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[] | 2021-01-27T12:18:29 | null | 2021-01-27T11:16:52 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-west-ham-will-continue-to-follow-reims-striker-boulaye-dia%2F329677%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: West Ham will continue to follow Reims striker Boulaye Dia
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to reports from France Football, West Ham ‘will continue to follow’ Reims striker Boulaye Dia this month.
The Hammers are desperate to sign a striker this month following the departure of Sebastien Haller who joined Ajax for a fee of £20 million.
West Ham have been linked with a host of strikers this month, and Dia is one of them they are keeping an eye on.
Earlier this month, Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol claimed that the Hammers were considering the possibility of signing the 24-year-old striker.
He said that the Hammers are really interested in signing Dia who has scored 12 goals in 21 games in 2020-21.
Earlier this month, West Ham made an offer for the striker but it was rejected immediately. He is valued at around £13m but the Hammers are unwilling to meet that asking price.
France Football claim that three Italian clubs – Napoli, AC Milan and Torino – are also interested in signing him this month.
Dia has been advised by his agent that it would be better for him to stay at the French club this season, and wait for better opportunities in the future.
Sportslens View: Should West Ham move for Dia?
Michail Antonio remains the only recognised striker at the club, and Dia would be a very good addition for the Hammers.
Moreover, West Ham have money to spend on a new striker, and at £13m Dia looks like a steal.
If he scores over 20 goals this season, his price will go up and it could knock the Hammers out of the race in the summer.
West Ham are also looking to bolster their attacking midfield department and are reportedly in talks to sign Jesse Lingard on loan this month.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-west-ham-will-continue-to-follow-reims-striker-boulaye-dia/329677/
|
en
| 2021-01-27T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/0b58ba724625746a608493d2ceb0316e47c34e9a6af1aa9a1f064d07a107d952.json
|
[
"According to reports from France Football, West Ham ‘will continue to follow’ Reims striker Boulaye Dia this month.\nThe Hammers are desperate to sign a striker this month following the departure of Sebastien Haller who joined Ajax for a fee of £20 million.\nWest Ham have been linked with a host of strikers this month, and Dia is one of them they are keeping an eye on.\nEarlier this month, Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol claimed that the Hammers were considering the possibility of signing the 24-year-old striker.\nHe said that the Hammers are really interested in signing Dia who has scored 12 goals in 21 games in 2020-21.\nEarlier this month, West Ham made an offer for the striker but it was rejected immediately. He is valued at around £13m but the Hammers are unwilling to meet that asking price.\nFrance Football claim that three Italian clubs – Napoli, AC Milan and Torino – are also interested in signing him this month.\nDia has been advised by his agent that it would be better for him to stay at the French club this season, and wait for better opportunities in the future.\nSportslens View: Should West Ham move for Dia?\nMichail Antonio remains the only recognised striker at the club, and Dia would be a very good addition for the Hammers.\nMoreover, West Ham have money to spend on a new striker, and at £13m Dia looks like a steal.\nIf he scores over 20 goals this season, his price will go up and it could knock the Hammers out of the race in the summer.\nWest Ham are also looking to bolster their attacking midfield department and are reportedly in talks to sign Jesse Lingard on loan this month.",
"Report: West Ham will continue to follow Reims striker Boulaye Dia"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-01T19:19:11 | null | 2021-01-01T18:24:26 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-tottenham-hotspur-boss-jose-mourinho-admires-inter-milan-winger-ivan-perisic%2F324432%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho admires Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to Eurosport, Tottenham Hotspur head coach Jose Mourinho admires Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic hugely, and a move could happen in the January transfer window.
While the Portuguese isn’t expecting any business to be done this month, he wouldn’t mind adding more depth to his squad.
Spurs have been below par in the final third in their last four games, scoring just thrice and picking up just two points, and a forward with more experience and quality could help boost their top-four chances.
Perisic was linked with Tottenham in the summer, and it will be interesting to see whether they will go after his signature this month.
Mourinho wanted the Croatian international when he was the boss at Manchester United, and he could be keen to sign him as he looks to end the campaign on an impressive note and with silverware.
The 31-year-old has scored once and assisted twice in nine Serie A starts for Inter this season, and he isn’t a huge part of manager Antonio Conte’s first-team plans.
It was why he spent last season on loan with Bayern Munich, and he could leave Inter this month in search of regular playing minutes.
Perisic can play across the frontline and behind a striker, and he is one of the best finishers in the game.
Tottenham could do with his versatility and quality in front of goal, but whether chairman Daniel Levy will be keen to do business in the winter transfer market remains to be seen.
Mourinho has solely relied on the brilliance of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son so far this season, and having a player that can help take that burden off them will be hugely relieving.
Perisic has everything it takes to be a fine addition to Spurs’ attack, and landing him this month could make a huge difference on their campaign.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-tottenham-hotspur-boss-jose-mourinho-admires-inter-milan-winger-ivan-perisic/324432/
|
en
| 2021-01-01T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/e97dad1f9eb2c5cb82280cc56b19db4f870c69c3c28f42f13503e8f898696662.json
|
[
"According to Eurosport, Tottenham Hotspur head coach Jose Mourinho admires Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic hugely, and a move could happen in the January transfer window.\nWhile the Portuguese isn’t expecting any business to be done this month, he wouldn’t mind adding more depth to his squad.\nSpurs have been below par in the final third in their last four games, scoring just thrice and picking up just two points, and a forward with more experience and quality could help boost their top-four chances.\nPerisic was linked with Tottenham in the summer, and it will be interesting to see whether they will go after his signature this month.\nMourinho wanted the Croatian international when he was the boss at Manchester United, and he could be keen to sign him as he looks to end the campaign on an impressive note and with silverware.\nThe 31-year-old has scored once and assisted twice in nine Serie A starts for Inter this season, and he isn’t a huge part of manager Antonio Conte’s first-team plans.\nIt was why he spent last season on loan with Bayern Munich, and he could leave Inter this month in search of regular playing minutes.\nPerisic can play across the frontline and behind a striker, and he is one of the best finishers in the game.\nTottenham could do with his versatility and quality in front of goal, but whether chairman Daniel Levy will be keen to do business in the winter transfer market remains to be seen.\nMourinho has solely relied on the brilliance of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son so far this season, and having a player that can help take that burden off them will be hugely relieving.\nPerisic has everything it takes to be a fine addition to Spurs’ attack, and landing him this month could make a huge difference on their campaign.",
"Report: Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho admires Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-18T15:24:16 | null | 2021-01-18T14:59:01 |
Crystal Palace are weighing up a move for Mainz striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as they look to reinforce their attack during the ongoing transfer window
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fcrystal-palace-looking-into-deal-for-mainzs-jean-philippe-mateta%2F327675%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Crystal Palace looking into deal for Mainz's Jean-Philippe Mateta
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Crystal Palace are weighing up a move for Mainz striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as they look to reinforce their attack during the ongoing transfer window, The Independent claims.
The Eagles are currently 13th on the Premier League table with 23 points and have picked up just one win from the previous eight matches.
The lack of regular goals has been one of their prime concerns and they have netted only three times in the last six top-flight games.
Hence, they are aiming to bolster their frontline options and it is reported that they are looking into a deal for Mateta, who has bagged 10 goals across all competitions this term.
Out of those, he has registered seven from 15 Bundesliga games and Palace are aiming to prise him away from relegation-threatened Mainz.
SL view:
Palace have largely been dependent on Wilfried Zaha up front this term and he has bagged eight out of their 22 goals in the league campaign.
Elsewhere, Christian Benteke has managed only three goals leading the line while Jordan Ayew has found the back of the net on just one occasion.
Michy Batshuayi, on the other hand, has had a disappointing loan stint and has failed to get on the scoresheet since joining them from Chelsea.
Hence, the club are craving for another regular goalscorer, considering they have struggled to create sufficient chances when Zaha has been unavailable.
Mateta has shown that he is strong in the air and has particularly proved a goalscoring threat from set-pieces during his time in the German top-flight.
With more than two and a half years on his contract, the 23-year-old may not come on the cheap for Palace with Mainz also fighting relegation in the Bundesliga.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
|
https://sportslens.com/crystal-palace-looking-into-deal-for-mainzs-jean-philippe-mateta/327675/
|
en
| 2021-01-18T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/03117f84f39cb7db519770a8de2a4b335308aa7d56f2579bfe12c914fa6c2069.json
|
[
"Crystal Palace are weighing up a move for Mainz striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as they look to reinforce their attack during the ongoing transfer window, The Independent claims.\nThe Eagles are currently 13th on the Premier League table with 23 points and have picked up just one win from the previous eight matches.\nThe lack of regular goals has been one of their prime concerns and they have netted only three times in the last six top-flight games.\nHence, they are aiming to bolster their frontline options and it is reported that they are looking into a deal for Mateta, who has bagged 10 goals across all competitions this term.\nOut of those, he has registered seven from 15 Bundesliga games and Palace are aiming to prise him away from relegation-threatened Mainz.\nSL view:\nPalace have largely been dependent on Wilfried Zaha up front this term and he has bagged eight out of their 22 goals in the league campaign.\nElsewhere, Christian Benteke has managed only three goals leading the line while Jordan Ayew has found the back of the net on just one occasion.\nMichy Batshuayi, on the other hand, has had a disappointing loan stint and has failed to get on the scoresheet since joining them from Chelsea.\nHence, the club are craving for another regular goalscorer, considering they have struggled to create sufficient chances when Zaha has been unavailable.\nMateta has shown that he is strong in the air and has particularly proved a goalscoring threat from set-pieces during his time in the German top-flight.\nWith more than two and a half years on his contract, the 23-year-old may not come on the cheap for Palace with Mainz also fighting relegation in the Bundesliga.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"Crystal Palace looking into deal for Mainz's Jean-Philippe Mateta",
"Crystal Palace are weighing up a move for Mainz striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as they look to reinforce their attack during the ongoing transfer window"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-18T07:50:17 | null | 2021-01-18T06:31:04 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fwest-ham-eyeing-up-a-move-for-gaetan-laborde%2F327375%2F.json
|
en
| null |
West Ham eyeing up a move for Gaetan Laborde
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
West Ham United have been linked with a move for the Montpellier striker Gaetan Laborde.
According to the Telegraph, the 26-year-old striker is on David Moyes’ radar after impressing with the French outfit
The Hammers are thought to be considering a £16 million deal to sign the striker and Montpellier are expected to listen to offers for Laborde.
Apparently, the Premier League club see him as someone who could adapt to English football easily.
SL View: Perfect Haller alternative
It remains to be seen whether West Ham follow up on their interest with a concrete bid for the striker in the coming days.
The 26-year-old Frenchman has six goals and six assists to his name in Ligue one so far this season.
Laborde can operate in a number of attacking positions and his versatility will be an added bonus for the Hammers.
He can play in the wide areas and centrally as an attacking midfielder. Laborde is excellent in the air and Moyes’s direct style of football should suit him.
The London club recently sanctioned Sebastien Haller’s move to Ajax for £20 million because he struggled to adapt to Moyes’ style of play.
The Hammers need to bring in reinforcements before the transfer window closes. Currently, Moyes has just one attacking option up front and he cannot afford to go into the second half of the season with Michail Antonio as his only goal scorer.
The Hammers have been linked with the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Boulaye Dia as well.
|
https://sportslens.com/west-ham-eyeing-up-a-move-for-gaetan-laborde/327375/
|
en
| 2021-01-18T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/e0e3f3f9ae49b88688549998f97edf444cd9e11ce01c8382cea32006b618216d.json
|
[
"West Ham United have been linked with a move for the Montpellier striker Gaetan Laborde.\nAccording to the Telegraph, the 26-year-old striker is on David Moyes’ radar after impressing with the French outfit\nThe Hammers are thought to be considering a £16 million deal to sign the striker and Montpellier are expected to listen to offers for Laborde.\nApparently, the Premier League club see him as someone who could adapt to English football easily.\nSL View: Perfect Haller alternative\nIt remains to be seen whether West Ham follow up on their interest with a concrete bid for the striker in the coming days.\nThe 26-year-old Frenchman has six goals and six assists to his name in Ligue one so far this season.\nLaborde can operate in a number of attacking positions and his versatility will be an added bonus for the Hammers.\nHe can play in the wide areas and centrally as an attacking midfielder. Laborde is excellent in the air and Moyes’s direct style of football should suit him.\nThe London club recently sanctioned Sebastien Haller’s move to Ajax for £20 million because he struggled to adapt to Moyes’ style of play.\nThe Hammers need to bring in reinforcements before the transfer window closes. Currently, Moyes has just one attacking option up front and he cannot afford to go into the second half of the season with Michail Antonio as his only goal scorer.\nThe Hammers have been linked with the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Boulaye Dia as well.",
"West Ham eyeing up a move for Gaetan Laborde"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-20T09:59:50 | null | 2021-01-20T08:03:04 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fanalysis-how-and-why-almost-everything-is-going-wrong-for-chelsea%2F328025%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Analysis: How and why almost everything is going wrong for Chelsea
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
December 5, 2020 – Chelsea FC are two points off the top of the Premier League table after a 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
They are ‘serious title-contenders’ in the eyes of many, and considering how well they are playing, it is becoming increasingly harder to refute their credentials as proper challengers.
Fast forward nearly two months, and Chelsea are languishing all the way down in eighth place. They barely are contending for the Europa League spots now, and are getting increasingly closer to the bottom half of the table.
So, what has gone wrong for the Blues, and why have they slumped so spectacularly? Let’s try and find out, starting in the summer transfer window:
Turbulent transfers
With over £200 million spent, Chelsea made a clear statement of intent following the end of their transfer ban. Investing in talented youngsters such as Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell alongside well-versed veterans like Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva was seen as a very smart move and, suddenly, Chelsea had one of the most formidable attacks in the league. Late on, Édouard Mendy joined the club as well to replace their faltering goalkeepers.
Only two of these new signings featured in Chelsea’s Premier League-opener as Silva, Ziyech and Chilwell were not fully fit while Mendy had not been signed yet. With a largely-unchanged side from 2019/20’s top-four finishers, they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 with Werner winning a penalty on debut.
All six of the new signings started a match together for the first time when Chelsea faced Crystal Palace in October. With over half of the side comprised of fresh faces, the worry was that they wouldn’t click immediately. A 4-0 victory was an emphatic response.
The issue, however, was the fact that most of the stand-out performers did not include the new boys. Chilwell had a great debut and Mendy wasn’t too troubled in his first few matches, but Silva made a clear error leading to a goal on debut, Havertz massively underperformed early on, Werner scored his first Premier League goal all the way in mid-October, and Ziyech was out injured for a fairly long time.
A false sense of quality
Around mid-October, things started to get much better for Chelsea’s summer imports. Werner netted for the first time in the English top-flight with a brace against Southampton, Ziyech returned to fitness and started wielding his magic, Chilwell continued to impress up and down the left flank, while Silva and Mendy were able to deal with most of the threats they faced.
With all the pieces finally falling in place, Chelsea went on a nearly month-long winning-streak from 28 October and remained unbeaten until the 12th of December. This is the bit when they were supposed to be serious title challengers.
While winning consecutively against Krasnodar, Burnley, a numerically-inferior Rennes, Sheffield United and Newcastle United is certainly not an easy task, it also is not exactly enough to consider yourself title-contenders in a league where the last three seasons saw the winners score 99 points or more.
Unfortunately, things took a turn in the direction of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goalkeeping thereafter – it all went way out of hand.
Things were going quite swimmingly for Chelsea until the 12th of December when the Blues took on Everton and were beaten by the only goal of the match. A defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers was followed by an important win over West Ham, but then came the real test – a big London derby.
Arsenal were way down in the bottom half of the table with no domestic wins in a month and a half, so it was only natural that Chelsea allowed them to win 3-1. That disappointment was followed by a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, but then Manchester City came to Stamford Bridge and put three past the Blues.
A win over Morecambe in the FA Cup was followed by a very scrappy 1-0 against the 10 men of Fulham, but then came Leicester. The Foxes eased past the Blues in a 2-0 victory last night, with Frank Lampard’s men looking typically clueless against top-half opposition. This meant that Chelsea have beaten only one of the current top 10 sides in the Premier League this season bar themselves.
In this period, Werner has gone on a two-month goalless streak in the Premier League, Ziyech has been out injured again, Havertz has continued to disappoint, Mendy has conceded more goals than the PSxG (Post-Shot Expected Goals) he has faced, and their defenders have only kept two clean sheets in the Premier League since the start of December.
Frank Lampard
The biggest problem for Chelsea at the moment seems to be in their own ranks. Lampard is clearly not utilising the resources he has to even half of their potential, and a free-spending Chelsea are not even in the Europa League spots right now.
The first issue is the fact that Lampard does not know his best line-up. He has used a whopping 26 different players this season, including eight at the sharp end. In the last two Premier League matches alone, Lampard has made seven changes to his side.
The bigger problem is that Lampard seems a bit clueless right now, especially with his new signings. There is no refuting that he did a stellar job of taking a young side to the Champions League spots in the Premier League last season, but now when he has some world-beating quality to pick and choose from, he is messing it all up.
Havertz and Werner, two of Chelsea’s most expensive signings, are proving to be the biggest flops so far. In part, this is because they probably haven’t fully adapted to the Premier League yet and are not performing as well as they should, but a major portion of the blame must also be deflected to their manager.
Let’s start with Werner – a man who scored 28 goals in 34 Bundesliga matches last season. At the time of writing, he only has four in 19 Premier League outings. The fact that he has underperformed his xG by 2.8 shows that he has been poor in front of goal, but even then, an xG of 6.8 from 19 matches is not good enough for a striker.
Well, perhaps the issue is that Lampard does not use him as a striker – he has made twice as many appearances on the left as he has made centrally. Further, at Leipzig, he played in a two-striker system with a physical partner in Yussuf Poulsen, but now he is all alone up front whenever he is deployed there.
Now for Havertz, the youngest player to reach 35 goals in the Bundesliga, but a man who has only played a part in three Premier League goals after 16 appearances. He has been deployed in four different positions this season and has only spent the full 90 minutes on the pitch on three occasions in the league this season, in part due to a COVID-19 infection, but also because he has been so disappointed.
In half of his starts since late October, Havertz has been accompanied by Ziyech. Tactically speaking, that is a very poor decision because both of those players like to operate at the edge of the final third on the right wing in possession. Here are their activity maps from 2019/20 illustrating just that:
Clearly, these two players are destined to get in each other’s way if they spend time together on the right of the pitch, but Lampard still deployed them together, and the more confident man prevailed, while Havertz’s slump continued.
Post-takeover Chelsea are notorious for pulling the trigger as far as managerial changes are concerned very quickly, and if Lampard cannot even guide them to a top-seven spot, surely his job is under serious threat. The ex-Derby County manager has the lowest points-per-game average of any Chelsea manager since 2004, while two of the last three tacticians who have left the Pensioners faced Leicester in their last Premier League match.
The solution
If Lampard does go soon, Chelsea will need to recruit a replacement quickly. Currently, the biggest managers who are out of a job include the likes of Massimiliano Allegri, ex-Chelsea favourite Maurizio Sarri and Thomas Tuchel. Of these, the German tactician seems to be the best fit.
First of all, there is a strong underperforming German contingent in the Chelsea squad which includes Havertz, Werner and Antonio Rüdiger – players who would surely benefit from his arrival. Further, Tuchel’s former captain at PSG, Silva is also in the Blues’ squad, so as far as man-management is concerned, this move would surely make sense.
Above all, though, the biggest benefit is the fact that his tactical system could well be the answer to unlocking all the potential of Chelsea’s new signings.
Tuchel often used a 4-2-2-2 system at PSG. In London, this system would undoubtedly benefit Werner who thrives in a two-striker system as aforementioned, but it might also work for Havertz. Here is how Chelsea could line up under Tuchel:
Of course, there is no guarantee that Tuchel will take Chelsea to the top of the league again, but surely a manager of his credentials is worth a shot for such a quality-packed side who are in eighth place. Whether they try to go for him or not remains to be seen, but history and even logic are increasingly pointing in that direction.
Stats courtesy Whoscored.com and Fbref.com
|
https://sportslens.com/analysis-how-and-why-almost-everything-is-going-wrong-for-chelsea/328025/
|
en
| 2021-01-20T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/bfc439cb49b8f458d8ebe427a2bb36e5b4974e30ee4a4cbd36978a9db8b1c68a.json
|
[
"December 5, 2020 – Chelsea FC are two points off the top of the Premier League table after a 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions.\nThey are ‘serious title-contenders’ in the eyes of many, and considering how well they are playing, it is becoming increasingly harder to refute their credentials as proper challengers.\nFast forward nearly two months, and Chelsea are languishing all the way down in eighth place. They barely are contending for the Europa League spots now, and are getting increasingly closer to the bottom half of the table.\nSo, what has gone wrong for the Blues, and why have they slumped so spectacularly? Let’s try and find out, starting in the summer transfer window:\nTurbulent transfers\nWith over £200 million spent, Chelsea made a clear statement of intent following the end of their transfer ban. Investing in talented youngsters such as Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell alongside well-versed veterans like Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva was seen as a very smart move and, suddenly, Chelsea had one of the most formidable attacks in the league. Late on, Édouard Mendy joined the club as well to replace their faltering goalkeepers.\nOnly two of these new signings featured in Chelsea’s Premier League-opener as Silva, Ziyech and Chilwell were not fully fit while Mendy had not been signed yet. With a largely-unchanged side from 2019/20’s top-four finishers, they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 with Werner winning a penalty on debut.\nAll six of the new signings started a match together for the first time when Chelsea faced Crystal Palace in October. With over half of the side comprised of fresh faces, the worry was that they wouldn’t click immediately. A 4-0 victory was an emphatic response.\nThe issue, however, was the fact that most of the stand-out performers did not include the new boys. Chilwell had a great debut and Mendy wasn’t too troubled in his first few matches, but Silva made a clear error leading to a goal on debut, Havertz massively underperformed early on, Werner scored his first Premier League goal all the way in mid-October, and Ziyech was out injured for a fairly long time.\nA false sense of quality\nAround mid-October, things started to get much better for Chelsea’s summer imports. Werner netted for the first time in the English top-flight with a brace against Southampton, Ziyech returned to fitness and started wielding his magic, Chilwell continued to impress up and down the left flank, while Silva and Mendy were able to deal with most of the threats they faced.\nWith all the pieces finally falling in place, Chelsea went on a nearly month-long winning-streak from 28 October and remained unbeaten until the 12th of December. This is the bit when they were supposed to be serious title challengers.\nWhile winning consecutively against Krasnodar, Burnley, a numerically-inferior Rennes, Sheffield United and Newcastle United is certainly not an easy task, it also is not exactly enough to consider yourself title-contenders in a league where the last three seasons saw the winners score 99 points or more.\nUnfortunately, things took a turn in the direction of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goalkeeping thereafter – it all went way out of hand.\nThings were going quite swimmingly for Chelsea until the 12th of December when the Blues took on Everton and were beaten by the only goal of the match. A defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers was followed by an important win over West Ham, but then came the real test – a big London derby.\nArsenal were way down in the bottom half of the table with no domestic wins in a month and a half, so it was only natural that Chelsea allowed them to win 3-1. That disappointment was followed by a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, but then Manchester City came to Stamford Bridge and put three past the Blues.\nA win over Morecambe in the FA Cup was followed by a very scrappy 1-0 against the 10 men of Fulham, but then came Leicester. The Foxes eased past the Blues in a 2-0 victory last night, with Frank Lampard’s men looking typically clueless against top-half opposition. This meant that Chelsea have beaten only one of the current top 10 sides in the Premier League this season bar themselves.\nIn this period, Werner has gone on a two-month goalless streak in the Premier League, Ziyech has been out injured again, Havertz has continued to disappoint, Mendy has conceded more goals than the PSxG (Post-Shot Expected Goals) he has faced, and their defenders have only kept two clean sheets in the Premier League since the start of December.\nFrank Lampard\nThe biggest problem for Chelsea at the moment seems to be in their own ranks. Lampard is clearly not utilising the resources he has to even half of their potential, and a free-spending Chelsea are not even in the Europa League spots right now.\nThe first issue is the fact that Lampard does not know his best line-up. He has used a whopping 26 different players this season, including eight at the sharp end. In the last two Premier League matches alone, Lampard has made seven changes to his side.\nThe bigger problem is that Lampard seems a bit clueless right now, especially with his new signings. There is no refuting that he did a stellar job of taking a young side to the Champions League spots in the Premier League last season, but now when he has some world-beating quality to pick and choose from, he is messing it all up.\nHavertz and Werner, two of Chelsea’s most expensive signings, are proving to be the biggest flops so far. In part, this is because they probably haven’t fully adapted to the Premier League yet and are not performing as well as they should, but a major portion of the blame must also be deflected to their manager.\nLet’s start with Werner – a man who scored 28 goals in 34 Bundesliga matches last season. At the time of writing, he only has four in 19 Premier League outings. The fact that he has underperformed his xG by 2.8 shows that he has been poor in front of goal, but even then, an xG of 6.8 from 19 matches is not good enough for a striker.\nWell, perhaps the issue is that Lampard does not use him as a striker – he has made twice as many appearances on the left as he has made centrally. Further, at Leipzig, he played in a two-striker system with a physical partner in Yussuf Poulsen, but now he is all alone up front whenever he is deployed there.\nNow for Havertz, the youngest player to reach 35 goals in the Bundesliga, but a man who has only played a part in three Premier League goals after 16 appearances. He has been deployed in four different positions this season and has only spent the full 90 minutes on the pitch on three occasions in the league this season, in part due to a COVID-19 infection, but also because he has been so disappointed.\nIn half of his starts since late October, Havertz has been accompanied by Ziyech. Tactically speaking, that is a very poor decision because both of those players like to operate at the edge of the final third on the right wing in possession. Here are their activity maps from 2019/20 illustrating just that:\nClearly, these two players are destined to get in each other’s way if they spend time together on the right of the pitch, but Lampard still deployed them together, and the more confident man prevailed, while Havertz’s slump continued.\nPost-takeover Chelsea are notorious for pulling the trigger as far as managerial changes are concerned very quickly, and if Lampard cannot even guide them to a top-seven spot, surely his job is under serious threat. The ex-Derby County manager has the lowest points-per-game average of any Chelsea manager since 2004, while two of the last three tacticians who have left the Pensioners faced Leicester in their last Premier League match.\nThe solution\nIf Lampard does go soon, Chelsea will need to recruit a replacement quickly. Currently, the biggest managers who are out of a job include the likes of Massimiliano Allegri, ex-Chelsea favourite Maurizio Sarri and Thomas Tuchel. Of these, the German tactician seems to be the best fit.\nFirst of all, there is a strong underperforming German contingent in the Chelsea squad which includes Havertz, Werner and Antonio Rüdiger – players who would surely benefit from his arrival. Further, Tuchel’s former captain at PSG, Silva is also in the Blues’ squad, so as far as man-management is concerned, this move would surely make sense.\nAbove all, though, the biggest benefit is the fact that his tactical system could well be the answer to unlocking all the potential of Chelsea’s new signings.\nTuchel often used a 4-2-2-2 system at PSG. In London, this system would undoubtedly benefit Werner who thrives in a two-striker system as aforementioned, but it might also work for Havertz. Here is how Chelsea could line up under Tuchel:\nOf course, there is no guarantee that Tuchel will take Chelsea to the top of the league again, but surely a manager of his credentials is worth a shot for such a quality-packed side who are in eighth place. Whether they try to go for him or not remains to be seen, but history and even logic are increasingly pointing in that direction.\nStats courtesy Whoscored.com and Fbref.com",
"Analysis: How and why almost everything is going wrong for Chelsea"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-30T08:29:11 | null | 2021-01-30T08:14:09 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fa-potential-bargain-pundit-urges-clubs-to-consider-arsenal-leeds-target%2F330343%2F.json
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en
| null |
'A potential bargain': Pundit urges clubs to consider Arsenal & Leeds target
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
European football writer Tom Williams has urged Premier League clubs to make a move for Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Julian Draxler.
The German international has fallen out of favour at PSG, featuring for just 65 minutes in the club’s last seven Ligue 1 fixtures.
Arsenal and Leeds United have been credited with an interest in Draxler and Williams believes that he represents a good value option for clubs of their ilk.
“He is still on the books at PSG, barely getting a kick, has been endlessly linked with English clubs, only has six months left on his contract at PSG and they are desperate to sell him,” he told Sky Sports.
“They’ve been desperate to sell him for the last two or three years, ever since Neymar and Kylian Mbappe came in and he was frozen out of the first-team picture.
“He’s still only 27, a German international and from a technical perspective, an absolute Rolls Royce of a footballer.
“There hasn’t been a huge amount of chatter around the prospect of him leaving but I think there’s a potential bargain to be had if there’s a club in need of a bit of spark in attacking midfield areas and are willing to stump up a small fee to get him off PSG’s books.”
SL View
It is difficult to argue with Williams’ opinion on Draxler – he is ‘an absolute Rolls Royce of a footballer’.
Or, as most football fans would describe the German – he is a player that clubs would be well advised to avoid.
Arsenal and Leeds have been linked with the German, but it would make no sense for either club to secure his services.
Much like Mesut Ozil, Draxler is a luxury that clubs in competitive leagues can ill-afford to indulge.
Turkey awaits.
|
https://sportslens.com/a-potential-bargain-pundit-urges-clubs-to-consider-arsenal-leeds-target/330343/
|
en
| 2021-01-30T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/4f7042e41a88b057e0c9fcc7896c95bb42d3eea39f5cb204ab7f24a9d283338d.json
|
[
"European football writer Tom Williams has urged Premier League clubs to make a move for Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Julian Draxler.\nThe German international has fallen out of favour at PSG, featuring for just 65 minutes in the club’s last seven Ligue 1 fixtures.\nArsenal and Leeds United have been credited with an interest in Draxler and Williams believes that he represents a good value option for clubs of their ilk.\n“He is still on the books at PSG, barely getting a kick, has been endlessly linked with English clubs, only has six months left on his contract at PSG and they are desperate to sell him,” he told Sky Sports.\n“They’ve been desperate to sell him for the last two or three years, ever since Neymar and Kylian Mbappe came in and he was frozen out of the first-team picture.\n“He’s still only 27, a German international and from a technical perspective, an absolute Rolls Royce of a footballer.\n“There hasn’t been a huge amount of chatter around the prospect of him leaving but I think there’s a potential bargain to be had if there’s a club in need of a bit of spark in attacking midfield areas and are willing to stump up a small fee to get him off PSG’s books.”\nSL View\nIt is difficult to argue with Williams’ opinion on Draxler – he is ‘an absolute Rolls Royce of a footballer’.\nOr, as most football fans would describe the German – he is a player that clubs would be well advised to avoid.\nArsenal and Leeds have been linked with the German, but it would make no sense for either club to secure his services.\nMuch like Mesut Ozil, Draxler is a luxury that clubs in competitive leagues can ill-afford to indulge.\nTurkey awaits.",
"'A potential bargain': Pundit urges clubs to consider Arsenal & Leeds target"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-03T08:17:17 | null | 2021-01-03T08:14:54 |
Christian Eriksen of Inter Milan has approached Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid after growing frustrated over the lack of game-time at San Siro.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Finter-milan-superstar-offers-himself-to-atletico-and-real-madrid%2F324599%2F.json
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Inter Milan superstar offers himself to Atletico and Real Madrid
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sportslens.com
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Christian Eriksen has grown furious over the lack of game time at Inter Milan since completing his move in the winter transfer market of the 2019/20 season. The Danish midfielder has failed to adapt to Antonio Conte’s gameplay and is yet to win the confidence of the former Chelsea manager. A report from MARCA now states that Eriksen has offered himself to Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
However, at the age of 28, the former Tottenham Hotspur needs to be playing day in and day out. This is why the player’s representatives have reportedly approached the two Madrid sides to explore a possible move.
Eriksen was once a key target for Real Madrid, however, Los Blancos have moved on from the Dane after the emergence of Federico Valverde and the return of Martin Odegaard.
Real are also keen on acquiring the services of Paul Pogba of Manchester United. Eriksen would be much lower on the list of targets for Los Blancos.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid also do not seem to be an ideal club for Christian Eriksen. Diego Simeone’s side are currently the leaders of the La Liga table, however, their style of play will certainly not match Eriksen’s creative style. The Danish midfielder would struggle at the Wanda Metropolitano since Simeone demands a high work rate while also maintaining a low block that could limit Eriksen’s creative side.
The best option for the Danish midfielder would be to return to Tottenham Hotspur rather than attempt to sign for Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid. Spurs have Tanguy Ndombele who has managed to turn his career around, however, Jose Mourinho would certainly welcome the return of Eriksen.
The 28-year-old would have to compete with Ndombele, however, it would still be a better option than warming the bench at Inter or moving to Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid where the situation would be the same.
|
https://sportslens.com/inter-milan-superstar-offers-himself-to-atletico-and-real-madrid/324599/
|
en
| 2021-01-03T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/82260086111b6af558cf476530053ee3da13ba9ebb75581b87d9de30cb6acc85.json
|
[
"Christian Eriksen has grown furious over the lack of game time at Inter Milan since completing his move in the winter transfer market of the 2019/20 season. The Danish midfielder has failed to adapt to Antonio Conte’s gameplay and is yet to win the confidence of the former Chelsea manager. A report from MARCA now states that Eriksen has offered himself to Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.\nHowever, at the age of 28, the former Tottenham Hotspur needs to be playing day in and day out. This is why the player’s representatives have reportedly approached the two Madrid sides to explore a possible move.\nEriksen was once a key target for Real Madrid, however, Los Blancos have moved on from the Dane after the emergence of Federico Valverde and the return of Martin Odegaard.\nReal are also keen on acquiring the services of Paul Pogba of Manchester United. Eriksen would be much lower on the list of targets for Los Blancos.\nMeanwhile, Atletico Madrid also do not seem to be an ideal club for Christian Eriksen. Diego Simeone’s side are currently the leaders of the La Liga table, however, their style of play will certainly not match Eriksen’s creative style. The Danish midfielder would struggle at the Wanda Metropolitano since Simeone demands a high work rate while also maintaining a low block that could limit Eriksen’s creative side.\nThe best option for the Danish midfielder would be to return to Tottenham Hotspur rather than attempt to sign for Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid. Spurs have Tanguy Ndombele who has managed to turn his career around, however, Jose Mourinho would certainly welcome the return of Eriksen.\nThe 28-year-old would have to compete with Ndombele, however, it would still be a better option than warming the bench at Inter or moving to Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid where the situation would be the same.",
"Inter Milan superstar offers himself to Atletico and Real Madrid",
"Christian Eriksen of Inter Milan has approached Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid after growing frustrated over the lack of game-time at San Siro."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-11T09:33:46 | null | 2021-01-11T05:04:35 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fjose-mourinho-reacts-to-dele-allis-performance-vs-marine%2F326046%2F.json
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en
| null |
Jose Mourinho reacts to Dele Alli's performance vs Marine
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho expressed his pleasure over the performance of Dele Alli during the club’s 5-0 win over Marine in the FA Cup third round.
Alli has struggled for regular playing time during the course of the season and he has been restricted to only 77 minutes in the Premier League to date.
Owing to this, he has been linked with a possible departure this month and it has been suggested that he could join ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain.
The 24-year-old made only his second start in all competitions since December yesterday and he came up with a good showing as he grabbed an assist.
The England international also played his part in the lead-up to a couple of more goals and Mourinho told BBC Sport h/t Goal.com he was pleased with the attitude and professionalism displayed by him.
“I am really happy with his attitude in the game, of course we didn’t want to risk much,” he said. “The pitch is a bit dangerous and their enthusiasm can put the creative ones in some risk, but I am happy – good professionalism, good dynamic from him.”
While Alli can’t be judged by the performance against eighth-tier Marine, Mourinho hinted that the playmaker could be handed some playing time in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
“He was here today and of course it was not the match to measure the quality, but the professionalism and attitude and I am very happy with it,” he added. “I will not be surprised if next Wednesday, Dele is playing with us.”
Spurs are scheduled to face Aston Villa on the road on Wednesday, but it is still unclear whether the match will be held with the Villans first-team squad under isolation after multiple COVID-19 cases.
Mourinho’s side are currently fourth on the table with 29 points, four behind leaders Liverpool with one game in hand. The Portuguese is eager for Spurs to play in midweek as he believes another postponement could further congest the club’s schedule.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
|
https://sportslens.com/jose-mourinho-reacts-to-dele-allis-performance-vs-marine/326046/
|
en
| 2021-01-11T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/272bfda344be2308ea9610dd863b7cfe9eb5f5acb64adba07b5e37669282a8a7.json
|
[
"Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho expressed his pleasure over the performance of Dele Alli during the club’s 5-0 win over Marine in the FA Cup third round.\nAlli has struggled for regular playing time during the course of the season and he has been restricted to only 77 minutes in the Premier League to date.\nOwing to this, he has been linked with a possible departure this month and it has been suggested that he could join ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain.\nThe 24-year-old made only his second start in all competitions since December yesterday and he came up with a good showing as he grabbed an assist.\nThe England international also played his part in the lead-up to a couple of more goals and Mourinho told BBC Sport h/t Goal.com he was pleased with the attitude and professionalism displayed by him.\n“I am really happy with his attitude in the game, of course we didn’t want to risk much,” he said. “The pitch is a bit dangerous and their enthusiasm can put the creative ones in some risk, but I am happy – good professionalism, good dynamic from him.”\nWhile Alli can’t be judged by the performance against eighth-tier Marine, Mourinho hinted that the playmaker could be handed some playing time in the Premier League on Wednesday night.\n“He was here today and of course it was not the match to measure the quality, but the professionalism and attitude and I am very happy with it,” he added. “I will not be surprised if next Wednesday, Dele is playing with us.”\nSpurs are scheduled to face Aston Villa on the road on Wednesday, but it is still unclear whether the match will be held with the Villans first-team squad under isolation after multiple COVID-19 cases.\nMourinho’s side are currently fourth on the table with 29 points, four behind leaders Liverpool with one game in hand. The Portuguese is eager for Spurs to play in midweek as he believes another postponement could further congest the club’s schedule.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"Jose Mourinho reacts to Dele Alli's performance vs Marine"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-05T08:09:09 | null | 2021-01-05T06:40:46 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fbayern-munich-january-2021-transfer-window-predictions%2F324799%2F.json
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en
| null |
Bayern Munich January 2021 Transfer Window Predictions
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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Bayern Munich have done well in the Bundesliga so far and they will be hoping to pull further clear at the top of the table in the coming weeks.
However, RB Leipzig are currently breathing down their next and the German champions must look to strengthen in January in order to gain an edge over their rivals.
Key areas that need strengthening
Bayern Munich Must look to improve defensively during the January transfer window.
The German champions have conceded 21 League goals in 14 matches and that is simply not good enough.
It will be interesting to see if they invest in a quality centre back this month.
Furthermore, David Alaba is expected to be on his way out of the club and Bayern must look to secure his replacement as soon as possible.
Also, Bayern must improve their defensive options if they want to do well in the Champions League. They cannot hope to win the competition again with their current defensive performances.
Potential departures
Bayern Munich are looking to cash in on youngster Joshua Zirkzee this month and Eintracht Frankfurt are thought to be interested in the player.
David Alaba is nearing the end of his contract at the club as well and the 28-year-old has been linked with a move away from the club this month.
Go back to: Club-by-club Premier League January 2021 Transfer Window Predictions
|
https://sportslens.com/bayern-munich-january-2021-transfer-window-predictions/324799/
|
en
| 2021-01-05T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/7ea7d88f018f2f23b4a823de29db7e1a7222dc787ea8b34d3ce5484a987b4279.json
|
[
"Bayern Munich have done well in the Bundesliga so far and they will be hoping to pull further clear at the top of the table in the coming weeks.\nHowever, RB Leipzig are currently breathing down their next and the German champions must look to strengthen in January in order to gain an edge over their rivals.\nKey areas that need strengthening\nBayern Munich Must look to improve defensively during the January transfer window.\nThe German champions have conceded 21 League goals in 14 matches and that is simply not good enough.\nIt will be interesting to see if they invest in a quality centre back this month.\nFurthermore, David Alaba is expected to be on his way out of the club and Bayern must look to secure his replacement as soon as possible.\nAlso, Bayern must improve their defensive options if they want to do well in the Champions League. They cannot hope to win the competition again with their current defensive performances.\nPotential departures\nBayern Munich are looking to cash in on youngster Joshua Zirkzee this month and Eintracht Frankfurt are thought to be interested in the player.\nDavid Alaba is nearing the end of his contract at the club as well and the 28-year-old has been linked with a move away from the club this month.\nGo back to: Club-by-club Premier League January 2021 Transfer Window Predictions",
"Bayern Munich January 2021 Transfer Window Predictions"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-08T15:23:58 | null | 2021-01-08T14:19:49 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-west-ham-eye-move-for-chelsea-striker-olivier-giroud%2F325713%2F.json
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Report: West Ham eye move for Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
West Ham United are looking to bring in a new striker this month after they offloaded Sebastien Haller, and the Hammers have reportedly earmarked Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud as a potential option.
The Hammers allowed Haller to join Dutch giants Ajax for a fee of €22.5m (£20.3m) on Friday. He will be eligible to face PSV Eindhoven.
Haller’s departure has freed up space for a new arrival, and West Ham are exploring options to replace him in their front line.
The Hammers officials are looking into the financial aspect of the deal to sign Giroud, but they have other targets as well.
According to Eurosport, sources close to the player believe he could leave Stamford Bridge this month, and the possibility of staying in London could tempt him to move to West Ham.
Reims forward Boulaye Dia, Sparta Prague ace Adam Hlozek and Bournemouth’s Josh King are other alternative targets for West Ham.
SL View: Good signing for the Hammers?
Giroud won’t be a long-term solution for the Hammers. However, given the tough transfer market situation due to the pandemic, Giroud could be a handy option for one or two years.
The 34-year-old is in good form this season and scored all four goals in the Champions League clash against Sevilla last month.
Former Chelsea forward Joe Cole hailed him as ‘exceptional’ for that performance.
The Frenchman has scored nine goals in 15 games for Chelsea this season, but it wouldn’t be a big loss for the Blues if he leaves the club.
Giroud still has a few good years left in him and given his wealth of Premier League experience and current form, he could be an exciting signing for the club.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-west-ham-eye-move-for-chelsea-striker-olivier-giroud/325713/
|
en
| 2021-01-08T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/4f7c054b3800849c010cb347454021eff60f5cd34feee49b5742ec2dc65f3029.json
|
[
"West Ham United are looking to bring in a new striker this month after they offloaded Sebastien Haller, and the Hammers have reportedly earmarked Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud as a potential option.\nThe Hammers allowed Haller to join Dutch giants Ajax for a fee of €22.5m (£20.3m) on Friday. He will be eligible to face PSV Eindhoven.\nHaller’s departure has freed up space for a new arrival, and West Ham are exploring options to replace him in their front line.\nThe Hammers officials are looking into the financial aspect of the deal to sign Giroud, but they have other targets as well.\nAccording to Eurosport, sources close to the player believe he could leave Stamford Bridge this month, and the possibility of staying in London could tempt him to move to West Ham.\nReims forward Boulaye Dia, Sparta Prague ace Adam Hlozek and Bournemouth’s Josh King are other alternative targets for West Ham.\nSL View: Good signing for the Hammers?\nGiroud won’t be a long-term solution for the Hammers. However, given the tough transfer market situation due to the pandemic, Giroud could be a handy option for one or two years.\nThe 34-year-old is in good form this season and scored all four goals in the Champions League clash against Sevilla last month.\nFormer Chelsea forward Joe Cole hailed him as ‘exceptional’ for that performance.\nThe Frenchman has scored nine goals in 15 games for Chelsea this season, but it wouldn’t be a big loss for the Blues if he leaves the club.\nGiroud still has a few good years left in him and given his wealth of Premier League experience and current form, he could be an exciting signing for the club.",
"Report: West Ham eye move for Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-24T14:15:15 | null | 2021-01-24T12:49:22 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fnewcastle-and-celtic-told-to-forget-about-appointing-rafa-benitez%2F329078%2F.json
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en
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Newcastle and Celtic told to forget about appointing Rafa Benitez
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says that Rafa Benitez will not be the next manager of Celtic or Newcastle United.
Benitez left his role as boss of Chinese side Dalian Professional this week and was immediately linked with a return to British football.
However, Balague has told the BBC that while there was interest from Celtic in securing Benitez’s services, he will not replace Neil Lennon.
He also added that a return to St James’ Park is not on the cards while Mike Ashley retains ownership of the club.
“Newcastle is not an option for Rafa Benitez under this owner,” said Balague. “Change the owner and then maybe.
“Rafa has a huge respect for the fans, the club, the town. And I feel there is a bit of an unfinished business there.”
SL View
Given Benitez’s salary expectations, Celtic’s interest in appointing him as their manager is fanciful.
The Scottish Premiership is an unlikely destination for the 60-year-old, who will not be short of offers from elsewhere.
Balague’s comment about Newcastle not being an option ‘under this owner’ is particularly pertinent, as the club is probably an ideal destination for Benitez.
The Spaniard is at a stage in his career where he can wait for the right opportunity to come along and it would be no surprise if he is planning to see how the situation at St James’ Park unfolds.
|
https://sportslens.com/newcastle-and-celtic-told-to-forget-about-appointing-rafa-benitez/329078/
|
en
| 2021-01-24T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/ac1e817fc7b3a412e1e9ac6f2b1212bbcd42833719bd31410f651310b4e336a8.json
|
[
"Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says that Rafa Benitez will not be the next manager of Celtic or Newcastle United.\nBenitez left his role as boss of Chinese side Dalian Professional this week and was immediately linked with a return to British football.\nHowever, Balague has told the BBC that while there was interest from Celtic in securing Benitez’s services, he will not replace Neil Lennon.\nHe also added that a return to St James’ Park is not on the cards while Mike Ashley retains ownership of the club.\n“Newcastle is not an option for Rafa Benitez under this owner,” said Balague. “Change the owner and then maybe.\n“Rafa has a huge respect for the fans, the club, the town. And I feel there is a bit of an unfinished business there.”\nSL View\nGiven Benitez’s salary expectations, Celtic’s interest in appointing him as their manager is fanciful.\nThe Scottish Premiership is an unlikely destination for the 60-year-old, who will not be short of offers from elsewhere.\nBalague’s comment about Newcastle not being an option ‘under this owner’ is particularly pertinent, as the club is probably an ideal destination for Benitez.\nThe Spaniard is at a stage in his career where he can wait for the right opportunity to come along and it would be no surprise if he is planning to see how the situation at St James’ Park unfolds.",
"Newcastle and Celtic told to forget about appointing Rafa Benitez"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-19T16:00:12 | null | 2021-01-19T14:11:59 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freports-juventus-scouting-lilles-in-form-turkish-international-midfielder%2F327896%2F.json
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en
| null |
Reports: Juventus "scouting" Lille's in-form Turkish international midfielder
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to reports from various sources in Turkey, Juventus are taking a keen interest in Lille star Yusuf Yazici.
The reports claim that Juve are hoping to strike a deal with Lille to bring the attacking midfielder to the club this summer, with a potential departure for Paolo Dybala on the cards.
Yazici has been mightily impressive for the French side this season, netting 11 goals in all competitions, and it now appears he could be their next big-money departure.
A fee of €40-45 million would be required to prise the midfielder away from the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
Juventus are having an underwhelming campaign by their high standards in Serie A, with Andrea Pirlo’s men currently sitting fifth in the league table as they strive to defend their title.
However, the Bianconeri are expected to stay with Pirlo for next season, and it would appear they are already starting to plan for the summer.
If Dybala is to leave Turin Yazici would be a more than adequate replacement, and with time he should be capable of filling the boots of the Argentine midfielder who has been integral to the success of Juventus over the last six years.
Yazici arrived in northern France from his hometown team Trabzonspor in 2019, but had an uninspiring first year with Lille.
However, his second season has been quite the opposite and it comes as no surprise that big teams such as Juventus are taking a look at him after his stunning displays.
SL View: Adequate replacement
It is believed that a deal for Yazici is reliant on Dybala departing the Italian giants over the summer.
If the Argentine does end his six-year stint in Turin, the Turkish midfielder would be a solid replacement.
While Yazici may not hit the ground running immediately for Juve, over time he could display his undoubted qualities as he has done at Lille.
With Dybala potentially on his way out of the club, Yazici could prove to be an exciting proposition for the Juventus transfer committee.
|
https://sportslens.com/reports-juventus-scouting-lilles-in-form-turkish-international-midfielder/327896/
|
en
| 2021-01-19T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/5d328b4bfe1f350f7b2c4c35a509b1cd6403367ab0d98f3f51f2a6edd2889820.json
|
[
"According to reports from various sources in Turkey, Juventus are taking a keen interest in Lille star Yusuf Yazici.\nThe reports claim that Juve are hoping to strike a deal with Lille to bring the attacking midfielder to the club this summer, with a potential departure for Paolo Dybala on the cards.\nYazici has been mightily impressive for the French side this season, netting 11 goals in all competitions, and it now appears he could be their next big-money departure.\nA fee of €40-45 million would be required to prise the midfielder away from the Stade Pierre Mauroy.\nJuventus are having an underwhelming campaign by their high standards in Serie A, with Andrea Pirlo’s men currently sitting fifth in the league table as they strive to defend their title.\nHowever, the Bianconeri are expected to stay with Pirlo for next season, and it would appear they are already starting to plan for the summer.\nIf Dybala is to leave Turin Yazici would be a more than adequate replacement, and with time he should be capable of filling the boots of the Argentine midfielder who has been integral to the success of Juventus over the last six years.\nYazici arrived in northern France from his hometown team Trabzonspor in 2019, but had an uninspiring first year with Lille.\nHowever, his second season has been quite the opposite and it comes as no surprise that big teams such as Juventus are taking a look at him after his stunning displays.\nSL View: Adequate replacement\nIt is believed that a deal for Yazici is reliant on Dybala departing the Italian giants over the summer.\nIf the Argentine does end his six-year stint in Turin, the Turkish midfielder would be a solid replacement.\nWhile Yazici may not hit the ground running immediately for Juve, over time he could display his undoubted qualities as he has done at Lille.\nWith Dybala potentially on his way out of the club, Yazici could prove to be an exciting proposition for the Juventus transfer committee.",
"Reports: Juventus \"scouting\" Lille's in-form Turkish international midfielder"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-17T10:32:37 | null | 2021-01-17T08:14:39 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-newcastle-aston-villa-watching-west-ham-target-josh-king%2F327363%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Newcastle, Aston Villa 'watching' West Ham target Josh King
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
A host of Premier League clubs are interested in signing AFC Bournemouth striker Josh King this month.
