Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min is attracting interest from Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, according to Sport1.
What’s the word?
It is difficult to overshadow the enormity of Harry Kane at Tottenham, but last season, Son became reliable for goals when his teammate was out of action.
In total, the South Korean international found the back of the net 18 times and produced 11 assists to help Mauricio Pochettino’s side to another decent season.
The club secured third place in the Premier League table and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, but ended up losing to Manchester United.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Sport1 reported on Tuesday that Arsenal, United and Liverpool are all tracking Son.
The media outlet stated that the 25-year-old feels ready to move up to the next level in his career.
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Why are Liverpool the wrong option?
There is nothing to say that Son would not succeed at Anfield, but the question is, would it be a step up?
Both Tottenham and Liverpool are regular top-four contenders, but it is Spurs who have finished higher in the table than the Reds in the past three seasons.
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Jurgen Klopp managed to guide the Merseyside outfit to the Champions League final, of which they ultimately lost, in the 2017-18 campaign.
However, the seasons between Tottenham and Liverpool were not far apart.
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Both clubs are heading in the right direction with their respective managers, and both seem to be on a relatively level playing field.
Therefore, it would make very little sense for Son to switch to Liverpool if his desire is to move up a gear.
With the end of the season fast approaching, the pressure’s really beginning to tell in the Premier League. While those near the bottom of the table are nervously partaking in low-scoring encounters as they seek to keep the points tally ticking over, many of the sides at the top are still struggling with turbulent form and underwhelming performances.
But the pressure throughout the division is precisely why we love the Premier League, and Gameweek 29 certainly wasn’t short of talking points. We run through all the action in the top flight with a look back at those who triumphed and those who toiled…
Winner – Jack Butland
With Joe Hart still stuck on the bench at West Ham, the race for England’s World Cup gloves is well and truly on – and after contrasting fortunes for two of the leading candidates in Gameweek 29, it’s quickly becoming Jack Butland’s spot in the starting XI to lose.
While Jordan Pickford came under the spotlight on Match of the Day for conceding two goals he could have easily prevented by positioning himself better and being more proactive, Butland made six huge saves to seal Stoke City what could prove to be a vital point away at Southampton.
The Three Lions face Netherlands and Italy later this month and Butland looks set to enter the international break as Gareth Southgate’s No.1.
Loser – Sam Allardyce
The situation is starting to become toxic at Everton and the 2-1 defeat to Burnley on Sunday was another damning blow to Sam Allardyce’s tenure.
While there’s no shame in coming up short at Turf Moor, it marked Everton’s sixth defeat in nine Premier League games and their fifth straight loss on the road in the top flight.
Toffees fans always felt uneasy with the appointment because of Allardyce’s notoriously pragmatic and attritional style of play, but when it’s not getting results either the one-time England gaffer is left without a leg to stand on.
An abrupt dismissal this summer now seems inevitable unless Everton can start picking up good results while playing positive football.
Winner – Slaven Bilic
Slaven Bilic became the fall guy for West Ham’s horrendous start to the season, but a shock capitulation against Swansea on Saturday suggests the problems at the London Stadium stem far deeper than the man in the dugout.
Although injuries were no doubt a factor – at one point, West Ham’s defence at the Liberty Stadium consisted of four full-backs – the result and manner of performance highlighted the inconsistent mindset at the heart of this team that oft falls victim to complacency.
While Bilic surely wishes his former club no ill-feeling, he will have felt somewhat vindicated on Saturday as the Irons took a nervous step back towards the relegation zone.
Losers – Arsenal’s players
It’s all well and good blaming Arsene Wenger, but the 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday was as much about the will of the players as tactics, philosophy, transfer policy or any other grievance that can be put at the Frenchman’s door.
Arsenal’s players simply weren’t up for the challenge from the off like Chris Hughton’s side were, rushing to a two-goal lead within 26 minutes and seeing the game out from that point. Of course, if the players are no longer responding to Wenger, a change is inevitably needed.
But especially after such a humiliating week in which Manchester City humbled them twice, there was a disturbing lack of professional pride on Sunday. Arsenal’s most experienced players need to take a look at themselves.
