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Will West Bromwich Albion ever appoint a new manager? It seems like one of the most dragged out situations the club has seen.

After Chris Hughton and Patrick Vieira emerged as candidates last week, Michael O’Neill has now become the latest man to take the fancy of Albion’s hierarchy, per The Express & Star.

But reacting to the news on Twitter, the Hawthorns faithful were absolutely fuming, showing their displeasure in a series of tweets slamming the board and questioning the potential appointment.

One supporter called the club a disgrace whilst another branded the situation as unbelievable.

A further fan was baffled that Albion continued to stall on a decision when Brighton were able to appoint Graham Potter after a matter of days.

Another response saw a supporter annoyed that West Brom were again going for a cheap option.

O’Neill has never managed in England before so his potential arrival can be seen as somewhat of a risk. Previously, the 49-year-old has managed Brechin City and Shamrock Rovers, before being given the Northern Ireland job.

Albion have been looking for a permanent manager ever since they sacked Darren Moore in March. However, they are yet to find a suitable man for the role.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

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Celtic fans may be celebrating a famous ‘treble treble’ of trophies but it wasn’t all plain sailing at Hampden with Craig Levein’s Hearts giving them a hell of a game in the Scottish Cup final.

The Edinburgh side arguably had the better of the first half and heading into the interval there were serious questions being asked of Neil Lennon’s outfit.

Ultimately the class and quality of players like Odsonne Edouard shone through to clinch a superb 2-1 victory, but there were definite question marks about some of the performances in the Hoops team.

One of the most criticised was Tom Rogic, whose low-energy performance infuriated fans watching on before he was hauled off in the 70th minute for Olivier Ntcham.

The Australian hasn’t been himself in recent months and it’s fair to say the patience of fans is starting to wear thin regarding his poor recent displays.

He’ll need to improve massively over the summer or risks dropping out of regular Celtic starting elevens.

These fans took to Twitter during and after the match to share their thoughts on his Hampden performance…

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon is keen on Mikael Lustig staying at the club next season, despite his contract expiring shortly, as reported by The Scottish Sun.

What’s the story?

Lustig, who was signed by Lennon back in his first spell as Hoops boss, is one of the longest serving members of the Celtic squad but to date there’s been little sign of movement when it comes to extending his stay at Celtic Park beyond another treble winning season.

Lennon though has confirmed talks have taken place regarding an extension, explaining to The Scottish Sun:

“I have spoken to him, but not to his representatives. I had good feedback from Mika.

“I would like him to stay. I think he still has a year or two in him.

“He has been a fantastic player for the club. He has been pivotal on and off the field.”

With a notable decline in his playing performances over the last 18 months, is a renewal of Lustig’s contract wise, especially if it’d be a potential two-year deal?

Keith from C’mon the Hoops throws back to the ‘Battle of Britain’ from the 2003 UEFA Cup quarter-finals in the video below…

Should Celtic keep Lustig?

The argument for keeping the veteran Swedish international is strong, but with certain caveats.

With Cristian Gamboa and Jeremy Toljan leaving the club this summer, there’s little chance of Celtic entering the market and signing two quality right-backs, so keeping Lustig for another year makes some amount of sense.

There’s no doubt he is a leader on and off the pitch, but he is also a critical weak link in the team on a consistent basis, with opposition often directly targeting Celtic’s right flank when he is playing.

In bigger matches and against better teams that could prove costly.

Signing him up to a new deal then should come with the promise to supporters that the club are seeking a new first-choice right-back to play regularly and Lustig should be informed his role would be strictly as back-up or as relief against lesser teams.

No sentiment

A two-year deal, as hinted at by Lennon, seems excessive and is surely capitulating to sentiment that dictates the long-serving player should be here for a potential 10-in-a-row winning season.

The evidence he can play at the top level for another two seasons is not there and if Celtic are to maintain the incredible success they have enjoyed over the last few years then there is no room for such sentiment or complacency.

The Hoops need the best players available in all positions and can’t afford to carry Lustig for too long beyond his use by date.

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As reported by Wales Online, Liverpool have made an enquiry over the availability of Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.

The Philippine international shot-stopper starred for the Bluebirds last term, appearing in all 38 of their Premier League games whilst keeping an impressive ten clean sheets – he certainly didn’t deserve to suffer relegation to the Championship.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

Etheridge’s fine performances have also alerted the attention of Aston Villa, who saw an £8m bid rebuffed for his services.

Jurgen Klopp clearly has his eye on the goalkeeping market in case he needs to find a replacement for Simon Mignolet, who has said that he isn’t sure what the future holds for him after losing his place to Alisson Becker.

