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Many Liverpool fans have been raving about the club’s sporting director Michael Edwards following reports of an impending deal for Loris Karius.

Turkish media outlet Fanatik reported yesterday that Besiktas, the club to whom the goalkeeper is currently on loan, are close to agreeing an €8m (£6.84m) move to sign him permanently, with the fee to be paid in four equal instalments over a four-year period.

Karius, who cost Liverpool £4.7m (The Independent) in 2016, was loaned out to the Istanbul-based club in summer 2018 following an error-strewn performance in that year’s Champions League final and mistakes in pre-season games against Tranmere and Borussia Dortmund.

Edwards has been Liverpool’s sporting director since November 2016, in which time they have extracted tremendous value from a few transfers.

Andrew Robertson was signed from Hull for £10m in 2017 (as per BBC) and the man described as the world’s best left-back by Phil Neville made the PFA Team of the Year in 2018/19, having claimed 13 assists last season and 22 in total during his time at Anfield.

In terms of outgoings, Liverpool have managed to extract £19m (BBC) from Bournemouth for Dominic Solanke, who scored one goal in 27 Reds appearances, and £20m (The Telegraph) from Southampton for Danny Ings, whose injury-ravaged Anfield career ended with four goals in 25 games.

The combined income from those two sales is greater than the £34m (as per BBC) spent on Mohamed Salah in 2017, with the Egyptian scoring 80 goals in 121 games for the Reds so far.

These Liverpool fans hailed Edwards for what they perceive to be another astute transfer:

How influential has Edwards been to Liverpool’s fortunes since he came to the club? Share your views in the comments section below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Jack Harrison has really come into his own in recent weeks.

The winger has scored three and assisted four in his previous eight games for Leeds United, and he’s quickly becoming one of the Whites’ most important players.

Of course, many Leeds supporters will now have more of a keen interest in his future. One fan, in particular, was desperate for an update, so he asked Phil Hay during his Q&A session on Tuesday night about Harrison’s future.

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What’s been said then?

The Scottish journalist was hosting a Q&A session with The Athletic after United’s 1-0 win over Reading, and one supporter posed what could happen to the Manchester City loanee next season.

“Not sure of the exact price but Leeds have the option to sign him permanently. Bielsa is a big fan of his so I’d imagine that he’d look for the club to exercise it if they go up.” Hay responded.

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Good, but worrying

This update will be music to the ears of some as Hay has confirmed that there is a chance that the Yorkshire outfit will sign Harrison at the end of the season, suggesting that the manager will eventually work towards that eventuality.

However, it’s rather ominous as the reporter also hints that the permanent signing of the Man City man hinges on Leeds’ promotion.

The 22-year-old has looked like a Premier League quality player in recent weeks with his goals and assists, so you can understand why Leeds need to go up in order to land him. However, the prospect of being without Harrison next season is a rather daunting one after his incredible performances lately.

The winger’s numbers have improved greatly recently and he’s registering 1.7 shots per game as well as amassing 1.6 key passes. That goes to show the huge influence Harrison’s having in the final third and why Leeds must hold onto him in 2020/21.

In other news, one Leeds star has been praising Marcelo Bielsa’s “carnage” training strategy.

Having joined Tottenham for just £1m back in the summer of 2005 from a financially struggling Leeds, there can be no question that Aaron Lennon more than proved that he was value for money in his time in north London.

The winger became a permanent fixture in the Spurs squad, and went on to play an impressive 364 times for the Lilywhites, scoring 30 goals and providing a further 77 assists.

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He was of course part of the 2008 League Cup winning side, and his career at the club spanned the best part of nine seasons.

Now 32, and plying his trade for fellow Premier League side Burnley, Lennon had some big-time moments in a Spurs shirt, not least that memorable injury-time strike to make it 4-4 against Arsenal as Harry Redknapp’s men completed a stunning a comeback at the home of their local rivals.

He wasn’t flashy in the way of a Gareth Bale in terms of beating players with tricks, or smashing in 30-yard thunderbolts, but he was so reliably productive out on that right-hand side.

That old-school winger’s mentality of beating the man, and setting up Spurs’ strikers time and time again. One of his stand-out campaigns came in the north London side’s run in the Champions League back in the 2010/2011 season, when he racked up five assists in just nine total appearances in the competition.

