Manchester City fans can’t get enough of Kyle Walker

Manchester United’s shock defeat on Sunday handed the title to Manchester City, and City fans are absolutely loving their players’ social media celebrations.

It’s been a long season, but for a long time now we’ve all known who is going to lift the Premier League title – Pep Guardiola’s incredible Manchester City.

Whether it’s Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling’s electrifying pace, Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva’s beautiful passing, or Fernandinho’s incredible industry, City have strolled their way to the Premier League title.

Fans will be doing plenty of celebrating this week, and they’re loving their heroes’ Twitter reactions, particularly a tweet from Kyle Walker.

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Walker was one of several big money signings Guardiola used to buff up the defence, and has been fabulous flying down the right wing all season.

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The 27 year-old took plenty of stick off Tottenham fans when he moved to Manchester, but he’s certainly having the last laugh, and fans have been showing the love for their full backs after the Englishman shared some tweets with Benjamin Mendy.

Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…

Evans wouldn’t provide the defensive improvement Man United need

As reported by The Sun, Manchester United are interested in signing West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans this summer.

What’s the story?

Evans of course has already played at Old Trafford, making close to 200 appearances for the club before eventually moving to his current club.

It now seems he could be set for a return to his former club.

That’s according to The Sun, who say United are eyeing a bargain £3m move for the player this summer.

The paper say he has a release clause in his contract at the Baggies for that price upon their relegation, sparking interest in his signature.

Is he a player that the Red Devils should be targeting?

Should they sign him?

Although Evans is clearly a competent defender and would likely add depth to Jose Mourinho’s defensive line, he isn’t of the quality that would improve the first team at Old Trafford, making signing him fairly pointless.

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They need to make signings that can take them to the next level in terms of competing for Premier League titles and Champions League honours and Evans isn’t that, even if he is available for a £3m fee.

Ultimately it would feel like a step backward signing a player that was surplus to requirements years ago and they should look at other defensive targets when the transfer window opens.

Fans react as Pochettino says Kane was ‘very sad’ about FA deleted tweet

Harry Kane has managed to go from England’s understated, likeable and prolific great hope for the World Cup to the butt of the internet’s jokes in a matter of weeks.

The debacle over the 23-cap Three Lions man claiming Spurs’ winning goal at Stoke hinted at a man with an obsession with goals approaching Cristiano Ronaldo’s level – why this is such a bad thing isn’t abundantly clear – and opened him up to online ridicule.

That this Twitter furore has all come at a time when Kane has struggled for form and sharpness having been rushed back too early from the injury he sustained at Bournemouth last month hasn’t helped.

That lack of fitness led him to follow up an abject showing against Manchester City at Wembley by being pocketed by Manchester United duo Chris Smalling and Phil Jones in Spurs’ 2-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat last weekend.

In the aftermath of that defeat, the FA’s official Twitter account mocked Kane with a post about Smalling keeping Kane quiet, which has turned into something of an overblown situation.

Speaking ahead of the visit of Watford, Kane’s manager Mauricio Pochettino has said his talisman was “very sad” about the “embarrassing” tweet, which has only drawn more mockery from rival supporters…

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Bellerin in advanced talks to leave Arsenal

According to Cadena Ser, Arsenal are in advanced talks with Italian champions Juventus over the sale of Hector Bellerin in a £44m deal.

What’s the story?

Bellerin has been with Arsenal since 2011, and the right-back has made over 150 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions.

The Spain international was linked with a move to Barcelona in last summer’s transfer window, but Arsenal blocked the move due to Bellerin’s excellent form last term.

According to Cadena Ser, however, the London club have now changed their tune, and are indeed prepared to sell the defender to Juventus in a £44m deal this summer.

The report claims that the Italian champions are keen to seal the deal over the next couple of weeks.

The 23-year-old has faced criticism from the Arsenal supporters for some of his performances this season, and a summer exit looks probable.

Will Arsenal regret the sale?

Bellerin has been an excellent servant to Arsenal since joining the club from Barcelona, and he has once regarded as one of the best young full-backs in European football.

It would be fair to say that the Spaniard’s form has been questionable this season, however, and £44m is an awful lot of money for a right-back.

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Arsenal’s new manager – whoever that may be – will not have the type of funds available to the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United this summer, and boosting his kitty with the sale of Bellerin makes sense for the Gunners.

Bellerin would leave a big gap in the Arsenal defence, however, with the Spain international making 44 appearances in all competitions during the 2017-18 campaign.

The defender will still hope to make the Spain squad for this summer’s World Cup, and he could be confirmed as a Juventus player before the tournament gets underway.

Mourinho confirms seven Man United starters for Watford clash

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed seven of the members of the starting eleven who will take to the field for their match against Watford on the final day of the Premier League season, as per the Manchester Evening News. 

The Red Devils have now secured second place in the Premier League and are free to experiment and rest players ahead of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on 19 May.

What’s the story, then?

The report states Mourinho added six more names to that of captain Michael Carrick, who would reportedly have captained the side against Watford irrespective of the result on Thursday night.

The reported confirmed starters are reserve goalkeeper Sergio Romero, Daley Blind – who has looked set for the exit for months – Eric Bailly, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and his fellow forward Anthony Martial.

