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Tottenham Hotspur are lining up a £30million summer bid for Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler, according to ESPN.

Spurs have not signed a player since January of 2018, but they are planning to reinforce their squad in the summer.

What’s the word?

The north London have struggled to add new signings in recent transfer windows, with their last signing being Lucas Moura from PSG on January 31, 2018, as per BBC.

However, the aforementioned ESPN report claims that the club are watching Soler closely, with scouts routinely taking in his performances.

Which big 6 club needs to do the most business in January? Check out what the Pl>ymaker FC squad think in the video below…

The Spain Under-21 international plays as a midfielder for Valencia, and is able to operate both centrally and out wide.

Per Transfermarkt, Soler has made 28 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring two goals – including one in the 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League – and providing six assists.

PSG are also understood to be interested in Soler, according to ESPN, but Spurs are in the driving seat to secure his signature, as they can offer regular first-team football.

The end for Lamela?

This news is unlikely to please Erik Lamela.

Soler has played exclusively as a right midfielder this season, and his signing by Spurs could well spell the end for the Argentina international in north London.

Lamela is behind the likes of Son Heung-Min and Lucas Moura in the pecking order on the right flank, and this may well be the final nail in his coffin at the club.

Soler offers the youth and versatility so craved by Mauricio Pochettino and would be an upgrade on the inconsistent Lamela, who struggles to blend his tenacity with genuine ability in the final third.

Of course, the South American man could be kept on by Pochettino as something of an impact substitute if he is content to play that role, as it appears unlikely that he will ever be anything more than a fringe player.

[ad_pod ]According to the deputy news editor at The Guardian, Ed Aarons, on his official Twitter account, West Ham United have agreed terms with Chelsea to sign striker Michy Batshuayi on loan until the end of the season, but they face competition from La Liga outfit Real Betis who also have an agreement in place.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Aarons says that the Hammers have moved a step closer to bringing the Belgium international across the capital to the London Stadium, but that they still have some potential hurdles in their way to get a deal over the line before Thursday’s deadline.

The reliable journalist says that Betis want to keep the 25-year-old in Spain following his unsuccessful spell with Valencia in the first-half of the current campaign, and that barring a late bid from Everton the attacker will soon decide where his future lies.

Sky Sports reported on Wednesday that he Irons were considering making an approach for Batshuayi, who Valencia are looking to offload and cut short his loan spell seeing as he hasn’t played for them since January 8.

Would he be a good signing?

He certainly could be, yes.

While the Belgian has struggled to hold down a regular spot in Chelsea’s starting XI when he hasn’t been away on loan, his record of 19 goals in 53 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt, isn’t too shabby given the majority of those outings came from the substitutes’ bench.

Similarly, he also scored nine goals in 14 matches during a loan spell with Borussia Dortmund last term, according to Transfermarkt, to prove how clinical he can be in front of goal.

With the likes of Javier Hernandez, Lucas Perez and Andy Carroll struggling for goals and Marko Arnautovic suffering an injury against Wolves on Tuesday night, although it might not be as bad as first feared according to The Telegraph, the 25-year-old would be a much-welcomed addition to the frontline before the window slams shut.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

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As reported by the Evening Times, James Tavernier has addressed transfer rumours linking him with a return to English football.

So what did he say?

The Rangers captain spoke of his passion for playing for the Ibrox Stadium club, insisting that he is committed to playing for Steven Gerrard’s side as they hunt down the Gers’ first Scottish Premiership title since 2011.

However, the 27-year-old right-back has admitted that “it’s always flattering to get linked with a Premier League club.”

He continued to state that “I love life up here and my family love life up here so I’m really comfortable.”

Whilst Tavernier certainly seems settled in Glasgow – and the skipper has the affections of the Ibrox faithful – serious interest from a Premier League club could seemingly test his resolve.

Check out the below above to see football played as you’ve never seen it before… in a maze!

What he meant

With his comments, the defender has reaffirmed his commitment to the Rangers cause, but at the same time he has left the door slightly open for a move back to England. 

The right-back has previously represented Newcastle United in the Premier League but only got a couple of first team chances at St James’ Park. The majority of his career in England was spent on loan stints with lower division sides such as Gateshead, Carlisle United, Sheffield Wednesday and Shrewsbury Town, amongst others.

Bradford-born Tavernier may feel that he has unfinished business in England, and the Premier League especially. He could, then, be tempted to give up on Rangers in favour of a second chance in the English top flight before the end of his career.

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West Ham are reportedly open to offers for Arthur Masuaku this summer, as reported by the print version of the Daily Mirror (12/2/19, page 56), via HITC.

What’s the word, then?

The DR Congo international has made 14 Premier League starts for the Hammers this season out of a possible 26, which suggests that boss Manuel Pellegrini doesn’t really trust him to play regularly.

