Premier League

Subterms

    More stories

    • 200 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Liverpool tracking Bradley Barcola over summer transfer with 20-year-old tipped to be top star at Lyon

      by

      LIVERPOOL are reportedly tracking Lyon star Bradley Barcola.And they could launch a move for the exciting winger this summer.
      Liverpool are keeping an eye on Lyon’s Bradley Barcola ahead of a potential summer swoopCredit: AP
      Barcola, 20, burst onto the scene with 13 first-team appearances last term.
      But he has upped this game this season, scoring seven goals and assisting a further four in 25 matches.
      Barcola has already been summoned to the France U21 squad.
      And many in his homeland are tipping the ace to eventually win a senior call-up from Didier Deschamps.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      According to Fabrizio Romano, Barcola is now attracting interest from lots of top European sides.
      But it’s Liverpool who are leading the race for the wide forward.
      The Reds have reportedly sent scouts to watch Barcola on several occasions.
      And he could find himself on his way to Anfield when the transfer window opens this summer.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Jurgen Klopp has made no secret of his desire for a mega rebuild.
      He had been hoping to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.
      But it’s reckoned Liverpool have dropped out of the race after being put off by his £130million price tag.
      The Reds are thought to also be tracking Chelsea star Mason Mount and midfield teammate Conor Gallagher.
      And there could also be reinforcements in defence following Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decline in form. More

    • 200 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea in embarrassing gaffe on Stamford Bridge screens after VAR check leading to hilarious Brighton chant

      by

      CHELSEA made an embarrassing gaffe during their game against Brighton. It came as the screens around Stamford Bridge said Cody Gakpo was coming on as a Brighton substitute.

      Brighton were forced into a sub due to Evan Ferguson’s injuryCredit: EPA
      But the Stamford Bridge screens said Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo was coming on for himCredit: Getty
      But he was in fact replaced by Danny WelbeckCredit: Getty
      Gakpo, of course, plays his football for Liverpool, some 216 miles away from Brighton’s home ground.
      In fact, Brighton were introducing Danny Welbeck from the bench to replace injured starlet Evan Ferguson.
      The Seagulls fans at the ground saw the funny side of the error, particularly after Welbeck’s equaliser.
      Following the sub they burst out into song, chanting: “Cody Gakpo, he’s one of our own.”
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      Fans online also rushed to share their thoughts, with one saying: “Yikes 😓.”
      A second typed: “Thought I was going mad when that’s what I thought they were singing.”
      A third joked: “‘If Gakpo scores, we’re on the pitch’ #bhafc #chebha.”
      However, Brighton did not see the funny side after ANOTHER controversial VAR call went against them.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Roberto de Zerbi’s side were denied a first-half penalty by referee Robert Jones and VAR official Chris Kavanagh after Christian Pulisic appeared to handle the ball in the area.
      Fortunately for the South Coast it made no difference as Welbeck’s climbing header equaliser was added to by Julio Enciso’s screamer to secure a 2-1 win for the visitors.
      It comes after Brighton were handed an apology by referee body PGMOL for an error against Tottenham last week.
      VAR admitted they should have awarded a penalty when Karou Mitoma was brought down by Pierre Emile Hojbjerg in the penalty area. More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea to make final push to convince Mason Mount to sign new long-term contract amid Liverpool transfer interest

      by

      CHELSEA are tipped to make a final push to persuade Mason Mount to sign a new long-term deal – as Liverpool, Manchester United and City hover.The midfielder, 24, is under contract until June 2024 but reportedly wants to roughly triple his £80,000 weekly wages.
      Chelsea still hope to keep England ace Mason Mount, who came off the bench late on in Saturday’s home Premier League clash with BrightonCredit: Reuters
      ESPN say the Blues will renew their bid to extend Mount’s stay – or sell him this summer if they fail.
      The Stamford Bridge academy product is thought to regard fellow England star Reece James’ pay of £250k a week as a benchmark figure.
      And it’s understood Liverpool plus the two Manchester giants have asked to be kept informed of the situation.
      Newcastle too are said to be keen as Mount and Chelsea have made no obvious progress in talks over the past two months.
      RED MORE TOP STORIES
      The Blues hope to keep Mount but he’s no longer an automatic choice following ex-boss Graham Potter’s blitz of January signings.
      And the playmaker only came on for the final 16 minutes of Saturday’s home Premier League clash with Brighton.
      Another obstacle for Chelsea is the need to cut their playing budget and stick to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
      That’s because nearly £600million on signings has been splashed since Todd Boehly’s consortium took over the club last May.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Juventus and Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich could also have one eye on Mount.
      Meanwhile, the Blues are busy interviewing possible permanent successors to Potter as Frank Lampard continues his interim reign.  More

