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The Leicester City fans in the Transfer Tavern are resigned to losing Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City this summer as a potential deal edges closer to completion, but they are pleased that their club have been able to command such an extortionate transfer fee for his services. 

The Breakdown

According to reports from Sky Sports, Man City have finally made a breakthrough in their bid to sign Riyad Mahrez and a medical could be completed by the end of the week. Although a fee is yet to be agreed, the report states that the Foxes will receive a fee in the region of £60 million for the Algerian ace – a sum of money which would go a long way to improving the Leicester team if reinvested wisely.

Although the news will arrive as a disappointment to the Leicester supporters, it hardly arrives as any great surprise following months of speculation linking him with a move to the Etihad Stadium.

However, further unwelcome news emerged for Leicester recently as Sky Sports also believe that both Chelsea and Roma are interested in signing Kasper Schmeichel.

Schmeichel (valued at £9 million by Transfermarkt) has established a glowing reputation for his performances at Leicester in recent years, most notably during their shock title victory in 2016, but his recent showing on the international stage with Denmark appears to have firmly caught the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs.

Like Mahrez, Schmeichel would command a huge transfer fee and his Transfermarkt valuation is certainly some way off the mark, but that should not convince Leicester to sell their star player this summer.

Not only is Schmeichel a fantastic goalkeeper, he is a leader, a motivator and one of the longest serving players at the club, so selling him this summer would simply be a cataclysmic deal for the Foxes to complete.

The Mahrez deal is far from ideal, but it’s one which has been in the pipeline for months so it will feel like a relief for Leicester to finally put it behind them; the same cannot be said for any deal involving Schmeichel’s departure.

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The great Dane is quite simply indispensable and must remain at the club if Leicester want to remain competitive next season, otherwise they could find themselves in the midst of a relegation scrap.

Leicester fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

After securing their place in the Europa League round of 16 stage after their midweek clash against German giants Borussia Dortmund, Rangers are back in SPFL action this weekend with a match against Motherwell at Ibrox. 

As the reigning league champions look to secure another domestic win, it seems as though they could have one player involved that would surely delight a lot of fans. 

What’s the news? 

Speaking in his recent pre-match press conference, Gers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst revealed that January arrival Aaron Ramsey was involved on the training pitch yesterday after missing their previous league game against Dundee United with a minor knock which ended up being serious enough to keep him out of their midweek match. 

The Dutchman said: “Ramsey was on the pitch today and we will see his progress.”

Since arriving at Ibrox during the recent winter transfer window from Italian club Juventus on loan until the end of the season, the Welshman has played just 29 minutes of SPFL action from two substitute appearances against Hearts and Hibernian. 

Whether the midfielder will be fit enough to start his first league game for the club or just make another appearance from the bench, the fans at Ibrox would surely be ecstatic to see him out on the pitch and hopefully, keep his fitness up for the remainder of the season so he can help the club secure the title once again. 

In 469 combined senior appearances for Arsenal, Juventus and Cardiff City, the midfield maestro has managed to rack up a total of 74 goals and 74 assists in the process as well as picking up numerous trophies, highlighting the attacking capabilities and top-level winning experience he can offer Rangers.

With four appearances in a Rangers shirt under his belt, the 31-year-old has already managed to pick up his first assist for the club which came during their 3-0 win over Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup.

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Moving forward, unless the midfielder is 100% fit enough to start, it could be worth Van Bronckhorst keeping him on the bench from the start but bringing him on at some point to get some more minutes under his belt.

In other news:  Forget Tavernier: £6.4k-p/w Rangers tank with 75% duels won was real star of the show…

Having come through the youth teams at Tottenham, Nabil Bentaleb really broke into the first-team set-up in north London under the management of Tim Sherwood.

The Algerian featured 29 times under the former Spurs boss, scoring four goals and providing a further three assists too. It was no surprise that Sherwood waxed lyrical about the midfielder’s abilities when he made his early breakthrough.

Speaking back in 2014, he said: “I think he’s been great. I know Bentaleb, I know what he possesses. He trains like every day is the last day in the world and that’s a great trait to have for a young kid. when he came on against Southampton, I was sure about him but you never know until you put them on the stage.

“It shows that he’s unfazed and, for me, his performances are growing from week to week. He’s performing very, very well.”

But following Sherwood’s exit, things took a downturn for Bentaleb’s Spurs career.

The midfielder scored just once in the 46 games that he played for Sherwood’s Spurs successor, Mauricio Pochettino, and evidently the Argentine wasn’t a big fan of his talents as he shipped him out on loan to Bundesliga side Schalke for the 2016/2017 season.

After enjoying a largely impressive debut campaign – he scored five times and provided four assists in 32 top-flight games – it was unsurprising that Schalke decided to sign him on a permanent basis. But after putting pen to paper on a long-term deal to stay in Germany, Bentaleb really struggled to kick on.

