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Manchester City have spent the last decade or so building a massive profile for themselves on the world football stage.

Despite no Champions League trophy nestling in the cabinet at the Etihad as yet, the blue half of Manchester have become the dominant force in the Premier League, usurping rivals United along the way.

The Citizens have some of the finest players in world football, but there has always been a nagging doubt in the mind of many who follow City that they might not quite be at the level of some of the world’s biggest clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in terms of status.

However, this weekend’s update (per the Sun) that winger Leroy Sane is set to snub Bayern and remain with City could have more significance than meets the eye.

Sane, a German international, will have spent much of his youth admiring the likes of Bayern, with it no doubt a dream for most German boys growing up to play at the Allianz Arena.

This then makes Sane’s decision to stay put in Manchester all the more important, with it sending out a message to clubs like Bayern that City are now right there in the mix with the biggest clubs.

Sane has been superb at times for Pep Guardiola’s men, but his inconsistencies have often threatened to derail his progress at the club. However, it’s clear for everyone to see that he is one of the top young talents in the European game, and someone who most of the giants of the game would love to have on their books.

Indeed, the stats back up just how good Sane can be, with the German notching ten goals and providing an equal number of assists last term, despite only starting 21 Premier League games.

With City looking for world dominance on the football scene, this might well prove a big turning point for the club in the long run.

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West Ham are reportedly eyeing a move for Chile international Charles Aranguiz, who could be the perfect midfield partner for Declan Rice.

What’s the story?

According to Bild, Manuel Pellegrini has been impressed by Aranguiz during the Copa America in Brazil.

The report claims Bayer Leverkusen want to keep the midfielder, but with just one year left on his contract that may prove difficult for the Bundesliga outfit.

The Hammers have of course already added Pablo Fornals to their midfield ranks this summer.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

The perfect combination?

In the shape of Marko Arnautovic, Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini and Fornals, West Ham have perhaps the best selection of attacking talent outside of the ‘big six’.

The problem though is that behind that, there is only really Rice who can be relied upon to play regular matches to a high level.

Mark Noble has just turned 32, and Pedro Obiang simply isn’t good enough, so a move for Aranguiz makes a lot of sense.

The 30 year-old may not be far behind Noble in terms of age, but he covers an incredible amount of ground compared to the Irons skipper, and provided three goals and seven assists for Leverkusen last season.

He is a typical box-to-box midfielder, doing a little bit of everything for the German club last year with 88.6% passing and 1.3 key passes per game, while also contributing two tackles and one interception per game (Whoscored).

While Rice excels at breaking up play and spraying the ball around, Aranguiz is an all-action presence who will cover every blade of grass, help Rice in a defensive sense and get forward and contribute alongside the aforementioned array of attacking talent.

The 70-cap Chile ace is not a name who will set the world alight, but if he offers Pellegrini a reliable and busy presence in the middle of the park then it would be money well spent from the Hammers.

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Leeds United have been linked with plenty of players this summer, but a recent transfer rumour has seen QPR midfielder Massimo Luongo mentioned as a potential recruit.

Luongo has proven himself to be a good player at this level, winning QPR’s Supporters’ Player of the Year award for the 2017/18 season after scoring six goals from midfield.

Marcelo Bielsa is seemingly pretty set on having Kalvin Phillips and Mateusz Klich in his engine room with both players starting more than 40 games last season, so there are grounds to suggest this may be a rather unnecessary signing.

With that in mind, it’s tough to decipher though whether or not Luongo would be a good addition. On one hand he has quality at this level, but on the other he may struggle to start over Klich or Phillips and there’s no concrete evidence on how he’d perform in the Premier League.

Surely promotion is the ultimate goal at Elland Road right now, so judging whether players can make the step up to the top flight if Leeds get there should be a key consideration for any signings going forward too.

Football FanCast’s writers have attempted to deliver their verdicts on whether or not the Whites should sign the Australian.

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Matt Dawson

“Luongo wouldn’t be a glamorous signing but he certainly has the ability to make an impact for Leeds and as a result, they should be trying to pursue him this summer. The Australian only scored three goals and claimed four assists last term for QPR but that probably isn’t a fair reflection of his quality. The 26-year-old is a seasoned professional with 42 international caps and as he approaches his prime, this could be a shrewd signing. After all, this is a player who was once on the longlist for the Ballon d’Or. Surely that is enough to peak Leeds’ fans interest? Bielsa should make a move if the price is right.”

James Beavis

“Leeds United should steer clear of Luongo, as he would only block Jamie Shackleton’s path when it comes to regular first-team minutes. The 19-year-old showed glimpses of the quality that he can bring to the middle of the park with two starts in the Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Derby County, and the addition of Luongo could only serve to push him back down the pecking order.

