Arsenal fans discuss Lucas Torreira potential exit

Arsenal fans have been left in a heated debate after fresh reports linked midfielder Lucas Torreira with an exit from the Emirates Stadium this summer.

According to Corriere dello Sport, AC Milan will attempt to re-open negotiations over the Uruguayan after failing to land him before the start of the season, and the Gunners have set a €40m (£35m) asking price.

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It’s claimed that Torreira, through the use of his agent, has often sent ‘positive signals’ to the Serie A giants and Stefano Pioli’s side still retain interest in him.

The 24-year-old’s last appearance for the north London club came during their FA Cup fifth-round victory over Portsmouth where he was stretchered off after just 16 minutes and had been likely to miss the remainder of the campaign with the ankle injury.

Per Transfermarkt, Torreira has featured 83 times for Arsenal, including 33 times this season, so he’s clearly been a frequent presence especially under Mikel Arteta.

Here’s how supporters have been reacting to his potential summer exit…

AND in other news, Arsenal can land a new Cazorla with £36m Spanish swoop in the summer…

Liverpool: Fans would be totally against Saudi takeover

Liverpool’s owners FSG have overseen a huge change in the fortunes of the Anfield outfit.

When they took over in 2010, the Reds were in dire financial difficulty – there had even been talk of them going in to administration. However, since then, the Merseyside club have gone on to become European champions, whilst they also lead the table by 25 points from Manchester City – there is arguably no better team in the country right now.

At the moment, the biggest story in English football other than when the sport will restart in the midst of the current pandemic is Newcastle’s prospective takeover. It looks as though the Saudi Arabian Royal Family will soon complete the takeover, making them the richest club in the Premier League.

With that in mind, Twitter page Empire of the Kop has asked their followers whether they would like the club to be taken over in such a way – that has been met by a resounding no. The supporters have taken to the social media platform to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments below.

Let us know what you think!

Newcastle fans want Javier Manquillo’s contract extended

Newcastle United fans are calling on the club to try and keep hold of one of their out-of-contract stars this summer after fresh reports have emerged linking him with a move away.

According to Fotomac, Fenerbahce are set to sniff around Magpies right-back Javier Manquillo as the northeast outfit aren’t set to renew terms.

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The 25-year-old has been at the club since the summer of 2017 after joining from Atletico Madrid and has gone on to make a total of 59 appearances.

Manquillo has featured 15 times this term, rotating with DeAndre Yedlin, who could also be leaving the club at the end of the season if reports are to be believed.

With the Magpies set to announce new ownership in due course, the future of many of the playing squad is up in the air, especially with uncertainty over whether or not Steve Bruce will even be in charge either.

Many supporters at St James’ Park would like to see Manquillo stay if possible with some surprised at his recent displays.

Here’s what the Newcastle faithful have been saying…

AND in other news, Newcastle fans go berserk over Mauricio Pochettino news…

Ranking the 20 best goals in Premier League history

Since its inception in 1992 it is fair to say that the Premier League has transformed the landscape within English football.

While Manchester United dominated in the early years, the arrival of wealthy owners has seen a number of new teams come to the fore and the popularity has soared worldwide.

Even though the transfer fees have risen and the profile has grown, what happens on the pitch remains the most important part and over the years there have been many incredible players and incredible goals to match.

From Eric Cantona in the early years, to Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo plenty of players with a penchant for the miraculous have made their mark on the division, while there have also been some less heralded players who have written their name into history with moments of brilliance.

Nearly 28 years on from the first match, we look back at the 20 best goals of the Premier League era…

20. Emre Can v Watford – May 2017

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A player who only really showed his true form in bursts at Liverpool, Can is perhaps best remembered for this bicycle kick that won him the 2016/17 goal of the season award.

19. Steven Gerrard v Middlesbrough – April 2005

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While perhaps his most famous goal for Liverpool came in the Champions League versus Olympiacos, Gerrard has scored a number of brilliant long-rangers during his career and this goal from 40 yards against Boro was one of his best.

18. Maynor Figueroa v Stoke City – December 2009

A solid if unheralded defender for Wigan Athletic, Figueroa had one moment in the sun when he scored from inside his own half when he spotted Thomas Sorensen off his line.

17. Olivier Giroud v Crystal Palace – January 2017

Not always the most reliable finisher, this was one of the occasions when Giroud got it right. With a cross into the box slightly behind him, the Frenchman performed an incredible ‘scorpion’ flick to shock the travelling Palace fans.