That then prompted a loan switch back to the Premier League to Newcastle, but after failing to make a big enough impression on Tyneside, the Magpies declined to take up their option to buy.

After struggling back at Schalke, the now 27-year-old Bentaleb recently joined Ligue 1 outfit Angers in the January transfer window, where he’s been a much more regular presence, playing in the past eight games in the league.

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Sold for a reported £16m, the Algeria international is now worth just £1.6m according to CIES – a dramatic ten-fold decline in value for a player who arguably is in the peak years of his career given his age.

After promising so much as an up-and-coming star at Spurs, Bentaleb now finds himself finally rebuilding his career in France.

AND in other news: Sold for £18m, now worth under £1m: Levy played a blinder with shocking Spurs disaster

Celtic have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of their upcoming Premiership meeting with Ross County.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by Sky Sports, Ange Postecoglou confirmed that, after exactly three months spent on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, David Turnbull will finally be available for selection for the visit of County on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking about the condition of the 22-year-old, the Greek-Australian coach said: “Dave Turnbull is available, he has trained the last 10 days.

“He was fantastic for us in the first half of the year and it was disappointing for him that he got a fairly significant injury that has kept him out for a while.

“But he has worked hard in rehab and I know he is itching to get back out there. He has been training really well over the last seven to 10 days.

“I was probably a bit conservative with him, I could have maybe thrown him in last week, but watching him train he is ready to go and I think he will be important for us.

“He’s a quality player, he is a goal threat, he is good on set-pieces and I think he adds something to our team.”

Supporters will be buzzing

As Postecoglou states, considering just how important a part of the Celtic starting XI Turnbull had proven to be for the Hoops in the first half of the season, the news that the attacking midfielder is finally available for selection once again is sure to have left the Parkhead faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 18 Premiership appearances in the current campaign, the £5.85m-rated ace has been in the form of his life, scoring five goals, registering four assists and creating seven big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of an enormous 4.1 key passes and taking a whopping 3.7 shots per game.

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These returns have seen the £23.5k-per-week Scotland international average a rather breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.87, ranking him as the best player in the top flight of Scottish football.

As such, with just three points separating Celtic and their Old Firm rivals at the top of the Premiership table, it is clear for all to see that the return of a player who is currently ranked as the best in the country is a huge boost for Postecoglou and his side – particularly with a season-defining meeting against Rangers being the Hoops’ next fixture after today’s Ross County clash.

AND in other news: Ange drops behind the scenes Celtic update that will leave supporters devastated

A “top” manager is now Tottenham Hotspur’s number one target to replace Thomas Frank, following the 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

Spurs players called into question after City Ground defeat

Tottenham fell to 11th in the Premier League table following the heavy defeat at the City Ground, and The Athletic’s Elias Burke gave a scathing review of the performance, saying: “Utterly devoid of any inspiration or fight, even after going behind. There have been a few bad ones under Frank, and that’s right up there among the worst.”

It was a controversial decision to replace Europa League winner Ange Postecoglou, and Frank has thus far failed to make any major improvements, with the Dane’s record since taking over leaving a lot to be desired.

Thomas Frank’s Tottenham record

Games

25

Wins

10

Draws

6

Losses

9

Points per game

1.44

As a result, ENIC have now held talks about sacking the 52-year-old, and former Barcelona manager Xavi has emerged as one of the main contenders to replace him in the dugout.

However, the Spaniard is not the only option under consideration, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino is the top target, having been identified as the ‘strongest potential replacement.’

At the moment, ENIC are willing to give Frank more time, but results need to improve soon, and Pochettino’s knowledge of the club and style of play means he is an ideal replacement.

Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glanser and Fulham boss Marco Silva have also been shortlisted, so there is certainly no shortage of targets, but there are signs the former Spurs manager could be the best option…

Pochettino has experience at the top level

While Silva and Glasner have now built up plenty of Premier League experience, and the latter won the FA Cup last season, the ex-Tottenham boss has more experience at the highest level, having led the north Londoners to the 2019 Champions League final.

Pep Guardiola has also waxed lyrical about the Argentinian in the past, describing him as “one of the top managers in England”, and there have been suggestions Daniel Levy made an error getting rid of him in the first place.

However, it would arguably be a backwards step to appoint a manager who has already been sacked in recent memory, and the 53-year-old may have burned some of his bridges with fans by moving to Chelsea back in 2023.

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With Pochettino, who prefers a 4-2-3-1 system, also gearing up to lead the USMNT into the World Cup, it is unclear whether he would be willing to jump ship, and Spurs may be better off targeting Glasner, with the 51-year-old winning Palace the first major trophy in their history last season.

