football to failed club-record striker bids and shameless digs at Bilic in the media, the relationship between the fans and owners has been deteriorating for some time.
Matt Law
The fact that there has already been such a circus surrounding the Moyes appointment cannot be good for West Ham.
Moyes would have seen the reaction, and it is hardly the ideal start to his tenure. The Scot was so impressive during his time at Everton, but his reputation has been damaged following spells at Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland.
It might well end in more disaster at West Ham, but on the other hand, the 54-year-old has the chance to rebuild his career at the London Stadium. Whatever happens over the next few months, it is vital that Moyes gets the West Ham fans onside.
Olly Huddlestone
If you look at Moyes’ recent record since leaving Everton, it’s not the most exciting of appointments. In 2013 the Scot signed a contract at Premier League champions Man United until 2019. Since being sacked in 2014 he has failed at Real Sociedad, got Sunderland relegated and now taken charge at the London Stadium, and he still has a year left.
However, if I was a West Ham fan I’d be looking at his time at Everton for inspiration. He took over with the club just out of the relegation zone on goal difference and turned them into a team challenging for Europe.
I think this is the last chance for Moyes, but if he can guide the Hammers to at least a 15th place finish this season and is given time, he will have all the ingredients to make his future at the club a success.
Romelu Lukaku was Manchester United’s landmark signing of the summer and while the Belgium international started his Red Devils career brightly, he’s seriously struggled to deliver over the last few months.
In fact, the towering striker has scored just one goal in his last eleven appearances across all competitions, a strike during a relatively routine 4-1 demolition of Newcastle, and his performances against Liverpool and Chelsea during that time particularly drew criticism.
That’s not to say Lukaku – who Transfermarkt value at £63million – has been completely hopeless. Jose Mourinho has been quick to praise his good work and he’s provided three assists. But the dry spell is made all the more noticeable by the fact last season’s top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who netted 28 times in 2016/17, is now sitting on the bench after recovering from injury.
The 6 foot 5 Swede is yet to get off the mark this season but there’s no questioning his quality or his desire to win – two factors that will be crucial to United beating Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.
So, United fans, which striker would you start against the Red Devils? Let us know by voting below…
Jordan Henderson has come under some criticism from Liverpool fans this season, and he was unable to escape their wrath in Saturday’s Premier League game against Brighton.Jurgen Klopp’s side romped to a 5-1 victory at the Amex Stadium, with goals from Emre Can, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, who scored twice.Lewis Dunk was on the unfortunate end of an own goal when he inadvertently headed into his own net.There were zero complaints about the result from Liverpool fans, but some players did not get off scot-free.Henderson was placed at the centre of a five-man midfield in a new formation that included Dejan Lovren, Georginio Wijnaldum and Can at the back.The surprise lineup raised a few eyebrows, but Klopp’s men managed to get the job done.Henderson, who gave away a penalty by shoving Shane Duffy in the box, came under fire from some supporters after the match, while others saw improvements from the club captain.