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea star Levi Colwill wanted by Man City and Liverpool in shock transfer after impressive Brighton loan

      by

      CHELSEA youngster Levi Colwill is reportedly receiving interest from Manchester City and Liverpool.The 20-year-old centre-back has enjoyed an impressive season on loan at Brighton.
      Levi Colwill has produced some good displays while on loan at BrightonCredit: Alamy
      He has made 15 appearances for the Seagulls this season, keeping six clean sheets.
      With two years left on his Chelsea contract, he is set to return to West London at the end of the season.
      But the Evening Standard are now reporting Man City and Liverpool are sensing an opportunity to poach him away from Stamford Bridge.
      Chelsea have spent £600million across the last two transfer windows.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      And they are expected to offload players in the summer to recoup some of those funds.
      The likes of Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher have been linked with moves away.
      And Colwill is understood to be another attracting interest from elsewhere.
      Man City could show Aymeric Laporte the exit door and bring Colwill in as another option at the heart of their back line.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Jurgen Klopp is also looking to bolster his defence and Liverpool have identified the England U21 international as a potential acquisition.
      Brighton are another team monitoring Colwill’s situation as they mull over the possibility of trying to make his loan a permanent move.
      As well as his loan spell with Brighton, the centre-half also turned heads with his displays on loan at Huddersfield during their 2021/22 Championship campaign.
      He made 32 appearances for The Terriers, helping them reach the play-off final before they were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest.
      Colwill wore the No26 shirt while at Huddersfield, leading many Chelsea fans to label him the “new John Terry”. More

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Brighton fume again as VAR refuses to give them another penalty at Chelsea after Christian Pulisic handball

      by

      BRIGHTON were left fuming after ANOTHER refereeing decision went against them. The Seagulls were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty when the ball struck the arm of Christian Pulisic during their match against Chelsea.
      Brighton were denied a penalty after a Christian Pulisic handballCredit: Rex
      It comes after Brighton were handed an apology by PGMOL for a wrong decision against Tottenham
      However, referee Robert Jones waved play on, while VAR official Chris Kavanagh deemed it not to be a penalty.
      Fuming Brighton fans took to Twitter to voice their frustration.
      One said: “That’s not a handball on Pulisic? He smacked the ball.”
      A second typed: “Blatant handball by Pulisic inside the Chelsea box.”
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      A third commented: “How is that not a handball on Pulisic, is VAR not working?”
      “Pulisic blatant handball lmao and VAR haven’t given it 😂😂😂😂,” remarked a fourth.
      A fifth added: “That Pulisic handball was as clear as we’ve seen.”
      While another declared: “The FA doesn’t want Brighton to reach UCL loool, that was a blatant handball by Pulisic.”
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Fortunately for Brighton, it made little difference as they came from behind to win 2-1 thanks to goals from super subs Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso.
      The controversy involving Brighton comes after they were given an apology by ref body PGMOL.
      It came following a mistake by VAR when they decided not to award a penalty when Karou Mitoma was brought down in the area by Pierre Emile Hojbjerg. More

    • 150 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      Leicester defender James Justin ‘wanted by Roma after impressing boss Jose Mourinho’

      by

      ROMA are eyeing Leicester ace James Justin ahead of the summer transfer window, reports suggest.The Giallorossi manager Jose Mourinho is looking for defensive reinforcement for next season and rates Justin highly.
      Roma are keeping tabs on Leicester ace James Justin ahead of the summer transfer windowCredit: Getty
      Roma boss Jose Mourinho was impressed by Justin last seasonCredit: Getty
      According to CalcioMercato, the Serie A giants have met with CAA Stellar, which is the agency that represents the right-back.
      The company has a clientele that also includes other Roma transfer targets, such as Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat and Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
      During that meeting between the two parties, Justin’s name arose as a potential prospect.
      And Mourinho was very impressed with the England international last season when Leicester and Roma met in the Europa Conference League.
      Read More on Football
      The Portuguese tactician watched the 25-year-old in action during the semi-finals, which saw the Special One’s players knock the Premier League outfit out.
      And Roma are keen to make a move, despite the defender’s recent injury woes.
      The Romans are hoping they can agree a cut-price deal with Leicester due to Justin’s fitness struggles and club’s potential relegation.
      That is why Roma are planning a €20million (£17.8m) bid for the ex-Luton star.
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
      Mourinho will need to sign a full-back regardless of where Justin ends up next season.
      The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager had a public falling out with Rick Karsdorp, who is on his way out of the Italian capital.
      Summer signing Zeki Celik has also failed to impress during his brief spell in Rome. More

