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According to a recent report from The Sun, Tottenham look set to rival Manchester United for the signature of Steven Bergwijn. The 21-year-old currently plays his football at Dutch heavyweights PSV Eindhoven having come up through the ranks at the Eredivisie club, with his mightily impressive efforts in his homeland seemingly attracting interest from the upper echelons of the Premier League. 

And a report from The Sun suggests that United and indeed Spurs are eyeing up a move for the £27 million-rated sensation (as per Transfermarkt) this month, and were Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham to beat the Red Devils to the signing for the talented attacker, it would represent a huge coup for the North London club.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the landscape near the top of the Premier League has changed somewhat in recent times with the big four very much becoming a big six, with Spurs one side who have done brilliantly to force their way into that bracket, with manager Pochettino a chief reason for such ascent.

And even former United boss Jose Mourinho admitted (via The Daily Telegraph) not too long ago that it isn’t as easy to sign players from the likes of Tottenham now such has been the North Londoners’ rise, yet United still remain one of the biggest clubs in world football to suggest that rivalling them for a signing is always likely to be tough.

Add in Spurs’ unwillingness to spend big in recent transfer windows, they didn’t even sign a player during the summer market, and beating the Red Devils to Bergwijn would represent a huge coup.

The 21-year-old has been one of the most in-form youngsters in European football this season with ten goals and nine assists for PSV in all competitions, nine goals and eight assists of which coming in the Eredivisie to help Mark van Bommel’s side to top spot in the table as they seek to defend the title they won in 2018.

And Netherlands international Bergwijn certainly played his part in that title triumph as well with eight goals and 11 assists for the Dutch giants last term, so it’s pretty clear just how much of a rise the 21-year-old has undertaken in the last few years – he is certainly getting better and better.

And with a goal or an assist in each of his last seven league matches, the winger would arrive in the Premier League in form and ready to hit the ground running, which in a Tottenham side that has been decimated by injuries in the final third of the field recently certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

And when one looks at the current options at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s disposal at United, Bergwijn may struggle to fit into the starting eleven such has been the recent efforts of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in the final third of the field – regular football at Spurs looks more likely.

And under the guidance of Pochettino, a manager who has proven his worth to young players over the years in developing and nurturing them into world stars, the Dutchman could get even better, which itself must be a frightening thought for any side coming up against the 21-year-old.

Ultimately, it’ll be a tough ask for Spurs to beat United to Bergwijn’s signature, the man himself is reportedly (via The Sun) keen on a move to Old Trafford, but were they able to do that this month, it would represent a huge coup for Pochettino’s side.

Tottenham and Man Utd fans… what do you think? Let us know!

According to a recent report from The Sun, Andreas Christensen’s future is far from certain heading in the final few days of the January transfer window. The 22-year-old currently plays his football at Premier League giants Chelsea having come up through the youth ranks at Stamford Bridge, although struggles for regular game time under new Blues chief Maurizio Sarri this season has plunged his future at the club into huge doubt.

And a recent report from The Sun suggests that European giants Borussia Dortmund and Juventus are interested in a January move for the defender, with Chelsea themselves reportedly seeking a £6 million loan fee to thus allow the centre back a move away.

And that should be of keen interest to West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini, as a raid on their London rivals for the £6 million-rated sensation would go some way to seriously strengthening the Hammers defence.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the backline was one area Pellegrini made a point of strengthening during the summer with the arrivals of Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena, what with the East London outfit really struggling defensively last time round in shipping the joint-most goals, alongside Stoke City, in the Premier League.

And while the duo have done pretty well in the heart of the Hammers backline so far, particularly Diop, a long-term injury to Winston Reid as well as knee surgery underwent by Balbuena leaves Pellegrini with only Diop and indeed Angelo Ogbonna as his fit senior centre backs – and with Balbuena out until the middle of February, and Reid’s return far from clear, further reinforcements may be needed.

And a move for Chelsea’s Christensen would go some way to helping solidify that Hammers defence heading into the rest of the season.

The 22-year-old may have struggled to just 13 senior appearances under Sarri this term at Chelsea, only one of which has come in the Premier League, but one cannot forget how impressive he was, for the most part, at Stamford Bridge last season under Antonio Conte.

The Denmark international may have played only three times in the Blues’ title-winning campaign under the Italian in 2016/17, but he became a regular last time round with 27 Premier League appearances for the club and 40 in all competitions – he found a way of breaking into a Chelsea defence that, the season before, was simply outstanding.