In fairness to the Chilean, he is more than justified in leaving the former Olympiacos man out if that is the case. Masuaku is a huge liability from a defensive aspect, and whilst he does offer some sort of threat going forward thanks to his dribbling skills and decent crossing ability, his work at the back is too poor to see him included consistently.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

Having said that, in his time on the pitch so far this season, the 25-year-old has still only delivered just the single assist, which proves that his offensive ability isn’t even that good enough to offset his defensive flaws and warrant a place in the team.

West Ham need a new starter in that area

Masuaku’s rival for the left-back position in Aaron Cresswell isn’t exempt from criticism either.

The England international has made fewer league starts that Masuaku with just 12 to his name, and where he does provide a more solid option defensively, he is lacking in terms of going forward – the Hammers are in need of someone who can do both jobs effectively.

Currently, the left-back position is looking like a real problem area for the east Londoners, and Pellegrini could do with a new face in the summer to ensure that Cresswell and Masuaku’s respective weaknesses don’t cost the Irons any more points.

Pellegrini is already attempting something of a transition from the declining Pablo Zabaleta to the younger Ryan Fredericks over in the right-back position, and he needs to undertake a similar overhaul at left-back to shore up his defence.

Chelsea are a club in a bit of turmoil at the moment, although a midweek win over Malmo in the Europa League will ease the tensions somewhat.

The Blues have been inconsistent to say the very least and are in big danger of not even making the top four come the end of the season, as manager Mauro Sarri already appears to be facing a fight to keep his job.

Chelsea have always had a massive squad, and keeping that squad happy has to be one of the hardest challenges in the top flight, but there are some players there who are simply doing nothing and taking up a wage and space in the squad.

One such player is Danny Drinkwater, who to say has become surplus to requirements would be an understatement.

It was alwasy going to be a big ask for the former Leicester man when he joined Chelsea. He seemd to fit the Foxes well, and a move to a club like Chelsea always posed the risk of swallowing him right up. That has proved to be the case exactly.

There is still a quality player in there though, and Drinkwater can and should get himself out of the club and find a new home to showcase his talents.

A player who was once a regular in England squads and talked about as a starter at his best, his stock has fallen massively, and he needs to shift himself out of The Bridge and onto pastures new ASAP.

Blues fans, would you agree? Let us know in the comments!

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Jamie Ward scored as Nottingham Forest’s Under-23 side beat Leicester City 3-1 on Thursday.

And with Lewis Grabban currently struggling with injury, Martin O’Neill should consider throwing the versatile forward, who has recently returned from a loan spell at Charlton Athletic, back into the fold.

On the chalkboard

Ward has been out-of-favour at Forest in recent months and, under Aitor Karanka, was shipped out on loan at the start of the season.

He played just nine times in League One, scoring in a 3-1 win over Bristol Rovers, and laying on an assist against Barnsley in a 2-0 victory.

The 32-year-old has a great deal of experience, however, and has won 34 caps for Northern Ireland.

A versatile attacker who can play in attacking midfield or on the flank, Ward has scored 50 times in the Championship across 280 games, and can surely help O’Neill’s side, particularly with Grabban struggling for fitness.

The 31-year-old has scored 15 goals thus far this season but was not included in the squad to play Derby County.

He is also a doubt to face Stoke City, with O’Neill telling Nottinghamshire Live: “We have known about it for a few days. He has an Achilles problem that has flared up again.

“Considering he is our leading scorer that is a difficult one. But we knew he was struggling a number of days ago, so we were able to prepare for that.”

Make or break

Giving Ward a chance could see him rescue his Forest career.

He has struggled for minutes since joining the club in 2015, embarking on loan spells at Burton Albion and Cardiff City in addition to Charlton.

But bringing an experienced international into the fold will surely do more good than harm.

If he hits the goal trail, too, then O’Neil suddenly has a number of forward options to choose from and genuine competition for Grabban.

If he doesn’t, and he flops, then the manager will surely know that his time is up.

Ultimately, it is a low-risk strategy and there is nothing to lose by calling him up to the senior squad.

Arsenal have a lot of work to do if they want to secure Champions League football this season, something that at the moment seems unlikely. 

Unlikely, mainly due to the incredible form of Manchester United, who have come surging up the table and hence damaged Arsenal’s top four chances.

Unai Emery, though, will hope for a strong end to the season and knows that anything can be possible with the strong group of players he has available to him.

Though seeing as a high-place finish in the Premier League has again been hard to come by, the former PSG boss will surely look to spend some money during the summer transfer window to improve their chances next season.

Ideally, Arsenal would want proven stars but if that isn’t possible, recruiting up-and-coming talents would also be a good strategy.

An example of the kind of calibre Arsenal may look into signing is Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon.

