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According to a report by The Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur are ready to hand in-form attacker Son Heung-Min an extension to the five-year contract he signed in July worth £150,000-a-week, and it is once again a glowing endorsement of their transfer strategy.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the 26-year-old only committed his long-term future to Spurs little over six months ago, but following a sensational 2018/19 campaign to date the north London outfit are ready to offer him improved terms, as per The Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail report that talks between the two parties are likely to happen in the summer with the club keen to tie down a player that has become a hugely key for Mauricio Pochettino’s men – he has scored 16 goals and provided a further nine assists in 32 appearances in all competitions this season.

The report adds that Son could be in line for a pay rise of up to £40,000-a-week from Tottenham, who have failed to sign a single player in the previous two transfer windows, given he is currently thought to earn £110,000-a-week.

Spurs have got it right again

While many may criticise the north London outfit’s lack of action and therefore ambition in the market, and especially when they lose key men like Harry Kane and Dele Alli at the same time, you do have to admire the way they do their business.

Rather than just taking a punt on lots of new players for the sake of it, Pochettino trusts in the ones that he already has at his disposal and coaches to make them even better, rewarding them financially when they are.

It is a tactic that largely works given they are still in the Premier League title race and a step closer to the quarter-finals of the Champions League following their 3-0 win against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

Not bringing in new players who could easily flop may have actually helped them, as the current personnel know each other’s games inside out which can only help their chemistry on the pitch.

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In his two years in charge at Ewood Park so far, Tony Mowbray has led Blackburn Rovers to promotion back to the Championship and he looks to have seen them clear of relegation trouble this time around too.

However, some pressure may be building on the 55-year-old, as his side are currently in poor form – Rovers have lost each of their last four league outings. Mowbray referenced these struggles, and the associated pressures, ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Birmingham City.

What he said

As quoted by the Lancashire Telegraph, Mowbray has urged his side “to make sure they stay focused, believe in each other, and work hard.”

Who do you want to see promoted this year? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have picked their 3 favoured teams in the video below…

He also referenced the scrutiny he is currently under, stating that “the outside noise, you can’t do anything about, so from my perspective I don’t listen to it.”

He admitted that he puts himself under this kind of pressure too: “I feel an internal noise in myself that we’ve lost four games in a row, and for two years we’ve been used to winning games, and plenty of them.” He still believes he’s the right man to lead Rovers forward though, and has urged everyone at the club to “keep believing in each other, doing what we do.”

External pressures

The reference to ‘outside noise’ is particularly interesting as it highlights the fact that Mowbray may be feeling some external pressure. He could be referring to discontentment amongst the fanbase, the media or even coming from Rovers’ owners – Venky’s Ltd – themselves.

If Mowbray does feel that his position is beginning to come under threat, then he must arrest his side’s slump soon. However, frankly, he ought not to be in any such trouble. He has done a fine job since taking over at Ewood Park, and letting him go at this stage would be a huge error on the part of the club.

Tony Pulis has forever divided opinions with his glorified pub football style of play, but recent signing John Obi-Mikel is convinced he’s the man to bring promotion glory to Middlesbrough.

John Obi-Mikel, Premier League winner, Champions League winner, Europa League winner, FA Cup winner, and EFL Cup winner, believes his new boss Pulis is the man for the job. Even with all the negativity currently surrounding the team, Mikel’s positivity is remarkable, if not a little unfounded.

Off the pitch quarrels involving players laughing at away fans after their recent cup loss to Newport County is nothing short of disgraceful and, despite Pulis having very little control over the conduct of his players, could well spell the end of his career in charge (story via Gazette Live).

Indeed, there’s no doubt that the Welshman has really got to put his so-called managerial prowess into practise now heading into the final stages of the season if he wants to divert fans attentions away from recent controversies. And, fortunately for him, serial winner Jon Obi-Mikel is well and truly supporting him.

Mikel recently told The Northern Record: “We have to keep going, we have a very good team with a very good manager who we all believe in. We all know what he wants us to give on the pitch. If you give that he is happy. We have to keep going, we know we can achieve what we want.”

A trip up next against fellow promotion hopefuls Sheffield United, who will be keen to bounce back from their disappointment capitulation against Aston Villa, won’t be the easiest game for the club but providing they all carry their new signings optimism things may go to plan.

Without Pulis’ presence at the Riverside and the obvious promotion-related excitement that creates, someone like Mikel was attracted to the Middlesbrough project. With that in mind, like him or not – Pulis is clearly good for Boro in that regard.