And while there were a few errors from Christensen, he on the whole acquitted himself well to suggest that he has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League – and at the tender age of 22, he is only likely to get better the more football he plays.

And this should certainly be of interest to Pellegrini – with Diop and Ogbonna the only fit centre backs at the London Stadium presently, and likely to be until at least the middle of next month, a loan move for Christensen would make complete sense, not only in terms of adding depth to that department, but also adding even more competition for places.

And for just £6 million (as per The Daily Mirror), it’s a move from which West Ham could seriously reap the rewards defensively, which is why Pellegrini must seek to raid their London rivals for the Danish sensation.

West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!

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West Ham appear to have found their new first-choice right-back in Ryan Fredericks.

The full-back has played against both Liverpool and Crystal Palace in recent weeks under Manuel Pellegrini and excelled in both games, with Pablo Zabaleta potentially set for an extended period on the sidelines.

On the chalkboard

Fredericks, against Liverpool, was matched up against one of the most prolific front threes in English football.

Against Sadio Mane, Fredericks held his own and, though the Senegal international scored, the right-back was unlucky that it was allowed, with replays showing that the Reds attacker was offside.

Thereafter, however, he successfully limited Mane’s threat and ensured that the Hammers had a solid defensive foundation on which to build, as they managed to grind out a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

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Last time out, West Ham again drew 1-1, this time with Crystal Palace, and Fredericks was again impressive.

Matched up against Wilfried Zaha, Fredericks made five tackles, the second most of any player on the pitch, per WhoScored, and touched the ball 51 times, even venturing forward to register one shot on goal.

And the defender has enjoyed his stint in the first-team, telling the club’s official website: “It doesn’t get much harder than what I’ve faced this last week. As left wingers come, Mane and then Zaha are two of the best there are is the Premier League. I feel like I stood up to the test and got the better of the battle.”

Zabaleta to watch on

This should be the end of Zabaleta in the Hammers team.

The Argentine is 34 and, while his displays have belied his years at times, he can now be eased out of the starting XI.

Fredericks is eight years Zabaleta’s junior and deserves the chance to show just how good he is at the London Stadium.

With games against Fulham and Manchester City to come, the 26-year-old should keep his place as the Irons’ look to build on two promising displays.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men are currently 10th, five points behind seventh-placed Wolves – if they are to catch them, Fredericks has to play at right-back.

It’s not been an easy few years for Arsenal in the transfer market whose fans have, on more than one occasion, had to endure their team whimpering out of big money deals, and Wenger’s most recent admission certainly won’t do much to improve their mood.

The Frenchman, who is now enjoying a relatively stress-free life away from the ‘Wenger Out’ banners, was recently recorded discussing his desire to sign Borussia Dortmund sensation Jadon Sancho (source: beIN Sports Twitter).

“I wanted to take him from Manchester City when he didn’t get the games, I tried as well to lure him,” he told beIN Sports on Wednesday night.

But it seems money was a major sticking point in the deal (again).

The former boss went on to discuss the huge wage bills young players demand before proving themselves in the first-team, and although he didn’t explicitly mention it in the interview – not list this segment of it – it’s obvious that he, or the club, was unwilling to satisfy the player’s demands.

Probably a bad decision in retrospect.

The former Manchester City winger has already contributed 8 goals and 13 assists this season and looks set to lead Borussia Dortmund to their first Bundesliga title since 2012.

Arsenal, on the other hand, are hovering just outside the top four in the Premier League and look seriously in need of another player who could make a difference in the big games. Games they tend to lose. A lot.

However, this isn’t the first player Wenger has claimed he’s tried to sign. Sancho joins a long list of now quality talents who, at any given point in their careers, have been on the radar of Wenger. Indeed, the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi (via FourFourTwo) are also said to be on his nearly list, making pretty gutting reading for the Gunners faithful.

It seems even after his departure, Wenger is prepared to trot out this tired old line and it must be gutting for the Arsenal fans who just want to move on into an exciting new era.

Either he’s desperately unlucky, a victim of his boardroom’s unwillingness to spend, or a liar.

What do you think Arsenal fans?

Liverpool’s game against arch rivals Manchester United could put them back on top of the table or set them on a path of self-destruction once again.

It’s 29 years since Liverpool last won the top division in English football, and don’t the players and fans know it. That and the fact they’ve never won the Premier League has been a stick used to beat the Reds with over the last two decades. Glory has been close on a number of occasions, but they’ve always faltered.