Crystal Palace are now “interested” in signing an “incredible” Premier League forward, with his club “willing” to sanction a departure.

Palace looking to upgrade attacking options

Despite Palace suffering a setback against Manchester City on Sunday, falling to a 3-0 home defeat against the title contenders, they remain in a very strong position as we approach the half-way stage of the season, currently sitting in fifth place.

If Oliver Glasner’s side are going to sustain their push for Europe, however, they may need to improve their attacking options, having scored 20 Premier League goals this season, only one more than 18th-placed West Ham United.

Yeremy Pino was one of the Eagles’ key summer signings, but the 23-year-old hasn’t exactly been prolific in the Premier League thus far, registering just two goal contributions in 14 games.

The goalscoring burden has largely been placed on Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the Frenchman already finding the back of the net nine times in all competitions this season, but the South Londoners are now keen to provide him with some additional support in attack.

That is according to former scout Mick Brown, who recently told Football Insider that Crystal Palace are now keen on Manchester City forward Oscar Bobb, saying: “They’ve been keeping tabs on him and he’s certainty somebody they’re interested in, because I believe Man City would be willing to let him go.”

Brown also suggested the Norwegian could be an ideal signing for Palace, saying: “Oscar Bobb is a very talented player, that’s obvious,

“So it’s no surprise when you hear there is interest from a team like Crystal Palace, where they’ve got a reputation for developing young talents into better players.

“In that respect it might be a perfect move for him and for Palace.”

Bobb could be "incredible" signing for the Eagles

Lauded as “incredible” by former footballer Jan Aage Fjortoft, the 22-year-old made his breakthrough at Man City in the 2023-24 campaign, and he has since gone on to make 46 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, chipping in with three goals and four assists.

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The Oslo-born ace, who is represented by the same agent as Pino, is also an extremely impressive dribbler, averaging 3.39 successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, and 3.71 progressive carries, which places him in the top 1%, when compared to his positional peers.

Related Crystal Palace make approach to sign "superb" £11m ace, he's open to the move

Palace have made contact over a deal for a new defender.

Posts ByDominic Lund

Not only does the Norway international pose an attacking threat, but he is also willing to pitch in at the opposite end of the pitch, according to Pep, who said earlier this season: “Oscar defensively is a machine, he helped us a lot and in the final third.”

Given the number of attackers Pep has at his disposal, Bobb’s game time has been limited this season, often only being used as a substitute, so the £50k-a-week winger may need to leave Man City for the good of his career, and it is exciting news that Palace are interested.

On the basis of their preferences, different people can use different methods to make their bet on the game. While some people can choose to bet on one first team to score, others might choose to bet on scores of both teams. Like every other sport, it is difficult to predict a football game as well. As a viewer, you might wish the outcomes of the game to be in a certain manner, but they can turn out to be different.

Viewers often strongly predict the winning of a team in a match but the results turn out to be completely different. Even the strongest team unexpectedly loses the game at times. To predict a football game right, it is important to know the possible factors that affect it. Sufficient knowledge of factors that can affect the prediction of a football match can help you make the right bet and increase your chances of winning as well.

While the quality of the team and circumstances of the game are two major factors that can affect the final outcome of a football game, there are a few other factors as well. Let’s discuss those factors:

Assessment of quality of the team

The eventual outcome of every game is largely determined by the team and its strength. One can easily predict the outcome of the game if a stronger team is going to play against weaker opponents. Undoubtedly, the stronger team is more likely to prevail. However, if both the strong teams are going to face each other then predicting outcomes can be significantly difficult. In such a situation, both teams have equal chances of winning or losing the game.

While the outcomes are unpredictable, it is important to assess the teams well before making any bet. Several aspects of the team like the quality of individual players, team, and staff appointed for coaching are all going to play a critical role in the accurate prediction of the game.

Strong and weak points of the game

There is no such thing as a perfect team. Every team has some strong and some weak points that can lead to their victory or loss. Identifying these points clearly can help you assess the quality of the team better. Analyzing the performances of both teams in different matches makes this task much easier. After thoroughly researching about both the teams, you can make a wiser while making the bet.

If you find both teams to be equally strong, then it would be better to not make any bet for the game. Or, you can analyze which team has a better idea about the weakness of the opponent team to make the bet.

Performance under pressure

People rarely notice the performance of any team when they are playing under pressure. However, as a bettor, it is important to note the response of a team when there is pressure build-up. If a team struggles to perform under critical conditions then making a bet on them can be unfavorable. Basically, it is important to assess the physical as well as mental strength of a team before predicting the match.

You can also take help from sites for more accurate predictions and profitable bets. You can also search for today ipl match prediction to make wiser bets on other games than football like cricket.