He was capable of stepping up in the big moments, and at just a measly £1m, surely goes down as one of the greatest bargains of the Daniel Levy era at Spurs.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans are reminiscing over this former powerhouse.

Tottenham target Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has admitted his recent transfer links to the Lilywhites flatter him, according to a report from B.T.  

Sky Sports recently revealed the Saints star is at the top of Jose Mourinho’s shortlist, and Daniel Levy is preparing to make a £35m offer for the Southampton captain in the summer.

Speaking to the Danish outlet, Hojbjerg divulged he is delighted by the speculation and his international teammate Christian Eriksen has told him lots of good things about his time in North London.

“It would be a lie to say I hadn’t read it. It’s a big club and I also think Christian Eriksen has positive memories from there.

“The most important thing is that I concentrate on Southampton and concentrate on that when the season starts again, I can continue where I left off.”

He added: “I wouldn’t mind knocking a few goals in. Whatever happens in the future, you have to take it as it comes.”

He arrived at St Mary’s Stadium for £13.5m from Bayern Munich and this season the 24-year-old has made 28 appearances in the Premier League for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, picking up 1 assist, making 2.4 tackles per game, averaging 1.5 interceptions, and completing 1.7 clearances (SofaScore).

Predictably, plenty of Spurs fans gushed over Hojbjerg’s transfer update on social media, with one fan branding him “insane,” and another adding he is “better than Winks.”

Have a read through some of the glowing reactions down below…

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Everton fans have been left divided this week after a report emerged linking them with a move for a Serie A star.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, the Toffees have made contact with AC Milan over the possibility of signing midfielder powerhouse Franck Kessie.

The report claims that the Merseyside outfit are chasing a new middle man this summer, and it’s easy to see why given the lack of solid options Carlo Ancelotti has at his disposal.

Some fans seem to agree with the mooted move…

The 23-year-old is an industrious sort that can contribute at either end of the pitch as seen in his numbers for the current Serie A campaign.

Per WhoScored, in 23 appearances, Kessie has averaged 1.7 tackles, one key pass and 0.8 dribbles per game.

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In addition, Bleacher Report described him as “an attentive marker with sound positioning in the defensive phase, he also brings pace, directness and penetrative passing to attack.”

And many would love to see the Ivory Coast international at Goodison Park as a result.

Although not everyone is completely behind the idea given the fact that the Italian giants are supposedly willing to offload him this summer.

Newcastle United are also said to hold an interest in him too and you could argue they’d be the front-runners as should their takeover be given the green light, they’ll become the new financial heavyweights in the Premier League.

It remains to be seen if these reports are accurate, but Everton can do no harm in being in the market for central midfield additions ahead of next season.

How much Kessie would cost is also a mystery with Transfermarkt currently valuing him at £18m.

WHILE in other news, Everton willing to sell Koeman flop for just £4.5m this summer…

It is been more than two months since a Premier League game was played and it is still unclear when players will be able to return to the pitch and complete the season.

Premier League games were called off after Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta became the most high-profile football figure to test positive for the coronavirus in March.

West Ham’s vice-chairman Karren Brady initially called for the 2019-20 season to be declared null and void, only to later row back on her comments after criticism of the idea.

Of course, should the campaign be written off as Brady first suggested, then it would be good news for West Ham, who are only out of the Premier League’s relegation zone on goal difference. Watford and Bournemouth also have 27 points on the board with nine matches to play while Aston Villa – in 19th right now – have a game in hand and are two points further back.

So, with the Premier League set to hold another meeting to discuss the best way to proceed, how is the season going to be concluded?

Null and void still an option on the table

As harsh as it would be for Liverpool to be denied the league title their fans have been craving for so long, declaring the season null and void remains an option that is under consideration.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has previously stated that the only fair way to proceed is to complete the season whenever it is safe to do so, though the Cherries have a vested interest.

With the coronavirus death toll rate of increase slowing down in the UK, it is unclear whether the current lockdown conditions are going to have to be extended further into June. It is not out of the question that the government could announce that lockdown must continue through the summer, making it difficult to resume the football season any time soon.