Indeed, he’ll be even better if he can lead them back into the proverbial Promised Land.

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According to Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague, new Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane wants to bring Tottenham Hotspur attacker Christian Eriksen to the Bernabeu in this summer’s transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

On Monday, it was announced that Zidane had been reappointed as Madrid head coach, just 10 months after leaving the same role.

It seems likely that Los Blancos will spend big this summer as they look to improve on what has been a turbulent and disappointing 2018-19 campaign.

According to Balague, who posted a video on his official Twitter account, Zidane is keen to bring Eriksen to the Spanish capital in this summer’s transfer window.

The Denmark international will see his current deal with Spurs expire at the end of next season.

The Tottenham fans have recently questioned whether the 27-year-old wants to still be at the club and it is shaping up to be a very interesting summer transfer window.

What would Tottenham be losing?

It would probably be fair to say that Eriksen has not been at his best in recent weeks.

The playmaker has still contributed seven goals and 12 assists in all competitions this season, though, and his overall record for Tottenham is excellent.

Indeed, the Dane has managed 63 goals and 81 assists in 264 appearances for his English club in all competitions since a 2013 switch from Ajax.

It would not be a surprise if the reported interest from Real Madrid had turned his head, with the reigning European champions sure to spend heavily this summer.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he often received racist abuse after North London Derbies – Check out the video below…

Spurs need to be careful that Eriksen’s exit – if it indeed happens – does not start a trend of key players moving on in search of pastures new.

Indeed, teams will be closely monitoring the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli, particularly if the north London outfit fail to progress past the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Watford’s rise under Javi Garcia continued through the weekend, as they defeated Cardiff City 5-1 away from home to move closer to a European spot.

On a day when Watford produced thrilling counter-attacking football, the one to lead the charge was their talisman Gerard Deulofeu.

Despite missing a chunk of Watford’s campaign through injury, Deulofeu’s thriving under the free role given by Garcia. The former Barcelona man gave his best performance in a Hornets shirt, ruining Cardiff’s momentum with a thumping performance.

He scored a brilliant hat-trick, which involved a superb finish from just outside the penalty area and two electric ones in the second half where he displayed his pace and commendable finishing ability. Deulofeu later turned provider by smartly assisting Troy Deeney rather than going for another himself, proving him to be a team player.

However, the Spaniard’s output can be even better with more talented players around him. Things might not have worked for him at Barcelona, but he’s loving life at the Premier League and could prosper at certain Premier League giants, such is his level of immense quality.

With teams such as Manchester United lacking bite and pace through the right-side, he could be the perfect ingredient to add more spice and creativity to their attack. He would also blend into Unai Emery’s fast-paced style well and thrive with Aubameyang and Lacazette with him.

While Deulofeu’s not going to want to leave Watford anytime soon, his blistering performance against Cardiff proved he’s ready to start thriving at a higher level.

The chips were down for Unai Emery against Bate Borisov and in an attempt to break them, he decided to shake things up, introducing Mesut Ozil into the fray.

In only his second appearance in 2019, the Arsenal talisman proved his ability with a commendable performance in the final third.

Despite obviously not being completely fit for action after appearing for the first time in almost a month, the German’s majestic touch and clinical instincts in the final third were persisting. Right from the get-go, he created space for himself in the final third and always served as a viable option to pass to.

Rather than trying to go for glory himself, he distributed possession really well from midfield to attack, allowing his wingers to run forward. Ozil created a few glaring chances, especially in the second half when his clever through-ball wasn’t capitalized well by Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

The German gave a very disciplined performance, rarely losing possession and recording an 89% passing accuracy from more than 80 passes! He also attempted and succeeded two dribbles (stats via Fotmob), while his off the ball movement to drag away players was also glaring at multiple opportunities.

On another day, Ozil could’ve had a goal or assist. One of his shots swung closely over the post and he showed signs of his old self as the game progressed. If not anything, he proved to be ready to immerse back into Arsenal’s starting lineup to help them achieve the Europa League success.

With Bournemouth up tonight, Emery must allow the German to roam free if he’s going to keep his team in the race for Champions League qualification.

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Leyton Orient fans have expressed their pride at defender Dan Happe being called up to England’s ‘C’ team.

Happe is a graduate of the club’s youth academy and, at the age of 20, has become a fixture in the National League outfit’s defence this term.

He has made 51 appearances for Orient and has twice been voted the club’s Player of the Month this season alone.