West Ham have been linked with a move for the Norweigian striker this month. However, the Hammers are not alone in the race for his signature.
According to reports from The Sun, Everton are also interested, while the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Fulham are also watching his situation.
King has only a few months left in his contract and he could leave this month as well. However, the 29-year-old striker is demanding a wage package of £120k-per-week, and pricing himself out of reach of several interested parties.
The likes of Villa, Newcastle United and Fulham are happy to wait until the summer of 2021 to sign him on free.
Sportslens View
If King indeed wants to play for a top Premier League club, he needs to lower his wage demands.
Everton – King would be a very good signing for the Toffees. He has proven Premier League experience and can form a good rapport with Dominic Calvert-Lewin upfront. Moise Kean is likely to depart permanently, while Cenk Tosun could be sold in the summer as well.
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins has done really well, but Villa could sign a back-up striker. Wesley needs time to get back to full sharpness after a long injury lay-off, while Keinan Davis is likely to leave the club this month on loan.
Newcastle – Signing a striker is a priority for Steve Bruce as he looks to keep the Magpies away from relegation threat. Joelinton, the big money signing, has turned out to be a massive flop, while Andy Carroll and Miguel Almiron have come out with poor returns.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-newcastle-aston-villa-watching-west-ham-target-josh-king/327363/
|
en
| 2021-01-17T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/c82e2b3ba4512b573e9e01d54dbe8c93ee5370bf63f74d92a06343fbe72106a5.json
|
[
"A host of Premier League clubs are interested in signing AFC Bournemouth striker Josh King this month.\nWest Ham have been linked with a move for the Norweigian striker this month. However, the Hammers are not alone in the race for his signature.\nAccording to reports from The Sun, Everton are also interested, while the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Fulham are also watching his situation.\nKing has only a few months left in his contract and he could leave this month as well. However, the 29-year-old striker is demanding a wage package of £120k-per-week, and pricing himself out of reach of several interested parties.\nThe likes of Villa, Newcastle United and Fulham are happy to wait until the summer of 2021 to sign him on free.\nSportslens View\nIf King indeed wants to play for a top Premier League club, he needs to lower his wage demands.\nEverton – King would be a very good signing for the Toffees. He has proven Premier League experience and can form a good rapport with Dominic Calvert-Lewin upfront. Moise Kean is likely to depart permanently, while Cenk Tosun could be sold in the summer as well.\nAston Villa – Ollie Watkins has done really well, but Villa could sign a back-up striker. Wesley needs time to get back to full sharpness after a long injury lay-off, while Keinan Davis is likely to leave the club this month on loan.\nNewcastle – Signing a striker is a priority for Steve Bruce as he looks to keep the Magpies away from relegation threat. Joelinton, the big money signing, has turned out to be a massive flop, while Andy Carroll and Miguel Almiron have come out with poor returns.",
"Report: Newcastle, Aston Villa 'watching' West Ham target Josh King"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-15T14:45:18 | null | 2021-01-15T13:52:08 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fmanchester-united-to-rival-chelsea-for-declan-rice-next-summer%2F327114%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Manchester United to rival Chelsea for Declan Rice next summer
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Manchester United are likely to compete Chelsea in the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice at the end of the season, a report from ESPN claims.
The England international was regularly linked with Frank Lampard’s side last summer, but nothing materialised beyond the speculation.
He continues to remain on the radar of the west London giants and it has been recently suggested that he may prefer to stay put in the English capital.
Still, United appear to be keeping a close eye on the player’s situation and it is reported that they could rival the Blues for the midfielder’s services next summer.
Rice has more than three years remaining on his contract and the Hammers have the option of extending his deal for another 12 months.
Hence, they are in a strong position to keep hold of him and ESPN reports that they could demand around £70m to consider his sale.
Despite United’s interest, it is suggested that the Blues are still favourites to sign him with United cautious about their spending amid the coronavirus pandemic.
SL view:
United currently have Scott McTominay, Fred, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba, who can slot into the defensive midfield position.
Out of the quartet, Pogba has played in a more advanced role of late, but his future remains a topic of discussion with his contract expiring in June 2022.
So far, there have not been any fresh negotiations over a new contract and his potential departure could pave the way for the arrival of Rice.
Otherwise, the Red Devils may be reluctant to meet the £70m asking price for Rice as they may not be able to recoup sufficient funds from player sales.
Hence, the Blues could have the advantage in the player’s pursuit, having spent more than £220m on new signings in the previous summer transfer window.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
|
https://sportslens.com/manchester-united-to-rival-chelsea-for-declan-rice-next-summer/327114/
|
en
| 2021-01-15T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/830db71b34c0d07480269fbb4a277984bf7b1ae1752ad4a0939d5ff8b034a6a7.json
|
[
"Manchester United are likely to compete Chelsea in the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice at the end of the season, a report from ESPN claims.\nThe England international was regularly linked with Frank Lampard’s side last summer, but nothing materialised beyond the speculation.\nHe continues to remain on the radar of the west London giants and it has been recently suggested that he may prefer to stay put in the English capital.\nStill, United appear to be keeping a close eye on the player’s situation and it is reported that they could rival the Blues for the midfielder’s services next summer.\nRice has more than three years remaining on his contract and the Hammers have the option of extending his deal for another 12 months.\nHence, they are in a strong position to keep hold of him and ESPN reports that they could demand around £70m to consider his sale.\nDespite United’s interest, it is suggested that the Blues are still favourites to sign him with United cautious about their spending amid the coronavirus pandemic.\nSL view:\nUnited currently have Scott McTominay, Fred, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba, who can slot into the defensive midfield position.\nOut of the quartet, Pogba has played in a more advanced role of late, but his future remains a topic of discussion with his contract expiring in June 2022.\nSo far, there have not been any fresh negotiations over a new contract and his potential departure could pave the way for the arrival of Rice.\nOtherwise, the Red Devils may be reluctant to meet the £70m asking price for Rice as they may not be able to recoup sufficient funds from player sales.\nHence, the Blues could have the advantage in the player’s pursuit, having spent more than £220m on new signings in the previous summer transfer window.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"Manchester United to rival Chelsea for Declan Rice next summer"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-21T14:14:42 | null | 2021-01-21T11:33:53 |
Former Inter Milan midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron believes his former club have one thing that could encourage Lionel Messi to join.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fjuan-sebastian-veron-believes-lionel-messi-could-join-inter-milan-due-to-one-factor%2F328388%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Juan Sebastian Veron believes Lionel Messi could join Inter Milan due to one factor
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Former Inter Milan midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron believes that Lionel Messi could join his former side due to one factor.
Messi sent the whole world of football into a frenzy last summer when he announced that he wanted to leave Barcelona, the club he had been at his entire career. After a long transfer saga, the Argentine stayed at the Camp Nou.
His reason for submitting a transfer request was that he’d lost faith in the club being able to compete on the European stage. This season’s underwhelming performances will have done little to ease those fears.
Messi had also engaged in a dispute with former president Josep Maria Bartomeu. It is unclear whether his resignation has had any effect on Messi’s stance.
Naturally, the whole situation sent the rumour mill flying. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner was most heavily linked to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, while Manchester Utd, Juventus and Inter were touted as outsiders.
Former Inter midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has commented on the rumours linking his former club to Messi, playing down the chances of the 33-year-old coming to the San Siro. However, he believes that club legend and vice-president Javier Zanetti could be a decisive factor in any potential move.
Speaking to Perform Stats News (via Siempre Inter), Veron said: “I don’t think he (Messi) can go to Italy. If he will, it is because of Zanetti, who knows him and will try to talk to him, making him feel important again and explain the future projects of the club.
“At the end of the day it is purely Messi’s decision but if Inter want to make an attempt, they have to use seduction and get to his heart to draw him near.”
Zanetti and Messi were teammates for six years on the international stage, ranging from Messi’s Argentina debut in 2005 through to Zanetti’s international retirement in 2011. They both started in the 2007 Copa America final, which they lost 3-0 to Brazil. Veron also started.
|
https://sportslens.com/juan-sebastian-veron-believes-lionel-messi-could-join-inter-milan-due-to-one-factor/328388/
|
en
| 2021-01-21T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/5d51518aa70755595ce6d880e52e8dd0596f750999ab24687da4e9124c1850d6.json
|
[
"Former Inter Milan midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron believes that Lionel Messi could join his former side due to one factor.\nMessi sent the whole world of football into a frenzy last summer when he announced that he wanted to leave Barcelona, the club he had been at his entire career. After a long transfer saga, the Argentine stayed at the Camp Nou.\nHis reason for submitting a transfer request was that he’d lost faith in the club being able to compete on the European stage. This season’s underwhelming performances will have done little to ease those fears.\nMessi had also engaged in a dispute with former president Josep Maria Bartomeu. It is unclear whether his resignation has had any effect on Messi’s stance.\nNaturally, the whole situation sent the rumour mill flying. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner was most heavily linked to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, while Manchester Utd, Juventus and Inter were touted as outsiders.\nFormer Inter midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has commented on the rumours linking his former club to Messi, playing down the chances of the 33-year-old coming to the San Siro. However, he believes that club legend and vice-president Javier Zanetti could be a decisive factor in any potential move.\nSpeaking to Perform Stats News (via Siempre Inter), Veron said: “I don’t think he (Messi) can go to Italy. If he will, it is because of Zanetti, who knows him and will try to talk to him, making him feel important again and explain the future projects of the club.\n“At the end of the day it is purely Messi’s decision but if Inter want to make an attempt, they have to use seduction and get to his heart to draw him near.”\nZanetti and Messi were teammates for six years on the international stage, ranging from Messi’s Argentina debut in 2005 through to Zanetti’s international retirement in 2011. They both started in the 2007 Copa America final, which they lost 3-0 to Brazil. Veron also started.",
"Juan Sebastian Veron believes Lionel Messi could join Inter Milan due to one factor",
"Former Inter Milan midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron believes his former club have one thing that could encourage Lionel Messi to join."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-23T22:32:03 | null | 2021-01-23T20:14:48 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fmanchester-united-and-chelsea-keeping-tabs-on-ousmane-dembele%2F328916%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Manchester United, Chelsea keeping tabs on Ousmane Dembele
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Manchester United and Chelsea are monitoring the contract situation of Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele, according to Sport.
The Frenchman has experienced an injury-plagued career with the Catalan giants, making just 93 appearances over the past three-and-a-half seasons.
He continues to be highly-rated and Sport claims that he could be on the move in the summer if the Blaugrana are unable to renew his deal.
His current contract expires in June 2022 and the club have yet to make any progress over an extension with the 2018 World Cup winner.
His contract situation is bound to attract interest and it is reported that both United and Chelsea are keeping track on proceedings.
SL view:
Dembele has bagged a combined tally of 44 goals and assists in 93 games for the Blaugrana which is quite impressive, given he has regularly found himself on the sidelines.
Barring a four-week spell, he has managed to stay injury-free this season and that should please the Blaugrana, who have yet to see the best of him.
However, they may have a fresh concern to deal with in the summer when the Frenchman will enter the final 12 months of his contract.
Should they fail to renew his deal, it is likely that he will be sold and both United and Chelsea may be in the running to sign him.
United were reportedly keen on Dembele last summer and they could see him as a cheaper alternative to long-term target and Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho.
The Blues, on the other hand, have plenty of forward talent and they strengthened the position with Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech last summer.
The season has not gone as planned for them as they are languishing in the eighth spot and they may look to add another quality winger.
Bayern Munich and Juventus are also keeping tabs on Dembele and a move may largely depend on whether he can stay unscathed for the rest of the campaign.
He is currently valued at £45 million, as per Transfermarkt.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
|
https://sportslens.com/manchester-united-and-chelsea-keeping-tabs-on-ousmane-dembele/328916/
|
en
| 2021-01-23T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/27298519c25e904e4da06c461045b09f81f09bc35deba9599f63c3fa636e4efa.json
|
[
"Manchester United and Chelsea are monitoring the contract situation of Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele, according to Sport.\nThe Frenchman has experienced an injury-plagued career with the Catalan giants, making just 93 appearances over the past three-and-a-half seasons.\nHe continues to be highly-rated and Sport claims that he could be on the move in the summer if the Blaugrana are unable to renew his deal.\nHis current contract expires in June 2022 and the club have yet to make any progress over an extension with the 2018 World Cup winner.\nHis contract situation is bound to attract interest and it is reported that both United and Chelsea are keeping track on proceedings.\nSL view:\nDembele has bagged a combined tally of 44 goals and assists in 93 games for the Blaugrana which is quite impressive, given he has regularly found himself on the sidelines.\nBarring a four-week spell, he has managed to stay injury-free this season and that should please the Blaugrana, who have yet to see the best of him.\nHowever, they may have a fresh concern to deal with in the summer when the Frenchman will enter the final 12 months of his contract.\nShould they fail to renew his deal, it is likely that he will be sold and both United and Chelsea may be in the running to sign him.\nUnited were reportedly keen on Dembele last summer and they could see him as a cheaper alternative to long-term target and Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho.\nThe Blues, on the other hand, have plenty of forward talent and they strengthened the position with Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech last summer.\nThe season has not gone as planned for them as they are languishing in the eighth spot and they may look to add another quality winger.\nBayern Munich and Juventus are also keeping tabs on Dembele and a move may largely depend on whether he can stay unscathed for the rest of the campaign.\nHe is currently valued at £45 million, as per Transfermarkt.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"Manchester United, Chelsea keeping tabs on Ousmane Dembele"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-13T09:56:11 | null | 2021-01-13T07:54:10 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Feverton-southampton-santiago-sosa-transfer%2F326541%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Talent expert tips Santiago Sosa to make his mark in the Premier League
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
A respected player talent expert has tipped River Plate midfielder Santiago Sosa to make his mark in the Premier League.
Despite making just 21 senior appearances in Argentina, the Argentina U20 international has already been strongly linked with Everton.
David Webb, who has held recruitment roles with numerous clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, believes that Sosa would be an ideal signing for teams that are hoping to qualify for European competitions.
“He’s attracting a lot of attention at the moment,” Webb told Sky Sports.
“He’s a central midfield player that, in the transfer window prior, was heavily linked with Everton and it was looking likely that they would sign him.
“He’s a player that could come in and play now. He’s still only young and needs time to develop but he would definitely be in contention as a potential starting player, especially for an Everton or Southampton – those aspiring teams looking to break into the European places. He could fit in well at either of those teams.”
SL View – Santiago Sosa
Sosa was monitored by Everton at the South American under-20 championships in 2019, but a deal failed to materialise.
He has continued to be linked with a move to the Premier League and he appears to have the attributes needed to succeed in English football.
South American football expert Tim Vickery has previously sung Sosa’s praises, describing him as an ‘old-fashioned’ midfield player.
Whether Sosa would be able to step straight into the starting XI of a Premier League club is up for debate, particularly with the difficulties attached to moving home at such a young age.
However, given the praise he has been receiving, it would be no surprise to see the likes of Everton or Southampton make a move for Sosa this summer.
|
https://sportslens.com/everton-southampton-santiago-sosa-transfer/326541/
|
en
| 2021-01-13T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/4d37e7aa0b06d6936ad0b94f96105d658ac3ce59880c76e3de7b99dcb4a8cc31.json
|
[
"A respected player talent expert has tipped River Plate midfielder Santiago Sosa to make his mark in the Premier League.\nDespite making just 21 senior appearances in Argentina, the Argentina U20 international has already been strongly linked with Everton.\nDavid Webb, who has held recruitment roles with numerous clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, believes that Sosa would be an ideal signing for teams that are hoping to qualify for European competitions.\n“He’s attracting a lot of attention at the moment,” Webb told Sky Sports.\n“He’s a central midfield player that, in the transfer window prior, was heavily linked with Everton and it was looking likely that they would sign him.\n“He’s a player that could come in and play now. He’s still only young and needs time to develop but he would definitely be in contention as a potential starting player, especially for an Everton or Southampton – those aspiring teams looking to break into the European places. He could fit in well at either of those teams.”\nSL View – Santiago Sosa\nSosa was monitored by Everton at the South American under-20 championships in 2019, but a deal failed to materialise.\nHe has continued to be linked with a move to the Premier League and he appears to have the attributes needed to succeed in English football.\nSouth American football expert Tim Vickery has previously sung Sosa’s praises, describing him as an ‘old-fashioned’ midfield player.\nWhether Sosa would be able to step straight into the starting XI of a Premier League club is up for debate, particularly with the difficulties attached to moving home at such a young age.\nHowever, given the praise he has been receiving, it would be no surprise to see the likes of Everton or Southampton make a move for Sosa this summer.",
"Talent expert tips Santiago Sosa to make his mark in the Premier League"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-10T10:52:36 | null | 2021-01-10T09:08:09 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-west-ham-united-keen-on-hertha-berlin-striker-krzysztof-piatek%2F325950%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: West Ham United keen on Hertha Berlin striker Krzysztof Piatek
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to The Sun, West Ham United are considering a move for Hertha Berlin striker Krzysztof Piatek as they seek a replacement for Sebastian Haller.
Michail Antonio is currently manager David Moyes’ only out and out striker following the departure of the Ivory Coast international, and signing another centre forward before the end of the January transfer window is necessary.
The Hammers have been linked with Watford’s Ismaila Sarr, Reims’ Boulaye Dia, Bournemouth’s Josh King and Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah, and it appears that they have now added Piatek to their list of targets.
Hertha Berlin are willing to loan the Poland international with a view to a buy following a mixed time in the Bundesliga, and it wouldn’t hurt for West Ham to take the punt on him.
While the 25-year-old bagged just four goals in 15 league appearances last term after joining the German outfit from AC Milan last January, he has already equalled that return in 14 games this term.
Piatek caught the eyes of European bigwigs after banging in 22 Serie A goals for both Genoa and Milan in 2018-19.
He scored four goals in 18 league games in the first half of 2019-20 for the Italian giants before getting flogged to Hertha BSC.
Piatek flattered to deceive over the last 12 months, but is starting to look impressive again, and a move to the Premier League could help fire him up.
West Ham need a quality finisher capable of providing quality cover and competition for injury-prone Antonio, and the Polish hitman could be their man.
Having him on loan till the end of the campaign would be shrewd business, and they can always opt against a permanent move if Moyes isn’t impressed.
Piatek was reportedly close to joining Tottenham Hotspur last January, with a £28 million deal for a 3½-year contract agreed and a medical scheduled.
However, that didn’t happen, and whether a move to the Premier League in the coming days will finally materialize remains to be seen.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-west-ham-united-keen-on-hertha-berlin-striker-krzysztof-piatek/325950/
|
en
| 2021-01-10T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/ccdeb5bb18b218ff7d1362c5be96df4c3e1b672ca57fbbc8848fb6f7388816a5.json
|
[
"According to The Sun, West Ham United are considering a move for Hertha Berlin striker Krzysztof Piatek as they seek a replacement for Sebastian Haller.\nMichail Antonio is currently manager David Moyes’ only out and out striker following the departure of the Ivory Coast international, and signing another centre forward before the end of the January transfer window is necessary.\nThe Hammers have been linked with Watford’s Ismaila Sarr, Reims’ Boulaye Dia, Bournemouth’s Josh King and Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah, and it appears that they have now added Piatek to their list of targets.\nHertha Berlin are willing to loan the Poland international with a view to a buy following a mixed time in the Bundesliga, and it wouldn’t hurt for West Ham to take the punt on him.\nWhile the 25-year-old bagged just four goals in 15 league appearances last term after joining the German outfit from AC Milan last January, he has already equalled that return in 14 games this term.\nPiatek caught the eyes of European bigwigs after banging in 22 Serie A goals for both Genoa and Milan in 2018-19.\nHe scored four goals in 18 league games in the first half of 2019-20 for the Italian giants before getting flogged to Hertha BSC.\nPiatek flattered to deceive over the last 12 months, but is starting to look impressive again, and a move to the Premier League could help fire him up.\nWest Ham need a quality finisher capable of providing quality cover and competition for injury-prone Antonio, and the Polish hitman could be their man.\nHaving him on loan till the end of the campaign would be shrewd business, and they can always opt against a permanent move if Moyes isn’t impressed.\nPiatek was reportedly close to joining Tottenham Hotspur last January, with a £28 million deal for a 3½-year contract agreed and a medical scheduled.\nHowever, that didn’t happen, and whether a move to the Premier League in the coming days will finally materialize remains to be seen.",
"Report: West Ham United keen on Hertha Berlin striker Krzysztof Piatek"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-26T15:33:26 | null | 2021-01-26T11:28:25 |
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has urged his side to bring in former Chelsea striker Diego Costa on a short-term deal.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fmicah-richards-urges-man-city-to-sign-former-chelsea-man%2F329396%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Micah Richards urges Man City to sign former Chelsea man
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has suggested that his former side should sign Diego Costa.
Costa is currently a free agent after his contract at Atletico Madrid was terminated in December. Prior to that, he had endured a tough spell at Los Rojiblancos, netting just 19 goals in three years in all competitions.
However, the Spaniard was once considered one of the world’s top strikers during his time at Chelsea. He scored 52 goals in 89 Premier League appearances for the Blues, lifting the trophy twice under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
Several clubs have been linked with a move for the 32-year-old, although he still remains unattached. English pundit Micah Richards is now urging City to bring the forward in on a short-term deal.
Writing for the BBC, Richards said: “Manchester City are already on a ridiculously good run of form but if they signed Diego Costa now, he would win them the Premier League – I am sure of it.
“Why not get him (Costa) in until the end of the season? He would do more than just ruffle a few feathers and be a pain in the backside for opposition defences – he is a proven finisher who would offer Pep Guardiola’s side a proper plan B.”
Pep Guardiola’s squad is currently lacking natural strikers. Sergio Aguero has suffered with fitness issues for a while now, and may not be the same player he once was. This has left Gabriel Jesus as the club’s only out-and-out forward, with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne occasionally filling in up top.
Richards expressed his concern with Jesus, claiming that the Brazilian drops deep too often.
“I like Jesus a lot, and he is far more than just a grafter, but when I watch him he is not always looking to get on the end of balls into the box like he did against Cheltenham in the FA Cup on Saturday – he is often lurking deeper or on the left, linking play,” he added.
“It means City sometimes don’t have a focal point. If they had someone who constantly wanted to run in behind defences then, with their creative players looking for them, I honestly think they would be frightening. They would clean up, no matter how teams tried to stop them.”
City are currently second in the Premier League, two points off bitter rivals Manchester United with a game in hand. They boast the division’s best defensive record, although they have scored the fewest in the top five.
|
https://sportslens.com/micah-richards-urges-man-city-to-sign-former-chelsea-man/329396/
|
en
| 2021-01-26T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/451d8cbc63bef053506409f853cb9e8b61fddc11e0ae5df45587343578539d13.json
|
[
"Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has suggested that his former side should sign Diego Costa.\nCosta is currently a free agent after his contract at Atletico Madrid was terminated in December. Prior to that, he had endured a tough spell at Los Rojiblancos, netting just 19 goals in three years in all competitions.\nHowever, the Spaniard was once considered one of the world’s top strikers during his time at Chelsea. He scored 52 goals in 89 Premier League appearances for the Blues, lifting the trophy twice under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.\nSeveral clubs have been linked with a move for the 32-year-old, although he still remains unattached. English pundit Micah Richards is now urging City to bring the forward in on a short-term deal.\nWriting for the BBC, Richards said: “Manchester City are already on a ridiculously good run of form but if they signed Diego Costa now, he would win them the Premier League – I am sure of it.\n“Why not get him (Costa) in until the end of the season? He would do more than just ruffle a few feathers and be a pain in the backside for opposition defences – he is a proven finisher who would offer Pep Guardiola’s side a proper plan B.”\nPep Guardiola’s squad is currently lacking natural strikers. Sergio Aguero has suffered with fitness issues for a while now, and may not be the same player he once was. This has left Gabriel Jesus as the club’s only out-and-out forward, with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne occasionally filling in up top.\nRichards expressed his concern with Jesus, claiming that the Brazilian drops deep too often.\n“I like Jesus a lot, and he is far more than just a grafter, but when I watch him he is not always looking to get on the end of balls into the box like he did against Cheltenham in the FA Cup on Saturday – he is often lurking deeper or on the left, linking play,” he added.\n“It means City sometimes don’t have a focal point. If they had someone who constantly wanted to run in behind defences then, with their creative players looking for them, I honestly think they would be frightening. They would clean up, no matter how teams tried to stop them.”\nCity are currently second in the Premier League, two points off bitter rivals Manchester United with a game in hand. They boast the division’s best defensive record, although they have scored the fewest in the top five.",
"Micah Richards urges Man City to sign former Chelsea man",
"Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has urged his side to bring in former Chelsea striker Diego Costa on a short-term deal."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-12T20:49:28 | null | 2021-01-12T20:34:49 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fsheffield-united-billy-sharp-relegation%2F326482%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Sharp eyeing great escape after Sheffield United beat Newcastle
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Billy Sharp believes that Sheffield United can get themselves out of trouble after recording their first Premier League victory of the season on Tuesday.
Sharp bagged the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as the Blades defeated Newcastle United at Bramhall Lane to move onto five points for the season.
The result left Chris Wilder’s side nine points adrift of safety, but Sharp has insisted that the team can avoid relegation this term.
“It’s a huge relief, I’m so happy for the boys,” he told Sky Sports. “It was important we got a win soon. It was scrappy at times, but in the first-half I thought we were brilliant.
“We got the luck we deserved and saw it through.
“I thought we played with a lot of confidence, and this win can give us more belief. Everyone has written us off – the pressure is off.
“We’ve not had a great time in the last few months, but we’ve got to keep our heads high now. We’re good enough to do it.
“He did touch it with his hand – I gave him a nudge. The referee made the decision. I love scoring goals for Sheffield United.”
SL View – A tall order for the Blades
The result ended a record run of 20 league matches without a win for the Blades and will undoubtedly be a relief for everyone connected to the club.
They showed plenty of determination against a poor Newcastle team and that spirit should stand them in good stead during the second part of the season.
However, an upcoming fixture list of Tottenham Hotspur (H), Manchester United (A) and Manchester City (A) could leave them even further adrift of safety by the end of the month.
With 20 games still to play it would be foolish to write off the Blades, but the task they face could well prove to be beyond them.
|
https://sportslens.com/sheffield-united-billy-sharp-relegation/326482/
|
en
| 2021-01-12T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/919b42ed924339ec2e5a3e84a46b83da81fb5f6db3e3449e2a906e84944ed933.json
|
[
"Billy Sharp believes that Sheffield United can get themselves out of trouble after recording their first Premier League victory of the season on Tuesday.\nSharp bagged the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as the Blades defeated Newcastle United at Bramhall Lane to move onto five points for the season.\nThe result left Chris Wilder’s side nine points adrift of safety, but Sharp has insisted that the team can avoid relegation this term.\n“It’s a huge relief, I’m so happy for the boys,” he told Sky Sports. “It was important we got a win soon. It was scrappy at times, but in the first-half I thought we were brilliant.\n“We got the luck we deserved and saw it through.\n“I thought we played with a lot of confidence, and this win can give us more belief. Everyone has written us off – the pressure is off.\n“We’ve not had a great time in the last few months, but we’ve got to keep our heads high now. We’re good enough to do it.\n“He did touch it with his hand – I gave him a nudge. The referee made the decision. I love scoring goals for Sheffield United.”\nSL View – A tall order for the Blades\nThe result ended a record run of 20 league matches without a win for the Blades and will undoubtedly be a relief for everyone connected to the club.\nThey showed plenty of determination against a poor Newcastle team and that spirit should stand them in good stead during the second part of the season.\nHowever, an upcoming fixture list of Tottenham Hotspur (H), Manchester United (A) and Manchester City (A) could leave them even further adrift of safety by the end of the month.\nWith 20 games still to play it would be foolish to write off the Blades, but the task they face could well prove to be beyond them.",
"Sharp eyeing great escape after Sheffield United beat Newcastle"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-05T15:20:03 | null | 2021-01-05T11:43:44 |
French winger Kingsley Coman is hoping that Bayern Munich can push on from last season's treble and dominate European football.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fkingsley-coman-targets-european-domination-with-bayern-munich%2F324948%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Kingsley Coman Targets European Domination With Bayern Munich
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Kingsley Coman has spoken out about his ambitions with Bayern Munich, hoping that the club can dominate the Champions League.
Bayern Munich won the most recent edition of the Champions League, defeating Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in the final with a header from Coman. And now, the winger has set his sights on defending their crown in 2021.
Speaking to German newspaper SportBild, as quoted by Football Critic, the Frenchman said: “We are young or in our prime, so we still have time. We can and want to defend the title.”
Coman continued to comment on his side’s ambitions, comparing Bayern Munich to Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid side that won three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018.
“Between 2016 and 2018, Real Madrid won the Champions League three times. I am sure that we can shape an era with this team.”
Bayern Munich’s European campaign has got off to a near perfect start, accumulating 16 points in their six group stage games against Atletico Madrid, RB Salzburg, and Lokomotiv Moscow – only Manchester City got as many points.
Hansi Flick’s men are set to face Lazio in the round of 16. The Italian side currently sit in ninth place in Serie A, having won just six of their first 15 fixtures.
The Bavarians are showing similarly dominant form in the league. They are on course to lift a ninth successive Bundesliga trophy, sitting two points clear at the top of the table ahead of RB Leipzig.
Star striker Robert Lewandowski has also continued his fine form from last campaign, scoring 19 goals and registering five assists in just 13 outings in the Bundesliga.
|
https://sportslens.com/kingsley-coman-targets-european-domination-with-bayern-munich/324948/
|
en
| 2021-01-05T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/1ba839a1ef6f0dfb972cba9208f34c76a036c3ca22bf8f38e7a4f8c3c56b7192.json
|
[
"Kingsley Coman has spoken out about his ambitions with Bayern Munich, hoping that the club can dominate the Champions League.\nBayern Munich won the most recent edition of the Champions League, defeating Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in the final with a header from Coman. And now, the winger has set his sights on defending their crown in 2021.\nSpeaking to German newspaper SportBild, as quoted by Football Critic, the Frenchman said: “We are young or in our prime, so we still have time. We can and want to defend the title.”\nComan continued to comment on his side’s ambitions, comparing Bayern Munich to Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid side that won three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018.\n“Between 2016 and 2018, Real Madrid won the Champions League three times. I am sure that we can shape an era with this team.”\nBayern Munich’s European campaign has got off to a near perfect start, accumulating 16 points in their six group stage games against Atletico Madrid, RB Salzburg, and Lokomotiv Moscow – only Manchester City got as many points.\nHansi Flick’s men are set to face Lazio in the round of 16. The Italian side currently sit in ninth place in Serie A, having won just six of their first 15 fixtures.\nThe Bavarians are showing similarly dominant form in the league. They are on course to lift a ninth successive Bundesliga trophy, sitting two points clear at the top of the table ahead of RB Leipzig.\nStar striker Robert Lewandowski has also continued his fine form from last campaign, scoring 19 goals and registering five assists in just 13 outings in the Bundesliga.",
"Kingsley Coman Targets European Domination With Bayern Munich",
"French winger Kingsley Coman is hoping that Bayern Munich can push on from last season's treble and dominate European football."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-14T16:14:31 | null | 2021-01-14T15:10:18 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Ftottenham-keen-on-marcel-sabitzer-but-january-move-unlikely%2F326855%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Tottenham keen on Marcel Sabitzer but January move unlikely
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
RB Leipzig midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are interested in signing the 26-year-old Austrian but a January move is highly unlikely.
RB Leipzig want to keep Marcel Sabitzer in January [as Upamecano]. Many clubs are interested in Sabitzer as a target for next summer, Tottenham included – but there’s nothing advanced atm. ⛔️ #Leipzig #THFC — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2021
The German club are not willing to sell a key player midway through the season and therefore Tottenham will have to wait until the summer to sign Sabitzer. The Londoners are one of many clubs keen on signing the player.
SL view: Ideal addition to the Spurs midfield
The 26-year-old has done well in the Bundesliga this year and he has three goals and an assist to his name in nine league starts.
Sabitzer can play as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder. He could prove to be a superb addition to Jose Mourinho’s side.
Tottenham need to add more creativity and goals in the central midfield and Sabitzer should be the ideal partner for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele.
Hojbjerg is an excellent defensive midfielder and Ndombele is a ball carrier but they lack goals and creativity.
The Austrian midfielder is at the peak of his powers right now and a move to the Premier League would be the ideal next step for him.
Working with a proven winner like Jose Mourinho could help him improve as a player and win some silverware.
It remains to be seen whether Tottenham can fend off the competition for his services and sign Sabitzer in the summer now. The player is likely to be tempted if a club like Spurs come calling with a concrete offer.
|
https://sportslens.com/tottenham-keen-on-marcel-sabitzer-but-january-move-unlikely/326855/
|
en
| 2021-01-14T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/e5cf3301c016d133d32c3deca579d03a5770501ffe0a980f7a65a51bdad295a1.json
|
[
"RB Leipzig midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has been linked with a move to the Premier League.\nAccording to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are interested in signing the 26-year-old Austrian but a January move is highly unlikely.\nRB Leipzig want to keep Marcel Sabitzer in January [as Upamecano]. Many clubs are interested in Sabitzer as a target for next summer, Tottenham included – but there’s nothing advanced atm. ⛔️ #Leipzig #THFC — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2021\nThe German club are not willing to sell a key player midway through the season and therefore Tottenham will have to wait until the summer to sign Sabitzer. The Londoners are one of many clubs keen on signing the player.\nSL view: Ideal addition to the Spurs midfield\nThe 26-year-old has done well in the Bundesliga this year and he has three goals and an assist to his name in nine league starts.\nSabitzer can play as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder. He could prove to be a superb addition to Jose Mourinho’s side.\nTottenham need to add more creativity and goals in the central midfield and Sabitzer should be the ideal partner for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele.\nHojbjerg is an excellent defensive midfielder and Ndombele is a ball carrier but they lack goals and creativity.\nThe Austrian midfielder is at the peak of his powers right now and a move to the Premier League would be the ideal next step for him.\nWorking with a proven winner like Jose Mourinho could help him improve as a player and win some silverware.\nIt remains to be seen whether Tottenham can fend off the competition for his services and sign Sabitzer in the summer now. The player is likely to be tempted if a club like Spurs come calling with a concrete offer.",
"Tottenham keen on Marcel Sabitzer but January move unlikely"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-13T09:56:35 | null | 2021-01-13T09:15:36 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Ftactical-analysis-simeones-masterclass-victory-against-sevilla%2F326491%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Tactical Analysis: Simeone's masterclass victory against Sevilla
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Atletico Madrid faced a challenging midweek game against a prominent Sevilla side on Tuesday night.
Two clinical goals from Angel Correa and Saul Niguez were enough to beat Sevilla and move Diego Simeone’s men four points clear of Real Madrid on top of the La Liga table with two games in hand.
It serves as no surprise that Atletico has the best defensive record of all teams in Europe’s top five leagues with goalkeeper Jan Oblak conceding a mere six goals in 16 games.
Atletico’s victory against Sevilla was another tactical masterpiece from Simeone as they recorded their 11th clean sheet of the season.
The entire premise of Atletico’s game comes down to their defensive shape and organisation. Although their main formation in attack is a 3-5-2, when a player loses the ball, all nearby players first press hard to win it back before everyone drops back into a defensive 5-4-1.
Yannick Carrasco drops back into a left-back position, and forward Angel Correa drops back into the midfield ahead of Kieran Trippier, sometimes dropping back further to provide a six-man defensive wall. This leaves prolific striker Luis Suarez as the lone man up top for an outlet to start a counter-attack.
This strategy worked quite well for Atletico in the first half, with the majority of successful counter-attacks being played through Carrasco and Thomas Lemar connecting on the left and Trippier bolstering down the field on the right.
Both big chances in the first-half came from these players with Lemar switching the play to Trippier who set up Correa for the first goal, along with an inch-perfect chip from Trippier to Suarez who forced an incredible save out of Sevilla goalkeeper Bono.
Atletico switched their attacking formation depending on the flow of the game between their starting 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 with Correa providing the attacking width on the right side.
While in the 4-3-3, Mario Hermoso was able to slide over and serve as a left-back, giving Carrasco more freedom going forward. Atletico would sometimes even change between these two formations with ease on the fly.
The second-half was an entirely different type of game for Atletico who relied on their defensive formation for nearly the entirety of the second half, putting nearly every player behind the ball. While Sevilla had 13 shots throughout the game, Atletico limited Sevilla’s chances as Oblak was hardly tested.
While Atletico are used to not having a huge chunk of possession in some matches, Simeone’s side only managed 33% against Sevilla, creating very limited chances in the second half.
Atletico struggled to get out of their defensive shape and keep hold of the ball in transition, often just hoofing clearances forward without retaining the ball. Simeone brought on Saul Niguez and Joao Felix in a double change that immediately helped Atletico retain the ball better and ultimately led to their second goal of the match coming from yet another Trippier through ball.
Throughout the entirety of the match, Atletico’s transition from attack to defence was impeccable. Carrasco and especially Trippier’s wing play was crucial in their attack along with attacking midfield creativity from Llorente who made many deep runs to stretch the play and Lemar who was the centre midfield spark and creator.
However, one thing that Simeone’s team can improve upon from this game is their transition from defence to attack and getting Suarez more involved in the build-up play. Too often they lost the ball and were put immediately back under pressure.
On another day that their attackers weren’t as clinical, perhaps the score would have been a stalemate. Atletico ultimately capitalised on their five total shots in the match, putting two in the back of the net, and held down the defensive fort yet again to shut Sevilla out and secure the victory.
Atletico will be seeking to extend their lead on top of the table at their away match against Eibar on January 21 while Sevilla will be looking to get back to winning ways against Alaves on January 19 following their Copa del Rey clash against Leganes.
|
https://sportslens.com/tactical-analysis-simeones-masterclass-victory-against-sevilla/326491/
|
en
| 2021-01-13T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/7aa91a94b5ab9332983beeb814e9bc5c45ce9a1a8a47fa1c2c3333ced3d305ec.json
|
[
"Atletico Madrid faced a challenging midweek game against a prominent Sevilla side on Tuesday night.\nTwo clinical goals from Angel Correa and Saul Niguez were enough to beat Sevilla and move Diego Simeone’s men four points clear of Real Madrid on top of the La Liga table with two games in hand.\nIt serves as no surprise that Atletico has the best defensive record of all teams in Europe’s top five leagues with goalkeeper Jan Oblak conceding a mere six goals in 16 games.\nAtletico’s victory against Sevilla was another tactical masterpiece from Simeone as they recorded their 11th clean sheet of the season.\nThe entire premise of Atletico’s game comes down to their defensive shape and organisation. Although their main formation in attack is a 3-5-2, when a player loses the ball, all nearby players first press hard to win it back before everyone drops back into a defensive 5-4-1.\nYannick Carrasco drops back into a left-back position, and forward Angel Correa drops back into the midfield ahead of Kieran Trippier, sometimes dropping back further to provide a six-man defensive wall. This leaves prolific striker Luis Suarez as the lone man up top for an outlet to start a counter-attack.\nThis strategy worked quite well for Atletico in the first half, with the majority of successful counter-attacks being played through Carrasco and Thomas Lemar connecting on the left and Trippier bolstering down the field on the right.\nBoth big chances in the first-half came from these players with Lemar switching the play to Trippier who set up Correa for the first goal, along with an inch-perfect chip from Trippier to Suarez who forced an incredible save out of Sevilla goalkeeper Bono.\nAtletico switched their attacking formation depending on the flow of the game between their starting 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 with Correa providing the attacking width on the right side.\nWhile in the 4-3-3, Mario Hermoso was able to slide over and serve as a left-back, giving Carrasco more freedom going forward. Atletico would sometimes even change between these two formations with ease on the fly.\nThe second-half was an entirely different type of game for Atletico who relied on their defensive formation for nearly the entirety of the second half, putting nearly every player behind the ball. While Sevilla had 13 shots throughout the game, Atletico limited Sevilla’s chances as Oblak was hardly tested.\nWhile Atletico are used to not having a huge chunk of possession in some matches, Simeone’s side only managed 33% against Sevilla, creating very limited chances in the second half.\nAtletico struggled to get out of their defensive shape and keep hold of the ball in transition, often just hoofing clearances forward without retaining the ball. Simeone brought on Saul Niguez and Joao Felix in a double change that immediately helped Atletico retain the ball better and ultimately led to their second goal of the match coming from yet another Trippier through ball.\nThroughout the entirety of the match, Atletico’s transition from attack to defence was impeccable. Carrasco and especially Trippier’s wing play was crucial in their attack along with attacking midfield creativity from Llorente who made many deep runs to stretch the play and Lemar who was the centre midfield spark and creator.\nHowever, one thing that Simeone’s team can improve upon from this game is their transition from defence to attack and getting Suarez more involved in the build-up play. Too often they lost the ball and were put immediately back under pressure.\nOn another day that their attackers weren’t as clinical, perhaps the score would have been a stalemate. Atletico ultimately capitalised on their five total shots in the match, putting two in the back of the net, and held down the defensive fort yet again to shut Sevilla out and secure the victory.\nAtletico will be seeking to extend their lead on top of the table at their away match against Eibar on January 21 while Sevilla will be looking to get back to winning ways against Alaves on January 19 following their Copa del Rey clash against Leganes.",
"Tactical Analysis: Simeone's masterclass victory against Sevilla"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-24T08:58:38 | null | 2021-01-24T07:15:07 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Ftottenham-fans-react-as-ajax-eye-move-for-davinson-sanchez%2F328946%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Tottenham fans react as Ajax eye move for Davinson Sanchez
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Tottenham Hotspur fans feel that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy should consider selling Davinson Sanchez to Ajax.
According to De Telegraaf, the Dutch giants are targeting to bring back their former defender who has struggled under Jose Mourinho this season.
Spurs paid a massive transfer fee – which was a club-record at that time – of £42 million to sign Sanchez from Ajax in 2017.
The 24-year-old played his best football under Mauricio Pochettino but he has struggled to make a strong impact this season.
The Colombian international has managed only seven Premier League appearances in 2020-21 and a further five appearances have come in the Europa League.
The report claims that Ajax have inquired about bringing Sanchez back to his old club but they are unwilling to sell any of their first-team players this month.
It seems Spurs fans are not impressed with Sanchez and a majority of them feel that the club should send him back to Ajax. Here are some of the selected tweets:
I will take him to airport — Simon Price (@SimonPr62299496) January 23, 2021
If the offer was good enough and we had a replacement it would happen. — vdV (@gvj1022) January 23, 2021
Yes, can we get our money back that we paid?? — A K (@AKTHFC) January 23, 2021
Pity as he’s one that does need upgrading – assuming an upgrade is available. I doubt Ajax have the kind of money Levy would want anyway — Ian Meth (@shaggy1712) January 23, 2021
We need to sell him and get another CB. But I think ajax is looking for cheap deal because his performance and this pandemic situation — Hanri (@DHnryt) January 23, 2021
Pls do it and spend the money on vestergaard or botman pls 😭😭 — Borja Peribañez Bosq (@Borjaperibosque) January 23, 2021
SL View
Sanchez has really struggled this season. Not only has he been left frustrated with lack of game time, but the centre-back also hasn’t impressed when called upon.
His recent performances against Wolverhampton and Fulham haven’t been spectacular either and doubts remain about his long-term future at the club.
Having said that, Spurs would be reluctant to offload him in January unless they have potential targets lined up to replace him.
With Joe Rodon and Japhet Tanganga remaining as other defensive covers for Spurs, it’s highly unlikely Spurs will weaken their squad by offloading the Colombian.
Ajax may have to wait till the end of the season if they are really serious about signing him.
|
https://sportslens.com/tottenham-fans-react-as-ajax-eye-move-for-davinson-sanchez/328946/
|
en
| 2021-01-24T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/97fe1d8581c1b60a7af7a671362efcc1ab597411df3bf6648d35ead451b85d3a.json
|
[
"Tottenham Hotspur fans feel that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy should consider selling Davinson Sanchez to Ajax.\nAccording to De Telegraaf, the Dutch giants are targeting to bring back their former defender who has struggled under Jose Mourinho this season.\nSpurs paid a massive transfer fee – which was a club-record at that time – of £42 million to sign Sanchez from Ajax in 2017.\nThe 24-year-old played his best football under Mauricio Pochettino but he has struggled to make a strong impact this season.\nThe Colombian international has managed only seven Premier League appearances in 2020-21 and a further five appearances have come in the Europa League.\nThe report claims that Ajax have inquired about bringing Sanchez back to his old club but they are unwilling to sell any of their first-team players this month.\nIt seems Spurs fans are not impressed with Sanchez and a majority of them feel that the club should send him back to Ajax. Here are some of the selected tweets:\nI will take him to airport — Simon Price (@SimonPr62299496) January 23, 2021\nIf the offer was good enough and we had a replacement it would happen. — vdV (@gvj1022) January 23, 2021\nYes, can we get our money back that we paid?? — A K (@AKTHFC) January 23, 2021\nPity as he’s one that does need upgrading – assuming an upgrade is available. I doubt Ajax have the kind of money Levy would want anyway — Ian Meth (@shaggy1712) January 23, 2021\nWe need to sell him and get another CB. But I think ajax is looking for cheap deal because his performance and this pandemic situation — Hanri (@DHnryt) January 23, 2021\nPls do it and spend the money on vestergaard or botman pls 😭😭 — Borja Peribañez Bosq (@Borjaperibosque) January 23, 2021\nSL View\nSanchez has really struggled this season. Not only has he been left frustrated with lack of game time, but the centre-back also hasn’t impressed when called upon.\nHis recent performances against Wolverhampton and Fulham haven’t been spectacular either and doubts remain about his long-term future at the club.\nHaving said that, Spurs would be reluctant to offload him in January unless they have potential targets lined up to replace him.\nWith Joe Rodon and Japhet Tanganga remaining as other defensive covers for Spurs, it’s highly unlikely Spurs will weaken their squad by offloading the Colombian.\nAjax may have to wait till the end of the season if they are really serious about signing him.",
"Tottenham fans react as Ajax eye move for Davinson Sanchez"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-30T12:40:38 | null | 2021-01-30T10:02:02 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Ffabrizio-romano-everton-winger-bernard-set-to-sign-for-al-nasr%2F330411%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Fabrizio Romano: Everton winger Bernard set to sign for Al-Nasr
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Popular football journalist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, has claimed that Everton winger Bernard is set to join Al-Nasr.
The 28-year-old – who is on £120k-per-week deal at Goodison Park – has already agreed personal terms with Al-Nasr. It looks increasingly likely that he will leave the Merseyside club before Monday’s transfer deadline day.
Bernard was linked with a move to AS Roma, but Romano has confirmed on Twitter that negotiations between the Al-Nard and Everton are in place to complete the deal.
Bernard has a contract at the club until 2022, and Everton are likely to demand a fee of around £9-10 million for the winger.
Al-Nasr are now in advanced talks with Everton to sign Bernard. Personal terms agreed, negotiations on between the two clubs in order to complete the deal. AS Roma are not interested. 🔵 #EFC #AlNasr — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 29, 2021
Sportslens View
Bernard joined the Toffees in 2018 on a free transfer. He made over 75 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists.
This season, the Brazilian has dropped down the pecking order at the club behind Richarlison, James Rodriguez and Alex Iowbi, managing only two starts all season.
If Everton can get some profit from his sale, it would represent a very good business, considering Bernard has never reached the heights that many had expected when he signed.
Nevertheless, he has been a good squad player for the Toffees and has displayed his quality at times. He has plenty of football left in him, and a move to UAE will give him the opportunity to play week in week out.
|
https://sportslens.com/fabrizio-romano-everton-winger-bernard-set-to-sign-for-al-nasr/330411/
|
en
| 2021-01-30T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/56f995910e3bab16afa6fc95a2e30edfdf2ef69fb8087771e548e37d34eed317.json
|
[
"Popular football journalist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, has claimed that Everton winger Bernard is set to join Al-Nasr.\nThe 28-year-old – who is on £120k-per-week deal at Goodison Park – has already agreed personal terms with Al-Nasr. It looks increasingly likely that he will leave the Merseyside club before Monday’s transfer deadline day.\nBernard was linked with a move to AS Roma, but Romano has confirmed on Twitter that negotiations between the Al-Nard and Everton are in place to complete the deal.\nBernard has a contract at the club until 2022, and Everton are likely to demand a fee of around £9-10 million for the winger.\nAl-Nasr are now in advanced talks with Everton to sign Bernard. Personal terms agreed, negotiations on between the two clubs in order to complete the deal. AS Roma are not interested. 🔵 #EFC #AlNasr — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 29, 2021\nSportslens View\nBernard joined the Toffees in 2018 on a free transfer. He made over 75 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists.\nThis season, the Brazilian has dropped down the pecking order at the club behind Richarlison, James Rodriguez and Alex Iowbi, managing only two starts all season.\nIf Everton can get some profit from his sale, it would represent a very good business, considering Bernard has never reached the heights that many had expected when he signed.\nNevertheless, he has been a good squad player for the Toffees and has displayed his quality at times. He has plenty of football left in him, and a move to UAE will give him the opportunity to play week in week out.",
"Fabrizio Romano: Everton winger Bernard set to sign for Al-Nasr"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-26T15:33:20 | null | 2021-01-26T12:20:02 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fmark-lawrenson-predicts-southampton-vs-arsenal%2F329399%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Mark Lawrenson predicts Southampton vs Arsenal
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Former Liverpool defender turned popular football pundit Mark Lawrenson has predicted a 2-1 win for Southampton against Arsenal on Tuesday.
Arsenal lost 1-0 against Southampton last week at St Mary’s in the FA Cup, where Mikel Arteta picked a ‘strange team’.
The two sides now meet again in the Premier League, where the Gunners will be hoping to return to winning ways.
Southampton find themselves 10th in the table, having managed just one win in the last six league games. In their last Premier League outing, they lost 2-0 against Leicester City.
Lawrenson claims that it does not surprise him to see Southampton playing so well, and he predicts a victory for the Saints. He told BBC Sport:
“Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta picked a strange team as his side’s defence of the FA Cup ended at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday, when the Gunners had been on a good run.
“It is no longer a surprise to see Southampton playing well and, although Arsenal will pick a stronger side and make more of a game of it, I still see Saints winning.”
SportsLens View: Arsenal’s encouraging Premier League form
Exactly a month ago, Arsenal were languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League ahead of their London derby clash against Chelsea.