Winners – Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace may have missed out on just rewards for what was a fantastic performance against Manchester United, but the Eagles need to look at the positives amid their relegation scrap.
Only a Nemanja Matic wonderstrike in added time stopped them from picking up a huge point against the second-best team in England and it’s vital Roy Hodgson retains that mentality and positive approach in the coming weeks when his side face Chelsea and Liverpool.
If the South Londoners can take a few points from those games, they’ll enter the run-in with fate largely in their hands as they encounter a number of relegation rivals.
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Loser – Anti-football
Chelsea’s passive performance at Manchester City on Sunday has moved the debate over defensive football to the very heart of the Premier League. It’s one thing Newcastle playing for goal difference against Pep Guardiola’s side, but it’s another when the Premier League’s reigning champions are doing it as well.
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Handing City three points essentially before a ball was kicked, Antonio Conte’s approach has been rightly criticised from practically all quarters.
Perhaps it will be vindicated at the end of the season should the top four race come down to goal difference, but it so sharply contrasts with the mentality of the Premier League that it’s hard to truly see the merits of the anti-football that has disappointingly been seen throughout all levels of the top flight this season.
Winner – United’s Fergie Throwback
Speaking of defensive football, after all the criticism Jose Mourinho has received this season, last night’s incredible comeback at Selhurst Park was undoubtedly a crucially therapeutic and cathartic experience for Manchester United.
Hardly stunning football, excepting Matic’s winning goal, but United’s three goals after going two down contained delicious traces of the Ferguson years and provided a positive spin to a gameweek that will mostly be remembered for how painfully dull Chelsea made its headline clash.
That comeback also breeds vital belief into a United squad that has often looked uncertain of itself in recent months.
Javier Hernandez has left Manchester United for Real Madrid and The Red Devils have lost a gem.
From day one at Manchester United the Mexican international won a lot of fans with his incredible finishing ability and his mesmerising movement off of the ball to create space for his more senior team-mates with far greater experience. It didn’t work out for Hernandez at Old Trafford and it was a massive waste of clear talent by Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes.
Overall for Manchester United the 26-year-old made 102 Premier League appearances, however over half of those outings were made from the bench (51.9%). It all looked to be a real attempt at forcing a Javier into a super-sub mould, like one-time Red Devil Ole Gunner Solskjaer.
Now at Real Madrid you would expect for ‘Chicharito’ to only get chances off of the bench as he is competing with a consistently brilliant front three of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the stats suggest that Sir Alex made a big mistake with his use of Hernandez.
In his first Premier League campaign he scored 13 goals in just 15 starts and 13 substitute appearances. In his second and third seasons with United he scored 10 in each – so therefore not failing to hit double figures despite sporadic appearances.
Sir Alex Ferguson signed him in the 2010/11 season and during the Premier League campaign he outscored Wayne Rooney 13-11.
During his second season with the club he had to compete directly with Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, and academy graduate Danny Welbeck for a starting place. It was expected that he wouldn’t be chosen ahead of talisman Rooney or £30m signing Berbatov, but many would have put him ahead of Welbeck who was making his first appearances for United. The now Arsenal striker made more appearances than Hernandez throughout the Premier League season and yet was outscored by the Mexican 10-9. Of course Sir Alex wanted to build for the future with Welbeck but he was clearly wasting Hernandez on the bench.
In his third season, which was to be Sir Alex’s last, new signing Robin van Persie was the clear top goalscorer as he carried The Red Devils to their most recent title. Rooney was still in full use as he made 22 Premier League starts and scored a credible 12 goals. Hernandez started only 9 league matches and still managed to chalk up 10 goals whereas Welbeck was again above the Mexican who started 13 league matches, scoring just one goal – make your own mind up there.
From title winners to a season of misery as David Moyes took charge and he again picked Welbeck over Hernandez but did follow in SAF’s footsteps of making ‘Chicharito’ United’s most used substitute with 18 appearances off of the bench. Javier was now well and truly cemented as fourth choice with RVP, Rooney and Welbeck all making more starts and scoring more goals than the Mexican.