Particularly when looking back at 2013/14, the pressure from the terraces was immense from April onwards. The fans were singing ‘we’re going to win the league’, the team bus had a red guard of honour for every home game and Steven Gerrard made his famous ‘this does not slip now’ speech. Liverpool wrapped themselves in a frenzy of pressure, and it got to them.

This year the pressure is mounting already and it’s only February. Posts are being shared on Twitter asking fans to turn up to games early because ‘we’ve got a title to win’ and it won’t be long before the streets are lined with fans. The problem is, Liverpool have to beat United or their fans and players will quickly get the shakes, and they haven’t beaten United at Old Trafford since 2009.

City have dealt with the pressure before in 2011/12 and 2013/14 where hope seemed lost with less than ten games to spare but they finished strongly in both those seasons to hold their nerve and clinch the title. Last season was a breeze, this season won’t be, but they seem prepared for it.

In the big games since the turn of the year against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, City have turned up and played without fear. However, Liverpool have looked wobbly and times, particularly against Brighton, Palace, Leicester and West Ham, teams they should be beating. The blue side of the title race have slipped up too, but they appear to have regained their stride.

City fans will cheer United on before their Carabao Cup Final against Chelsea because they know the game would mean more than just three points. It instils the ‘Liverpool are going to bottle it’ storyline inside the heads of the fans to a point where they overcompensate, become too passionate and then pile pressure on their own side.

Do you think Liverpool will beat United on Sunday?

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Everton have hardly had the season the fans were surely hoping for after Marco Silva took the helm and the Toffees recruited three Barcelona players in the summer. A string of poor results have seen the Goodison Park outfit lose five of their last six and the pressure mount on their Portuguese manager.

The same problems seem to be cropping up time and time again and there is little doubt that they are underperforming. There have, though, been occasional bright-sparks provided by a select few, although there are also a couple of players who have flattered to deceive throughout the season.

So, who has improved and who has declined the most on Merseyside over the course of the campaign?

Most improved: Lucas Digne

The Frenchman is one of very few players who can confidently say that their starting spot will be guaranteed beyond the summer and looks set to hold down the left-side of Everton’s defence for the foreseeable future – a rapid turnaround after starting the season behind Leighton Baines in the pecking order.

The Toffees may have struggled to find a way through their opponents’ defences in recent weeks but Digne is not for the want of trying – the former Barcelona man has attempted a league-high 197 crosses, while also chalking up three goals and as many assists in 24 league appearances.

Possessing a wicked left-foot, the left-back has even ousted Gylfi Sigurdsson from some set-piece duties and has frequently shown his lethality from dead-ball situations as he goes from strength to strength.

Far removed: Seamus Coleman

On the other side of the Toffees defence, Seamus Coleman is having a campaign to forget. The Irishman has regularly looked off the pace and has shown nothing but glimpses of the calibre of performance that have made him the first name on the Everton team sheet over the years.

Besides the obvious need for a winger and striker, Coleman’s place looks most under threat if Everton decide to conduct another squad overhaul in the summer.

The Merseysiders were linked with a move for now-Leicester man Ricardo Pereira when he was still at Porto and, considering the impact the Portuguese has had at the King Power and the lacklustre figure cut by Coleman, they will surely rue their inability to win the race for his signature last year.

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Newcastle United’s January signing Miguel Almiron has already made a positive impact in his short time with the club, but he can have a field day against West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday if manager Rafa Benitez makes one simple change.

On the chalkboard

The 25-year-old made his debut as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the beginning of the month in a central position, but he has since featured on the left-hand side in successive St James’ Park wins against Huddersfield Town and Burnley respectively.

The Paraguay international was particularly impressive against the Terriers when it came to creativity, and he has already caused his opponents plenty of issues with his speed and movement.

Benitez may well choose to keep the former Atlanta United man on that flank for the visit to the capital at the weekend, but he should instead take advantage of an issue for the hosts that could lead to Almiron having a field day against the Irons.

What’s the change?

Literally switching the South American ace from the left to the right, where he could come up against Ben Johnson.

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The 19-year-old made his full senior debut in the 1-0 defeat against Manchester City on Wednesday, performing impressively against Riyad Mahrez before he was replaced in the 63rd minute after suffering an injury issue.

With Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku both missing the clash against the champions through injury themselves the teenager could get another opportunity from the start against the Magpies if he is fit, but he is of course still relatively inexperienced.

