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After coming through the youth system at Nottingham Forest, Jamaal Lascelles unsurprisingly became a cornerstone of the club’s first-team just a few years into his career.

The 6 foot 2 centre-back played 65 times for the club, before both he and Karl Darlow completed a double switch to Newcastle in the summer of 2014, with Alan Pardew waxing lyrical about his new signings.

He said: “It is a real coup to have signed two of the finest young talents in English football outside of the Premier League. Jamaal and Karl will be a big part of the future of this club.

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“They have both performed outstandingly in the Championship over the last couple of years and I have no doubt they will be able step up to this level once they return from their loan at Nottingham Forest.”

The move left then Forest boss Stuart Pearce both angry and upset, saying: “We had an offer from Newcastle that I was made aware of last week. The figures that were mentioned – I said I would not do that deal when I was asked the question. I thought I could push their value up and that would be worth more in the long run.

“The first thing I heard today about things was when Jamaal Lascelles came in and told me that he had a medical at Newcastle at 2pm. That disappointed me greatly.”

But whilst Lascelles’ exit from Forest may still leave a bitter taste, there’s no questioning that he’s made a big success of his career since. He’s played over 100 times in the Premier League for Newcastle, and is also the Magpies’ club captain too.

This season he has played in every single Magpies game that he has been available for, helping them earn some big results against the likes of Everton and Tottenham respectively.

After coming through the academy at Forest, leaving the club would no doubt have been a gut-wrenching exit. But his rise since then has been impressive.

With Manchester City having been linked with Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish recently, one man who may be worried for his future with the Citizens is Bernardo Silva.

The Daily Star suggested recently that City were eying a move for the England international, after his superb start to the season for Dean Smith’s side.

In seven Premier Leauge games for the Birmingham-based club, the 25-year-old has contributed four goals and five assists, resulting in an incredible average rating of 8.18 (per WhoScored).

You imagine that if City were to sign the former Notts County loanee, he would certainly be pushing for a spot in City’s first-team, considering the hefty fee they would have to spend in order to bring the £40.5 million-rated midfielder to the Etihad.

This would add to the already steep competition in Pep Guardiola’s side and one man who might have to miss out in order to accommodate Grealish could be Bernardo Silva.

The Portuguese international set a high standard in his first two seasons in the Premier League after signing from AS Monaco in 2017, with Guardiola suggesting following the 2018/19 season that:

“He was the best, not just in our team. Bernardo can play incredibly well everywhere, give me a team and he can play well there. He does everything with the ball.” (per Manchester City)

However, the 26-year-old has been unable to match those standards in the Premier League so far this season, as in five appearances in the top-flight, he has contributed to no goals and averaged a disappointing 6.60 rating (per WhoScored).

Guardiola already has the likes of Phil Foden and Ferran Torres establishing themselves as important players in his squad, so if Silva’s poor form continues and Grealish arrives, perhaps he could be the man who is axed from the City squad.

The Portuguese winger is one of City’s top earners, as he is currently paid £150,000 a week, suggesting that it would make financial sense for City to cash in on the £72 million-rated man should Grealish arrive, so he will have to drastically improve his form if he wants to ensure that he is still a key member of Guardiola’s squad in the long-term.

Whilst Manchester City might well be tempted to search for a replacement for Eric Garcia in the January or summer transfer windows, they arguably have a player who can eclipse the Spaniard ready-made in the City academy.

Garcia has been attracting the interest of Barcelona for some time now and looks set to leave the Citizens when his contract with the club expires next summer.

However, Pep Guardiola can replace the 21-year-old by promoting academy talent Taylor Harwood-Bellis to the first-team on a permanent basis.

The 18-year-old has already made six appearances for the City first-team in his short career, whilst he has been a regular in City’s academy sides in recent seasons (per Transfermarkt).

Back in 2019, Guardiola was full of praise for the centre-back after he and Eric Garcia started together in City’s Carabao Cup win against Preston North End, saying:

“I am pleased a lot with Eric Garcia and Taylor Harwood-Bellis at the back, they helped us a lot.

“They combined, they suit each other perfectly and they have played in the academy every weekend.

“They are exceptional human beings with a good mentality. I am very pleased.” (per Goal)

Therefore, the Englishman has clearly already impressed Guardiola a lot with his performances in the past, so when Garcia leaves the club, it seems clear that City won’t need to venture into the transfer market, as they already have a natural successor in Harwood-Bellis.

He has featured twice in the Carabao Cup already this season, featuring as a right-back in the win against Burnley, which demonstrates the youngster’s versatility and willingness to play wherever needed, whilst he was also on the bench for City’s Champions League fixtures against Marseille and Porto, which will have been a great experience for the youngster.