They were without a win in their previous seven games prior to that fixture. However, Arsenal won 3-1 against the Blues and following that they have not looked like a team bereft of confidence.
The Gunners are undefeated in their last five league games, winning four of them.
They have some tough fixtures coming up (against Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa, Leeds United, Manchester City and Leicester) and a positive result tonight will do no harm to their confidence.
|
https://sportslens.com/mark-lawrenson-predicts-southampton-vs-arsenal/329399/
|
en
| 2021-01-26T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/52c3e33c56557cb2c38c92ea0726f005eeb259af6293e5c983d944f99752ea74.json
|
[
"Former Liverpool defender turned popular football pundit Mark Lawrenson has predicted a 2-1 win for Southampton against Arsenal on Tuesday.\nArsenal lost 1-0 against Southampton last week at St Mary’s in the FA Cup, where Mikel Arteta picked a ‘strange team’.\nThe two sides now meet again in the Premier League, where the Gunners will be hoping to return to winning ways.\nSouthampton find themselves 10th in the table, having managed just one win in the last six league games. In their last Premier League outing, they lost 2-0 against Leicester City.\nLawrenson claims that it does not surprise him to see Southampton playing so well, and he predicts a victory for the Saints. He told BBC Sport:\n“Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta picked a strange team as his side’s defence of the FA Cup ended at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday, when the Gunners had been on a good run.\n“It is no longer a surprise to see Southampton playing well and, although Arsenal will pick a stronger side and make more of a game of it, I still see Saints winning.”\nSportsLens View: Arsenal’s encouraging Premier League form\nExactly a month ago, Arsenal were languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League ahead of their London derby clash against Chelsea.\nThey were without a win in their previous seven games prior to that fixture. However, Arsenal won 3-1 against the Blues and following that they have not looked like a team bereft of confidence.\nThe Gunners are undefeated in their last five league games, winning four of them.\nThey have some tough fixtures coming up (against Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa, Leeds United, Manchester City and Leicester) and a positive result tonight will do no harm to their confidence.",
"Mark Lawrenson predicts Southampton vs Arsenal"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-26T15:33:35 | null | 2021-01-26T14:30:16 |
PGMOL have announced new guidance surrounding the offside rule that would have ruled out Bernardo Silva's controversial late opener against Aston Villa.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Foffside-rule-changed-following-controversial-bernardo-silva-goal-vs-aston-villa%2F329440%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Offside rule changed following controversial Bernardo Silva goal vs Aston Villa
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have announced tweaks to the offside rule following Bernardo Silva’s controversial goal against Aston Villa.
The Portuguese winger opened the scoring for Manchester City in the 79th minute, firing into the top corner from the edge of the box. However, he received the ball from Rodri, who had dispossessed Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings from an offside position.
The goal caused outrage among the visiting staff, with manager Dean Smith given a red card and a subsequent touchline ban for his outbursts.
PGMOL came out after the game and defended the decision to let the goal stand, claiming that Rodri was not offside due to Mings’ choice to play the ball. The defender admitted his mistake after the game on Twitter, but was also left baffled by the lack of VAR intervention.
Never even heard of that rule, just let players stand offside, then run back & tackle you? In hindsight I should’ve cleared it, 100%, but didn’t even know that was the case. Nonsense https://t.co/2UiFEV9eqH — Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) January 20, 2021
However, PGMOL have since made changes to the offside rule, as reported by the Daily Mail. New guidance has been added to the rule, stating the following:
“Where a player in an offside position immediately impacts on an opponent who has deliberately played the ball, the match officials should prioritise challenging an opponent for the ball, and thus the offside offence of ‘interfering with an opponent by impacting on the opponent’s ability to play the ball’ should be penalised.”
To put it simply, under this guidance, Bernardo Silva’s goal would not have counted, and Man City may not have gone on to claim the three points. They later went on to get a second from the penalty spot, with Ilkay Gundogan converting after Matty Cash’s handball.
Reaction
They’re making it up as they go along. 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/Fy8pNJn2sm — Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) January 26, 2021
No surprise whatsoever that the interpretation of the offside rule has been changed following the game between Manchester City and Aston Villa. The rule was never brought in for situations like that and good to see action being taken so quickly. — michael owen (@themichaelowen) January 26, 2021
|
https://sportslens.com/offside-rule-changed-following-controversial-bernardo-silva-goal-vs-aston-villa/329440/
|
en
| 2021-01-26T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/ce81ffdd1c2f315093aed6de5ff8fef3a8ddde4fff56f3751c63faa3a1889c7a.json
|
[
"Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have announced tweaks to the offside rule following Bernardo Silva’s controversial goal against Aston Villa.\nThe Portuguese winger opened the scoring for Manchester City in the 79th minute, firing into the top corner from the edge of the box. However, he received the ball from Rodri, who had dispossessed Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings from an offside position.\nThe goal caused outrage among the visiting staff, with manager Dean Smith given a red card and a subsequent touchline ban for his outbursts.\nPGMOL came out after the game and defended the decision to let the goal stand, claiming that Rodri was not offside due to Mings’ choice to play the ball. The defender admitted his mistake after the game on Twitter, but was also left baffled by the lack of VAR intervention.\nNever even heard of that rule, just let players stand offside, then run back & tackle you? In hindsight I should’ve cleared it, 100%, but didn’t even know that was the case. Nonsense https://t.co/2UiFEV9eqH — Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) January 20, 2021\nHowever, PGMOL have since made changes to the offside rule, as reported by the Daily Mail. New guidance has been added to the rule, stating the following:\n“Where a player in an offside position immediately impacts on an opponent who has deliberately played the ball, the match officials should prioritise challenging an opponent for the ball, and thus the offside offence of ‘interfering with an opponent by impacting on the opponent’s ability to play the ball’ should be penalised.”\nTo put it simply, under this guidance, Bernardo Silva’s goal would not have counted, and Man City may not have gone on to claim the three points. They later went on to get a second from the penalty spot, with Ilkay Gundogan converting after Matty Cash’s handball.\nReaction\nThey’re making it up as they go along. 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/Fy8pNJn2sm — Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) January 26, 2021\nNo surprise whatsoever that the interpretation of the offside rule has been changed following the game between Manchester City and Aston Villa. The rule was never brought in for situations like that and good to see action being taken so quickly. — michael owen (@themichaelowen) January 26, 2021",
"Offside rule changed following controversial Bernardo Silva goal vs Aston Villa",
"PGMOL have announced new guidance surrounding the offside rule that would have ruled out Bernardo Silva's controversial late opener against Aston Villa."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-20T13:24:50 | null | 2021-01-20T11:58:23 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fwest-ham-transfer-talk-simeone%2F328122%2F.json
|
en
| null |
West Ham linked with Giovanni Simeone, but Moyes dismisses transfer talk
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
West Ham United manager David Moyes says that none of the forwards recently linked with the club are on his radar.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Cagliari’s Giovanni Simeone is the latest player that Moyes is planning to sign during the January transfer window.
The Hammers have been linked with a plethora of forwards over the past few weeks, but Moyes has told BT Sport that none of them are viable targets.
“It would be important if the right ones are there, but it’s only important if the players available are the right ones and the ones we want,” he said.
“We don’t want to bring people in here that we’ll regret doing. We’ll try to get somebody, and if we can’t we’ll find solutions within the squad.”
SL View
There has been a growing list of forwards linked with West Ham, all of whom have been touted as possible replacements for Sebastien Haller.
However, most of the links have looked fairly spurious, most likely generated by agents trying to place their clients.
While West Ham are largely reliant on Michail Antonio at the moment, Moyes is unlikely to bring someone in just for the sake of it.
The January transfer window is traditionally a difficult time to complete worthwhile deals and remaining patient until summer may be more beneficial for West Ham.
|
https://sportslens.com/west-ham-transfer-talk-simeone/328122/
|
en
| 2021-01-20T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/d69d979df60584ea189fc101f0a76a7ef2e60592cdad292ee5f060fb75795d5c.json
|
[
"West Ham United manager David Moyes says that none of the forwards recently linked with the club are on his radar.\nAccording to Gianluca Di Marzio, Cagliari’s Giovanni Simeone is the latest player that Moyes is planning to sign during the January transfer window.\nThe Hammers have been linked with a plethora of forwards over the past few weeks, but Moyes has told BT Sport that none of them are viable targets.\n“It would be important if the right ones are there, but it’s only important if the players available are the right ones and the ones we want,” he said.\n“We don’t want to bring people in here that we’ll regret doing. We’ll try to get somebody, and if we can’t we’ll find solutions within the squad.”\nSL View\nThere has been a growing list of forwards linked with West Ham, all of whom have been touted as possible replacements for Sebastien Haller.\nHowever, most of the links have looked fairly spurious, most likely generated by agents trying to place their clients.\nWhile West Ham are largely reliant on Michail Antonio at the moment, Moyes is unlikely to bring someone in just for the sake of it.\nThe January transfer window is traditionally a difficult time to complete worthwhile deals and remaining patient until summer may be more beneficial for West Ham.",
"West Ham linked with Giovanni Simeone, but Moyes dismisses transfer talk"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-30T12:40:50 | null | 2021-01-30T10:40:13 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-serge-aurier-now-fighting-to-save-his-tottenham-hotspur-career%2F330436%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Serge Aurier now fighting to save his Tottenham Hotspur career
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to Sportsmail, Tottenham Hotspur right-back Serge Aurier is now fighting to save his career at the North London club following an outburst during the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool.
Spurs found themselves trailing 1-0 to the visitors on the stroke of half-time, with the Ivory Coast international failing to properly mark Sadio Mane before the cross that led to the goal.
Aurier stormed out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of the restart after boss Jose Mourinho withdrew him during the interval, leaving teammates shocked at his reaction, and that could now put his future at the club in jeopardy.
Sportslens View
The 28-year-old has less than 18 months left on his current contract, and it does not appear that an extension is forthcoming from the look of things.
His recent actions have put the possibility of that in danger, and it will not come as a surprise if he gets to feature very little for the remainder of the campaign.
Aurier’s future at Tottenham had appeared to be in doubt after Mourinho sanctioned a move for Matty Doherty in the summer.
However, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star has only played nine league games since joining Spurs, assisting once, with the Ivorian featuring 11 times, scoring twice and registering an assist.
Danny Rose fell out with Mourinho last season after questioning the Portuguese’s decision not to give him playing opportunities, and he has not featured for Tottenham since.
He was shipped out on loan to Newcastle United for the second half of 2019-20 and was eventually omitted from the side’s Premier League squad heading into 2020-21.
Rose has had to train with the youth team in order to keep up his fitness, and while Aurier might not be subjected to such treatment, undermining Mourinho’s authority hardly ends well for any player.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-serge-aurier-now-fighting-to-save-his-tottenham-hotspur-career/330436/
|
en
| 2021-01-30T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/f90ddcc4d9150787ed8a3014556111d88bd808b5ad6ebe75dd3c772a48e3ec98.json
|
[
"According to Sportsmail, Tottenham Hotspur right-back Serge Aurier is now fighting to save his career at the North London club following an outburst during the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool.\nSpurs found themselves trailing 1-0 to the visitors on the stroke of half-time, with the Ivory Coast international failing to properly mark Sadio Mane before the cross that led to the goal.\nAurier stormed out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of the restart after boss Jose Mourinho withdrew him during the interval, leaving teammates shocked at his reaction, and that could now put his future at the club in jeopardy.\nSportslens View\nThe 28-year-old has less than 18 months left on his current contract, and it does not appear that an extension is forthcoming from the look of things.\nHis recent actions have put the possibility of that in danger, and it will not come as a surprise if he gets to feature very little for the remainder of the campaign.\nAurier’s future at Tottenham had appeared to be in doubt after Mourinho sanctioned a move for Matty Doherty in the summer.\nHowever, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star has only played nine league games since joining Spurs, assisting once, with the Ivorian featuring 11 times, scoring twice and registering an assist.\nDanny Rose fell out with Mourinho last season after questioning the Portuguese’s decision not to give him playing opportunities, and he has not featured for Tottenham since.\nHe was shipped out on loan to Newcastle United for the second half of 2019-20 and was eventually omitted from the side’s Premier League squad heading into 2020-21.\nRose has had to train with the youth team in order to keep up his fitness, and while Aurier might not be subjected to such treatment, undermining Mourinho’s authority hardly ends well for any player.",
"Report: Serge Aurier now fighting to save his Tottenham Hotspur career"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-24T14:15:45 | null | 2021-01-24T11:24:40 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-west-brom-keen-on-okay-yokuslu-alternative-for-hamza-choudhury%2F329025%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: West Brom keen on Okay Yokuslu, alternative for Hamza Choudhury
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
West Bromwich Albion are looking to bolster their midfield this month.
The Baggies have been linked with a move for Leicester City’s home-grown talent Hamza Choudhury who has struggled for regular games for the Foxes this season.
The 23-year-old midfielder has made only 10 appearances in all competitions and he is looking to move elsewhere in search of regular games.
According to reports from The Mirror (print edition, page 69), West Brom are waiting on a decision from Leicester City to see if they can land the midfielder this month.
However, if they fail to sign him, the Premier League strugglers have a back-up plan in place. The Baggies are confident of signing Choudhury, but they are also keen on other targets.
The report from The Mirror claims that West Brom are keen on Celta Vigo midfielder Okay Yokuslu.
The 26-year-old can play as a defensive midfielder or as a centre-back. Sam Allardyce is particularly ‘keen’ to have him in the squad if he fails to land Choudhury.
SL View: Competition from Newcastle
Newcastle United are looking to make a few loan signings this month, and the Magpies are also in the hunt to sign the Leicester midfielder.
Popular Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie suggested recently that Steve Bruce wants a central midfielder and he is interested in signing Choudhury on loan.
Dennis Praet has been ruled out for around three months through injury, and Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers could be reluctant to offload Choudhury. In that case, a move for Yokuslu makes a lot of sense.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-west-brom-keen-on-okay-yokuslu-alternative-for-hamza-choudhury/329025/
|
en
| 2021-01-24T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/7ed15822b08bc12b68664b96cd86295ab65785036216f196f927e845fd6f2932.json
|
[
"West Bromwich Albion are looking to bolster their midfield this month.\nThe Baggies have been linked with a move for Leicester City’s home-grown talent Hamza Choudhury who has struggled for regular games for the Foxes this season.\nThe 23-year-old midfielder has made only 10 appearances in all competitions and he is looking to move elsewhere in search of regular games.\nAccording to reports from The Mirror (print edition, page 69), West Brom are waiting on a decision from Leicester City to see if they can land the midfielder this month.\nHowever, if they fail to sign him, the Premier League strugglers have a back-up plan in place. The Baggies are confident of signing Choudhury, but they are also keen on other targets.\nThe report from The Mirror claims that West Brom are keen on Celta Vigo midfielder Okay Yokuslu.\nThe 26-year-old can play as a defensive midfielder or as a centre-back. Sam Allardyce is particularly ‘keen’ to have him in the squad if he fails to land Choudhury.\nSL View: Competition from Newcastle\nNewcastle United are looking to make a few loan signings this month, and the Magpies are also in the hunt to sign the Leicester midfielder.\nPopular Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie suggested recently that Steve Bruce wants a central midfielder and he is interested in signing Choudhury on loan.\nDennis Praet has been ruled out for around three months through injury, and Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers could be reluctant to offload Choudhury. In that case, a move for Yokuslu makes a lot of sense.",
"Report: West Brom keen on Okay Yokuslu, alternative for Hamza Choudhury"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-02T18:40:41 | null | 2021-01-02T14:27:50 |
Barcelona are going out of their way to keep Messi from leaving and the latest move suggests another pleasing transfer may be on its way.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Flaporta-plots-a-world-class-signing-to-lure-messi-into-contract-extension%2F324529%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Laporta plots a world-class signing to lure Messi into contract extension
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Barcelona are going out of their way to keep Messi from leaving and the latest move suggests another pleasing transfer may be on its way.
Lionel Messi sent out positive vibes after his latest interview with La Sexta (AS) as he mentioned contentment at Barcelona after the summer debacle. The 33-year-old did not mention concretely about what the future holds for him but he did keep the door open on staying at the club. However, he still remains firm on his stance of wanting a winning project.
Joan Laporta is likely to replace the interim president Carles Tusquets by the end of this season and even before his possible appointment, the 58-year-old is doing everything within his present powers to ensure the club is in a position of peace with immediacy. That said, he now has a plan to keep Messi at the club for longer, Diario GOL says.
He will look to bring in Sergio Aguero from Manchester City. The Argentinian striker is free to negotiate with foreign clubs at present as there remains no clarity as to whether he will continue at the Etihad Stadium. Aguero’s contract does come to an end in June which means he will be a free signing for the Catalan giants.
Aguero coming into the Camp Nou may be enough to convince Messi to stay as they both share a warm personal relationship as well. Recently, La Pulga did specify how Josep Maria Bartomeu separated him from his friends at the club, supposedly pointing out towards the forced sales of Arturo Vidal and Luis Suarez ahead of the season’s start.
From a sporting perspective too, Aguero would be a glorious signing for the striker’s role. Antoine Griezmann and Martin Braithwaite have not lived up to the billing this season, collectively scoring just five times in league play this season. Needless to say, the City marksman has already played in the Spanish top-flight with Atletico Madrid.
|
https://sportslens.com/laporta-plots-a-world-class-signing-to-lure-messi-into-contract-extension/324529/
|
en
| 2021-01-02T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/a0328884c8e50943dd1ba9f1f4361eef346356819fbac601949f5e09b790f314.json
|
[
"Barcelona are going out of their way to keep Messi from leaving and the latest move suggests another pleasing transfer may be on its way.\nLionel Messi sent out positive vibes after his latest interview with La Sexta (AS) as he mentioned contentment at Barcelona after the summer debacle. The 33-year-old did not mention concretely about what the future holds for him but he did keep the door open on staying at the club. However, he still remains firm on his stance of wanting a winning project.\nJoan Laporta is likely to replace the interim president Carles Tusquets by the end of this season and even before his possible appointment, the 58-year-old is doing everything within his present powers to ensure the club is in a position of peace with immediacy. That said, he now has a plan to keep Messi at the club for longer, Diario GOL says.\nHe will look to bring in Sergio Aguero from Manchester City. The Argentinian striker is free to negotiate with foreign clubs at present as there remains no clarity as to whether he will continue at the Etihad Stadium. Aguero’s contract does come to an end in June which means he will be a free signing for the Catalan giants.\nAguero coming into the Camp Nou may be enough to convince Messi to stay as they both share a warm personal relationship as well. Recently, La Pulga did specify how Josep Maria Bartomeu separated him from his friends at the club, supposedly pointing out towards the forced sales of Arturo Vidal and Luis Suarez ahead of the season’s start.\nFrom a sporting perspective too, Aguero would be a glorious signing for the striker’s role. Antoine Griezmann and Martin Braithwaite have not lived up to the billing this season, collectively scoring just five times in league play this season. Needless to say, the City marksman has already played in the Spanish top-flight with Atletico Madrid.",
"Laporta plots a world-class signing to lure Messi into contract extension",
"Barcelona are going out of their way to keep Messi from leaving and the latest move suggests another pleasing transfer may be on its way."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-21T12:48:08 | null | 2021-01-21T09:36:55 |
Liverpool have shown a great deal of interest in signing Marco Asensio of Real Madrid as the Reds are in a dire need of improving their squad depth.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-real-madrid-receive-an-offer-for-their-galactico-winger-from-liverpool%2F328296%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Real Madrid receive an offer for their Galactico winger from Liverpool
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Marco Asensio Real Madrid seems to be living on borrowed time at Real Madrid.
The Spanish winger was once labelled as the most promising talent in the world after his breakthrough season in 2016/17 but has failed to live up to expectations since then.
Asensio started this season on a slow note with just one goal and two assists in La Liga. Madrid are open to the idea of selling their talented winger if he fails to turn his fortunes around by the end of the campaign.
Diario Gol reports that Liverpool have shown a great deal of interest in the 24-year-old winger.
The Reds are willing to offer 40 million Euros for Asensio, a figure that Los Blancos are considering accepting as they plan on conducting a summer overhaul.
SPORTSLENS VIEW – CAN THIS DEAL ACTUALLY GO THROUGH FOR MADRID AND LIVERPOOL?
Madrid are currently planning on generating funds through player sales in an attempt to sign either Kylian Mbappe or Erling Braut Haaland next summer.
An offer worth 40 million Euros for an out-of-form Asensio seems like a perfect opportunity for Madrid to cash in on a player they signed for four million Euros.
From Liverpool’s perspective, the Reds require additional strength on their bench. The signing of Asensio would provide additional depth to Jurgen Klopp’s attacking options.
The 24-year-old can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder. Asensio’s attacking prowess and ability to shoot from a distance makes him a better option than Xherdan Shaqiri or Divock Origi who continue to underperform.
Overall, this potential transfer could benefit both Liverpool and Madrid. The Reds would get a world-class utility player, while Los Blancos would receive a hefty transfer fee that would greatly assist them in their attempt to sign Mbappe or Haaland.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-real-madrid-receive-an-offer-for-their-galactico-winger-from-liverpool/328296/
|
en
| 2021-01-21T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/482d9b3e49d825cae8f285c9e4f7c3d1f811e97dbc7a51cf12523c3ba37f5e94.json
|
[
"Marco Asensio Real Madrid seems to be living on borrowed time at Real Madrid.\nThe Spanish winger was once labelled as the most promising talent in the world after his breakthrough season in 2016/17 but has failed to live up to expectations since then.\nAsensio started this season on a slow note with just one goal and two assists in La Liga. Madrid are open to the idea of selling their talented winger if he fails to turn his fortunes around by the end of the campaign.\nDiario Gol reports that Liverpool have shown a great deal of interest in the 24-year-old winger.\nThe Reds are willing to offer 40 million Euros for Asensio, a figure that Los Blancos are considering accepting as they plan on conducting a summer overhaul.\nSPORTSLENS VIEW – CAN THIS DEAL ACTUALLY GO THROUGH FOR MADRID AND LIVERPOOL?\nMadrid are currently planning on generating funds through player sales in an attempt to sign either Kylian Mbappe or Erling Braut Haaland next summer.\nAn offer worth 40 million Euros for an out-of-form Asensio seems like a perfect opportunity for Madrid to cash in on a player they signed for four million Euros.\nFrom Liverpool’s perspective, the Reds require additional strength on their bench. The signing of Asensio would provide additional depth to Jurgen Klopp’s attacking options.\nThe 24-year-old can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder. Asensio’s attacking prowess and ability to shoot from a distance makes him a better option than Xherdan Shaqiri or Divock Origi who continue to underperform.\nOverall, this potential transfer could benefit both Liverpool and Madrid. The Reds would get a world-class utility player, while Los Blancos would receive a hefty transfer fee that would greatly assist them in their attempt to sign Mbappe or Haaland.",
"Report: Real Madrid receive an offer for their Galactico winger from Liverpool",
"Liverpool have shown a great deal of interest in signing Marco Asensio of Real Madrid as the Reds are in a dire need of improving their squad depth."
] |
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[] | 2021-01-07T11:55:32 | null | 2021-01-07T10:08:37 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fkingsley-coman-reacts-to-links-with-manchester-united%2F325334%2F.json
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en
| null |
Kingsley Coman reacts to links with Manchester United
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman has been linked with a move to Manchester United in the recent months and the winger has now reacted to the links with the Premier League club.
The 24-year-old has been outstanding for the German club this season and he has managed to pick up two goals and seven assists in 10 Bundesliga appearances so far.
It is no surprise that a player of his calibre is being linked to United especially when the Red Devils could use some quality in the wide areas.
United were heavily linked with a move for Jadon Sancho during the summer transfer window but they refused to pay the asking price for the Borussia Dortmund winger.
Coman might be a cheaper alternative but it is highly unlikely that the German side will sanction a move for the Frenchman. He has a big future ahead of him and Bayern could help him develop into a world-class player in future.
The winger has now revealed that he is happy to know that the top teams are interested in signing him and it gives him added confidence. However, he is happy at Bayern and has a contract at the German club until the summer of 2023.
He said (Sport Bild via GGFN): “It is good to know that good teams are interested in me. It gives me additional confidence. But I have a contract here until 2023 and I’m just thinking about Bayern. It’s all good and I’m happy.”
It will be interesting to see if United submit an offer for the winger at the end of this season.
The Red Devils will have to qualify for the Champions League and prove that they have the ambition to win the top honours in order to lure players like Coman.
|
https://sportslens.com/kingsley-coman-reacts-to-links-with-manchester-united/325334/
|
en
| 2021-01-07T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/dee8883eace3951df7d4f9a63ae7e6f14d0bd5eb05642d587dc24f65b5f57f54.json
|
[
"Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman has been linked with a move to Manchester United in the recent months and the winger has now reacted to the links with the Premier League club.\nThe 24-year-old has been outstanding for the German club this season and he has managed to pick up two goals and seven assists in 10 Bundesliga appearances so far.\nIt is no surprise that a player of his calibre is being linked to United especially when the Red Devils could use some quality in the wide areas.\nUnited were heavily linked with a move for Jadon Sancho during the summer transfer window but they refused to pay the asking price for the Borussia Dortmund winger.\nComan might be a cheaper alternative but it is highly unlikely that the German side will sanction a move for the Frenchman. He has a big future ahead of him and Bayern could help him develop into a world-class player in future.\nThe winger has now revealed that he is happy to know that the top teams are interested in signing him and it gives him added confidence. However, he is happy at Bayern and has a contract at the German club until the summer of 2023.\nHe said (Sport Bild via GGFN): “It is good to know that good teams are interested in me. It gives me additional confidence. But I have a contract here until 2023 and I’m just thinking about Bayern. It’s all good and I’m happy.”\nIt will be interesting to see if United submit an offer for the winger at the end of this season.\nThe Red Devils will have to qualify for the Champions League and prove that they have the ambition to win the top honours in order to lure players like Coman.",
"Kingsley Coman reacts to links with Manchester United"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-27T08:02:15 | null | 2021-01-27T07:00:13 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fchristian-benteke-makes-transfer-decision-amid-west-bromwich-albion-interest%2F329597%2F.json
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en
| null |
Christian Benteke makes transfer decision amid West Bromwich Albion interest
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sportslens.com
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Christian Benteke is prepared to see out the final six months of his Crystal Palace contract despite the transfer interest from West Bromwich Albion, Sky Sports News reports.
The Belgian was a regular substitute at the start of the season, but since December, he has been picked to lead the line on a consistent basis.
Benteke has fared well with three goals and one assist in his last eight league games and he appears content to remain with Palace for the season.
It was recently reported that Benteke may make the move to the Baggies with new signing Jean-Philippe Mateta likely to take his place up front.
However, the former Liverpool man appears unphased by the arrival of the 23-year-old and is pleased with his playing time at the moment.
Benteke feels he will have more options to consider, should he become a free-agent in the summer.
SportLens view:
Mateta has yet to make his Premier League debut for Palace and he may take some time to adapt to the style of play under manager Roy Hodgson.
Hence, it seems a worthwhile option for Benteke to stay put, given he has made some valuable contributions over the past eight weeks.
Meanwhile, the move could come as a potential blow for the Baggies, who are in need of reinforcement in the centre-forward department.
The main strikers in Callum Robinson and Karlan Grant (currently injured) have struggled to find the back of the net regularly.
While Robinson has not scored for the Baggies since September, Grant has been equally disappointing and his only goal came against Brighton in October.
Benteke would have proved an upgrade on their current options, but they may now have to look elsewhere to bolster their strikeforce.
The west Midlands outfit are currently 19th in the table with a six-point gap to safety and desperately need a new striker, who can make an instant impact.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
|
https://sportslens.com/christian-benteke-makes-transfer-decision-amid-west-bromwich-albion-interest/329597/
|
en
| 2021-01-27T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/7b2fbbd16e1972735c5dd0ddf5943a757c4847f44e67117ca2afd070dd2b15e5.json
|
[
"Christian Benteke is prepared to see out the final six months of his Crystal Palace contract despite the transfer interest from West Bromwich Albion, Sky Sports News reports.\nThe Belgian was a regular substitute at the start of the season, but since December, he has been picked to lead the line on a consistent basis.\nBenteke has fared well with three goals and one assist in his last eight league games and he appears content to remain with Palace for the season.\nIt was recently reported that Benteke may make the move to the Baggies with new signing Jean-Philippe Mateta likely to take his place up front.\nHowever, the former Liverpool man appears unphased by the arrival of the 23-year-old and is pleased with his playing time at the moment.\nBenteke feels he will have more options to consider, should he become a free-agent in the summer.\nSportLens view:\nMateta has yet to make his Premier League debut for Palace and he may take some time to adapt to the style of play under manager Roy Hodgson.\nHence, it seems a worthwhile option for Benteke to stay put, given he has made some valuable contributions over the past eight weeks.\nMeanwhile, the move could come as a potential blow for the Baggies, who are in need of reinforcement in the centre-forward department.\nThe main strikers in Callum Robinson and Karlan Grant (currently injured) have struggled to find the back of the net regularly.\nWhile Robinson has not scored for the Baggies since September, Grant has been equally disappointing and his only goal came against Brighton in October.\nBenteke would have proved an upgrade on their current options, but they may now have to look elsewhere to bolster their strikeforce.\nThe west Midlands outfit are currently 19th in the table with a six-point gap to safety and desperately need a new striker, who can make an instant impact.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"Christian Benteke makes transfer decision amid West Bromwich Albion interest"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-04T09:11:55 | null | 2021-01-04T05:45:58 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fgary-lineker-raves-about-arsenal-youngster-bukayo-saka%2F324708%2F.json
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en
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Gary Lineker raves about Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka
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sportslens.com
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Arsenal produced arguably their best performance of the season till now after winning 4-0 against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday at the Hawthorns.
Only a few weeks ago, the Gunners were struggling badly and were fighting with teams at the bottom. With Arsenal’s back to the wall, the fightback began and three straight wins have now taken them to 11th in the league.
Goals from Kieran Tierney, Bukayo Saka, and a brace from Alexandre Lacazette secured all three points for the Gunners.
Former great England striker turned popular football pundit Gary Lineker took to social networking site Twitter to express his reaction after the game. He showered heaps of praise on Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, suggesting the duo are playing some ‘devastating football’.
Lineker was particularly impressed with Saka and hailed him as a ‘very exciting’ talent.
Another beautiful goal from @Arsenal. 2 youngsters, Saka and Smith-Rowe playing some devastating football. 👌🏻 — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 2, 2021
Young @BukayoSaka87 seems to be able to play anywhere…and whatever position he’s asked to play, he does so brilliantly. Very exciting talent. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 2, 2021
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder is indeed a promising young talent. The versatile attacker – who also scored against Chelsea – has managed three goals and an assist in the Premier League this season so far.
Saka was simply outstanding against the Baggies. He was a threat throughout the game and rounded off a stunning, slick, one-touch passing move to make it 2-0 before half-time.
Since the start of last season, Saka has been directly involved in 22 goals, the second-most by a teenager currently playing in the Premier League after Mason Greenwood.
Arsenal are growing in confidence and the likes of Saka, Tierney, and Smith Rowe have played a big role in reviving the club’s fortune.
It was a dominant performance from the Gunners. They enjoyed 62% of possession, and registered 21 shots during the game, according to BBC Sport.
|
https://sportslens.com/gary-lineker-raves-about-arsenal-youngster-bukayo-saka/324708/
|
en
| 2021-01-04T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/256c6c44decd6a3be40d28216c5ebec3268cf1c6dffedc32d03736c54129ee7e.json
|
[
"Arsenal produced arguably their best performance of the season till now after winning 4-0 against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday at the Hawthorns.\nOnly a few weeks ago, the Gunners were struggling badly and were fighting with teams at the bottom. With Arsenal’s back to the wall, the fightback began and three straight wins have now taken them to 11th in the league.\nGoals from Kieran Tierney, Bukayo Saka, and a brace from Alexandre Lacazette secured all three points for the Gunners.\nFormer great England striker turned popular football pundit Gary Lineker took to social networking site Twitter to express his reaction after the game. He showered heaps of praise on Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, suggesting the duo are playing some ‘devastating football’.\nLineker was particularly impressed with Saka and hailed him as a ‘very exciting’ talent.\nAnother beautiful goal from @Arsenal. 2 youngsters, Saka and Smith-Rowe playing some devastating football. 👌🏻 — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 2, 2021\nYoung @BukayoSaka87 seems to be able to play anywhere…and whatever position he’s asked to play, he does so brilliantly. Very exciting talent. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 2, 2021\nThe 19-year-old attacking midfielder is indeed a promising young talent. The versatile attacker – who also scored against Chelsea – has managed three goals and an assist in the Premier League this season so far.\nSaka was simply outstanding against the Baggies. He was a threat throughout the game and rounded off a stunning, slick, one-touch passing move to make it 2-0 before half-time.\nSince the start of last season, Saka has been directly involved in 22 goals, the second-most by a teenager currently playing in the Premier League after Mason Greenwood.\nArsenal are growing in confidence and the likes of Saka, Tierney, and Smith Rowe have played a big role in reviving the club’s fortune.\nIt was a dominant performance from the Gunners. They enjoyed 62% of possession, and registered 21 shots during the game, according to BBC Sport.",
"Gary Lineker raves about Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-07T07:14:00 | null | 2021-01-07T06:10:59 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fsebastien-haller-set-to-join-ajax-west-ham-fans-react%2F325332%2F.json
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en
| null |
Sebastien Haller set to join Ajax, West Ham fans react
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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West Ham United striker Sebastien Haller is expected to sign for the Dutch giants Ajax this month.
According to reports via GFFN, the 26-year-old will sign for Ajax for a fee of around €25 million.
West Ham United paid €45 million for the Frenchman back in 2019 but he has failed to live up to the expectations at the London club.
Sebastien Haller has managed to score just ten goals in 44 Premier League games for the Hammers so far.
It seems quite surprising that West Ham United are prepared to weaken their attack midway through the season and it would be fair to assume that they have got a replacement lined up for the Frenchman.
West Ham have been linked with the likes of Joshua King and Graziano Pelle in the last few days.
It will be interesting to see if Sebastien Haller can resurrect his career with the move to Ajax this month. He joined West Ham United with a lot of expectations after scoring 20 goals in his final season with Eintracht Frankfurt.
There is no doubt that the Frenchman has tremendous quality and Ajax might be able to get the best out of him.
The 26-year-old struggled to adapt to the intensity and the pace of the Premier League. Furthermore, the lack of service at West Ham United limited his impact on the game as well.
Here is how some of the West ham united fans have reacted to the news regarding Sebastien Haller’s move to Ajax.
Haller will do absolute bits for Ajax. A team who hold the ball regardless of the opponent and play nice football. Cannot wait for him to bag In the CL for them. — West Ham Transfers (@westhamtransfer) January 6, 2021
Best move for both parties. Still feel there is a player there but perhaps not suited to the physicality of the Premier League and certainly not suited to the system we play. — West Ham News (@WHUFC_News) January 6, 2021
There is a God. I don’t care if he tears it up in Holland – he doesn’t fit in with our system so no point keeping him – plus his lack of effort has annoyed the hell out of me! — Vegasrockstar (@vegasrockstar) January 6, 2021
Honestly, good for him. Good player that doesn’t fit our system and should be playing for a different team — WestHamFan (@westhamfan__) January 6, 2021
|
https://sportslens.com/sebastien-haller-set-to-join-ajax-west-ham-fans-react/325332/
|
en
| 2021-01-07T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/180c9ac15370479ecf71148768ff4f6e25918aac912d6eea1c8924a1aeaedb39.json
|
[
"West Ham United striker Sebastien Haller is expected to sign for the Dutch giants Ajax this month.\nAccording to reports via GFFN, the 26-year-old will sign for Ajax for a fee of around €25 million.\nWest Ham United paid €45 million for the Frenchman back in 2019 but he has failed to live up to the expectations at the London club.\nSebastien Haller has managed to score just ten goals in 44 Premier League games for the Hammers so far.\nIt seems quite surprising that West Ham United are prepared to weaken their attack midway through the season and it would be fair to assume that they have got a replacement lined up for the Frenchman.\nWest Ham have been linked with the likes of Joshua King and Graziano Pelle in the last few days.\nIt will be interesting to see if Sebastien Haller can resurrect his career with the move to Ajax this month. He joined West Ham United with a lot of expectations after scoring 20 goals in his final season with Eintracht Frankfurt.\nThere is no doubt that the Frenchman has tremendous quality and Ajax might be able to get the best out of him.\nThe 26-year-old struggled to adapt to the intensity and the pace of the Premier League. Furthermore, the lack of service at West Ham United limited his impact on the game as well.\nHere is how some of the West ham united fans have reacted to the news regarding Sebastien Haller’s move to Ajax.\nHaller will do absolute bits for Ajax. A team who hold the ball regardless of the opponent and play nice football. Cannot wait for him to bag In the CL for them. — West Ham Transfers (@westhamtransfer) January 6, 2021\nBest move for both parties. Still feel there is a player there but perhaps not suited to the physicality of the Premier League and certainly not suited to the system we play. — West Ham News (@WHUFC_News) January 6, 2021\nThere is a God. I don’t care if he tears it up in Holland – he doesn’t fit in with our system so no point keeping him – plus his lack of effort has annoyed the hell out of me! — Vegasrockstar (@vegasrockstar) January 6, 2021\nHonestly, good for him. Good player that doesn’t fit our system and should be playing for a different team — WestHamFan (@westhamfan__) January 6, 2021",
"Sebastien Haller set to join Ajax, West Ham fans react"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-13T19:54:05 | null | 2021-01-13T17:16:21 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-celtic-and-rangers-keen-on-liverpools-taiwo-awoniyi%2F326710%2F.json
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en
| null |
Report: Celtic and Rangers keen on Liverpool's Taiwo Awoniyi
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to 90min, Rangers and Celtic are leading the chase for Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi as the Scottish Premiership duo look to strengthen their attack for the second half of 2020-21 and beyond.
Sportslens View
The Nigerian forward is currently on loan at Bundesliga side Union Berlin, and his form has attracted some Premier League sides and other suitors.
Awoniyi has five goals and an assist in 13 league games this term, and his form is one of the reasons why Berlin are hopeful of playing European football next season following a brilliant start to the campaign.
Rangers have established themselves as huge favourites to win the Scottish Premiership title this term, with 21 points separating them from second-placed Celtic.
Nevertheless, Light Blues manager Steven Gerrard is keen to bolster his striking options to finish strong, and his links with Liverpool could help him pip the Hoops to Awoniyi’s signature.
The 23-year-old joined the Reds in 2015, but he has not been able to feature for them due to his inability to secure a work permit.
As a result, Awoniyi has spent the last five-and-a-half years on loan at clubs in Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
Liverpool are open to cashing in on the Nigerian, and they value him at around £5 million, and with work permit rules different in Scotland, regular game time in the German top-flight could help him land one.
That process would also be boosted if he becomes a full international, and Rangers and Celtic might have to wait till the summer before having a realistic chance of landing him.
The Ibrox outfit could finally cash in on Alfredo Morelos at the end of the season, while Odsonne Edouard could also be on his way out of Parkhead in the coming months.
The Old Firm duo will need another striker if that happens, and Awoniyi could be their man.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-celtic-and-rangers-keen-on-liverpools-taiwo-awoniyi/326710/
|
en
| 2021-01-13T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/e309cbb06ba8ff5962203c7cda860f28b5dd4de69af91e8d35eef1744f580228.json
|
[
"According to 90min, Rangers and Celtic are leading the chase for Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi as the Scottish Premiership duo look to strengthen their attack for the second half of 2020-21 and beyond.\nSportslens View\nThe Nigerian forward is currently on loan at Bundesliga side Union Berlin, and his form has attracted some Premier League sides and other suitors.\nAwoniyi has five goals and an assist in 13 league games this term, and his form is one of the reasons why Berlin are hopeful of playing European football next season following a brilliant start to the campaign.\nRangers have established themselves as huge favourites to win the Scottish Premiership title this term, with 21 points separating them from second-placed Celtic.\nNevertheless, Light Blues manager Steven Gerrard is keen to bolster his striking options to finish strong, and his links with Liverpool could help him pip the Hoops to Awoniyi’s signature.\nThe 23-year-old joined the Reds in 2015, but he has not been able to feature for them due to his inability to secure a work permit.\nAs a result, Awoniyi has spent the last five-and-a-half years on loan at clubs in Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.\nLiverpool are open to cashing in on the Nigerian, and they value him at around £5 million, and with work permit rules different in Scotland, regular game time in the German top-flight could help him land one.\nThat process would also be boosted if he becomes a full international, and Rangers and Celtic might have to wait till the summer before having a realistic chance of landing him.\nThe Ibrox outfit could finally cash in on Alfredo Morelos at the end of the season, while Odsonne Edouard could also be on his way out of Parkhead in the coming months.\nThe Old Firm duo will need another striker if that happens, and Awoniyi could be their man.",
"Report: Celtic and Rangers keen on Liverpool's Taiwo Awoniyi"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-27T19:18:09 | null | 2021-01-27T16:14:58 |
Everton and Parma are in the final stage of talks with Bayern Munich regarding a loan deal for Joshua Zirkzee, reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano reports.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Feverton-in-final-stage-of-talks-for-bayern-munichs-joshua-zirkzee-fabrizio-romano%2F329794%2F.json
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en
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Everton in final stage of talks for Bayern Munich's Joshua Zirkzee - Fabrizio Romano
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Everton and Parma are in the final stage of talks with Bayern Munich regarding a loan deal for Joshua Zirkzee, reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano reports.
The young striker made his Bayern debut last term and was hugely impressive with four goals and one assist in just 311 minutes of first-team football.
However, he has not been able to carry over the form this season where he has managed only 102 minutes of playing time to date.
Robert Lewandowski has been the undisputed choice to lead the line and when rested, manager Hansi Flick has chosen Serge Gnabry to fill the void.
Owing to this, the 19-year-old has been fancied to move out on loan and Romano has revealed that both Everton and Parma are in the final stage of negotiations with Bayern.
Everton and Parma are still working to sign Joshua Zirkzee. The race is open, talks at final stage with Bayer Münich. Parma are offering Zirkzee the chance to be a regular starter in their XI, #EFC have a different project for him. Work in progress. 🇳🇱 #Zirkzee — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 27, 2021
SportLens view:
Parma have offered the assurance of a regular starting role and that should be a tempting option for Zirkzee, who needs consistent game time for his development.
At Everton, the youngster may only act as the back-up striker to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and he may have to contend with minutes in the final stages of games.
A move to Parma appears more useful for his progress, but the chance of playing under a world-class manager of Carlo Ancelotti’s calibre could lure him to Merseyside.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
|
https://sportslens.com/everton-in-final-stage-of-talks-for-bayern-munichs-joshua-zirkzee-fabrizio-romano/329794/
|
en
| 2021-01-27T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/7117a28a6905a540fb07d0874e9b686a3a4760ab30a9bfc36e8651443a104880.json
|
[
"Everton and Parma are in the final stage of talks with Bayern Munich regarding a loan deal for Joshua Zirkzee, reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano reports.\nThe young striker made his Bayern debut last term and was hugely impressive with four goals and one assist in just 311 minutes of first-team football.\nHowever, he has not been able to carry over the form this season where he has managed only 102 minutes of playing time to date.\nRobert Lewandowski has been the undisputed choice to lead the line and when rested, manager Hansi Flick has chosen Serge Gnabry to fill the void.\nOwing to this, the 19-year-old has been fancied to move out on loan and Romano has revealed that both Everton and Parma are in the final stage of negotiations with Bayern.\nEverton and Parma are still working to sign Joshua Zirkzee. The race is open, talks at final stage with Bayer Münich. Parma are offering Zirkzee the chance to be a regular starter in their XI, #EFC have a different project for him. Work in progress. 🇳🇱 #Zirkzee — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 27, 2021\nSportLens view:\nParma have offered the assurance of a regular starting role and that should be a tempting option for Zirkzee, who needs consistent game time for his development.\nAt Everton, the youngster may only act as the back-up striker to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and he may have to contend with minutes in the final stages of games.\nA move to Parma appears more useful for his progress, but the chance of playing under a world-class manager of Carlo Ancelotti’s calibre could lure him to Merseyside.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"Everton in final stage of talks for Bayern Munich's Joshua Zirkzee - Fabrizio Romano",
"Everton and Parma are in the final stage of talks with Bayern Munich regarding a loan deal for Joshua Zirkzee, reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano reports."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-14T14:10:52 | null | 2021-01-14T13:43:31 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fmarcelo-bielsa-delivers-positive-team-news-update-ahead-of-brighton-clash%2F326836%2F.json
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en
| null |
Marcelo Bielsa delivers positive team news update ahead of Brighton clash
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Leeds United will face Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League clash on Saturday at Elland Road.
The Whites are heading into the fixture on the back of a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Crawley Town in the FA Cup, and they will be looking to bounce back with a positive result.
Bielsa has revealed in the press conference today that Tyler Roberts, Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente are all available for selection.
Kalvin Phillips, however, will miss the match through suspension after picking up five yellow cards. Bielsa has confirmed that apart from Phillips, he has no other major absentees.
Team news ahead of Brighton – Cooper, Llorente and Roberts all available. Bielsa says Phillips is the only player who is missing (one-match ban). #lufc — Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) January 14, 2021
SL View: Massive boost for Bielsa
While Leeds will be missing their inspiration midfielder, Bielsa will be delighted to have the likes of Cooper and Llorente back in the squad.
Cooper played the first 45 minutes in the FA Cup clash on Sunday, and he is expected to start against Graham Potter’s side.
Llorente, the £18m summer signing from Real Sociedad, has played just one game in the Premier League this season, with his career at the Yorkshire club being blighted by injuries so far.
The 27-year-old Spaniard was supposed to play for the Leeds under-23 side against Burnley on Monday, but when the line-up was published, he was missing.
Phil Hay of the Athletic claimed that he has recovered from muscle strain and that his absence was not injury-related or down to fresh injury concerns.
His return to the side will come as a massive boost for the club, especially with Robin Koch still out injured.
Earlier this month, The Mirror claimed that three clubs have approached Leeds to sign Roberts, but Bielsa has made it clear that he doesn’t want to send the young forward out on loan this month.
|
https://sportslens.com/marcelo-bielsa-delivers-positive-team-news-update-ahead-of-brighton-clash/326836/
|
en
| 2021-01-14T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/3e7b7d9e9f4c58e8b04903ae97177724d4d987add04ec79d543199ef4ad2f7b1.json
|
[
"Leeds United will face Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League clash on Saturday at Elland Road.\nThe Whites are heading into the fixture on the back of a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Crawley Town in the FA Cup, and they will be looking to bounce back with a positive result.\nBielsa has revealed in the press conference today that Tyler Roberts, Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente are all available for selection.\nKalvin Phillips, however, will miss the match through suspension after picking up five yellow cards. Bielsa has confirmed that apart from Phillips, he has no other major absentees.\nTeam news ahead of Brighton – Cooper, Llorente and Roberts all available. Bielsa says Phillips is the only player who is missing (one-match ban). #lufc — Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) January 14, 2021\nSL View: Massive boost for Bielsa\nWhile Leeds will be missing their inspiration midfielder, Bielsa will be delighted to have the likes of Cooper and Llorente back in the squad.\nCooper played the first 45 minutes in the FA Cup clash on Sunday, and he is expected to start against Graham Potter’s side.\nLlorente, the £18m summer signing from Real Sociedad, has played just one game in the Premier League this season, with his career at the Yorkshire club being blighted by injuries so far.\nThe 27-year-old Spaniard was supposed to play for the Leeds under-23 side against Burnley on Monday, but when the line-up was published, he was missing.\nPhil Hay of the Athletic claimed that he has recovered from muscle strain and that his absence was not injury-related or down to fresh injury concerns.\nHis return to the side will come as a massive boost for the club, especially with Robin Koch still out injured.\nEarlier this month, The Mirror claimed that three clubs have approached Leeds to sign Roberts, but Bielsa has made it clear that he doesn’t want to send the young forward out on loan this month.",
"Marcelo Bielsa delivers positive team news update ahead of Brighton clash"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-08T10:53:01 | null | 2021-01-08T09:29:11 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-arsenal-not-looking-to-sign-isco-from-real-madrid%2F325641%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Arsenal not looking to sign Isco from Real Madrid
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
It is an open secret that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking to sign a creative attacking midfielder in the January transfer window.
Emile Smith Rowe, who is very highly thought of at the club, has made a big impact in recent games as Arsenal picked up three wins in a row.
However, the 20-year-old is still developing and he is primarily seen as a back-up and competition to a more established attacking midfielder.
In recent weeks, Arsenal have been linked with a host of attacking midfielders, including Real Madrid’s Isco.
The Spaniard joined Real Madrid back in the summer transfer window of 2013.
He is a world-class attacking midfielder who has won two La Liga and four Champions League titles for Los Blancos.
However, he has struggled for regular games this season.
The 28-year-old has dropped down the pecking order at the club under Zinedine Zidane and he could be allowed to leave this month.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Arteta is not inclined to pursue him as a transfer target.
With Mesut Ozil’s future up in the air, Isco could have been a fantastic replacement but it seems the Gunners are not interested in signing him.
The club’s finances have been heavily impacted by the coronavirus crisis, and Isco is probably too expensive for them. Also, there is a feeling that Isco is past his prime, and may fail to recapture his best form.
Arsenal are also interested in signing Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City, while Christian Eriksen is another target for them.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-arsenal-not-looking-to-sign-isco-from-real-madrid/325641/
|
en
| 2021-01-08T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/6d4c60ba519510bf966f018cdd9cc651e101a29f6a1da794d864c29b1cbf4229.json
|
[
"It is an open secret that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking to sign a creative attacking midfielder in the January transfer window.\nEmile Smith Rowe, who is very highly thought of at the club, has made a big impact in recent games as Arsenal picked up three wins in a row.\nHowever, the 20-year-old is still developing and he is primarily seen as a back-up and competition to a more established attacking midfielder.\nIn recent weeks, Arsenal have been linked with a host of attacking midfielders, including Real Madrid’s Isco.\nThe Spaniard joined Real Madrid back in the summer transfer window of 2013.\nHe is a world-class attacking midfielder who has won two La Liga and four Champions League titles for Los Blancos.\nHowever, he has struggled for regular games this season.\nThe 28-year-old has dropped down the pecking order at the club under Zinedine Zidane and he could be allowed to leave this month.\nAccording to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Arteta is not inclined to pursue him as a transfer target.\nWith Mesut Ozil’s future up in the air, Isco could have been a fantastic replacement but it seems the Gunners are not interested in signing him.\nThe club’s finances have been heavily impacted by the coronavirus crisis, and Isco is probably too expensive for them. Also, there is a feeling that Isco is past his prime, and may fail to recapture his best form.\nArsenal are also interested in signing Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City, while Christian Eriksen is another target for them.",
"Report: Arsenal not looking to sign Isco from Real Madrid"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-11T09:34:09 | null | 2021-01-11T07:28:12 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Frangers-striker-alfredo-morelos-has-impressed-steven-gerrard-in-ibrox-training%2F326067%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos has impressed Steven Gerrard in Ibrox training
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has said that Alfredo Morelos has really impressed him in training after the Ibrox club won 2-1 against Anderdeen on Sunday.