The 29-year-old would be a fine signing for the Champions League winners as a No.2, and would also be a shrewd signing with Loris Karius set to leave permanently next summer – he will be staying at Besiktas on loan next term, where the Turkish side have an obligation to buy him.

Let’s see what the writers of Football FanCast have had to say about Etheridge potentially joining Liverpool…

Matt Dawson

“It’s clear no goalkeeper is going to replace Alisson at Liverpool but as far as back-up goes it would be a shrewd signing. He’d add to their home grown quota and he’s proven he’s an able shot stopper. It’s unlikely he’d play very often so it’s the perfect low risk signing.”

Luke Glanville

“Etheridge is undoubtedly too good to drop down to the Sky Bet Championship with Cardiff City and is now proven at Premier League level. Liverpool need a better back-up to Alisson than Mignolet even if he decides to stay. The thought of the Belgian having to step in if the Brazilian gets injured mid-way through next season would be enough to give Reds nightmares. It’s a match made in heaven.”

Charles Jones

“I think they would be making a good move. If Karius and Mignolet leave as they are expected to there may not be a better option as a back-up keeper than Etheridge. He was mightily impressive for Cardiff this season and even though he won’t challenge Alisson for a starting spot he would be a brilliant back-up.”

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Manchester Untied will have to pay at least £60m to land Aaron Wan-Bissaka this summer, according to Sky Sports.

What’s the story?

Well, Sky Sports claim the Red Devils have seen a £40m bid for the Crystal Palace ace rejected.

The Old Trafford outfit are expected to sign a right-back this summer with Antonio Valencia leaving after a decade at the club, and the report claims Paris Saint-Germain’s Thomas Meunier and Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier are also both targets.

The problem though, is that Wan-Bissaka still has three years left on his contract and thus the Eagles are holding out for a fee in excess of £60m.

Could Harry Maguire be on his way to Old Trafford? Check out the video below to see why it would make so much sense…

Forgot about Dalot?

There’s no question Wan-Bissaka is an immense talent, but this feels all too familiar from a club who have far too often in recent seasons blasted huge sums on signings just for the sake of it.

Yes, the 21 year-old averaged 3.7 tackles and 2.1 interceptions per game last season, as well as racking up three assists, per Whoscored.

However, the Red Devils just signed Diogo Dalot for £19m (BBC) last summer, and while the 19 year-old isn’t perfect, he is two years younger than Wan-Bissaka, so could enjoy a similar breakout if given the chance.

Wan-Bissaka’s busy defensive tactics are partly skewed by playing for a side who defend so much, and Dalot actually beats him in what is perhaps the most important aspect of a modern full-back’s game – chance creation.

Dalot created 1.1 chances per game in the 16 Premier League appearances he made this season, while the Englishman mustered up just 0.4, less than one every two games.

The former Porto man also takes 0.9 shots per game to Wan-Bissaka’s 0.3, as well as being dispossessed just 0.3 times per game to the Palace man’s 1.1.

Wan-Bissaka is an attractive talent, but with a superior attacking prospect lying in wait, it seems pointless for United to splash out a whopping £60m on the Eagles youngster.

An experienced player, like Meunier, who can be acquired for half of the price and take Dalot under his wing, should be the priority this summer.

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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Malcom from Barcelona this summer, per Mundo Deportivo.

The Brazilian winger is reportedly set for talks over his future with the Catalan giants in the coming weeks.

The report states that the former Bordeaux winger is keen to stay at the club for at least another season but that those at the Camp Nou regard him as a saleable asset in this transfer window.

Spurs and Arsenal are both said to have registered their interest in signing the 22-year-old, who joined Barca for a £36.5m fee from the French club last summer, while Inter Milan are also monitoring his situation.

He flattered to deceive in 2018/19, however, scoring just four goals and laying on two assists in all competitions. Malcom has also yet to be capped by Brazil.

Should Mauricio Pochettino’s men be targeting a move for the star, then, as they look to secure their first signing since January 2018?

Football FanCast’s writers give their verdicts below!

Matt Dawson

“Malcom is a player who seems to divide opinion, and his career after moving to Barcelona has hit a stumbling block. Spurs could be the place where he rejuvenates himself but I have my doubts over whether he’d be able to cut it in the Premier League. On reflection, this is one Spurs should stay away from.”