    • 250 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Vincent Kompany is loving life at Premier League-bound Burnley.. he’s on the right track to his ‘destiny’ at Man City

      by

      BURNLEY supporters no doubt love Vincent Kompany.The very best of company this season, with all the promise of the Premier League to come in 2023-24.
      Vincent Kompany chose Burnley ‘for the people’ but might eventually return to Man City for arguably the biggest challengeCredit: PA
      Pep Guardiola is almost irreplaceable at the Etihad but if Kompany maintains his progress he will be a serious contender to step in at some stageCredit: Rex
      Promotion from the Championship was achieved with scarcely a single hiccup. Done  and dusted with a record seven matches to go.
      There was always something  special about the defensive midfield player who was to become a great centre-back with Manchester City and also a mightily accomplished one with Belgium.
      The defender stands at 6ft 4in  with a head that looks as if it  were constructed for a Roman bear-fighter or heavyweight boxer.
      Anyone attempting to outmuscle him in the penalty area was always likely to end up on their backside accepting, I think, the inevitable.
      READ MORE TOP STORIES
      For all that he was heck of player and now, not particularly surprising for anyone who knows him well, a heck of a manager too.
      One, I suspect, who could one day replace the near-irreplaceable Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.
      Even Pep thinks so. He declared that Kompany is ‘destined’ to return and manage the club, saying: “His destiny to be Manchester City boss is written in the stars.”
      You never know, of course. His thrilling tenure at Burnley may be  a chimera.
      Most read in Football
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      Experience tells us that  managers can hit hard times.
      Many successful bosses find the pressure in the Premium League overbearing, more than half of the  clubs have sacked their manager this season.
      The 12 fallen so far in the PL in one season is a record — a mix of expectation and pressure.
      Kompany served his management apprenticeship with Anderlecht, joining Burnley in June.
      Sean Dyche worked manfully but failed to keep Burnley in the Prem, sacked possibly as much because  he was reaching the end of his  contract and wouldn’t cost the club much in compensation. And yet Burnley were still relegated.
      Dyche’s legacy, however, was a  competitive team and so Kompany, intelligent and approachable, must have been pleased with his dressing room inheritance.
      Even so, to take them up in less than a season could be considered high even on the Lewis Hamilton graph of speed and technique.
      The true test will be whether Kompany will avoid relegation as Dyche did season after season.
      My guess is he’ll already have had offers from bigger clubs but will be wary of a hasty move
      As the Belgian knows only too well, Burnley will find life difficult back in the best league in the world. There was a time when the cotton towns were the red roses of Lancashire.
      No longer. Burnley’s accession comes with the collapse of the once-famous football towns of Bolton and Nat Lofthouse, the Preston of Sir Tom Finney, the Blackburn of Alan Shearer and, beside the seaside, the Sir Stanley Matthews of Blackpool.
      Turf Moor has a capacity of around 21,000, so buying a season ticket next time around will now be like trying to secure a place at the  Coronation.
      I fancy Kompany is loving it there. His team waltzed it to win the league and although they may well never add the Prem title — although that was said of Leicester City a few years back — under Kompany they have a manager whose organised and well-coached side will surely scare the elite.
      My guess is that he will already have had offers from bigger clubs but will be wary of a hasty move.
      When quizzed about reported interest in him from Spurs, he said: “I chose Burnley for people and I feel I made the right decision.
      Read More on The Sun
      “It’s an enviable place to work, trust me, especially when we keep talking about managers getting sacked left, right and centre.”
      I’d like to toast his success and that of the club, although definitely not with a Bene ’n’ Hot, the local Benedictine tipple in Burnley. More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Liverpool pulling out of Bellingham transfer race came out of the blue.. Real Madrid will be rubbing hands with glee

