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Wolves striker Raul Jimenez is reportedly ‘on his way’ to Manchester United this summer, reports say. 

Jimenez, 29, has been in sensational form at the Molineux Stadium this season, scoring 17 goals and supplying 6 assists in the Premier League as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side finished seventh in the table.

While the Wanderers will be able to qualify for the Champions League if they win the Europa League which is set to start next month, the Portuguese media claim the Mexican forward will be moving elsewhere.

As is often the case, United have been linked to some of the world’s best strikers in the transfer window, and Jimenez is no exception. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is eager to increase his firepower prior to the 2020/21 Premier League season, having reached an agreement with Shanghai Shenhua to extend Odion Ighalo’s loan move.

According to RTP, as cited by Sport Witness, Wolves have already signed a replacement in preparation for his departure.

Jimenez is set to follow in the footsteps of his compatriot Javier Hernandez and move to Old Trafford in the summer. ‘Chicharito’ scored 59 goals in 157 games in all competitions for the Red Devils, so his countryman will have his work cut out if he wishes to emulate his performances at Man United.

However, the Mexico international certainly seems to be on the right track, as he has hit double digits for the past two seasons in a row.

The Portuguese broadcaster claims Paulinho, who is represented by Jorge Mendes, will move to Molineux from Braga for €30m before the start of next season, which has paved the way for Jimenez to jump ship to the Theatre of Dreams.

Mason Greenwood has burst onto the scene since the restart but Solskjaer has made it clear he still wants to sign a new number nine.

There is no doubt Jimenez will cost a pretty penny or two, as his market value is estimated to be worth £36m via Transfermarkt, and whether or not these are baseless rumours remains to be seen.

United fans, do you think Ed Woodward will sign Jimenez this summer? Let us know down below!

كشف جورجينيو لاعب وسط تشيلسي، أنه يقاتل على العديد من الأهداف الجماعية والشخصية له، خاصة بعد تحقيق دوري أبطال أوروبا مع البلوز وبطولة يورو مع إيطاليا.

لاعب الوسط الإيطالي سيعود إلى إيطاليا من جديد لأول مرة منذ 2018 حيث يواجه يوفنتوس غدًا ضمن الجولة الثانية من المجموعة الثامنة ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

طالع أيضًا | جورجينيو: يوفنتوس قوي.. ولكن تشيلسي يمتلك السرعة والطاقة

وقال جورجينيو في تصريحات لصحيفة “لاجازيتا” الإيطالية: “لا يزال لدي العديد من الجوائز لأقاتل من أجلها هذا العام، هناك دوري الأمم الأوروبية مع إيطاليا وكأس العالم للأندية مع تشيلسي”.

وأضاف: “لقد كانت سنة استثنائية مع تشيلسي كوني بالفعل مرشحًا حقيقيًا لجائزة الكرة الذهبية، يجعلني أشعر بالفخر. إذا حدث ذلك وتوجت بها سيكون أمرًا رائعًا”.

وعن مواجهة يوفنتوس: “سنلاقي فريقًا كبيرًا للغاية وله تاريخ عظيم، يوفنتوس قوي ويجب أن نكون بأقصى درجات الاحترام والتركيز التام أمامهم”.

واختتم: “نتمنى تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية في إيطاليا، علينا مواصلة الانتصارات، الفوز على يوفنتوس غدًا سيجعلنا سعداء للغاية ويعطينا ثقة أكبر”.

The latest KPMG figures show that Liverpool’s club value has increased by a huge £365m over the last year, which is more than any other club on the planet.

The latest financial figures were released on Tuesday and the Reds were arguably the biggest winners. Their value increase stands at 19.3% from where they were last year and they are now said to be worth £2.26bn. In the process, they also jumped ahead of both Chelsea and Manchester City and they now sit fifth in the worldwide table. They aren’t the number one in England, though, as Manchester United sit in second position. [via KPMG Football Benchmark]

The team’s success on the pitch is likely to have had a big impact on their positive market value movement. The Reds are the reigning European champions and have reached the Champions League final in back-to-back seasons, whilst they currently lead the Premier League by a huge 25 points. Undoubtedly, those achievements have had a strong impact on the club’s financial position.

The Reds have come a long way in the past 10 years. A decade ago, they were on the edge of administration before FSG took control of the club – they are now the fifth most valuable football club on Earth. The current owners have received their fair share of criticism in the past but perhaps they deserve more credit for the work they have done in making Liverpool a financial as well as footballing powerhouse.

Reds fans, how significant is this news for the club? Let us know what you think by commenting below!

After seeing their relegation confirmed, it’s been no surprise to see some of Norwich’s key players being linked with moves away. And now, it appears Newcastle have set their sights on Canaries midfielder Todd Cantwell.

According to The Daily Mail, both the Magpies and fellow Premier League side Leicester are interested in signing the Englishman this summer, with Manchester City also name-checked as long-term admirers.

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The report further claims that despite the uncertainty surrounding Newcastle and their planned takeover, they have made their interest in Cantwell known.

