Wolves predicted XI to face Fulham as they look to get back on track

Wolves will hope that their home match against Fulham this afternoon will help them return to winning ways in the Premier League.

As it stands, Wolves are 16th in the table after managing to grab just one win so far. After being beaten by Manchester City, they went on to suffer a shock defeat at the hands of David Moyes’ Irons. West Ham ran out 4-0 winners on home soil, leaving the Midlands side scratching their heads.

A big performance is needed if Wolves want to start their climb up the table, but Fulham will be equally hungry for points. The Cottagers are currently rooted to the bottom of the league table on zero points, with ten goals scored against them.

Football FanCast has predicted how Wolverhampton might line-up in their upcoming Premier League clash…

With £17m man Daniel Podence reportedly due to return today, Nuno Espirito Santo may opt to risk starting him after being out with a shoulder injury. Wolves have missed his attacking threat on the wing after he bagged himself two assists in two games (via Transfermarkt). His link-up play with Raul Jimenez is fast turning into something threatening and they will need all the attacking prowess then can get.

We could see Leander Dendoncker take the place of Joao Moutinho, who has had a quiet last few games. Wolves are short on midfield options as it is, so freshening up the heart of the engine room could be key to finding a result against a desperate Fulham.

The regular back-line of three will likely stay in tact, with Conor Coady looking to lead his side to their second win of the Premier League season. They will need to stay strong against a Fulham side eager to claw their way out of the relegation zone.

In other news, Wolves will feel disappointed after missing out on potential Raul Jimenez strike partner…

Manchester United: Fans rage as Laurie Whitwell sheds new light on Phil Jones

Manchester United defender Phil Jones has never been the same since Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford.

Jones has been plagued by constant injury setbacks over the years after arriving at the Theatre of Dreams from Blackburn for £17m back in 2011.

However, according to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, Jones has recently undergone surgery to clear a lingering problem with his knee. The surgery has been a success and Man United are confident that he can turn his career around and finally live up to expectations.

David Moyes, who managed Jones during his time at Old Trafford, is keen to sign him, although that hinges on whether or not West Ham stay in the Premier League.

The 28-year-old is open to a move regardless, as he wants to be playing regular football and finds himself below the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly in the pecking order. He has shockingly only managed to play two games in the Premier League all season.

Unsurprisingly, many United fans slammed the news on social media, with some branding him a “broken man” and suggesting that he is “robbing the club blind” in light of his horrendous injury record. Meanwhile, one fan urged the board to “get him out.”

Scroll through some of the scathing reactions so far…

United fans, do you think Ed Woodward should sell Phil Jones? Let us know down below!

Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs hit by blow in race to sign Max Aarons from Norwich City this summer

Bayern Munich have emerged as shock contenders to sign Tottenham Hotspur target Max Aarons from Norwich City.

Aarons has attracted attention from a number of suitors who are keen to stop him from playing in the Championship following the Canaries’ relegation from the Premier League.

Tottenham have been chasing the 20-year-old for several months but, according to Sky Sports Austria, as cited by The Sun, the Bundesliga champions have now entered the race to sign him this summer.

While Benjamin Pavard has established himself as Hans Dieter-Flick’s first-choice right-back at Bayern Munich, the German giants are keen to find suitable cover. However, Aarons could also be in contention to start, which would bring him into competition with Pavard for a place in their starting lineup.

The Lilywhites will face stiff competition from Bayern, as the England under-21 international may be unable to resist the temptation of playing in the Champions League, and this is something Spurs cannot currently offer.

Jose Mourinho is interested in signing Aarons as he looks to reshape his squad, even though he has private reservations about his physical build, as he is willing to give him a chance to prove himself in north London.

At present, Serge Aurier remains his primary option at right-back, although he is attracting interest from overseas with Monaco reportedly ready to bring him back to France, and Aarons may be the perfect replacement.

Norwich are demanding £30m for their academy graduate and Spurs are set to resume their charm offensive in the summer.

Admittedly, Aurier has earned a higher WhoScored rating than Aarons this season, but it is worth pointing out that the Englishman averaged more blocks per game and drew more fouls.

He is still at the early stages of his career, which gives him plenty of time to continue to grow and develop as a player, and he could turn out to be a shrewd signing to make if his talent is nurtured in the right direction. However, whether or not Daniel Levy will be willing to take on the risk on a prospect who is still largely unproven at the top levels of the game remains to be seen.

Tottenham fans, should Levy sign Aarons this summer? Let us know your views by commenting below!

