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Whilst Leicester’s Champions League hopes took a huge blow with their defeat to Newcastle United on Friday night, they were handed another damaging hit with an injury to a key player.

Having originally been in the line-up to face the Magpies at the King Power Stadium, Jonny Evans was withdrawn and was then spotted in the stands with crutches.

Whilst Brendan Rodgers has suggested that his medical staff will have to “see” regarding his availability going forwards, any potential absence would be a huge blow for the Foxes.

Since arriving from West Bromwich Albion three years ago, Evans has become a key figure at the King Power Stadium, and that has certainly been exemplified throughout the 2020/21 campaign.

He has made 28 appearances in the Premier League this term, helping the Foxes to record ten clean sheets as they chase down a position in the top four.

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His underlying statistics are also eye-catching. According to WhoScored, he has contributed 0.9 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 3.3 aerials per match in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, his 3.5 clearances per game in the league is only bettered by fellow centre-back Wesley Fofana.

Rodgers has always made clear his admiration for his fellow Northern Ireland native, labelling the 33-year-old as “top-class”.

His absence was certainly highlighted in Friday’s defeat to Newcastle. The Foxes produced an absolutely horrendous defensive showing, with a back three of Fofana, Caglar Soyuncu and Timothy Castagne struggling to keep the Magpies quiet.

Indeed, it was the first time that Leicester had conceded four goals in a Premier League game since a defeat to Bournemouth last season.

With Evans having been injured before Friday’s clash, Rodgers will certainly hope his absence is not too long, especially with the Foxes aiming to seal a place in the top four as well as having an FA Cup final on the horizon.

AND in more news, take a closer look at Caglar Soyuncu’s woeful display against Newcastle…

Former Premier League manager Lawrie Sanchez has exclusively told Football FanCast that Brendan Rodgers will be thinking long-term amid speculation surrounding his future at Leicester.

The former Liverpool boss has done an exceptional job since replacing Claude Puel two years ago, and is on the verge of leading the Foxes back into the Champions League having narrowly missed out on the final-day 12 months ago.

Leicester’s victory at Manchester United, who denied them a place in July, means that Rodgers’ team require just four points from their two remaining Premier League matches to guarantee a place in the top four.

However, should Liverpool lose at Old Trafford on Thursday, then the Foxes would need just a single point against either Chelsea or Spurs.

Rodgers has also led Leicester to their first FA Cup final since 1969, with his incredible work at the King Power Stadium leading to strong reports that Tottenham want him to replace Jose Mourinho.

But he’s since revealed that he’s “very happy” at Leicester, and Sanchez told Football FanCast that the 48-year-old will have a long-term plan.

He told Football FanCast:

“Brendan is very strategic. He left Watford to come to Reading and left Swansea to go to Liverpool.

“So, I wonder whether Brendan is thinking strategically if a couple of years at Leicester, could he go to Arsenal? Someone that can really be top of the tree.”

Sunderland are currently stuck in a horrible rut.

Lee Johnson’s men haven’t won in five matches and in the space of a fortnight; they’ve seen their automatic promotion hopes dusted.

On the chalkboard

Sunderland’s chances of securing promotion this season won’t be made any easier by the news emerging regarding Aiden McGeady.

The Irishman missed their 2-2 draw with Hull City in midweek because of a bruised foot which, given he’s got 13 assists to his name this term, was a huge blow.

It doesn’t look good for McGeady’s involvement this weekend either. Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon, Johnson admitted: “I would put him at 50-50.”

The boss continued: “He is tough and he wants to play, but his foot is still very bruised even though it is only a superficial injury, if you like – it’s nothing bone or ligament related.”

Consequently, the manager may have to start thinking about alternatives.

The solution

When the Black Cats drew with Hull it was Jordan Jones who started on McGeady’s favoured left side.

Next to Jones were Josh Scowen and Lynden Gooch but they put in two different performances.

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Gooch stood out on the right-hand side and was a menace for the Tigers’ backline. Scowen, however, isn’t particularly adept in forward areas.