The 24-year-old, whose future looked away from Ibrox during the summer, has managed 10 goals this season in all competitions.
The Colombian striker scored on either half as Rangers move 22 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
The Gers have now made it 15 league wins in a row as they bid to win their first top-flight title since 2011, and the Rangers boss has hailed him as ‘outstanding’ after his performance yesterday.
It was indeed a man-of-the-match display from the Colombian, and Gerrard was full of praise for him. He has challenged the striker to keep firing from now until the end of the season.
What has really impressed Gerrard is that Morelos has been training really well and that he is really working hard.
“He is training well and I think today’s performance has come on the back of him working really hard,” said Gerrard as quoted by the Scottish Sun.
“We need him firing from now until the end of the season and if we do it will certainly be a huge help to us.
“When you are lacking a bit of confidence and the goals are not coming you sometimes to further away from the goal as a striker instead of going the other way.
“Credit to him. Outstanding and deserves his man of the match.”
SL View: Morelos form key to success
Morelos has been arguably one of the best strikers in the Scottish league. Over the past two seasons, he has scored the bulk of goals for Rangers, and the club were over-reliant on him for goals.
However, following the arrival of Kemar Roofe, such a dependency factor has been reduced. However, Morelos still remains a key player for the Gers, and his scoring form would be vital as Rangers would be looking to prevent Celtic from winning 10 league titles in a row.
In recent transfer windows, Morelos was heavily linked with a move away from Ibrox, but with most clubs in Europe struggling financially due to the pandemic, it is highly unlikely that anyone would be interested to pay a high transfer fee to sign the striker.
|
https://sportslens.com/rangers-striker-alfredo-morelos-has-impressed-steven-gerrard-in-ibrox-training/326067/
|
en
| 2021-01-11T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/721abcee9287ca578d5bae309469178e78781caee8c8b3b660aec1ef1786e09d.json
|
[
"Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has said that Alfredo Morelos has really impressed him in training after the Ibrox club won 2-1 against Anderdeen on Sunday.\nThe 24-year-old, whose future looked away from Ibrox during the summer, has managed 10 goals this season in all competitions.\nThe Colombian striker scored on either half as Rangers move 22 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.\nThe Gers have now made it 15 league wins in a row as they bid to win their first top-flight title since 2011, and the Rangers boss has hailed him as ‘outstanding’ after his performance yesterday.\nIt was indeed a man-of-the-match display from the Colombian, and Gerrard was full of praise for him. He has challenged the striker to keep firing from now until the end of the season.\nWhat has really impressed Gerrard is that Morelos has been training really well and that he is really working hard.\n“He is training well and I think today’s performance has come on the back of him working really hard,” said Gerrard as quoted by the Scottish Sun.\n“We need him firing from now until the end of the season and if we do it will certainly be a huge help to us.\n“When you are lacking a bit of confidence and the goals are not coming you sometimes to further away from the goal as a striker instead of going the other way.\n“Credit to him. Outstanding and deserves his man of the match.”\nSL View: Morelos form key to success\nMorelos has been arguably one of the best strikers in the Scottish league. Over the past two seasons, he has scored the bulk of goals for Rangers, and the club were over-reliant on him for goals.\nHowever, following the arrival of Kemar Roofe, such a dependency factor has been reduced. However, Morelos still remains a key player for the Gers, and his scoring form would be vital as Rangers would be looking to prevent Celtic from winning 10 league titles in a row.\nIn recent transfer windows, Morelos was heavily linked with a move away from Ibrox, but with most clubs in Europe struggling financially due to the pandemic, it is highly unlikely that anyone would be interested to pay a high transfer fee to sign the striker.",
"Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos has impressed Steven Gerrard in Ibrox training"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-16T15:29:22 | null | 2021-01-16T10:54:30 |
With the MSN trio on the verge of a permanent disembling, Joan Laporta wants to pull a rabbit out of the hat with a quick replacement.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fbarcelona-plot-next-msn-style-trio-without-lionel-messi-in-it%2F327248%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Barcelona plot next MSN type of trio without Lionel Messi in it
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
With the MSN trio on the verge of a permanent break-up, Joan Laporta wants to pull a rabbit out of the hat with a quick replacement.
Barcelona housed one of the world’s greatest attacking trios ever – the MSN. With Luis Suarez and Neymar now departed, Lionel Messi remains the final one of the trident.
The Argentine’s departure appears to be imminent. According to Diario GOL, Joan Laporta is not wasting any time and has made plans for his successor.
The 58-year-old is the favourite to win the club’s presidential elections. He already has two players of similar profiles in the squad.
Ansu Fati and Pedri are the players in question, and they have made massive strides in recent times.
Fati, 18, is already breaking records whereas Pedri is also showing signs of maturity in his first season.
While Fati is thought to be matching Messi’s profile of being all-round and artistic with the ball, Pedri is seen as someone who can be Neymar-like with his vision and finesse.
In order to bring in a goalscorer like Suarez, Laporta hopes to rope in Borussia Dortmund youngster Youssoufa Moukoko.
Sportslens view
Fati and Pedri are undoubtedly the club’s future but bringing in someone like Moukoko who is yet to have an impact at senior level is a risky move.
Barca have wasted millions on the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho over the last few years and ill-afford any more mistakes.
Erling Braut Haaland would be a terrific signing to replace Suarez. The Norwegian has proved himself in the Champions League and has maintained consistency for two seasons.
Laporta’s agenda already involves the signing of Haaland, and he would be well-advised to pursue the world’s most promising marksman.
|
https://sportslens.com/barcelona-plot-next-msn-style-trio-without-lionel-messi-in-it/327248/
|
en
| 2021-01-16T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/f2d2fd7216ad0b01644e851722798fce36cfa60c961c5259918eb1bd987d7104.json
|
[
"With the MSN trio on the verge of a permanent break-up, Joan Laporta wants to pull a rabbit out of the hat with a quick replacement.\nBarcelona housed one of the world’s greatest attacking trios ever – the MSN. With Luis Suarez and Neymar now departed, Lionel Messi remains the final one of the trident.\nThe Argentine’s departure appears to be imminent. According to Diario GOL, Joan Laporta is not wasting any time and has made plans for his successor.\nThe 58-year-old is the favourite to win the club’s presidential elections. He already has two players of similar profiles in the squad.\nAnsu Fati and Pedri are the players in question, and they have made massive strides in recent times.\nFati, 18, is already breaking records whereas Pedri is also showing signs of maturity in his first season.\nWhile Fati is thought to be matching Messi’s profile of being all-round and artistic with the ball, Pedri is seen as someone who can be Neymar-like with his vision and finesse.\nIn order to bring in a goalscorer like Suarez, Laporta hopes to rope in Borussia Dortmund youngster Youssoufa Moukoko.\nSportslens view\nFati and Pedri are undoubtedly the club’s future but bringing in someone like Moukoko who is yet to have an impact at senior level is a risky move.\nBarca have wasted millions on the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho over the last few years and ill-afford any more mistakes.\nErling Braut Haaland would be a terrific signing to replace Suarez. The Norwegian has proved himself in the Champions League and has maintained consistency for two seasons.\nLaporta’s agenda already involves the signing of Haaland, and he would be well-advised to pursue the world’s most promising marksman.",
"Barcelona plot next MSN type of trio without Lionel Messi in it",
"With the MSN trio on the verge of a permanent disembling, Joan Laporta wants to pull a rabbit out of the hat with a quick replacement."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-01T10:17:05 | null | 2021-01-01T06:43:23 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Feurope-top-scorers-2020%2F324199%2F.json
|
en
| null |
The Top Scorers in Europe’s Big Five Leagues in 2020
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
It has been another superb year in football, with the sport once again providing fans across Europe with plenty of excitement.
That has certainly been the case where the top leagues are concerned, as the game’s top forwards have been hitting the back of the net with frightening regularity.
Five players have scored more than 30 goals during the calendar year, while three of them have averaged over a goal per game.
We take a look at the top 10 goalscorers in Europe’s big five leagues since January (statistics include league, national cups, Champions League and Europa League.
1. Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich
The Bayern Munich star enjoyed a stellar 2020, smashing 45 goals in 39 appearances on his way to winning the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award.
Lewandowksi’s efforts helped Bayern clinch the treble, and the club is well on its way to repeating the trick in 2021.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – Juventus
Despite approaching his 36th birthday, Ronaldo remains one of the most prolific goalscorers in world football.
The Juventus star bagged 41 goals in 39 appearances this year and is averaging over a goal per game during the current campaign.
3. Romelu Lukaku – Inter Milan
Lukaku has proved his doubters wrong in Italy, notching 35 goals in 47 appearances to help Inter re-emerge as a force in European football.
His tally includes 11 goals in 13 appearances this season to fire Inter just one point behind AC Milan at the top of Serie A.
4. Ciro Immobile – Lazio
Immobile ended 2020 with 34 goals in 39 appearances and with a last 16 tie against Bayern in the Champions League to look forward to.
He finished last season as the top scorer in Serie A with 36 goals and is in the running to match the feat this time around.
5. Erling Braut Haaland – Borussia Dortmund
Haaland’s 33 goals in 32 appearances for Dortmund have cemented his status as the most promising young forward in Europe.
The 20-year-old is averaging over a goal per game this season, and there is likely to be a mad scramble to secure his services next summer.
6. Kylian Mbappe – Paris Saint-Germain
Mbappe has been widely tipped to be the natural successor to Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, making his goal tally of 26 in 36 appearances slightly disappointing.
Despite this, the 22-year-old is another player who could be the subject of plenty transfer speculation during 2021.
7=. Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United
The Portuguese star has made a massive impact since joining United from Sporting Lisbon, scoring 26 goals in 45 appearances for the club.
His efforts this season have helped the Red Devils establish themselves as serious contenders to wrestle the Premier League title off Liverpool.
7=. Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
Salah continues to be Liverpool’s main attacking threat, having scored 26 goals in 45 appearances over the last 12 months.
He helped the Reds win the Premier League for the first time in their history last season and will be eager to grab another winner’s medal this term.
9. Lionel Messi – Barcelona
Messi hasn’t quite been at his brilliant best during 2020, but he has still ended the year with 26 goals in 44 appearances for Barca.
A move to Manchester City could be on the cards next summer, and it would undoubtedly be fantastic to see the Argentinian in the Premier League.
10. Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur
The England star missed the early part of the year through injury, before returning to score 23 goals in 33 appearances for Spurs.
Kane has linked up with Son Heung-min to great effect this season to spark talk that the club could end its long wait for silverware.
|
https://sportslens.com/europe-top-scorers-2020/324199/
|
en
| 2021-01-01T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/bd8009697ec4f51fa34868878e0fcdadd737c6c1ce4085837345ac3d25a973dd.json
|
[
"It has been another superb year in football, with the sport once again providing fans across Europe with plenty of excitement.\nThat has certainly been the case where the top leagues are concerned, as the game’s top forwards have been hitting the back of the net with frightening regularity.\nFive players have scored more than 30 goals during the calendar year, while three of them have averaged over a goal per game.\nWe take a look at the top 10 goalscorers in Europe’s big five leagues since January (statistics include league, national cups, Champions League and Europa League.\n1. Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich\nThe Bayern Munich star enjoyed a stellar 2020, smashing 45 goals in 39 appearances on his way to winning the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award.\nLewandowksi’s efforts helped Bayern clinch the treble, and the club is well on its way to repeating the trick in 2021.\n2. Cristiano Ronaldo – Juventus\nDespite approaching his 36th birthday, Ronaldo remains one of the most prolific goalscorers in world football.\nThe Juventus star bagged 41 goals in 39 appearances this year and is averaging over a goal per game during the current campaign.\n3. Romelu Lukaku – Inter Milan\nLukaku has proved his doubters wrong in Italy, notching 35 goals in 47 appearances to help Inter re-emerge as a force in European football.\nHis tally includes 11 goals in 13 appearances this season to fire Inter just one point behind AC Milan at the top of Serie A.\n4. Ciro Immobile – Lazio\nImmobile ended 2020 with 34 goals in 39 appearances and with a last 16 tie against Bayern in the Champions League to look forward to.\nHe finished last season as the top scorer in Serie A with 36 goals and is in the running to match the feat this time around.\n5. Erling Braut Haaland – Borussia Dortmund\nHaaland’s 33 goals in 32 appearances for Dortmund have cemented his status as the most promising young forward in Europe.\nThe 20-year-old is averaging over a goal per game this season, and there is likely to be a mad scramble to secure his services next summer.\n6. Kylian Mbappe – Paris Saint-Germain\nMbappe has been widely tipped to be the natural successor to Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, making his goal tally of 26 in 36 appearances slightly disappointing.\nDespite this, the 22-year-old is another player who could be the subject of plenty transfer speculation during 2021.\n7=. Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United\nThe Portuguese star has made a massive impact since joining United from Sporting Lisbon, scoring 26 goals in 45 appearances for the club.\nHis efforts this season have helped the Red Devils establish themselves as serious contenders to wrestle the Premier League title off Liverpool.\n7=. Mohamed Salah – Liverpool\nSalah continues to be Liverpool’s main attacking threat, having scored 26 goals in 45 appearances over the last 12 months.\nHe helped the Reds win the Premier League for the first time in their history last season and will be eager to grab another winner’s medal this term.\n9. Lionel Messi – Barcelona\nMessi hasn’t quite been at his brilliant best during 2020, but he has still ended the year with 26 goals in 44 appearances for Barca.\nA move to Manchester City could be on the cards next summer, and it would undoubtedly be fantastic to see the Argentinian in the Premier League.\n10. Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur\nThe England star missed the early part of the year through injury, before returning to score 23 goals in 33 appearances for Spurs.\nKane has linked up with Son Heung-min to great effect this season to spark talk that the club could end its long wait for silverware.",
"The Top Scorers in Europe’s Big Five Leagues in 2020"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-02T07:38:31 | null | 2021-01-02T05:17:28 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fthe-dark-art-of-diving-and-var%2F324147%2F.json
|
en
| null |
The Dark Art of Diving and VAR
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
The diving side of the box is a pathway to many penalties some consider to be unnatural
While Darth Neydious might not have actually said that, it’s hard to refute the fact that diving is a crucial part of the modern game. Matches can be won or lost by dives (as was proven by Paul Pogba’s recent self-trip against Aston Villa), and no matter how many times the purists try to speak of the ‘spirit of the beautiful game’, they won’t be able to change that fact.
Under Law 12 of the FA’s Laws of the Game, it is stated that a player should be cautioned for ‘unsporting behaviour’. Unsporting behaviour includes ‘attempts to deceive the referee e.g. by feigning injury or pretending to have been fouled (simulation)’. Further, prior to the 2017/18 season, players could retrospectively be banned for ‘successful deception of a match official’, as the likes of Oumar Niasse, Manuel Lanzini and many others found out.
The second part went out of the window following the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the 2019/20 season, as players could no longer deceive match officials, who had video footage readily available to aid their decision-making, or at least that was the plan. In the 2010s, an average of 25 bookings for simulation were handed out every season, but that number has dropped significantly post-VAR. Since March 8, 2020, only two such yellow cards have been brandished after over 200 matches of the Premier League.
This could mean one of two things – the presence of VAR has deterred players from diving to an extent that has nearly eradicated the offence, or referees are refraining from punishing divers, leaving such contentious calls to VAR. It’s hard to imagine the former since terms such as ‘diving fraud’ are still very regularly used on Twitter
I don’t but he’s levels above that diving fraud you rep — Jndrs (@Jndrs3) December 28, 2020
Neto is clear of your diving fraud — George (@GeorgeWolves10) December 28, 2020
While the Bird app is prone to a lot of exaggeration, there is no refuting the fact that simulation continues to exist as a problem in modern football, although it does seem to have changed its shape post-VAR.
Back in the old days, players could quite literally kick the ground, take a tumble, and win a penalty. Take a look at this disgraceful piece of simulation from Jordi Alba, for example.
VAR may be much-maligned for many other things, but you have to concede that it has eliminated such terrible simulation altogether. There is no way anyone in the right mind would try to pull off anything remotely similar to that on a pitch where VAR’s cameras are menacingly monitoring your every step.
However, this is not to say that the entire concept of diving is extinct. Now, we have a different sort of simulation – a form which can even deceive an infinite number of cameras.
Here is an example of that new form of diving, which involves milking minimal contact. In the above image, Angelo Ogbonna’s left foot has ever-so-slightly nudged Mohamed Salah’s right heel, and the contact is undoubtedly not enough to cause the Egyptian to go down.
Here’s more proof of that – Salah quite literally places his right foot flat on the ground and lifts his other foot. Evidently, that contact was not enough to disrupt his balance, and the Liverpool forward could surely keep hold of the ball if he wanted to.
But, instead, he uses all of his strength to catapult himself to the floor, making the slightest of touches seem like an ankle-breaking challenge. The referee, Kevin Friend, was not in the best position, so he was deceived by Salah’s actions, and this is where VAR is supposed to come in. Now, anyone with two ounces of common sense would see that Salah was able to plant his foot after receiving that slight nudge from Ogbonna, meaning that his balance was not disrupted and that the West Ham defender had not committed a foul. However, VAR’s very special objective is to only intervene when there is a ‘clear and obvious error’, and that minimal contact is enough to sell the dive, especially when the footage is replayed in slow-motion.
So, Salah got away with a penalty for an irrefutable dive, deceiving both the referee on the pitch and the VAR official, while also avoiding any retrospective action.
If this was a one-off, it might have been overlooked, but sadly, it was not.
The second example we’ll be looking at went against Liverpool, as an equal clash of nothing more than toes between Andy Robertson and Danny Welbeck caused the latter to go down.
Yet again, Welbeck didn’t lose his balance and was able to plant his foot firmly on the ground while taking the other off it, but he saw that the ball had gone far away from him.
His desperation to win a penalty led him to go down in a heap after taking two more steps, but the referee bought it once again. The minimal contact meant that VAR had no grounds to overturn the decision despite the fact that Welbeck was able to take three steps without any issues after suffering that massive amount of contact.
In both cases, the referee was deceived, and in both cases, VAR failed to overturn the decision. So, the problem lies in one of the two areas – the referee’s decision-making or VAR. There is no question that match officials make mistakes, in fact, that fact is the very basis to justify the use of VAR, so the problem clearly lies in the latter.
However, VAR has worked perfectly fine in almost all other countries it has been used. Think about it, when was the last time you heard of massive uproar against VAR in the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, or even in UEFA competitions. Perhaps, the problem lies not in VAR, but in the implementation of it in England.
For example, here are the VAR rules applied in Germany, as stated on the official Bundesliga website:
There are four clear cases in which a VAR can review incidents via TV replays.
Goals
Was a goal wrongly ruled out for offside or given when a player was offside? Was a foul committed or some other rule breached in the scoring of a goal?
Red cards
Is the sending-off justified? Has any unsporting conduct occurred behind the referee’s back or off the ball?
Penalty
Is the decision to award the spot-kick correct? Should one have been given for a foul not spotted by the match referee?
Yellow/red cards
Is there a case of mistaken identity?
Who has the final say? The VAR can only give their opinion. The match referee has three options when they hear what their colleague has to say: leave their decision unchanged; accept the VAR’s suggestion regarding a decision; watch the incident again themselves via a TV screen inside the stadium.
In contrast, here are the VAR Rules applied in the Premier League, as stated on its official website.
The 2019/20 Premier League season was the first to feature the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after the clubs voted unanimously in November 2018 to introduce the system.
All 380 Premier League fixtures in a season will have a VAR, who is constantly monitoring the match but will be used only for “clear and obvious errors” or “serious missed incidents” in four match-changing situations:
Goals
Penalty decisions
Direct red card incidents
Mistaken identity
The final decision will always be taken by the on-field referee.
VAR will not achieve 100 per cent accuracy, but will positively influence decision-making and lead to more correct, and fairer, judgments.
In the Premier League, there will be a high bar for VAR intervention on subjective decisions to maintain the pace and intensity of the matches.
Factual decisions, such as offside or if a foul was committed inside or outside the penalty area, will not be subject to the “clear and obvious error” test.
Spot the difference? “Clear and obvious error”
The Video Assistant Referee, as the title suggests, is supposed to assist the referee in making the right decision, but not go about making decisions for him. The “clear and obvious error” rule means that Premier League referees never get to have a second look at contentious calls where multiple angles would help. Instead, their decisions are only scrutinised when they are quite blatantly wrong, and this means that cases such as the ones discussed above are invisible to VAR’s radar.
Here’s another example of a case which would have been reviewed in a place like Germany, but it wasn’t in the Premier League:
In the match between Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion, the referee awarded a penalty to the Eagles for this perceived pull by Tariq Lamptey on Jeffrey Schlupp. The referee must have been convinced by that arm on the should, which certainly is a mistake on Lamptey’s part, but it’s not a foul, as other angles clearly showed.
This angle from across the pitch showed that it was Schlupp who backed into Lamptey and then threw himself to the ground, as is proved by the fact that he had both feet in the air before hitting the grass:
This clearly indicates that Schlupp forced himself down and was not disturbed by Lamptey’s hand. If he was actually pulled down, he would have quite simply fallen back and not jumped with both feet in the air. However. for VAR, this was not a “clear and obvious error” due to the hand on the shoulder, so the referee didn’t get a chance to review it. If we didn’t have the clear and obvious error rule, there is a good chance that the referee would have come to the pitchside monitor, seen this second angle and perhaps changed his mind.
The issue certainly lies in the “clear and obvious error” bit, because that is the only difference between VAR in England and elsewhere, and as aforementioned, nobody else seems to be having such a big problem. This season, the FA tried to make things better by finally introducing the pitchside monitor, but it hasn’t worked – referees have stuck to their onfield decision after taking a look at the footage themselves only twice so far this season, which is too low to be right.
It’s easy to blame VAR for ‘ruining the game’, but it’s surprising how almost nobody has noticed that the game has only been ruined in England, not anywhere else. As is the case with almost any other piece of technology, the problem lies not in VAR, but in its implementation.
As far as diving is concerned, no amount of technology will be able to eradicate that dark phenomenon from the beautiful game. While we can certainly reduce the number of occasions when a dive goes unpunished, it is ultimately up to the players to stop trying it, and until simulation continues to offer rewards such as cheap penalties, it’s impossible to imagine every single footballer refraining from trying to buy some free spot-kicks.
|
https://sportslens.com/the-dark-art-of-diving-and-var/324147/
|
en
| 2021-01-02T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/ac0bf4cdce202acc3842b70b0475faff770781d496c7076bfa8e60ab16b26cb9.json
|
[
"The diving side of the box is a pathway to many penalties some consider to be unnatural\nWhile Darth Neydious might not have actually said that, it’s hard to refute the fact that diving is a crucial part of the modern game. Matches can be won or lost by dives (as was proven by Paul Pogba’s recent self-trip against Aston Villa), and no matter how many times the purists try to speak of the ‘spirit of the beautiful game’, they won’t be able to change that fact.\nUnder Law 12 of the FA’s Laws of the Game, it is stated that a player should be cautioned for ‘unsporting behaviour’. Unsporting behaviour includes ‘attempts to deceive the referee e.g. by feigning injury or pretending to have been fouled (simulation)’. Further, prior to the 2017/18 season, players could retrospectively be banned for ‘successful deception of a match official’, as the likes of Oumar Niasse, Manuel Lanzini and many others found out.\nThe second part went out of the window following the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the 2019/20 season, as players could no longer deceive match officials, who had video footage readily available to aid their decision-making, or at least that was the plan. In the 2010s, an average of 25 bookings for simulation were handed out every season, but that number has dropped significantly post-VAR. Since March 8, 2020, only two such yellow cards have been brandished after over 200 matches of the Premier League.\nThis could mean one of two things – the presence of VAR has deterred players from diving to an extent that has nearly eradicated the offence, or referees are refraining from punishing divers, leaving such contentious calls to VAR. It’s hard to imagine the former since terms such as ‘diving fraud’ are still very regularly used on Twitter\nI don’t but he’s levels above that diving fraud you rep — Jndrs (@Jndrs3) December 28, 2020\nNeto is clear of your diving fraud — George (@GeorgeWolves10) December 28, 2020\nWhile the Bird app is prone to a lot of exaggeration, there is no refuting the fact that simulation continues to exist as a problem in modern football, although it does seem to have changed its shape post-VAR.\nBack in the old days, players could quite literally kick the ground, take a tumble, and win a penalty. Take a look at this disgraceful piece of simulation from Jordi Alba, for example.\nVAR may be much-maligned for many other things, but you have to concede that it has eliminated such terrible simulation altogether. There is no way anyone in the right mind would try to pull off anything remotely similar to that on a pitch where VAR’s cameras are menacingly monitoring your every step.\nHowever, this is not to say that the entire concept of diving is extinct. Now, we have a different sort of simulation – a form which can even deceive an infinite number of cameras.\nHere is an example of that new form of diving, which involves milking minimal contact. In the above image, Angelo Ogbonna’s left foot has ever-so-slightly nudged Mohamed Salah’s right heel, and the contact is undoubtedly not enough to cause the Egyptian to go down.\nHere’s more proof of that – Salah quite literally places his right foot flat on the ground and lifts his other foot. Evidently, that contact was not enough to disrupt his balance, and the Liverpool forward could surely keep hold of the ball if he wanted to.\nBut, instead, he uses all of his strength to catapult himself to the floor, making the slightest of touches seem like an ankle-breaking challenge. The referee, Kevin Friend, was not in the best position, so he was deceived by Salah’s actions, and this is where VAR is supposed to come in. Now, anyone with two ounces of common sense would see that Salah was able to plant his foot after receiving that slight nudge from Ogbonna, meaning that his balance was not disrupted and that the West Ham defender had not committed a foul. However, VAR’s very special objective is to only intervene when there is a ‘clear and obvious error’, and that minimal contact is enough to sell the dive, especially when the footage is replayed in slow-motion.\nSo, Salah got away with a penalty for an irrefutable dive, deceiving both the referee on the pitch and the VAR official, while also avoiding any retrospective action.\nIf this was a one-off, it might have been overlooked, but sadly, it was not.\nThe second example we’ll be looking at went against Liverpool, as an equal clash of nothing more than toes between Andy Robertson and Danny Welbeck caused the latter to go down.\nYet again, Welbeck didn’t lose his balance and was able to plant his foot firmly on the ground while taking the other off it, but he saw that the ball had gone far away from him.\nHis desperation to win a penalty led him to go down in a heap after taking two more steps, but the referee bought it once again. The minimal contact meant that VAR had no grounds to overturn the decision despite the fact that Welbeck was able to take three steps without any issues after suffering that massive amount of contact.\nIn both cases, the referee was deceived, and in both cases, VAR failed to overturn the decision. So, the problem lies in one of the two areas – the referee’s decision-making or VAR. There is no question that match officials make mistakes, in fact, that fact is the very basis to justify the use of VAR, so the problem clearly lies in the latter.\nHowever, VAR has worked perfectly fine in almost all other countries it has been used. Think about it, when was the last time you heard of massive uproar against VAR in the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, or even in UEFA competitions. Perhaps, the problem lies not in VAR, but in the implementation of it in England.\nFor example, here are the VAR rules applied in Germany, as stated on the official Bundesliga website:\nThere are four clear cases in which a VAR can review incidents via TV replays.\nGoals\nWas a goal wrongly ruled out for offside or given when a player was offside? Was a foul committed or some other rule breached in the scoring of a goal?\nRed cards\nIs the sending-off justified? Has any unsporting conduct occurred behind the referee’s back or off the ball?\nPenalty\nIs the decision to award the spot-kick correct? Should one have been given for a foul not spotted by the match referee?\nYellow/red cards\nIs there a case of mistaken identity?\nWho has the final say? The VAR can only give their opinion. The match referee has three options when they hear what their colleague has to say: leave their decision unchanged; accept the VAR’s suggestion regarding a decision; watch the incident again themselves via a TV screen inside the stadium.\nIn contrast, here are the VAR Rules applied in the Premier League, as stated on its official website.\nThe 2019/20 Premier League season was the first to feature the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after the clubs voted unanimously in November 2018 to introduce the system.\nAll 380 Premier League fixtures in a season will have a VAR, who is constantly monitoring the match but will be used only for “clear and obvious errors” or “serious missed incidents” in four match-changing situations:\nGoals\nPenalty decisions\nDirect red card incidents\nMistaken identity\nThe final decision will always be taken by the on-field referee.\nVAR will not achieve 100 per cent accuracy, but will positively influence decision-making and lead to more correct, and fairer, judgments.\nIn the Premier League, there will be a high bar for VAR intervention on subjective decisions to maintain the pace and intensity of the matches.\nFactual decisions, such as offside or if a foul was committed inside or outside the penalty area, will not be subject to the “clear and obvious error” test.\nSpot the difference? “Clear and obvious error”\nThe Video Assistant Referee, as the title suggests, is supposed to assist the referee in making the right decision, but not go about making decisions for him. The “clear and obvious error” rule means that Premier League referees never get to have a second look at contentious calls where multiple angles would help. Instead, their decisions are only scrutinised when they are quite blatantly wrong, and this means that cases such as the ones discussed above are invisible to VAR’s radar.\nHere’s another example of a case which would have been reviewed in a place like Germany, but it wasn’t in the Premier League:\nIn the match between Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion, the referee awarded a penalty to the Eagles for this perceived pull by Tariq Lamptey on Jeffrey Schlupp. The referee must have been convinced by that arm on the should, which certainly is a mistake on Lamptey’s part, but it’s not a foul, as other angles clearly showed.\nThis angle from across the pitch showed that it was Schlupp who backed into Lamptey and then threw himself to the ground, as is proved by the fact that he had both feet in the air before hitting the grass:\nThis clearly indicates that Schlupp forced himself down and was not disturbed by Lamptey’s hand. If he was actually pulled down, he would have quite simply fallen back and not jumped with both feet in the air. However. for VAR, this was not a “clear and obvious error” due to the hand on the shoulder, so the referee didn’t get a chance to review it. If we didn’t have the clear and obvious error rule, there is a good chance that the referee would have come to the pitchside monitor, seen this second angle and perhaps changed his mind.\nThe issue certainly lies in the “clear and obvious error” bit, because that is the only difference between VAR in England and elsewhere, and as aforementioned, nobody else seems to be having such a big problem. This season, the FA tried to make things better by finally introducing the pitchside monitor, but it hasn’t worked – referees have stuck to their onfield decision after taking a look at the footage themselves only twice so far this season, which is too low to be right.\nIt’s easy to blame VAR for ‘ruining the game’, but it’s surprising how almost nobody has noticed that the game has only been ruined in England, not anywhere else. As is the case with almost any other piece of technology, the problem lies not in VAR, but in its implementation.\nAs far as diving is concerned, no amount of technology will be able to eradicate that dark phenomenon from the beautiful game. While we can certainly reduce the number of occasions when a dive goes unpunished, it is ultimately up to the players to stop trying it, and until simulation continues to offer rewards such as cheap penalties, it’s impossible to imagine every single footballer refraining from trying to buy some free spot-kicks.",
"The Dark Art of Diving and VAR"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-15T11:01:15 | null | 2021-01-15T10:34:08 |
Brighton and Hove Albion are set to tie down young full-back Tariq Lamptey to a long-term contract, hoping to ward off interest from Bayern Munich.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Ftariq-lamptey-set-to-sign-new-contract-amid-bayern-munich-interest%2F327085%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Tariq Lamptey set to sign new contract amid Bayern Munich interest
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Brighton and Hove Albion right-back Tariq Lamptey is set to sign a new contract at the club, as reported by TalkSPORT.
The young Englishman joined Brighton from Chelsea last January for an estimated fee of £4 million. Since then, he has been a revelation, impressing spectators with several top-class performances at right-back.
His form has led to him being linked to some of the biggest clubs in the world. For example, Hans-Dieter Flick’s treble winning Bayern Munich were said to be interested in the 20-year-old following Joshua Kimmich’s transition into midfield.
However, this move is beginning to look increasingly unlikely, with TalkSPORT claiming that Lamptey will sign an improved contract at the Seagulls.
The youngster’s current deal runs until 2023, and is believed to be worth £5,000 per week. This new contract is expected to give him a significant pay rise, as well as run for a few more years.
TalkSPORT’s transfer specialist Alex Crook broke the news on the show on Thursday afternoon, and heaped the praise on the young full-back.
“Tariq Lamptey is one of the few shining lights really for Brighton, who have barely won a game this season,” said Crook. “When you consider that Brighton signed him for around £4m, he has to be one of the bargain buys of recent times.
“Lamptey is close to committing his future to Brighton, which is some much needed good news for Graham Potter.”
As things stand, Brighton sit in 17th place. They are two points clear of the relegation zone, although 18th-placed Fulham have played two fewer games than the southern club.
Graham Potter’s side have not won since their controversial 2-1 triumph away at Villa Park in November. They go into the weekend needing to pick up points against Leeds United, having failed to win in any of their previous nine outings.
|
https://sportslens.com/tariq-lamptey-set-to-sign-new-contract-amid-bayern-munich-interest/327085/
|
en
| 2021-01-15T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/e54ace66519df6e1445f9dd5557b2d1a0a35186d401dce57ad5e180f2a6f14ef.json
|
[
"Brighton and Hove Albion right-back Tariq Lamptey is set to sign a new contract at the club, as reported by TalkSPORT.\nThe young Englishman joined Brighton from Chelsea last January for an estimated fee of £4 million. Since then, he has been a revelation, impressing spectators with several top-class performances at right-back.\nHis form has led to him being linked to some of the biggest clubs in the world. For example, Hans-Dieter Flick’s treble winning Bayern Munich were said to be interested in the 20-year-old following Joshua Kimmich’s transition into midfield.\nHowever, this move is beginning to look increasingly unlikely, with TalkSPORT claiming that Lamptey will sign an improved contract at the Seagulls.\nThe youngster’s current deal runs until 2023, and is believed to be worth £5,000 per week. This new contract is expected to give him a significant pay rise, as well as run for a few more years.\nTalkSPORT’s transfer specialist Alex Crook broke the news on the show on Thursday afternoon, and heaped the praise on the young full-back.\n“Tariq Lamptey is one of the few shining lights really for Brighton, who have barely won a game this season,” said Crook. “When you consider that Brighton signed him for around £4m, he has to be one of the bargain buys of recent times.\n“Lamptey is close to committing his future to Brighton, which is some much needed good news for Graham Potter.”\nAs things stand, Brighton sit in 17th place. They are two points clear of the relegation zone, although 18th-placed Fulham have played two fewer games than the southern club.\nGraham Potter’s side have not won since their controversial 2-1 triumph away at Villa Park in November. They go into the weekend needing to pick up points against Leeds United, having failed to win in any of their previous nine outings.",
"Tariq Lamptey set to sign new contract amid Bayern Munich interest",
"Brighton and Hove Albion are set to tie down young full-back Tariq Lamptey to a long-term contract, hoping to ward off interest from Bayern Munich."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-21T18:29:32 | null | 2021-01-21T15:54:27 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fceltic-lennon-sacked%2F328441%2F.json
|
en
| null |
More misery ahead for Celtic as Neil Lennon digs in
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
“I won’t walk away, absolutely not. I’ve put too much into this.”
Celtic fans reading Neil Lennon’s comments on the Sky Sports website must be absolutely delighted with this little nugget.
A disappointing 2-2 draw at Livingston on Wednesday left Lennon’s team 20 points behind Rangers and with little chance of winning their tenth Scottish Premiership title in a row.
Celtic fans have become increasingly frustrated with Lennon, particularly after his bizarre attempts to defend the club’s ill-fated trip to Dubai.
However, despite seeing his side produce another lacklustre performance, Lennon has refused to walk away from the job.
“If the club have to make a decision, then they have to make a decision – you’re asking the wrong guy about my position,” he said after the game.
“I’m fed up answering it really. Everyone is interested in my job. You keep asking if I’m going to be here. I will be until I’m told otherwise.
“There have been many (fans who don’t support me) like that since I got the job. But we’ve won five trophies out of six. Not bad.”
SL View
Given that Lennon finds it difficult to make the right decisions during a pandemic, it comes as no surprise to hear that he won’t step down from his role.
He made a fool of himself in front of the media earlier this week, and his continued presence at Celtic is doing the club no favours.
Lennon has overseen a disastrous campaign which has seen Celtic make a complete mess of their attempt to win a tenth successive title.
However, given that Lennon thought that adding Shane Duffy to his squad was a good idea, it’s easy to see why they have failed.
Factor in wannabe hard-man Scott Brown proving his brainlessness with his five-minute cameo at Livingston and Celtic fans have every right to feel aggrieved right now.
|
https://sportslens.com/celtic-lennon-sacked/328441/
|
en
| 2021-01-21T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/b2d86ef515c4314b33ae71be6a3fe06d8ebdbb9194918c68a8d0a77741ba56d9.json
|
[
"“I won’t walk away, absolutely not. I’ve put too much into this.”\nCeltic fans reading Neil Lennon’s comments on the Sky Sports website must be absolutely delighted with this little nugget.\nA disappointing 2-2 draw at Livingston on Wednesday left Lennon’s team 20 points behind Rangers and with little chance of winning their tenth Scottish Premiership title in a row.\nCeltic fans have become increasingly frustrated with Lennon, particularly after his bizarre attempts to defend the club’s ill-fated trip to Dubai.\nHowever, despite seeing his side produce another lacklustre performance, Lennon has refused to walk away from the job.\n“If the club have to make a decision, then they have to make a decision – you’re asking the wrong guy about my position,” he said after the game.\n“I’m fed up answering it really. Everyone is interested in my job. You keep asking if I’m going to be here. I will be until I’m told otherwise.\n“There have been many (fans who don’t support me) like that since I got the job. But we’ve won five trophies out of six. Not bad.”\nSL View\nGiven that Lennon finds it difficult to make the right decisions during a pandemic, it comes as no surprise to hear that he won’t step down from his role.\nHe made a fool of himself in front of the media earlier this week, and his continued presence at Celtic is doing the club no favours.\nLennon has overseen a disastrous campaign which has seen Celtic make a complete mess of their attempt to win a tenth successive title.\nHowever, given that Lennon thought that adding Shane Duffy to his squad was a good idea, it’s easy to see why they have failed.\nFactor in wannabe hard-man Scott Brown proving his brainlessness with his five-minute cameo at Livingston and Celtic fans have every right to feel aggrieved right now.",
"More misery ahead for Celtic as Neil Lennon digs in"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-26T15:34:01 | null | 2021-01-26T14:27:47 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-morgan-sanson-on-his-way-to-complete-aston-villa-move%2F329448%2F.json
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en
| null |
Report: Morgan Sanson on his way to complete Aston Villa move
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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According to the Guardian journalist, Ed Aarons, Morgan Sanson is on his way to the UK today to complete his move to Aston Villa.
Told that Morgan Sanson is on his way to the UK today to complete his move to Aston Villa — Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) January 26, 2021
Villa boss, Dean Smith, has more or less confirmed that Sanson is set to join the Premier League club, although he hasn’t mentioned the name of the player.
Dean Smith: “There’s an inbound very close, pending a medical and visa situation such is Brexit now. We’re waiting on that before we can confirm anything.” [sky sports] #avfc — villareport (@villareport) January 26, 2021
Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas admitted last week that Sanson will be leaving the French club. The player wasn’t in the right frame of mind to play for Marseille and the club have decided to let him go.
Sky Sports reported last week that the Premier League side have agreed a deal to sign the midfielder. Villa will pay £14 million to the French side for Sanson and the package could rise to £15.5m with add-ons.
The 26-year-old has been an integral part of the Marseille squad for the past few years. This season, he has scored two goals and provided three assists in 10 Ligue 1 starts so far.
Villa offloaded the likes of Conor Hourihane, Lovre Kalinic and Tyreik Wright this month, and they have moved quickly to bring in a solid midfielder who would add depth and quality to the squad.
It looks like the player will be landing in the UK shortly, and the deal is likely to be completed in the next few days.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-morgan-sanson-on-his-way-to-complete-aston-villa-move/329448/
|
en
| 2021-01-26T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/8a9f89ab427e2e0a13ae99bb804db721ba2f33f346ec7c1ffd2c46898b2588f8.json
|
[
"According to the Guardian journalist, Ed Aarons, Morgan Sanson is on his way to the UK today to complete his move to Aston Villa.\nTold that Morgan Sanson is on his way to the UK today to complete his move to Aston Villa — Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) January 26, 2021\nVilla boss, Dean Smith, has more or less confirmed that Sanson is set to join the Premier League club, although he hasn’t mentioned the name of the player.\nDean Smith: “There’s an inbound very close, pending a medical and visa situation such is Brexit now. We’re waiting on that before we can confirm anything.” [sky sports] #avfc — villareport (@villareport) January 26, 2021\nMarseille boss Andre Villas-Boas admitted last week that Sanson will be leaving the French club. The player wasn’t in the right frame of mind to play for Marseille and the club have decided to let him go.\nSky Sports reported last week that the Premier League side have agreed a deal to sign the midfielder. Villa will pay £14 million to the French side for Sanson and the package could rise to £15.5m with add-ons.\nThe 26-year-old has been an integral part of the Marseille squad for the past few years. This season, he has scored two goals and provided three assists in 10 Ligue 1 starts so far.\nVilla offloaded the likes of Conor Hourihane, Lovre Kalinic and Tyreik Wright this month, and they have moved quickly to bring in a solid midfielder who would add depth and quality to the squad.\nIt looks like the player will be landing in the UK shortly, and the deal is likely to be completed in the next few days.",
"Report: Morgan Sanson on his way to complete Aston Villa move"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-11T09:34:21 | null | 2021-01-11T06:23:34 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fwest-ham-looking-to-sign-mariano-diaz-on-loan%2F325958%2F.json
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en
| null |
West Ham looking to sign Mariano Diaz on loan
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
West Ham United are exploring the possibility of signing Real Madrid attacker Mariano Diaz this month.
The 27-year-old is in desperate need of regular first-team football and a move to West Ham might be a good option for him.
According to Daily Mail, the attacker prefers a move to London and West Ham are keen on snapping him up on a loan deal.
Mariano has started just two league games and one Champions League game for Madrid this season. It is evident that he needs to play more often at this stage of his career and Madrid cannot provide him with that platform.
The 27-year-old has scored one goal this season and if he manages to regain his sharpness with more game time, he could prove to be a decent alternative to Sebastien Haller.
Haller joined Ajax in a £22 million deal earlier this month and West Ham need to bring in alternatives before the transfer window closes.
The Hammers have done reasonably well in the Premier League this season and they will be targeting a top-half finish.
Signing a quality attacker this month could give them the boost they need right now.
The likes of Josh King and Abdallah Sima have been linked with West Ham in recent weeks as well.
West Ham need to bring in someone who can adapt to David Moyes’ style of football. Haller was a quality player and one of the main reasons why he struggled in the Premier League was his inability to adapt to Moyes’ style.
|
https://sportslens.com/west-ham-looking-to-sign-mariano-diaz-on-loan/325958/
|
en
| 2021-01-11T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/8afdc67efc434d53c5fd1a8b4e216d20dfc1df3416dd11f1c6146b959fbb4fb4.json
|
[
"West Ham United are exploring the possibility of signing Real Madrid attacker Mariano Diaz this month.\nThe 27-year-old is in desperate need of regular first-team football and a move to West Ham might be a good option for him.\nAccording to Daily Mail, the attacker prefers a move to London and West Ham are keen on snapping him up on a loan deal.\nMariano has started just two league games and one Champions League game for Madrid this season. It is evident that he needs to play more often at this stage of his career and Madrid cannot provide him with that platform.\nThe 27-year-old has scored one goal this season and if he manages to regain his sharpness with more game time, he could prove to be a decent alternative to Sebastien Haller.\nHaller joined Ajax in a £22 million deal earlier this month and West Ham need to bring in alternatives before the transfer window closes.\nThe Hammers have done reasonably well in the Premier League this season and they will be targeting a top-half finish.\nSigning a quality attacker this month could give them the boost they need right now.\nThe likes of Josh King and Abdallah Sima have been linked with West Ham in recent weeks as well.\nWest Ham need to bring in someone who can adapt to David Moyes’ style of football. Haller was a quality player and one of the main reasons why he struggled in the Premier League was his inability to adapt to Moyes’ style.",
"West Ham looking to sign Mariano Diaz on loan"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-05T20:08:44 | null | 2021-01-05T16:03:04 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-leeds-united-likely-destination-for-fikayo-tomori%2F325021%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Leeds United likely destination for Fikayo Tomori
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Chelsea are likely to send Fikayo Tomori out on loan, and Leeds could be the ‘likely destination’ for him, according to reports from BBC Sport.
Tomori – who is on £14k-per-week wages at Chelsea – made 22 appearances for the Blues last season. He has struggled for regular game time in 2020-21 and has managed only three games in all competitions so far, including a substitute appearance in the Premier League.
The 22-year-old defender was heavily linked with a move to Everton this summer, but Chelsea prevented him from joining the Toffees on loan.
Tomori has now dropped down the pecking order at the club following the arrival of Thiago Silva, and his situation is unlikely to improve even if Frank Lampard offloads fringe player like Antonio Rudiger.
He is highly-rated by the club, and a loan move would be beneficial for his growth. It seems Leeds are taking a keen interest in signing him and could be his next destination in the January transfer window.
In theory, a move to Leeds would be beneficial for him.
Leeds are struggling with injury problems at the back, with three key defenders – Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Liam Cooper – are currently out injured.
The Whites have looked vulnerable at the back and adding a new defender on a temporary deal makes a lot of sense.
Tomori will be able to learn a lot from a top-class manager like Marcelo Bielsa, but he may struggle to get into the Leeds side as well. Bielsa doesn’t prefer to make too many changes to the side, while the Argentine may look to gradually integrate him into the squad.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-leeds-united-likely-destination-for-fikayo-tomori/325021/
|
en
| 2021-01-05T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/69b5ed3487e01b8b7ab7c81290142f94189eee80cf9ccb24b50da789cba82684.json
|
[
"Chelsea are likely to send Fikayo Tomori out on loan, and Leeds could be the ‘likely destination’ for him, according to reports from BBC Sport.\nTomori – who is on £14k-per-week wages at Chelsea – made 22 appearances for the Blues last season. He has struggled for regular game time in 2020-21 and has managed only three games in all competitions so far, including a substitute appearance in the Premier League.\nThe 22-year-old defender was heavily linked with a move to Everton this summer, but Chelsea prevented him from joining the Toffees on loan.\nTomori has now dropped down the pecking order at the club following the arrival of Thiago Silva, and his situation is unlikely to improve even if Frank Lampard offloads fringe player like Antonio Rudiger.\nHe is highly-rated by the club, and a loan move would be beneficial for his growth. It seems Leeds are taking a keen interest in signing him and could be his next destination in the January transfer window.\nIn theory, a move to Leeds would be beneficial for him.\nLeeds are struggling with injury problems at the back, with three key defenders – Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Liam Cooper – are currently out injured.\nThe Whites have looked vulnerable at the back and adding a new defender on a temporary deal makes a lot of sense.\nTomori will be able to learn a lot from a top-class manager like Marcelo Bielsa, but he may struggle to get into the Leeds side as well. Bielsa doesn’t prefer to make too many changes to the side, while the Argentine may look to gradually integrate him into the squad.",
"Report: Leeds United likely destination for Fikayo Tomori"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-08T15:23:56 | null | 2021-01-08T14:28:47 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fqueens-park-rangers-in-advanced-talks-to-sign-charlie-austin-on-loan%2F325718%2F.json
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en
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Queens Park Rangers in advanced talks to sign Charlie Austin on loan
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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Queens Park Rangers are in advanced negotiations to sign former striker Charlie Austin on loan from West Bromwich Albion for the season.
Austin bagged 10 goals during the Baggies’ promotion from the Championship last season, but he has not been able to make his mark this term.
The 31-year-old has been restricted to only five Premier League appearances, all of which have come from the substitutes’ bench.
According to Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam, Rangers are in advanced talks with the Baggies over a loan deal for Austin, who played for them between 2013 and 2016.
Austin was a huge hit during his time at the west London side with 47 goals and 11 assists from just 89 appearances in all competitions.
He is no longer at the prime of his career, but his return could bring about a change of fortunes for the club, who are just two points above the drop zone.
Rangers have struggled to find the back of the net regularly this term and they have netted only 20 goals from their 22 Championship games.
Austin has a good scoring record in the second tier with 76 goals from 163 outings and a return to the division could bring the best out of him.
Rangers have won just four league games this term. The club have netted two or more goals in just one of the previous 13 matches.
Austin remains a fan favourite at the capital outfit and it will be interesting to see whether he can make a significant impact to earn himself a permanent deal.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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https://sportslens.com/queens-park-rangers-in-advanced-talks-to-sign-charlie-austin-on-loan/325718/
|
en
| 2021-01-08T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/9c2f1811e50f1ce200d4547aff7d041c5b2917323e6d49c7bbc0770bb79ec4dc.json
|
[
"Queens Park Rangers are in advanced negotiations to sign former striker Charlie Austin on loan from West Bromwich Albion for the season.\nAustin bagged 10 goals during the Baggies’ promotion from the Championship last season, but he has not been able to make his mark this term.\nThe 31-year-old has been restricted to only five Premier League appearances, all of which have come from the substitutes’ bench.\nAccording to Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam, Rangers are in advanced talks with the Baggies over a loan deal for Austin, who played for them between 2013 and 2016.\nAustin was a huge hit during his time at the west London side with 47 goals and 11 assists from just 89 appearances in all competitions.\nHe is no longer at the prime of his career, but his return could bring about a change of fortunes for the club, who are just two points above the drop zone.\nRangers have struggled to find the back of the net regularly this term and they have netted only 20 goals from their 22 Championship games.\nAustin has a good scoring record in the second tier with 76 goals from 163 outings and a return to the division could bring the best out of him.\nRangers have won just four league games this term. The club have netted two or more goals in just one of the previous 13 matches.\nAustin remains a fan favourite at the capital outfit and it will be interesting to see whether he can make a significant impact to earn himself a permanent deal.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"Queens Park Rangers in advanced talks to sign Charlie Austin on loan"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-29T22:04:40 | null | 2021-01-29T21:17:11 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fliverpool-have-been-monitoring-sven-botman-regularly%2F330340%2F.json
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en
| null |
Liverpool have been monitoring Sven Botman
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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Liverpool are thought to be looking at defensive signings before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.