16. Michael Essien v Arsenal – December 2006

An excellent player whose career was impacted by injury, this was perhaps his best goal with the Ghanaian leathering the ball first time, only for it to swerve around the defenders and into the net.

15. Jack Wilshere v Norwich City – October 2013

Perhaps the best team goal we have seen in the Premier League era, Wilshere applied the finishing touch to a brilliant move that was made all the more special with a delicate Giroud flicked assist.

14. Vincent Kompany v Leicester City – May 2019

The last hurrah for a brilliant servant to the club, Kompany’s thunderous strike was crucial in earning Manchester City the league title in 2018/19.

13. David Beckham v Wimbledon – August 1996

A brilliant striker of a dead ball, this is the goal Beckham is perhaps best remembered for in a Manchester United shirt. The midfielder not only had the vision to see the goalkeeper of his line, but also the skill to place the ball perfectly from halfway.

12. Thierry Henry v Tottenham Hotspur – November 2002

The first entry from the Frenchman on this list, Henry ghosted past a number of Spurs defenders has he ran from inside his own half to score with a trademark side foot finish.

11. Tony Yeboah v Wimbledon – September 1995

Another player with more than one entry, this goal from Yeboah involved brilliant control on the chest and then the knee, before a rocket shot that flew in off the bar.

10. Eric Cantona v Sunderland – December 1996

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An iconic goal from an iconic player, this delicate chip from outside the box said all it needed to about the vision and technique Cantona possessed.

9. Cristiano Ronaldo v Portsmouth – January 2008

A goal that almost confirmed Ronaldo’s ascent to the top of the world game, this was perhaps one of the best and truest free-kicks ever taken.

8. Matt Le Tissier v Newcastle United – October 1993

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Matthew Le Tissier celebrates scoring the 1st goal from the penalty spot

A player with a real knack for the remarkable, Le Tissier scored his best goal after flicking the ball over two defenders with pinpoint control, before calmly slotting the ball home.

7. Wayne Rooney v Newcastle United  – April 2005

Champions League Group D match at Old Trafford.Manchester United 6 v Fenerbahce 2.Ruud Van Nistelrooy celebrates after scoring the fifth goal joined by teammate Wayne Rooney.28th September 2004.

Despite being embroiled a heated discussion with the referee, Rooney quickly latched onto a looping ball and smashed it in on the volley from 30 yards out.

6. Robin van Persie v Aston Villa  – April 2013

A player with outstanding technique on the volley, Van Persie sealed the title for United with this strike, judging the ball as it came over his shoulder perfectly.

5. Thierry Henry v Manchester United – October 2000

A goal that came before Henry’s full abilities were quite appreciated, this really put him on the map. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, his flicked it up, swivelled and lobbed the ball over Fabien Barthez on the volley from the edge of the box.

4. Tony Yeboah v Liverpool – August 1995

The second goal from Yeboah on this list, this was the archetypal volley, with the Leeds man striking the ball with immense power from 30 yards into the net off the bar.

3. Wayne Rooney v Manchester City – February 2011

Another legendary goal, Rooney’s incredible overhead kick sealed the win in a Manchester derby and went a long way to securing the title for the Old Trafford club.

2. Paolo Di Canio v Wimbledon – March 2000

26 Mar 2000: Paolo Di Canio of West Ham United scores the first goal during the FA Carling Premiership match against Wimbledon at Upton Park in London. West Ham United won the match 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Stu Forster/Allsport

Di Canio was a divisive character during his time in English football, but this air-borne volley was a real example of his incredible technique and skill.

1. Dennis Bergkamp v Newcastle United – March 2002

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The Dutchman had outstanding technique and displayed that best with this goal against Newcastle, where he turned his defender inside out with a ridiculous piece of control, before calmly finishing along the floor.

Glasgow Rangers: Fans loved club’s footage of Jonas Thern’s Old Firm goal in 1998

Glasgow Rangers have beaten their crosstown rivals more often than not in one of the biggest rivalries in world football. 

The Glasgow derby is steeped in Scottish tradition, matching the intensity of El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Heroes are born and villains are made in the passionate clash between the two most successful clubs in Scotland. Their fierce rivalry stems back to the early 20th century (Goal).

