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It was reported over the weekend by Football Insider that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has rejected a new contract offer from the club, sparking a debate amongst supporters about who could succeed him as captain.

According to the report Tottenham and Everton are interested in the midfielder, whose current deal expires at the end of next season.

Southampton, therefore, face the risk of losing him for nothing, and that could force their hand in the summer if a club makes a move for the German, possibly leaving them with a need to appoint a new skipper.

One man who seems ideally suited for the role is academy graduate James Ward-Prowse, and many fans suggest that they either want him to be given the armband, or think he is the most likely candidate to take over.

The 25-year-old has seen his importance to the side increase under Ralph Hasenhuttl despite operating at right-back in the least few weeks, and his 268 appearances for the Saints shows that he knows the club inside out.

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There are few better candidates, therefore, though some have put forward other names such as Jack Stephens and Danny Ings, who also have a connection to Southampton that goes beyond playing for the south-coast outfit.

It is all speculative at the current time due to Hojbjerg’s future still being unknown, with Ings also likely to gain interest from elsewhere given he has scored 15 league goals this term.

Are you a true Saints expert? Test your knowledge on these famous academy graduates…

All of the names mentioned would be suitable captains and it is easy to see why fans have named them, with the trio each making more than 22 appearances this season.

Elsewhere, Southampton supporters have been defending an important player under he recently came under fire from some sections of the fanbase…

Speaking on the BBC 606 podcast on Sunday, Robbie Savage says that he would play Jadon Sancho ahead of Mo Salah next season, if Liverpool sign the Borussia Dortmund teenager this summer.

What did he say?

Well, the Reds have been linked with a move for the 19-year-old this year, with some reports suggesting he is set to leave the Bundesliga outfit this summer and could cost more than £100m.

When asked by a caller where the former Manchester City youngster would fit in if he did move to Anfield, Savage responded (1:01:40): “For me, I would play him next season. This is just my opinion. The front three, amazing. Salah got 20 goals this season and he’s brilliant. Firmino, brilliant. Mane, brilliant. I would play Sancho next season instead of Salah. My opinion.”

He added: “If Sancho was to go to Liverpool, for me he would play Mane, Firmino, Sancho. I would put Sancho in instead of Salah.”

Call yourself a Liverpool expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?

Bold claim

It has to be seen as a bold claim by the former Wales international.

Salah may not have hit the level that he did last season so far this term, but he has still scored 20 goals and provided a further nine assists in 39 appearances in all competitions in 2019/20.

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The Egypt international has a remarkable 91 goals in 143 games for the Merseyside outfit in total, and while he may be turning 28 years of age in June and you could argue for him potentially not improving from here, you only have to look at how Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have performed in recent seasons to see that age doesn’t always matter when it comes to form.

The idea of dropping any of Liverpool’s front three for the start of next season has to be viewed as ludicrous given how good they’ve been during the current campaign, and Sancho would have to fight for a spot in the starting XI rather than it being a given if Jurgen Klopp does win the race for his signature.

In other Liverpool news, Reds fans slammed one player for his performance in the 2-1 win against Bournemouth on Saturday…

Jarrod Bowen has already shown that he can be an effective player for West Ham United, having joined from Hull City during the January transfer window.

His goal against Southampton shows that best, as he received Pablo Fornals’ brilliantly weighted pass, controlling it with his right foot, before dinking it out of Alex McCarthy’s reach with his right.

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That ultimately helped to earn three points for the Hammers, as it was the opening goal in a 3-1 victory, and he should be aiming to score plenty more influential goals.

With West Ham currently in a battle for survival, sitting above the relegation zone on goal difference, if Premier League play does presume, he should be looking to secure a moment similar to the one depicted below from Carlos Tevez.

The Argentinian scored seven goals during his campaign with the Hammers, helping to drag them to safety, but this one at Old Trafford was the most important – and iconic – of the lot, securing his cult-hero status.

After the ball had popped up into the air following a challenge with Wes Brown, Tevez remained composed, allowing it to bounce before placing it under Edwin van der Sar and into the back of the net.