Whilst the defender is unlikely to establish himself as a regular in City’s first-team any time soon, due to the plethora of options available to Guardiola at the back, there seems no reason why he can’t be a big part of the Citizens’ future, providing he continues to work hard and prove himself with the academy sides.

And, in other news… 106 passes completed: Man City defender produced another near-perfect display vs Fulham

Among all the fanfare of signing the likes of Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez, there was one Aston Villa arrival that went rather under the radar in the summer transfer window: Lamare Bogarde.

The 16-year-old was snapped up by Dean Smith’s side from Dutch giants Feyernoord in late September, with interest in the holding midfielder first being reported by The Athletic way back in July, when it was suggested that both Arsenal and Tottenham were also very much interested in luring him to England.

In the end, Villa fended off competition from the two north London rivals, and it’s a move that could really come to pay off in the coming years.

The Netherlands have always had a great conveyor belt of talent – you only have to look at the kinds of players involved in Ajax’s Champions League run a couple of seasons ago to see that –  and it’s so important for teams like Villa to do their homework and sign those young talents before they really burst onto the scene and see their values sky-rocket.

The 6 foot Bogarde is someone who the club has high hopes for, with academy manager, Mark Harrison, raving: “We are delighted to welcome Lamare to the club. He is a player with immense potential and the commitment that will go in to fulfilling that starts now.”

The club confirmed that in signing him, they beat clubs all over Europe to his signature, and that he would be going straight into the academy set-up at Villa Park.

The defensive midfield position is something Villa fans have seen real quality in over these past few years, with Idrissa Gueye now plying his trade for last season’s Champions League finalists, PSG, and Douglas Luiz currently occupying that spot.

Bogarde – who has represented the Netherlands at U15s and U16s level respectively – has already shone for Villa in the U18 Premier League this season, scoring one and assisting one against Reading on his debut.

And when you look at his record for Feyernoord’s youth sides, you see someone who despite being a holding midfielder, can also be a threat going forward, notching two goals and providing four assists in 19 games for the U17s.

Bogarde’s a name that Villa fans should be keeping a keen eye on over these coming years, and if he fulfills the kind of potential the club thinks he has, then they could have Gueye’s long-term successor on their hands.

In other news, Aston Villa must sign up this Championship star before next week.

Harry Wilson may have made his situation at Liverpool worse after putting in a disappointing performance on the international stage. The Welshman had very little impact on his country’s UEFA Nations League match against Ireland and was subbed off after 67 minutes.

He is currently in somewhat of a grey area with his club after being linked to a move away in the summer. He looks set to join another Championship side on loan this season, but it appears his Liverpool career could be coming to an end.

Wilson could leave Liverpool

The Wales international is squandering his chances of staying in the Anfield set-up. After parting ways with Rhian Brewster, and Xherdan Shaqiri also linked to an exit, Wilson’s time to step up could be now. He was given the chance to impress during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup clash against Arsenal, but the versatile winger went completely under the radar.

Despite his impressive loan spells with the likes of Derby and Bournemouth, Wilson has struggled to impress Jurgen Klopp. The 23-year-old has made just two senior appearances for the Merseyside outfit and has not yet been trusted to feature in the Premier League. However, he certainly has the capability. During his time with the Cherries, he scored seven top flight goals with one even coming against Manchester City (via Transfermarkt).

But completing just 17 passes and only 1/2 dribbles against Ireland is not a notable performance for the playmaker. Wilson also  lost possession 11 times and made an error that led to an opposition shot (via Sofascore). Despite boasting the ability to play on either wing and in midfield, his recent stats certainly aren’t doing him any favours and he could be headed for the door soon.

Especially in comparison to rising stars Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, the 18-cap Wales performer’s progress seems to have stagnated at Liverpool and a move may be best for all parties involved.

In other news, Solid England display from Jordan Henderson is much-needed boost for Liverpool ahead of Everton clash…

MatériaMais Notícias

O Grêmio acabou derrotado no clássico contra o Internacional por 1 a 0, neste domingo, no Beira-Rio. O destaque do Tricolor Gaúcho no jogo válido pela 36ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro foi Marcelo Grohe. O goleiro fez grandes defesas e evitou um placar mais elástico. Confira os números do Grêmio no confronto:

Jogador com a melhor nota L! – Marcelo Grohe (6,0)
Jogador com mais chutes certos a gol – Giuliano, Everton, Pedro Rocha e Bobô (1)
Jogador com mais desarmes – Galhardo, Erazo e Giuliano (3)
Total de defesas do goleiro – Marcelo Grohe (5)
Jogador mais faltoso – Galhardo, Walace, Marcelo Oliveira, Everton e Luan (2)
Total de posse de bola do time no jogo – 14’28 (54%)

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Speaking to talkSPORT, pundit Jason Cundy believes that Chelsea ‘could do’ with signing RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano – especially after the Frenchman impressed during his side’s 2-1 Champions League victory over La Liga giants Atletico Madrid last week. 