      by

      IT was a bit strange how Liverpool have let it be known that they won’t be signing Jude Bellingham this summer.Because there is only one club Bellingham has publicly stated he wants to play for in the future — and that is Birmingham City!
      Liverpool have pulled out of the bidding war for Borussia Dortmund star Jude BellinghamCredit: Rex
      Borussia Dortmund’s Brummie star has stated he’d like to go back and finish his career with the boyhood club he started out with as a 15-year-old.
      Of course, Jude will not be heading to St Andrews next season.
      Even as club captain and a lifelong Bluenose, I am happy to admit that Real Madrid or the Manchester clubs might be more tempting options for him.
      Many people assume that Jude, who has never played in the Premier League, will fancy a return to English football, but I’m not so sure.
      Read More on Football
      Kids of his generation grew up in the Messi-Ronaldo era and most of them know more about Real and Barcelona than any English clubs.
      There is a real lure for them in playing for either of those Spanish giants.
      Just imagine being Jude, though. He is still only 19 and he seems to have all of the world’s biggest and most glamorous clubs desperate to sign him.
      If that was me, my head would explode. It would be the same for most teenage lads.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      But Jude is still totally at his game, aiming for the Bundesliga title with Dortmund. His head doesn’t seem to have been turned at all.
      In the summer, if he does move, he will be looking around and asking, ‘What is the best project for me?’
      And that wasn’t going to be the Reds, given that they are extremely unlikely to be playing Champions League football and they need an entire midfield overhaul.
      For me, the Santiago Bernabeu is his most likely destination.
      I watched Real against Chelsea on Wednesday and it was no more than a six or seven out of 10 performance by the ridiculously high standards of the 14-time European champions.
      But even then, players like Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior made your jaw drop at times.
      Real are regenerating their midfield – the wonderful Modric is 37 now, Toni Kroos, at 33, has openly talked about retiring this summer, and Casemiro has already moved on to Manchester United.
      Troy Deeney believes Real Madrid will benefit from Liverpool ending Bellingham interestCredit: Getty
      They have some wonderful young players, the likes of 20-year-old Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, 24, Rodrygo and of course Vinicius — both 22.
      I’m sure Jude would love to be part of that. What an opportunity for him it would be.
      And having been at Dortmund since he was 16, he is used to living and playing abroad.
      Going to Madrid will not be as daunting for him as it would be for a young English player moving straight from a  Premier League club.
      Not that anything seems to faze Jude, anyway.
      I think going to Germany at such a young age has been the making of him.
      That formative experience is what will help turn him into a genuine world great.
      I know the family, Jude’s brother Jobe is a team-mate of mine, and I know the move had some challenges for them in the early days but it was the right decision to go to the Bundesliga and it has paid off handsomely.
      Bellingham has attracted immense interest from the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
      I am convinced he will captain England and whichever teams he plays for.
      He’s already skippered Dortmund and they are a massive club with a passionate fanbase.
      It seems that Manchester City will be Real’s main rivals for Jude’s signature.
      I look at how another Brummie, Jack Grealish, has developed so brilliantly under Pep Guardiola and know that Jude could add new dimensions to his already world-class all-round game.
      But then again Real’s gaffer Carlo Ancelotti, with his four European Cups, isn’t exactly a clown, is he?
      As for Liverpool, it seems as if they are keen to sign Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher from Chelsea.
      Now, they are two decent players and a lot younger than their current midfield, which clearly needs some refreshing.
      But those two are not players who would go to Anfield and change the whole mood of the club.
      Bellingham still has a soft spot for childhood club BirminghamCredit: PA
      They are more like younger versions of what Liverpool already have.
      Jude would have been that game-changer but I’m not sure he would ever have chosen them above Real, for instance.
      And now that Jurgen Klopp’s team won’t be among the European elite next season, that is even clearer.
      It feels like Liverpool are deliberately lowering the expectations of their supporters ahead of the summer transfer market because so many of those fans seemed convinced that Jude would be the player to revitalise their team.
      Read More on The Sun
      Presumably they thought Liverpool’s passionate fanbase and great history might be an irresistible lure for him.
      But as every Birmingham fan knows, there is only one club Jude gets truly emotional about! More