And after hearing about their links to the £18m-rated ace, Magpies fans took to Twitter to share their reactions.

Some Newcastle fans suggested that whilst Cantwell could be a really good signing for them, they felt Leicester are clear favourites to get him.

Another Magpies supporter went about it a bit more tactically, claiming that Cantwell’s arrival, and his ability to play out on the left, could see Miguel Almiron move into a more central position.

Despite playing for a side that has already been relegated from the top-flight, Cantwell has undeniably been one of the shining lights of Norwich’s season.

The 22-year-old has struck seven times and provided a further two assists this campaign, playing on both flanks and popping up with some big goals – he has scored against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.

With the Canaries’ relegation, this could be a chance for Newcastle to snare him on the cheap.

QPR manager Mark Warburton has lauded young R’s talent Eberechi Eze as “a top-six Premier League player” and praised the marked improvement in his consistency from this season compared to last.

The 57-year-old was speaking to Sky Sports on Monday when he was asked about the young midfielder, saying: “There’s been a lot of media focus, quite rightly, for his performances – he’s dealt with that really well. Last year he had a really hot streak and then tailed off quite significantly. That played on his mind; he knew about that. Again, he’s responded this year and he’s maintained a level of consistency home and away.

“I honestly believe that he’s a top-six Premier League player, all day long. I’ve watched how he is before games – he just can’t wait to go and play. He’s relaxed, he’s looking forward to it. You watch players who are a bag of nerves before games but not Ebs. He looks forward to it, responds well to a mistake, he responds well to criticism for a young guy. He gets it.”

There has indeed been a substantial increase in Eze’s productivity in the final third over the last couple of years. He managed just four goals and four assists in 3,191 league minutes in 2018/19, with one of each every 797.75 minutes. This term, he has 12 goals and eight assists to his name in 3,273 minutes in the Championship, scoring once every 272.75 minutes and supplying an assist every 409.12 minutes.

Warburton also rightfully pointed out that the 21-year-old hasn’t hit a prolonged lull this season like he did last term, when he scored three times in his first eight league matches but only managed one more in the subsequent 34 games. This time around, his longest streak without a goal has lasted just six matches.

It isn’t just in terms of goals and assists that Eze has improved substantially, either. In 2018/19, he had match averages of 0.7 tackles, 1.6 shots, 0.9 key passes, 1.6 successful dribbles and 22.6 passes per game, with a 81.3% passing success rate. His match averages for this season are 1.2 tackles, 2.4 shots, 1.9 key passes, three successful dribbles and 36.3 passes per game, with an improved passing success rate of 86.4%. [via WhoScored]

His impressive displays during 2019/20 have indeed caught Premier League attention, although not quite at top six level just yet – Football Insider reported that relegation-threatened West Ham are targeting the attacking midfielder.

Warburton is right to praise the multi-faceted improvements to Eze’s game over the last few months and it is that greater consistency which has attracted glances of admiration from West Ham.

With QPR 13th in the Championship and facing an uphill battle just to get into the play-offs, a sizeable offer from a top-flight club might give the youngster a huge decision to make, so the R’s ought to enjoy what Eze brings for now.

QPR fans, has Eze been the team’s best player this season? Comment below with your views!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Even as he approaches the twilight of his career, Lionel Messi is showing no signs of slowing down.

The 32-year-old was on fire once again last term, scoring 51 goals in 50 matches as he helped Barcelona to another La Liga title. Not only that, he also contributed 22 assists as well. Those tremendous displays for his club earned him the Ballon d’Or, the sixth of his career. Whilst it may have been his smallest margin of victory to date – he pipped Virgil van Dijk to the trophy by just seven votes – it is hard to argue that he doesn’t deserve to take the individual accolade home once again after such an incredible year.

In regards to the rest of the placings, Liverpool were very well represented. No less than four players made it into the top seven of the final ranking, whilst a further three finished in the top 30. Of those, Sadio Mane was fourth on the list.

There were several people in the world of football who thought the 61-time Senegal international star should have won the trophy – including Messi himself. The Argentina forward, of course, voted for Mane in the FIFA The Best award, and he said after he received his accolade from France Football (Canal+ via Metro): “It’s a shame to see Mane finish in fourth place.”

It was an impressive year indeed for the 5 foot 9 former Southampton man. He scored 26 goals in all competitions for the Reds – which saw him win the Premier League Golden Boot – and he also got his hands on the Champions League as well. Not only that, he also contributed to his country’s run to the African Cup of Nations final, which they unfortunately lost to Algeria. Given his displays, there is a case to be made that he could have challenged for the golden ball.

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

However, Messi’s words should be good enough for the 27-year-old. Here, we are talking about perhaps the best player to have ever walked the earth. And in his eyes, Mane was the star performer in the sport over the past 12 months.

Whilst it would certainly have been nice to have won the prestigious award, receiving such lofty praise is a more than good enough consolation prize. To be recognised by the very best in the sport surely has more value than the votes of those journalists who voted for the award – especially when you see the choices of the Sri Lankan representative, for example. If that isn’t good enough for Mane, then we aren’t quite sure what is.