Upamecano is currently one of the most sought-after defensive assets in Europe, with both Manchester United and Arsenal ‘monitoring his situation’ according to Goal – and it’s little wonder given his impressive performances over the 2019/20 season.

Described as “powerful” and a defender who “has everything”, tags that retired German ace Marvin Compper bestowed upon the player in an interview with the Bundesliga’s official website as far back as three years ago, his market value has now skyrocketed to £40.5m, as per Transfermarkt.

According to WhoScored, when compared to Frank Lampard’s men at the back, only Chelsea centre-back Kurt Zouma averaged more clearances per match in the league last term (4) than the 21-year-old, with Upamecano also making a superior number of tackles (1.9) in that time over the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

Against Atletico, the 6 ft 1 colossus displayed exactly why he is being dubbed ‘the next Varane’, earning the best SofaScore match rating (7.9) out of any RB Leipzig player. Over the quarter-final tie, Upamecano won an impressive six out of seven ground duels and three of his four aerial battles against ex-Chelsea forward Diego Costa,giving the Spaniard a torrid time (SofaScore).

Pundit, presenter and ex-Blues defender Cundy believes that Lampard’s side would do well to acquire Upamecano’s services.

“Largely, you look at the two squads, they went into [the quarter-final] as second-favourites, especially losing Timo Werner as well,” Cundy explained on talkSPORT.

“You’ve got some big names, some household names in football in the Atleti team but I have to say, the boy at the back, Upamecano, what a performance.

“I was looking at him thinking, as the game was developing, ‘this was the first time I’ve had a close look at your game’ and I was watching him and he was just immense.

“I was thinking: ‘Chelsea could do with him’.”

Whether or not the club and sporting director Marina Granovskaia decide to snap up Upamecano in this transfer window remains to be seen, but judging by Cundy’s analysis, he may well be an option worth considering.

Chelsea fans, do you share Cundy’s views on Upamecano? Give us your thoughts in the comments below!

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing Bournemouth ace Aaron Ramsdale if the Cherries are relegated from the Premier League, according to the Daily Mail. 

Tottenham are keen to sign Ramsdale as a replacement for Hugo Lloris and, despite the Frenchman still being Jose Mourinho’s first-choice goalkeeper, recent reports have suggested that Spurs are searching for his eventual successor this summer.

It is understood that the Lilywhites are looking at the Cherries’ shot-stopper as a possible alternative.

Ramsdale has been one of the few success stories in a difficult season for Eddie Howe’s side, who find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle at the bottom of the Premier League which is set to be decided on the final day of the season.

The England under-21 international, who has won seven caps at that level, has played 36 games in the Premier League this season, keeping just five clean sheets and conceding 61 goals up until now.

Meanwhile, Lloris has arguably struggled for consistency so far, as he has managed only six clean sheets in the league this term. Surprisingly, he has received a higher SofaScore rating than the Bournemouth ‘keeper, although there isn’t much between them.

Even though these statistics don’t seem to make for pleasant reading, Ramsdale enjoyed one of his best performances against Southampton in the south coast derby last weekend.

While the Cherries came up short, as the Saints scored twice to claim the victory, the Englishman earned a high SofaScore rating for his displays between the sticks, saving four shots from inside the box, making six saves overall, saving one penalty and taking 40 touches of the ball.

The 22-year-old Cherries ‘keeper has shown glimpses of what he has to offer, although he is still a work in progress, as he needs to improve his long passing. However, he arguably has a long career ahead of him and it may be a risk worth taking, as he is currently valued at £11m by Transfermarkt.

As it stands, it is likely that 33-year-old Lloris will be phased out within the next couple of years and Ramsdale could turn out to be a shrewd signing, given his significant younger age and his fine showings for relegation-threatened Bournemouth.

Tottenham fans, do you think Daniel Levy should sign Ramsdale this summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Many Sunderland fans have reacted with outrage after a statement from the club over season tickets refunds for the games missed due to the 2019/2020 season being curtailed.

The Wearside club saw their season come to an abrupt end as the League One season was ended via a points-per-game system.

Finishing eighth in the table, the Black Cats missed out on the chance to gain promotion to the Championship, the second successive year in which they have fallen short in that aim.

Stadium of Light season ticket holders missed a total of three home games due to the curtailment of the season and a recent announcement by the club has seemingly upset those fans.