Thus, in order to extract more from Sunderland’s front line, Johnson should consider unleashing Chris Maguire.

The Scot hasn’t started for the Mackems since the current manager’s very first game in charge, a 1-0 defeat to Wigan Athletic.

That’s a run of outings stretching back to the 5th December, a painstaking 27 straight league matches.

Though, there was a spell within that, specifically towards the end of February and the beginning of March where he showed his quality.

Dubbed “very talented” by Steve Parkin, he hasn’t shown many glimpses of that apart from a three-game run.

During the aforementioned time frame, the 32-year-old scored a superb goal against Crewe while picking up assists against Fleetwood and Swindon.

Maguire made his feelings felt in a recent U23 match. He let rip from range and scored a breathtaking strike from long-range against Burnley.

Having endured a spell in the youth team to get his fitness up to scratch, Johnson needs to bring him back into the first team.

AND in other news, SAFC can finally axe McFadzean by signing 18 y/o that Jack Ross thinks is “brilliant”…

Fans of West Ham United have been reacting to a post on Twitter, which relayed a report regarding the Hammers’ interest in a January move for Diego Costa.

According to a recent report by The Athletic, David Moyes stopped West Ham from making a move for the former Atletico Madrid centre-forward in the winter transfer window, as the 57-year-old felt that the Spain international would not have fit into the feeling of togetherness that is evident within his team.

Indeed, despite the fact that Moyes currently only has one out and out centre-forward in his first-team squad, the Hammers have been in remarkable form this season, with the east London side sitting in fourth place in the Premier League standings with just seven games left to play.

And, after West Ham Central relayed the report regarding Diego Costa on Twitter, fans of the Irons flocked to have their say on the matter, with many appearing to blame the club’s owners for the interest in the 32-year-old, stating their belief that David Gold and David Sullivan have no idea what they are doing in the transfer market.

So, what exactly did these West Ham United fans have to say in reaction to the report regarding Diego Costa?

“It shows GSB have no plan in place and that this season is all down to Moyes. It’s worrying how clueless they are.”

@teamwhu

“This would have been a dreadful decision to sign him…”

@Conorfitz96

“Thank Moyes for that!”

@GlennL65

“Well done Dave. Another over the hill striker – who’d have ever have guessed? Maybe Jack suggested this one?”

@monty88wham

“Good call.”

@usawhu2

“No. We have a squad playing for each other. Costa would make it all about him. We have to stop buying journeymen on massive wages.”

@sosmywife

In other news: ‘Scenes’, ‘Finally’, ‘Yessssss’ – Loads of West Ham fans ecstatic as transfer news emerges – find out more here!

It would be fair to say that Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham’s loan deal to Marseille has not gone as he would have envisaged.

The Frenchman joined the Ligue 1 outfit in January to the exasperation of former head coach Andre Villas-Boas, whilst he has only made five appearances for the club since.

As a matter of fact, he has not played longer than 45 minutes in any of his appearances for his adoptive employers.

Amidst suggestions that his spell in Marseille is not going to be extended beyond the end of the campaign, Football Insider now indicate that Ntcham no longer wants to be a Celtic player.

Certainly it’s now time for the Hoops to cash in on the three-time Scottish Premiership winner.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-roy-keane-nicky-butt-jesse-marsch-scott-brown” title=”Check out the latest news and views from Celtic’s manager hunt!”]

After arriving from Manchester City in 2017, the 25-year-old has made 147 appearances for the Hoops, scoring 24 goals. He had previously drawn praise from the likes of former Celtic manager, Neil Lennon who labelled the French midfielder as “fantastic”.

However, his contributions have dried up completely in recent seasons, missing 34 league games alone in each of the last three campaigns due to a combination of injuries, poor form and managers’ preference for others. In that time, Ntcham has contributed just eight goals.

Now rated at £3.15m by Transfermarkt, his value is only going to decrease after his disastrous spell with Marseille and a potential lack of football back with Celtic.