In other news, one Liverpool youngster is a target for two Bundesliga outfits.

Charlie Austin drew another blank during West Bromwich Albion’s 2-0 win over Stoke City in the Championship on Monday night.

And it does appear that the WBA fans are fast losing patience with the striker.

The 30-year-old has only scored one Championship goal for the Baggies this season, with that effort coming at home to Cardiff City on October 5.

Since then, the experienced striker has failed to find the back of the net against Middlesbrough, Barnsley, Charlton Athletic and Stoke.

Slaven Bilic’s side recorded a 2-0 win on Monday to move to the top of the Championship table, and the Baggies are looking a real force in the second tier this season.

Find out what happened when a world-record-holding freestyler attempting skills with the worst pair of boots available on eBay in the video below…

Austin’s form, though, is a concern for the club’s supporters.

And many took to social media on Monday to comment on the Englishman’s struggles, particularly as his replacement – Hal Robson-Kanu – netted after entering the field.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

انتصر فريق باريس سان جيرمان، على نظيره لينس بهدفين مُقابل هدف، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين، عصر اليوم السبت، على ملعب “حديقة الأمراء”، ضمن لقاءات الجولة الخامسة والثلاثين من الدوري الفرنسي.

انتهى الشوط الأول من المباراة، بتقدم باريس سان جيرمان، بهدف نظيف، سجّله الدولي البرازيلي نيمار في الدقيقة 33.

وفي الشوط الثاني من المباراة، سجّل البرازيلي ماركينيوس، الهدف الثاني للنادي الباريسي في الدقيقة 59.

وبعدها بدقيقة قلص إجناتيوس جاناجو النتيجة لـ لينس بالهدف الأول في الدقيقة 61، وسجّل الأرجنتيني ماورو إيكاردي هدفًا ثالثًا للنادي الباريسي بالدقيقة 84، ولكن تم إلغاؤه بعد العودة إلى تقنية الفيديو.

انتصار باريس سان جيرمان، رفع رصيده للنقطة 75، ليتصدر الدوري الفرنسي “مؤقتًا”، بفارق نقطتين عن ليل الوصيف، والذي لديه مباراة مساء اليوم ضد نيس، فيما توقف رصيد لينس عند 56 نقطة في المركز الخامس. شاهد اهداف مباراة باريس سان جيرمان ولينس

A report from the Daily Mail has delved deeper into the role Kolo Toure is playing as first-team coach at Leicester City.

Adam Shergold’s story in the Daily Mail takes a closer look at the success Leicester are having this season, suggesting that they have a real chance of targeting a third-place spot.

When talking about Leicester’s defence, Shergold referenced Toure and the positive impact he is having on Caglar Soyuncu.

He said: “Soyuncu, 23, is one of the players who has benefited from the vast experience of Kolo Toure, the club’s de facto defensive coach who followed Rodgers from Celtic.

“Toure, the former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool defender who has managerial aspirations of his own, conducts one-on-one analysis sessions with each defender after every match, passing on his knowledge.

“It goes a long way to explaining why Leicester have the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding just eight times in their 10 matches so far.”

Whatever Kolo Toure is doing with those defenders, it seems to be working. The attacking talent and flair were there for all to see last Friday when they annihilated Southampton in their own backyard, but let’s not forget about the fact they have only conceded eight goals in the league this season – the joint-lowest in the division along with Liverpool and Sheffield United.

And at the heart of that defence is, of course, Soyuncu and Jonny Evans. Any doubts over Soyuncu stepping up at the beginning of the season with Harry Maguire gone seemed to have evaporated after 10 performances of the highest calibre. Soyuncu has played every minute of the league season and has a really impressive 7.14/10 average – hugely impressive given it’s his breakout season in the Premier League.

There is clearly great work going on from Brendan Rodgers and his staff, as Leicester look a very assured outfit at the moment – miles away from when Claude Puel was sacked back in late February.

And a big part of that is Kolo Toure. If Shergold’s statement is true about the one-on-one sessions, they are clearly having a positive effect, as the squad looks to have great morale and spirit, as well as being very assured of what they are doing and how they need to do it.

أعلن إيدين تيرزيتش، المدير الفني لبوروسيا دورتموند الألماني تشكيل فريقه لمواجهة مانشستر سيتي في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويحل دورتموند ضيفًا على مانشستر سيتي في ذهاب دور ربع نهائي دوري الأبطال، في ملعب الاتحاد.

طالع تشكيل مانشستر سيتي أمام بوروسيا دورتموند تشكيل بوروسيا دورتموند ضد مانشستر سيتي

حراسة المرمى: هيتز.

خط الدفاع: موري، مانويل أكانجي، تشان، هوملز، جيريرو.

خط الوسط: بيلينجهام، إيمري تشان، محمود داوود.

خط الهجوم: كناوف، هالاند، رويس.