Benitez must take advantage and put him up against a competitor who won’t allow him to have an easy afternoon, and Almiron can do that better than Ayoze Perez – plus Ryan Fredericks may be able to match him stride for stride if he starts on the left.

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Unai Emery insists he will not follow in the footsteps of Mauricio Pochettino and call for governing bodies to help clubs with the scheduling of matches, per ITV.

The Tottenham Hotspur boss, per Goal, was furious that Borussia Dortmund were given an extra day to prepare for their Champions League last-16 second leg tie on Tuesday, which Spurs won 1-0 to seal a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

What’s the word?

Pochettino’s words ultimately rang a little hollow after Spurs turned in a superb performance at Signal Iduna Park to seal their progress to the quarter-finals.

But he is not the only manager to call for a change; Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri also appealed for more help from the Premier League in October.

Per the Daily Mail, he said: “In Italy, if you are playing in the Champions League you can ask to play the match before on a Friday or Saturday.

“If you play in the Europa League away, not at home, you can ask to play on the Monday night. I think this is right.”

Arsenal have been victims too, with Rennes given a free weekend to prepare for their Europa League tie while the Gunners played Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

But Emery insists he is not interested in debating the merits of scheduling and has told his players they have no excuse for not performing in the coming weeks.

“It is not an excuse for us, we have the habit to play a lot of matches week by week,” he said, per ITV.

He added: “I respect them, the Premier League they decide the schedules for our matches and we adapted.

“Our adaptation is to prepare for the matches on the days we can have but, above all, our habit is to play a lot of matches during the week, so it is no excuse.”

A risk

It is admirable that Emery is so insistent that he will not lean on easy excuses and he is absolutely right to remind his players that he expects a minimum level of performance.

With Arsenal looking to qualify for the top four and overhaul Manchester United, who they play this weekend, while also looking to triumph in the Europa League, Emery will have to rotate his squad between now and May.

But he can have no complaints after backing the way the Premier League and the FA work.

It is certainly a risky strategy, to be so public in his insistence that his players should not be affected.

Emery, of all people, will surely be aware that his words could well come back to haunt him if the Gunners fall short both at home and in Europe.

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Eric Dier made his first Premier League start of 2019 on Saturday afternoon as Spurs suffered a 2-1 defeat away at Southampton.

What’s the word?

There was a time when Dier was regarded as one of the best young players in English football.

Combining a rugged hard-man attitude with a percentage-based approach to passing football, the midfield enforcer was regarded as a player with the potential to establish himself as the first-choice option in England’s pivot role.

His exciting development even prompted Premier League icon and serial trophy winner Xabi Alonso to label him as his favourite young English player in 2017, as per The Times, citing his versatility and composure as two defining characteristics of his game.

That a player of Alonso’s immense standing in the game chose Dier as his favourite young player spoke volumes about the enormity of the former Sporting Lisbon man’s reputation at the time.

But nearly two years on it’s fair to say that Dier has struggled to match the hype which surrounded the formative stages of his career.

Huge point still to prove

The 25-year-old, who is valued at £36 million by Transfermarkt, can be brilliant on his day. Every side needs a player to crunch into challenges and keep things ticking over between the lines of defence and midfield, but Dier has struggled to develop in the manner which many predicted him to.

Cutting-edge through balls are stashed away in his locker but not released regularly enough, while his lack of mobility often leaves him vulnerable in one v one situations.

Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko have established a formidable midfield partnership this season and Dier will face an uphill battle to win his place back when both players are fully fit.

And with Declan Rice staking the strongest claim to slot into Gareth Southgate’s midfield anchor role, it’s clear that Dier has failed to justify why Alonso singled him out for such esteemed praise in 2017.

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has placed Barcelona as the favourites to win the Champions League this season.

Barca have not lifted the European Cup since 2015, but are currently enjoying a fine campaign – sitting top of La Liga by 10 points, in addition to reaching the final of the Copa del Rey.

The Spanish champions will take on Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with the first leg due to take place at Old Trafford on April 10.

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Pochettino has said that Ernesto Valverde’s side ‘have players of extraordinary level’, before admitting that Lionel Messi’s presence makes them the team to beat.

Messi netted a wonderful hat trick against Real Betis on Sunday night to take his tally to 39 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions this term.

Sky Sports quotes Pochettino as saying:

“If there is one favourite team to win Champions League it is Barcelona. Valverde is doing a great job. They have players of extraordinary level, and then they have Lionel Messi.”

Tottenham, meanwhile, were paired with Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and will host their domestic rivals in the first leg on April 9.