Newcastle fans fume over Luke Edwards’ Bruce comments

Newcastle United fans have been left fuming by the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards after his recent article on their manager Steve Bruce.

The Magpies scribe claims that the 59-year-old has silenced his critics with an impressive first season in charge and has also delivered the one thing that supporters have always wanted – new owners.

Who the heck is that?! Can you name all 25 of these obscure Newcastle signings…

But several members of the St James’ Park faithful have been replying to him on Twitter with an opposing viewpoint.

Bruce took the reigns in the summer after Rafa Benitez jumped ship to go manage in the lucrative Chinese Super League and the former Sunderland boss has managed a win percentage of 34.3% from 35 matches at an average of 1.31 points per game, via Transfermarkt.

Newcastle are sat in 13th position under his stewardship, some eight points away from the dreaded relegation zone.

Yet it’s clear to see that many in the northeast aren’t pleased with the veteran’s management style as some have blasted his tactics and thus, have subsequently questioned Edwards’ train of thought.

Here’s the general reaction so far…

AND in other news, Newcastle move for La Liga STAR would be give shades of Yanga-Mbiwa…

Spurs could find successor to Danny Rose in Sergio Reguilon

After heading out to Newcastle on a loan deal during the January transfer window, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Danny Rose and his long-term future at Tottenham.

Reports in recent weeks have claimed that Spurs have even told the Magpies that they are willing to sell the Englishman on a permanent transfer, and that Jose Mourinho had decided a long while ago that he will not be a part of his plans.

If Rose does end up departing, then that will leave Ben Davies as the club’s only other natural, first-team option at left-back. And that is exactly why a move for Sergio Reguilon makes a lot of sense.

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Accoring to Spanish publication ABC Sevilla, Spurs have made an enquiry for the Real Madrid player, who has been out on loan at fellow La Liga side Sevilla this season.

When you look at the stats that the defender has produced this season, then it’s no surprise to see the north London side being linked with a move for him.

As per Transfermarkt, he has racked up four assists in just 22 appearances in the Spanish top-flight, playing a key role in his side finding themselves third in La Liga, only behind Barcelona and Madrid.

The £18m-rated ace is the archetypal modern full-back, being a real offensive threat, but also being a very reliable defender going back towards his own goal too.

In La Liga, he has averaged an impressive 2.1 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, whilst he has also managed one shot, 1.6 key passes and 1.7 dribbles per game – clear evidence of Reguilon having a nice balance towards his game.

Mourinho himself has previously confessed himself to be a fan of the left-back too. During punditry duty for the El Clasico, Mourinho said: “I say, from my perspective too, one of the players that could show that Real Madrid traditional desire to compete against Barcelona was another kid like Reguilon, who had a very good approach in both matches.”

So clearly the current Spurs boss is well aware of the Spaniard’s talents, and judging by his performances this season for Sevilla, would represent the perfect successor to Rose in north London.

Liverpool fans react to James Pearce’s reveal of summer plans

Despite being the reigning Champions League holders, and runaway leaders of the Premier League, Liverpool are not impervious to the current situation that is impacting the entire world.

Big-money signings are unlikely to be the norm this summer for any side across European football, and The Athletic journalist, James Pearce, has painted a rather bleak future as to what Reds fans can expect over the coming months.

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Pearce revealed their pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner is likely to be dead in the water considering the kind of price involved, whilst no match-day revenue is expected until 2021.

And after hearing about the journalist’s downbeat update on the club’s plans for the future, Liverpool fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

Amid all the incredible success that Liverpool have enjoyed over the past couple of seasons, it does seem a little strange to suggest that even Jurgen Klopp’s side won’t be able to make just one big signing this summer.

And it’s exactly why many of the club’s supporters seem so incensed with FSG over the news.

Leeds United: Fans react to reports of impending contract extension for Ben White

Many Leeds United fans have reacted to latest news regarding Ben White, who is expected to remain at the club on loan until the end of July.

Having missed out on promotion last term via the play-offs, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are now in pole position to gain automatic promotion to the Premier League, sitting top of the Championship table as things stand.

Bielsa’s side have been in excellent form this season, both collectively and on an individual basis, and on-loan White has been among their standout performers based on WhoScored’s average match ratings for 2019/20.

The young English defender, who would have returned to Brighton by now had the 2019/20 season not been placed on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, now sees his future very much in question. However, a report from The Telegraph claims that a deal is set to be agreed to extend White’s stay at Elland Road until the end of July.

The expected contract extension will provide Bielsa with some comforting news, whilst many fans will also be delighted to see the youngster stay until the season is completed.