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Photo by Unsplash

Newcastle United have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of their upcoming Premier League fixture.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a recent report by Newcastle World, who claim that, after Ryan Fraser was forced off in the 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend as a result of a knock, the winger could be in line for an immediate return to action against Southampton on Thursday evening, as the Scotland international has already been back in training ahead of the fixture.

Speaking after the Brighton win, Howe said of the current state of his squad: “I think there are a few boys in the dressing room that are nursing little things today.

“You saw a few of them stretching on the pitch. It must have been a big, physical effort for us, so there were a few players right on the edge. Hopefully Ryan will be OK, but I don’t know.”

Howe will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Fraser has been for Newcastle in recent weeks, the news that the forward looks set to be available for selection at St. Mary’s is sure to have left Howe buzzing.

Indeed, over his last five Premier League fixtures, the £7.2m-rated attacker has been in excellent form for the Magpies, scoring two goals, registering two assists and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as making ten key passes and taking nine shots at goal.

These returns have seen the £63k-per-week Scot average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.50 in this period – form that has undoubtedly contributed to Newcastle picking up 13 points from the 15 available in their last five games.

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As such, it is clear for all to see that Fraser’s availability for the trip to Southampton on Thursday evening would provide the club’s chances of leaving St. Mary’s with three points with a rather huge boost – with another victory representing a major step towards the Magpies securing their Premier League status come the end of the season.

In other news: Howe could unearth NUFC’s new Waddle in “technical” 19 y/o gem who’s “caught the eye”

Aston Villa were rather active in the recent January transfer window, not only bringing new faces to the club such as Philippe Coutinho, Calum Chambers, Robin Olsen and Lucas Digne but also with moving some of their current players out on loan.

Looking ahead to the upcoming summer transfer window, it seems as though Villa fans can breathe easy over the future of one particular player at the Midlands club for the time being.

What’s the news?

During a recent online Q&A on the Birmingham Live website, a user asked journalist Ashley Preece if there was anything in the recent transfer rumours linking defender Ezri Konsa with a move away from the club.

In response, Preece had this to say on the matter: “No, nothing in those rumours.”

He then followed that up by commenting:

“[Steven] Gerrard drafting Konsa straight back in on Saturday tells you all you need to know, pal. Such an important player for Villa.”

Fans will be ecstatic

Since joining the Villans back in the 2019 summer transfer window from Brentford in a deal worth a reported fee of £12m, the defender has made himself a vital figure for the team by racking up a total of 92 appearances across all competitions, chipping in with six goals and two assists along the way.

As Preece mentioned in the Q&A, the Villa manager chose to play the 24-year-old in their recent 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion immediately after serving a suspension.

In the away win, Konsa showed just how much of a useful defensive figure he can be for his side by racking up four clearances and winning four of the six duels he was involved in whilst having a supremely imrpessive passing accuracy of 91%.

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Given how prominent the Englishman has been for Villa since his arrival and how much he has contributed to keeping the club in the Premier League after their promotion at the end of the 2018/19 season, it’s safe to say that the fans at Villa Park will be absolutely delighted to hear that there’s nothing in the rumours linking him with an exit.

The fact that over 500 voters in a poll ran by Football FanCast agreed that the former Brentford centre-back is Villa’s best defender also supplements this viewpoint.

In other news: Journalist drops eye-opening behind-the-scenes Aston Villa claim, fans surely buzzing – opinion

Liverpool are in ‘advanced talks’ with Mohamed Salah regarding him signing a new deal at the club, according to journalist Pedro Almeida.

The Lowdown: Salah’s future unknown

The Egyptian has been the Reds’ star man this season, scoring 20 goals and registering 10 assists in the Premier League.

While his form has dipped in recent weeks, he is a priceless figure at Anfield, so speculation regarding him not extending his stay has been worrying.

However, a recent update suggested that the 29-year-old was close to agreeing a new contract, and a fresh claim has now echoed that sentiment.

The Latest: Salah deal close

Taking to Twitter on Sunday evening, Almeida claimed that a new deal was close to being done, one which would be historic in terms of the wages being paid to a Liverpool player.

He posted: “Advanced talks between Liverpool and Mo Salah for the contract extension. The last meeting between the English club and the player’s agent it was positive, the player could become the Reds’ highest paid player ever.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-26/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Promising signs

If true, this is a huge breakthrough for Liverpool, with Salah arguably one of the club’s greatest players of all time and someone who has been a monster ever since joining the Reds in 2017, scoring 153 goals in 240 games.

He is possibly the world’s best player at the moment, particularly when you consider the season as a whole, and he should remain at the very top for several more years at least.

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Losing Salah doesn’t bear thinking about, even though teams can move on from such exits (as Liverpool did after selling Philippe Coutinho in 2018), and if the Egyptian signs a new deal it would perhaps feel bigger than any new signing who comes in this summer.

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a move for an exciting player. Find out who it is here.