As the theory goes, declaring the 2019-20 campaign null and void would enable the next season to begin without disruption. This would avoid two straight seasons being wrecked by the virus.

However, even starting a new season in August as usual appears to be very optimistic at present. UEFA has signalled it wants domestic campaigns to be wrapped up by the end of June, which seems unlikely, with Tottenham star Harry Kane backing the view of European football’s governing body.

According to Kane, if the season cannot be completed by that time then it is hard to see how the 2019-20 season can be finished at all. As England captain, Kane’s comments carry weight and it might be the case that other Premier League players agree with his view of the situation.

A summer tournament to complete the season?

Euro 2020’s postponement until next year has freed up the summer and it has been mooted that the Premier League could look to fill the gap with a festival of football to finish the season.

According to a report by the Independent earlier last month, the remaining 92 league matches could be played in a TV ‘mega-event’ during June and July. That would see players and club staff quarantined in hotels across the Midlands, where various stadiums would be used to play multiple games a day behind closed doors – negating any home advantage that teams might have on the fixture list. Playing the rest of the season’s fixtures without fans being able to attend appears inevitable at this stage, despite the unsatisfying feeling such matches tend to have.

One of the reasons for this plan is that if the 2019-20 Premier League season cannot be completed, the broadcasters who have forked out a fortune for the rights to show games will be due a refund. Estimates suggest that over £750 million from the rights packages would have to be paid back, with clubs left to fill a gaping hole in their finances. The effect on the game would be huge if this happened, so it is understandable there is a clamour to find a workable solution.

Another way to complete the season that has been suggested is to work out the final tables on a points-per-game basis. While this might seem harsh on teams deemed to have easier run-ins on paper, it would at least ensure some semblance of fairness, with teams such as Liverpool rewarded for their sensational seasons. There would be losers as well as winners with such a plan, however. Sheffield United have a game in hand on the teams around them in the race for European qualification, but would miss out on the chance to make it into the Champions League.

What should fans do in the meantime?

Hammers fans might not have enjoyed the 2019-20 season much at all, but they will still be desperate to see stars like Mark Noble back out on the pitch as soon as possible.

Until the Premier League resumes, we are left with re-watching old games. For those who find it boring there are alternative ways to have fun and still enjoy our favourite thing in the world. One of these could be to play football-themed slots, many of which come with free spins on offer. Playing games like Football Manager and FIFA could be another way to get that football fix.

Unfortunately, it could be the case that football fans will be seeking answers on how the season will be finished for some time yet. The Premier League are making progress but a firm decision could be delayed further. The wait for answers on the resumption of the Premier League season seems set to continue.

Newcastle United keeper Martin Dubravka “is to be a symbol of the new and rich Newcastle”, referring to the prospective takeover in the northeast, according to the player’s agent Pavel Zika.

Speaking to Slovakian outlet SME, Zika said that he was not surprised that Dubravka became one of the most respected goalkeepers in England. Indeed, the 31-year old has kept a relatively impressive 24 clean sheets in 80 games in all competitions between the sticks in his career at the Tyneside club so far, according to Transfermarkt.

Zika also spoke about the apparent truth that the Magpies were influenced by his ‘excellent’ performances playing for the Slovak national team against England and Scotland. Allegedly, then-Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez was looking for a keeper for the long-term, and Zika started speaking to him about Dubravka through his Spanish connections (as per SME).

Other subjects that were touched upon were the price for which Dubravka would be sold in today’s transfer market, whether he would move to a so-called ‘larger’ team and the competition that he has both at club and international level.

The potential new owners of Saudi Arabia crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, businesswoman Amanda Staveley and the billionaire Reuben brothers will all have a decision to make as to whether they put faith in Dubravka or go out and buy a shiny new goalkeeper but, based off of his stats for the Toon, it may well be the former.

Moreover, Zika certainly seems to believe that his agent may become a symbol of the takeover, implying that he will stay in the team regardless of whether or not the £300m bid to take over from Mike Ashley is eventually approved by the Premier League.

Geordies, should Dubravka be kept as first choice goalkeeper even if the takeover goes through and extra funds become available? Comment below with your views!

The Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has revealed that Allan Saint-Maximin will need a need contract at Newcastle to keep him happy.

What’s the word?