The Australian certainly hasn’t been an outstanding performer for Queens Park Rangers at this level by any means – he has 10 goals and 16 assists in 152 appearances in all competitions for the west London outfit – and he would face a battle to displace the likes of Phillips and Klich from the starting XI himself should he arrive at Elland Road.

What he would bring is some battling qualities given he has picked up an impressive 20 league bookings in the last two seasons for QPR. Victor Orta though, must look for someone better.”

Ben Goodwin

“On the surface Luongo seems like the perfect player to sign with Phillips’ future still uncertain, as the QPR man averages 3.1 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game to Phillips’ 2.6 tackles and 1.3 interceptions. However, Luongo completes just 71% of his passes and only 2.5 long balls per game, while the Leeds man finds a white shirt with 82% of his passes and launches an impressive 4.6 long balls. If the club are indeed searching for a Phillips replacement this summer, then they need one with superior technical quality to Luongo, who could struggle in Bielsa’s free-flowing possession-based system.”

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Pontus Jansson looks to be on his way out of Elland Road after Phil Hay confirmed on his Twitter account on Saturday that a £5.5m exit is on the cards, with Brentford his likely destination.

If he does indeed leave, then the Whites will be significantly weaker at the back, as they would be losing a defender who made it into the PFA Championship Team of the Year for 2018/19.

Indeed, Jansson’s absence would be felt throughout the season, but it may crucially affect the Whites’ opening match of the campaign away at Bristol City.

Jansson’s importance

It’s almost impossible to deny how important the 6 ft 4 Swede is to Marcelo Bielsa’s side. He played 39 league games for the Whites last term, and his absence in the playoff semi-finals was felt as Leeds conceded four goals at home to Derby.

He’s been a key man for the Whites since his arrival in 2016 playing in 125 league matches in three seasons, but it may be time for him to move on.

Opening day woes

If Jansson left and Leeds didn’t sign a replacement, then the obvious choice to step in would be Gaetano Berardi.

Unfortunately for the Whites, the Swiss centre-back was sent off in the playoff semi-final last term so he will miss the opening day of this season through suspension.

Kalvin Phillips also played at centre-back at times last season, but he may be at Aston Villa by the time Leeds travel to Ashton Gate.

That means that Ben White may be thrown in the deep end and be asked to start alongside Liam Cooper against the Robins.

White has no Championship experience and if his debut is a start against a side who finished eighth last season, he would need to hit the ground running instantly.

Lee Johnson’s men remain one of the stronger teams in the division, and if Leeds line up with a shaky backline they could easily cause them problems.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Of course, the Whites could sign a replacement for Jansson, but he could undergo the same issues as the Brighton loanee. Unless they have Championship experience they could have trouble acclimatising to this division, and as the clock ticks down towards the start of the campaign, Bielsa would be running out of time to teach him how to work in his system.

If Jansson goes, Leeds could be in real trouble on the opening day.

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It’s not often that teams beat Manchester United to a signing, but Youri Tielemans opted to join Leicester City ahead of potential interest from the Red Devils.

Whether that’s reflective of United’s recent decline or indicative of Brendan Rodgers’ ambitious intent remains to be seen but, crucially, the Foxes have acquired an excellent player.

Upon joining in January, the Belgian’s impact at the King Power Stadium was instantaneous. Despite only making 13 appearances for Leicester, Tielemans impressed greatly with the quality of his performances as illustrated by his statistical output. In 13 Premier League appearances – all of which were starts – the 22-year-old contributed towards eight goals – scoring three and assisting five times.

While such statistics are telling in discovering the £40m man’s importance to the team, his versatility and self-confidence are also valuable assets. Having completed a temporary move to Leicester in January, Tielemans spoke of his qualities to the club’s official website.

“I think it’s (box-to-box) my best position, but I can play in every position in midfield. Whenever the coach needs me, I can play in no.6, no.8 or no.10, but it’s true that I’m mostly a box-to-box player.”

“I like to attack. I think as a midfielder it’s really dangerous when you have a midfielder coming from the second line and trying to shoot or get into the box. It’s always difficult to defend, and I try to add this to me game. I think it will help the team.”

Naturally, Leicester supporters are delighted at signing a player of such pedigree and immense promise, and as one Foxes fan concluded, as per Leicestershire Live, the signing is “More evidence of the tremendous appeal and influence Rodgers has had on the playing side of our club – a great addition.”