The news comes after some Brighton fans expected White to return to the club today…

Reacting to The Telegraph’s reports, these Leeds supporters countered those expectations of Seagulls fans by revealing their excitement over a potential extension for White:

Leeds fans, how much would Ben White be missed next season if he goes back to Brighton? Let us know in the comments section below…

Arsenal: Martin Keown hopes that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stays at the club

Arsenal are starting to slowly push up the league as they now sit in seventh place, and only six points off a Champions League spot, per BBC Sport.

They managed to thrash Norwich City 4-0 yesterday, with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang picking up the Man of the Match award as he scored two goals and also grabbed an assist, per SofaScore.

Speaking after the game was pundit and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, who spoke highly of the forward whilst also emphasising his desire for him to stay at the club. On BT Sport, via The Express, Keown said, “Of course. I think he has a very difficult decision to make. He clearly loves the club.

“The way that he scored all the goals, beating Henry to that, in a team that really you can’t say is anywhere near of the quality that the club once had, you have to credit him with that.

“I sincerely hope that he stays. You need that striker to give you the belief to win games of football.”

It’s hard to disagree with Keown here on the quality he has, and it is fair to compare him to Thierry Henry as Aubameyang scored his 50th Premier League goal for the club in 79 appearances last night. Arsenal pointed out on Twitter how fast he has managed this as he has reached this great feat in less appearances than the Gunners legend.

It is also fair to say he loves the club, as you could see his passion after he scored in the fixture yesterday, and without his goals, the Gunners would be a lot worse off than they are.

His 19 goals in all competitions this season is the most out of any Arsenal player this season, and is 12 more than Alexandre Lacazette, who has the second-most goals for the club, and this emphasises why Keown desperately wants the forward to stay.

Gunners fans, do you think Aubameyang will stay at the club? Comment below!

Newcastle United: Hatice Cengiz claims Mohammed bin Salman is ‘worse’ than Mike Ashley amid takeover

Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has claimed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) is ‘worse’ than Mike Ashley as she spoke to Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain (via The Chronicle) about the proposed takeover of Newcastle United.

As per the outlet, Cengiz appeared on the ITV show as a guest to speak about the new UK government sanctions on those accused of abusing human rights, which includes the case of Khashoggi’s murder.

“To Newcastle fans, if you are unhappy with the current owner, the Crown Prince will be much worse,” said Cengiz. “For fans, I want to say, if Mike Ashley’s tenure has been like a bad dream, for them the Crown Prince will be like a nightmare.”

She has previously accused MbS of being involved in the killing, writing several letters to the Premier League and members of the Toon faithful urging the blocking of the prospective £300 million deal, and took to the British outlet to stress her point again.

MbS or the Saudi Arabian government have not been found to have been tied down to the murder, but if this was found to be true, then it would arguably raise serious questions as to whether the top flight should actually approve of the bid.

Cengiz has argued that the Saudi crown prince should not be deemed a fit and proper person because of what he has been accused of, as per the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (ODT) set out by England’s highest division.

Whether this will alter the thinking of the league with regards to approving of the takeover or not is another question, but it may well put some doubt into their mind, which may be a worry for NUFC fans.

Geordies, should the Prem consider the accusations against MbS? Comment below!

Glasgow Rangers: Fans react to Alan Burrows’ resignation

Glasgow Rangers may be looking forward to the new season, but that is only after being embroiled in the chaos that has wreaked havoc across Scottish football over the past few weeks and months.

The Gers have mainly been at loggerheads with the SPFL, accusing them of corruption following their handling of the resolution proposal after the term was brought to a premature close. They even pushed for an independent investigation into the governing body, but they were forced to walk away with their tail between their legs when only 12 other sides backed their calls.

The SPFL remain under pressure as they now face Hearts and Partick Thistle before an arbitration panel as the two sides attempt to see their relegations overturned. Now, they have been hit by even more bad news, with Motherwell chief executive Alan Burrows confirming that he will be stepping down from the authority’s board after just two years.

This has attracted plenty of attention from the Gers’ supporters, and they have taken the opportunity to slam both the SPFL and Burrows himself. They have shared their thoughts on Twitter, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Let us know what you think!

Chelsea: Frank Lampard could upset Man City’s Nathan Ake deal

Manchester City have had an official bid of £41million accepted for Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake.

The former Premier League champions have already started their spending for the summer window by potentially giving the Dutchman a one-way ticket out of the Championship. However, Chelsea have the power to rain on Pep Guardiola’s parade due to a clause inserted into Ake’s deal when he left Stamford Bridge in 2017 (via talkSPORT).