With West Ham still having the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to play, Bowen should be looking to secure himself a massive moment like this to help keep the club in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, ExWHUemployee has swooned over a West Ham academy star that was wanted by Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid…

Leeds United have reportedly turned their attention to strengthening one of Marcelo Bielsa’s key positions this summer, and some of our writers have each given their verdicts.

According to Football Insider, the Championship front-runners are keen on adding Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to their ranks should they achieve promotion.

It’s claimed the west Yorkshiremen have been watching the 21-year-old closely over the past two seasons, including during his spell at AFC Wimbledon in the depths of the Football League.

This move would hint towards a change in direction from Bielsa with Kiko Casilla’s future in doubt and no fresh updates over making Illan Meslier’s loan switch permanent.

Ramsdale is currently valued at £12.6m by Transfermarkt, although it remains to be seen what sort of fee the Cherries would command for their shot-stopper.

Here’s the verdict from four of Football FanCast’s writers…

Danny Lewis

“For me, this would be a no-brainer for Orta, and it says a lot that Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are also interested in the 21-year-old. Considering his age and the fact he has played 28 Premier League matches this term, he has a perfect mix of what Bielsa will need from him if Leeds are promoted: experience in the Premier League and room to be adapted to fit his way of playing. The stopper has been reliable between the sticks, making 3.6 saves per game, so there is little reason why this move would not be a positive one for Leeds.”

Charles Jones

“One million percent yes, Leeds should be all over Aaron Ramsdale if he is available this summer.

“The Whites need a goalkeeper with some Premier League experience this summer, considering Kiko Casilla’s recent high-profile blunders against Wigan, Brentford and Nottingham Forest and Illan Meslier’s lack of experience at such a high level.

“Okay, Meslier hasn’t conceded a league goal yet, but the Premier League is a different animal, and Ramsdale has shown that he’s capable of tackling it.

“This could be the signing that Leeds look back on at the end of next season and think that this was the arrival that secured their safety in the top-flight.

“United should pull out all the stops to get this one done.”

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Billy Meyers

“Around £12m or so for Aaron Ramsdale? Has the world gone mad? 

“Despite being the third-busiest glovesman in the Premier League this season with an impressive 102 saves to his name, that is largely because Bournemouth have been awful – note how Tim Krul, in charge of guarding the goal for 20th-place Norwich, is only a few ranks behind him. 

“Leeds do need a new shot-stopper with Kiko Casilla pretty much ending his own career at Elland Road with some dreadful performances and the well-documented incident with Jonathan Leko, although Ramsdale isn’t who Orta should be eyeing. 

“Marcelo Bielsa’s men play a high-octane style of football in which a concentrated, dependant stopper who is good with his feet will be needed, and despite having undoubted potential, the Cherries No.1 isn’t that man yet – Leeds can’t afford to wait for him to become the full package, especially not after spending over £10m on him.”

Lewis Blain

“Any move for Aaron Ramsdale should boil down to whether or not Bielsa sees a future for Kiko Casilla at Leeds. If yes, then they ought to swerve spending eight figures on another goalkeeper but if not, then there isn’t a better candidate out there to swoop for.

“The Spaniard is packing a hefty wage at the club, which The Sun’s Alan Nixon claimed to be around £50k-per-week prior to his switch from Real Madrid, so only if he’s on his way out can they even think about doing this.

“At just 21, United can do no wrong with this move. It very much feels like a Bailey Peacock-Farrell mark two type, a player I believe they have failed to replace adequately.

“The goalkeeper, who is capped at England U21 level, would be astute business for Bielsa and co. Let’s just hope they don’t have too much blind faith in the ageing veteran instead.”

Quickfire Questions – Early title winners: Can you get all 13 right in 2 minutes?

And in other news, Charlie Taylor has blossomed since leaving Leeds United…

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been fined nearly £9,000 by UEFA this week after their Europa League tie against Espanyol kicked off a few minutes late last month, and it has left fans furious in the west Midlands.

UEFA have blamed the Molineux-based outfit for the failure to start on time and will expect payment within 90 days. It remains to be seen whether or not Wolves will try to appeal the decision.

Stuck in isolation? Our mega footy quiz will cure any boredom…

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Nuno Santo’s side won 6-3 on aggregate to go progress into the Round of 16 where they have everything to play for still after drawing 1-1 with Olympiacos.