Those revealed names hint that the 3-5-2 formation we saw from United could remain for the visit of the Hornets but it could also be a 4-3-3, with just the full-backs and central midfielders in advance of Carrick yet to be named.

Are more changes wise?

United have struggled for consistency as Mourinho has repeatedly shuffled his deck in recent weeks but it has also worked in some regards; they’ve finished second, qualified for the FA Cup final and avoided major injuries, with the exception of Romelu Lukaku, who may still make the final.

Mourinho did similar last season, as United stuttered in the final matches to finish sixth, but turned in a professional performance in the final of the Europa League to secure victory and Champions League football this time around.

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He will be hoping his players repeat the trick this term as well but Chelsea are a different prospect to the Ajax side that stood in United’s way of European glory and the starters at Wembley may well need to be at full tilt from now on; starting Sunday.

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Arsenal fans mock Sanchez following Manchester United’s FA Cup failure

Alexis Sanchez made it clear in January that he moved to Manchester United from Arsenal to win trophies.

That comment seems to have come back to haunt the Chile international as he was on the losing side in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

United were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea, with Eden Hazard’s first-half penalty being the difference, but Jose Mourinho’s team were unable to inspire a comeback.

Sanchez struggled to make an impact on the game, and it reflected the beginning of the attacker’s career at United.

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In reality, the Chilean has only had a handful of matches where he has hugely impressed, showing glimpses of the quality that he regularly displayed at Arsenal.

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Following his January switch, Sanchez went on to score three goals and create three assists for the Red Devils in 18 appearances in all competitions.

Last season, the attacker ended the campaign as an FA Cup winner with Arsenal, but he could not repeat that success with United on Saturday evening.

Golovin could be a cut-price midfield option that allows Jose to spend elsewhere

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho’s scouting mission to Austria vs Russia was not to run the rule over Marko Arnautovic but central midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, according to the Sun. 

What’s the story, then?

The Sun report that Golovin is valued at £15m and it was he, not Arnautovic, that the United boss was scouring in Innsbruck with a view to bolstering his options in the engine room this summer.

It also goes on to say that Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and central midfielder Marouane Fellaini will all depart Old Trafford this summer and Golovin is an option that is low-risk.

They also claim that Golovin is the golden boy of Russian football, so getting a deal in place before he carries his country’s hopes at a home World Cup would be wise.

Golovin would be a cheap Fellaini upgrade

With Marouane Fellaini set to depart for nothing this summer, it is imperative that United manage to replace him without breaking the bank and Golovin is someone who could go into the first team with his talents.

He could complete the 4-3-3 with Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba and coming off the back of being the talisman for a World Cup host nation, he should be able to live with the weight of expectation at a superpower like United.

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The 22-year-old has also been seen at close quarters by Mourinho before, in this season’s Champions League group stage so is no stranger to United’s fans.

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Fans leap to defend Sterling after reports he was late to England duty

Raheem Sterling has been the victim of an aggressive media campaign, designed to make him England’s scapegoat before the World Cup has even begun and picking up the vitriol that began during Euro 2016, when he performed poorly, like others, including Harry Kane, but bore the brunt of the criticism.

It is blatant and cynical, and the coverage over his tattoo, which everyone who took a modicum of time to look into the reasons for knew was not glamourising knife crime, but was to remember his dad who was shot dead when he was two, was shocking.

Sterling -valued at £81m by Transfermarkt – has probably come to expect it, but it meant that Gareth Southgate mentioning that he turned up 12 hours late for England duty after confusion about his connecting flights back from Jamaica was heavily reported.

It was conflated alongside reporting of his gun ink, becoming an ‘in the same week’ story despite the fact that Sterling returned 10 days ago and the tabloid press kicked up a stink about the tattoo this week when it is not a new thing.

Thankfully, football fans showed some sanity and bravery to stick up for the reputation of a man who is getting a kicking in the press for no particular reason…

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Wolves would be wise to sign Peacock-Farrell, but he needs game time

According to The Sun on Sunday (June 10th, page 60), Wolverhampton Wanderers are being linked with a move for Leeds United goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

What’s the story?

Peacock-Farrell emerged as Leeds’ no.1 last season and made 11 appearances for the Whites at the back end of the campaign.

The Sun reports that the 21-year-old, who is valued at £90,000 on Transfermarkt, would be signed in addition to Wolves’ longstanding target Rui Patricio.

The Northern Ireland ‘keeper made his debut for his country recently, playing in the second half of a 0-0 draw against Panama.

A good signing for Wolves?

Peacock-Farrell became a fan-favourite at Leeds after taking the no.1 jersey from Felix Wiedwald.

It is clear the youngster has talent but with potential competition in Rui Patricio and the Championship Goalkeeper of the Year in John Ruddy, Peacock-Farrell would struggle for minutes for some time.

It is possible Wolves would want to send the ‘keeper back on loan, which would be sensible as he is clearly of a standard to play in the Championship, and it would be a shame for him to keep a Molineux bench warm.

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It is good to see that Wolves are looking to the future, but with such competition for places, fans will be hoping Peacock-Farrell continues to learn his trade on loan.

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Freddie Woodman would give Hibs depth they need next season

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.

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