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And so onto this season where we now expect ‘Chicharito’ to get just a small amount of minutes each week. His Real Madrid career is in the very early stages but he has so far played 52 minutes of La Liga football and has already netted twice in that period. With Ronaldo and Bale preferring the wider positions, Javier is now only behind Benzema and if the Frenchman was to pick up an injury, Hernanadez would surely be given the first team chances he deserves.
Sir Alex Ferguson wasted Hernandez’s ability and the Mexican was one of a few mistakes that the retired Scotsman made.
It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…
Roy Hodgson has announced his squad for England’s friendly against Sweden next week. The national coach has made a number of changes from his previous squad that took on Poland and San Marino last month.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been included in the squad despite the wishes of Arsene Wenger. The central midfielder has only recently returned to first team football following a 16 month absence with injuries to his ankle, foot and knee and the Gunners boss feared that too many competitive games over a short spell could hinder the 20-year-old’s recovery process.
However, Wilshere is now suspended in the Premier League after being sent off against Manchester United last Saturday and will be unavailable for Arsenal’s clash with Fulham, which should ease the French coach’s concerns. Ashley Young also returns to the England team after spending a portion of this season on the injury list.
Hodgson has included a number of young players in his squad, including Raheem Sterling, 17, and Jonjo Shelvey, 20, who have impressed for Liverpool this season. Former members of the London Olympics Great Britain team Steven Caulker and Ryan Bertrand, have also been drawn in to Hodgson’s 23-man squad, while Manchester United youngsters Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck remain involved.
Uncapped Everton midfielder Leon Osman finally earns his first international call-up at 31 years of age and team-mates Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines keep their places.
Steven Gerrard is set to skipper the side for the game at the newly built Friends Arena, marking his 100th appearance in an England shirt.
Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe have been left out of the squad despite both being in good form this season, and the latter starting against Poland last month. Michael Carrick and James Milner were also in the Three Lion’s first XI for the 1-1 draw in Warsaw but have missed out on places in next week’s friendly.
The young line-up and inclusion of the likes of Leon Osman suggests that Hodgson will be using the friendly against Sweden as an opportunity to experiment, analyse his quality in depth, and find out if any of the young English talent that will be on display are ready to perform on the international stage.
The full squad list is as follows:
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According to ESPN, Everton and Southampton have made bids for colossal Borussia Monchengladbach defender Jannik Vestergaard.
What’s the story?
The 25-year-old central defender has played for the German club since 2016 and has made 66 appearances in the Bundesliga, scoring seven goals.
The 6ft7 defensive giant is in Denmark’s squad for the World Cup and his impressive stature and physicality make him the ideal candidate for a Premier League move.
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According to ESPN, Everton and Southampton have launched bids for the Dane, and West Ham and Watford are also interested in securing his services this summer.
Where should he go?
Both Southampton and Everton are in need of defensive reinforcements, with Everton needing to rejuvenate an ageing back line, and Southampton still hoping to replace Virgil Van Dijk who left the club in January.
Vestergaard is valued at £12.6million on Transfermarkt and probably wouldn’t come cheap, but he could be a proper defensive stalwart at the heart of any defence.
Marco Silva’s project at Everton would be the more appealing option as he could partner Michael Keane at the back and form a strong partnership with the English centre-back.
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Meanwhile Southampton are looking to bounce back following a disappointing season and Vestergaard is in a similar mould to Van Dijk, but surely Everton would be the more exciting prospect.
Toffees fans will already be dreaming of Vestergaard latching onto Sigurdsson set-pieces and he could be exactly the young and powerful defender that Silva is looking for.
Aston Villa’s seven-game winning run in the Championship came to an end on Saturday in a 2-0 defeat to another in-form side, Fulham.Steve Bruce’s men had been flying high, particularly after beating arch rivals Birmingham City in the previous round of matches.However, the Cottagers had the edge on home soil as they extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches thanks to goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Floyd Ayite.Villa dropped out of the top two as a result, but are just two points adrift of an automatic promotion spot to the Premier League.https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/manager-vs-manager.mp4Fulham are on their shoulder, though, as they linger four points behind them in fifth place.Ahmed Elmohamady has been one of Villa’s important players this season having made 30 appearances and creating five assists.The Egyptian international, who was substituted after 46 minutes following a challenge from Matt Targett, took to Twitter after the final whistle.The post was brief, but gave a very clear indication that Elmohamady is not wallowing.