The latest announcement made by Sunderland revealed that those fans with season ticket cards for the 2019/20 campaign will not be refunded until August at the earliest. The Black Cats outlined the process for supporters who were looking to gain refunds for the games missed against Shrewsbury Town, Accrington Stanley and Peterborough United.

“Sunderland AFC would like to thank supporters for their continued patience and advise them of the following details relating to the 2019-20 refund process,” the club statement read.“As previously announced, all season card holders are entitled to a pro-rata refund for the club’s cancelled home fixtures against Shrewsbury Town, Accrington Stanley and Peterborough United.“And supporters that purchased single match tickets for the club’s remaining games – home and away – are entitled to a full refund.“The refund process will take place via the following phases:“PHASE ONE: Home match tickets – 6 July ‘til 17 July“PHASE TWO: Away match tickets – 27 July ‘til 7 August“PHASE THREE: Season cards – 17 August ‘til 28 August“If a supporter is eligible for a refund, a credit balance will be applied to the ‘Account Cashback’ section within their online ticketing account in line with the dates above.“This process applies to all ticket purchases, including those made in person, by cash payment and via Direct Debit.“After logging in, supporters must enter the bank details they wish to use for the refund transaction before the expiry of each phase, after which point all cashback refunds will be processed.“Meanwhile, our commercial team are currently in the process of contacting our commercial clients in order to talk through the options available to them.“The Stadium of Light Box Office remains closed to the public and further information regarding its re-opening will be announced in due course.“We would like to once again thank supporters for their continued patience and understanding throughout what remains an incredibly challenging time for us all.”Sunderland Echo reported the view of fans following the announcement which saw a large number of season ticket holders take to social media to criticise the club statement.

This is another kick in the teeth for Sunderland fans from the club, who simply cannot seem to get anything right at the moment. One must wonder how hard it could be for the club to refund season ticket holders now rather than making them wait until August, a further blow to supporters who have been deprived of three home matches.

Unfortunately, reimbursing those would hurt Sunderland financially but there is also the trade-off of the loss of goodwill from what seems an excessively prudent approach by the club.

What do you make of Sunderland’s latest season ticket decision? Let us know in the comments section below…

Manchester City return to Premier League action tonight when they welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium as the English top flight resumes following a three-month coronavirus-enforced hiatus.

The fixture had been pencilled in for 11 March but was then postponed, with Gunners manager and Pep Guardiola’s former assistant Mikel Arteta tested positive for COVID-19. Thankfully the 38-year-old has since recovered and he now prepares to go up against his former boss for the first time as a manager.

For Manchester City, their hopes of a third successive Premier League title are merely mathematical at this stage, with 25 points to make up on Liverpool, and they will be eager to atone for their last outing, the 2-0 derby defeat to Manchester United on 8 March.

As Guardiola’s team finally grace their home stadium for the first time since the mid-February win over West Ham, Football Transfer Tavern predicts the starting line-up for the visit of Arsenal, anticipating no fewer than five changes from the XI that began the loss at Old Trafford. As per WhoScored, the Spaniard has the luxury of a fully fit squad from which to choose.

Ederson will almost certainly retain his place in goal, although there could be a much-changed back four just ahead of him. Aymeric Laporte is fit to return after the hamstring injury he picked up against Real Madrid in February, so he could slot in alongside Fernandinho at centre-back.

Neither Benjamin Mendy nor Kyle Walker started at Old Trafford but may be reintroduced to the defensive unit for the visit of Arsenal. Those changes would see Oleksandr Zinchenko, Nicolas Otamendi and Joao Cancelo all drop out of the starting XI, with the latter the subject of transfer speculation in recent weeks linking him with an Etihad exit.

Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan are likely to retain their places in midfield and Kevin De Bruyne, who scored twice in the 3-0 win over the Gunners in December, should come back into the line-up after missing the derby defeat with a back injury sustained in the Carabao Cup final. That would see David Silva dropping out of the team to make way for the Belgian.

The one anticipated change in attack sees Riyad Mahrez coming in for Phil Foden on the right wing, with the Algerian hoping to add to his tally of nine goals and 14 assists this season. Sergio Aguero should continue at centre-forward while Raheem Sterling might just about keep his place on the left wing.

Guardiola may decide to bring the fit-again Leroy Sane back into the team in place of the out-of-form England attacker, although with the German not playing a senior game in 10 months following his cruciate ligament injury, the manager could well prefer to bed in him gently with a run-out from the bench rather than throwing him straight into the line-up.

Man City fans, do you think this will be the team that Guardiola picks to face Arsenal tonight or would you make some changes to it? Let us know in the comments section below!