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      Swansea coach Alan Tate facing potential ban after ‘chokeslam’ on Birmingham midfielder Jon Toral

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      SWANSEA coach Alan Tate could face punishment from the FA after footage has emerged of him grabbing Birmingham midfielder Jon Toral by the throat.
      The incident happened as the two teams were walking towards the tunnel as they went into the break on level terms.

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      Swansea coach Alan Tate can be seen pushing back Birmingham midfielder Jon Toral

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      The incident sparked a reaction from both sets of players and coachesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Former Arsenal academy midfielder Toral was seen speaking to Tate, who grabbed and pushed the Spaniard back with his left hand around his neck.
      Toral then theatrically fell towards the floor, which sparked a reaction from both sets of players and coaches.
      Birmingham posted a clip of the incident on Twitter, with many fans stating that the EFL should look into it.
      Others stated that the move was something that belonged in a wrestling match.

      One said: “Alan Tate to the WWE what a chokeslam.”
      Another tweeted: “Swansea coach Alan Tate has just chokeslammed Jon Toral”
      A third quipped: “Alan Tate gets MOTM with one clean chokeslam. Love it.”
      While one fan remarked: “That is outrageous from the Swansea staff member there. Alan Tate is it? What on earth.”

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      Tempers boiled over at half-time at the Liberty StadiumCredit: Alamy Live News

      Another simply stated: “Alan Tate thinks he’s the Undertaker!!”
      Tate played 340 games for the Swans between 2002-2013, where he was part of the side that went from League One to the Premier League.
      It remains to be seen whether Tate will be punished following the 0-0 draw at the Liberty Stadium.

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      Barcelona in shock £20m bid for Max Aarons as Norwich TURN DOWN offer for right-back so Catalans move on to Sergino Dest

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      NORWICH have turned down TWO offers from Barcelona for right-back Max Aarons.
      The second offer could have been worth £20million including add-ons but the Championship club are holding out for more.

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      Max Aarons’ move to Barcelona could be off after Norwich rejected two bids for the defenderCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But Aarons, 20, is one of the most wanted young right-backs in Europe and has already interested Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
      Barcelona are now set to sign their second choice Sergino Dest from Ajax.
      Norwich, relegated from the Premier League, want a guaranteed £20m for Aarons and are refusing to budge on their price.

      They have already sold Jamal Lewis to Newcastle for £15m and are in a stable financial situation.
      Norwich boss Daniel Farke admitted earlier in the month that key players could be sold if “unbelievable” offers are received.
      He said: “Let’s see where we are when the window is closed.
      “At this moment everything is possible in football. Let’s wait because the experience of the past tells you major transfers can happen quite late.

      “I expect it will be getting worse and worse with the speculation and rumours.

      Barcelona boasted the highest wage bill in football ahead of a crucial transfer window at the Camp Nou

      “But as long as the club and these young players are open, honest and transparent with each other then we are pretty clear.
      “We have said we don’t want to sell them unless we get an unbelievable crazy offer and the club has to make a decision. That is the business we are in. But they are fully in our plans.”
      England Under-21 international Aarons was named EFL Young Player of the Year after his breakout campaign of 2018/19, and was one of the Canaries’ bright spots of their single season in the top-flight.

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      Warnock to be in contact with Middlesbrough staff and players from home for Bournemouth clash after positive Covid test

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      NEIL WARNOCK will get his tech head on to try and inspire Middlesbrough to victory over Bournemouth.
      The 71-year-old tested positive for Covid-19 this week and will be forced to watch today’s Championship clash from his North East home while self-isolating.

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      Neil Warnock will miss Boro’s clash with Bournemouth after testing positive for Covid-19Credit: Getty

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      Kevin Blackwell will step up on the touchline after the boss self-isolatesCredit: Rex Features

      Trusted lieutenants Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson will take charge of the side as 1,000 fans return to the Riverside for the first time since March.
      And despite his health scare, which also forced him to watch the Carabao Cup game with Barnsley from a private box, Warnock will still be in the ears of his squad and assistants before and during the game.
      Blackwell said: “He’s fine – that’s the frustrating thing for everybody. We just him all the best and get well as quick as he can.