Happe will now be eligible to make his debut for his country against Wales on Tuesday.

The England C squad is representative of Under-23 players in non-league football and they won their most recent outing, beating their Estonian counterparts 1-0 at the end of last year.

They now face a nation much closer to home, with manager Paul Fairclough naming a 16-man squad for the encounter.

He initially selected club teammate Marvin Ekpiteta, but he picked up an injury and will subsequently be replaced by Happe.

And Orient fans believe the call-up for the youngster is more than merited. Take a look at the best of the reaction on Twitter below!

Celtic have been thrown into disarray following the premature departure of Brendan Rodgers, and with their next manager the hottest topic, fans will surely be relieved to hear that Alex Neil is not in the running.

Former Celtic man Chris Sutton has blown a fuse since Rodgers exit, and probably for good reason.

The Hoops were on course for their eighth domestic title when Rodgers made the hurried decision to make his way back over to the Premier League, leaving his former team well and truly in the lurch.

We do not doubt that at some point he was going to leave: commentators have been discussing the move for some time, after all.

Former Scotland forward Kris Boyd, for example, told Talksport: “There is potential to create something there with Leicester,” (via Leicester Mercury).

“Brendan likes a project there is no doubt about that – you can see what he’s done at other clubs,

“It might be the start of something again for Leicester to stay at the top end of English football.

“In terms of the size of the club, the history then it’s a step down,

“but if you ask any manager where they want to manage then it’s the English Premier League.

“I think Brendan Rodgers would want to finish the season up here and finish it on a high as Celtic manager.”

Unfortunately Boyd and the majority of us were wrong, Rodgers has left, and with that he has created a mammoth void to be filled.

David Moyes was the first nightmare Hoops fans had to overcome, with the ex-Celtic player reportedly interested in returning to the club where his footballing career began (via Express). Considering how rotten his record has become since being sacked by Manchester United, his appointment would be most unwelcome.

Current Preston North End coach Alex Neil was the next man to be briefly linked, but, according to The Scottish Sun, the former Hamilton boss has recently ruled himself out. To the relief of many, we are sure.

Interim boss Neil Lennon is surely the preference now. Lennon has been at the club before and done great things, winning three Scottish titles and two Scottish Cups.  To consider anyone else during this vital point of transition would be negligent on the club’s part. They need someone who knows Celtic inside and out, and their current man is the best candidate for the job.

Every failed link with be music to the ears of fans.

Celtic fans, who do you want as your club’s next manager? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

تواجد ظهير أيمن الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي أياكس أمستردام، سيرجينيو ديست، صباح اليوم في العيادة الطبية لنادي برشلونة من أجل إجراء الكشف الطبي.

ووصل ديست مساء أمس، الثلاثاء، إلى المدينة الكتالونية من أجل إتمام التعاقد مع برشلونة لتكون أولى صفقات النادي في عهد المدرب، رونالد كومان. (طالع التفاصيل)

وأفادت صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية بأن اللاعب الشاب قد اجتاز بنجاح الفحوصات الطبية قبل الإعلان الرسمي عن الصفقة من قبل برشلونة في الساعات القليلة المقبلة.

بينما كشفت صحيفة “دي تيليجراف” الهولندية عن مدة عقد الأمريكي الدولي مع برشلونة وسيكون ٥ سنوات، حتى يونيو ٢٠٢٥.

الجدير بالذكر أن الصفقة ستكلف برشلونة ٢٠ مليون يورو بالإضافة إلى ٥ ملايين يورو كمتغيرات لصالح أياكس أمستردام تدفع بالتقسيط.

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Liverpool failed to break the deadlock against Bayern Munich at Anfield on Tuesday night, meaning the Champions League last 16 tie remains goalless heading into the second leg in Germany. 

The Reds were by far the more aggressive team, and squandered a number of chances to put themselves ahead. However, whilst Jurgen Klopp’s attacking contingent failed to deliver, Liverpool’s midfield and defensive units deserve praise.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

The Bundesliga club never posed much of a threat, largely because the home side were dominant in the middle of the park. The performances of club captain Jordan Henderson and 24-year-old Naby Keita particularly stood out.

Keita produced a hard-working, energetic display, and showed plenty of confidence with his dribbling and willingness to drive forward. The 31-cap Guinea international looks to have settled in on Merseyside now following his summer switch, and Liverpool fans are beginning to see the best of him.

After the match against Bayern Munich, plenty of Liverpool supporters took to Twitter to praise Keita…