Before any more depreciation occurs, it would surely be a smart move from the Glasgow club to cut their losses on Ntcham and sell him.

After all, the Hoops are not going to feel any benefit of keeping him at Parkhead should he not wish to represent Celtic any more.

It would be a sad end to Ntcham’s stint with the club – and certainly not one that either he or the Hoops hierarchy will have envisaged.

AND in more news, have a look at the latest twist as Celtic aim to find a successor for Neil Lennon…

Leeds must win the race to sign Crystal Palace star Patrick van Aanholt in this summer transfer window amid reports linking him with a move elsewhere.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side have got their eye on signing the Dutchman on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.

However, Football Insider now claim that Galatasaray have offered a contract to Van Aanholt as they look to beat the Whites to his signing, with the Turkish giants also the team who have supposedly agreed a deal to land Leeds’ Gjanni Alioski.

Premier League proven

Van Aanholt is battle-hardened in English football, having played 209 times in the Premier League, and would surely be more of a guarantee in terms of hitting the ground running at Elland Road.

His more attacking style of play as a left-back is also right up Bielsa’s wheelhouse, with Gus Poyet, his former manager at Sunderland, saying: “You need to be really on top of him for his defensive duties and maybe have people around who can help him to maintain the mentality you need to defend. He’s a very offensive full back. He has an explosive ability to go forward and help the team to create chances.

“I would say use him as much as you can on the offensive side, and convince him to help with his defensive duties. But that’s his character. It is what it is. We can’t change that and he can’t be a different player than he is.”

The £55,000-a-week earning Dutchman would be a shrewd signing for Leeds given his Premier League experience and the fact he would arrive as a free agent once his contract expires.

It’s a deal which Victor Orta and co should be all over.

Meanwhile, Leeds must surely rue letting this star leave…

A ‘first teamer’ at Newcastle United has reportedly instructed his agent to go out and find him a new club, according to Football Insider.

As per the news outlet, he is described as being ‘experienced’ and an ‘international star’, and was previously happy to stay at St. James’ Park even if the Tyneside club were to find themselves relegated from the Premier League down to the EFL Championship.

However, a source in the North East has told the publication that he has now set his sights ‘firmly’ on the exit door, and wants to exit regardless of what division the Magpies are playing in come the start of the 2021/22 term.

The player is not being named by the outlet in order to protect his identity, but is believed to still have a number of years left remaining on his current deal at the Toon.

The U-turn has come as a result of the fallout of the 3-0 loss away to Brighton and Hove Albion in the top flight on Saturday night, to which he was reportedly left ‘fuming’ about.

More Newcastle misery

Although the player is not named, the fact that he has been described as a ‘first teamer’ and an ‘international star’ will surely worry many NUFC fans.

It is perhaps not a surprise to hear that he wants to leave given what has been going on at Newcastle lately, as supporters can only hope that he will change his mind again and wish to stay.

In other news, find out how close Newcastle were to signing one global ace here!

A number of Liverpool fans have been reacting negatively to rumours linking the Reds with a move for Ezequiel Garay.

The Premier League champions have suffered rotten luck in the centre-back department this season, with injuries depleting Jurgen Klopp’s men in that department. Liverpool currently have Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all out until the end of the campaign, with the first two not playing since the autumn.

It has meant that Klopp has had to use Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in defence, while youngster Nat Phillips has also been drafted in alongside winter signing Ozan Kabak.

[freshpress-quiz id=“306736”]

The Reds could eye up a new centre-back signing this summer, but one slightly surprising rumour has appeared, with Garay linked with a move to Anfield and El Gol Digital going as far as to say that a deal is close to happening.

The 34-year-old has won 32 caps for Argentina, playing against Germany in the 2014 World Cup final and impressing in the tournament. Standing at 1.88m in height, the defensive powerhouse frequently averaged two to three successful aerial duels per game, an indicator of his prowess in that department.