Sessegnon, (who is valued at £31.5 million on Transfermarkt) remains a raved about youngster, who has all the potential to succeed in the Premier League and football as a whole.

The left-sided player, like the rest of his team-mates, has found making the jump from Championship football to the Premier League is hard.

The 18-year-old missed just one Championship game the season they were promoted as he went on to score 16 goals.

This season, Sessegnon has two goals and five assists to his name so far, which may not seem a lot but his talent is obvious for all to see.

With Nacho Monreal not getting any younger and Sead Kolasinac failing to deliver consistency, Ryan Sessegnon could fit in very nicely deployed in a left wing-back position.

Do you agree… Let us know!

The pressure is piling on Liverpool now after dropping more vital points, this time against Everton, and the cracks are beginning to show. Outside of formulating excuses for his team’s poor performances, Klopp is desperately trying to reintroduce injured key members of the squad back into the fray – but is it a case of too much too soon for some?

According to BBC Sport, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the latest player to return from a long-term injury to help boost Liverpool’s chances in the title race.

The midfielder has been missing since April 2018 due to a knee ligament injury sustained against Roma in the Champions League but is now in contention to feature in Liverpool’s few remaining games this season.

But we have to ask: is he ready?

There may be cause for excitement amongst Liverpool fans who are due to see one of their most dynamic midfield players make his comeback.

However, we are a little more reserved.

To be thrown into a fiercely competitive environment so soon after a major complication is always a danger. Not only for the player, who is more susceptible to further injury, but also to the club.

There is absolutely no guarantee that Oxlade-Chamberlain can return to the scintillating form shown before his untimely absence. And though Liverpool have been struggling in the midfield department, showing a distinct lack of quality at times, to throw the England international into the mix at this stage could spoil the proverbial broth.

Klopp cannot afford to be impulsive in this situation.

Liverpool have enough to cross the line with what they have got. It is on Klopp now to orchestrate proceedings appropriately and manage his injured players responsibility.

Do you think there’s much point in pinning hopes on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after such a long time out? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Loads of Rangers fans have been discussing their performance against Aberdeen on Tuesday, and they’re crucifying Daniel Candeias for yet another woeful display.

Rangers were beaten fairly comfortably by Aberdeen on Tuesday if truth be told, which doesn’t happen too often at Ibrox.

The Dons are now responsible for both of Steven Gerrard’s two managerial defeats at Ibrox, and the Gers’ performance on this occasion was really worrying.

The visitors took an early lead thanks to a dreadful mistake from Glen Kamara, whose square pass went right to Niall McGinn, who finished well.

Connor McLennan doubled the lead in the second half after a well-worked move, and Gerrard’s side never really looked like getting back in it.

While he wasn’t the only one who had a poor evening, Candeias’ inability to pick out a good cross has become really frustrating.

The 31 year-old is a hard worker and has managed six goals and ten assists this campaign, but he missed a golden chance to put one on a plate for Ryan Kent in the first half.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

It is crunch time for Portsmouth in League One. Kenny Jackett’s side have to embark on a fine run of form if they are to finish in the top two or otherwise face the lottery of the play-offs.

A club that was once beating the likes of AC Milan in the Europa League had drifted all the way down to League Two by 2014 yet a resurgence in the past two years has lifted spirits amongst supporters who are now dreaming of a return to the Championship.

Financially, Pompey find themselves in much better shape nowadays compared to the constant uncertainty surrounding their future at the start of decade. Therefore, there is less of a need to sell their best players in order to balance the books on the scale which had been previously been seen at Fratton Park.

With things seemingly on the up, it is imperative that Kenny Jackett turns down the temptation of selling Jamal Lowe in the summer. The signing of the 24-year-old in 2016 from non-league side Hampton & Richmond Borough has proved to be a masterstroke for Portsmouth as he has developed into a superb talent during his time at the club.

Not only has he improved his output in each of his three seasons with the club but Lowe has also out-performed the likes of Brett Pittman and Gareth Evans in terms of scoring goals during this year’s campaign despite playing primarily as a winger.

A talented individual who still has room to grow and develop, it is clear that the former Barnet player could thrive further up England’s footballing pyramid and in the eyes of Pompey fans, they will hope that he will be doing just that for their side next season.

Lowe will want to fire Jackett’s side to promotion and therefore pay back the club who placed their faith in a player who was playing at a semi-professional level before being given the chance to express himself  in the Football League.However, if interest does surface from elsewhere for the winger in the summer then Portsmouth will have to do all they can to prevent him from leaving.

The next nine league games therefore are not only crucial for Pompey’s future but should also have a major impact on whether Lowe will remain at Fratton Park next season.

What do you think Portsmouth fans? How important is keeping Lowe at the club for your future? Could be a good decision to cash in on the 24-year-old? Let us know below.