Man Utd fans slam interest in Swansea’s Joe Rodon

After signing the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire and Daniel James last summer, it’s unsurprising to hear new reports that Manchester United are yet again looking to target young, British players in this upcoming transfer window.

According to The Daily Mirror, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have earmarked a potential £20m move for Swansea defender Joe Rodon, with club legend and current Wales boss Ryan Giggs playing a major part in recommending him to the club.

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The report claims that Solskjaer wants to strengthen his defence this summer, and that Giggs is a “big fan” of Rodon – the United icon also urged the club to sign Daniel James from Swansea last year too.

After hearing about the links to the Championship ace, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

One United fan simply insisted that the links to Rodon showed that the Red Devils are “becoming a second rate club”.

Whilst James’ form tailed off considerably in the second-half of the Premier League campaign, he did start the season on fire, notching three times in his first four top-flight games.

There does appear to be reasonable value for money in young players making a name for themselves in the Championship, and Rodon could be yet another starlet who does just that.

It seems Giggs is beginning to have a real influence on the club’s transfer policy even without being at the club.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp betrayed by FSG over Timo Werner snub

What must Jurgen Klopp be thinking watching the news that Timo Werner looks set to join Chelsea this summer, instead of Liverpool?

Reports in recent weeks had suggested that the Reds manager had informed the club’s board that the RB Leipzig striker “would be perfect for his team”, and the fact Werner himself has spoken publicly about his admiration for the Merseysiders surely put Liverpool in the driving seat for his signature.

Instead, the Germany international is on his way to Stamford Bridge, and Klopp looks set to face another summer transfer window in which the club may not splash out on big-money signings.

Can you spot your Xabi Alonso from your Bruno Cheyrou? This Liverpool quiz will have you questioning your knowledge…

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Last year saw them only bring in Sepp van den Berg for a fee, and whilst the Reds are closing in on the Premier League title this season, Klopp would surely be keen on strengthening his squad to ensure they don’t just stand still.

But now, The Athletic have revealed that the Liverpool manager was overruled by FSG in his quest to land Werner this summer. The report claims that Klopp spoke to the owners to discuss whether the deal would happen, and was promptly told that they simply didn’t have the money to do so.

That then saw Klopp phone his German compatriot to inform him of the club’s decision, paving the way for Chelsea to steal a march.

After everything Klopp has done in rebuilding Liverpool into the reigning Champions League holders, and current Premier League winners-elect, surely the least FSG could have done is find a way to signing Werner.

If that was the German’s one big wish this summer, then it was up to the owners to work their magic to make sure they granted it. However, despite reportedly making it clear to them that he was a player that he very much wanted, he has been oh-so badly let down.

Make no mistake about it, whilst the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have played their roles in Liverpool’s triumphs over the past couple of seasons, it has been Klopp who has been the ultimate figurehead.

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The economic success that FSG probably look at with pride when they see the accounts sheet every year, has a lot to do with Klopp and the extraordinary job he has done in turning Liverpool’s fortunes around since permanently replacing Brendan Rodgers.

For the owners to deny Klopp a request is nigh-on unforgivable, and raises some serious questions at Anfield. Will the Liverpool manager simply brush aside the matter, or will it have hit him more personally?

How will his relationship with the club’s board have been affected, and how does missing out on Werner affect the Reds’ performances on the pitch next season? Only time will tell, but if things turn sour, then Klopp would be perfectly within his rights to point the finger of blame at FSG.

Arsenal fans fuming with links to Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo

So after a miserable opening to the current campaign, it appears Unai Emery’s misery may be finally coming to an end.

Following a series of poor results, Arsenal find themselves in eighth in the Premier League table, and are already eight points off the top four.

Reports in recent weeks had suggested that Emery may have just a month to save his job, but it now appears it could be far sooner than that.

According to The Daily Mail, the Gunners have set their sights on Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo as their new manager, with the north London side’s hierarchy impressed by what the Portuguese man has done in his time at Molineux.

The report further claims that Nuno’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has particularly close ties with Raul Sanllehi, and that could prove to be decisive.

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After hearing their links with the Wolves manager, Arsenal fans flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts on their potential Emery replacement.

Many Gunners supporters insisted he simply isn’t good enough to manage a club like Arsenal, and revealed they are feeling particularly underwhelmed by the reports.

Check out some of the reaction of Arsenal fans below:

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans want former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri to replace Unai Emery.

