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Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen have joined the race to sign Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in the summer transfer window according to Sport Bild, via Buli News.

What’s the word, then?

Alongside West Ham United and now the German side, Crystal Palace are interested in the prolific centre-forward who the Cottagers are valuing at £30m, per The Mirror’s live transfer blog at 9:14pm on June 12.

However, the Germany-based newspaper Sport Bild believe that Mitrovic would be costing buying clubs just €20m this summer, or a mere £17.8m.

The 48-cap Serbian international has just enjoyed an impressive season despite the Craven Cottage club’s relegation from the Premier League, notching 11 goals in all competitions after a permanent move from Newcastle United.

Extra competition a blessing in disguise

Extra competition for the Eagles to beat to Mitrovic’s signature is a blessing in disguise, increasing Roy Hodgson’s chances of missing out on his 6 ft 2 target.

You simply can’t judge the Serbian on one campaign in the English top flight as impressive as it was in a doomed Cottagers team.

The thing that some people forget is that the ex-Partizan Belgrade man had played in the Premier League before he moved to west London, initially on loan, midway through 2017/2018.

At St James’ Park, the forward struggled to make an impact on the most competitive league in the world by scoring just once in six forgettable performances having made the step up from the Championship with the Magpies in 2017.

There’s some exciting changes happening at Crystal Palace next summer. Find out what in the video below…

What Palace have been lacking for a long time and what they really need in the next few months is a proven Premier League goalscorer, something that Mitrovic just isn’t yet.

Give it a couple more terms of consistently finding the back of the net in the top flight and yeah, the intimidating attacker would be perfect for Hodgson’s men.

However, the fact remains that he’s just too young and unproven to take on the responsibilities that would be required of him at Selhurst Park. And he is too much of a risk for an amount that could easily make up most of the club’s budget this window.

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Lots of Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to react to some quite brilliant predictions on Andy Robertson from back in 2017 when he signed for the club.

A Facebook post from Goal back in 2017 yielded a number of narrow-minded responses from rival supporters who felt the arrival of a left-back from relegated Hull was an awful signing – one fan even said sarcastically: “Maybe he will win them the CL.”

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

As we all now know, the captain of the Scottish national team has featured in two Champions League finals for the Reds in just two seasons at the club, winning one.

He has also come to within just two points of winning the Premier League whilst recording an absurd 13 assists across all competitions from left-back last term; he is arguably the best in Europe in his position right now.

Understandably, the Liverpool fans on Twitter loved looking back on these premature comments and took great pleasure in laughing about how ridiculous they now look.

Let’s see what some of the Reds supporters on Twitter have been saying…

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Speaking on talkSPORT (May 14), former England manager Sam Allardyce has handed out a piece of free advice to Leeds United on what they should do if they are promoted to the Premier League.

Big Sam believes that the club must learn from the mistakes made by newly promoted sides in recent years by spending their windfall wisely.

What’s been said then?

The experienced manager believes that Leeds should spend their transfer budget this summer on a small number of quality players rather than splashing out on a brand new squad.

“I think you look at the spend of Fulham and Huddersfield. Huddersfield managed to stay for one season and then failed miserably. Fulham went past £100m and failed,” Allardyce said (Via HITC).

“You have the fans and then you have the owners, and then the owner and manager. If you’re looking at relegation are the owners going to stick by the manager to bring them back?

“You’ve got to try and put together a team and buying 10 players who don’t know each other won’t work. If I had £120m I would spend the money on four or five players that were quality, not 10.”

Absolutely right

If only more promoted clubs would listen to Allardyce. The 64-year-old is a master of keeping teams in the Premier League for a reason, and Leeds must heed this advice.

The Whites can’t follow in Fulham’s example by splurging their cash on a long list of inexperienced players.

Bielsa has already transformed this group of players from mid-table level talent to genuine promotion contenders, and there’s no reason he can’t push a lot of them further.

The Argentine must stick with his core players while finding great replacements in the areas that need improving if his side are promoted to the Premier League.

The likes of Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Kemar Roofe look ready-made for a shot at the big time, whilst other areas of the squad certainly need improving.

سجل محمد شريف لاعب منتخب مصر الهدف الثاني للفراعنة أمام توجو في المباراة التي تقام اليوم ضمن التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس أمم إفريقيا.

وتقام مباراة مصر وتوجو على ملعب كيجي في إطار مواجهات الجولة الرابعة بالتصفيات.