The Reds are going through an injury crisis at the back and they have already lost their starting centre backs in Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
Jurgen Klopp has relied upon Fabinho and Joel Matip in their absence but the Cameroon defender picked up a serious ankle ligament injury against Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.
It is imperative that the Premier League champions bring in some defensive reinforcements this month and it seems that Lille defender Sven Botman could be a target.
According to journalist Manu Lonjon, Klopp is looking to bring in centre backs this month and Botman has been watched regularly by the Premier League club.
Jurgen Klopp a besoin de défenseurs centraux … attention à S Botman ( Lille) régulièrement supervisé par les Reds. — Manu ⭐️⭐️ (@ManuLonjon) January 29, 2021
SL View: Botman could be more than a short term fix for the Reds
The 21-year-old has done very well in the French League and is rated as one of the best young defenders around Europe right now.
There is no doubt that he could prove to be a quality long term addition for the Reds and it will be interesting to see if Liverpool can convince Lille to sell the player this late in the window.
The young Dutchman has the potential to develop into a quality player and his club are likely to demand a premium for him.
Liverpool are still very much in the title race and in the Champions League and they cannot afford to risk their season by not signing a player this month.
It remains to be seen whether the club hierarchy are willing to back Klopp in the market for a defender even if they have to pay over the odds.
|
https://sportslens.com/liverpool-have-been-monitoring-sven-botman-regularly/330340/
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en
| 2021-01-29T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/92bae1434465fb2f993a064420e1d500ed08d358f4f91ac2e3d720a3f7d9e90c.json
|
[
"Liverpool are thought to be looking at defensive signings before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.\nThe Reds are going through an injury crisis at the back and they have already lost their starting centre backs in Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.\nJurgen Klopp has relied upon Fabinho and Joel Matip in their absence but the Cameroon defender picked up a serious ankle ligament injury against Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.\nIt is imperative that the Premier League champions bring in some defensive reinforcements this month and it seems that Lille defender Sven Botman could be a target.\nAccording to journalist Manu Lonjon, Klopp is looking to bring in centre backs this month and Botman has been watched regularly by the Premier League club.\nJurgen Klopp a besoin de défenseurs centraux … attention à S Botman ( Lille) régulièrement supervisé par les Reds. — Manu ⭐️⭐️ (@ManuLonjon) January 29, 2021\nSL View: Botman could be more than a short term fix for the Reds\nThe 21-year-old has done very well in the French League and is rated as one of the best young defenders around Europe right now.\nThere is no doubt that he could prove to be a quality long term addition for the Reds and it will be interesting to see if Liverpool can convince Lille to sell the player this late in the window.\nThe young Dutchman has the potential to develop into a quality player and his club are likely to demand a premium for him.\nLiverpool are still very much in the title race and in the Champions League and they cannot afford to risk their season by not signing a player this month.\nIt remains to be seen whether the club hierarchy are willing to back Klopp in the market for a defender even if they have to pay over the odds.",
"Liverpool have been monitoring Sven Botman"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-05T21:22:56 | null | 2021-01-05T16:10:38 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fbengaluru-fc-1-3-mumbai-city-report-ratings-reaction-as-the-islanders-breeze-past-the-brazen-blues%2F324980%2F.json
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en
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Bengaluru FC 1-3 Mumbai City: Report, Ratings & Reaction as the Islanders Breeze Past the Brazen Blues
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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The headline clash of matchday 10 of the Indian Super League saw 5th-placed Bengaluru FC face 2nd-placed Mumbai City. Carles Cuadrat’s side had lost their last two matches and were keen to bounce back, but the Islanders were unbeaten since matchday 1 and had only dropped points once in that run, so they would be no pushovers.
A battle of epic proportions was set to commence, and here’s what we made of it:
Report
Bengaluru FC had a presentable chance within two minutes as Cleiton Silva slipped Deshorn Brown through on the right following a bit of a mistake from Ahmed Jahouh, but the Jamaican striker skied his effort.
Mumbai City took the lead in the 9th minute, though, as Hernán Santana headed the ball across the face of goal from a corner, leaving Mourtada Fall to power it home from close range.
Under a minute later, Bipin Singh squared the ball to a free Adam le Fondre in the box after being found advanced on the left by Hugo Boumous, but the striker had his effort deflected away for a corner.
Mumbai City doubled their advantage in the 15th minute when Mandar Rao Dessai delivered a pinpoint cross for Bipin Singh, who cushioned it home with his first-time volley.
They said Bengaluru were title challengers😂 pic.twitter.com/CzSydDF2Ce — Vinay Mehta (@imvinay05) January 5, 2021
Bengaluru FC’s next notable chance came in the 41st minute when Cleiton Silva took a free-kick from the edge of the box and cleared the wall, but his shot was pushed away by Amrinder Singh.
There was a big twist in the tale in the 77th minute, when Mourtada Fall seemingly cleanly tackled Cleiton Silva in the box, but the referee awarded a penalty. Sunil Chhetri stepped up to take it and he smashed it home.
Mumbai nearly restored their two-goal cushion in the 82nd minute when Bartholomew Ogbeche flicked an Ahmed Jahouh free-kick on with his head, but it came back out off the post. The Nigerian forward got his just rewards two minutes later when he headed a corner right at Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, but the keeper fumbled the ball when he hit the ground and it rolled in.
Gurpreet's such a saint. Not only does he help raise money to develop women's sport in India but also helps correct the wrongs in a football match. Such a gentleman! 😀 #BFCMCFC — For Football’s Sake (@football_sake) January 5, 2021
It was not all smooth sailing for the Islanders, though, as Ahmed Jahouh saw a second yellow card in the 86th minute for a rather silly challenge, so they had to finish the match with one man less.
That didn’t matter in this match’s result, though, as Mumbai City eased to a 3-1 victory.
BENGALURU FC
Key Talking Point
Problems Galore
Ever since Ashique Kuruniyan suffered that unfortunate facial injury, Bengaluru FC have not looked the same.
Tonight, they were without the suspended Erik Paartalu, so Carles Cuadrat deployed Kristian Opseth and Deshorn Brown together for the first time this season instead of substituting one for the other as he usually has been doing. However, the system he opted for – a 4-2-3-1 – only accommodated one man up front, so Brown had to play on the right flank, and that didn’t work too well.
After looking bright at the very start of the match, the Blues conceded from another set-piece (for the third time this season) to undo their good work, and soon let another one in following some horrendous defending. After that, they looked quite clueless as they neither pressed nor sat off, so they should have considered themselves lucky to just be two down at the break. They were gifted a lifeline of a penalty in the second half too, but the home side squandered that as well through Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s error.
This was yet another disappointing defeat for Bengaluru FC, and if things keep going this way, Carles Cuadrat will surely be in a spot of bother.
Player Ratings
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (3), Harmanjot Khabra (5), Pratik Chaudhari (5), Juanan (5.5), Rahul Bheke (5), Suresh Wangjam (5), Dimas Delgado (5.5), Deshorn Brown (4.5), Cleiton Silva (6), Sunil Chhetri (6*), Kristian Opseth (5)
Subs: Udanta Singh (5), Ajith Kumar (5.5), Fran González (5), Semboi Haokip (N/A)
MUMBAI CITY
Key Talking Point
Near-Perfect Preparation
Mumbai City knew pre-match that a win here would mean that they would go into that huge clash against ATK Mohun Bagan on a three-match winning streak, so that’s exactly what they wanted to do.
Although the Islanders didn’t start too well and were hemmed in for the first few minutes, they bounced back emphatically and went two goals up within 15 minutes for the second time in their last two matches. They played some of the best possession football we have seen all season thereafter, and their lead looked as intact as it possibly could going into half-time.
There was another parallel to the Kerala Blasters match, as the Islanders’ intensity dropped in the second half and they didn’t look as silky as they did in the first period. Their defence was sound, though, and bar one (incorrect) penalty decision, Amrinder Singh didn’t have too much work to do in the match as he watched his side coast to another routine victory, especially after that deserved third goal.
Back where we belong! — Ninad Achrekar (@AchrekarNinad) January 5, 2021
Mumbai City came away with yet another bundle of three points from this match, which surely was the perfect way to prepare for the big match next week. The only problem is that Ahmed Jahouh saw red, so he will be suspended for that match.
Player Ratings
Amrinder Singh (6.5), Amey Ranawade (6), Mourtada Fall (8.5*), Hernán Santana (7), Mandar Rao Dessai (8), Rowllin Borges (7), Ahmed Jahouh (4), Raynier Fernandes (6), Hugo Boumous (6.5), Bipin Singh (7.5), Adam le Fondre (5.5)
Subs: Bartholomew Ogbeche (7.5), Vignesh Dakshinamurthy (5), Cy Goddard (5), Vikram Pratap Singh (5), Mehtab Singh (N/A)
Mandar Rao Dessai
After starting the season well, Mandar Rao Dessai missed a month’s action following an unfortunate personal loss and the mandatory quarantine that followed.
He was back in big business tonight, as he absolutely bossed proceedings on the left flank. Deshorn Brown was in his pocket almost all the time, and when he wasn’t, the Jamaican striker was trying (and failing) to track his marauding runs up the flank. The full-back also got a deserved first assist of the season for Mumbai’s second goal with a perfectly whipped in cross.
The 28-year-old Indian international finished the match with 50 touches, a passing accuracy of 90%, 3 crosses, 2 key passes and an assist.
A brilliant all-round display on the left.
What This Means:
Bengaluru FC stay in 5th place, while Mumbai City reclaim their spot at the top of the table thanks to Mourtada Fall’s and Bipin Singh’s respective first goals of the season and Bartholomew Ogbeche’s second. The Blues have lost three matches consecutively for the first time in the ISL’s history despite Sunil Chhetri’s second penalty goal of the campaign. Ahmed Jahouh saw red for the second time this year, which was also the eighth sending off of ISL 7 but Sergio Lobera managed to beat Carles Cuadrat for the first time despite that.
Bengaluru FC face SC East Bengal next on Saturday, while Mumbai City will be gearing up for a huge clash at the top against ATK Mohun Bagan on Monday.
Stats courtesy Sofascore.com
|
https://sportslens.com/bengaluru-fc-1-3-mumbai-city-report-ratings-reaction-as-the-islanders-breeze-past-the-brazen-blues/324980/
|
en
| 2021-01-05T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/72c2fec1279a3e0a2b2554e5599d2bafa56465cc65218b3347ee052a06af5b7c.json
|
[
"The headline clash of matchday 10 of the Indian Super League saw 5th-placed Bengaluru FC face 2nd-placed Mumbai City. Carles Cuadrat’s side had lost their last two matches and were keen to bounce back, but the Islanders were unbeaten since matchday 1 and had only dropped points once in that run, so they would be no pushovers.\nA battle of epic proportions was set to commence, and here’s what we made of it:\nReport\nBengaluru FC had a presentable chance within two minutes as Cleiton Silva slipped Deshorn Brown through on the right following a bit of a mistake from Ahmed Jahouh, but the Jamaican striker skied his effort.\nMumbai City took the lead in the 9th minute, though, as Hernán Santana headed the ball across the face of goal from a corner, leaving Mourtada Fall to power it home from close range.\nUnder a minute later, Bipin Singh squared the ball to a free Adam le Fondre in the box after being found advanced on the left by Hugo Boumous, but the striker had his effort deflected away for a corner.\nMumbai City doubled their advantage in the 15th minute when Mandar Rao Dessai delivered a pinpoint cross for Bipin Singh, who cushioned it home with his first-time volley.\nThey said Bengaluru were title challengers😂 pic.twitter.com/CzSydDF2Ce — Vinay Mehta (@imvinay05) January 5, 2021\nBengaluru FC’s next notable chance came in the 41st minute when Cleiton Silva took a free-kick from the edge of the box and cleared the wall, but his shot was pushed away by Amrinder Singh.\nThere was a big twist in the tale in the 77th minute, when Mourtada Fall seemingly cleanly tackled Cleiton Silva in the box, but the referee awarded a penalty. Sunil Chhetri stepped up to take it and he smashed it home.\nMumbai nearly restored their two-goal cushion in the 82nd minute when Bartholomew Ogbeche flicked an Ahmed Jahouh free-kick on with his head, but it came back out off the post. The Nigerian forward got his just rewards two minutes later when he headed a corner right at Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, but the keeper fumbled the ball when he hit the ground and it rolled in.\nGurpreet's such a saint. Not only does he help raise money to develop women's sport in India but also helps correct the wrongs in a football match. Such a gentleman! 😀 #BFCMCFC — For Football’s Sake (@football_sake) January 5, 2021\nIt was not all smooth sailing for the Islanders, though, as Ahmed Jahouh saw a second yellow card in the 86th minute for a rather silly challenge, so they had to finish the match with one man less.\nThat didn’t matter in this match’s result, though, as Mumbai City eased to a 3-1 victory.\nBENGALURU FC\nKey Talking Point\nProblems Galore\nEver since Ashique Kuruniyan suffered that unfortunate facial injury, Bengaluru FC have not looked the same.\nTonight, they were without the suspended Erik Paartalu, so Carles Cuadrat deployed Kristian Opseth and Deshorn Brown together for the first time this season instead of substituting one for the other as he usually has been doing. However, the system he opted for – a 4-2-3-1 – only accommodated one man up front, so Brown had to play on the right flank, and that didn’t work too well.\nAfter looking bright at the very start of the match, the Blues conceded from another set-piece (for the third time this season) to undo their good work, and soon let another one in following some horrendous defending. After that, they looked quite clueless as they neither pressed nor sat off, so they should have considered themselves lucky to just be two down at the break. They were gifted a lifeline of a penalty in the second half too, but the home side squandered that as well through Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s error.\nThis was yet another disappointing defeat for Bengaluru FC, and if things keep going this way, Carles Cuadrat will surely be in a spot of bother.\nPlayer Ratings\nGurpreet Singh Sandhu (3), Harmanjot Khabra (5), Pratik Chaudhari (5), Juanan (5.5), Rahul Bheke (5), Suresh Wangjam (5), Dimas Delgado (5.5), Deshorn Brown (4.5), Cleiton Silva (6), Sunil Chhetri (6*), Kristian Opseth (5)\nSubs: Udanta Singh (5), Ajith Kumar (5.5), Fran González (5), Semboi Haokip (N/A)\nMUMBAI CITY\nKey Talking Point\nNear-Perfect Preparation\nMumbai City knew pre-match that a win here would mean that they would go into that huge clash against ATK Mohun Bagan on a three-match winning streak, so that’s exactly what they wanted to do.\nAlthough the Islanders didn’t start too well and were hemmed in for the first few minutes, they bounced back emphatically and went two goals up within 15 minutes for the second time in their last two matches. They played some of the best possession football we have seen all season thereafter, and their lead looked as intact as it possibly could going into half-time.\nThere was another parallel to the Kerala Blasters match, as the Islanders’ intensity dropped in the second half and they didn’t look as silky as they did in the first period. Their defence was sound, though, and bar one (incorrect) penalty decision, Amrinder Singh didn’t have too much work to do in the match as he watched his side coast to another routine victory, especially after that deserved third goal.\nBack where we belong! — Ninad Achrekar (@AchrekarNinad) January 5, 2021\nMumbai City came away with yet another bundle of three points from this match, which surely was the perfect way to prepare for the big match next week. The only problem is that Ahmed Jahouh saw red, so he will be suspended for that match.\nPlayer Ratings\nAmrinder Singh (6.5), Amey Ranawade (6), Mourtada Fall (8.5*), Hernán Santana (7), Mandar Rao Dessai (8), Rowllin Borges (7), Ahmed Jahouh (4), Raynier Fernandes (6), Hugo Boumous (6.5), Bipin Singh (7.5), Adam le Fondre (5.5)\nSubs: Bartholomew Ogbeche (7.5), Vignesh Dakshinamurthy (5), Cy Goddard (5), Vikram Pratap Singh (5), Mehtab Singh (N/A)\nMandar Rao Dessai\nAfter starting the season well, Mandar Rao Dessai missed a month’s action following an unfortunate personal loss and the mandatory quarantine that followed.\nHe was back in big business tonight, as he absolutely bossed proceedings on the left flank. Deshorn Brown was in his pocket almost all the time, and when he wasn’t, the Jamaican striker was trying (and failing) to track his marauding runs up the flank. The full-back also got a deserved first assist of the season for Mumbai’s second goal with a perfectly whipped in cross.\nThe 28-year-old Indian international finished the match with 50 touches, a passing accuracy of 90%, 3 crosses, 2 key passes and an assist.\nA brilliant all-round display on the left.\nWhat This Means:\nBengaluru FC stay in 5th place, while Mumbai City reclaim their spot at the top of the table thanks to Mourtada Fall’s and Bipin Singh’s respective first goals of the season and Bartholomew Ogbeche’s second. The Blues have lost three matches consecutively for the first time in the ISL’s history despite Sunil Chhetri’s second penalty goal of the campaign. Ahmed Jahouh saw red for the second time this year, which was also the eighth sending off of ISL 7 but Sergio Lobera managed to beat Carles Cuadrat for the first time despite that.\nBengaluru FC face SC East Bengal next on Saturday, while Mumbai City will be gearing up for a huge clash at the top against ATK Mohun Bagan on Monday.\nStats courtesy Sofascore.com",
"Bengaluru FC 1-3 Mumbai City: Report, Ratings & Reaction as the Islanders Breeze Past the Brazen Blues"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-22T19:45:41 | null | 2021-01-22T18:52:06 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fdon-hutchison-claims-harry-kane-to-manchester-city-is-done%2F328775%2F.json
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en
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Don Hutchison claims Harry Kane to Manchester City is 'done'
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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Former Liverpool player turned popular football pundit Don Hutchison has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane will join Manchester City in the summer.
Kane is arguably one of the best strikers in world football at the moment, and the England skipper is enjoying a rich vein of form under Jose Mourinho.
The 27-year-old is at the peak of his career, and heavyweight clubs are expected to register an interest in him. Hutchison has made a bold claim that not only Pep Guardiola’s side are keen to sign him, but the Citizens have a deal in place already.
The Premier League TV pundit made the claim when he was responding to an answer from a fan who asked him about whether the Liverpool front three is to blame following the Reds defeat against Burnley last night.
Maybe time to look for a different no9…
I’ve heard Kane is done to City in the summer.
Teams around Liverpool are strengthening. Jota a massive loss. https://t.co/ee4dgdWiyP — Don Hutchison (@donhutch4) January 21, 2021
SL View
Kane has scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions in 2020-21, and his telepathic bonding with Son Heung-Min has kept Tottenham in the title race.
The England striker has a contract at the club till 2024, and he has given no indication that he is either unhappy at the club or he wants to leave.
However, if Spurs fail to qualify for the Champions League this season or fail to win a trophy under Mourinho, Kane could consider his long-term future at the north London club.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is expected to demand a massive transfer fee for Kane if such a situation arises in the future.
|
https://sportslens.com/don-hutchison-claims-harry-kane-to-manchester-city-is-done/328775/
|
en
| 2021-01-22T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/ef19ac78ffbcb51799a33c7730604fa904d6b824a5d07863715703ff2c51eed7.json
|
[
"Former Liverpool player turned popular football pundit Don Hutchison has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane will join Manchester City in the summer.\nKane is arguably one of the best strikers in world football at the moment, and the England skipper is enjoying a rich vein of form under Jose Mourinho.\nThe 27-year-old is at the peak of his career, and heavyweight clubs are expected to register an interest in him. Hutchison has made a bold claim that not only Pep Guardiola’s side are keen to sign him, but the Citizens have a deal in place already.\nThe Premier League TV pundit made the claim when he was responding to an answer from a fan who asked him about whether the Liverpool front three is to blame following the Reds defeat against Burnley last night.\nMaybe time to look for a different no9…\nI’ve heard Kane is done to City in the summer.\nTeams around Liverpool are strengthening. Jota a massive loss. https://t.co/ee4dgdWiyP — Don Hutchison (@donhutch4) January 21, 2021\nSL View\nKane has scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions in 2020-21, and his telepathic bonding with Son Heung-Min has kept Tottenham in the title race.\nThe England striker has a contract at the club till 2024, and he has given no indication that he is either unhappy at the club or he wants to leave.\nHowever, if Spurs fail to qualify for the Champions League this season or fail to win a trophy under Mourinho, Kane could consider his long-term future at the north London club.\nSpurs chairman Daniel Levy is expected to demand a massive transfer fee for Kane if such a situation arises in the future.",
"Don Hutchison claims Harry Kane to Manchester City is 'done'"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-30T16:20:50 | null | 2021-01-30T15:13:00 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fnewcastle-united-fans-drool-over-jamal-lewis-display-vs-everton%2F330500%2F.json
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Newcastle United fans drool over Jamal Lewis display vs Everton
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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Callum Wilson scored twice as Newcastle United earned all three points against Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Newcastle star’s efforts helped to relieve the pressure on manager Steve Bruce who came under strong criticism from the Magpies fans after a disastrous run of form.
Along with Wilson, the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Miguel Almiron, and Issac Hayden were equally superb for the Magpies. Javier Manquillo was also excellent.
Many Newcastle fans seem impressed with the performance of Jamal Lewis, with some claiming it was his best performance since joining the club in the summer transfer window.
The 23-year-old left-back, who joined the Magpies from Norwich for a reported fee of £15 million, has cut a hugely frustrating figure this season.
However, Lewis was simply outstanding against the Toffees and deserves praise from the Newcastle fan base. Here are some of the selected tweets:
I can’t believe I’m saying this but Jamal Lewis looked quality today. Whatever they done with him during the week 😉. #NUFC — Leigh Ralph (@leighralph) January 30, 2021
Great performance from Newcastle think this Jones bloke has made a big difference and not 1 bad performance for any nufc player for me jamal Lewis has been outstanding and man of the match for me well done — 😜ste johnson (@johnnerstev) January 30, 2021
Callum Wilson was brilliant, Isaac Hayden equally good and for me, that was Jamal Lewis' best game yet in an #nufc shirt. — Damian Spellman (@DamianSpellman) January 30, 2021
Jamal Lewis has looked a different player today like quite obviously the lad had been Bruced! Jones has obviously brought tactics and worked out players best positions in 3 days this could be the best 250k Ashley has ever spent but let’s not get carried away! #NUFC ⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ — chris dutton (@duttsy69) January 30, 2021
Lots of good performers today but the most improved performance for me was Jamal Lewis #nufc — Foxy – ماكر (@Foxy_005) January 30, 2021
Jamal Lewis was outstanding today . Excellent performance by the boys 👏👏👏👏👏 — blueheart (@blueheart6985) January 30, 2021
I also thought Jamal Lewis was brilliant today. Along with manquillo #NUFC — kieran (@kingkie1994) January 30, 2021
Sportslens View: Massive win for Newcastle
Bruce faced strong criticism from the Newcastle fan base as his team lost five games in a row in the Premier League.
The Magpies boss was always confident that his side are capable of turning the corner. A change in formation – a 4-4-2 diamond – and Wilson’s (who scored his 50th and 51st Premier League goals) return to form have done the job.
With Almiron at the tip of the diamond, Wilson and Fraser further forward, and the two full-backs allowed space to exert their influence, this was Newcastle’s best display for months.
|
https://sportslens.com/newcastle-united-fans-drool-over-jamal-lewis-display-vs-everton/330500/
|
en
| 2021-01-30T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/c0e0d7a51dffeaf1dfad3ea3ed5082c76966e40ba44921c91d4e670d9cdf9467.json
|
[
"Callum Wilson scored twice as Newcastle United earned all three points against Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday.\nThe Newcastle star’s efforts helped to relieve the pressure on manager Steve Bruce who came under strong criticism from the Magpies fans after a disastrous run of form.\nAlong with Wilson, the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Miguel Almiron, and Issac Hayden were equally superb for the Magpies. Javier Manquillo was also excellent.\nMany Newcastle fans seem impressed with the performance of Jamal Lewis, with some claiming it was his best performance since joining the club in the summer transfer window.\nThe 23-year-old left-back, who joined the Magpies from Norwich for a reported fee of £15 million, has cut a hugely frustrating figure this season.\nHowever, Lewis was simply outstanding against the Toffees and deserves praise from the Newcastle fan base. Here are some of the selected tweets:\nI can’t believe I’m saying this but Jamal Lewis looked quality today. Whatever they done with him during the week 😉. #NUFC — Leigh Ralph (@leighralph) January 30, 2021\nGreat performance from Newcastle think this Jones bloke has made a big difference and not 1 bad performance for any nufc player for me jamal Lewis has been outstanding and man of the match for me well done — 😜ste johnson (@johnnerstev) January 30, 2021\nCallum Wilson was brilliant, Isaac Hayden equally good and for me, that was Jamal Lewis' best game yet in an #nufc shirt. — Damian Spellman (@DamianSpellman) January 30, 2021\nJamal Lewis has looked a different player today like quite obviously the lad had been Bruced! Jones has obviously brought tactics and worked out players best positions in 3 days this could be the best 250k Ashley has ever spent but let’s not get carried away! #NUFC ⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ — chris dutton (@duttsy69) January 30, 2021\nLots of good performers today but the most improved performance for me was Jamal Lewis #nufc — Foxy – ماكر (@Foxy_005) January 30, 2021\nJamal Lewis was outstanding today . Excellent performance by the boys 👏👏👏👏👏 — blueheart (@blueheart6985) January 30, 2021\nI also thought Jamal Lewis was brilliant today. Along with manquillo #NUFC — kieran (@kingkie1994) January 30, 2021\nSportslens View: Massive win for Newcastle\nBruce faced strong criticism from the Newcastle fan base as his team lost five games in a row in the Premier League.\nThe Magpies boss was always confident that his side are capable of turning the corner. A change in formation – a 4-4-2 diamond – and Wilson’s (who scored his 50th and 51st Premier League goals) return to form have done the job.\nWith Almiron at the tip of the diamond, Wilson and Fraser further forward, and the two full-backs allowed space to exert their influence, this was Newcastle’s best display for months.",
"Newcastle United fans drool over Jamal Lewis display vs Everton"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-06T08:03:01 | null | 2021-01-06T07:23:56 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-crystal-palace-everton-and-fuham-all-keen-on-fenerbahce-midfielder-ozan-tufan%2F325125%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Crystal Palace, Everton and Fuham all keen on Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur, Everton and Fulham are both keen on bringing Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan to the Premier League before the end of the January transfer window.
Crystal Palace and Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen are also interested in recruiting the services of the Turkey international, but suitors must be willing to meet the demands of Fenerbahce to have a chance of landing him midway through the season.
The Super Lig giants want around £18 million for the signature of Tufan, and it will be interesting to see whether Everton or Fulham can pip Palace and co to his signature.
The 25-year-old was close to moving to Selhurst Park in 2018 and was all set to fly to England in order to complete the move.
However, an injury to Bakary Sako on the day Tufan booked for his flight forced the Eagles to change their transfer plans in the last minute.
The Palace board had an emergency meeting and decided to sign a replacement for the striker instead, with Alexander Sorloth joining the club as a result.
The midfielder still dreams of playing in Europe’s top leagues and he could be willing to move to the Premier League if another suitable deal is brought to the table.
Tofan is primarily a holding midfielder but he can also play as a right-back, a right winger and behind a striker.
Everton could look to bolster their squad this month as manager Carlo Ancelotti looks to lead them to a top-six finish, and landing the Turkish midfielder could come in handy with the Italian looking for a right-back.
With four goals and two assists in 14 league games this term, Tofan will also be a great signing for a Fulham side struggling in the final third and at the risk of relegation.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-crystal-palace-everton-and-fuham-all-keen-on-fenerbahce-midfielder-ozan-tufan/325125/
|
en
| 2021-01-06T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/72be1e5273d305fe160eb14634debfb6ec21202b0972e4a18d380ba1fe7d7933.json
|
[
"According to Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur, Everton and Fulham are both keen on bringing Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan to the Premier League before the end of the January transfer window.\nCrystal Palace and Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen are also interested in recruiting the services of the Turkey international, but suitors must be willing to meet the demands of Fenerbahce to have a chance of landing him midway through the season.\nThe Super Lig giants want around £18 million for the signature of Tufan, and it will be interesting to see whether Everton or Fulham can pip Palace and co to his signature.\nThe 25-year-old was close to moving to Selhurst Park in 2018 and was all set to fly to England in order to complete the move.\nHowever, an injury to Bakary Sako on the day Tufan booked for his flight forced the Eagles to change their transfer plans in the last minute.\nThe Palace board had an emergency meeting and decided to sign a replacement for the striker instead, with Alexander Sorloth joining the club as a result.\nThe midfielder still dreams of playing in Europe’s top leagues and he could be willing to move to the Premier League if another suitable deal is brought to the table.\nTofan is primarily a holding midfielder but he can also play as a right-back, a right winger and behind a striker.\nEverton could look to bolster their squad this month as manager Carlo Ancelotti looks to lead them to a top-six finish, and landing the Turkish midfielder could come in handy with the Italian looking for a right-back.\nWith four goals and two assists in 14 league games this term, Tofan will also be a great signing for a Fulham side struggling in the final third and at the risk of relegation.",
"Report: Crystal Palace, Everton and Fuham all keen on Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-07T18:51:04 | null | 2021-01-07T18:44:02 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-newcastle-united-willing-to-pay-15-million-for-west-ham-united-target-josh-king%2F325525%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Newcastle United willing to pay £15 million for West Ham United target Josh King
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to The Sun, English Championship outfit Bournemouth have been told Newcastle United would be willing to part with £15 million for the services of Norwegian striker Josh King this month.
The 28-year-old is also on the radar of West Ham United as they look to replace the Ajax-bound Sebastien Haller, but they aren’t ready to meet the Cherries’ demands.
West Bromwich Albion also want King, and theirs and Newcastle’s interest have driven the striker’s value up.
Baggies manager Sam Allardyce needs a striker that can fire his side to safety, while his Magpies counterpart Steve Bruce wants to boost his attacking options given his side’s struggles in front of goal so far this term.
West Ham manager David Moyes wanted the Bournemouth star in the summer, but the £13 million deal the Hammers were willing to come up with was knocked back.
They still aren’t looking to increase their bid, but they could now be forced to with both Newcastle and West Brom waiting to pounce.
King has just six months left on his current contract, but that isn’t forcing Bournemouth to drive his price down.
The EPL trio keen on him aren’t prepared to wait till he becomes a free agent before making a move as landing him can help boost their fortunes on the pitch during the second half of 2020-21.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-newcastle-united-willing-to-pay-15-million-for-west-ham-united-target-josh-king/325525/
|
en
| 2021-01-07T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/b4bb1d66177c16b6bec1793977112cf3533e2185595848c31ea4511eab806c4e.json
|
[
"According to The Sun, English Championship outfit Bournemouth have been told Newcastle United would be willing to part with £15 million for the services of Norwegian striker Josh King this month.\nThe 28-year-old is also on the radar of West Ham United as they look to replace the Ajax-bound Sebastien Haller, but they aren’t ready to meet the Cherries’ demands.\nWest Bromwich Albion also want King, and theirs and Newcastle’s interest have driven the striker’s value up.\nBaggies manager Sam Allardyce needs a striker that can fire his side to safety, while his Magpies counterpart Steve Bruce wants to boost his attacking options given his side’s struggles in front of goal so far this term.\nWest Ham manager David Moyes wanted the Bournemouth star in the summer, but the £13 million deal the Hammers were willing to come up with was knocked back.\nThey still aren’t looking to increase their bid, but they could now be forced to with both Newcastle and West Brom waiting to pounce.\nKing has just six months left on his current contract, but that isn’t forcing Bournemouth to drive his price down.\nThe EPL trio keen on him aren’t prepared to wait till he becomes a free agent before making a move as landing him can help boost their fortunes on the pitch during the second half of 2020-21.",
"Report: Newcastle United willing to pay £15 million for West Ham United target Josh King"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-05T15:21:03 | null | 2021-01-05T12:20:13 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Ftottenham-unwilling-to-let-dele-alli-leave-this-month%2F324950%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Tottenham unwilling to let Dele Alli leave this month
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has been linked with a move away from the London club this month but it seems that the Premier League side are not willing to let him leave because of their current injury situation.
According to Sky Sports, the likes of Gareth Bale, Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela are injured and Tottenham believed that Dele Alli could fill those positions if needed.
The 24-year-old midfielder is thought to be a target for Paris Saint-Germain this month.
Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino took over at the French club earlier in the week and it is understandable why they are keen on signing Dele Alli.
Pochettino was instrumental in the England international’s development at Tottenham and the reunion could be beneficial for both parties.
It will be interesting to see whether Dele Alli is in agreement with Tottenham’s decision regarding this immediate future at the club.
Alli needs to play regularly in order to cement his place in the England setup for the Euro 2021 and if Tottenham cannot provide him with that opportunity, it is better for him to move on permanently or on a loan deal.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are very much in the title race and they will not want to weaken their squad midway through the season. Dele Alli is a talented player who is suffering from a dip in form and confidence. If he manages to recapture his sharpness, he could be one of the best players in the team during the second half of the season.
|
https://sportslens.com/tottenham-unwilling-to-let-dele-alli-leave-this-month/324950/
|
en
| 2021-01-05T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/819582305102993be9d9cd157ac8103c3eae5095c8337e3ed143db9cd53ba1ba.json
|
[
"Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has been linked with a move away from the London club this month but it seems that the Premier League side are not willing to let him leave because of their current injury situation.\nAccording to Sky Sports, the likes of Gareth Bale, Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela are injured and Tottenham believed that Dele Alli could fill those positions if needed.\nThe 24-year-old midfielder is thought to be a target for Paris Saint-Germain this month.\nFormer Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino took over at the French club earlier in the week and it is understandable why they are keen on signing Dele Alli.\nPochettino was instrumental in the England international’s development at Tottenham and the reunion could be beneficial for both parties.\nIt will be interesting to see whether Dele Alli is in agreement with Tottenham’s decision regarding this immediate future at the club.\nAlli needs to play regularly in order to cement his place in the England setup for the Euro 2021 and if Tottenham cannot provide him with that opportunity, it is better for him to move on permanently or on a loan deal.\nMeanwhile, Tottenham are very much in the title race and they will not want to weaken their squad midway through the season. Dele Alli is a talented player who is suffering from a dip in form and confidence. If he manages to recapture his sharpness, he could be one of the best players in the team during the second half of the season.",
"Tottenham unwilling to let Dele Alli leave this month"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-27T19:18:39 | null | 2021-01-27T19:00:38 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Ftottenham-keen-on-nikola-maksimovic%2F329838%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Tottenham keen on Nikola Maksimovic
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the Napoli defender Nikola Maksimovic.
The experienced centre-half is expected to leave the Italian club after falling down the pecking order and he could prove to be a decent addition to Tottenham’s defensive unit.
He has started just five league games for Napoli so far this season and he needs to leave in order to play more often.
As per transfer expert Ciro Venerato, the London club are looking at other defenders this month as well.
SL View: Alternative to Sanchez?
Davinson Sanchez has fallen down the pecking order at the London club and has been linked with a move away. Maksimovic could be his replacement if Spurs managed to pull off the signing.
Spurs were heavily linked with quite a few centre-backs at the start of this season and it seems that the Premier League club remain keen on adding to their defence.
Toby Alderweireld is in the twilight of his career and the Belgian international will need replacing soon. Bringing in a quality centre-back should be a top priority for Mourinho and Tottenham.
The Londoners were linked with Milan Skriniar from Inter Milan last summer and it will be interesting to see who they end up signing from Serie A.
The 29-year-old Napoli defender is at the peak of his career right now and he might be able to make an immediate impact if he joins Spurs this month.
Maksimovic is calm and composed with the ball at his feet and he will help Spurs build from the back. Furthermore, his no-nonsense style of defending should help him fit into Mourinho’s style as well.
|
https://sportslens.com/tottenham-keen-on-nikola-maksimovic/329838/
|
en
| 2021-01-27T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/c0b26f0b5fecbb5c85aaff6851835ac904f8be50ff174abb5c29f472224117cb.json
|
[
"Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the Napoli defender Nikola Maksimovic.\nThe experienced centre-half is expected to leave the Italian club after falling down the pecking order and he could prove to be a decent addition to Tottenham’s defensive unit.\nHe has started just five league games for Napoli so far this season and he needs to leave in order to play more often.\nAs per transfer expert Ciro Venerato, the London club are looking at other defenders this month as well.\nSL View: Alternative to Sanchez?\nDavinson Sanchez has fallen down the pecking order at the London club and has been linked with a move away. Maksimovic could be his replacement if Spurs managed to pull off the signing.\nSpurs were heavily linked with quite a few centre-backs at the start of this season and it seems that the Premier League club remain keen on adding to their defence.\nToby Alderweireld is in the twilight of his career and the Belgian international will need replacing soon. Bringing in a quality centre-back should be a top priority for Mourinho and Tottenham.\nThe Londoners were linked with Milan Skriniar from Inter Milan last summer and it will be interesting to see who they end up signing from Serie A.\nThe 29-year-old Napoli defender is at the peak of his career right now and he might be able to make an immediate impact if he joins Spurs this month.\nMaksimovic is calm and composed with the ball at his feet and he will help Spurs build from the back. Furthermore, his no-nonsense style of defending should help him fit into Mourinho’s style as well.",
"Tottenham keen on Nikola Maksimovic"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-17T10:32:25 | null | 2021-01-17T07:43:53 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fchrtistian-eriksen-tottenham-transfer%2F327358%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Fans react as Christian Eriksen wants Tottenham return
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to reports from Sky Sports, Christian Eriksen is keen to return to his former club, Tottenham Hotspur from Inter Milan, in the January transfer window.
The Denmark international has struggled in Italy, and he is not in Antonio Conte’s long-term plans. Inter have made him available for transfer this month, and the player reportedly wants to return to his former club.
Eriksen joined Inter for £16.9m last January but has been restricted to just 39 appearances. He has failed to score or register a single assist.
Many Spurs fans have taken to Twitter to express their reactions after the news broke out. Eriksen was a hero at Spurs but the manner of his departure has created a big rift between him and the fans.
However, most fans are not convinced of his potential arrival, mainly because of his performance over the last 12 months. There are some fans who feel that the club is going backwards by signing their former players (for instance Gareth Bale) who have under-performed elsewhere.
If feels like we begging for this to happen, are we desperate? It’s got the same feeling as when we got Bale. He won’t come good, we let him go for a reason as she was SHIT on the run up to when he left and he’s been stale at an inter side that have good attacking players 🤷🏾♂️ — Clay (@Clayyayo) January 16, 2021
We need creativity plus we can get Sabitzer in the summer. — Emanuela Oppong (@Manu23588) January 16, 2021
If this is true this club is going backwards. 😞 — COYS (@THFC_COYS_1982) January 16, 2021
Don’t remember his best times with us, remember the last two years when he was lazy, gave the ball away constantly and had zero interest in being part of the team. This would be a huge step backwards! — Peter Negri (@Grassman47) January 16, 2021
Just can’t see this unless 🏴 Dele Alli goes the other way on loan and even if that happens there will be no room in the Europa League squad! 🤷🏾♂️ — D O N I J O N E S (@TheDoniJones) January 16, 2021
He’s not the same guy that played the cl final. 0 guts to win games. — Alessio Fasano (@alessiofasano_) January 16, 2021
Making the same mistake as made with Bale — Eamonn Lawless (@lollykk72) January 16, 2021
According to reports from Football London, talks are ongoing between the two clubs over bringing Eriksen.
Inter are looking to reclaim the transfer fee they paid for him around 12 months ago. However, a loan move has also been discussed.
The Serie A giants are asking a sizeable loan fee and their demands are said to have already put other clubs off. Spurs already have a wealth of attacking midfield talents, but Eriksen could provide the necessary creativity they are lacking at the moment.
|
https://sportslens.com/chrtistian-eriksen-tottenham-transfer/327358/
|
en
| 2021-01-17T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/e66c68ee7154b1ccb6162dd408c59f59ee5b63bb8a28cd9ee8614b9aed375f1c.json
|
[
"According to reports from Sky Sports, Christian Eriksen is keen to return to his former club, Tottenham Hotspur from Inter Milan, in the January transfer window.\nThe Denmark international has struggled in Italy, and he is not in Antonio Conte’s long-term plans. Inter have made him available for transfer this month, and the player reportedly wants to return to his former club.\nEriksen joined Inter for £16.9m last January but has been restricted to just 39 appearances. He has failed to score or register a single assist.\nMany Spurs fans have taken to Twitter to express their reactions after the news broke out. Eriksen was a hero at Spurs but the manner of his departure has created a big rift between him and the fans.\nHowever, most fans are not convinced of his potential arrival, mainly because of his performance over the last 12 months. There are some fans who feel that the club is going backwards by signing their former players (for instance Gareth Bale) who have under-performed elsewhere.\nIf feels like we begging for this to happen, are we desperate? It’s got the same feeling as when we got Bale. He won’t come good, we let him go for a reason as she was SHIT on the run up to when he left and he’s been stale at an inter side that have good attacking players 🤷🏾♂️ — Clay (@Clayyayo) January 16, 2021\nWe need creativity plus we can get Sabitzer in the summer. — Emanuela Oppong (@Manu23588) January 16, 2021\nIf this is true this club is going backwards. 😞 — COYS (@THFC_COYS_1982) January 16, 2021\nDon’t remember his best times with us, remember the last two years when he was lazy, gave the ball away constantly and had zero interest in being part of the team. This would be a huge step backwards! — Peter Negri (@Grassman47) January 16, 2021\nJust can’t see this unless 🏴 Dele Alli goes the other way on loan and even if that happens there will be no room in the Europa League squad! 🤷🏾♂️ — D O N I J O N E S (@TheDoniJones) January 16, 2021\nHe’s not the same guy that played the cl final. 0 guts to win games. — Alessio Fasano (@alessiofasano_) January 16, 2021\nMaking the same mistake as made with Bale — Eamonn Lawless (@lollykk72) January 16, 2021\nAccording to reports from Football London, talks are ongoing between the two clubs over bringing Eriksen.\nInter are looking to reclaim the transfer fee they paid for him around 12 months ago. However, a loan move has also been discussed.\nThe Serie A giants are asking a sizeable loan fee and their demands are said to have already put other clubs off. Spurs already have a wealth of attacking midfield talents, but Eriksen could provide the necessary creativity they are lacking at the moment.",
"Fans react as Christian Eriksen wants Tottenham return"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-25T07:15:11 | null | 2021-01-25T06:42:18 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fjesse-lingard-awaiting-manchester-united-decision-over-possible-loan-exit%2F329162%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Jesse Lingard awaiting Manchester United decision over possible loan exit
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Manchester United attacker Jesse Lingard is waiting to find out whether the club’s hierarchy are willing to loan him out amid interest from the likes of Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion, The Telegraph reports.
The England international has dropped down the pecking order since the arrival of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting last winter and he is currently out-of-favour under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Lingard has managed only 179 minutes of playing time over the course of the 2020/21 campaign and has yet to make a Premier League appearance for the Red Devils. He has made the bench in just four top-flight games this term.
According to The Telegraph, Solskjaer has reluctantly accepted to Lingard’s transfer request and the attacker is now waiting to receive the green light from the club’s board to secure a loan move.
Newcastle United, Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United are among the sides interested, and Lingard is said to have the preference to remain in England rather than pursue a move overseas due to personal reasons.
SL view:
Lingard’s career has been on a downward curve over the past 18 months where he has barely made an impact with the opportunities offered to him.
However, it can also be said that he has not handed regular playing time such that he can find the cohesion with his teammates and revive his form from the 2017/2018 season.
The attacker bagged 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions during that campaign which made him a regular starter for England at the World Cup.
Among the clubs interested, West Ham may be the least likely to sign him this month, suppose he is given the go-ahead to secure a loan move.
The Hammers recently sanctioned the permanent exit of Sebastien Haller and they may prioritise a new striker before the transfer window closes.
Elsewhere, Newcastle, Sheffield and West Brom have all been in a poor run of league form and could do with more creativity in the final third.
The Blades and Baggies are facing a real fight to avoid relegation and they are in need of attacking reinforcements this month, who can make an instant impact.
The Magpies are safe at the moment with a seven-point gap to the drop zone, but have been in a free-fall with just two points gained from the last eight games.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
|
https://sportslens.com/jesse-lingard-awaiting-manchester-united-decision-over-possible-loan-exit/329162/
|
en
| 2021-01-25T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/f721365ed1cf6f49d29e76d9d655a1e60bf64de53c51c0ffdb855f23babc9080.json
|
[
"Manchester United attacker Jesse Lingard is waiting to find out whether the club’s hierarchy are willing to loan him out amid interest from the likes of Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion, The Telegraph reports.\nThe England international has dropped down the pecking order since the arrival of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting last winter and he is currently out-of-favour under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.\nLingard has managed only 179 minutes of playing time over the course of the 2020/21 campaign and has yet to make a Premier League appearance for the Red Devils. He has made the bench in just four top-flight games this term.\nAccording to The Telegraph, Solskjaer has reluctantly accepted to Lingard’s transfer request and the attacker is now waiting to receive the green light from the club’s board to secure a loan move.\nNewcastle United, Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United are among the sides interested, and Lingard is said to have the preference to remain in England rather than pursue a move overseas due to personal reasons.\nSL view:\nLingard’s career has been on a downward curve over the past 18 months where he has barely made an impact with the opportunities offered to him.\nHowever, it can also be said that he has not handed regular playing time such that he can find the cohesion with his teammates and revive his form from the 2017/2018 season.\nThe attacker bagged 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions during that campaign which made him a regular starter for England at the World Cup.\nAmong the clubs interested, West Ham may be the least likely to sign him this month, suppose he is given the go-ahead to secure a loan move.\nThe Hammers recently sanctioned the permanent exit of Sebastien Haller and they may prioritise a new striker before the transfer window closes.\nElsewhere, Newcastle, Sheffield and West Brom have all been in a poor run of league form and could do with more creativity in the final third.\nThe Blades and Baggies are facing a real fight to avoid relegation and they are in need of attacking reinforcements this month, who can make an instant impact.\nThe Magpies are safe at the moment with a seven-point gap to the drop zone, but have been in a free-fall with just two points gained from the last eight games.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"Jesse Lingard awaiting Manchester United decision over possible loan exit"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-18T11:53:15 | null | 2021-01-18T10:33:38 |
A look back at Kevin De Bruyne's best moments in a Manchester City shirt, as the Belgian playmaker hits 100 assists for the Cityzens.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fkevin-de-bruynes-best-moments-for-manchester-city%2F327577%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Kevin De Bruyne's best moments for Manchester City
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
When Manchester City decided to splash out approximately £55 million for Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, more than a few eyebrows were raised.
However, the Belgian has been nothing short of marvellous at the Etihad, silencing all doubters who labelled him a ‘Chelsea reject’.
This weekend, he further emphasised his brilliance, registering his 100th assist for Man City. The playmaker’s pinpoint outside-of-the-foot cross landed right on the head of John Stones, who duly converted.
100 City assists from the incredible @DeBruyneKev! 😍👑 pic.twitter.com/FuAUmayVKq — Manchester City (@ManCity) January 17, 2021
Here’s a look at Kevin De Bruyne’s best moments for Man City.
Quarter-final class
While Man City have been exceptional on the domestic stage, they have notoriously struggled in Europe, reaching just one semi-final.
And they owe a lot to Kevin De Bruyne for reaching that semi-final. Having already scored in the 2-2 draw at Les Parc des Princes, the Belgian secured qualification for the next round with a beautiful curling effort at the Etihad.
Derby day delight
The Manchester derby is often one of the most enticing fixtures of the Premier League calendar, and this one had extra edge to it. Both sides had won their opening three games of the season, seeing them occupy the top two spots.
It was the blue side of Manchester who were celebrating after week four, thanks to an inspired performance by De Bruyne. The former Werder Bremen loanee netted the opening goal and had a hand in Kelechi Iheanacho’s strike as Man City came away from Old Trafford as 2-1 winners. De Bruyne was subsequently named Man of the Match.
Beating Barcelona
After getting comprehensively beaten at the Camp Nou, the Cityzens needed something special to pick up three points against Barcelona in the return fixture.
And something special was exactly what they got in the 51st minute. De Bruyne stepped up to hit a dipping free kick into the top corner, beyond the grasp of Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal.
A brace from Ilkay Gundogan further helped City on their way to a memorable home win.
Sweet revenge
It seems ridiculous to think about now, but Kevin De Bruyne was once deemed not good enough for Chelsea. Oh, how they could do with him now.
On his return to Stamford Bridge, the Belgian got revenge on his former employers in perfect fashion, rifling an unstoppable left-footed shot into the bottom corner. This was the only goal of the game as Man City claimed all three points.
First TOTY Appearance
Man City’s centurions were nothing short of exceptional in 2017/18, and De Bruyne was the standout.
In that season, the midfielder made his first appearance in the PFA Team of the Year after finishing the season with eight goals and 16 assists – no player in the Premier League set up more goals.
This helped his side to a first league title since 2014.
Cup final joy
In 2018/19, Pep Guardiola’s side went one step further, becoming the first English side in history to win the domestic treble.
The treble was complete on May 18th 2019, when Man City destroyed underdogs Watford with six goals. De Bruyne was at the heart of this display, scoring a brilliant goal and providing assists for Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.
History maker
Despite Man City’s highly underwhelming 2019/20 campaign, De Bruyne was still an absolute superstar.
