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Middlesbrough play host to fellow Championship promotion contenders Leeds United at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, and Tony Pulis must be ready to take advantage after Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa said he could be without three key players on Teesside, as per the Yorkshire Evening Post.

On the chalkboard

Well, Bielsa confirmed in his pre-match press conference that there are doubts over the fitness of Mateusz Klich, Adam Forshaw and Pablo Hernandez through injury at the weekend, and it gives the Boro boss a big opportunity to exploit their opponents.

The trio are all capable of playing through the middle in Leeds’ preferred 4-1-4-1 system, and without those players they will surely be weaker than usual through the middle of the park.

Pulis has largely favoured either a 5-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 system so far this season, and he appears unlikely to repeat deploying a 3-5-2 formation he used during the week, given they were beaten 2-0 by Newport County in their fourth-round FA Cup replay.

What does he need to do?

Assuming Leeds are going to be less effective from an attacking point of view in central areas – which should certainly be the case if they are without Forshaw, Klich and Hernandez – then Boro need to take advantage through the middle.

Pulis has often decided to play with four central-midfield players even when using a 5-4-1 system, but he has now been given the perfect opportunity to be slightly more adventurous to get his side a vital three points against a Whites side that look to be lagging a little.

Going with a 4-2-3-1 gives him the defensive balance he wants and needs but also gives him a player in behind the striker who can really hurt Bielsa’s men, and now he must decide who the best individual for the job is – Lewis Wing must surely be in with a shout.

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With his contract set to expire next summer, there has been plenty of talk about Christian Eriksen’s future.

The 27-year-old, however, is only focusing on his football as he looks to help Tottenham win their first top-flight title since 1961.

The Breakdown

“Christian only wants to focus himself on football,” Eriksen’s agent Martin Schoots recently told ESPN. “Besides his technical, tactical and athletic skills, also this attitude has contributed over the years to his impressive transformation from world class talent to world class player.”

With things extremely tight at the top of the Premier League table, Tottenham do not need any added distractions, especially at a time where they have been forced to pick up results without star duo Harry Kane and Dele Alli.

Considering all of that, it is imperative for Eriksen to make sure the uncertainty surrounding his future does not affect his performances. And to the Denmark international’s credit, he has done just that.

Alongside Son Heung-min, Eriksen has helped to keep Tottenham’s title dream alive in the absence of Kane and Alli with his creativity on the pitch proving to be too much for opposition teams as ever.

If Tottenham are to go all the way this season, then they need Eriksen free of any distractions.

أكد رجل الأعمال الإسباني، جوسيب ماريا بارتوميو، رئيس مجلس إدارة نادي برشلونة، أنّ ناديه لم يتمكن من التوصل لحل ودي مع كيكي سيتين المدير الفني الذي تمت إقالته من البلوجرانا، قبل شهر ونصف، حيث لم يحصل الأخير على مستحقاته المادية عقب قرار الإقالة.

برشلونة تلقى خسارة فادحة بنتيجة 8-2 على يد بايرن ميونخ الألماني، في ربع نهائي دوري الأبطال، ليودع المسابقة القارية بنتيجة تاريخية؛ ليتم بعدها إقالة سيتين من منصبه، بعد 7 أشهر داخل “الكامب نو”؛ وحل الهولندي رونالد كومان مدرب منتخب هولندا السابق، بدلًا منه.

سيتين يطالب برشلونة بالحصول على 4 ملايين يورو كمستحقات متأخرة، من أجل الموافقة على الإقالة رسميًا ضمن كشوف الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم.

أقرأ أيضًا.. بارتوميو يحسم موقفه من الاستقالة ويؤكد: سنبرم صفقات جديدة قبل نهاية الميركاتو

وكان كيكي قد كشف أنّ إدارة برشلونة أخبرته باستقالته يوم 16 سبتمبر بشكل رسمي وليس بعد الهزيمة من بايرن ميونخ، لذلك سيتخذ إجراءات قانونية ضد وصيف الدوري الإسباني (طالع التفاصيل).

وقال سيتين في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “قضية سيتين؟ الأمر بسيط للغاية، لقد تم إخباره إنه سيتم إقالته”.

وأضاف: “لقد تفاوضنا من أجل أنّ يرحل بشكل ودي، وتم الاتفاق على كل شيء، لا أري مشكلة في هذا، ولكن الآن لا يوجد اتفاق، والمحكمة سوف تتخذ قرارًا في هذا الأمر”.

وأتم تصريحاته: “أنا أشكر سيتين على مُساعدته لنا، ولا أفكر الآن في الأشياء السيئة المُتعلقة بالماضي، بل أفكر في المستقبل وما سيأتي، ينتظرنا موسم مُثير”.