Considering Garay’s age and his own injury-plagued past, however, it is a transfer story which doesn’t seem to make a huge amount of sense, with some Liverpool supporters certainly of that opinion.

Liverpool fans react to Garay rumours

Here are a selection of the best reactions on Twitter.

“Nope, 34 y/o and suffered an ACL injury, hopefully it’s just his agent trying to attract interest because this move makes no sense”

Credit: @pod_kev

“No….full stop”

Credit: @kclee_19

“We’re just doing this to make Nat Phillips look faster”

Credit: @CM_LFC

“No point signing him, better off with who we’ve got now”

Credit: @Smedders1995

“Would rather pay 18 million for Kabak”

Credit: @DishuMaan

“No”

Credit: @lfcnahal

In other news, Liverpool have been dealt a big blow ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid. Read about it here.

Liverpool will be aiming to earn back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time in over a month when they host Chelsea on Thursday.

The Reds managed to edge past Sheffield United last time out at Bramall Lane courtesy of a strike from youngster Curtis Jones and an own-goal from Blades’ defender Kean Bryan.

How could Klopp line up his team for the visit of the Londoners?

We are expecting three changes to the Liverpool starting XI on Thursday, with the Reds welcoming back a few key injury returnees.

One of the most glaring changes will be in goal where Alisson will come back in to replace Adrian.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson and Ozan Kabak are all expected to line-up in defence once again.

However, one change in the back-line could be the inclusion of the fit-again Fabinho after the Brazilian returned to training. He is likely to be reintroduced in the place of Nat Phillips.

One final change could be seen in midfield. Curtis Jones is almost sure to start again after netting at Bramall Lane, whilst Georginio Wijnaldum is also likely to play from the off.

However, Klopp could consider dropping summer signing Thiago to the bench. The Spaniard has started the last ten Premier League games, failing to register a goal or an assist.

He might be replaced by fellow midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who deserves a chance to prove himself once again.

Moving into attack and the familiar trio of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are all set to start once again, despite Diogo Jota’s return to training.

AND in other news, Mo Salah signing for Real Madrid makes a lot of sense for Liverpool…

MatériaMais Notícias

Apesar de os clubes da Primeira Liga terem divulgado no começo de março uma carta pedindo a CBF o reconhecimento de criação de uma liga nacional a partir de 2017, o presidente do Cruzeiro, Gilvan Tavares, que também lidera o bloco regional de clubes do Sul, de Minas e do Rio, colocou um freio na iniciativa.

Segundo Gilvan, diante da complexidade do processo, o foco no momento é colocar a Copa Sul-Minas-Rio no calendário oficial de 2017.

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– Nossa preocupação é a liga do ano que vem ser um torneio oficial. Aí é uma coisa que vai evoluir mais para frente. 2017 é a liga como torneio oficial. Mas a liga nacional é um assunto mais amplo para debatermos, muito maior do que vocês imaginam – afirmou o cruzeirense, após reunião na CBF.

O posicionamento de Gilvan é similar ao de Eduardo Bandeira de Mello, presidente do Flamengo.

– Essa questão da liga nacional tem um significado simbólico. Não acredito que vá acontecer ano que vem. Por trás da proposta, a intenção dos clubes de serem ouvidos, se articulares e apresentarem soluções para os próprios problemas. Não vejo necessidade de se fazer isso em desacordo ou em processo conflitante com a CBF. Podemos discutir isso em conjunto. O Flamengo nunca quis ficar em oposição flagrante à CBF. Mas acho que falta a ela a percepção de ficar ao lado das boas causas – disse ele.

Gilvan ainda relatou que haverá uma reunião próxima com o secretário-geral da CBF, Walter Feldman, para discutir sob quais termos a Sul-Minas-Rio entrará no calendário.

– Eu disse a ele que nós vamos fazer primeiro mais um encontro dos clubes da Primeira Liga para definirmos tudo e chegarmos com a pauta praticamente definida com as reivindicações. A CBF está aberta e entusiasmada – completou Gilvan.