Revealed: Majority of Man City fans want Zinchenko to start ahead of Danilo in Carabao Cup final

Pep Guardiola enters his first cup final as Manchester City manager knowing no team in England has come close to paralleling the imperious form of his illustrious side this season, not least including opponents Arsenal who look set to endure another campaign that sees them finish outside of the Premier League’s top four.

But the Etihad gaffer is not without conundrums ahead of Sunday’s 4.30pm kickoff. While forward Raheem Sterling remains perhaps the most significant injury doubt, Guardiola has a key decision to make at left-back with summer signing Benjamin Mendy still absent and ad hoc understudy Fabian Delph suspended after being sent off in the shock FA Cup defeat to League One’s Wigan.

With versatile full-back Danilo and exciting youngster Oleksandr Zinchenko to choose from, it’s essentially a tossup between the Brazilian’s experience and the latter’s prodigal creative quality, as an offensive-minded midfielder essentially shoehorned into the No.3 berth this term.

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We posed that exact dilemma to City fans earlier this week, and our poll revealed that 80% of City supporters want the 21-year-old to start at left-back ahead of Danilo on Sunday.

How would line up Guardiola’s defence this weekend, City fans? Let us know by commenting below…

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Southampton fans fear relegation after heavy defeat to Newcastle

Southampton fans appear certain their club is about to be relegated from the English Premier League after suffering another defeat on Saturday, this time losing heavily away to Newcastle at St James’ Park.

It was a match that Saints needed to win, or at least salvage a draw from, but Mauricio Pellegrino’s side looked as bad as they have all season against the Magpies, beaten easily by a three-goal margin.

Mauricio Pellegrino’s side have won just once in the Premier League since late November and fans have been calling for him to be sacked for months.

Out-of-form and just one point above the relegation zone with just eight games remaining though, supporters now seem resigned to their fate, believing it’s inevitable they are dropping down to the English Championship.

It’d be a remarkable fall from grace after finishing eighth last season.

Can Pellegrino save them in the final stages of the season? Would a new manager at least give them a fighting chance?

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Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts…

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Everton should do whatever it takes to sign Marega

According to reports in Portugal, Everton will flex their financial muscle this summer to sign Porto striker Moussa Marega.

What’s the story

Everton look set for another busy transfer window this summer, and Portuguese outlet A Bola claims the Toffees are after Moussa Marega.

The report claims Everton are extremely keen on Marega after his incredible season, but face competition from Swansea and West Ham.

However, with Swansea’s lack of financial power and West Ham’s precarious position in the relegation scrap, Everton should be front-runners. According to A Bola, Marega has a release clause of €40million (£34.9m) and Everton have “deeper pockets” than the other interested parties.

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Should Everton splash the cash?

Valued at £10.8million by Transfermarkt, signing Marega would be a massive statement of intent from the Blues. Fans may be dubious about signing a relatively unknown player from one of Europe’s lesser leagues, but the Mali international has been simply incredible this season.

After spending the 2016/17 season on loan with Vitória Guimarães, where he scored 13 times in 25 league appearances, the 26 year-old has scored a remarkable 20 goals in 24 league games for Porto this season.

He is best suited to playing alongside another striker, as he has done with Vincent Aboubakar. His pace and power make him a force to be reckoned with, and having found his confidence and finishing touch this season he has been virtually unstoppable for the league leaders.

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If Everton can wrap up a deal for around £30million, Marega could form a sensational partnership with Cenk Tosun as he has done with Aboubakar, and Everton fans could finally see some goals at Goodison.

Everton fans, would you be happy with a £34.9m deal for Marega? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

West Ham fans react to David Moyes’ surprising win percentage statistic

West Ham United boss David Moyes perhaps surprisingly has the worst win percentage of any permanent manager the club has ever had, and Irons fans have been quick to have their say on the statistic.

The Scot has won just six of his 23 matches in charge of the east London outfit so far to leave him with a win percentage of 26.1%, which is lower than the likes of Gianfranco Zola, Glenn Roeder and Avram Grant.

However, those managers were in charge of the Hammers for longer than Moyes, whom the London Stadium faithful are quickly losing patience with, has been, while he isn’t really working with his own squad given he has only signed Joao Mario and Jordan Hugill since succeeding Slaven Bilic in November.

West Ham supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the news and Moyes, and while one said “bit unfair to judge him like so when it’s Bilic’s squad”, another said “stats can be misleading”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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HYS: Should Sofiane Boufal start vs Leicester?

Southampton face a must-win game against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Thursday night in their bid to preserve their Premier League status, and Mark Hughes will be considering making changes to the team that surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against Chelsea at St Mary’s on Saturday.

Charlie Austin, Mario Lemina, Manolo Gabbiadini and Sofiane Boufal were among those players that started on the substitutes’ bench against Antonio Conte’s side, and they are the types of individuals that could be needed against the Foxes in order for the south coast outfit to improve their survival chances as they now lie five points from safety.

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Boufal started Hughes’ first match in charge against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup last month, but he has played just 23 minutes of Premier League football since then.

Despite often flattering to deceive, there is no doubt that the attacker, who is rated at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, can produce that moment of magic because of his ability on the ball, and perhaps he should be preferred to the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Dusan Tadic, who was critcised by his own fans on Twitter in February, in the XI.

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So, Southampton fans, do you think Boufal should start this crucial clash at the King Power Stadium? Let us know by voting below…

Tottenham could lose Dembele to Juventus

According to the London Evening Standard, Juventus are continuing to monitor Mousa Dembele’s contract situation at Tottenham Hotspur as the Italian giants consider a move for the midfielder at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.

What’s the story?

Dembele is currently enjoying his best season in a Tottenham shirt, with the Belgium international receiving widespread praise for his form throughout the campaign.