As it stands, the ‘Gers are still in front of Celtic in the head-to-head record, as they have won 162 games at the time of writing (Soccerbase). Ibrox has witnessed plenty of greats make a name for themselves in the past, including the likes of Ally McCoist, Paul Gascoigne and Ray Wilkins.

While football in Scotland has been suspended due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, clubs around the world have been keeping fans entertained with funny social media posts and highlight reels.

The ‘Gers tweeted footage of former player Jonas Thern’s incredible goal against Celtic, a strike that helped the Light Blues claim a famous 2-0 victory over their rivals in 1998. The Swede let rip with a thunderous volley past helpless goalkeeper Jonathan Gould.

The 53-year-old, who also played for Roma and Benfica, scored five goals in 23 appearances in the league for the ‘Gers (via Soccerbase).

Unsurprisingly, loads of RFC fans gushed over Thern’s “fantastic” effort on social media, with one suuporter tweeting that it was “fantastic” while another said that the clip is “as good as Ray Wilkins” in reference to the former Chelsea star’s famous derby goal in 1988.

Scroll down through some of the glowing reactions from the Ibrox faithful:

Rangers fans, what is your favourite Old Firm goal? Let us know down below!

Spurs fans hail Daniel Levy over Thomas Meunier snub

With Tottenham enjoying a decent return to Premier League action with one win and a draw from their opening two games, Jose Mourinho’s side are still very much in the hunt for Champions League football.

The Portuguese boss will head into the summer transfer window hoping to further strengthen his squad, and according to reports in recent weeks, Thomas Meunier was seen as a potential option on a free transfer.

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But after it was confirmed that the Belgium international will be heading to Borussia Dortmund instead, French publication L’Equipe (via Sport Witness) have revealed why the full-back didn’t make the switch to north London.

The report claims that even despite receiving a call from Mourinho himself, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was not convinced by Meunier’s signing, and that with him being in charge of transfers, that was the end of the deal.

And after hearing about the update, Spurs fans flocked to Twitter to share their reactions.

And whilst Levy has been the subject of controversy over these past couple of months – the Lilywhites ended up back-tracking on their furlough decision for the club’s non-playing staff – he was roundly praised by fans for stepping in and snubbing Meunier.

If L’Equipe’s report is accurate and Levy did indeed intervene, then it does raise the major question of how Mourinho and him can co-exist. The latter is well-known for being outspoken, and having someone dictate the club’s transfer policy may not sit well with him.

It promises to be an intriguing summer transfer window at Spurs as it becomes clearer who is calling the shots.

Newcastle ace Danny Rose was impressive against Man City

Having signed on a loan deal back in the January transfer window, Danny Rose has been open in admitting that he is currently fighting for his long-term future at Newcastle.

Speaking in recent days, the Tottenham loanee said: “First and foremost, I am playing for my future. I don’t think I need a bigger motivation than that. I have settled in very well, I love the lads, and staff and the fans. It is probably the first time in my career I have been in this situation – never have I been down to less than one year on my contract – so it’s a new experience for me.”

And against Manchester City in the Premier League on Wednesday night, Rose proved just exactly why Steve Bruce must seriously consider signing him on a permanent deal this summer.

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Despite the Magpies falling to a 5-0 defeat to the former Premier League champions, Rose was one of the very few players who actually showed any signs of trying to take the game to the opposition, and playing on the front foot.

As per Sofascore, he completed both of his attempted dribbles on the night, and registered 51 touches of the ball – the most of any Newcastle player.

The left-back didn’t shy away from receiving the ball in tight spaces, or being closed down by the City players, and it spoke volumes of just how more confident he was in possession than some of his teammates. That calmness saw him draw a team-high four fouls, helping Bruce’s side to get some respite for their defence.

Defensively, he was one of the more stronger and aggressive Magpies players, making another team-high of four tackles, and blocking one shot too. Add to that, the impressive fact he won a mammoth ten of his 12 total ground duels, and it showed the kind of quality Rose can bring to this Newcastle side on a longer-term basis.

If Steve Bruce is to do one thing this summer, then signing the left-back on a permanent basis should surely be one of the big priorities at St James’ Park.

Manchester United: Fans gush over Fabrizio Romano’s update on Paul Pogba amid interest from Real Madrid

Manchester United are ready to offer Paul Pogba a new deal after his upturn in form since the Premier League restart. 

According to Fabrizio Romano, as per @utdreport, Man United will try to extend his contract while his agent Mino Raiola waits in the wings.