Online Casinos Capitalise On Lack Of Premier League Football

Football fans are the most passionate in the world and the closure of football leagues due to the pandemic has left many going stir crazy. Across Europe, citizens are forced to stay in their own homes and only leave if it is completely essential. The boredom created by the lockdown along with no footy games to watch has millions of men looking for some excitement. One of the most popular ways of entertaining themselves is through gambling online. With no sports betting available due to the close-down, it has meant that they have had to play riskier casino games.

Coronavirus Could Cause An Addiction Epidemic

One of the major problems with gamblers making the switch from betting on Premier League football to casino games is that they are more addictive. Games such as slots have been designed to be addictive and unlike sports betting, players have to spend hours playing which is one of the main causes of addiction. The UK Government is going to announce more measures to combat this such as GamStop but players will just find a way around it by using casinos that are not part of the program.

Online Video Slots The Biggest Winner

The casino games that have seen the biggest increase since the pandemic started are slot machines. Football bettors have been tempted by the huge jackpots on offer along with promotions such as free spins when they join a new platform. Mobile slots have seen the largest increase with many preferring the option to download an application to play instead of a stand-alone website.

eSports Continues To Grow

Console gaming has experienced major growth since the lockdown started with many turning to games to relieve the boredom. EPL fans are playing FIFA online due to no matches being played and instead of gambling on their team winning, they are backing their own gaming skills to attempt to make money during the lockdown. FIFA is one of the most popular eSports titles and a record amount of wagers have been placed on individuals and teams since the pandemic.

Final Thoughts

No one knows when things will get back to normal and the Premier League will start back up again. It is expected that matches will be played behind closed doors and it will be a long time before stadiums are back fully open. Many clubs will have to shut down and it will take many years for football to fully recover. In the meantime, fans will look for other things to provide them with the buzz of supporting a team, and online casinos are proving a popular option. There are big risks, however, attached to this sort of gaming so new regulations will have to be brought in to help curb major gambling addictions.

2020 has not turned out how anyone expected and there is still a long way to go. If you are going to be playing online casino games during the lockdown make sure you act responsibly. If you feel it is getting out of hand, join addiction help services such as GamStop and see professional help.

Birmingham fans believe Lukas Jutkiewicz deserves to be given the armband

It’s time for someone to step up.

With Harlee Dean’s suspension being upheld after his red card at Cardiff City last weekend, the Blues are going to be without their skipper for the next couple of weeks, and it’s left a few people wondering who will be given the armband in his place.

Noted Blues journalist Brian Dick asked supporters on Twitter who they thought should be given the honour, and fans couldn’t come to a unanimous decision.

It’s not as if they’ve even had a clue as to who Clotet has in mind as vice-captain, with Dean playing every minute of every league game so far this season.

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Craig Gardner took the armband during the side’s 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Portsmouth earlier in the campaign, but with him having not made an appearance in the league so far this campaign, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll find himself in the matchday 18, let alone being given the captaincy again.

Whilst there wasn’t a unanimous call among the fans, one player did seem to get a lot more votes than others, with some claiming that he should have been given the armband at the start of the season.

That’s what the people think, so let’s see if Clotet follows their advice.

Shaun Goater suggests Guardiola wants Foden to take Man City to another level

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

The topic of Phil Foden’s development is a relentless sub-plot at Manchester City which isn’t going away anytime soon.

What’s the word?

Pep Guardiola’s team selection comes under scrutiny from hoards of Twitter experts who clearly know better than the most talented football manager of a generation, with Foden’s exclusion regularly depicted as some kind of moral injustice on the 18-year-old.

But there is clearly a more complicated situation to unpick than what the “experts” would lead you to believe.

Foden is, after all, just 18. He’s just about old enough to drive a car and legally purchase a pin, yet there are many who expect him to start regularly for one of the most successful football teams in recent history.

It’s a topic that divides neutral fans, frustrates City fans and ultimately points towards the level of potential the Stockport-born midfielder has.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Shaun Goater was asked about the Citizens’ plan to replace David Silva and what his exit could mean for Foden, and he appeared to suggest that there could be more frustration on the horizon for the neutrals.

“I think City will still look to get a quality player but Phil Foden will still get more minutes. My thinking and understanding from when I observe Pep is for players to come in and push the team, not be the same.

“I think that’s what is expected of Phil – to take the team to the next level. Whenever Phil has come on, he’s looked very confident, it looks as though he’s comfortable at this level.

“Everyone is saying he’s good enough so he should be in there. But I have this thought that Pep is asking a different question: can he take us to another level at this moment in time?”