The Frenchman has been one of the stand-out performers for the Magpies this season following his arrival from Nice last summer. The 23-year-old has scored four times and provided seven assists across all competitions, including getting a hat-trick of set-ups in the 4-1 thrashing of Bournemouth.

Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…

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In a tweet posted on his official Twitter account, Hope admitted that Saint-Maximin is likely to need a new contract to keep him happy, and that his current reported wages is causing some frustrations about those who earn more than him.

Priority

Whilst new signings will undoubtedly be on the agenda if and when the Saudi consortium’s takeover goes through, giving Saint-Maximin a new contract that reflects his true value to the club should be the main priority.

Such has been his importance to the Magpies, that there is a startling stat that shows without Saint-Maximin in the side, the club have won just once in 14 games. Compare that to ten wins in 18 matches when he is in the starting line-up.

His performances will surely not have gone unnoticed by sides across Europe, and ensuring that he is kept happy at St James’ Park by putting him on par with some of the club’s big-earners seems like a no-brainer.

Jose Mourinho is determined to bring Arkadisuz Milik to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, no matter the cost.

According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham are prepared to send Lucas Moura in the other direction to try and persuade Napoli to part ways with the striker in the summer.

Mourinho is keen to find a backup for Harry Kane and has identified Milik as a suitable candidate. Spurs believe that the Polish international could be the perfect replacement if Kane leaves north London in the near future.

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis admires Moura and tried to sign him last year, only to find that his request was blocked by former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Despite his hat-trick heroics in the Champions League in 2019, Moura has struggled for Spurs this season, as he last scored for the club back in early February. He was the subject of major controversy after VAR disallowed Harry Kane’s equaliser in the defeat to Sheffield United as the ball was judged to have brushed his arm.

Milik’s contract is set to expire next year and he does not intend to renew it anytime soon. The Pole has often been compared to Robert Lewandowski, although it is fair to say he hasn’t quite hit the same heights as his esteemed compatriot as of yet, with the Bayern Munich striker netting an astounding 407 goals in 586 club career appearances.

Nevertheless, Milik has still scored 10 goals in 20 games in Serie A this season, taking three shots per game, with a passing accuracy rate of 82.9% (via WhoScored).

Spurs’ offer for Milik may not be enough as his agent Vincenzo Morabito recently played down talks of the Poland international moving to north London in the summer. Moreover, De Laurentiis currently values the Serie A star at €50m (£45m), whereas Moura’s valuation is priced at £28m by Transfermarkt.

Needless to say, Daniel Levy will likely have to splash the cash at some point as negotiations continue, amid interest from Atletico Madrid and Juventus. Whether he will be willing to spend so far above Milik’s apparent market valuation is another matter.

Tottenham fans, do you think Daniel Levy should sign Milik in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

According to Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), Everton have registered their interest in Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti.

What’s the word?

Having wrapped up the Premier League season with a disappointing home defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti will no doubt be relieved that the transfer window will give him a chance to bring some new faces into the squad.

And according to Mundo Deportivo, one man who they have already expressed an interest in signing, is Umtiti. They claim that along with fellow Premier League side West Ham, the Toffees contacted Barcelona to let them know about the Frenchman before his latest injury setback.

It was initially suggested that the Catalan giants were not keen on letting him go, but it’s now revealed that a summer exit is considered inevitable.

Ambition

Whilst Umtiti’s injury record is certainly something to be concerned about, there’s no question that bringing him to Goodison Park would be the kind of statement-making move that would show Ancelotti that Everton mean business.

The defender has won numerous trophies at club level with Barcelona, including two La Liga titles, two domestic cups, and another pair of super cups too – that’s not to mention the World Cup he helped win with France back in 2018.

How big of an Everton fan are you? Can you spot Mikel Arteta from Graham Stuart? This quiz will test your knowledge, try it if you’re brave enough…

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This is a player who has built up a winning mentality playing for one of the best sides in European football, and that level of reputation is something that would get people to sit up and take notice.

The Toffees have been linked in recent months with Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, but Umtiti would be an undoubted step-up in profile. Ancelotti has worked with big players at some big clubs, and the Frenchman fits that to a tee.

Everton can really show their manager that they mean business this summer by signing someone who is a winner himself.