وأحرز محمد شريف الهدف إثر متابعته لتمريرة طولية من محمد الشناوي حارس مرمى المنتخب بتسديدة أرضية مرت بين قدمي حارس توجو في الدقيقة 33.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة مصر وتوجو في تصفيات أمم إفريقيا

وكان منتخب مصر قد تقدم بهدفٍ سجله محمد مجدي أفشة بتسديدة أرضية من خارج منطقة الجزاء. شاهد هدف مصر الثاني أمام توجو

تلقى نادي برشلونة الاسباني اخطارًا، بأن المدير الفني الهولندي للفريق، رونالد كومان، يواجه عقوبة الإيقاف، حيث أنه سيخضع للتحقيقات، بشأن تصريحاته بعد مواجهة ريال مدريد في الكلاسيكو تجاه الحكام.

التقارير الإسبانية، أفادت بأن كومان لا يواجه أي عقوبة، حيث أن المدرب الهولندي لم يهاجم التحكيم، هو فقط أراد توضيح لما حدث خلال المباراة، ولم يوجه أي شيء تجاه الحكم أو غرفة الـVAR. “طالع التفاصيل”

راديو كتالونيا “RAC1” الإسباني، أكد بأن لجنة المسابقات في الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم، فتحت تحقيقًا بشأن تصريحات رونالد كومان عقب مواجهة برشلونة وريال مدريد، السبت 24 أكتوبر الماضي.

وأشارت التقارير، إلى أن الاتحاد تلقى شكوى، ومن المفترض أنه في الأمور الطبيعية، سيتطلب ذلك المزيد من الوقت، وسيتم اتخاذ قرار من اثنين.

الأول، أن يتم إيقاف كومان لمدة لا تقل عن 4 مباريات، وقد تصل إلى 12 مباراة، والثاني، أن يتم فهم كلام المدرب الهولندي، أنه تعجب وليس إهانة أو هجوم على الحُكام. ماذا قال كومان في التصريحات التي أكد أنه لم يندم عليها

المدرب الهولندي صرح بعد مباراة ريال مدريد، والتي احتسب فيها ركلة جزاء للنادي الملكي، مكنته من التقدم في النتيجة: “ركلة الجزاء التي احتسبها الحكم لـ ريال مدريد غير مفهومة”.

“هذا الموسم نعاني من تقنية الـVAR، لم تكن في صالحنا منذ أول مباراة لعبناها، دائمًا ما كنا الطرف المتضرر منها، دائمًا تظهر عندما يكون القرار ضدنا”

“راموس دفع لينجليه، كان يجب احتساب مخالفة على سيرجيو، نعم كان هناك جذب من جانب كليمونت لقميص راموس، ولكن كيف يسقط راموس للخلف ولينجليه جذب قميصه من الأمام؟، هل هناك تفسير لهذا السقوط؟”.

“أمام إشبيلية خسرنا نقطتين ولم تحتسب لنا ركلة جزاء، وفي مواجهة خيتافي كان يجب طرد نيوم ولم يحدث، اليوم أيضًا نتضرر من تقنية الـVAR، أريد حقًا معرفة كيف يتم تطبيق تلك التقنية في إسبانيا”.

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According to The Sun (16/04, page 59), Brendan Rodgers is targeting Hull’s Jarrod Bowen in a deal which could be worth as much as £15m.

The winger has been a revelation in the Championship this season, bagging 21 goals in 43 appearances from the right-hand side.

Leicester spent big on James Maddison last summer from another Championship side in Norwich for a fee believed to be £20m, so a deal for Bowen would be very similar.

However, with healthy competition in wide areas already, would signing Bowen be detrimental to Harvey Barnes’ development? Football FanCast writers give their verdict.

Jack Saville

“No I don’t see Bowen doing anything to damage Barnes’ development. It’s clear from Rodgers’ team selections that he prefers to deploy Barnes on the left side of his attack and Bowen has thrived on the opposite flank at Hull City. Demarai Gray could be in trouble, though, as the signing of Bowen could force him back onto the first-team fringes.”

Harry Sherlock

“I’m not convinced that squad depth is a bad thing. Leicester need to freshen up their reserves of talent and Bowen is a fine talent. They may well face competition, however, with Spurs long credited with an interest. Competition can only be good, and pushing two youngsters to compete for each other’s place can only lead to sparkling performances. It would be a smart move to bring Bowen in – he’s English, homegrown and clearly ready to make the step up. If Harvey Barnes is as good as many think, he’ll cope just fine.”

James Beavis

“It would be detrimental in terms of him not getting regular starts in my opinion. Should Leicester sign Bowen and a new striker this summer, they will then have those two, Barnes, Jamie Vardy and Demarai Gray all fighting for a spot in Brendan Rodgers’ starting XI. Barnes has hardly hit the ground running so far with two assists in 12 Premier League appearances, and he needs to improve to be a consistent name on the team-sheet. Should Bowen sign, another loan move away beckons for the 21-year-old. Exactly what he would have been dreading.”