It’s Wolves’ first venture into European competition in nearly 40 years, and they have every chance of competing in the tournament once again next term as they currently hold sixth place in the Premier League and of course, could still win it if they find a way past the Greek outfit.

For now, though, the Wolf Pack will have to top up fitness levels at home with a suspension putting pay to fixtures across the globe.

Here’s how supporters have been reacting to the news…

AND in other news, Conor Coady lauds PL LEGEND as big career influence…

What proved to certainly be a fruitful move for Kyle Walker has turned out to be problematic for Tottenham Hotspur across their backline.

The right-back departed the club back in 2017 for a sum of £45million after Mauricio Pochettino decided to cash in, and the Englishman has certainly reaped the rewards of the transfer. Since his arrival at the Etihad, Walker has enjoyed tremendous achievements, including two Premier League titles and an FA Cup win.

However, it hasn’t been rosy for both parties. Since the 29-year-old left London, Spurs have increasingly let in more goals as they struggle to plug the defensive leak. In Walker’s final season with the club, Tottenham finished second in the Premier League and conceded just 26 goals, less than champions Chelsea and the lowest amount in the entire league.

But following his departure, defensive issues presented themselves and each campaign since Walker’s absence has seen Spurs let in more and more goals. The 2017/18 season – the first without their right-back – saw Spurs concede 36 goals, followed by 39 goals in 2018/19 and their worst yet this campaign having already let in 40 goals.

Despite veteran internationals Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, as well as replacement right-back Serge Aurier, Spurs can’t seem to stop leaking goals. Meanwhile, Walker has contributed to Man City’s extremely low tally of conceded goals since he joined, including their +72 goal difference last season after conceding just 23 times.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

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In fact, City’s No.2 has registered an average pass rate of 88.9% which is much higher than his usurper Aurier (78.3%). Walker also averages more passes per match (67.5) than the Ivorian (37.7) – (via WhoScored).

Although Tottenham made a tidy £39m profit on the Sheffield-born ace, the repercussions have been costly with the London side struggling to get near the second-place finish they managed in 2017. They are currently having a torrid season, sitting eighth in the league table, just two points ahead of Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Sheffield United players have accepted partial pay and wage deferrals during the ongoing pandemic. Obviously, the squad’s decision has delighted loads of fans. 

After the announcement that Chris Wilder and CEO Stephen Bettis have agreed six-month deferrals, all of the professional playing staff have all followed suit until the end of 2020 (BBC).

Football leagues are currently suspended due to the global COVID-19 crisis and some clubs are set to struggle with financial difficulties in the future.

The Blades announced the pay cuts will help alleviate the economic pressures the Blades are facing, and the money saved will be redirected to retain and support staff members all over the club.

Bettis publicly commented “first and foremost, our thoughts remain with those directly affected by the issues related to Covid-19.”

“This announcement follows positive and constructive discussions throughout the Club, taking into account the severity of the situation that the country finds itself in at the moment. I am pleased that we have reached an agreement with our first-team players, manager and backroom staff to help support the Club.”

“It is a difficult period for everyone, but our Football Club also needs to be taken care of and I’m delighted that the players want to mirror the gesture of Chris and the staff by contributing, it confirms that they care about Sheffield United.

The chief executive concluded that “the players should be commended, not only for this action, but also for their role in the #playerstogether initiative with other Premier League clubs.”

Although the South Yorkshire outfit only rejoined the Premier League at the start of the season, Wilder’s side have caught everyone by surprise, as they sit seventh in the top half of the table, two points ahead of Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur, and close behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United.

Understandably, many fans responded to the latest update on social media, with one supporter cheekily commenting “cheers, son’s crying, nice one.”

Take a look at some of the best reactions down below…

Missing football!? There’s still plenty of Blades discussion going on in the Vital Blades Forum! Click here to get involved!

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have reacted to Tyrone Mings’ latest tweet on the potential restart of the Premier League.

With the recent pandemic causing a standstill to life as we know it and the footballing season, a potential return for England’s top flight has been much debated.

Potential plans to resume the 2019/2020 season have been discussed of late, whilst further claims have been made about a reluctance from clubs to potentially play at 10 neutral venues or behind closed doors.