According to the update, part of the defender’s move to Bournemouth included allowing Chelsea to consider re-signing him before he moved to a new club. With Man City and the Cherries agreed on a £41m deal, they must first give Frank Lampard and Co the option to match the offer.

Therefore, Ake will not officially become part of Guardiola’s squad until Chelsea decide whether they want to bring their former man back to Stamford Bridge.

There’s a good chance Lampard may see a future in West London for the Dutch international, who spent four years as a Chelsea player but spent three seasons on loan with multiple clubs (via Transfermarkt).

The Blues are looking to strengthen their defensive options ahead of next season and Ake could be an attractive target to Lampard who hasn’t settled on a centre-back partnership this term. The 42-year-old has chopped and changed the heart of his defence throughout the 2019/20 season, with no particular combination seeming to impress him.

Ake of course left Chelsea before Lampard’s tenure, so the former Blue could be interested in bringing him back to the Bridge and getting him involved in his exciting West London project.

Do you think Chelsea should re-sign Nathan Ake? Have your say in the comments below…

West Ham exit for Albian Ajeti a reminder of GSB disaster

Celtic have confirmed their signing of West Ham striker Albian Ajeti on a permanent deal.

What’s the word?

Despite only arriving last summer, Ajeti barely featured for the Hammers in his debut campaign in English football, making just 12 appearances across all competitions.

Now, Scottish giants Celtic have confirmed that they have ended the Switzerland international’s misery, with the terms of the deal actually undergoing a late change.

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Sky Sports have revealed the Bhoys were initially prepared to sign him on loan with an option to buy, but this was then changed to a permanent deal, costing £5m.

Another GSB disaster

Talk about an unmitigated disaster.

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The Hammers spent a reported £8m to sign Ajeti from Basel last summer, handing him a bumper £60k-per-week contract. For him to then play just 12 games in total under both Manuel Pellegrini and then David Moyes speaks volumes of how poor of a signing the Swiss ace was.

After splashing out a club-record fee to sign Sebastien Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt, GSB surely needed a more Premier League-proven option to provide back-up to the Frenchman in his own first season in England.

Instead, the two strikers they bought both had to adapt to the pace and intensity of the Premier League, and neither could really adjust quick enough to shoulder the goal-scoring burden.

In the end, Ajeti cost a whopping £11.1m in total for West Ham (combined transfer fee and wages for the year). With all the criticism GSB have faced over the years from loyal Hammers fans, this latest news is just another reminder of how badly they’ve let the club down again.

Tottenham Hotspur: Danny Mills heaps praise on Matt Doherty after Spurs secure deal

Speaking to Football Insider, ex-England international defender Danny Mills has heaped praise on Spurs defender Matt Doherty after the club managed to secure a £16 million deal to sign him from Wolves last week – with the pundit going on to describe his traits as ‘what Mourinho wants’.

Doherty, who started 32 games for the Molineux outfit last season, proving an old reliable under Nuno Espirito Santo, has now completed a switch to north London to become part of Spurs’ Champions League qualification push next season.

His signing also opens the door for Serge Aurier to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and pundit Mills thinks the acquisition is an ‘upgrade’ on the Ivorian.

The new Premier League campaign starts in just under a fortnight, and Mills has been in awe over Spurs’ tackling of the transfer market so far – going on to worship the signing of Doherty to Football Insider.

Jermaine Jenas has also proved to be a fan of the right-back in past seasons, with the ex-Spur once calling him ‘sensational’ to Match of the Day via Sports Joe. 

Mills, branding Doherty as ‘solid’ and ‘reliable’, certainly appears to admire the 6ft 1 stalwart, and he could be a coup if the ex-top flight veteran’s verdict is anything to go by.

“He is an upgrade on Serge Aurier. He has done incredibly well at Wolves over the past few seasons,” explained Mills to FI.

“Lots of people coming out and saying he is an Arsenal fan and so what? It makes no difference.

“I have been very impressed with him at Wolves. He has a good skill set, great ability in the final third and a very, very good work ethic. He is solid, reliable and that is what Mourinho wants from his players.”

Mourinho, having now secured deals for Doherty, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Joe Hart this summer, with chairman Daniel Levy spending around £30 million in the process, could see the squad significantly bolstered just in time for his first full debut season in charge.

The Republic of Ireland international comes in as an alternative to polarising defender Aurier, with the Lilywhites right-back now potentially on his way out this summer as AC Milan become continuously linked (Fabrizio Romano via Football Italia).

Spurs fans, is Matt Doherty a bargain coup? Have your say in the comments below…

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