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As quoted by Football London, West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that Manuel Lanzini is close to a return to action, following a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The Chilean coach said, “this week I think we will have the squad list [on Thursday] and maybe Lanzini and Nasri can be included on the squad list…We will talk [Thursday] with the medical staff and then we will decide.”

Whether or not it is in time to face Fulham at the London Stadium on Friday night, the 26-year-old attacking midfielder is clearly close to a return to field. This will be welcome news to Hammers fans, as the Argentine can certainly have an impact between now and the end of the season.

On the chalkboard

The midfielder was expected to miss out on the entirety of this campaign after he sustained a knee injury during preparations for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. However, he now looks to be on schedule for a return ahead of the initial 15-month diagnosis.

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The team he is coming back into though is very different to the one he left. The Hammers have improved their attacking contingent whilst Lanzini has been sidelined, and summer arrival Felipe Anderson could make it tricky for the 4-cap Argentina international to get back into the team.

Pellegrini will have to find a way to balance his side so that Lanzini and the Brazilian can play alongside each other without leaving the Irons defensively exposed.

Finding the balance

With both Anderson and Lanzini on the pitch, the east London club would boast a great deal of creativity, technical ability and flair. However, neither are the most defensively aware or diligent of players. Despite all their quality, the Irons could find themselves missing the work rate currently brought to the side by the likes of Mark Noble, Robert Snodgrass and Michail Antonio – and there isn’t room for all of them in the starting XI.

Jack Wilshere and Andriy Yarmolenko’s own returns to fitness could intensify this selection headache for the manager. Pellegrini will likely have to make some tough choices in the summer, or else find a way to accommodate all of this attacking midfield talent, to ensure that the Iron’s don’t become a top-heavy, unbalanced outfit.

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Aston Villa academy manager Sean Kimberley has tipped 17-year-old Jacob Ramsey to ‘have a bright future in the game’, as per quotes via The Birmingham Mail.

Ramsey joined Villa’s youth system at the age of six and recently signed his first professional contract with the Championship outfit.

It would be fair to say that there is a lot of excitement surrounding the teenager, who has scored four times in nine Under-18 Premier League games this season.

Ramsey has also contributed one goal in six Under-23 outings in Premier League 2 this term.

Kimberley has been discussing the teenager’s immense talent, but the club’s academy manager has urged the midfielder to keep his feet planted firmly on the ground.

The Birmingham Mail quotes Kimberley as saying:

“If he continues to match his undoubted technical ability and eye for a goal with the desire and energy to reach the next level, he will have a bright future in the game.”

Villa’s first team, meanwhile, were held to a goalless draw by Reading in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Dean Smith’s side, who are currently ninth in the Championship table, will continue their league campaign and push for the play-off spots when they host Sheffield United on Friday night.

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Two Celtic wingers are expected to complete loan moves before the January transfer window closes, according to The Daily Record.

What’s the story?

Brendan Rodgers is expecting more outbound business than incoming as the clock ticks towards Thursday’s midnight deadline.

Maryan Shved – albeit not officially a Celtic player yet – made a flying visit to watch last night’s 2-0 win over St Johnstone and will return to Karpaty Lviv after completing the formalities of his move to Celtic.

And 22-year-old Lewis Morgan is set to complete his loan move to Sunderland, reuniting him with his old manager at St Mirren, Jack Ross.

Winger overload

Celtic are exceptionally well covered for wingers with James Forrest and Scott Sinclair returning from the winter break in top form. Loan signings Oliver Burke and Timo Weah have a nose for goal and are best used coming in off the flanks.

As further back up Mikey Johnston is available while Jonny Hayes can also provide cover.

In short, game-time for Shved and Morgan would be extremely limited although both men could ‘do a Ryan Christie’ and play their way into Rodgers’ future plans.

Arriving in Scotland in mid-season would be a big ask for Shved – returning to Kalpaty and upping his game will give him time to prepare for a big move and to make the best impact when he returns to Celtic.

Morgan certainly has ability, and linking up again with Ross to play in front of large demanding crowds at Sunderland will improve his game and his Celtic prospects.

As if things weren’t already problematic enough for Chelsea, their fortunes turned for the worse when FIFA banned them from transfer dealings for the next two transfer windows. It effectively means that Chelsea won’t be able to introduce new players anytime soon, hampering their hopes of boosting their squad after the season.

Though an appeal could help to delay the ban, the wider context still remains, whilst perhaps FIFA may move to judge an appeal quicker than most expect them to.