Raheem Sterling has his supporters. In part it’s owed to the general lack of hope for England going into this World Cup, while the rest is made up from the continued shameless hyping of young players.
What isn’t being taken into account as we near England’s first game against Italy is tactics – and if there are a few mutterings of such a concept, they’re being kept quiet and well away from the majority opinion.
Raheem Sterling deserves to be at this World Cup following the excellent half-season he had with Liverpool. He’s earned the right to be part of Roy Hodgson’s squad, but let’s not mistake a merited place for entitlement into a starting XI.
The 19-year-old has been picked for his form with Liverpool; we don’t know what he’ll be like at a major international tournament – the biggest in fact, due to its setting. What would be a positive is Sterling going out and justifying his place in the team, justifying all those who are demanding his inclusion in the XI to face Italy.
Sterling is an exciting player. Forget what he can do against opposition players, he’s the type of player who lifts supporters. He’s quickly become a symbol of hope for a nation who don’t really have much to lean on in the build up to this tournament. Wayne Rooney? Most are now disillusioned and unconvinced.
But what if Sterling comes up short? What if he falls flat and becomes yet another built-up England player to disappoint on the big stage? I’m not hoping for any of that, which is why I don’t see the point in all the commotion. Isn’t it enough that Hodgson has picked Sterling in a youth-heavy squad? If he makes it onto the pitch in Manaus, either starting or as a sub, it will be because the coach has been suitably convinced himself that Sterling should be involved.
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So let’s do away with the hype and exclamations of youthful exuberance. Let Sterling’s performances do the talking. It’s easy to forget that this is a player who doesn’t have a full season of high-level consistency under his belt. He did well this past season from Christmas up until the end of the campaign, and also for brief spells under Kenny Dalglish. There’s been nothing sustained over a period of 38 games yet.
For the player himself, this is an unbelievable opportunity to prove that he belongs, that he wasn’t just riding the feel-good wave at Anfield last season. I don’t doubt his talents. I am, however, sceptical and a little wary of the responsibility being forced Sterling’s way. Youth and naivety will do a lot for the nerves, but the clamour for his inclusion won’t be lost on the 19-year-old, and with it the responsibility becomes real and the weight that much heavier. This tournament will be good preparation for the next for the younger members of the squad, but is it wise to lay so much at the feet of young players?
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For now, Sterling is an option for England and Hodgson. He’s an option because his skills and talent haven’t been refined to the point where he’s an established star. He’s an option, unlike the big names in the Spain team, or the way Brazil are leaning on Neymar for inspiration. Sterling is an option because England don’t have a defined way of playing; despite his reputation for the conservative, we’re not entirely sure how Hodgson will set his team up in Brazil. England aren’t a team who can dominate others, so shifting tactical focus game by game makes sense.
Above all, this is an exciting opportunity for a youngster to play at a World Cup in Brazil – and I think many have forgotten that. Fans should ride alongside Sterling in the event he enjoys a positive tournament, but the key should be in letting him find his feet in an unfamiliar international environment.
Tuesday will see Kenny Jackett celebrate five years in charge of Millwall. How ironic that he will celebrate it away at the club he spent his playing career, Watford too.
Jackett joined Millwall with the club in a dire situation, in the dregs of League One and seemingly heading to League Two, and if they went down, they weren’t coming back for a long time.
Jacket’s first game was away to Altrincham in the F.A Cup and looking at the team we have now compared to that game is astonishing. The likes on Marcus Bignot, Ahmet Brkovic and Will Hoskins. Now we have Liam Trotter, Darius Henderson and James Henry.
The Lions stayed up by the skin of their teeth that season, it was now Jackett’s time, make the team his own.
He certainly did that!
The likes of David Forde and Jimmy Abdou were brought in, plus James Henry on loan. These players excelled, Millwall were big by name in the division, but not by finance, Forde and Abdou were major signings for the team and they were both free transfers, a masterstroke by Kenny. They may have lost in the Play-Off final that season, but Jackett was still in the building process.