The playmaker was astonishing once again, scoring 13 goals and assisting 20 – only Thierry Henry has ever assisted as many in a single season. This form earned him the PFA Player of the Year award, becoming the first Man City player to ever scoop the prize.
|
https://sportslens.com/kevin-de-bruynes-best-moments-for-manchester-city/327577/
|
en
| 2021-01-18T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/7c6be3345f6f33b61683ab492f895f39c453ba8f451c19661538dbb295e7c166.json
|
[
"When Manchester City decided to splash out approximately £55 million for Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, more than a few eyebrows were raised.\nHowever, the Belgian has been nothing short of marvellous at the Etihad, silencing all doubters who labelled him a ‘Chelsea reject’.\nThis weekend, he further emphasised his brilliance, registering his 100th assist for Man City. The playmaker’s pinpoint outside-of-the-foot cross landed right on the head of John Stones, who duly converted.\n100 City assists from the incredible @DeBruyneKev! 😍👑 pic.twitter.com/FuAUmayVKq — Manchester City (@ManCity) January 17, 2021\nHere’s a look at Kevin De Bruyne’s best moments for Man City.\nQuarter-final class\nWhile Man City have been exceptional on the domestic stage, they have notoriously struggled in Europe, reaching just one semi-final.\nAnd they owe a lot to Kevin De Bruyne for reaching that semi-final. Having already scored in the 2-2 draw at Les Parc des Princes, the Belgian secured qualification for the next round with a beautiful curling effort at the Etihad.\nDerby day delight\nThe Manchester derby is often one of the most enticing fixtures of the Premier League calendar, and this one had extra edge to it. Both sides had won their opening three games of the season, seeing them occupy the top two spots.\nIt was the blue side of Manchester who were celebrating after week four, thanks to an inspired performance by De Bruyne. The former Werder Bremen loanee netted the opening goal and had a hand in Kelechi Iheanacho’s strike as Man City came away from Old Trafford as 2-1 winners. De Bruyne was subsequently named Man of the Match.\nBeating Barcelona\nAfter getting comprehensively beaten at the Camp Nou, the Cityzens needed something special to pick up three points against Barcelona in the return fixture.\nAnd something special was exactly what they got in the 51st minute. De Bruyne stepped up to hit a dipping free kick into the top corner, beyond the grasp of Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal.\nA brace from Ilkay Gundogan further helped City on their way to a memorable home win.\nSweet revenge\nIt seems ridiculous to think about now, but Kevin De Bruyne was once deemed not good enough for Chelsea. Oh, how they could do with him now.\nOn his return to Stamford Bridge, the Belgian got revenge on his former employers in perfect fashion, rifling an unstoppable left-footed shot into the bottom corner. This was the only goal of the game as Man City claimed all three points.\nFirst TOTY Appearance\nMan City’s centurions were nothing short of exceptional in 2017/18, and De Bruyne was the standout.\nIn that season, the midfielder made his first appearance in the PFA Team of the Year after finishing the season with eight goals and 16 assists – no player in the Premier League set up more goals.\nThis helped his side to a first league title since 2014.\nCup final joy\nIn 2018/19, Pep Guardiola’s side went one step further, becoming the first English side in history to win the domestic treble.\nThe treble was complete on May 18th 2019, when Man City destroyed underdogs Watford with six goals. De Bruyne was at the heart of this display, scoring a brilliant goal and providing assists for Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.\nHistory maker\nDespite Man City’s highly underwhelming 2019/20 campaign, De Bruyne was still an absolute superstar.\nThe playmaker was astonishing once again, scoring 13 goals and assisting 20 – only Thierry Henry has ever assisted as many in a single season. This form earned him the PFA Player of the Year award, becoming the first Man City player to ever scoop the prize.",
"Kevin De Bruyne's best moments for Manchester City",
"A look back at Kevin De Bruyne's best moments in a Manchester City shirt, as the Belgian playmaker hits 100 assists for the Cityzens."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-20T13:24:32 | null | 2021-01-20T11:44:28 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fjames-maddison-chelsea-leicester%2F328099%2F.json
|
en
| null |
James Maddison digs out Chelsea boss over tactical flaws
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Leicester City on Tuesday has cranked up the pressure on manager Frank Lampard.
The result left the Blues eighth in the Premier League and in danger of slipping out of the race for European qualification.
Lampard’s lack of tactical acumen was brutally exposed by Leicester – a point hammered home by midfielder James Maddison after the game.
In an interview with Sky Sports, the 24-year-old admitted that the Foxes had deliberately targeted Chelsea’s weaknesses at set-pieces.
“We worked on it – we looked at Chelsea with little short corners and being creative,” he said.
“We saw they switch off sometimes from set-pieces and we knew that was something we could pick on.
“We haven’t scored enough goals from set-pieces. I’m pulling my hair out sometimes as the corner taker!
“You look at the stats that come up, it says ‘goals scored from set-pieces, Leicester City bottom of the table’, so it’s really nice to see one come off. A bit of a relief, actually!”
SL View
Maddison’s comments are a damning indictment of Lampard’s failure to ensure that his team is properly organised.
Despite spending more than £200 million last summer, Lampard appears to have no idea about his best line-up.
Having spent that amount of money, a basic expectation would be for the team to be able to defend set-pieces.
Chelsea are currently playing like a team of strangers – one that is devoid of identity or much in the way of a tactical plan.
Lampard got lucky when he was appointed as Chelsea manager, having failed to get Derby County promoted from the Championship.
He is increasingly looking out of his depth, and it will be a major surprise if he manages to see out the season.
|
https://sportslens.com/james-maddison-chelsea-leicester/328099/
|
en
| 2021-01-20T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/6de116bcc9911348033b4c32a4ebe3fb7a7dc24da179efdca9522daf5eac69a8.json
|
[
"Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Leicester City on Tuesday has cranked up the pressure on manager Frank Lampard.\nThe result left the Blues eighth in the Premier League and in danger of slipping out of the race for European qualification.\nLampard’s lack of tactical acumen was brutally exposed by Leicester – a point hammered home by midfielder James Maddison after the game.\nIn an interview with Sky Sports, the 24-year-old admitted that the Foxes had deliberately targeted Chelsea’s weaknesses at set-pieces.\n“We worked on it – we looked at Chelsea with little short corners and being creative,” he said.\n“We saw they switch off sometimes from set-pieces and we knew that was something we could pick on.\n“We haven’t scored enough goals from set-pieces. I’m pulling my hair out sometimes as the corner taker!\n“You look at the stats that come up, it says ‘goals scored from set-pieces, Leicester City bottom of the table’, so it’s really nice to see one come off. A bit of a relief, actually!”\nSL View\nMaddison’s comments are a damning indictment of Lampard’s failure to ensure that his team is properly organised.\nDespite spending more than £200 million last summer, Lampard appears to have no idea about his best line-up.\nHaving spent that amount of money, a basic expectation would be for the team to be able to defend set-pieces.\nChelsea are currently playing like a team of strangers – one that is devoid of identity or much in the way of a tactical plan.\nLampard got lucky when he was appointed as Chelsea manager, having failed to get Derby County promoted from the Championship.\nHe is increasingly looking out of his depth, and it will be a major surprise if he manages to see out the season.",
"James Maddison digs out Chelsea boss over tactical flaws"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-13T07:52:57 | null | 2021-01-13T07:46:48 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fmanchester-united-liverpool-dayot-upamecano-transfer%2F326536%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Manchester United and Liverpool urged to sign Dayot Upamecano
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Player recruitment expert David Webb has urged Manchester United and Liverpool to make a move for RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano.
The centre-back has been linked with most of Europe’s top clubs following some hugely impressive performances for the Bundesliga outfit.
Webb, who has held recruitment positions with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth, has tracked Upamecano’s progress since first seeing him play for France U17s.
“His pedigree over the last few years has developed into a top central defender, given his physical profile, and he’s very comfortable on the ball,” Webb told Sky Sports.
“He’s a player that really likes to defend, which you don’t see too often in the modern game. He’s got those old-fashioned warrior traits where he likes to defend first and play second.
“He’s very comfortable on the ball, can play out from the back and can break lines with passes – which a lot of the top teams look at – but first and foremost he likes to actually defend.
“Also given his current contract situation at the moment, he’s an appealing one for both sides looking to add quality in defensive areas.”
SL View – Dayot Upamecano
Upamecano is one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe at the moment, and it is not difficult to see why.
He was a dominant presence in Leipzig’s run to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season and has continued in the same vein this term.
The addition of a top-class centre-back to United or Liverpool could be the difference between them winning silverware or failure over the coming seasons.
Both clubs have struggled with injuries to central defenders and are in need of strengthening in that area.
Upamecano’s release clause of £40 million undoubtedly represents good value in a market where quality defenders can be hard to find.
|
https://sportslens.com/manchester-united-liverpool-dayot-upamecano-transfer/326536/
|
en
| 2021-01-13T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/87048e72e80a45446d412cf695bf301f617302fb25b227bf3bbdb800494f4a74.json
|
[
"Player recruitment expert David Webb has urged Manchester United and Liverpool to make a move for RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano.\nThe centre-back has been linked with most of Europe’s top clubs following some hugely impressive performances for the Bundesliga outfit.\nWebb, who has held recruitment positions with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth, has tracked Upamecano’s progress since first seeing him play for France U17s.\n“His pedigree over the last few years has developed into a top central defender, given his physical profile, and he’s very comfortable on the ball,” Webb told Sky Sports.\n“He’s a player that really likes to defend, which you don’t see too often in the modern game. He’s got those old-fashioned warrior traits where he likes to defend first and play second.\n“He’s very comfortable on the ball, can play out from the back and can break lines with passes – which a lot of the top teams look at – but first and foremost he likes to actually defend.\n“Also given his current contract situation at the moment, he’s an appealing one for both sides looking to add quality in defensive areas.”\nSL View – Dayot Upamecano\nUpamecano is one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe at the moment, and it is not difficult to see why.\nHe was a dominant presence in Leipzig’s run to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season and has continued in the same vein this term.\nThe addition of a top-class centre-back to United or Liverpool could be the difference between them winning silverware or failure over the coming seasons.\nBoth clubs have struggled with injuries to central defenders and are in need of strengthening in that area.\nUpamecano’s release clause of £40 million undoubtedly represents good value in a market where quality defenders can be hard to find.",
"Manchester United and Liverpool urged to sign Dayot Upamecano"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-14T18:34:07 | null | 2021-01-14T17:44:45 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fpremier-league-liverpool-manchester-united%2F326912%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Liverpool vs Manchester United: Will VAR play a role on Sunday?
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Video Assistant Referee. The mere mention of VAR will probably leave many of you gnashing your teeth and that is a perfectly understandable reaction.
Follow any live Premier League game on social media and you’ll undoubtedly see plenty of negativity about VAR.
For instance, exhibit number one:
It could have been a red card for either side – a big decision for the referee! After a lengthy review, the hosts are awarded a free-kick and Luke Shaw is yellow carded… 📺 Watch on Sky Sports!
📱 Follow #BURMUN here: https://t.co/JPE6syy79J
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/SRHlzVbobA — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 12, 2021
The VAR-related anger in the replies to that tweet were topped by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during Manchester United’s game at Burnley.
The Red Devils’ manager was overheard uttering ‘Load of f****** nonsense’ on the sidelines after a controversial VAR call went against his team.
Incidents involving Luke Shaw and Edinson Cavani took around three years for VAR to resolve, leaving Solskjaer completely perplexed at proceedings.
The Norwegian hasn’t been alone in venting his frustration about the new technology, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp another vocal critic of the system.
Just earlier this week he launched into an amusing rant, questioning how many penalties United have been awarded over the past few years in comparison with his own team.
His comments came after Liverpool were denied two spot-kicks in Monday’s defeat at Southampton, although both decisions looked correct.
All of these recent fun-and-games have nicely set the stage for what could prove to be a pivotal fixture in this season’s title race.
United’s 1-0 victory at Turf Moor moved them three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table, sparking talk that they are now genuine title contenders.
A victory at Anfield would give United a handy cushion heading into the second half of the season, but the reigning champions will be keen to stop them in their tracks.
Whatever the outcome of the game, most fans will be hoping that VAR controversies don’t overshadow what could be a classic encounter.
However, given that you can spell the word ‘penalty’ from referee Paul Tierney’s name, don’t be surprised to see at least one of the managers tearing their hair out this weekend.
|
https://sportslens.com/premier-league-liverpool-manchester-united/326912/
|
en
| 2021-01-14T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/e10f9c190542927f999e3cf73dfca0de51cfaa31826a7df7fcc3605b0b438c1e.json
|
[
"Video Assistant Referee. The mere mention of VAR will probably leave many of you gnashing your teeth and that is a perfectly understandable reaction.\nFollow any live Premier League game on social media and you’ll undoubtedly see plenty of negativity about VAR.\nFor instance, exhibit number one:\nIt could have been a red card for either side – a big decision for the referee! After a lengthy review, the hosts are awarded a free-kick and Luke Shaw is yellow carded… 📺 Watch on Sky Sports!\n📱 Follow #BURMUN here: https://t.co/JPE6syy79J\n📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/SRHlzVbobA — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 12, 2021\nThe VAR-related anger in the replies to that tweet were topped by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during Manchester United’s game at Burnley.\nThe Red Devils’ manager was overheard uttering ‘Load of f****** nonsense’ on the sidelines after a controversial VAR call went against his team.\nIncidents involving Luke Shaw and Edinson Cavani took around three years for VAR to resolve, leaving Solskjaer completely perplexed at proceedings.\nThe Norwegian hasn’t been alone in venting his frustration about the new technology, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp another vocal critic of the system.\nJust earlier this week he launched into an amusing rant, questioning how many penalties United have been awarded over the past few years in comparison with his own team.\nHis comments came after Liverpool were denied two spot-kicks in Monday’s defeat at Southampton, although both decisions looked correct.\nAll of these recent fun-and-games have nicely set the stage for what could prove to be a pivotal fixture in this season’s title race.\nUnited’s 1-0 victory at Turf Moor moved them three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table, sparking talk that they are now genuine title contenders.\nA victory at Anfield would give United a handy cushion heading into the second half of the season, but the reigning champions will be keen to stop them in their tracks.\nWhatever the outcome of the game, most fans will be hoping that VAR controversies don’t overshadow what could be a classic encounter.\nHowever, given that you can spell the word ‘penalty’ from referee Paul Tierney’s name, don’t be surprised to see at least one of the managers tearing their hair out this weekend.",
"Liverpool vs Manchester United: Will VAR play a role on Sunday?"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-06T14:01:22 | null | 2021-01-06T12:33:02 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fswansea-city-make-contact-with-arsenal-for-folarin-balogun%2F325206%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Swansea City make contact with Arsenal for Folarin Balogun
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Championship club Swansea City have made contact with Arsenal over a potential loan deal for Folarin Balogun this month, a report from Football Insider claims.
The 19-year-old is regarded as one of the Gunners’ promising young graduates and he has already made an impact with two goals in the Europa League off the bench.
However, he has yet to make his Premier League debut and is currently in a position where he can speak with foreign clubs, having entered the final six months of his contract.
Swansea have had an impressive season in the Championship where they are placed second in the table and they are said to be keen on pursuing a new striker.
Michael Obafemi of Southampton was identified as a potential loan target, but their interest ended after he picked up a significant muscle injury.
Hence, they appear to have switched their attention towards Balogun, but they are only looking to sign him on a temporary basis.
Balogun was initially fancied to leave the Gunners during last summer’s transfer window and Sheffield United made an approach to sign him.
However, they could not make the breakthrough in the negotiations and Balogun has since made only five senior appearances totalling 74 minutes.
In his short time, he has already shown that he has an eye for goal and it remains to be seen whether Steve Cooper’s side can convince the Gunners to loan him out.
The Swans have been the best defensive side in the Championship this term with only 13 goals conceded, but they hold only the 10th-best scoring record (27 goals from 23 games).
Balogun has yet to taste league action, but he does have plenty of potential and could have a similar impact to Rhian Brewster for Swansea during the backend of last season.
Brewster was a huge hit with 11 goals from 22 outings on loan from Liverpool and Balogun has shown from his academy days that he is a regular in finding the back of the net.
Still, a loan move may be dependent on whether the Gunners are able to negotiate a contract renewal with the teenager in the coming days.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
|
https://sportslens.com/swansea-city-make-contact-with-arsenal-for-folarin-balogun/325206/
|
en
| 2021-01-06T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/1c4009bf03bbe71840982af97b122beb98962a38e54f35e85c9e35942963c020.json
|
[
"Championship club Swansea City have made contact with Arsenal over a potential loan deal for Folarin Balogun this month, a report from Football Insider claims.\nThe 19-year-old is regarded as one of the Gunners’ promising young graduates and he has already made an impact with two goals in the Europa League off the bench.\nHowever, he has yet to make his Premier League debut and is currently in a position where he can speak with foreign clubs, having entered the final six months of his contract.\nSwansea have had an impressive season in the Championship where they are placed second in the table and they are said to be keen on pursuing a new striker.\nMichael Obafemi of Southampton was identified as a potential loan target, but their interest ended after he picked up a significant muscle injury.\nHence, they appear to have switched their attention towards Balogun, but they are only looking to sign him on a temporary basis.\nBalogun was initially fancied to leave the Gunners during last summer’s transfer window and Sheffield United made an approach to sign him.\nHowever, they could not make the breakthrough in the negotiations and Balogun has since made only five senior appearances totalling 74 minutes.\nIn his short time, he has already shown that he has an eye for goal and it remains to be seen whether Steve Cooper’s side can convince the Gunners to loan him out.\nThe Swans have been the best defensive side in the Championship this term with only 13 goals conceded, but they hold only the 10th-best scoring record (27 goals from 23 games).\nBalogun has yet to taste league action, but he does have plenty of potential and could have a similar impact to Rhian Brewster for Swansea during the backend of last season.\nBrewster was a huge hit with 11 goals from 22 outings on loan from Liverpool and Balogun has shown from his academy days that he is a regular in finding the back of the net.\nStill, a loan move may be dependent on whether the Gunners are able to negotiate a contract renewal with the teenager in the coming days.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"Swansea City make contact with Arsenal for Folarin Balogun"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-04T23:35:47 | null | 2021-01-04T22:52:31 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fliverpool-keeping-tabs-on-bragas-david-carmo%2F324649%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Liverpool keeping tabs on Braga's David Carmo
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Liverpool have been linked with a host of defenders in the recent weeks and it seems that the Braga defender David Carmo is a target for the Premier League champions.
The 21-year-old defender has been likened to Virgil van Dijk because of his commanding playing style and it will be interesting to see if Liverpool move for the defender this month.
The youngster is likely to be tempted if a club like Liverpool come calling in January but Braga might not be willing to weaken their squad midway through the season.
It will be interesting to see if Liverpool can convince the Portuguese outfit to cash in on the young defender this month. The Reds have been linked with the likes of Maximilian Wober as well.
According to reports via independent, Liverpool are looking to sign a defender for a nominal fee and the likes of David Carmo and Sven Botman could be available for a reasonable outlay.
Liverpool are in a defensive crisis and signing a quality centre back could be a huge morale boost for them right now. Jurgen Klopp has had to rely on unproven youngsters like Rhys Williams to start in Champions League and Premier League games.
Although the likes of Botman and Carmo are pretty young as well, they are far more developed and mature right now.
The Liverpool manager could help them improve further just like he has done with Joe Gomez.
|
https://sportslens.com/liverpool-keeping-tabs-on-bragas-david-carmo/324649/
|
en
| 2021-01-04T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/55ba958d3c4f100474353b70af6e88845236a5c13fd727aa2e4b49b053432177.json
|
[
"Liverpool have been linked with a host of defenders in the recent weeks and it seems that the Braga defender David Carmo is a target for the Premier League champions.\nThe 21-year-old defender has been likened to Virgil van Dijk because of his commanding playing style and it will be interesting to see if Liverpool move for the defender this month.\nThe youngster is likely to be tempted if a club like Liverpool come calling in January but Braga might not be willing to weaken their squad midway through the season.\nIt will be interesting to see if Liverpool can convince the Portuguese outfit to cash in on the young defender this month. The Reds have been linked with the likes of Maximilian Wober as well.\nAccording to reports via independent, Liverpool are looking to sign a defender for a nominal fee and the likes of David Carmo and Sven Botman could be available for a reasonable outlay.\nLiverpool are in a defensive crisis and signing a quality centre back could be a huge morale boost for them right now. Jurgen Klopp has had to rely on unproven youngsters like Rhys Williams to start in Champions League and Premier League games.\nAlthough the likes of Botman and Carmo are pretty young as well, they are far more developed and mature right now.\nThe Liverpool manager could help them improve further just like he has done with Joe Gomez.",
"Liverpool keeping tabs on Braga's David Carmo"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-26T23:40:11 | null | 2021-01-26T21:05:45 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fpredicted-celtic-starting-line-up-vs-hamilton-2%2F329537%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Predicted Celtic starting line-up vs Hamilton
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Celtic host Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership tomorrow night and they will be hoping to extend their impressive run of form against their opponents with a win.
The Champions have won their last 14 matches against Hamilton and they will be confident of a good result.
Despite the dip in form this season they are still undefeated in 30 of their last 32 League games. Celtic must put together a winning run now if they want to stand any chance in the title race.
Meanwhile, Hamilton are coming into this game on the back of five winless matches in their last six and they will be the underdogs here.
Celtic haven’t been any better in their last few matches, failing to win their previous four games in the league.
Neil Lennon is under pressure to turn his team’s form around and he will be desperate for his team to produce a positive performance.
Christopher Jullien is ruled out with an injury and Scott Brown is suspended. James Forrest remains an injury doubt for the hosts.
Predicted Celtic starting line-up: Barkas, Ajer, Duffy, Bitton, Taylor, Soro, Christie, Turnbull, McGregor, Elyounoussi, Griffiths.
Lennon is unlikely to make any changes to the side that drew against Livingston last time out.
|
https://sportslens.com/predicted-celtic-starting-line-up-vs-hamilton-2/329537/
|
en
| 2021-01-26T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/90bca65ecc5b3f8043b025987119cadad82b906b02f5554ed503913fe4fc65c5.json
|
[
"Celtic host Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership tomorrow night and they will be hoping to extend their impressive run of form against their opponents with a win.\nThe Champions have won their last 14 matches against Hamilton and they will be confident of a good result.\nDespite the dip in form this season they are still undefeated in 30 of their last 32 League games. Celtic must put together a winning run now if they want to stand any chance in the title race.\nMeanwhile, Hamilton are coming into this game on the back of five winless matches in their last six and they will be the underdogs here.\nCeltic haven’t been any better in their last few matches, failing to win their previous four games in the league.\nNeil Lennon is under pressure to turn his team’s form around and he will be desperate for his team to produce a positive performance.\nChristopher Jullien is ruled out with an injury and Scott Brown is suspended. James Forrest remains an injury doubt for the hosts.\nPredicted Celtic starting line-up: Barkas, Ajer, Duffy, Bitton, Taylor, Soro, Christie, Turnbull, McGregor, Elyounoussi, Griffiths.\nLennon is unlikely to make any changes to the side that drew against Livingston last time out.",
"Predicted Celtic starting line-up vs Hamilton"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-15T07:49:21 | null | 2021-01-15T07:20:36 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-celtic-interested-in-signing-aston-villa-youngster-aaron-ramsey%2F327005%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Celtic interested in signing Aston Villa youngster Aaron Ramsey
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to reports from the Daily Mail, Scottish champions Celtic and Dutch giants Ajax are interested in signing Aston Villa youngster Aaron Ramsey.
Aaron is the brother of Jacob Ramsey who has made nine appearances for the first team this season already.
The 17-year-old is attracting interest from across Europe, but Villa are keen to tie him up on a lucrative deal.
His existing contract expires at the end of the season and several clubs are vying for his signature.
The report claims that Villa are ready to offer the England youth international fresh terms and they are hopeful that he will stay put.
At the same time, the matter has been complicated following strong interests from heavyweight clubs Celtic and Ajax.
Ramsey is one of the top talents in Villa’s academy, and the club is now at risk of losing him for free in the summer.
It has been stated that both Celtic and Ajax are almost certain to make an offer for the youngster.
SL View: Celtic move attractive
This has been a disastrous season for the Hoops, and the club need to undertake a massive rebuilding program in the summer.
A lot of players will be shipped out, and exciting fresh talents are likely to be recruited.
While progressing through the club’s academy should be a matter of pride for the youngster, the offer of playing in one of the biggest clubs in the world is equally tempting.
At Celtic, he is likely to get more first-team opportunities and exposure to European games, and it can help him grow as a player.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-celtic-interested-in-signing-aston-villa-youngster-aaron-ramsey/327005/
|
en
| 2021-01-15T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/764cfcda43be50aad991a613b4ea80131df3470678851d4de80238e8f691c38d.json
|
[
"According to reports from the Daily Mail, Scottish champions Celtic and Dutch giants Ajax are interested in signing Aston Villa youngster Aaron Ramsey.\nAaron is the brother of Jacob Ramsey who has made nine appearances for the first team this season already.\nThe 17-year-old is attracting interest from across Europe, but Villa are keen to tie him up on a lucrative deal.\nHis existing contract expires at the end of the season and several clubs are vying for his signature.\nThe report claims that Villa are ready to offer the England youth international fresh terms and they are hopeful that he will stay put.\nAt the same time, the matter has been complicated following strong interests from heavyweight clubs Celtic and Ajax.\nRamsey is one of the top talents in Villa’s academy, and the club is now at risk of losing him for free in the summer.\nIt has been stated that both Celtic and Ajax are almost certain to make an offer for the youngster.\nSL View: Celtic move attractive\nThis has been a disastrous season for the Hoops, and the club need to undertake a massive rebuilding program in the summer.\nA lot of players will be shipped out, and exciting fresh talents are likely to be recruited.\nWhile progressing through the club’s academy should be a matter of pride for the youngster, the offer of playing in one of the biggest clubs in the world is equally tempting.\nAt Celtic, he is likely to get more first-team opportunities and exposure to European games, and it can help him grow as a player.",
"Report: Celtic interested in signing Aston Villa youngster Aaron Ramsey"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-15T13:14:04 | null | 2021-01-15T11:43:09 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fleeds-transfer-latest-christian-kouame%2F327107%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Fiorentina considering future of Leeds target Christian Kouame
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Italian club Fiorentina are ‘considering the future’ of Christian Kouame.
A host of clubs have shown interest in signing the striker, including Verona and Turin. The 23-year-old forward has endured a difficult campaign but Fiorentina are unlikely to sell him this month, unless there’s a concrete offer.
He has made 19 appearances for La Viola this season, and scored in the Coppa Italia against Inter Milan.
Di Marzio claims that Fiorentina would only consider a bid of €20 million (£17m) or more to sell the striker.
Leeds United are also interested in signing him. Italian media outlet La Nazione claimed in December that Marcelo Bielsa personally enquired about the striker.
SL View: Leeds unlikely to move for him
Leeds are unlikely to make any major signings in the January transfer window.
There have been suggestions from various pundits that the Whites should look to sign a striker who can be a reliable back-up option for Patrick Bamford.
Marcelo Bielsa could explore that area in the summer, but Leeds are unlikely to sign a striker this month.
The Whites can use Rodrigo Moreno, the club-record signing, as a striker, although he has mostly played in the attacking midfield areas.
Tyler Roberts could be another option for the Whites.
Leeds have done well so far since their return to the Premier League, and their primary focus is survival. Although an additional striker would have been ideal, it’s hard to see Leeds moving for Kouame in the January market.
|
https://sportslens.com/leeds-transfer-latest-christian-kouame/327107/
|
en
| 2021-01-15T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/c5149567ad02f70d4d8439109f825fcb2d0be53d280829b86a5f2cb527255abd.json
|
[
"According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Italian club Fiorentina are ‘considering the future’ of Christian Kouame.\nA host of clubs have shown interest in signing the striker, including Verona and Turin. The 23-year-old forward has endured a difficult campaign but Fiorentina are unlikely to sell him this month, unless there’s a concrete offer.\nHe has made 19 appearances for La Viola this season, and scored in the Coppa Italia against Inter Milan.\nDi Marzio claims that Fiorentina would only consider a bid of €20 million (£17m) or more to sell the striker.\nLeeds United are also interested in signing him. Italian media outlet La Nazione claimed in December that Marcelo Bielsa personally enquired about the striker.\nSL View: Leeds unlikely to move for him\nLeeds are unlikely to make any major signings in the January transfer window.\nThere have been suggestions from various pundits that the Whites should look to sign a striker who can be a reliable back-up option for Patrick Bamford.\nMarcelo Bielsa could explore that area in the summer, but Leeds are unlikely to sign a striker this month.\nThe Whites can use Rodrigo Moreno, the club-record signing, as a striker, although he has mostly played in the attacking midfield areas.\nTyler Roberts could be another option for the Whites.\nLeeds have done well so far since their return to the Premier League, and their primary focus is survival. Although an additional striker would have been ideal, it’s hard to see Leeds moving for Kouame in the January market.",
"Report: Fiorentina considering future of Leeds target Christian Kouame"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-28T15:28:28 | null | 2021-01-28T13:14:15 |
Middlesbrough have brought in Everton winger Yannick Bolasie on loan until the end of the season as they look to reinforce their ranks for a play-off push.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fyannick-bolasie-joins-middlesbrough-on-loan%2F330016%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Yannick Bolasie joins Middlesbrough on loan
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Everton winger Yannick Bolasie has joined Middlesbrough on loan until the end of the season, as confirmed by the Premier League side’s official website.
Bolasie joined Everton in the summer transfer window of 2017, arriving from Crystal Palace for an estimated £25 million fee.
His time at Goodison Park has not worked out as hoped, with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee keeping him sidelined for over a year.
At the Toffees, he has made just 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice. Back in October, manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the winger was not part of his plans and was free to leave the club.
He has now moved to Middlesbrough on loan until the end of the season, Everton confirmed via their official website.
This will be Bolasie’s fourth loan spell since leaving Crystal Palace, having spent the last two seasons at Aston Villa, Anderlecht and Sporting Lisbon.
The DR Congo international will come as a boost for Middlesbrough in their bid for promotion to the Premier League. The Northern club are currently in seventh place, just three points off a play-off spot.
However, the club have recently hit a poor run of form, losing four of their last five outings in all competitions. During that spell, they have scored only three goals while failing to keep a clean sheet, most recently falling to a 3-0 home defeat to relegation-threatened Rotherham United.
Bolasie will get the opportunity to reunite with former manager Neil Warnock. The two worked together during Warnock’s second stint in charge of Crystal Palace back in 2014, which only lasted for four months.
The 31-year-old is out of contract in the summer, so it is looking highly likely that he will never appear for Everton again.
|
https://sportslens.com/yannick-bolasie-joins-middlesbrough-on-loan/330016/
|
en
| 2021-01-28T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/a563b6c66497440be7817f70501d7c9245f514377afd4f686696b1a97fd1f7f3.json
|
[
"Everton winger Yannick Bolasie has joined Middlesbrough on loan until the end of the season, as confirmed by the Premier League side’s official website.\nBolasie joined Everton in the summer transfer window of 2017, arriving from Crystal Palace for an estimated £25 million fee.\nHis time at Goodison Park has not worked out as hoped, with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee keeping him sidelined for over a year.\nAt the Toffees, he has made just 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice. Back in October, manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the winger was not part of his plans and was free to leave the club.\nHe has now moved to Middlesbrough on loan until the end of the season, Everton confirmed via their official website.\nThis will be Bolasie’s fourth loan spell since leaving Crystal Palace, having spent the last two seasons at Aston Villa, Anderlecht and Sporting Lisbon.\nThe DR Congo international will come as a boost for Middlesbrough in their bid for promotion to the Premier League. The Northern club are currently in seventh place, just three points off a play-off spot.\nHowever, the club have recently hit a poor run of form, losing four of their last five outings in all competitions. During that spell, they have scored only three goals while failing to keep a clean sheet, most recently falling to a 3-0 home defeat to relegation-threatened Rotherham United.\nBolasie will get the opportunity to reunite with former manager Neil Warnock. The two worked together during Warnock’s second stint in charge of Crystal Palace back in 2014, which only lasted for four months.\nThe 31-year-old is out of contract in the summer, so it is looking highly likely that he will never appear for Everton again.",
"Yannick Bolasie joins Middlesbrough on loan",
"Middlesbrough have brought in Everton winger Yannick Bolasie on loan until the end of the season as they look to reinforce their ranks for a play-off push."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-19T10:04:40 | null | 2021-01-19T09:31:35 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fgary-lineker-raves-about-arsenal-forward-pierre-emerick-aubameyang%2F327792%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Gary Lineker raves about Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Former England striker turned popular football pundit Gary Lineker has showered heaps of praise on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Arsenal’s Premier League win over Newcastle United.
The Gunners won 3-0 against the Magpies on Monday night to move up to 10th in the Premier League.
Aubameyang scored twice and Bukayo Saka added another as Mikel Arteta’s side picked up all three points at the Emirates Stadium.
The 31-year-old striker scored 29 goals in all competitions last season, but he has struggled to hit that kind of form this time around.
Lineker, however, has praised him on Twitter using a common adage:
Great goal from @Aubameyang7. Form is temporary, class is permanent. — Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) January 18, 2021
SL View: Arsenal revival continues
Just a month ago, the Gunners were struggling badly in the league, failing to win seven games in a row.
However, it seems they have turned it around, with four wins in their last five Premier League games.
Aubameyang has now taken his league total to five for the campaign and Arteta will be very pleased to see him returning to form.
The Gabon striker missed some good chances during the game but, in the end, it was a comfortable victory for the home side.
Arsenal are now seven points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool in the last Champions League qualifying spot.
The Gunners enjoyed 66% of possession and attempted 20 shots during the game, according to BBC Sport.
|
https://sportslens.com/gary-lineker-raves-about-arsenal-forward-pierre-emerick-aubameyang/327792/
|
en
| 2021-01-19T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/486eca61dce62f4b122624ff533a93286d5da53bf9bdfbd950a2a804695f0dc2.json
|
[
"Former England striker turned popular football pundit Gary Lineker has showered heaps of praise on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Arsenal’s Premier League win over Newcastle United.\nThe Gunners won 3-0 against the Magpies on Monday night to move up to 10th in the Premier League.\nAubameyang scored twice and Bukayo Saka added another as Mikel Arteta’s side picked up all three points at the Emirates Stadium.\nThe 31-year-old striker scored 29 goals in all competitions last season, but he has struggled to hit that kind of form this time around.\nLineker, however, has praised him on Twitter using a common adage:\nGreat goal from @Aubameyang7. Form is temporary, class is permanent. — Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) January 18, 2021\nSL View: Arsenal revival continues\nJust a month ago, the Gunners were struggling badly in the league, failing to win seven games in a row.\nHowever, it seems they have turned it around, with four wins in their last five Premier League games.\nAubameyang has now taken his league total to five for the campaign and Arteta will be very pleased to see him returning to form.\nThe Gabon striker missed some good chances during the game but, in the end, it was a comfortable victory for the home side.\nArsenal are now seven points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool in the last Champions League qualifying spot.\nThe Gunners enjoyed 66% of possession and attempted 20 shots during the game, according to BBC Sport.",
"Gary Lineker raves about Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-25T11:38:08 | null | 2021-01-25T08:14:32 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Ftactical-analysis-how-manchester-united-battled-their-way-past-liverpool-in-the-fa-cup%2F329106%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Tactical analysis: How Manchester United battled their way past Liverpool in the FA Cup
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
A week after Liverpool and Manchester United played out an intriguing 0-0 draw at Anfield in the Premier League, the two old foes met again, this time on the pretext of the FA Cup’s Fourth Round.
A goal-packed clash ensued, and finally, it was Manchester United who emerged 3-2 winners thanks to goals from Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.
In this analysis, we will take a look at how they pulled it off:
Lineups
Manchester United played in a 4-2-3-1 with Dean Henderson continuing as the Cup goalkeeper. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelöf, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw made up the back-four, while Scott McTominay partnered Paul Pogba in holding midfield. Donny van de Beek got a surprise start as a number 10, with Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford on either side of him. Edinson Cavani led the line.
Jürgen Klopp deployed a 4-3-3 for Liverpool with Alisson keeping his spot in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Rhys Williams, Fabinho and Andy Roberston were the four defenders, while Georginio Wijnaldum, Thiago Alcântara and James Milner completed the midfield. The front-three included familiar faces in Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, but Curtis Jones was a bit of a surprise inclusion on the left.
Manchester United out of possession
With just over 40% of possession, Manchester United found themselves defending quite often. Here is a how they did it:
United defended in their 4-2-3-1 formation, with each midfielder marking a Liverpool counterpart with the ball in the opposition half.
Depending on which side the ball was moved to, one of the wingers pushed up alongside Cavani to press.
Further back, United maintained their 4-2-3-1, but they made their lines a lot more compact, as you can see above.
Liverpool’s changed system
The selection of Jones on the left of attack was a surprise for many, and it brought along a change in system for Liverpool.
Liverpool too pressed in a 4-2-3-1, with Wijnaldum pushing a bit further up than the other two midfielders. The wingers – Salah and Jones – were used to try and trap either of the Manchester United holding midfielders along with Wijnaldum, while also keeping an eye on the full-backs. The Dutch midfielder angled his runs in such a way that one of the United pivots would be in his overshadow, while his momentum would take him to the other.
Further back, Liverpool defended in a 4-4-2, with Salah joining Firmino up front, while Jones went to the left of the midfield line and Wijnaldum went to the opposite side.
While playing out from the back, Liverpool often looked to advance into the opposition half through Manchester United’s right, where Greenwood was targeted. Jones would drop back to outnumber the United academy graduate along with Robertson, allowing one of the two to advance through the half-space between Greenwood and van de Beek.
Milner made late runs into the box from midfield, trying to overload the penalty area. Above, you can see that he is stalking in undetected as the United defence is concentrating on Salah, Firmino and Jones.
Milner’s late run was what made Liverpool’s second goal – he got into a pocket of space inside the penalty area without being tracked, and with the United defence believing that he was going to shoot, he left the ball to Salah, who finished in style.
Firmino often dropped in between the lines to receive the ball on the half-turn and look for a teammate further forward. That teammate usually was Salah, who did not hold his width, drifting inside instead.
From such positions, Salah could use his pace to run at the Manchester United defence, particularly exploiting the gap between the centre-back and full-back. That is precisely how he opened the scoring.
Salah’s inward movements also vacated space for his full-back, Alexander-Arnold, who had a field day on the right, particularly in the first half.
You can see just that above – Salah has gone inside, with Shaw following suit. Rashford is nowhere near Alexander-Arnold, who has an acre of space on the right.
Of course, a simple overlapping run worked too, as Rashford failed to track Alexander-Arnold back.
While this system worked for the majority of the match, it’s one big weakness was Alexander-Arnold being out of position when the ball was turned over quickly. This was thoroughly exploited:
Manchester United’s counterattacking threat
As ever, Manchester United relied on counterattacks to deal their damage. Both of their first two goals came from such situations, so let’s take a look at how they worked.
Rashford’s failure to track Alexander-Arnold back meant that he was free on the left if Manchester United turned over possession. With the full-back often overlapping Salah, Rashford had an exceeding amount of freedom on the wing in counterattacking situations.
On the opposite side, the pace of Greenwood was used to hurt the Liverpool defence, as he too would often be ahead of Robertson on the break. Rashford found him multiple times with sweeping crossfield balls, and this was the one which led to United’s goal.
Alternatively, Rashford could go on with the ball, looking to slip a teammate through on goal from the edge of the box.
The reverse worked for United’s second goal – Greenwood picked the ball up and sent a crossfield to Rashford, who was clear of Alexander-Arnold again, and he too had a cool finish up his sleeve.
The number of United counterattacks in this match was pretty similar to the figure they achieved a week back in the Premier League, but the difference was that they actually finished the moves off and made them count in the FA Cup.
Conclusion
Tactically speaking, United did not spring too many surprises – they defended with discipline and lightly pressed Liverpool, using counterattacks to create their best chances. In this sense, their setup was similar to the one in the Premier League match against Liverpool, but as aforementioned, the difference was that they executed it fully tonight.
As for Liverpool, Klopp’s alternative system with Jones on the left wing didn’t look too bad, but Alexander-Arnold defensive shortfalls hurt him the most, particularly with an inexperienced centre-back in Rhys Williams on the right.
Stats courtesy Whoscored.com
|
https://sportslens.com/tactical-analysis-how-manchester-united-battled-their-way-past-liverpool-in-the-fa-cup/329106/
|
en
| 2021-01-25T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/9947b28f546ff70290fc16c8112d5d9daa0b2dd7b5053f411028a86198bf4319.json
|
[
"A week after Liverpool and Manchester United played out an intriguing 0-0 draw at Anfield in the Premier League, the two old foes met again, this time on the pretext of the FA Cup’s Fourth Round.\nA goal-packed clash ensued, and finally, it was Manchester United who emerged 3-2 winners thanks to goals from Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.\nIn this analysis, we will take a look at how they pulled it off:\nLineups\nManchester United played in a 4-2-3-1 with Dean Henderson continuing as the Cup goalkeeper. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelöf, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw made up the back-four, while Scott McTominay partnered Paul Pogba in holding midfield. Donny van de Beek got a surprise start as a number 10, with Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford on either side of him. Edinson Cavani led the line.\nJürgen Klopp deployed a 4-3-3 for Liverpool with Alisson keeping his spot in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Rhys Williams, Fabinho and Andy Roberston were the four defenders, while Georginio Wijnaldum, Thiago Alcântara and James Milner completed the midfield. The front-three included familiar faces in Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, but Curtis Jones was a bit of a surprise inclusion on the left.\nManchester United out of possession\nWith just over 40% of possession, Manchester United found themselves defending quite often. Here is a how they did it:\nUnited defended in their 4-2-3-1 formation, with each midfielder marking a Liverpool counterpart with the ball in the opposition half.\nDepending on which side the ball was moved to, one of the wingers pushed up alongside Cavani to press.\nFurther back, United maintained their 4-2-3-1, but they made their lines a lot more compact, as you can see above.\nLiverpool’s changed system\nThe selection of Jones on the left of attack was a surprise for many, and it brought along a change in system for Liverpool.\nLiverpool too pressed in a 4-2-3-1, with Wijnaldum pushing a bit further up than the other two midfielders. The wingers – Salah and Jones – were used to try and trap either of the Manchester United holding midfielders along with Wijnaldum, while also keeping an eye on the full-backs. The Dutch midfielder angled his runs in such a way that one of the United pivots would be in his overshadow, while his momentum would take him to the other.\nFurther back, Liverpool defended in a 4-4-2, with Salah joining Firmino up front, while Jones went to the left of the midfield line and Wijnaldum went to the opposite side.\nWhile playing out from the back, Liverpool often looked to advance into the opposition half through Manchester United’s right, where Greenwood was targeted. Jones would drop back to outnumber the United academy graduate along with Robertson, allowing one of the two to advance through the half-space between Greenwood and van de Beek.\nMilner made late runs into the box from midfield, trying to overload the penalty area. Above, you can see that he is stalking in undetected as the United defence is concentrating on Salah, Firmino and Jones.\nMilner’s late run was what made Liverpool’s second goal – he got into a pocket of space inside the penalty area without being tracked, and with the United defence believing that he was going to shoot, he left the ball to Salah, who finished in style.\nFirmino often dropped in between the lines to receive the ball on the half-turn and look for a teammate further forward. That teammate usually was Salah, who did not hold his width, drifting inside instead.\nFrom such positions, Salah could use his pace to run at the Manchester United defence, particularly exploiting the gap between the centre-back and full-back. That is precisely how he opened the scoring.\nSalah’s inward movements also vacated space for his full-back, Alexander-Arnold, who had a field day on the right, particularly in the first half.\nYou can see just that above – Salah has gone inside, with Shaw following suit. Rashford is nowhere near Alexander-Arnold, who has an acre of space on the right.\nOf course, a simple overlapping run worked too, as Rashford failed to track Alexander-Arnold back.\nWhile this system worked for the majority of the match, it’s one big weakness was Alexander-Arnold being out of position when the ball was turned over quickly. This was thoroughly exploited:\nManchester United’s counterattacking threat\nAs ever, Manchester United relied on counterattacks to deal their damage. Both of their first two goals came from such situations, so let’s take a look at how they worked.\nRashford’s failure to track Alexander-Arnold back meant that he was free on the left if Manchester United turned over possession. With the full-back often overlapping Salah, Rashford had an exceeding amount of freedom on the wing in counterattacking situations.\nOn the opposite side, the pace of Greenwood was used to hurt the Liverpool defence, as he too would often be ahead of Robertson on the break. Rashford found him multiple times with sweeping crossfield balls, and this was the one which led to United’s goal.\nAlternatively, Rashford could go on with the ball, looking to slip a teammate through on goal from the edge of the box.\nThe reverse worked for United’s second goal – Greenwood picked the ball up and sent a crossfield to Rashford, who was clear of Alexander-Arnold again, and he too had a cool finish up his sleeve.\nThe number of United counterattacks in this match was pretty similar to the figure they achieved a week back in the Premier League, but the difference was that they actually finished the moves off and made them count in the FA Cup.\nConclusion\nTactically speaking, United did not spring too many surprises – they defended with discipline and lightly pressed Liverpool, using counterattacks to create their best chances. In this sense, their setup was similar to the one in the Premier League match against Liverpool, but as aforementioned, the difference was that they executed it fully tonight.\nAs for Liverpool, Klopp’s alternative system with Jones on the left wing didn’t look too bad, but Alexander-Arnold defensive shortfalls hurt him the most, particularly with an inexperienced centre-back in Rhys Williams on the right.\nStats courtesy Whoscored.com",
"Tactical analysis: How Manchester United battled their way past Liverpool in the FA Cup"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-19T15:21:19 | null | 2021-01-19T14:52:03 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fmanchester-united-transfer-news-medina%2F327928%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Manchester United 'very serious' about signing Facundo Medina
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Manchester United are ‘very serious’ about signing Facundo Medina in the January transfer window, according to reports from La Voix du Nord (h/t The Express).
The report claims that the Red Devils are interested in signing the exciting Lens left-back who has sparkled in Ligue 1 this term.
The Premier League leaders are looking defensively solid at the moment, with the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly all returning to form.
It has been claimed that United could ‘rapidly and officially make a first offer of £10.9million’ for the defender, and immediately loan him back for the rest of the season.
However, the French media outlet has reported that the chances of signing the young defender are ‘slim’.
Sportslens View: United unlikely to make move
United have focussed on signing young talents with big potential in recent years, and the signings of Daniel James, Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo point to the argument.
However, the left-back is one area about which United need not worry at the moment. Luke Shaw has been brilliant this season, while the Red Devils bolstered that department by signing Alex Telles in the summer.
Plus, United have a highly-talented versatile full-back in Brandon Williams who is currently struggling to get enough games for the first team.
It hardly makes sense to stockpile the left-back area when there are other pressing issues that need to be resolved.
Medina is a talented youngster, no doubt, but it looks highly unlikely that United would be at all interested to sign him this month.
|
https://sportslens.com/manchester-united-transfer-news-medina/327928/
|
en
| 2021-01-19T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/b1468de8bb09dc95ebf534ee111be505a2b2fa0a8ef413f24ed3045ad3b875dc.json
|
[
"Manchester United are ‘very serious’ about signing Facundo Medina in the January transfer window, according to reports from La Voix du Nord (h/t The Express).\nThe report claims that the Red Devils are interested in signing the exciting Lens left-back who has sparkled in Ligue 1 this term.\nThe Premier League leaders are looking defensively solid at the moment, with the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly all returning to form.\nIt has been claimed that United could ‘rapidly and officially make a first offer of £10.9million’ for the defender, and immediately loan him back for the rest of the season.\nHowever, the French media outlet has reported that the chances of signing the young defender are ‘slim’.\nSportslens View: United unlikely to make move\nUnited have focussed on signing young talents with big potential in recent years, and the signings of Daniel James, Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo point to the argument.\nHowever, the left-back is one area about which United need not worry at the moment. Luke Shaw has been brilliant this season, while the Red Devils bolstered that department by signing Alex Telles in the summer.\nPlus, United have a highly-talented versatile full-back in Brandon Williams who is currently struggling to get enough games for the first team.\nIt hardly makes sense to stockpile the left-back area when there are other pressing issues that need to be resolved.\nMedina is a talented youngster, no doubt, but it looks highly unlikely that United would be at all interested to sign him this month.",
"Report: Manchester United 'very serious' about signing Facundo Medina"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-30T12:40:27 | null | 2021-01-30T09:39:58 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fcoping-without-kane-a-few-systems-tottenham-hotspur-could-use-in-the-absence-of-their-star-striker%2F330374%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Coping without Kane: A few systems Tottenham Hotspur could use in the absence of their star striker
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
It is that time of year again. We are in January, and Harry Kane has picked up another injury. This time, it doesn’t appear to be so bad – the England international is only expected to miss a few weeks of action as opposed to a number of months.
But, with the football coming thick and fast, Spurs’ star striker could miss over eight matches, including key Premier League clashes against Chelsea and Manchester City where Tottenham’s fading title aspirations might face a final test.
With the league’s top-provider out, José Mourinho’s counter-attacking brand of football is under serious threat, as this might affect Son Heung-min’s performances too considering the fact that the South Korean international has combined with Kane for 13 of his side’s 34 goals, benefitting on nine occasions.
So, it is imperative that Mourinho finds a system without Kane which will preserve Tottenham’s counterattacking style (since this is where Son thrives with his pace), and he needs to be quick about it. Here are a few ideas:
Son as a striker
Looking from the outside, the most obvious opinion would be that Mourinho would persist with what he tried in the second half against Liverpool.
The Portuguese tactician replaced Kane with a winger in Erik Lamela, overlooking some more traditional strikers that were on his bench. With that, he switched to a 4-2-3-1 (Tottenham’s preferred formation this season) with Son as a striker.
Of course, Lamela could be interchanged for any other winger like Lucas Moura or even Gareth Bale (it’s about time he steps up), but the issue in this system is mainly tactical. As we explored in our Liverpool vs Tottenham analysis, Spurs were absolutely blunt with just 0.04 xG in the second half, which came from a solitary shot.
The problem is that without Kane, there is no one to stretch the backline to create space in behind the defence for Son to run into. The 28-year-old forward alone doesn’t pose so much of a goal threat, so he probably wouldn’t work as a sole striker.
A like-for-like replacement
The fact that Mourinho overlooked Carlos Vinícius when he was on the bench in the second half against Liverpool must have been a major hit to the Brazilian striker’s confidence, and it also shows that the ex-Porto manager clearly does not trust the man he himself signed as Kane’s back-up.
Perhaps thumping a two-yard tap-in against plumbers and binmen and celebrating like Mbappé wasn’t the best thing Vinícius has done at Tottenham, but he does have six goals and three assists from six starts in the Europa League and FA Cup, so he can score.
Although he hasn’t started a league match yet, you would think that this is the best chance the Benfica loanee is ever going to get.
The issue with using Vinícius up front is that he perhaps isn’t the right fit for Tottenham’s attacking system. Bringing down long balls are an integral part of it, but the Brazilian striker won 1.2 aerial duels per 90 on average this season – less than half of Kane’s 2.7. The 25-year-old forward also doesn’t possess half of Kane’s creative abilities – his per 90 xA of 0.10 in the league is way lower than Kane’s 0.25.
Bonus mention to using Gareth Bale as a striker:
Mourinho specifically stated that this would not be done, and that is exactly why it deserves a mention.
The best of both worlds
Perhaps the best solution is to use a regular striker alongside Son up front. With the South Korean international playing as a second striker, Tottenham can ensure that he gets in goalscoring positions often.