Expectedly, beating Manchester United to Tielemans’ signing will heighten the already significant excitement surrounding the transfer. And, while the enthusiasm and the anticipation amplify the feel-good factor at the club, conceivably, one player who will undoubtedly be delighted with the transfer is Jamie Vardy.

The 32-year-old sustained his tremendous goal-scoring record last season with a total of 18 league goals.

Remarkably, half of those goals were scored in ten games under Rodgers’ leadership, and he combined with Tielemans to goal-scoring effect three times in just 1033 minutes of action last season.

In terms of joint goal participation, that’s the most prolific the former Monaco man has been in combination with any other player in his entire career.

For a talent who is still acclimatising to the physicality and frenzied pace of England’s top-flight, such a fruitful relationship with Vardy is promising at least and mouth-watering at best.

The most productive relationship Tielemans has shared with a teammate at club level has been with Anderlecht’s Alexandru Chipciu, with a joint goal contribution of four goals in 43 games – 3,084 minutes.  This almost equates to a joint-goal contribution every 11 games, or in other terms, combining for a goal contribution every 771 minutes. Contrastingly, Vardy and Tielemans have almost combined for a goal contribution at roughly an average of every four games (344.33 minutes).

With more continuous involvement, the partnership could blossom into an essential component of Leicester’s attack.

One of the Belgian’s most valued attributes is his passing, particularly his useful knack of playing key passes – he averaged 1.2 key pass per game for the Foxes last season. Therefore, it’s wholly unsurprising that Vardy and Tielemans combine intelligently, particularly as the Belgian himself spoke of his willingness to attack and occupy advanced positions. The English striker’s skill set requires no introduction, and one senses that his relationship with Tielemans will prove instrumental this campaign.

With the signings of Ayoze Perez and Youri Tielemans sealed, there is an intriguing inkling that Leicester can upset the odds once more, having defied all expectations so gloriously under Claudio Ranieri during the 2015/16 season.

However, the ambition and the creativity shown by Rodgers contrasts sharply with the mundane pragmatism favoured by Claude Puel. Rodgers has won half of his ten games in charge at Leicester and having started the club’s transfer business meaningfully, the footholds of a promising season are forming for the Foxes, with Tielemans and Vardy poised to assume vital roles.

Success has eluded Rodgers during his time in England, having won all his managerial honours with Celtic, so where better to attempt to carve the next successful chapter of his career than at the home of the Premier League’s dream makers?

The foundations are setting. Now it’s time for the Foxes to hunt the league’s leading pack.

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Tottenham Hotspur fans are in love with the club’s new kits.

Spurs released their strips for the 2019/20 season on Thursday via a series of tweets.

Made by Nike, the home strip obviously retains the iconic white, while also looking to honour the club’s motto of “To dare is to do”.

The away kit is a blue number with a pattern in the top half and a white AIA sponsorship and Spurs badge; the home kit has a red AIA logo.

The club have yet to announce the release of their third kit after last season’s green effort became iconic, as it was worn in the club’s phenomenal comeback victory over Ajax in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.

Despite that, fans are thrilled with the kits already released as the 2019/20 season looms.

Spurs will first wear their kits in pre-season, with games against Juventus and Manchester United looming.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

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Aston Villa have gone bonkers in the transfer market this off-season as manager Dean Smith looks to strengthen his squad ahead of the club’s Premier League return in two weeks time.

No fewer than ten players have walked through the door at Villa Park, including four centre-backs.

Both Kortney Hause and Tyrone Mings have returned on permanent deals following successful loan spells last season with Ezri Konsa and Bjorn Engels the latest additions to the central defensive ranks.

However, after making his debut in pre-season, some Villa fans have made it very clear on who they would like to see line-up alongside Mings against Tottenham on the 10th of August. That man is Engels.

One member of their support claimed the 24-year-old looked very comfortable in slotting in alongside Mings, highlighting his good range of passing out from defence. Others could foresee the pair becoming a great partnership saying Engels was composed and calm.

Villa thrashed League Two side Walsall 5-1 thanks to goals from fellow new signings Wesley Moraes and Jota as well as captain Jack Grealish. Engels played 70 minutes in the game and clearly impressed the Villa faithful.

The 6 foot 4 defender was also called an array of superlatives including quality, cool, and solid.

You can read the best of the reaction below:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking to The Yorkshire Evening Post, pundit David Prutton has hinted that Leeds could struggle to achieve promotion in the upcoming season.

What’s he said?

Leeds fell desperately short last term, being beaten to a second-place finish and automatic promotion by Sheffield United before then collapsing in the play-offs.

Against Derby, they fell apart as Frank Lampard’s men secured the victory over two legs and progressed to the final.