This ban can have a ripple effect in their own squad, especially with Eden Hazard looking to complete his dream move to Real Madrid soon. While the Blues can sell players, letting go of Hazard without an appropriate replacement will be suicide.

Management needs to work hard to convince him to stay for at least one more season. While Christian Pulisic’s transfer won’t be affected by the ban, Chelsea cannot rely on the youngster to fill Hazard’s shoes.

Not only Hazard, but they’ll also need to convince Callum Hudson-Odoi to stay. N’Golo Kante could also become frustrated to the point of no return unless played to his strengths, while the Blues need to find upgrades to Marcus Alonso and David Luiz. If not anything else, this ban will now test the resolve and patience of their players.

It’s only natural – why would the best in the world want to stay if their ambitions aren’t being matched by new signings?

Chelsea will find it difficult to challenge for top titles with this squad, and no top manager would want to replace Sarri without the option to sign players. The next few months are key to Chelsea’s immediate future, as certain top stars can mutiny and force their way out or stay and get them out of this difficult situation.

Thoughts?

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Everton welcomed Manchester City to Goodison Park on Wednesday evening and with it their former defensive enforcer John Stones.

Plenty of Premier League clubs have been forced to offload their top players to Man City in the past decade and Everton suffered that fate in 2016.

Stones, widely regarded as England’s most promising defender at the time, swapped Merseyside for Manchester as Pep Guardiola began a defensive reshuffle.

His transfer was understandably placed under some scrutiny throughout the British media, but it was difficult for the Toffees faithful to be disappointed over the decision.

While Raheem Sterling has cut something of a satanic figure on the red half of Merseyside, Stones remains a relatively popular one amongst the blue half, and he enhanced his popularity by waving towards the Gwladys Street end at Goodison Park as he left the field of play on Wednesday.

In response to the video, most Everton fans took a pragmatic view on Stones’ decision to leave the club and recognised that he was handed an offer he simply couldn’t refuse.

If the Twitter reaction is anything to go by, it seems that the supporters are willing the 24-year-old defender to succeed at City and always knew he was destined for a huge future in the game.

Here’s what a handful of Everton fans have had to say about Stones after watching the short clip…

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According to a report in The Liverpool Echo, Everton have no intention of selling West Bromwich Albion loanee Mason Holgate this summer, which will surely leave Baggies boss Darren Moore seriously frustrated.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the 22-year-old joined the west Midlands outfit on a temporary basis until the end of the season during the January transfer window, and he has gone on to establish himself as a key player ever since.

The versatile defender has played the full 90 minutes in West Brom’s previous nine Championship fixtures, and he has picked up three assists from the right-back position.

However, any hopes of bringing him to The Hawthorns on a permanent deal at the end of the campaign have been quashed, with The Liverpool Echo reporting that Toffees manager Marco Silva is a big fan of the England U21 international.

Moore will be frustrated

He certainly will, with The Liverpool Echo saying that the club was keen to have Holgate in their side next term and beyond.

Given his lack of football at Goodison Park previously, the Baggies boss may have felt that he had a good opportunity to get the defender – especially if they do end up winning promotion to the Premier League – but that now appears to be off of the table once and for all.

It will certainly give the 22-year-old plenty of confidence that he can still have a big role to play under Silva in the future, and that should be enough to stop him from pushing for an exit elsewhere.

Liverpool lost further ground in the title race after lumbering to a 1-1 draw against West Ham at the London Stadium.

Despite taking the lead through Sadio Mane despite James Milner crossing from an offside position, Liverpool were far from their best and couldn’t find a winner after Michail Antonio equalised far too easily for the hosts. The second successive draw will be a cause for concern for Jurgen Klopp with Manchester City breathing down their necks. The injury-stricken Reds will hope to return to winning ways against Bournemouth at the weekend.

Both their brilliance in attack and resilience in defence has dissipated during their recent games. Indeed, their injury problems at the back have done nothing to help their rearguard. Both Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez have faced spells on the sidelines this season. Gomez, in particular, could miss the rest of the season – yet another long-term injury for the youngster.

While his form this season has been excellent, the England international has gained a reputation for picking up injuries and Klopp must question whether he can be relied upon as Virgil van Dijk’s long-term centre-back partner.

If not, the German should make a move for Napoli defensive rock – Kalidou Koulibaly. Valued at £63m by Transfermarkt, the Senegal international has developed into one of the world’s best defenders since joining the Serie A side – his excellent talents were on show against the Reds in the Champions League. Combining pace, power and composure – Koulibaly would be a frightening prospect alongside the Dutchman in the Liverpool back four.

It could take another world-record fee to prise him from Naples but his arrival at Anfield would take their defence to a whole new level.

Liverpool fans, thoughts?