The Frenchman has insisted that he is “happy” at Old Trafford and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful he will sign a new deal. Pogba’s contract will run out next year, although United have the the option to extend this by another year, amid interest from Real Madrid and Juventus.

The Red Devils will reach out to Raiola, who has a strained relationship with the club’s hierarchy. The super-agent took to social media to fuel the fire earlier this year, although the two sides appear to be on talking terms once again.

Pogba has worked his way back to match fitness after recovering from an injury which required surgery, and his return has enabled him to team up with Bruno Fernandes for the first time, with the duo forming a formidable partnership ever since. The pair have started to build a platform to which Solskjaer could add in the summer.

Unsurprisingly, loads of United fans gushed over the “big” update on Twitter, with one supporter tweeting that the news is “quality,” while another called it a “silver lining” following the team’s 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Scroll through some of the glowing reactions so far…

United fans, are you confident Paul Pogba will sign a new contract? Let us know in the comments below!

Manchester United: Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford still a ‘work in progress’ according to Fabrizio Romano

Jadon Sancho’s potential transfer to Manchester United is still a “work in progress,” despite reports insisting a deal is “imminent.”

Bild claim, as cited by The Daily Express, that the Red Devils are very close to reaching an agreement with Borussia Dortmund for the 11-cap England international winger.

Dortmund had also set a deadline of August 10 to sort out a deal in time for the Bundesliga club’s return to pre-season training.

But Fabrizio Romano revealed there is still some way to go before Sancho can move to Old Trafford.

The Italian transfer expert suggested that there is “no agreement” at the moment, although talks are still ongoing between the two clubs, but the transfer remains a work in progress.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has identified Sancho as his top target in the summer, having scored 20 goals and supplied 18 assists in all competitions (viaÂWhoScored).

After arriving at the Signal Iduna Park from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in 2017, the 20-year-old forward has featured in nearly 100 games for the Yellow and Blacks, bagging 34 goals so far.

However, Sancho apparently accepts Man United must meet Dortmund’s £108m demands, according to sporting director Michael Zorc.

Ed Woodward is unwilling to pay their staggering asking price, despite the fact Solskjaer is determined to get his man. It is understood that Woodward will only meet the valuation if he can pay a significant proportion of that price tag with performance-related bonuses.

The Red Devils are still trying to drive down the demands, although the German side are refusing to change their minds.

Whether or not Woodward will be able to sign Sancho in the summer remains to be seen, after Zorc admitted he “does not expect any difficulties.” It seems as though the executive vice-chairman has more than met his match and it will be interesting to watch as this story continues to develop in the coming days.

United fans, do you think Ed Woodward will sign Sancho this summer? Let us know down below!

Spurs must sell Juan Foyth this summer despite major update

According to The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare, Tottenham defender Juan Foyth is intent on fighting for his place at the club.

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The Argentine has been linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks and months, but as of yet, no deal has materialised.

Now, writing for The Athletic, Eccleshare has delivered an update on the centre-back’s future at Spurs, claiming that “at the moment”, he is keen on staying in north London and staking a claim for a starting spot.

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He said: “Juan Foyth is a really exciting player and I hope it works out for him, whether at Spurs or elsewhere. The latest is that he has not yet sat down to discuss his future with the club but that for the moment he wants to stay and fight for his place.

“There’s also a month-long gap between the season starting and the summer transfer window closing, so unless he has more clarity before then, he will wait to see if his first-team prospects have improved and if not look for a move elsewhere. As we have reported previously, Foyth feels he needs to move soon, either permanently or on loan, if he continues to be overlooked.”

Another Daniel Levy nightmare

In these times of financial uncertainty, the last thing Spurs and Daniel Levy need right now is a fringe player simply eating into the wage bill for no good reason at all.

Whilst Eccleshare may be a fan of Foyth, declaring him a “really exciting player”, the simple facts are that he only played seven times across all competitions last season – injuries of course playing a big part.

He has barely gotten a proper look-in since his arrival the club, making just 32 appearances in total. And whilst his reported £21.5k-per-week wages are nothing extraordinary, it’s still money that could be saved and potentially reinvested elsewhere.

Foyth is just a drain on the club’s resources at the moment, and if Jose Mourinho has no plans to use him as a key part of his first-team squad, then Levy must take charge of the situation and let the Argentine go.

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