Given injuries to the likes of Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford throughout the campaign, it was some effort to get to where they were under Marcelo Bielsa.

However, Prutton has told YEP that it will again be a monumental endeavour, especially with the same set of players, hinting that they may well struggle unless things change. He said:

“I think it’s going to take another superhuman effort from a group of players that unless they are working off something vastly different in pre-season are going to have to try and repeat the same trick but with the opposition knowing what goes on behind the curtain.

“It will be a phenomenal achievement if they manage to do it with a very similar set of players.”

Further fuel to the fire

Prutton’s comments are rather indicative of the poor summer Leeds have had and arguably he is right to suggest that it will be some achievement if they find themselves in a similar position.

The fact is that Leeds’ squad hasn’t really improved since last term.

One of their defensive mainstays in Pontus Jansson has left whilst it remains to be seen how Ben White copes with stepping up a level.

Liam Cooper, of course, was named in the PFA Team of the Year but at times has looked suspect alongside Gaetano Berardi in pre-season.

In attack, they’ve done little to strengthen either with Jack Harrison returning and Helder Costa walking through the doors but they’ll go into the campaign with Bamford and Roofe as their only viable options up top, and the latter has already been ruled out for four weeks.

But what is most concerning, however, is that the core of this squad is still very much the same one that finished 13th only two years ago.

It would be harsh to say that last year was a fluke, but Bielsa and Andrea Radrizzani could and maybe should have done more in this window.

If they’d made improvements to their personnel more, the size of the task on their hands may have been smaller.

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[ad_pod ]This article is part ofÂFootball FanCast’sÂTransfer FocusÂseries, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…Aston Villa have announced that they have agreed to terminate Birkir Bjarnason’s contract so he can pursue a move elsewhere without any restriction as the transfer deadline was rapidly closing on any potential deals.

What’s the word?

After a two year spell at the club, Bjarnason has left Villa Park on a free transfer.

The Iceland international joined the West Midlands club in 2017 for £1.7m from Basel and went on to make 54 appearances, scoring six goals and laying on three assists.

However, he was limited for game time in their promotion-winning campaign, being restricted to just 11 starts.

As such, it now appears as though he’s been able to leave the club.

Inevitable departure

As summer progressed, it seemed more and more likely that some form of departure was going to happen in midfield.

The trio of Conor Hourihane, John McGinn and Jack Grealish were the regular choice during the course of last season and since then, manager Dean Smith has added Douglas Luiz from Manchester City for £15m and Club Brugge’s Marvelous Nakama for £11m. He joined his former teammate and Villa’s club-record signing Wesley Moraes.

Bjarnason featured in a bit-part role during pre-season but that was before the addition of the two aforementioned players and it was very unlikely that the 31-year-old would even make the bench in this upcoming campaign.

Therefore time was always running out for Bjarnason and instead of simply selling him – in some part down to the transfer window coming to a close – his manager has acknowledged his professionalism and attitude whilst in a claret and blue shirt to allow him to go freely.

This feels an amicable parting of ways for a player who has been quite happy to get on with his football.

The departure is unlikely to have much of an impact on the club.

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[ad_pod ]This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…ÂLeeds’ campaign has got off to a steady start and they remain unbeaten after their first three matches of the season.The Whites won their opening match and then drew against Nottingham Forest but bounced back against Salford on Tuesday evening.Bielsa rotated his side to a degree but there was still room for Kalvin Phillips, a player due to open contract negotiations over his future.In a game where Leeds did less defending, it meant a new role for the 23-year-old.

On the chalkboard

To gather an understanding of just where Phillips played, we need to take a look at his heat map as provided by stats expert LUFC Data.

As can be seen, the midfielder offered an effective screening in front of the back four as he usually does, but he also did a lot of his work higher up the pitch, demonstrating his ability to take on a new role.

Although playing as high up as an attacking midfielder behind the striker seems far-fetched, there was certainly evidence of Phillips’ qualities as a box-to-box man.

He remained tight and compact in the middle of the pitch but instead of just sitting, he got forward at regular intervals, making a career-high 128 passes.

That was perhaps indicative of the 62% of possession Marcelo Bielsa’s side had but it should tell the Argentine a lot about Phillips.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

In 2018/19, he was trusted to play in defence on occasion but this proves there is an extra layer to his game and that he can get forward.

Playing as a number six, he completed 99 passes as Leeds sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory.

This offers the potential for Bielsa to play him in a new position when Leeds come up against defensive opposition, allowing him a free role to roam further up the field.

Against Forest last weekend, his side played 13 key passes but only scored once.

Perhaps pushing someone like Phillips on as they did in midweek would have beneficial.

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