The 4-4-2 is, of course, one of the best formations from a defensive point of view, and the counterattack is usually one of its main weapons. Teams often retreat into this formation in defence when fielding a 4-2-3-1, so it’s not such a far cry from Tottenham’s favoured shape.
The one issue in this system for Mourinho might be the two-man central midfield, which naturally has a tough time against teams fielding a 4-3-3, one of the most common systems in the modern game. But, that too can be solved.
The tradeoff in the 5-3-2/3-5-2 is width, as the wing-backs have to take control over a flank each all alone, but as far as counter-attacking is concerned, this should not be so much of a problem.
But, there is a solution to this too, which Mourinho himself used in the first half against Liverpool.
The main issue with the 5-4-1/3-4-3 for Spurs is the fact that Son would be dragged too far back while defending to be able to spring a real threat in transition, which is why changing shape out of possession could be the solution.
By switching to a 5-3-2 without the ball, Tottenham can ensure that Son is perfectly positioned to make the most of a turnover anywhere on the pitch, while the three-man midfield would hold out a lot better against systems like a 4-3-3.
Conclusion
Regardless of what solution Mourinho comes up with, he does not have more than a couple of shots to get things working as well as they possibly could be, so he needs to get it right.
The last system that we have suggested seems most likely given the fact that the first one failed spectacularly (on xG terrorism levels) and Vinícius does not seem to have enough of Mourinho’s trust to be used a sole striker.
It’s no Kane, lots of pain for Tottenham, so the question is – what sort of ointment can they procure?
Stats courtesy Transfermarkt.com, Whoscored.com, The xG Philosophy and Fbref.com
|
https://sportslens.com/coping-without-kane-a-few-systems-tottenham-hotspur-could-use-in-the-absence-of-their-star-striker/330374/
|
en
| 2021-01-30T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/3e2ab15a346c9def0e4c3ffd1037e266b4201311e8105df397e9e066ec0df886.json
|
[
"It is that time of year again. We are in January, and Harry Kane has picked up another injury. This time, it doesn’t appear to be so bad – the England international is only expected to miss a few weeks of action as opposed to a number of months.\nBut, with the football coming thick and fast, Spurs’ star striker could miss over eight matches, including key Premier League clashes against Chelsea and Manchester City where Tottenham’s fading title aspirations might face a final test.\nWith the league’s top-provider out, José Mourinho’s counter-attacking brand of football is under serious threat, as this might affect Son Heung-min’s performances too considering the fact that the South Korean international has combined with Kane for 13 of his side’s 34 goals, benefitting on nine occasions.\nSo, it is imperative that Mourinho finds a system without Kane which will preserve Tottenham’s counterattacking style (since this is where Son thrives with his pace), and he needs to be quick about it. Here are a few ideas:\nSon as a striker\nLooking from the outside, the most obvious opinion would be that Mourinho would persist with what he tried in the second half against Liverpool.\nThe Portuguese tactician replaced Kane with a winger in Erik Lamela, overlooking some more traditional strikers that were on his bench. With that, he switched to a 4-2-3-1 (Tottenham’s preferred formation this season) with Son as a striker.\nOf course, Lamela could be interchanged for any other winger like Lucas Moura or even Gareth Bale (it’s about time he steps up), but the issue in this system is mainly tactical. As we explored in our Liverpool vs Tottenham analysis, Spurs were absolutely blunt with just 0.04 xG in the second half, which came from a solitary shot.\nThe problem is that without Kane, there is no one to stretch the backline to create space in behind the defence for Son to run into. The 28-year-old forward alone doesn’t pose so much of a goal threat, so he probably wouldn’t work as a sole striker.\nA like-for-like replacement\nThe fact that Mourinho overlooked Carlos Vinícius when he was on the bench in the second half against Liverpool must have been a major hit to the Brazilian striker’s confidence, and it also shows that the ex-Porto manager clearly does not trust the man he himself signed as Kane’s back-up.\nPerhaps thumping a two-yard tap-in against plumbers and binmen and celebrating like Mbappé wasn’t the best thing Vinícius has done at Tottenham, but he does have six goals and three assists from six starts in the Europa League and FA Cup, so he can score.\nAlthough he hasn’t started a league match yet, you would think that this is the best chance the Benfica loanee is ever going to get.\nThe issue with using Vinícius up front is that he perhaps isn’t the right fit for Tottenham’s attacking system. Bringing down long balls are an integral part of it, but the Brazilian striker won 1.2 aerial duels per 90 on average this season – less than half of Kane’s 2.7. The 25-year-old forward also doesn’t possess half of Kane’s creative abilities – his per 90 xA of 0.10 in the league is way lower than Kane’s 0.25.\nBonus mention to using Gareth Bale as a striker:\nMourinho specifically stated that this would not be done, and that is exactly why it deserves a mention.\nThe best of both worlds\nPerhaps the best solution is to use a regular striker alongside Son up front. With the South Korean international playing as a second striker, Tottenham can ensure that he gets in goalscoring positions often.\nThe 4-4-2 is, of course, one of the best formations from a defensive point of view, and the counterattack is usually one of its main weapons. Teams often retreat into this formation in defence when fielding a 4-2-3-1, so it’s not such a far cry from Tottenham’s favoured shape.\nThe one issue in this system for Mourinho might be the two-man central midfield, which naturally has a tough time against teams fielding a 4-3-3, one of the most common systems in the modern game. But, that too can be solved.\nThe tradeoff in the 5-3-2/3-5-2 is width, as the wing-backs have to take control over a flank each all alone, but as far as counter-attacking is concerned, this should not be so much of a problem.\nBut, there is a solution to this too, which Mourinho himself used in the first half against Liverpool.\nThe main issue with the 5-4-1/3-4-3 for Spurs is the fact that Son would be dragged too far back while defending to be able to spring a real threat in transition, which is why changing shape out of possession could be the solution.\nBy switching to a 5-3-2 without the ball, Tottenham can ensure that Son is perfectly positioned to make the most of a turnover anywhere on the pitch, while the three-man midfield would hold out a lot better against systems like a 4-3-3.\nConclusion\nRegardless of what solution Mourinho comes up with, he does not have more than a couple of shots to get things working as well as they possibly could be, so he needs to get it right.\nThe last system that we have suggested seems most likely given the fact that the first one failed spectacularly (on xG terrorism levels) and Vinícius does not seem to have enough of Mourinho’s trust to be used a sole striker.\nIt’s no Kane, lots of pain for Tottenham, so the question is – what sort of ointment can they procure?\nStats courtesy Transfermarkt.com, Whoscored.com, The xG Philosophy and Fbref.com",
"Coping without Kane: A few systems Tottenham Hotspur could use in the absence of their star striker"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-15T14:45:06 | null | 2021-01-15T11:55:40 |
Due to a financial crisis partially caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Inter Milan may have to sell their most valuable assets to balance the books.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Finter-milan-may-be-forced-to-sell-players-following-heavy-financial-losses%2F327131%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Inter Milan may be forced to sell players following heavy financial losses
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
A mass exodus could be on the cards at Inter Milan, as La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the club is set to post massive financial losses.
The Nerazzurri have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The San Siro holds a capacity of over 80,000, bringing in millions every single matchday.
Antonio Conte has been getting the club back to their best in recent seasons. They finished just one point off the title last term while reaching the Europa League final, and currently sit in second place in Serie A; three points behind leaders and bitter rivals AC Milan.
However, that could all be about to change, with La Gazzetta dello Sport reporting (via Siempre Inter) that Inter could be forced into selling some of their most valuable assets in order to balance the books.
Last year, the club posted a reported loss of over €100 million. La Gazzetta dello Sport states that they have made an even greater loss over the past year. With no clear end in sight for the COVID-19 pandemic, they may have to act quickly to help stay afloat.
Inter are not without valuable players. Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku has amassed over £150m worth of transfer fees throughout his career.
The former Everton man is currently Serie A’s second top goalscorer with 12 goals. At 27 years of age, he still has plenty of market value.
Lautaro Martinez is another who could be on his way out. He has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in the past, while Manchester City have also been rumoured to be interested as they look for a long-term replacement for club legend Sergio Aguero.
|
https://sportslens.com/inter-milan-may-be-forced-to-sell-players-following-heavy-financial-losses/327131/
|
en
| 2021-01-15T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/db839095b40b2ea03f5e2c7d2178790016f50cc53189054fc1cb09930b7db9a5.json
|
[
"A mass exodus could be on the cards at Inter Milan, as La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the club is set to post massive financial losses.\nThe Nerazzurri have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The San Siro holds a capacity of over 80,000, bringing in millions every single matchday.\nAntonio Conte has been getting the club back to their best in recent seasons. They finished just one point off the title last term while reaching the Europa League final, and currently sit in second place in Serie A; three points behind leaders and bitter rivals AC Milan.\nHowever, that could all be about to change, with La Gazzetta dello Sport reporting (via Siempre Inter) that Inter could be forced into selling some of their most valuable assets in order to balance the books.\nLast year, the club posted a reported loss of over €100 million. La Gazzetta dello Sport states that they have made an even greater loss over the past year. With no clear end in sight for the COVID-19 pandemic, they may have to act quickly to help stay afloat.\nInter are not without valuable players. Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku has amassed over £150m worth of transfer fees throughout his career.\nThe former Everton man is currently Serie A’s second top goalscorer with 12 goals. At 27 years of age, he still has plenty of market value.\nLautaro Martinez is another who could be on his way out. He has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in the past, while Manchester City have also been rumoured to be interested as they look for a long-term replacement for club legend Sergio Aguero.",
"Inter Milan may be forced to sell players following heavy financial losses",
"Due to a financial crisis partially caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Inter Milan may have to sell their most valuable assets to balance the books."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-27T08:02:12 | null | 2021-01-27T05:34:48 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fceltic-in-advanced-negotiations-to-sign-ben-davies%2F329576%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Celtic in advanced negotiations to sign Ben Davies
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Celtic are understood to be close to landing the signature of Preston North End defender Ben Davies, according to Sky Sports News.
The Hoops were initially aiming to land the 25-year-old on a pre-contract agreement with his Preston contract expiring in June.
However, they are now keen on signing him this month, provided they are able to successfully negotiate on the personal terms.
Championship side Bournemouth are also interested in Davies. Preston want around £3m from the south coast outfit.
On the other hand, it is reported that the Hoops could secure the player’s services for a lesser fee between £2m and 2.5m during the current transfer window.
SportsLens view:
Davies has been a key player for Preston in the central defence and he has started 18 games in the Championship this term.
Despite this, they appear open to parting ways with the defender, who can also play at left-back, to avoid losing him for nothing in the summer.
Celtic will have an influx of funds after reportedly agreeing on a deal of around £11.5m for the sale of Jeremie Frimpong to Bayer Leverkusen.
Hence, they are in a strong position to sign Davies, who has turned out 144 times for Preston since graduating through their academy.
It remains to be seen whether Bournemouth are prepared to meet the £3m price tag and convince the player to join them instead.
It is quite obvious that Preston don’t want to strengthen a direct promotion rival and are therefore demanding a higher sum from the Cherries.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
|
https://sportslens.com/celtic-in-advanced-negotiations-to-sign-ben-davies/329576/
|
en
| 2021-01-27T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/c5fc2e4238ec00b8d113567b911f50abccbe2b107d59d66f3df98721b8c3d460.json
|
[
"Celtic are understood to be close to landing the signature of Preston North End defender Ben Davies, according to Sky Sports News.\nThe Hoops were initially aiming to land the 25-year-old on a pre-contract agreement with his Preston contract expiring in June.\nHowever, they are now keen on signing him this month, provided they are able to successfully negotiate on the personal terms.\nChampionship side Bournemouth are also interested in Davies. Preston want around £3m from the south coast outfit.\nOn the other hand, it is reported that the Hoops could secure the player’s services for a lesser fee between £2m and 2.5m during the current transfer window.\nSportsLens view:\nDavies has been a key player for Preston in the central defence and he has started 18 games in the Championship this term.\nDespite this, they appear open to parting ways with the defender, who can also play at left-back, to avoid losing him for nothing in the summer.\nCeltic will have an influx of funds after reportedly agreeing on a deal of around £11.5m for the sale of Jeremie Frimpong to Bayer Leverkusen.\nHence, they are in a strong position to sign Davies, who has turned out 144 times for Preston since graduating through their academy.\nIt remains to be seen whether Bournemouth are prepared to meet the £3m price tag and convince the player to join them instead.\nIt is quite obvious that Preston don’t want to strengthen a direct promotion rival and are therefore demanding a higher sum from the Cherries.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"Celtic in advanced negotiations to sign Ben Davies"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-27T12:17:34 | null | 2021-01-27T11:14:54 |
Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira, who is currently on loan at high-flying Atletico Madrid, is reportedly being eyed up by four European clubs.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Farsenal-man-being-chased-by-four-clubs%2F329686%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Arsenal man being chased by four clubs
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira is the subject of interest from four clubs across Europe, according to Spanish publication AS (via Sport Witness).
Torreira has spent the last six months on loan at Atletico Madrid. As part of the deal, Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey moved in the opposite direction.
Despite sitting top of the league, the Uruguayan has not enjoyed his time in La Liga. He was expected to be a regular starter, but this has not happened, making just two starts for Los Rojiblancos in all competitions.
Arsenal were rumoured to be angered by Diego Simeone’s constant omission of Torreira, believing that the club are deliberately trying to lower his market value as revenge for not including an option to buy in the loan agreement.
The north London club may cancel his loan early if he doesn’t get more game time, although it is unclear whether they have the option to recall him.
If they do bring the midfielder back to the Emirates, then there will be no shortage of interest in his services. AS are reporting (via Sport Witness) that Valencia, Lazio, Fiorentina and Monaco are all admirers of the Uruguay international.
Valencia will be hoping to turn their fortunes around, as they currently sit just two points above the relegation zone. This comes just 18 months after qualifying for the Champions League, as well as defeating Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Javi Gracia’s side were left with a huge hole to fill in central midfield, having lost the likes of Dani Parejo, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Francis Coquelin in the summer, as well as forwards Rodrigo and Ferran Torres.
Meanwhile, Lazio will be looking to get back in among the Champions League contenders, having qualified for the competition last season. They are in seventh place; two points off a top four spot and nine off the summit.
Fiorentina, on the other hand, have no such ambitions. They occupy 12th place in Serie A, 13 points off European football and seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Monaco may be looking to give their slim title credentials a boost, having not come close since lifting the trophy in 2017. They are in fourth at the time of writing, six points off leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
|
https://sportslens.com/arsenal-man-being-chased-by-four-clubs/329686/
|
en
| 2021-01-27T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/01de644c8fc7794365e17b11355151bed463abee1d2bc825c39e2c12015436d9.json
|
[
"Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira is the subject of interest from four clubs across Europe, according to Spanish publication AS (via Sport Witness).\nTorreira has spent the last six months on loan at Atletico Madrid. As part of the deal, Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey moved in the opposite direction.\nDespite sitting top of the league, the Uruguayan has not enjoyed his time in La Liga. He was expected to be a regular starter, but this has not happened, making just two starts for Los Rojiblancos in all competitions.\nArsenal were rumoured to be angered by Diego Simeone’s constant omission of Torreira, believing that the club are deliberately trying to lower his market value as revenge for not including an option to buy in the loan agreement.\nThe north London club may cancel his loan early if he doesn’t get more game time, although it is unclear whether they have the option to recall him.\nIf they do bring the midfielder back to the Emirates, then there will be no shortage of interest in his services. AS are reporting (via Sport Witness) that Valencia, Lazio, Fiorentina and Monaco are all admirers of the Uruguay international.\nValencia will be hoping to turn their fortunes around, as they currently sit just two points above the relegation zone. This comes just 18 months after qualifying for the Champions League, as well as defeating Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey.\nJavi Gracia’s side were left with a huge hole to fill in central midfield, having lost the likes of Dani Parejo, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Francis Coquelin in the summer, as well as forwards Rodrigo and Ferran Torres.\nMeanwhile, Lazio will be looking to get back in among the Champions League contenders, having qualified for the competition last season. They are in seventh place; two points off a top four spot and nine off the summit.\nFiorentina, on the other hand, have no such ambitions. They occupy 12th place in Serie A, 13 points off European football and seven points clear of the relegation zone.\nMonaco may be looking to give their slim title credentials a boost, having not come close since lifting the trophy in 2017. They are in fourth at the time of writing, six points off leaders Paris Saint-Germain.",
"Arsenal man being chased by four clubs",
"Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira, who is currently on loan at high-flying Atletico Madrid, is reportedly being eyed up by four European clubs."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-07T22:35:05 | null | 2021-01-07T21:20:39 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fceltic-keen-on-signing-nathanael-mbuku%2F325550%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Celtic keen on signing Nathanaël Mbuku
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Celtic are thought to be interested in signing the Stade de Reims forward Nathanaël Mbuku.
The 18-year-old has made an impressive start to the season with Stade de Reims and his performances have caught the attention of Lille, Parma and Celtic. The youngster can play on both flanks as well as a striker.
According to Footmercato, Reims would demand a fee of around €8 million to sell the 18-year-old forward and it will be interesting to see if Celtic can agree on a deal with the French outfit.
Apparently, the Scottish club has made approaches in recent days to find out about the conditions of the transfer.
Mbuku is highly rated in France and he has a big future ahead of him. A move to Celtic could help him play regularly and realise his true potential.
The Scottish club have an impressive track record of nurturing young talent and they have proven that with the development of Moussa Dembele in the past and the recent emergence of Odsonne Edouard.
Mbuku has made twelve appearances for Stade de Reims this season and he has a goal and an assist to his name already.
He has the potential to establish himself as a French international in future and he will have to be careful about his next move.
Mbuku needs to join a club where he will be trusted with regular first-team football and Celtic might be able to provide him with that platform given their track record with young players.
|
https://sportslens.com/celtic-keen-on-signing-nathanael-mbuku/325550/
|
en
| 2021-01-07T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/e2bbc30d981a31d02b86b983454fd44d2500c619165b0a90a9608a6c62eb0807.json
|
[
"Celtic are thought to be interested in signing the Stade de Reims forward Nathanaël Mbuku.\nThe 18-year-old has made an impressive start to the season with Stade de Reims and his performances have caught the attention of Lille, Parma and Celtic. The youngster can play on both flanks as well as a striker.\nAccording to Footmercato, Reims would demand a fee of around €8 million to sell the 18-year-old forward and it will be interesting to see if Celtic can agree on a deal with the French outfit.\nApparently, the Scottish club has made approaches in recent days to find out about the conditions of the transfer.\nMbuku is highly rated in France and he has a big future ahead of him. A move to Celtic could help him play regularly and realise his true potential.\nThe Scottish club have an impressive track record of nurturing young talent and they have proven that with the development of Moussa Dembele in the past and the recent emergence of Odsonne Edouard.\nMbuku has made twelve appearances for Stade de Reims this season and he has a goal and an assist to his name already.\nHe has the potential to establish himself as a French international in future and he will have to be careful about his next move.\nMbuku needs to join a club where he will be trusted with regular first-team football and Celtic might be able to provide him with that platform given their track record with young players.",
"Celtic keen on signing Nathanaël Mbuku"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-15T13:13:40 | null | 2021-01-15T11:24:17 |
Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes has won the Premier League Player of the Month award for the fourth time in 2020.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fbruno-fernandes-wins-premier-league-player-of-the-month-for-december%2F327112%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Bruno Fernandes wins Premier League Player of the Month for December
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Bruno Fernandes has been named as the recipient of the Premier League Player of the Month award for December 2020.
The Portuguese playmaker scored three goals for Manchester United and registered a further four assists in December, helping his side charge towards the top of the table.
He began the month with an assist for Paul Pogba in the comeback victory away at West Ham United. Two weeks later, he was influential in dismantling newly-promoted Leeds United, bagging a brace and assisting Scott McTominay’s early opener.
He followed this up with a goal and an assist in the 2-2 draw against Leicester City, before completing a fine December with an assist for Marcus Rashford’s last gasp winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The former Sporting CP man beat Man Utd teammate Marcus Rashford to the award, as well as fellow nominees Mohamed Salah, John Stones, Tomas Soucek, Anwar El Ghazi, Emiliano Martinez and Ben Mee.
This is the fourth time that Fernandes has won the Premier League’s Player of the Month award, having scooped the prize in February, June, and November during 2020.
Only Sergio Aguero, Steven Gerrard, Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, and Robin van Persie have been named Player of the Month on more occasions.
Furthermore, he becomes the first player in Premier League history to win it four times in one calendar year.
It is also the second time that he has collected the gong in back-to-back months. This is a feat that had only been achieved previously by Dennis Bergkamp, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Mohamed Salah.
|
https://sportslens.com/bruno-fernandes-wins-premier-league-player-of-the-month-for-december/327112/
|
en
| 2021-01-15T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/19a812d1eed3482ec64b48e1dcc51b55e377c1e9af4aa2d630134db7753b652d.json
|
[
"Bruno Fernandes has been named as the recipient of the Premier League Player of the Month award for December 2020.\nThe Portuguese playmaker scored three goals for Manchester United and registered a further four assists in December, helping his side charge towards the top of the table.\nHe began the month with an assist for Paul Pogba in the comeback victory away at West Ham United. Two weeks later, he was influential in dismantling newly-promoted Leeds United, bagging a brace and assisting Scott McTominay’s early opener.\nHe followed this up with a goal and an assist in the 2-2 draw against Leicester City, before completing a fine December with an assist for Marcus Rashford’s last gasp winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers.\nThe former Sporting CP man beat Man Utd teammate Marcus Rashford to the award, as well as fellow nominees Mohamed Salah, John Stones, Tomas Soucek, Anwar El Ghazi, Emiliano Martinez and Ben Mee.\nThis is the fourth time that Fernandes has won the Premier League’s Player of the Month award, having scooped the prize in February, June, and November during 2020.\nOnly Sergio Aguero, Steven Gerrard, Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, and Robin van Persie have been named Player of the Month on more occasions.\nFurthermore, he becomes the first player in Premier League history to win it four times in one calendar year.\nIt is also the second time that he has collected the gong in back-to-back months. This is a feat that had only been achieved previously by Dennis Bergkamp, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Mohamed Salah.",
"Bruno Fernandes wins Premier League Player of the Month for December",
"Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes has won the Premier League Player of the Month award for the fourth time in 2020."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-16T15:29:34 | null | 2021-01-16T11:01:34 |
Paris Saint-Germain have identified a Barcelona superstart to replace Kylian Mbappe who could be on his way out at the end of the season.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-paris-saint-germain-eye-barcelona-superstar-to-replace-kylian-mbappe%2F327261%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Paris Saint-Germain eye Barcelona superstar to replace Kylian Mbappe
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Paris Saint-Germain have shortlisted a sensational Barcelona forward to replace Kylian Mbappe. Todo Fichajes states that Antoine Griezmann has been identified as their key target.
Mbapppe is under contract until 2022, but an exit could be on the cards this summer with the Frenchman is linked with Real Madrid.
Los Blancos are eager on signing the mercurial forward and, with one year left on his contract, PSG may be forced to cash in.
If the 22-year-old forward leaves, then manager Mauricio Pochettino will go all out for Griezmann.
SPORTSLENS VIEW – WOULD GRIEZMANN BE AN IDEAL REPLACEMENT?
Griezmann was once arguably amongst the top five best players in the world. The French forward has performed exceptionally well in all competitions including the Champions League, Euro 2016 and FIFA World Cup 2018.
However, Griezmann’s career has plummeted at Barca. The Catalans spent 120 million Euros in 2019 for the former Atletico Madrid forward, and he is currently valued at half that amount, according to Transfermarkt.
The 29-year-old may not be at his best anymore, but a move to Ligue 1 may turn over a new leaf in his career. The French league is easier than La Liga, and Griezmann could make the most of his goal-scoring talents.
PSG could sign Griezmann without breaking the bank and then focus on also strengthening other areas through recruitment such as their midfield and defence.
This would not be possible if they targeted a player like Jadon Sancho who is valued at 120 million Euros.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-paris-saint-germain-eye-barcelona-superstar-to-replace-kylian-mbappe/327261/
|
en
| 2021-01-16T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/4839520ec068b10cd1c094e90650a31ed27a4882b4854c17aa95f44ff066d4e2.json
|
[
"Paris Saint-Germain have shortlisted a sensational Barcelona forward to replace Kylian Mbappe. Todo Fichajes states that Antoine Griezmann has been identified as their key target.\nMbapppe is under contract until 2022, but an exit could be on the cards this summer with the Frenchman is linked with Real Madrid.\nLos Blancos are eager on signing the mercurial forward and, with one year left on his contract, PSG may be forced to cash in.\nIf the 22-year-old forward leaves, then manager Mauricio Pochettino will go all out for Griezmann.\nSPORTSLENS VIEW – WOULD GRIEZMANN BE AN IDEAL REPLACEMENT?\nGriezmann was once arguably amongst the top five best players in the world. The French forward has performed exceptionally well in all competitions including the Champions League, Euro 2016 and FIFA World Cup 2018.\nHowever, Griezmann’s career has plummeted at Barca. The Catalans spent 120 million Euros in 2019 for the former Atletico Madrid forward, and he is currently valued at half that amount, according to Transfermarkt.\nThe 29-year-old may not be at his best anymore, but a move to Ligue 1 may turn over a new leaf in his career. The French league is easier than La Liga, and Griezmann could make the most of his goal-scoring talents.\nPSG could sign Griezmann without breaking the bank and then focus on also strengthening other areas through recruitment such as their midfield and defence.\nThis would not be possible if they targeted a player like Jadon Sancho who is valued at 120 million Euros.",
"Report: Paris Saint-Germain eye Barcelona superstar to replace Kylian Mbappe",
"Paris Saint-Germain have identified a Barcelona superstart to replace Kylian Mbappe who could be on his way out at the end of the season."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-06T15:52:14 | null | 2021-01-06T15:15:27 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-five-clubs-interested-in-signing-aston-villa-striker-keinan-davis%2F325257%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Five clubs interested in signing Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to reports from The Athletic, five clubs are showing keen interest in signing Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis on loan in January.
The 22-year-old has managed 47 minutes across four substitute appearances in 15 Premier League games so far, and he badly needs a run of regular games this year to continue his progress.
The report claims that five clubs are interested in signing Davis on a short-term deal.
Preston North End are long-term admirers, while Stoke City, Derby County, Huddersfield Town and Swansea City are also in the mix for his signature.
SL View: Should Davis go out on loan?
Davis is highly-rated by the club. He graduated from the Villa academy and signed a new four-year contract in September which shows the club has full trust in his ability.
However, he is behind Ollie Watkins and Wesley in the pecking order. With Wesley out injured, he is currently the back-up striker to Watkins.
Dean Smith, the Villa boss, is currently not prepared to let him go out on loan. Davis is expected to get some minutes in the FA Cup clash against Liverpool but could struggle for game time again once Wesley, Ross Barkley and Trezeguet return to full fitness from their injuries.
At the moment, a move away from Villa Park looks unlikely for Davis. However, towards the end of the transfer window, his situation could change.
The Athletic claims that Villa are assessing attacking options and may sign another forward, either on loan or permanently. Should that happen, Davis could be allowed to leave on loan.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-five-clubs-interested-in-signing-aston-villa-striker-keinan-davis/325257/
|
en
| 2021-01-06T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/31da15cb2e000d199ba6b8540daa936a2da0cfd224ff8f387bdd896157dcb4cf.json
|
[
"According to reports from The Athletic, five clubs are showing keen interest in signing Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis on loan in January.\nThe 22-year-old has managed 47 minutes across four substitute appearances in 15 Premier League games so far, and he badly needs a run of regular games this year to continue his progress.\nThe report claims that five clubs are interested in signing Davis on a short-term deal.\nPreston North End are long-term admirers, while Stoke City, Derby County, Huddersfield Town and Swansea City are also in the mix for his signature.\nSL View: Should Davis go out on loan?\nDavis is highly-rated by the club. He graduated from the Villa academy and signed a new four-year contract in September which shows the club has full trust in his ability.\nHowever, he is behind Ollie Watkins and Wesley in the pecking order. With Wesley out injured, he is currently the back-up striker to Watkins.\nDean Smith, the Villa boss, is currently not prepared to let him go out on loan. Davis is expected to get some minutes in the FA Cup clash against Liverpool but could struggle for game time again once Wesley, Ross Barkley and Trezeguet return to full fitness from their injuries.\nAt the moment, a move away from Villa Park looks unlikely for Davis. However, towards the end of the transfer window, his situation could change.\nThe Athletic claims that Villa are assessing attacking options and may sign another forward, either on loan or permanently. Should that happen, Davis could be allowed to leave on loan.",
"Report: Five clubs interested in signing Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-18T09:18:01 | null | 2021-01-18T08:29:38 |
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has leapt to the defence of Lionel Messi, after the Argentinian star was sent off against Athletic Bilbao.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fronald-koeman-defends-lionel-messi-after-late-red-card%2F327547%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Ronald Koeman defends Lionel Messi after late red card
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has come to the defence of club captain Lionel Messi after the Argentine received a late red card in the Supercopa de Espana defeat against Athletic Bilbao.
Messi was given his marching orders right at the death following a VAR check. Replays showed that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner had struck Bilbao forward Asier Villalibre in the back of the head off the ball.
The superstar is now set to serve a suspension, which could range from two to four games depending on how the authorities view the incident. He will miss Thursday’s Copa del Rey fixture against Cornella and Sunday’s trip to Elche at the very least, with the following meetings against Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis also in jeopardy.
Barcelona currently sit in third place – seven points off the top having played two games more. Messi’s suspension will only make things more difficult for the Catalan giants.
However, manager Ronald Koeman has refused to blame his player, calling his reaction “normal”.
Speaking after the game, Koeman said (via ESPN): “I can understand what Messi did.
“I don’t know how many times they fouled him, and it’s normal to react when they keep trying to foul you as a player who is looking to dribble with the ball, but I need to see it again properly.”
Barcelona missed out on the chance to lift a first piece of silverware since 2019 after their extra time defeat against Athletic Bilbao.
La Blaugrana took the lead in the first half when Antoine Griezmann slammed home from inside the box, but were pegged back almost instantly from Oscar de Marcos’ close range finish.
Griezmann looked to have won it for his side when he turned home a second from Jordi Alba’s cross in the final 15 minutes, but Asier Villalibre netted a 90th minute equaliser to take it to extra time.
Inaki Williams was the hero for Los Leones, curling home a beauty in off the post to take the trophy. Messi was sent off in the 120th minute for lashing out at Villalibre.
It was another poor result for Koeman, who will be feeling the heat after a difficult opening few months on his return to the Camp Nou. If his side fails to progress past Cornella in mid-week, then his time in charge of Barcelona could be about to end.
|
https://sportslens.com/ronald-koeman-defends-lionel-messi-after-late-red-card/327547/
|
en
| 2021-01-18T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/d9205509454367035ab68bcb93f8370ed2a019c6852d92270e74b94d92412c92.json
|
[
"Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has come to the defence of club captain Lionel Messi after the Argentine received a late red card in the Supercopa de Espana defeat against Athletic Bilbao.\nMessi was given his marching orders right at the death following a VAR check. Replays showed that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner had struck Bilbao forward Asier Villalibre in the back of the head off the ball.\nThe superstar is now set to serve a suspension, which could range from two to four games depending on how the authorities view the incident. He will miss Thursday’s Copa del Rey fixture against Cornella and Sunday’s trip to Elche at the very least, with the following meetings against Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis also in jeopardy.\nBarcelona currently sit in third place – seven points off the top having played two games more. Messi’s suspension will only make things more difficult for the Catalan giants.\nHowever, manager Ronald Koeman has refused to blame his player, calling his reaction “normal”.\nSpeaking after the game, Koeman said (via ESPN): “I can understand what Messi did.\n“I don’t know how many times they fouled him, and it’s normal to react when they keep trying to foul you as a player who is looking to dribble with the ball, but I need to see it again properly.”\nBarcelona missed out on the chance to lift a first piece of silverware since 2019 after their extra time defeat against Athletic Bilbao.\nLa Blaugrana took the lead in the first half when Antoine Griezmann slammed home from inside the box, but were pegged back almost instantly from Oscar de Marcos’ close range finish.\nGriezmann looked to have won it for his side when he turned home a second from Jordi Alba’s cross in the final 15 minutes, but Asier Villalibre netted a 90th minute equaliser to take it to extra time.\nInaki Williams was the hero for Los Leones, curling home a beauty in off the post to take the trophy. Messi was sent off in the 120th minute for lashing out at Villalibre.\nIt was another poor result for Koeman, who will be feeling the heat after a difficult opening few months on his return to the Camp Nou. If his side fails to progress past Cornella in mid-week, then his time in charge of Barcelona could be about to end.",
"Ronald Koeman defends Lionel Messi after late red card",
"Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has leapt to the defence of Lionel Messi, after the Argentinian star was sent off against Athletic Bilbao."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-13T09:56:29 | null | 2021-01-13T08:38:13 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fross-barkley-praises-lucas-digne-on-twitter-after-everton-win-vs-wolverhampton-wanderers%2F326564%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Ross Barkley praises Lucas Digne on Twitter after Everton win vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Ross Barkley has showered praise on Everton defender Lucas Digne after the Toffees earned a 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night in the Premier League.
Digne provided the assist for Alex Iwobi to give Everton an early lead against Wolves. The home side restored parity in the 14th minute through Ruben Neves.
In the 77th minute, Michael Keane scored the winner with a header converting Andre Gomes’ teasing cross from the left.
Barkley, the former Everton attacking midfielder, was particularly impressed with the French full-back and hailed him as ‘wand of a left foot’.
Digne was gracious enough to reply to his message, saying ‘Thank you bro.’
Thank you bro 🤪✌🏼💙 — Lucas Digne (@LucasDigne) January 12, 2021
Barkley was once adored by the Everton fans, but his move to Chelsea in 2018 may have left a bad taste in the mouth of some fans.
The England international joined Aston Villa in the summer transfer window from Chelsea on loan. He was doing well at Villa, scoring two goals in six appearances, before getting injured.
Digne, who made his first league start since 22 November, played a first-time pass to Iwobi, whose cleanly-struck effort took a slight deflection off Conor Coady.
The Frenchman attempted 28 passes and made one interception during the game, according to whoscored.
The return of Digne and James Rodriguez has come at a perfect time for the Toffees who are now fourth in the Premier League table following their latest win at Molineux.
|
https://sportslens.com/ross-barkley-praises-lucas-digne-on-twitter-after-everton-win-vs-wolverhampton-wanderers/326564/
|
en
| 2021-01-13T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/b06348dffe28894e13932d21c97b45b0020283d1d3df46103139cd75a8c38353.json
|
[
"Ross Barkley has showered praise on Everton defender Lucas Digne after the Toffees earned a 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night in the Premier League.\nDigne provided the assist for Alex Iwobi to give Everton an early lead against Wolves. The home side restored parity in the 14th minute through Ruben Neves.\nIn the 77th minute, Michael Keane scored the winner with a header converting Andre Gomes’ teasing cross from the left.\nBarkley, the former Everton attacking midfielder, was particularly impressed with the French full-back and hailed him as ‘wand of a left foot’.\nDigne was gracious enough to reply to his message, saying ‘Thank you bro.’\nThank you bro 🤪✌🏼💙 — Lucas Digne (@LucasDigne) January 12, 2021\nBarkley was once adored by the Everton fans, but his move to Chelsea in 2018 may have left a bad taste in the mouth of some fans.\nThe England international joined Aston Villa in the summer transfer window from Chelsea on loan. He was doing well at Villa, scoring two goals in six appearances, before getting injured.\nDigne, who made his first league start since 22 November, played a first-time pass to Iwobi, whose cleanly-struck effort took a slight deflection off Conor Coady.\nThe Frenchman attempted 28 passes and made one interception during the game, according to whoscored.\nThe return of Digne and James Rodriguez has come at a perfect time for the Toffees who are now fourth in the Premier League table following their latest win at Molineux.",
"Ross Barkley praises Lucas Digne on Twitter after Everton win vs Wolverhampton Wanderers"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-21T09:19:47 | null | 2021-01-21T08:57:50 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-anthony-georgiou-set-to-leave-tottenham-this-month%2F328326%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Anthony Georgiou set to leave Tottenham this month
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to reports from Football London, Tottenham Hotspur are set to sanction the exit of winger Anthony Georgiou this week.
The deal is expected to be finalised soon, and the player is all set to complete a permanent move to Cypriot side AEL Limassol in the next few days.
He has been at the club for eight years now since joining from Watford in 2013. He made his first-team debut under former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino but failed to make a single Premier League appearance.
The seven-times capped Cyprus international came as a late substitute against APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League and had a few loan spells in recent years at Bolton and Ipswich Town.
Sportslens View
Georgiou is not in Jose Mourinho’s plans and he is too old really to be playing academy football at Spurs.
The report claims that the winger’s contract is coming to an end this summer and a permanent move away from the club is expected shortly.
He is a versatile winger who can also play as a left-back. He needs regular game time and a move to his home country of Cyprus makes a lot of sense.
It will give him a chance to resurrect his career and hopefully it will help him to secure a move to top leagues in Europe in the future.
Spurs could also look to offload the likes of Gedson Fernandes, Paulo Gazzaniga and Danny Rose this month, while Dele Alli’s future at the club is also uncertain.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-anthony-georgiou-set-to-leave-tottenham-this-month/328326/
|
en
| 2021-01-21T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/6b9b6aa98a7fda2e96dc7d77468a1dd70e49140e0699a2740337d59fbecec220.json
|
[
"According to reports from Football London, Tottenham Hotspur are set to sanction the exit of winger Anthony Georgiou this week.\nThe deal is expected to be finalised soon, and the player is all set to complete a permanent move to Cypriot side AEL Limassol in the next few days.\nHe has been at the club for eight years now since joining from Watford in 2013. He made his first-team debut under former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino but failed to make a single Premier League appearance.\nThe seven-times capped Cyprus international came as a late substitute against APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League and had a few loan spells in recent years at Bolton and Ipswich Town.\nSportslens View\nGeorgiou is not in Jose Mourinho’s plans and he is too old really to be playing academy football at Spurs.\nThe report claims that the winger’s contract is coming to an end this summer and a permanent move away from the club is expected shortly.\nHe is a versatile winger who can also play as a left-back. He needs regular game time and a move to his home country of Cyprus makes a lot of sense.\nIt will give him a chance to resurrect his career and hopefully it will help him to secure a move to top leagues in Europe in the future.\nSpurs could also look to offload the likes of Gedson Fernandes, Paulo Gazzaniga and Danny Rose this month, while Dele Alli’s future at the club is also uncertain.",
"Report: Anthony Georgiou set to leave Tottenham this month"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-20T14:59:35 | null | 2021-01-20T14:46:34 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fgini-wijnaldum-contract%2F328177%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Gini Wijnaldum contract: Latest updates on Liverpool midfielder's situation
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum is yet to sign a new contract at the Anfield club, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.
The 70-times capped Dutch midfielder, who is on a £75k-per-week deal at Liverpool, hasn’t given a clear indication about whether he would extend his present contract.
Liverpool have been trying to persuade him to stay put and sign a new deal at the club, and as of now, his situation hasn’t changed.
Wijnaldum has been a key player for the Reds since he joined from Newcastle United, and has played an integral role in the club’s massive success in recent years under Jurgen Klopp.
Recently, The Mirror claimed that Wijnaldum had decided to link up with his former national team boss Ronald Koeman at Barcelona.
Earlier this month, Todofichajes (h/t The Mirror), claimed that Wijnaldum had rejected the club’s latest contract offer.
We bring you here all the latest updates on his contract situation:
20th January 2021
Popular football journalist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Wijnaldum is yet to provide a definitive answer.
Liverpool had offered him a fresh contract back in December. He claims that the Reds have been trying to negotiate with him for the past seven months, but it seems the situation is ‘getting complicated’.
|
https://sportslens.com/gini-wijnaldum-contract/328177/
|
en
| 2021-01-20T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/f13998bedbd1aa53790d2c4d719a6eec31a0816f46e9be90384bf6e871eea822.json
|
[
"Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum is yet to sign a new contract at the Anfield club, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.\nThe 70-times capped Dutch midfielder, who is on a £75k-per-week deal at Liverpool, hasn’t given a clear indication about whether he would extend his present contract.\nLiverpool have been trying to persuade him to stay put and sign a new deal at the club, and as of now, his situation hasn’t changed.\nWijnaldum has been a key player for the Reds since he joined from Newcastle United, and has played an integral role in the club’s massive success in recent years under Jurgen Klopp.\nRecently, The Mirror claimed that Wijnaldum had decided to link up with his former national team boss Ronald Koeman at Barcelona.\nEarlier this month, Todofichajes (h/t The Mirror), claimed that Wijnaldum had rejected the club’s latest contract offer.\nWe bring you here all the latest updates on his contract situation:\n20th January 2021\nPopular football journalist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Wijnaldum is yet to provide a definitive answer.\nLiverpool had offered him a fresh contract back in December. He claims that the Reds have been trying to negotiate with him for the past seven months, but it seems the situation is ‘getting complicated’.",
"Gini Wijnaldum contract: Latest updates on Liverpool midfielder's situation"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-02T18:40:53 | null | 2021-01-02T14:57:10 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-arsenal-join-leicester-in-the-race-to-sign-ryan-christie%2F324540%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Arsenal join Leicester in the race to sign Ryan Christie
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to reports from 90 mins, Arsenal have joined the race to sign Celtic attacking midfielder Rhyan Christie in the January transfer window.
Signing a creative attacking midfielder is one of Mikel Arteta’s top priorities next month. The Gunners have been exploring options elsewhere, with the likes of Isco and Emiliano Buendia also being linked.
Christie is emerging out as a potential option for Premier League clubs, as the player himself is considering options elsewhere.
The 25-year-old has a contract at the club till 2022, and he has given no indication that he is going to sign a new one at the club.
A host of Premier League clubs including Newcastle United, Brighton, Leicester, Southampton and Burnley are vying for his signature. However, the report stated that Arsenal have also joined the race.
The Scotland international grew as a key player for the Bhoys under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic but he has taken his game to a whole new level in recent years. This season, he hasn’t been at his prolific best but has still managed four goals and 11 assists thus far.
Advantage Leicester?
It seems Christie is now ready to test himself in the Premier League, and he would consider a move away from Parkhead if there’s a good offer on the table.
While a move to Arsenal would mean a reunion with former Celtic defender Kieran Tierney, Leicester would be a more attractive destination for him.
Not only will he be reunited with his former manager, Rodgers, but the midfielder will also join a club who are pushing to break into the top four.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-arsenal-join-leicester-in-the-race-to-sign-ryan-christie/324540/
|
en
| 2021-01-02T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/eadd0f6c445834cc5a40b6ff22be6fc12154e0f1134e5c84e66fd70830916581.json
|
[
"According to reports from 90 mins, Arsenal have joined the race to sign Celtic attacking midfielder Rhyan Christie in the January transfer window.\nSigning a creative attacking midfielder is one of Mikel Arteta’s top priorities next month. The Gunners have been exploring options elsewhere, with the likes of Isco and Emiliano Buendia also being linked.\nChristie is emerging out as a potential option for Premier League clubs, as the player himself is considering options elsewhere.\nThe 25-year-old has a contract at the club till 2022, and he has given no indication that he is going to sign a new one at the club.\nA host of Premier League clubs including Newcastle United, Brighton, Leicester, Southampton and Burnley are vying for his signature. However, the report stated that Arsenal have also joined the race.\nThe Scotland international grew as a key player for the Bhoys under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic but he has taken his game to a whole new level in recent years. This season, he hasn’t been at his prolific best but has still managed four goals and 11 assists thus far.\nAdvantage Leicester?\nIt seems Christie is now ready to test himself in the Premier League, and he would consider a move away from Parkhead if there’s a good offer on the table.\nWhile a move to Arsenal would mean a reunion with former Celtic defender Kieran Tierney, Leicester would be a more attractive destination for him.\nNot only will he be reunited with his former manager, Rodgers, but the midfielder will also join a club who are pushing to break into the top four.",
"Report: Arsenal join Leicester in the race to sign Ryan Christie"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-13T13:47:55 | null | 2021-01-13T11:52:56 |
Sergio Ramos eyes a possible reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus next season as his Real Madrid contract runs out at the end of June.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fsergio-ramos-of-real-madrid-eyes-reunion-with-cristiano-ronaldo-at-juventus%2F326533%2F.json
|
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| null |
Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid eyes reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Sergio Ramos can now legally negotiate with clubs outside of Spain. The 34-year-old defender has entered the final six months of his Real Madrid contract and can agree to a pre-contract agreement with interested suitors.
Ramos has already been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. However, Diaro Gol now reports that the Spanish centre-back has received another lucrative offer.
This time it is from Juventus of Serie A. Cristiano Ronaldo has recommended the signing of his former teammate.
The Bianconeri are masters in free transfers as they have signed players such as Andrea Pirlo, Patrice Evra, Paul Pogba and Aaron Ramsey as free agents. They now have their eye on Ramos as a potential target.
At the age of 34, the former Sevilla defender is still at the top of his game. A move to a new league would certainly be an exciting prospect for Ramos who has won it all in Spain with Madrid.
Meanwhile, Madrid faces the dilemma of following their renewal policy or accepting Ramos’s demands. Los Blancos only offer a single-year extension to players over the age of 30, but their captain demands a two-year extension which is against the club policy.
As of now, Ramos and Madrid are at crossroads and their negotiations have reached an impasse. If terms are not renewed soon, the centre-back could be on his way to a new club as a free agent.
SPORTSLENS VIEW
Ramos could join another team at the end of the season after winning every possible trophy during his 15-year spell with Madrid.
A new challenge could be on the cards as Juventus are currently a team on a mission to win the UEFA Champions League. Reuniting with Ronaldo once again will certainly be an exciting prospect for the Spaniard.
The Serie A side will also offer Ramos a better contract than Madrid and the 34-year-old could potentially play for another 3-4 seasons in Italy due to his athletic conditioning.
Do you see Ramos leaving the Santiago Bernabeu? If yes, then where?
|
https://sportslens.com/sergio-ramos-of-real-madrid-eyes-reunion-with-cristiano-ronaldo-at-juventus/326533/
|
en
| 2021-01-13T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/06f0179b107da71932133040ff1aee1791bdac39f0e22f2963bd8e8d125633b8.json
|
[
"Sergio Ramos can now legally negotiate with clubs outside of Spain. The 34-year-old defender has entered the final six months of his Real Madrid contract and can agree to a pre-contract agreement with interested suitors.\nRamos has already been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. However, Diaro Gol now reports that the Spanish centre-back has received another lucrative offer.\nThis time it is from Juventus of Serie A. Cristiano Ronaldo has recommended the signing of his former teammate.\nThe Bianconeri are masters in free transfers as they have signed players such as Andrea Pirlo, Patrice Evra, Paul Pogba and Aaron Ramsey as free agents. They now have their eye on Ramos as a potential target.\nAt the age of 34, the former Sevilla defender is still at the top of his game. A move to a new league would certainly be an exciting prospect for Ramos who has won it all in Spain with Madrid.\nMeanwhile, Madrid faces the dilemma of following their renewal policy or accepting Ramos’s demands. Los Blancos only offer a single-year extension to players over the age of 30, but their captain demands a two-year extension which is against the club policy.\nAs of now, Ramos and Madrid are at crossroads and their negotiations have reached an impasse. If terms are not renewed soon, the centre-back could be on his way to a new club as a free agent.\nSPORTSLENS VIEW\nRamos could join another team at the end of the season after winning every possible trophy during his 15-year spell with Madrid.\nA new challenge could be on the cards as Juventus are currently a team on a mission to win the UEFA Champions League. Reuniting with Ronaldo once again will certainly be an exciting prospect for the Spaniard.\nThe Serie A side will also offer Ramos a better contract than Madrid and the 34-year-old could potentially play for another 3-4 seasons in Italy due to his athletic conditioning.\nDo you see Ramos leaving the Santiago Bernabeu? If yes, then where?",
"Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid eyes reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus",
"Sergio Ramos eyes a possible reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus next season as his Real Madrid contract runs out at the end of June."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-30T22:22:47 | null | 2021-01-30T20:29:02 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fwest-ham-fans-react-to-liverpools-interest-in-issa-diop%2F330565%2F.json
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en
| null |
West Ham fans react to Liverpool's interest in Issa Diop
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Liverpool are desperate to land a centre-back before Monday’s deadline, and the Reds have reportedly earmarked Issa Diop as a potential option.
Many West Ham United fans have taken to social networking site Twitter to react to the rumour, insisting they don’t want to see their player to leave the club this month.
Liverpool’s injury problems at the back have worsened after Joel Matip picked up an ankle injury while playing against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
Fabinho is also missing with a minor muscle injury, while Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are long-term absentees.
According to reports from The Athletic, the Reds have enquired about the French defender.
The Hammers are not likely to sanction a loan for the £20 million-rated player should the Reds come calling, unless it came with an obligation to buy.
Here are some of the best reactions from West Ham fans on Twitter:
If we loan or sell we will regret it — DICANIO10 (@Lord_Irons) January 30, 2021
No no no….Liverpool are desperate for a defender, and it may sound mad but we are competing with Liverpool at the moment. Just like Chelsea won’t loan us one of their players because we are competing with them. Plus Diop is one for the future — AndyWHU1987 ⚒ (@AndyWHU1987) January 30, 2021
His would be a rare case where a loan could just be a loan. Loan him and he does well and his value has increased, also has playing time under his belt. He still has potential to be world class but being fourth choice doesn't help him or us. — Shane McHale (@shanemchale) January 30, 2021
20m what are we a charity FFS we know Liverpool need a CH so let them pay the right price. Bearing in mind he was priced at 50m last year its a case of form temporary class permanent. Id still keep him though — Dazza (@dazza7370) January 30, 2021
Would personally love to see him stay. Its been a tough start for him, but has the potential to be a great defender — Dean Seabrook (@Deanoseabrook) January 30, 2021
He has so much potential but hasn't been able to kick on. He just needs the right environment to develop a little bit more and he will flourish. I like Diop a lot. — West Ham Ironess (@IronessWest) January 30, 2021
Sportslens View
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp suggested after the Spurs game that the Reds will look to sign a defender if there is a quality player available in the market.
The 24-year-old defender has dropped down the pecking order at the club behind Angelo Ogbonna, Craig Dawson and Fabian Balbuena, and is David Moyes’ fourth-choice centre-back at the moment.
He has managed just six games this term and has been told that he can go out on loan. He is a solid defender with Premier League experience and would be a very good signing for the Reds.