      “He is in his house up and here and he will be watching from there. 
      He’s got everything technologically wise set-up to watch the game and communicate directly to the ground.
      “It’s marvelous what technology is now and gone are the days when if he was sent home no-one would have seen him for 14 days.
      “We can see him everyday and the company is running very well as it is. 

      “Neil will certainly speak to one or two platers by phone over the next 24 hours over what we are expecting from them.
      “There is an opportunity, hopefully, that he will speak to them before the game. Quite when that will be, I’m not sure yet.
      “With this new Zoom technology and everything else we have got it, and the IT guys we have here, we can rig up something and will certainly use that.
      Boro lost 1-0 at Watford on the opening day before Barnsley dumped them out of the cup on Tuesday.
      However, the Teessiders will have the extra lift of having supporters cheering them on against the Cherries, who beat Blackburn 3-2 last weekend, after the game was given the green light to be part of the EFL’s Covid-19 programme.

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      This will be the first time Boro’s fans will have a chance to welcome Warnock’s management team in person, and given the awful run of one home win since Boxing Day, Blackwell cannot wait to have supporters back.
      He added: “We want to win games and it’s as simple as that… they are the demands we set.
      “Having fans there behind you can make such a difference. There is no doubt it will help.
      “When it was closed down and we were fighting relegation, it actually helped us not to have fans here as myself, Neil and Ronnie were able to get information across live in the game, equally across to the players on the other side of the pitch, so that actually helped us.
      “No we think we look a little bit more structured and getting better performances, the added bit of the crowd is what we now need to add that little extra edge that could win the games for us.
      “So we are absolutely delighted they are coming back and we can’t wait until we can get many more back.”

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      Crystal Palace drop Said Benrahma interest with Roy Hodgson chasing a striker instead of £25m Brentford star

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      SAID BENRAHMA’S hopes of a dream Premier League move could be dashed again – as Crystal Palace prioritise bringing in a new striker.
      Palace have been tracking the Brentford playmaker as Roy Hodgson continues to revitalise his squad in the first few weeks of the season.

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      Crystal Palace have cooled their interest in Said Benrahma

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      Roy Hodgson has prioritised bringing in an out and out striker

      And the Bees would sell for around £25million.
      Palace are set to coin around £11m from the sale of Alexander Sorloth to RB Leipzig but boss Hodgson believes bringing in another goalscorer is his most pressing need.
      That could be a major blow to Benrahma, 25.

      The Algerian has already seen hopes of joining West Ham dashed because the Hammers have limited funds and need to strengthen in defence.
      Aston Villa were also linked but they turned down the chance to sign him after splashing out in other areas – including Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
      Hodgson said: “Any interest we do have would be totally dependent on the price because it is not necessarily the priority area.
      “We still really are more interested in improving the area up front and to get another front player into the club so that is the top priority.

      “It would be nice to get another wide midfield player into the club too because it would make us a lot stronger.

      “But how much funds there will be available for that player I couldn’t possibly tell you because it is all tied up with how much money we need for that centre forward.”
      Belgian side Club Brugge are also keen on Christian Benteke and could land the flop striker for £10m.
      Wages would be a problem but the Belgians found a way around that obstacle when they signed Simon Mignolet from Liverpool.
      Elsewhere, Palace are keen to send young Scottish midfielder Scott Banks to League One Rochdale on loan for the season.

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      Neil Warnock tests positive for coronavirus and will self-isolate and MISS Middlesbrough clash with Bournemouth

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      MIDDLESBROUGH have confirmed boss Neil Warnock has tested positive for coronavirus.
      The 71-year-old will now miss their Championship clash at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.

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      Neil Warnock has tested positive for coronavirusCredit: Rex Features

      The North East side revealed the news this morning.
      A club statement read: “The club can confirm that our manager Neil Warnock has returned a positive test for Covid-19 and will be spending a period in isolation in accordance with guidelines.
      “Neil is in good spirits and we look forward to welcoming him back after his period in isolation.”