There is no getting away from the fact that Dembele’s Spurs deal will expire next summer, however, and it is understood that the midfielder is not prepared to discuss an extension until after the 2018 World Cup.

According to the London Evening Standard, Juventus have been frustrated by their inability to close a deal for Liverpool midfielder Emre Can, and could now be ready to drop their interest in the German to pursue Dembele.

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It will certainly be a concern for Tottenham as the midfielder prepares to enter the final 12 months of his contract, and Juventus are seemingly becoming increasingly confident of turning Dembele’s head by offering a significantly better deal.

How important is Dembele to Spurs?

Dembele joined Tottenham from Fulham in 2012, and was extremely consistent in his first five seasons with the London club without really making a serious impression.

The Belgian has taken his performances to a new level this season, however, with his form throughout the campaign key to Tottenham’s success.

Dembele, who is valued at £16.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has not actually scored or indeed provided an assist in his 35 club appearances this season, but his contribution from the middle of the park has been so impressive.

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There are few players in the Premier League that carry the ball better under pressure, whilst the 30-year-old’s use of the ball and positioning has gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months.

Much is made of Harry Kane’s importance to Tottenham, but it would be an absolute disaster if the London club failed to keep hold of one of Europe’s outstanding midfielders.

Poyet sticks up for Arsenal in trophy debate with Tottenham Hotspur

There seems to be a power shift in North London, particularly where the Premier League is concerned.

Tottenham Hotspur are on course to finish above their enemies Arsenal for the second consecutive season, although their fans are not too jovial about it.

In fact, the Gunners are also likely to miss out on Champions League qualification for the second year in a row.

At the moment, Spurs have a 13-point advantage over Arsenal with four league games left to play, while Wenger’s men have five left in the calendar.

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While Tottenham may be dominating the league table in comparison to their neighbours, it is the other half of North London who have a healthier trophy cabinet.

Arsenal have scooped 13 league titles, as well as 13 FA Cups and two League Cups, while Spurs have two top-flight titles, eight FA Cups and four League Cups to their name.

Many have criticised Wenger and his team for not winning the league since the 2003-04 campaign, but the club have taken home four FA Cups since then.

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Former Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet believes that it is unfair to blast Arsenal when their local rivals have not picked up a piece of silverware since their League Cup triumph in 2007-08.

While speaking to talkSPORT, the 50-year-old said:

“We cannot talk about a great season [for Tottenham], we can talk about a good season. It’s a good season if you get in the Champions League – it’s very difficult to get there – but for a great season you need a trophy. I think we can’t always criticise Arsenal for not winning trophies, but then go to the other side of London and say that it’s okay not winning trophies.”

Sunderland fans have been stunned by Coleman’s departure

When Sunderland finally succumbed to relegation after a number of shambolic years in the Premier League, there can’t have been many people who expected them to make an instant promotion charge.

However, there was a school of thought that being demoted may actually allow the club to stabilise itself; having hit rock bottom, they could begin to move forward.

It turns out that relegation wasn’t rock bottom and both Simon Grayson and Chris Coleman have been unable to arrest the slide, despite a high turnover of players.

Under Coleman’s guidance, the Black Cats have been unable to get themselves out of trouble and they will finish the season bottom of the league, just as they did in the top flight under David Moyes last season.

With one game of the season to go, the club has also made the decision to relieve Coleman of his duties, much to the surprise of many fans…

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HYS: Should Spurs really pursue Ranieri to replace Pochettino?

Mauricio Pochettino has always seemed completely committed to the project he has built on a slender budget at Tottenham Hotspur, even in the absence of trophies at present.

That has been a major factor behind the willingness of both players and fans to buy into the as yet potless project under the Argentine but following the 2-1 Wembley defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup, the mask began to slip for the very first time.

Pochettino’s comments that Spurs need time “under him or another” to further their progress belied for the first time the previously unthinkable prospect of the former Southampton manager walking away from the project he appears so committed to.

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In the wake of that, French outlet Presse Ocean have reported that former Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri, 66, has emerged as a contender to replace Pochettino, following his departure from Nantes.

So, that’s why we’re asking Spurs fans a question that would have been unthinkable a month ago; should Ranieri replace Pochettino?

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Let us know by voting in the poll below and look out for the result in the days around Spurs’ meeting with the Foxes on the final game of the season…

HYS: Who should Everton sign this summer?

It’s that time of the year again, the transfer window is open and the rumour mill is in full flow, but who should Everton sign this summer?

Last season was a major disappointment for Everton fans, as the summer transfer window that was supposed to push them towards the top six only pushed two managers out the door.

Sam Allardyce replaced Ronald Koeman and did exactly what he was asked to do by keeping the Toffees up, but at the expense of his relationship with the fans.

Big Sam has of course now left the club, but the lack of a new manager appointment isn’t stopping the constant flow of transfer rumours.

Marcel Brands joined the Toffees last week, which could hopefully mean a new dawn for the club, with the Dutch transfer wizard looking to fix the mistakes of last summer.

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Brands has an excellent reputation for spotting talent on the cheap, so with a larger budget than his previous clubs he could work wonders, but who should the Toffees actually target this summer?

Links to Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri and Watford’s Richarlison seem to suggest the Toffees are after a new winger, perhaps no surprise given the form of Yannick Bolasie. Brands would be much better served looking to his former club though, with the electric Hirving Lozano, who has 19 PSV goals this season, a far superior player to the other linked wingers.

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One would have to think the new manager will want a new central midfielder as well, with Sporting CP’s William Carvalho one of the names linked with a move to Goodison.

So, Everton fans, who do you want to sign this summer? Let us know by voting in the poll below…

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