Guardiola’s immense standards

The question of whether Foden can take the club to another level is an intriguing one. Clearly Guardiola is not willing to integrate youth merely to appease supporters. If he is going to include a player in his starting XI, they ought to have justified their place.

While the 18-year-old is clearly immensely talented and capable of holding his own at the top level, he is not going to seamlessly complete a transition into the senior squad if he isn’t going to offer an upgrade on the quality offered by the likes of Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.

The reality is that there are a finite number of places for Guardiola to fill from a pool of immensely gifted central-midfielders, and until the England youth international showcases a level of quality that transcends what the aforementioned quartet can offer, he will continue to fight for scraps of involvement.

The silver lining is that Guardiola’s firm stance should, theoretically, prove to be enormously beneficial to Foden’s long-term development.

Leeds are looking at Nathan Ferguson but would he be a good signing?

According to Football Insider, Leeds United are looking into the prospect of signing Nathan Ferguson from West Brom.

The Whites have apparently begun building a dossier around the Baggies full-back.

While Ferguson has impressed this term, with Slaven Bilic stating that he has an extremely bright future, it’s up for debate as to whether or not this would be a good signing for Leeds.

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The Whites may lack depth in some areas of their squad, but they’re absolutely stacked at full-back.

The 19-year-old can play on either the right of the left, but he’d have to compete with seasoned Championship veterans such as Ezgjan Alioski, Barry Douglas, Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling in order to get a spot.

There are positives and negatives in this move for Leeds, and our writers gave their opinion on whether or not it’d be a good move.

Billy Meyers

“Despite the fact that Leeds already have a fair few full-backs, Nathan Ferguson is an exciting prospect who Marcelo Bielsa should not pass up the opportunity to sign.

“The West Brom wonderkid can play in both full-back positions – something that could prove invaluable over the course of a season with injuries and what not – while his value will presumably soar year-by-year seeing as he is a young English talent.

“It is telling that Tottenham are interested in Ferguson as well, with another Premier League side in Crystal Palace also keeping tabs on the youngster, so if there is even a glimmer of a chance for Leeds to get him, then they should jump at it.”

Lewis Blain

“Nathan Ferguson has been nothing short of a revelation for Slaven Bilic and West Brom this season. The Croatian took a gamble on promoting him in pre-season and it’s paid off – in more ways than you may think too.

“For the U23s, he was primarily a centre-back, but he began his senior Baggies career on the right-hand side of the defence, picking up the Man of the Match award in front of the Sky Sports cameras against Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest. That was merely a sign of what was to come.

“He has since filled in at left-back in Kieran Gibbs’ absence and has done well enough to keep the former Arsenal man out of the starting XI entirely. It is this sort of versatility that would make him an incredible signing for any team, Leeds included.

“Given he has been linked to a few European giants in Atletico Madrid and Juventus this week, I can’t see him swapping the Hawthorns for Yorkshire any time soon, if ever. It is also reported that he will sign an extension at Albion, so that would put pay to any form of exit in the foreseeable future.”

Why being the away goalkeeper at Leeds is the toughest job in football in the video below…

Vijievan Jeevathayalan

“At just 19-years-old, Nathan Ferguson has the world at his feet at the moment. A full-back flying high at West Brom this season, Leeds would do well to poach him away from their Championship rivals.

“The teenager is in the mould of Manchester United’s £50m man Aaron Wan-Bissaka, in that he is incredibly strong defensively – this campaign, he has averaged 2.6 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game.

“Whilst Marcelo Bielsa’s side may be well-stocked in his position, getting a promising prospect with the best years ahead of him seems like shrewd business. Getting Ferguson on the cheap – his contract expires at the end of the season – would be a major coup for a team looking to get back to the big-time.”

Charles Jones

“Nathan Ferguson would be a fantastic addition to any squad in the Championship, and the fact that teams such as Juventus and Atletico Madrid have looked at him tells you everything you need to know about the full-back.

“However, unfortunately, I think that Ferguson is a case of the right player at the wrong time.

“Leeds already have enough good full-backs to see them through this term, and despite the fact that Ferguson is out of contract this summer he will still cost quite a lot.

“The Baggies are also pushing for promotion so they won’t want to let him go cheaply, and if United signed him on a pre-contract they would still have to pay compensation, and with Fulham demanding £7m for Harvey Elliott after he joined Liverpool, the Whites could end up forking out millions of pounds for the youngster.

“Those funds would be better invested in other areas of Marcelo Bielsa’s squad, so I’d have to say that this isn’t the correct move for Leeds right now.”

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