      Warnock returned to Teesside on Monday from his home in Cornwall for the Carabao Cup clash with Barnsley.
      But the veteran boss was absent from the dug-out for Boro’s 2-0 defeat, instead leaving assistants Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson in charge.
      SunSport understands that was due to Warnock feeling unwell, with Jepson saying afterwards the manager had decided to watch the game from a different vantage point from inside the ground.
      Now it has emerged he has tested positive and will be forced to miss out for at least another game on Saturday against the Cherries.

      Boro’s next match after that is also in the league away to QPR the following Saturday.
      Despite Warnock’s absence, the Bournemouth fixture will have fans in attendance.
      The EFL and government have given the green light for 1,000 spectators to attend as part of the Covid-19 pilot programme.

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      The 71-year-old will miss Saturday’s Championship clash with BournemouthCredit: PA:Press Association

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      David Brooks set to stay at Bournemouth this summer with £50m transfer demands putting off Man Utd and Leicester

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      DAVID BROOKS is set to stay at Bournemouth this summer.
      The Welshman had been linked to Leicester and Manchester United.

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      David Brooks is on course to stay at Bournemouth with no club set to meet the £50m asking priceCredit: Rex Features

      But the Cherries value the midfielder at more than £50million and do not want to sell.
      Brooks, 23, was on United’s radar last summer but missed most of the season with an ankle injury that required TWO surgeries.
      That long-term problem is likely to scare off any potential suitors from making a massive offer that Jason Tindall’s recently-relegated side could not turn down.

      Brooks came on as a late sub in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Blackburn and played the full 90 of Tuesday’s epic penalty-shootout triumph over Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
      One player Bournemouth are planning on selling is Josh King – but they are yet to receive ANY bids for the striker.
      King, who is still in Norway as he recovers from a knock picked up on international duty, only has one year left on his contract.
      The Cherries do not want to see a repeat of the Ryan Fraser’s situation last term with a player running down his deal and risk losing him for nothing.

      Aston Villa were interested but made no firm offer – before signing Ollie Watkins from Brentford, with Lyon’s Bertrand Traore expected to follow.

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      The Cherries are preparing for life without Josh King who is hopeful of a return to Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      King is understood to be hoping old club Manchester United rekindle the interest that saw them bid for the 28-year-old in January, before they loaned Odion Ighalo.
      As for incomings on the south coast, Tindall is keen on Preston’s Ben Davies who is out of contract next summer.
      But SunSport understands the centre-back, 25, is more likely to sign a pre-contract agreement with Celtic in January.

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      Aston Villa eye transfer for Brentford star Rico Henry with Dean Smith keen on new full-back amid West Ham interest

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      ASTON VILLA are tracking Rico Henry as boss Dean Smith weighs up whether to make a late bid to sign the Brentford defender.
      Henry, 23, emerged as one of the best full-backs outside of the top flight last season with a series of impressive displays before Brentford ultimately fell just short of promotion from the Championship.

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      Rico Henry has made 89 appearances for BrentfordCredit: Alamy Live News

      A number of Premier League clubs have shown interest in the left-back over the summer but found the Bees reluctant to do a deal for the player.
      But Smith, who worked with Henry while he was Walsall manager, is considering making an attempt to persuade Brentford to sell the defender before the window closes next month.
      West Ham had also been tracking the player as they search for a new left-back but have been forced to put their interest on hold while they try to prioritise bringing a new centre-back in with finances tight.

      It wouldn’t be the first time that Smith, 49, has reunited with Henry.
      After bagging the Brentford job in 2015, Smith brought Henry with him a year later – paying £1.5million to secure the then-teenager.
      Henry has since made 89 appearances for the Bees, despite having missed over a year with a knee injury.
      The injury occurred in September 2017, keeping the talented left-back out until November of the following season.

      But the England Under-20 international has bounced back impressively, becoming a regular in Thomas Frank’s promotion-pushing side.

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      Henry featured as Brentford lost 1-0 to Birmingham on SaturdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      He started the Bees’ season-opener on Saturday as his side slumped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Birmingham.
      Henry would compete with Neil Taylor and Matt Targett for the left-back berth in Smith’s Villa side.
      The former started last night as the Villans overcame an early scare to beat Burton Albion 3-1 in the League Cup.

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