Matt Dawson

“I personally think that Bowen is the type of player that Leicester have been crying out for. Since Mahrez left they’ve struggled for much creativity in wider areas but the Hull man possesses that in abundance. Competition for places is never a bad thing and as a result, I don’t think it would hinder Barnes too much. By having the pairing on either wing, alongside Maddison, it would set the Foxes up very nicely for the future. It’s a signing Rodgers simply has to make.”

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Tottenham Hotspur fans have reacted with genuine delight to the VAR controversies that characterised the club’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Manchester City.

Spurs progressed to the semi-finals on away goals despite a 4-3 defeat on the night at the Etihad Stadium.

A crazy opening 25 minutes saw five goals scored as Spurs and City traded blows in a classic encounter.

Raheem Sterling scored a brace, with his second appearing to give Pep Guardiola’s men the lead they needed to progress.

However, Fernando Llorente’s goal in the second half, which appeared to strike his arm, sent Spurs through, with a VAR review allowing the strike to stand.

Sterling then appeared to complete his hat-trick in the final stages of injury time, to send City through, only for VAR to disallow the strike for an offside in the build-up.

Spurs fans could not believe the reversal in their fortunes, as they will now play in their first Champions League semi-final in a generation, against Dutch giants Ajax.

And loads of supporters have expressed their delight at VAR, with many reacting with declarations of love.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

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Versatile Forest man Ben Osborn is a player who’s sparked differing opinions from the City Ground faithful this season.

More debate has now arisen over the player with journalist Paul Taylor revealing a rather intriguing statistic about the 24-year-old.

Taylor worked out the stat following comments made by Reds manager Martin O’Neill about Osborn, with the Irishman labelling him top class and comparing him to club stalwart Ian Bowyer.

But fans didn’t take too kindly to the stat which was shared on Twitter, slamming the fact that he had turned out during one of the worst periods in their history.

The left-sided player took a fair amount of heat, with one supporter taking issue that no manager, despite how in favour he was with the large majority of them, had actually achieved any success from picking him.

Osborn has started 26 games in the Championship this season and has registered five assists.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

Manchester United this could very well hand the title to city rivals Manchester City this weekend by seeing off bitter enemy Liverpool at Old Trafford.

In a weird twist of fate almost, City find themselves needing United to do them the biggest of favours this game week, where Old Trafford will play host to one of the biggest games on the domestic calendar.

However, despite the obvious implications for the likes of City and Liverpool, there are other issues at large, namely at United, where a win for manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer might well be enough for him to justify being given the job on a permanent basis.

In recent times, Liverpool have looked a cut above United, but things are changing under the Norwegian, and a win against their biggest rivals could well be the icing on the cake.

It’s a tough call though for the United board, who will no doubt have other candidates in mind when it comes to appointing a new manager in the summer. Solskjaer though is doing little to hurt his case, and while he might not have the experience, he clearly knows and loves the club, something which stands out a mile.

Liverpool represent a different threat of course, but having already masterminded the downfall of both Chelsea and Spurs away from home, Solskjaer will be confident he can get one over on Klopp.

We will see how it pans out, but Solksjaer can do little more if he gets the right result this weekend.

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According to The Times, West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini is hopeful that Jack Wilshere will be returning to training in a few weeks, as he works his way back to fitness from a persistent ankle problem. Is there any room in the starting XI for the former Arsenal man though?

On the chalkboard

Despite having played in the Hammers’ first four matches of the season, the Englishman has gotten just five minutes of football under his belt since December. Pellegrini is hopeful, though, that the midfielder will be fit in March, despite earlier fears that his recurring ankle issue could finish his season.

The 27-year-old has not had a lonely rehabilitation though – he has been joined by the likes of Manuel Lanzini, Winston Reid, Carlos Sanchez and more, as injuries decimate the West Ham squad.

As the treatment room filled up, the London Stadium outfit were pretty much forced into action in the January transfer market as they brought in free-agent Samir Nasri on day one. The Frenchman’s arrival, though, could mean Wilshere’s work is far from done once he returns to match fitness.

Jack’s back… or is he?

Nasri has impressed in attacking-midfield, as has the industrious Robert Snodgrass, so Wilshere must outperform both if he is to become Pellegrini’s main man at the number ten position.

Luckily for the Stevenage-born maestro, he is quite versatile, but he will have to compete with Mr. West Ham himself, Mark Noble for the nod alongside the undroppable Declan Rice at the base of midfield.

Noble is still going strong as he enters his twilight years and his leadership is unparalleled in the Irons ranks – Wilshere will have to perform miracles to oust his compatriot from the starting XI.

It could very well be a while before we see Pellegrini give the former England international an extended run in the lineup.

Injuries eventually cost Wilshere his career at Arsenal and, despite having only arrived in the summer, they may have already cost him a guaranteed starting spot in claret and blue.

Who is West Ham’s worst ever signing? Check out the video below for a pretty strong candidate for the dubious honour…