Billy Meyers

“I think Malcom would be a good signing, but should definitely not be a priority. Pondering over whether or not to start Harry Kane of all people in a Champions League final shows that Spurs are fairly well stocked in attack, and it is midfield where they need the bulk of their reinforcements as well as full-back. A nice deadline day signing if it happens, but definitely not one to be viewed as a priority.”

Charles Jones

“A move for Malcom this summer could be a good move for Spurs, he’s had a torrid time at Barcelona, but by no means is that reason to write a player off completely. Lucas Digne and Andre Gomes were both brilliant last season at Everton after poor spells at Camp Nou. If Malcom can rediscover the form that he showed at Bordeaux then he would be a great addition.”

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Rangers defender James Tavernier is pleased with the transfer business that the club have done so far during this summer transfer window, speaking to the official Rangers website.

What’s he said?

The Gers have wasted no time in signing up talent to Steven Gerrard’s first-team squad, with arrivals such as Jake Hastie, Greg Stewart and Sheyi Ojo giving the Ibrox boss plenty of attacking options next season.

Along with Steven Davis and Jordan Jones, the incoming player total this transfer window already stands at five and the club captain is heartened by what he’s seen of his new teammates already.

Tavernier has revealed that Ojo told him on the first day of training that Rangers gave the winger “the best initial feeling I have had at all the clubs I have been on loan.”

That’s a positive sign that Ojo can get off to a confident start in the first-team and Tavernier went on to share his happiness at the signings already made by the club.

The fans in the video below had some very strong words for Michael Platini who was detained over alleged corruption this week…

As quoted by the official Rangers website, the 27-year-old said:

“I have heard some good things about Sheyi. I heard Don Cowie who was at Wigan with him said he was a really good player so he is obviously as excited player for us to get.

I have seen in the past couple of days how strong a runner he is and I can’t wait to see him out on the pitch properly.

I have played against both Greg Stewart and Jake Hastie. I know Jake had a good spell when he broke onto the scene at Motherwell and I have seen some clips of him, he is a strong runner and has a good finish on him.

I have played against Greg a lot of times and he has always proven to be a difficult opponent. I am really happy we have secured him.”

Who has the best chance of making an impact?

Right now, Ojo looks the best placed to have a run in the first-team, especially since he already seems to be settling in so well in Glasgow.

With Daniel Candeias inconsistent for large parts of last season, the winger has a real chance to make an impact on the right flank, having picked up senior appearances in the English Premier League, Championship and Ligue 1 already in his career.

Watch Rangers Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Joining a big club like Rangers is clearly suiting him well, going by what he’s told Tavernier, and the pressure of having to win every week could also bode well for his hopes of making an eventual impact at Liverpool.

Manchester City have raced ahead in pursuit of Harry Maguire’s signature this summer, according to the Mirror.

There’s a certain allure about Manchester City that simply cannot be matched by their struggling neighbours Manchester United, who are also rumoured to be in for England star Harry Maguire.

Last season’s domestic treble means the Citizens have secured twice the number of trophies (10) in the past decade as their close rivals (5). They boast one of the most decorated managers of all time in Pep Guardiola, who Maguire is believed to want to work with, and the positive environment the club appears to offer is far more conducive to career progression than the current mess at Old Trafford, where Solskjaer and Ed Woodward are yet to address a serious lack of quality in the squad.

Guardiola wants a new central defender to replace Vincent Kompany who departed the club after 11 years to re-join Anderlecht. Should he get his wish, and Maguire join, then we predict two of the following will occur…

City get their Kompany replacement

Obvious one, really.

Harry Maguire may not have enjoyed his best season to date, according to WhoScored ratings, but his statistics hold up pretty well compared to the man he’s tipped to replace; producing 1 tackle, 1.2 interceptions, 4.9 clearances and won 3.8 aerial duels on average per game last season, while title-hero Kompany produced 0.9 tackles, 0.9 interceptions, 3.2 clearances and won 2.2 aerial duels, respectively.

Statistics considered, evidently there’s reasons why the two have drawn comparisons. Maguire is a player with four years’ worth of Premier League experience under his belt. He would provide the same sort of goliath physical presence at the back which Kompany has implemented over the course of his illustrious career, as well as the ability to play out from defence – donning an average 56.4 passes per game in an under performing Leicester City side – which would suit Guardiola’s style perfectly.

Manchester United suffer

One thing is for certain: without Maguire, United will suffer.

United conceded 54 goals last season, the second highest in the Premier League, behind West Ham (55). They kept just seven clean sheets in total, only two of which came at Old Trafford, and field what some might consider one of the weakest defensive units on paper; with Ashley Young, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones commonly criticised by fans. For any self-respecting, trophy-chasing side this simply isn’t good enough.