Kenny pulled off some shrewd business yet again, Jack Smith, Liam Trotter and Darren Ward all brought in on frees, then came the pivotal signing, Steve Morison, a punt from non-league that came off in a big way!
Yet again the Lions were on a small budget, their rumored transfer budget for the summer of 2009 was 75K. Kenny was a miracle worker once again in the transfer market.
Many expected the Lions to struggle, but narrowly missing out on the Play-Offs was the spirited final finish, this was down to a great passion and togetherness, oh, and Steve Morison.
But then came Kenny’s biggest challenge.
Morison left for the gravy train of the Premier League and Norwich City, leaving ‘Wall with about 20 goals missing from their side. Jackett made some mistakes but they were rectified in January, the signings of Shane Lowry and Andy Keogh, plus the signing of Harry Kane on loan kept the Lions up, and Keogh only cost 200k from Premier League Wolves….
After a 6-0 defeat to Birmingham City last season, the Lions were applauded off the field. This was a turning point, the fans trusted Kenny, and we knew he could do it.
Jackett is the seventh-longest serving manager in English football, and no wonder. He’s played to the strengths of the club, built a strong powerful team, and look at the players, Darius Henderson, proven goalscorer, free. Liam Trotter, Premier League potential, free. Danny Shittu, a real ‘wall rock at the back, free.
Need I go on?
Kenny is the most underrated manager in the division, he got a team from the bottom six of League One to the outskirts of the Play-Offs to the Premier League, he’s never mentioned for jobs, he’s seen as unfashionable by other clubs, I don’t mind, an underrated club and manager get along very well, its hard to imagine KJ manage another club despite his previous success at helping turn Swansea into the attractive club they are today.
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One thing that has already stood out for me with Kenny is his professionalism. Millwall fans found out Jackett’s father died a couple days after the Play-Off final, when in real fact, he sadly passed away in April, he only told a few of his coaching staff but not the players, until after the final whistle at Wembley, for some reason this just always stuck out in my mind.
In a time of managers chopping and changing Kenny is a shining light in Championship football.
Lets raise a glass to five years to Kenny, here’s to many more!
As reported by The Daily Record, Hibernian are one of the teams interested in bringing Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman back to the Scottish Premiership next season.
What’s the story?
The 21-year-old goalkeeping prospect has already had two spells north of the border, featuring for both Kilmarnock and Aberdeen on loan over the past two seasons.
Now, after shining for England in the Toulon Tournament, he is set for another return to Scotland with a trio of ambitious teams looking to sign him up.
The Daily Record report that Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen are all interested in securing another loan for the player.
Rated at £450,000 by Transfermarkt, is he the kind of player that Neil Lennon should be looking at this summer?
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Would he be a good signing?
With Cammy Bell departing the club to join Partick Thistle, Hibs are definitely on the look-out for a goalkeeper that can compete with and provide back up to established number one Ofir Marciano.
There are even rumblings that Marciano himself could be on his way out, with The Scottish Sun reporting last month that Israeli side Maccabi Tel-Aviv are interested in signing him in the transfer window.
Hibs need to ensure they aren’t caught out in the goalkeeping areas, leaving them with a lack of depth early in the summer.
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Woodman would fit the bill having impressed for both Killie and Aberdeen on his previous trips over the border, helping keep 7 cleans sheets in 23 appearances between the two clubs.
He may not have the experience that usually comes with the position, but he’s clearly an excellent prospect who can give the Easter Road side the depth they need.
In an interview with ESPN, Christian Pulisic has revealed that he would like to play in the Premier League one day, fuelling rumours of a potential move to Manchester United.
The 19-year-old, who is valued at £40.5million by Transfermarkt, stated;
“Of course, the Premier League is an unbelievable league. You never know in football what can happen”.
Pulisic is an American international and has been one of the most revered stars in the Bundesliga for the last 18 months.
The 19-year-old will miss out on the 2018 World Cup, after the USA failed to qualify and will be a significant loss to the tournament.
However, fans of English football could be seeing more of him sooner rather than later, if his latest quotes are to be taken seriously.
Upon hearing the comments from Pulisic, Manchester United fans took to Twitter desperate to see the young star play at Old Trafford in the future…
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