Villa, who sit 19th in the league table and in danger of being relegated to the Championship, just one-year after gaining promotion via the play-off final, have one game in hand over their rivals.

Mings, who has been in good form this season, contributing to his call-up to the England national side and appearance under Gareth Southgate, has now given his thoughts on a return to action.

The centre-back poked fun at the fact if a top-half player says they don’t want to return to action then nothing is said. However if a player from a club near the bottom of the table speaks, then there is an overwhelming response from fans suggesting that the player in question is only saying that as they want to avoid relegation.

Reacting to Mings’ tweet, fans gave their opinion…

Do you think Villa will remain in the Premier League? Let us know in the comments section below…

Newcastle United are battling fellow Premier League side Arsenal in the race to sign Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta this summer.

What’s the story?

Having already beaten the Gunners to the signing of Bruno Guimaraes in the January transfer window, it appears that Eddie Howe’s side are keen to strike a second blow to their top-flight counterparts.

According to The Chronicle, Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain appear to have pulled out of the race to sign Paqueta given the overall financial package needed, leaving it as a straight two-horse race between Newcastle and Arsenal.

It is added that Magpies head of recruitment Steve Nickson has watched him on multiple occasions now, and that Lyon could reach a tipping point in terms of accepting a fee just like they did with Bruno.

His asking price is a cool £58m, which would make him Newcastle’s club-record signing if purchased for that sum.

Imagine him and Bruno at Newcastle

When reports initially emerged linking Paqueta with a move to St James’ Park, former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny talked up the prospect of seeing him link up with his former team-mate Bruno.

The Irishman said: “So they wanted him in January, I don’t see why they wouldn’t be interested again in the summer. He’s clearly a quality player and they have a player who knows him very well.

“To see those two players assisting each other for Brazil is all the proof you need that they are quality players, they are clearly mates who have a good understanding. If he wants to leave Lyon, I’m sure Newcastle will put an offer in and see if they can get him.”

Meanwhile, Brazil manager Tite has previously compared Paqueta to a couple of Brazilian stars, saying: “Lucas thinks about football in the same way as Neymar and Coutinho.

“When we played against El Salvador he had a series of exchanges with Neymar, practically without having seen him before and without playing together. They linked up with their eyes closed.”

Hailed as “extraordinary” by his Lyon manager Peter Bosz, the £60m-rated Paqueta could rekindle his fine partnership with Bruno in the heart of Newcastle’s midfield next season.

It’s the kind of eye-catching, statement-making move which would surely have St James’ Park rocking.

AND in other news – Sold for just £100k, now a two-time title winner: NUFC flop has delivered huge payback

Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez hasn’t yet been given the opportunity to kickstart his career at the club, but the Carabao Cup Final is the perfect time to make himself a hero.

The Algerian became the club’s record signing when he switched from Leicester for £67m in the summer, but so far the jury’s still very much out on whether he can become a key component in this City machine. He’s only made 11 Premier League starts this season after 27 games, so he’s never had a run in the team to establish himself.

He seems like a one-trick pony most of the time, cutting in on his left foot and aiming to hit the top left corner, but, as we know with Arjen Robben, it’s good enough to have one skill if you’re too good to stop. This issue with Mahrez is that he’s not been playing regular football so these moves just are coming off like they were at Leicester.

The 27-year-old is certainly not in Pep Guardiola’s strongest 11, with Raheem Sterling and Bernando Silva miles ahead of him in the pecking order on current technical ability. But if Mahrez was to start in the cup final, he could gain the confidence needed to be back to his best, and City need him at that brilliant best if they are to go far in every other competition.

There will be games where City’s other wingers aren’t firing and Mahrez is needed, so it’s important he gets an opportunity at Wembley, whether that be from the bench or the unlikelihood of a starting stop. He’s trying too hard at the moment and a goal to seal City the cup would take the weight off his shoulders.

City defend in large spaces and attack in small ones, something Mahrez wasn’t used to at Leicester. They’d counter-attack and it’d give him the chance to run towards defenders at pace, but when playing for Guardiola defenders are tight and compact, restricting the Algerian from doing what he does best.

The only way his manager can allow Mahrez to get used to the system is to play him, and there’s no better place to get confidence from than Wembley Stadium.

Do you think Mahrez can be a success at City?