England international Harry Maguire could have been the answer to the club’s woes, or at least a step in the right direction. However, with City set to intercept the deal, they’ll be without; leaving them with their second or third choice target, who they’re likely to overpay for.

One for the City fans to savour.

Stones/Otamendi frozen out

One in one out.

Out of the two suitors, the most likely to leave the club this summer in the wake of a Maguire arrival would surely be Nicolas Otamendi. The Argentine enjoyed a fine 2017-18 campaign with the Blues but has since found appearances hard to come by with Aymeric Laporte, Vincent Kompany and John Stones all sitting above him in the pecking order. Earlier this year, rumours circulated that Otamendi was being eyed up to replace Atletico Madrid captain Diego Godin, who is set to join Inter Milan this summer. And while we haven’t heard anything since, the player is understood to be open to a move away (as per goal.com). That being said, there’s absolutely every chance that Maguire’s arrival could catalyse a string of events that would see Otamendi leave the club.

On the other hand, there’s John Stones. The England star struggled to make much of an impact last season with just 24 Premier League appearances to his name, which was split up into a tellingly low 239 minutes in the final 10 games. Whether or not this was due to an injury he picked up in March against Watford remains to be seen; however, it could quite easily be interpreted as a lack of faith shown in him to get the job done by Guardiola, who turned to his captain and Laporte on the title run-in.

The beginning of the end?

Manchester City fans, do you agree with our selections? Let us know in the comments below…

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Some Liverpool fans have been left confused after the club announced that midfielder Marko Grujic will stay at Hertha Berlin for the upcoming season.

The 23-year-old made three Premier League appearances for the Reds during the 2017/18 campaign before being sent out for a season-long stint at the Bundesliga side.

And the Serbian received far more game time out there as he played in 22 league games, contributing five goals and one assist.

He is a versatile midfielder and has played over 15 times in each central midfield role – as a protector of the defence, as a middle man and as a number 10.

It was expected Grujic would return to Anfield and try to stake a claim for a position in the Champions League winners’ starting Xl.

“It reminds me of a bus seat!” – Watch a damning verdict on Chelsea’s new kit in the video below…

But it has been confirmed he will spend another season away from Merseyside, which has led to some fans starting to wonder whether he will ever make an impact and that it may be better to just get rid of him all together.

Here is just some of the reaction to the news that Grujic will be spending even more time away from Liverpool:

Marko Grujic will remain with @HerthaBSC on loan for the 2019/20 season.

Good luck for the new season, Marko.https://t.co/zRj9JmEURO

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 1, 2019

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Alfredo Morelos was entirely missing from a training match against Welsh outfit TNS today, with Steven Gerrard turning to Jermain Defoe and Greg Stewart in each half.

Rangers reported on the club’s official website that the Gers ran out 1-0 winners against the Welsh champions, with Defoe netting the only goal of the game.

The eleven who started the match looks pretty close to a full strength Gers side and it’ll be interesting to see whether that’s the team that the Ibrox boss goes with in next week’s Europa League qualifier against St Joseph’s of Gibraltar.

A reason hasn’t been declared for Morelos’ absence, but the fact he hasn’t taken part in one of the last team tune-ups ahead of competitive action will raise eyebrows and once against ignites the debate about who Rangers’ first choice striker actually is.

Check out the below above to see football played as you’ve never seen it before… in a maze!

On the chalkboard

Morelos was undoubtedly the main man at Ibrox for most of last season, but after a red card at Celtic Park and subsequent suspension, Jermain Defoe came into the team and didn’t give up his place in the side when the Colombian returned until the very last day of league action.

Defoe scored three goals and assisted three times in his six starts after that day at Celtic Park, combining expertly with supporting players like Scott Arfield.

It’s form that makes him a viable choice to start the coming season as first-choice in the position still, with question marks about Morelos’ temperament and discipline rumbling on since that fateful day against the Hoops.

Gerrard played Defoe, Morelos and Stewart in three 30-minute periods against Mansfield at the weekend, but with the 22-year-old dropping out against TNS, the Premier League legend now looks likely to get the nod next week.

Morelos is a quality finisher, but as former Ibrox striker Kris Boyd pointed out last month, the partnership that Defoe built with Arfield was superb, with Boyd also claiming that the Colombian “plays a lot for himself”.

Does Gerrard also consider Defoe to offer the team more with his all-round game?

All eyes will be on the first team sheet of the season when the Gers kick off their 2019/20 campaign.