West Ham want all of his wages covered as well as a loan fee, and it seems the Hammers fans do not want their player to join Liverpool.
|
https://sportslens.com/west-ham-fans-react-to-liverpools-interest-in-issa-diop/330565/
|
en
| 2021-01-30T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/b3b3ac4cbb80ad7a4d3d67825486a987743b94f76119ea3da6af1d4868988e62.json
|
[
"Liverpool are desperate to land a centre-back before Monday’s deadline, and the Reds have reportedly earmarked Issa Diop as a potential option.\nMany West Ham United fans have taken to social networking site Twitter to react to the rumour, insisting they don’t want to see their player to leave the club this month.\nLiverpool’s injury problems at the back have worsened after Joel Matip picked up an ankle injury while playing against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.\nFabinho is also missing with a minor muscle injury, while Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are long-term absentees.\nAccording to reports from The Athletic, the Reds have enquired about the French defender.\nThe Hammers are not likely to sanction a loan for the £20 million-rated player should the Reds come calling, unless it came with an obligation to buy.\nHere are some of the best reactions from West Ham fans on Twitter:\nIf we loan or sell we will regret it — DICANIO10 (@Lord_Irons) January 30, 2021\nNo no no….Liverpool are desperate for a defender, and it may sound mad but we are competing with Liverpool at the moment. Just like Chelsea won’t loan us one of their players because we are competing with them. Plus Diop is one for the future — AndyWHU1987 ⚒ (@AndyWHU1987) January 30, 2021\nHis would be a rare case where a loan could just be a loan. Loan him and he does well and his value has increased, also has playing time under his belt. He still has potential to be world class but being fourth choice doesn't help him or us. — Shane McHale (@shanemchale) January 30, 2021\n20m what are we a charity FFS we know Liverpool need a CH so let them pay the right price. Bearing in mind he was priced at 50m last year its a case of form temporary class permanent. Id still keep him though — Dazza (@dazza7370) January 30, 2021\nWould personally love to see him stay. Its been a tough start for him, but has the potential to be a great defender — Dean Seabrook (@Deanoseabrook) January 30, 2021\nHe has so much potential but hasn't been able to kick on. He just needs the right environment to develop a little bit more and he will flourish. I like Diop a lot. — West Ham Ironess (@IronessWest) January 30, 2021\nSportslens View\nLiverpool boss Jurgen Klopp suggested after the Spurs game that the Reds will look to sign a defender if there is a quality player available in the market.\nThe 24-year-old defender has dropped down the pecking order at the club behind Angelo Ogbonna, Craig Dawson and Fabian Balbuena, and is David Moyes’ fourth-choice centre-back at the moment.\nHe has managed just six games this term and has been told that he can go out on loan. He is a solid defender with Premier League experience and would be a very good signing for the Reds.\nWest Ham want all of his wages covered as well as a loan fee, and it seems the Hammers fans do not want their player to join Liverpool.",
"West Ham fans react to Liverpool's interest in Issa Diop"
] |
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[] | 2021-01-07T15:56:41 | null | 2021-01-07T14:38:11 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-west-ham-united-want-reims-striker-boulaye-dia%2F325452%2F.json
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en
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Report: West Ham United want Reims striker Boulaye Dia
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sportslens.com
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According to le10sport, West Ham United want to sign Reims striker Boulaye Dia this month having identified him as Sebastien Haller’s successor.
The Ivory Coast international is set to join Ajax after just 18 months at the London Stadium, and the Hammers want Dia as his replacement.
The 24-year-old has scored 10 Ligue 1 goals and assisted once in 16 appearances this term, and he is also on the radar of Marseille.
Dia scored 10 league goals in 42 games across the last two seasons and is proving to be a quality finisher.
While West Ham will continue to rely on Michail Antonio as their first-choice striker, they need quality cover and competition, and the Reims star could bring both to the table.
Reims are open to letting Dia go if the right price is tabled, and the Hammers could be willing to meet their demands as they badly need a replacement for Haller.
Lyon see Dia as a potential replacement for Moussa Dembele should the former Celtic hitman leave, but they might not be able to offer him the kind of wages and fee West Ham would bring to the negotiating table.
David Moyes’ side have scored 24 goals in 17 Premier League games this term, with midfielder Tomas Soucek their highest goalscorer with five goals.
Antonio has three goals in nine games, and while Haller also has three, it took him 16 games to produce the return in front of goal.
For a club looking to play European football next term, more is required of their strike force, and landing Dia could help boost their chances of finishing in the top-six.
The Senegal international has also been linked with Everton and Arsenal, and the Hammers would have to move quickly in the coming days and weeks if they want him as he is definitely not short of suitors.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-west-ham-united-want-reims-striker-boulaye-dia/325452/
|
en
| 2021-01-07T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/3bfa5e914a236e2964be00e61fdf394789f45bd10ff54641e46fb6cfe23878b8.json
|
[
"According to le10sport, West Ham United want to sign Reims striker Boulaye Dia this month having identified him as Sebastien Haller’s successor.\nThe Ivory Coast international is set to join Ajax after just 18 months at the London Stadium, and the Hammers want Dia as his replacement.\nThe 24-year-old has scored 10 Ligue 1 goals and assisted once in 16 appearances this term, and he is also on the radar of Marseille.\nDia scored 10 league goals in 42 games across the last two seasons and is proving to be a quality finisher.\nWhile West Ham will continue to rely on Michail Antonio as their first-choice striker, they need quality cover and competition, and the Reims star could bring both to the table.\nReims are open to letting Dia go if the right price is tabled, and the Hammers could be willing to meet their demands as they badly need a replacement for Haller.\nLyon see Dia as a potential replacement for Moussa Dembele should the former Celtic hitman leave, but they might not be able to offer him the kind of wages and fee West Ham would bring to the negotiating table.\nDavid Moyes’ side have scored 24 goals in 17 Premier League games this term, with midfielder Tomas Soucek their highest goalscorer with five goals.\nAntonio has three goals in nine games, and while Haller also has three, it took him 16 games to produce the return in front of goal.\nFor a club looking to play European football next term, more is required of their strike force, and landing Dia could help boost their chances of finishing in the top-six.\nThe Senegal international has also been linked with Everton and Arsenal, and the Hammers would have to move quickly in the coming days and weeks if they want him as he is definitely not short of suitors.",
"Report: West Ham United want Reims striker Boulaye Dia"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-06T10:41:11 | null | 2021-01-06T09:21:40 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fleeds-united-fans-react-to-fikayo-tomori-transfer-link%2F325148%2F.json
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en
| null |
Leeds United fans react to Fikayo Tomori transfer link
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Leeds United fans have taken to social networking site Twitter to express their reaction to reports linking the club with a move for Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori.
According to a recent report from BBC Sport, Chelsea are willing to let Tomori go out on loan, and Leeds are his most likely destination.
Tomori made a strong impact last season where he made 22 appearances for the Blues.
However, he has surprisingly dropped down the pecking order at the club and has struggled for regular games in 2020-21. He has managed only three appearances in all competitions, and Chelsea are ready to let him go out on loan.
Tomori’s situation is unlikely to change this season, even if Frank Lampard allows a fringe player like Antonio Rudiger to leave the club.
During the summer transfer window, Tomori was linked with a loan move to Everton, but Lampard blocked any potential deal. However, this time he will be allowed to leave on a short-term deal, and Leeds are emerging as favourites for his signature.
Many Leeds fans feel that he would be a very good signing for the club. Here are some of the selected tweets:
Hearing what we could be getting Tomori for me this would be a great signing. We need deffenders and he needs game time I hope we get this over the line.#LUFC#Chelsea @andrearadri 👀👀 — dirtyLeeds (@LUFC205) January 5, 2021
Tomori in on loan? Bielsa will work absolute wonders with Him. Think about what he did with Ben White and Tomori is better than Ben White by quite some way. #LUFC #MOT come on — Leeds warrior (@WarriorLeeds) January 5, 2021
I’ve seen Tomori rumours, but a CB wasn’t somewhere I expected players given recent purchases, but injuries mean I understand the possibility. Early in the window but any legs behind it? And I would assume a loan if true as opposed to permanent @PhilHay_ #LUFC — Sam (@SBabbLUFC) January 5, 2021
Yes please. We need cover at the back. — Herbie Jassi (@herbie1178) January 5, 2021
Tomori or Rudiger on loan? Would be good cover for the defence #LUFC — Luke Barton (@LDJB89) January 2, 2021
Leeds do need a defensive cover in January having conceded 33 goals already in the Premier League.
Bielsa worked wonders with Ben White on loan last season, and there’s no reason to believe why he can’t repeat the same with the young Chelsea defender.
Germany defender Robin Koch is currently out with a knee surgery and he is set to be sidelined for up to three months.
Likewise, Diego Llorente is currently out injured, while Liam Cooper is also missing for the Whites. Tomori can expect to play regularly, and a temporary deal makes a lot of sense for all parties involved.
|
https://sportslens.com/leeds-united-fans-react-to-fikayo-tomori-transfer-link/325148/
|
en
| 2021-01-06T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/bf83d2a74b7d6bce28789ff21bc60d85758c38071115e40cb87fe17764ea8b4e.json
|
[
"Leeds United fans have taken to social networking site Twitter to express their reaction to reports linking the club with a move for Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori.\nAccording to a recent report from BBC Sport, Chelsea are willing to let Tomori go out on loan, and Leeds are his most likely destination.\nTomori made a strong impact last season where he made 22 appearances for the Blues.\nHowever, he has surprisingly dropped down the pecking order at the club and has struggled for regular games in 2020-21. He has managed only three appearances in all competitions, and Chelsea are ready to let him go out on loan.\nTomori’s situation is unlikely to change this season, even if Frank Lampard allows a fringe player like Antonio Rudiger to leave the club.\nDuring the summer transfer window, Tomori was linked with a loan move to Everton, but Lampard blocked any potential deal. However, this time he will be allowed to leave on a short-term deal, and Leeds are emerging as favourites for his signature.\nMany Leeds fans feel that he would be a very good signing for the club. Here are some of the selected tweets:\nHearing what we could be getting Tomori for me this would be a great signing. We need deffenders and he needs game time I hope we get this over the line.#LUFC#Chelsea @andrearadri 👀👀 — dirtyLeeds (@LUFC205) January 5, 2021\nTomori in on loan? Bielsa will work absolute wonders with Him. Think about what he did with Ben White and Tomori is better than Ben White by quite some way. #LUFC #MOT come on — Leeds warrior (@WarriorLeeds) January 5, 2021\nI’ve seen Tomori rumours, but a CB wasn’t somewhere I expected players given recent purchases, but injuries mean I understand the possibility. Early in the window but any legs behind it? And I would assume a loan if true as opposed to permanent @PhilHay_ #LUFC — Sam (@SBabbLUFC) January 5, 2021\nYes please. We need cover at the back. — Herbie Jassi (@herbie1178) January 5, 2021\nTomori or Rudiger on loan? Would be good cover for the defence #LUFC — Luke Barton (@LDJB89) January 2, 2021\nLeeds do need a defensive cover in January having conceded 33 goals already in the Premier League.\nBielsa worked wonders with Ben White on loan last season, and there’s no reason to believe why he can’t repeat the same with the young Chelsea defender.\nGermany defender Robin Koch is currently out with a knee surgery and he is set to be sidelined for up to three months.\nLikewise, Diego Llorente is currently out injured, while Liam Cooper is also missing for the Whites. Tomori can expect to play regularly, and a temporary deal makes a lot of sense for all parties involved.",
"Leeds United fans react to Fikayo Tomori transfer link"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-10T19:07:29 | null | 2021-01-10T18:20:36 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fwest-bromwich-make-approach-to-sign-clement-grenier-from-rennes%2F326007%2F.json
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en
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West Bromwich make approach to sign Clement Grenier from Rennes
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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West Bromwich Albion are looking to sign Rennes midfielder Clement Grenier on a free transfer this month, a report from Football Insider claims.
The Baggies are aiming to bolster their squad this month and they have already landed the services of Robert Snodgrass on a permanent basis from West Ham United.
It is now reported that they are interested in signing Grenier, who has under six months left on his contract with Rennes.
The France international has been in-and-out of the lineup at Rennes this term and he has started just seven of his 14 appearances.
Grenier has recently found form with two goals and one assist in the last four games, but he has still been tipped to head through the exit door.
Rennes are reportedly experiencing financial concerns with their reduced revenue amid the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Hence, they are looking to cut costs at the turn of the year and it is claimed that Grenier could be permitted to leave on a free transfer this month.
The Baggies are desperately on the hunt for a new striker, who can deliver regular goals and help them avoid relegation from the Premier League.
However, signing Grenier on a free transfer is a tempting prospect with manager Sam Allardyce wanting to bring in multiple fresh faces.
Allardyce has personally admitted that the club will be ‘extremely busy‘ this month with the Baggies looking disoriented all over the pitch.
The club have suffered five straight defeats in all competitions under Allardyce. They were recently eliminated in the FA Cup third round by League One Blackpool on penalties.
Up next, the Baggies will face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Black Country derby in the Premier League and that presents another tough challenge for them.
They are already six points adrift of safety after 17 league games and have won only one games all season against Sheffield United.
Meanwhile, cross-town rivals Aston Villa have also been credited with an interest in Grenier, who has spent almost his entire career in the French top-flight.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
|
https://sportslens.com/west-bromwich-make-approach-to-sign-clement-grenier-from-rennes/326007/
|
en
| 2021-01-10T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/71fb83698dab074afe52576543522552215941dec5495e0b7d6db14a2959700d.json
|
[
"West Bromwich Albion are looking to sign Rennes midfielder Clement Grenier on a free transfer this month, a report from Football Insider claims.\nThe Baggies are aiming to bolster their squad this month and they have already landed the services of Robert Snodgrass on a permanent basis from West Ham United.\nIt is now reported that they are interested in signing Grenier, who has under six months left on his contract with Rennes.\nThe France international has been in-and-out of the lineup at Rennes this term and he has started just seven of his 14 appearances.\nGrenier has recently found form with two goals and one assist in the last four games, but he has still been tipped to head through the exit door.\nRennes are reportedly experiencing financial concerns with their reduced revenue amid the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.\nHence, they are looking to cut costs at the turn of the year and it is claimed that Grenier could be permitted to leave on a free transfer this month.\nThe Baggies are desperately on the hunt for a new striker, who can deliver regular goals and help them avoid relegation from the Premier League.\nHowever, signing Grenier on a free transfer is a tempting prospect with manager Sam Allardyce wanting to bring in multiple fresh faces.\nAllardyce has personally admitted that the club will be ‘extremely busy‘ this month with the Baggies looking disoriented all over the pitch.\nThe club have suffered five straight defeats in all competitions under Allardyce. They were recently eliminated in the FA Cup third round by League One Blackpool on penalties.\nUp next, the Baggies will face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Black Country derby in the Premier League and that presents another tough challenge for them.\nThey are already six points adrift of safety after 17 league games and have won only one games all season against Sheffield United.\nMeanwhile, cross-town rivals Aston Villa have also been credited with an interest in Grenier, who has spent almost his entire career in the French top-flight.\nStats from Transfermarkt.com",
"West Bromwich make approach to sign Clement Grenier from Rennes"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-04T09:12:06 | null | 2021-01-04T06:35:09 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fmikel-arteta-raves-about-arsenal-defender-kieran-tierney%2F324714%2F.json
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en
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Mikel Arteta raves about Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney
| null | null |
sportslens.com
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Mikel Arteta has showered heaps of praise on Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney after the Gunners secured a comfortable victory against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Arsenal won 4-0 against the Baggies on Saturday at the Hawthorns and in the process secured their third victory in a row in the Premier League.
Tierney, who joined from Celtic in 2019, scored the opening goal of the match with a superb solo effort. Arteta suggested after the match that the 23-year-old can become a future captain for the club, describing the defender as a “natural leader”.
The Scotland defender is a popular figure among the Arsenal fans. Arteta has suggested that Tierney is a player with ‘enormous’ talent, who has got ‘perfect attitude’ and ‘commitment’ towards the game.
Tierney suffered a shoulder injury after joining the Gunners and took some time to adapt to a new league. However, he has been excellent this season and rightly deserves the accolades that are coming his way.
“Ever since the moment that I joined the club and he went through his shoulder injury, I see a player with enormous talent, with the perfect attitude and commitment and then a kid who is a joy to work with,” Arteta said, as quoted by Football London.
“And I’m so happy for him for the goal he scored, everything that he’s put in to be better every day, towards the team towards the club. He had some issues to adapt. It was a challenge for him to leave his house and we are all trying to help him because the kid really deserves this. He’s a joy to work with.”
The defender was seen wearing just a T-shirt and shorts despite the snow. When asked whether it was medically advisable, Arteta joked that Tierney has got ‘something special in his blood’.
“I don’t know he’s got something special in his blood, because we are wearing snood and hats and gloves and he just goes there with his shorts and t-shirt. It’s not like he’s acting as well. For him he’s very comfortable like that.”
Tierney is a fantastic left-back, and he is a natural leader. He was a cult-hero at Celtic, and has got a bright future ahead of him. He is a model professional who always puts his best on the pitch and demands an equal level of commitment from his teammates.
Arsenal are growing in confidence with three straight wins, and have jumped to 11th in the Premier League table.
|
https://sportslens.com/mikel-arteta-raves-about-arsenal-defender-kieran-tierney/324714/
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en
| 2021-01-04T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/2e2393968b682ef4a42b08cdf4d4e8bc48a19e47fef1e6b007297d47b8b1e5ba.json
|
[
"Mikel Arteta has showered heaps of praise on Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney after the Gunners secured a comfortable victory against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.\nArsenal won 4-0 against the Baggies on Saturday at the Hawthorns and in the process secured their third victory in a row in the Premier League.\nTierney, who joined from Celtic in 2019, scored the opening goal of the match with a superb solo effort. Arteta suggested after the match that the 23-year-old can become a future captain for the club, describing the defender as a “natural leader”.\nThe Scotland defender is a popular figure among the Arsenal fans. Arteta has suggested that Tierney is a player with ‘enormous’ talent, who has got ‘perfect attitude’ and ‘commitment’ towards the game.\nTierney suffered a shoulder injury after joining the Gunners and took some time to adapt to a new league. However, he has been excellent this season and rightly deserves the accolades that are coming his way.\n“Ever since the moment that I joined the club and he went through his shoulder injury, I see a player with enormous talent, with the perfect attitude and commitment and then a kid who is a joy to work with,” Arteta said, as quoted by Football London.\n“And I’m so happy for him for the goal he scored, everything that he’s put in to be better every day, towards the team towards the club. He had some issues to adapt. It was a challenge for him to leave his house and we are all trying to help him because the kid really deserves this. He’s a joy to work with.”\nThe defender was seen wearing just a T-shirt and shorts despite the snow. When asked whether it was medically advisable, Arteta joked that Tierney has got ‘something special in his blood’.\n“I don’t know he’s got something special in his blood, because we are wearing snood and hats and gloves and he just goes there with his shorts and t-shirt. It’s not like he’s acting as well. For him he’s very comfortable like that.”\nTierney is a fantastic left-back, and he is a natural leader. He was a cult-hero at Celtic, and has got a bright future ahead of him. He is a model professional who always puts his best on the pitch and demands an equal level of commitment from his teammates.\nArsenal are growing in confidence with three straight wins, and have jumped to 11th in the Premier League table.",
"Mikel Arteta raves about Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-27T12:17:40 | null | 2021-01-27T11:50:07 |
Manchester City and Barcelona target Lautaro Martinez is set to be rewarded for his form with a new contract at Inter Milan.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fbarcelona-and-man-city-target-on-the-verge-of-signing-new-contract%2F329700%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Barcelona and Man City target on the verge of signing new contract
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez is on the brink of signing a new contract at the club, as reported by Italian sports newspaper Corriere dello Sport (via Siempre Inter).
Martinez joined Milan in the summer transfer window of 2018 from Primera Division side Racing Club. He has since become one of the world’s most sought after forwards, attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
This season, he has been vital to Antonio Conte’s side, scoring nine and assisting three in 19 league appearances. His partnership with Romelu Lukaku has helped the Nerazzurri become Serie A’s top scorers, and has also catapulted them to second in the table, just two points off bitter rivals AC Milan in first.
The Argentina international has been heavily linked with moves away from the San Siro. However, Corriere dello Sport claim (via Siempre Inter) that the 23-year-old is close to agreeing a new deal at Inter.
It is reported that Martinez will be earning €5 million per year on his new deal, which is €2m short of what he and his agent were demanding. Furthermore, the contract will include a €111m release clause.
Barcelona and Manchester City were the two clubs most heavily linked with the Inter forward, while Real Madrid were also rumoured to be interested in his services.
Barcelona have been left with just one natural striker following Luis Suarez’s free transfer to Atletico Madrid last summer – that striker being Martin Braithwaite.
While the Dane has held his own at the Camp Nou and offers decent cover, he is hardly up to the standard required to play for one of the world’s most ambitious clubs.
Meanwhile, Man City will soon be in the hunt for a new striker to replace all-time top goalscorer Sergio Aguero. The club legend is 32-years-old now, and has suffered with constant fitness problems over the last few months.
In addition, his contract is set to expire in the summer and it is unclear whether he will be staying at the Etihad beyond this point.
|
https://sportslens.com/barcelona-and-man-city-target-on-the-verge-of-signing-new-contract/329700/
|
en
| 2021-01-27T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/9a5a6814792f94bfcf8e059b66ee5794b69e2c0c2b7caab40aa4458ebbf78480.json
|
[
"Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez is on the brink of signing a new contract at the club, as reported by Italian sports newspaper Corriere dello Sport (via Siempre Inter).\nMartinez joined Milan in the summer transfer window of 2018 from Primera Division side Racing Club. He has since become one of the world’s most sought after forwards, attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.\nThis season, he has been vital to Antonio Conte’s side, scoring nine and assisting three in 19 league appearances. His partnership with Romelu Lukaku has helped the Nerazzurri become Serie A’s top scorers, and has also catapulted them to second in the table, just two points off bitter rivals AC Milan in first.\nThe Argentina international has been heavily linked with moves away from the San Siro. However, Corriere dello Sport claim (via Siempre Inter) that the 23-year-old is close to agreeing a new deal at Inter.\nIt is reported that Martinez will be earning €5 million per year on his new deal, which is €2m short of what he and his agent were demanding. Furthermore, the contract will include a €111m release clause.\nBarcelona and Manchester City were the two clubs most heavily linked with the Inter forward, while Real Madrid were also rumoured to be interested in his services.\nBarcelona have been left with just one natural striker following Luis Suarez’s free transfer to Atletico Madrid last summer – that striker being Martin Braithwaite.\nWhile the Dane has held his own at the Camp Nou and offers decent cover, he is hardly up to the standard required to play for one of the world’s most ambitious clubs.\nMeanwhile, Man City will soon be in the hunt for a new striker to replace all-time top goalscorer Sergio Aguero. The club legend is 32-years-old now, and has suffered with constant fitness problems over the last few months.\nIn addition, his contract is set to expire in the summer and it is unclear whether he will be staying at the Etihad beyond this point.",
"Barcelona and Man City target on the verge of signing new contract",
"Manchester City and Barcelona target Lautaro Martinez is set to be rewarded for his form with a new contract at Inter Milan."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-28T12:52:42 | null | 2021-01-28T10:20:07 |
La Liga giants Barcelona are reportedly preparing to put their pursuit of Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia on hold.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fbarcelona-delay-deal-to-sign-eric-garcia%2F329977%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Barcelona delay deal to sign Eric Garcia
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Barcelona are reportedly ready to delay their long-running pursuit of Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia.
Garcia came through La Masia at Barcelona during his youth days, before making the switch to Man City in 2017.
His time at the Etihad has seen him emerge as a promising young talent, making ten Premier League starts and five Champions League appearances. He has also earned four caps for the Spanish national team.
The 20-year-old’s contract is set to expire this summer, leaving him free to negotiate a deal with other clubs. Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for their former player over the last few months.
However, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo are now reporting that the Catalan giants are putting the deal on hold for now as they await the results of the upcoming presidential election.
La Blaugrana could certainly do with a new player at the heart of defence. Veteran defender Gerard Pique turns 34 this week and is currently sidelined with a long-term knee injury, while Samuel Umtiti is out of favour with manager Ronald Koeman.
This leaves the club with just Clement Lenglet, Ronald Araujo and Oscar Mingueza at the centre-back position. Midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets have had to deputise there at times this season.
If Barcelona don’t complete a transfer for Garcia this window, then they risk losing out on him. Recent reports suggested that Arsenal were also eyeing up a move for the Man City youngster. However, it seems as if the player has his heart set on a return to the Camp Nou.
Koeman’s men currently sit in third place in La Liga, ten points off leaders Atletico Madrid. Their best hope of silverware appears to be in the Copa del Rey, having seen off Rayo Vallecano to reach the quarter-finals.
|
https://sportslens.com/barcelona-delay-deal-to-sign-eric-garcia/329977/
|
en
| 2021-01-28T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/93437e3497bfc881326877f9a06628f32fcb9c132bb4c064e7c55b3ad7ee753b.json
|
[
"Barcelona are reportedly ready to delay their long-running pursuit of Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia.\nGarcia came through La Masia at Barcelona during his youth days, before making the switch to Man City in 2017.\nHis time at the Etihad has seen him emerge as a promising young talent, making ten Premier League starts and five Champions League appearances. He has also earned four caps for the Spanish national team.\nThe 20-year-old’s contract is set to expire this summer, leaving him free to negotiate a deal with other clubs. Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for their former player over the last few months.\nHowever, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo are now reporting that the Catalan giants are putting the deal on hold for now as they await the results of the upcoming presidential election.\nLa Blaugrana could certainly do with a new player at the heart of defence. Veteran defender Gerard Pique turns 34 this week and is currently sidelined with a long-term knee injury, while Samuel Umtiti is out of favour with manager Ronald Koeman.\nThis leaves the club with just Clement Lenglet, Ronald Araujo and Oscar Mingueza at the centre-back position. Midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets have had to deputise there at times this season.\nIf Barcelona don’t complete a transfer for Garcia this window, then they risk losing out on him. Recent reports suggested that Arsenal were also eyeing up a move for the Man City youngster. However, it seems as if the player has his heart set on a return to the Camp Nou.\nKoeman’s men currently sit in third place in La Liga, ten points off leaders Atletico Madrid. Their best hope of silverware appears to be in the Copa del Rey, having seen off Rayo Vallecano to reach the quarter-finals.",
"Barcelona delay deal to sign Eric Garcia",
"La Liga giants Barcelona are reportedly preparing to put their pursuit of Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia on hold."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-18T17:29:50 | null | 2021-01-18T15:37:52 |
Reports in Italy suggest that AC Milan are planning a move for Barcelona defenders Samuel Umtiti and Junior Firpo, who are both out of favour.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fac-milan-eyeing-up-barcelona-duo%2F327681%2F.json
|
en
| null |
AC Milan eyeing up Barcelona duo
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
AC Milan are interested in signing Barcelona defenders Samuel Umtiti and Junior Firpo, as reported by Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (via besoccer.com).
The Rossoneri have had a marvellous season so far, sitting at the top of the table. They are level on points with bitter rivals Inter Milan having played one game fewer, and are seven points ahead of Juventus – who have won the last nine Serie A titles.
However, they will need to add more depth to their squad if they wish to continue their title charge while also remaining competitive in knockout competitions.
As a result, they have looked to the Camp Nou for reinforcements, with La Gazzetta dello Sport claiming that Milan are interested in defensive duo Samuel Umtiti and Junior Firpo.
Once one of the world’s most highly-rated centre-backs, Umtiti has fallen out of favour at Barcelona. This season, he has played fewer La Liga minutes than the injured Gerard Pique and youngsters Ronald Araujo and Oscar Mingueza.
Nonetheless, there is no doubting the Frenchman’s ability. After all, we are just over two years removed from his rock-solid partnership with Raphael Varane which saw him lift the World Cup trophy.
Meanwhile, Firpo has also not featured often under manager Ronald Koeman, making just one league start this term. It was hoped that he could be a long-term replacement for the ageing Jordi Alba, but this has not worked out.
Barcelona have suffered a below-par beginning to the season. They find themselves seven points off league leaders Atletico Madrid having played two games more, and missed out on the chance to lift some silverware on Sunday after losing to Athletic Bilbao in the Supercopa de Espana final.
|
https://sportslens.com/ac-milan-eyeing-up-barcelona-duo/327681/
|
en
| 2021-01-18T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/76741e007ecf242c2bb41ff0b126a2e1ef337dca46b2789ff105453c894e86cc.json
|
[
"AC Milan are interested in signing Barcelona defenders Samuel Umtiti and Junior Firpo, as reported by Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (via besoccer.com).\nThe Rossoneri have had a marvellous season so far, sitting at the top of the table. They are level on points with bitter rivals Inter Milan having played one game fewer, and are seven points ahead of Juventus – who have won the last nine Serie A titles.\nHowever, they will need to add more depth to their squad if they wish to continue their title charge while also remaining competitive in knockout competitions.\nAs a result, they have looked to the Camp Nou for reinforcements, with La Gazzetta dello Sport claiming that Milan are interested in defensive duo Samuel Umtiti and Junior Firpo.\nOnce one of the world’s most highly-rated centre-backs, Umtiti has fallen out of favour at Barcelona. This season, he has played fewer La Liga minutes than the injured Gerard Pique and youngsters Ronald Araujo and Oscar Mingueza.\nNonetheless, there is no doubting the Frenchman’s ability. After all, we are just over two years removed from his rock-solid partnership with Raphael Varane which saw him lift the World Cup trophy.\nMeanwhile, Firpo has also not featured often under manager Ronald Koeman, making just one league start this term. It was hoped that he could be a long-term replacement for the ageing Jordi Alba, but this has not worked out.\nBarcelona have suffered a below-par beginning to the season. They find themselves seven points off league leaders Atletico Madrid having played two games more, and missed out on the chance to lift some silverware on Sunday after losing to Athletic Bilbao in the Supercopa de Espana final.",
"AC Milan eyeing up Barcelona duo",
"Reports in Italy suggest that AC Milan are planning a move for Barcelona defenders Samuel Umtiti and Junior Firpo, who are both out of favour."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-19T10:05:15 | null | 2021-01-19T07:04:52 |
Real Madrid have more or less sealed the departure of Sergio Ramos's as the club has signed David Alaba from Bayern Munich on a free transfer.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fopinion-real-madrid-have-sealed-sergio-ramoss-departue-with-alabas-signing%2F327793%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Opinion:Real Madrid have sealed Sergio Ramos's departue with Alaba's signing
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Fabrizio Romano has reported that Real Madrid has agreed terms with Austrian defender David Alaba and the deal has been closed.
The Bayern Munich defender will join Los Blancos at the end of the season as a free agent.
The Guardian reports that Alaba had rejected offers from Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain before accepting Madrid’s four-year contract offer.
SPORTSLENS VIEW – WHAT DOES DAVID ALABA’S ARRIVAL MEAN FOR REAL MADRID?
Alaba’s arrival could potentially mean the departure of Sergio Ramos at the end of the season. Ramos’s contract is set to expire in June and he has not yet agreed to renew with Real Madrid.
The Austrian international has most likely been brought in as a replacement for Ramos since he can play as a centre-back and left-back.
It is highly unlikely that Los Blancos would use him as a left-back since they have Ferland Mendy and would not want a player who is earning 11 million Euros a season to warm the bench.
Instead, it seems like Alaba will be slotted straight into the starting eleven in place of Ramos. The 29-year-old defender has already shown how effective he is as a centre-back during last season’s treble-winning season with Bayern.
Meanwhile, Rene Ramos, who is Sergio’s brother and agent, has revealed that Manchester United have shown a great deal of interest, according to the Express.
The captain of Madrid could well and truly be out of his way from the Spanish capital as several other clubs are offering him a better contract.
|
https://sportslens.com/opinion-real-madrid-have-sealed-sergio-ramoss-departue-with-alabas-signing/327793/
|
en
| 2021-01-19T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/e64168634ab975d78e005a9e50363fbfc2b9d578f8ee5bc8b83b577dd695c818.json
|
[
"Fabrizio Romano has reported that Real Madrid has agreed terms with Austrian defender David Alaba and the deal has been closed.\nThe Bayern Munich defender will join Los Blancos at the end of the season as a free agent.\nThe Guardian reports that Alaba had rejected offers from Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain before accepting Madrid’s four-year contract offer.\nSPORTSLENS VIEW – WHAT DOES DAVID ALABA’S ARRIVAL MEAN FOR REAL MADRID?\nAlaba’s arrival could potentially mean the departure of Sergio Ramos at the end of the season. Ramos’s contract is set to expire in June and he has not yet agreed to renew with Real Madrid.\nThe Austrian international has most likely been brought in as a replacement for Ramos since he can play as a centre-back and left-back.\nIt is highly unlikely that Los Blancos would use him as a left-back since they have Ferland Mendy and would not want a player who is earning 11 million Euros a season to warm the bench.\nInstead, it seems like Alaba will be slotted straight into the starting eleven in place of Ramos. The 29-year-old defender has already shown how effective he is as a centre-back during last season’s treble-winning season with Bayern.\nMeanwhile, Rene Ramos, who is Sergio’s brother and agent, has revealed that Manchester United have shown a great deal of interest, according to the Express.\nThe captain of Madrid could well and truly be out of his way from the Spanish capital as several other clubs are offering him a better contract.",
"Opinion:Real Madrid have sealed Sergio Ramos's departue with Alaba's signing",
"Real Madrid have more or less sealed the departure of Sergio Ramos's as the club has signed David Alaba from Bayern Munich on a free transfer."
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-26T10:28:38 | null | 2021-01-26T07:00:21 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Fpremier-league-fixtures-epl-table%2F329320%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Premier League Fixtures: Week 20 schedule, Predictions and EPL standings
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
The Premier League standings could be set for a topsy-turvy midweek as Liverpool travel to north London to face Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
Everton will be looking to close the gap with other title challengers when they take on Leicester City at Goodison Park, while a new era is set to commence at Stamford Bridge following the sacking of Frank Lampard, with Chelsea facing Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Elsewhere, Premier League leaders Manchester United will look to consolidate their top position in the EPL 2020-21 table when they face bottom-placed Sheffield United at Old Trafford.
Manchester City can stretch their winning run to 11 in all competitions if they win against Sam Allardyce’s West Brom at the Hawthorns.
2020-21 Premier League: Week 20 Schedule, Predictions
Tuesday Fixtures
Crystal Palace vs West Ham (1-1)
Newcastle United vs Leeds United (1-3)
Southampton vs Arsenal (2-2)
West Brom vs Man City (0-3)
Wednesday Fixtures
Burnley vs Aston Villa (1-2)
Chelsea vs Wolves (2-1)
Brighton vs Fulham (1-1)
Everton vs Leicester (2-1)
Manchester United vs Sheff United (3-0)
Thursday Fixture
Tottenham vs Liverpool (2-3)
Premier League Standings
Click here for the full Premier League table and recent form guide.
Week 20: Three key Fixtures
Tottenham vs Liverpool
A late goal from Bobby Firmino earned all three points for the Reds the last time the two sides met at Anfield which was a top-of-the-Premier League table-clash at that point.
Spurs can leapfrog Liverpool in the EPL table this week, with the Reds horribly struggling for form. Liverpool are without a win in their last five Premier League games, while Spurs are undefeated in their last eight games in all competitions.
Everton vs Leicester City
Rio Ferdinand claimed recently that the Toffees should be considered as one of the title contenders after their impressive form under Carlo Ancelotti this season.
Everton have won back-to-back games ahead of this fixture, but they have also lost 1-0 against West Ham at Goodison Park recently. The Foxes are flying high under Brendan Rodgers, winning five games in a row.
Newcastle United vs Leeds United
The Magpies are yet to win a game in any competition since 12th December, and another frustrating result on Tuesday could see the end of Steve Bruce’s tenure at the Tyneside club.
Leeds have lost three games in a row in all competitions, and Marcelo Bielsa’s side will look to return to winning ways, with Kalvin Phillips set to return.
|
https://sportslens.com/premier-league-fixtures-epl-table/329320/
|
en
| 2021-01-26T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/28ce2f52db24f6a7a6bd3a6e86a2c16530f834c8d54068540d458548e3493024.json
|
[
"The Premier League standings could be set for a topsy-turvy midweek as Liverpool travel to north London to face Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.\nEverton will be looking to close the gap with other title challengers when they take on Leicester City at Goodison Park, while a new era is set to commence at Stamford Bridge following the sacking of Frank Lampard, with Chelsea facing Wolverhampton Wanderers.\nElsewhere, Premier League leaders Manchester United will look to consolidate their top position in the EPL 2020-21 table when they face bottom-placed Sheffield United at Old Trafford.\nManchester City can stretch their winning run to 11 in all competitions if they win against Sam Allardyce’s West Brom at the Hawthorns.\n2020-21 Premier League: Week 20 Schedule, Predictions\nTuesday Fixtures\nCrystal Palace vs West Ham (1-1)\nNewcastle United vs Leeds United (1-3)\nSouthampton vs Arsenal (2-2)\nWest Brom vs Man City (0-3)\nWednesday Fixtures\nBurnley vs Aston Villa (1-2)\nChelsea vs Wolves (2-1)\nBrighton vs Fulham (1-1)\nEverton vs Leicester (2-1)\nManchester United vs Sheff United (3-0)\nThursday Fixture\nTottenham vs Liverpool (2-3)\nPremier League Standings\nClick here for the full Premier League table and recent form guide.\nWeek 20: Three key Fixtures\nTottenham vs Liverpool\nA late goal from Bobby Firmino earned all three points for the Reds the last time the two sides met at Anfield which was a top-of-the-Premier League table-clash at that point.\nSpurs can leapfrog Liverpool in the EPL table this week, with the Reds horribly struggling for form. Liverpool are without a win in their last five Premier League games, while Spurs are undefeated in their last eight games in all competitions.\nEverton vs Leicester City\nRio Ferdinand claimed recently that the Toffees should be considered as one of the title contenders after their impressive form under Carlo Ancelotti this season.\nEverton have won back-to-back games ahead of this fixture, but they have also lost 1-0 against West Ham at Goodison Park recently. The Foxes are flying high under Brendan Rodgers, winning five games in a row.\nNewcastle United vs Leeds United\nThe Magpies are yet to win a game in any competition since 12th December, and another frustrating result on Tuesday could see the end of Steve Bruce’s tenure at the Tyneside club.\nLeeds have lost three games in a row in all competitions, and Marcelo Bielsa’s side will look to return to winning ways, with Kalvin Phillips set to return.",
"Premier League Fixtures: Week 20 schedule, Predictions and EPL standings"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-29T11:03:03 | null | 2021-01-29T09:40:30 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Ftactical-analysis-how-the-pieces-came-back-together-for-liverpool-against-tottenham%2F330035%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Tactical analysis: How the pieces came back together for Liverpool against Tottenham
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
We only had one Premier League match on Thursday, but it was an absolute cracker as Tottenham took on Liverpool.
Both sides were considered strong title contenders just a month and a half ago, but now they are barely hanging to the coattails of the league leaders.
Therefore, this was set to be a crucial match for both sides’ respective title-challenges to end a disappointing January (especially for Liverpool) on a positive note.
Line-ups
Tottenham fielded a 3-4-3 once again with Hugo Lloris in goal. Joe Rodon, Eric Dier and Ben Davier were at the heart of the defence, with Serge Aurier on the right and most interestingly, Matt Doherty on the left. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg partnered Tanguy Ndombele in the midfield, while Steven Bergwijn, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min made up the front three.
Liverpool played in their familiar 4-3-3, but they too made some interesting selections. Alisson kept his place in goal, with a back-four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joël Matip, Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson in front of him as Fabinho missed out completely due to a minor muscle issue. Crucially, Georginio Wijnaldum operated in holding midfield, freeing up Thiago Alcântara and James Milner in front of him. The all-too-familiar front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané joined forces once again.
Build-up, press and defensive shapes
First of all, let’s take a look at how both teams built from the back, pressed and defended.
Liverpool’s centre-backs were their focal point in the build-up, and they had Wijnaldum right in front of them. While one full-back pushed up, the other stayed tight to the touchline and in line with Wijnaldum to provide an option out wide. Meanwhile, one midfielder dropped into the vacated full-back position (Thiago or Milner depending on whether Alexander-Arnold had pushed up).
For most of the match, though, it was Alexander-Arnold who stayed back during the build-up while Robertson pushed forward and Milner took his spot. This was after Son exploited the hole on the right of defence which the young Englishman left when he got forward (as we will see later).
Here is how Spurs pressed:
Spurs pressed high up the pitch, utilising each of their front-five in possession. Kane marked the defensive midfielder, Wijnaldum, while Bergwijn and Son took a centre-back each. Depending on which wing the ball was played to, the wing-back pushed up to meet the Liverpool full-back, using the touchline as an extra defender in an effort to surround him. The two holding midfielders stayed back, keeping an eye on the other two Liverpool midfielders.
Tottenham defended in a 5-3-2, as their wing-backs joined the defensive line and Bergwijn dropped into the midfield line.
Now for Spurs’ build-up.
Tottenham used a 3-2 at the back with their three centre-backs and two defensive midfielders to play out from the back. Liverpool countered this with a 1-3, as Thiago pushed up from midfield to stay tight to Ndombele, while the front three held their positions.
When the ball was moved to the left centre-back (Davies), Salah pressed the ball, while Firmino positioned himself in a way to keep Højbjerg in his covershadow. Thiago again stayed tight to Ndombele, while Mané stayed close to the right centre-back (Rodon).
On the opposite side, the idea was similar. This time, Firmino would try to move into a position to keep Højbjerg in his overshadow, while Thiago took out Ndombele and Salah kept Davies occupied. Mané didn’t press the ball but instead looked to prevent the out-ball to the wing-back. Previously, this was not necessary as Doherty, being right-footed, couldn’t progress the ball quickly if he received it on the left wing, but on the right, Aurier could move forward quickly.
Further back, Liverpool dropped into a 4-3-3, just as they lined up.
With that in mind, let’s see how both teams operated in possession further up the pitch.
Tottenham’s direct threat
José Mourinho’s Tottenham are known to pose a serious counter-attacking threat, particularly with Kane and Son. They had a number of good chances from such situations in the first half.
As aforementioned, Spurs built up with a 3-2. So, their formation in possession was a 3-2-5, as the wingers tucked inside to make space for the wing-backs, who pushed forward.
However, most of their potent attacks came in transition. The instance above is after Lloris punted the ball long. Spurs targetted Henderson in such situations because he is not a full-time centre-back, and Kane did outmuscle him on certain occasions. Here, he brings the ball down for Bergwijn in a 3v2 situation.
With Kane occupying Henderson, Matip had to focus on preventing Bergwijn from running past him. However, in doing so, he left Son all alone, and the Dutchman found his pacy teammate with a through ball.
As they have been doing all season, Son and Kane exchanged positions regularly. Above, you can see that Son has drifted into a central position, while his English teammate is on the left.
The South Korean international could then use his pace to run at the Liverpool defence, which was a bit low on pure speed with Matip and Henderson. Kane’s playmaking abilities helped too as he had to slip Son in with pinpoint through balls.
Son and Kane’s positional interchanges could even hurt Liverpool without the two linking up. Kane often dropped deep, and this naturally stretched the Liverpool defence, as you can see. Then, a simple long ball over the top was enough to send Son racing through on goal. As aforementioned, he easily had the pace on the Reds’ centre-backs, so he was through on goal once again.
In each case, the common theme was to send Son through on goal in some way or another. The South Korean international didn’t finish as well as he usually does so he couldn’t beat Alisson in two of the three chances, while one was ruled out for a marginal offside.
However, the injury that Kane sustained in the 12th minute reduced his mobility and eventually forced him off at half-time after it got aggravated, so Tottenham’s threat was nullified.
Liverpool’s attacking movements
After going for over 400 Premier League minutes without scoring, Liverpool finally ended their drought with three good goals in this match. Let’s take a look at some of their attacking routines which led to these goals.
At the sharp end, Liverpool had their front three in the most advanced positions, with one midfielder (usually Milner) joining them. The full-backs and holding midfielders formed a line behind them to create a 2-4-4.
The full-backs often joined the front line if the ball was played out wide into a crossing position, as you can see above.
Mané had a great match as he scored one and played a part in his side’s other two goals, and he was Liverpool’s most potent weapon attack. His diagonal runs caused the most damage to Spurs’ defence. Since he was deployed on the left, he targetted the space between Aurier (a defensively weak wing-back) and Rodon (the young right centre-back) in the first half.
He got a lot of joy out of it too. Let’s see how:
Positioning himself on the inside of Aurier, Mané used the help of teammate (with or without the ball) who would drag the inexperienced Rodon out of the defensive line. When the ex-Swansea man committed forward, Mané’s teammate could slip the ball through to him, and he could meet it with a diagonal run.
Let’s take a look at some in-match examples of this:
In the first instance, Mané took down a long ball for Salah right in front of Aurier, finding the Egyptian in what was essentially a 2v3 situation.
Then, both Rodon and Dier stood their ground instead of running back along with Aurier to stop Salah, but in doing so, they left an open space in behind for Mané, who was easily found by his Egyptian teammate.
Now for the next example. This time, Firmino has dragged Rodon out of position, and once again, Mané’s angled run across the inside of Aurier allows him to meet the Brazilian international’s through pass in the space in behind.
This worked for the opener too. Milner’s presence just dragged Rodon a couple of yards away from the defensive line, and that is all that Mané needed to stay onside and meet the long ball in the space in behind the defence. He then squared it to Firmino, who tapped in to make it 1-0.
Mané’s goal also came in a similar scenario. In the second half, Spurs changed some things (which we will discuss below) which saw Doherty move to right-back in a back-four. So, Mané’s new target was the gap between the Irishman and Rodon, which is exactly what he used to turn in Alexander-Arnold’s cross in the second half.
In this way, Mané absolutely exploited Aurier’s defensive incapabilities and an off day for Rodon, punishing the pair’s every small mistake.
Tottenham’s second-half changes
With Kane injured and Liverpool one goal, Mourinho knew that he needed to switch things up for the second half. Interestingly, he chose Erik Lamela to replace Kane instead of going for a more traditional striker like Carlos Vinícius, while Harry Winks replaced a wing-back in Aurier. With that, Spurs switched to a 4-2-3-1 as Doherty switched to right-back, Davies moved over to left-back.
With a new formation and desperate for a goal, Tottenham built up with a 2-4, as the full-backs pushed up alongside the two holding midfielders.
In possession, Spurs’ front-four looked like this. Son was the main striker, with Ndombele drifting to his left behind him. Bergwijn switched over to the left wing to accommodate Lamela on the right.
So, in essence, Spurs had a 2-4-4 in possession in the second half.
The only time this worked was when Højbjerg scored in the second half. The move started with Lamela, who drifted inside from the right and fed the ball out wide to Bergwijn.
With the rest of the Spurs attack pushing into the box, Bergwijn cut inside and rolled the ball into the path of Højbjerg, who smashed it home first-time. So, the one time when Spurs’ new attack worked, it needed some brilliant individual quality to succeed.
Tottenham defended in their 4-2-3-1 in the second half, with Ndombele taking up Kane’s role of marking Wijnaldum from the first half. Depending on which side the ball was, one winger met the Liverpool full-back, while the other came so narrow that he could get in the way of an opposition midfielder.
Gareth Bale replaced Steven Bergwijn late on which led to Lamela switching wings to the left, but in the end, none of it made a difference on the result, and bar the Højbjerg strike, even on Alisson, as Spurs could only accumulate an xG of 0.04 in the second half, which was only from that one shot.
Conclusion
As he will undoubtedly admit to himself, Mourinho got his team selection and tactics wrong with the back-three, but his side were firmly in the match as long as Kane and Son were linking up. However, Kane’s injury firmly swung the tide in Liverpool’s favour, and their defence was absolutely untroubled after he went off.
As for Liverpool, while Jürgen Klopp did get his selections right by choosing to push Thiago further up in midfield, they could easily have lost this match had Son’s Achilles tendon not been offside early on in the first half. But, they did control the match thereafter, and they deserve credit for that.
Stats courtesy The xG Philosophy and Sofascore.com
|
https://sportslens.com/tactical-analysis-how-the-pieces-came-back-together-for-liverpool-against-tottenham/330035/
|
en
| 2021-01-29T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/5cbdb8c10b8b4cb82e2adf9ae6d4a854a2f26b5f29d80eea7c962123af8053fb.json
|
[
"We only had one Premier League match on Thursday, but it was an absolute cracker as Tottenham took on Liverpool.\nBoth sides were considered strong title contenders just a month and a half ago, but now they are barely hanging to the coattails of the league leaders.\nTherefore, this was set to be a crucial match for both sides’ respective title-challenges to end a disappointing January (especially for Liverpool) on a positive note.\nLine-ups\nTottenham fielded a 3-4-3 once again with Hugo Lloris in goal. Joe Rodon, Eric Dier and Ben Davier were at the heart of the defence, with Serge Aurier on the right and most interestingly, Matt Doherty on the left. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg partnered Tanguy Ndombele in the midfield, while Steven Bergwijn, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min made up the front three.\nLiverpool played in their familiar 4-3-3, but they too made some interesting selections. Alisson kept his place in goal, with a back-four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joël Matip, Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson in front of him as Fabinho missed out completely due to a minor muscle issue. Crucially, Georginio Wijnaldum operated in holding midfield, freeing up Thiago Alcântara and James Milner in front of him. The all-too-familiar front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané joined forces once again.\nBuild-up, press and defensive shapes\nFirst of all, let’s take a look at how both teams built from the back, pressed and defended.\nLiverpool’s centre-backs were their focal point in the build-up, and they had Wijnaldum right in front of them. While one full-back pushed up, the other stayed tight to the touchline and in line with Wijnaldum to provide an option out wide. Meanwhile, one midfielder dropped into the vacated full-back position (Thiago or Milner depending on whether Alexander-Arnold had pushed up).\nFor most of the match, though, it was Alexander-Arnold who stayed back during the build-up while Robertson pushed forward and Milner took his spot. This was after Son exploited the hole on the right of defence which the young Englishman left when he got forward (as we will see later).\nHere is how Spurs pressed:\nSpurs pressed high up the pitch, utilising each of their front-five in possession. Kane marked the defensive midfielder, Wijnaldum, while Bergwijn and Son took a centre-back each. Depending on which wing the ball was played to, the wing-back pushed up to meet the Liverpool full-back, using the touchline as an extra defender in an effort to surround him. The two holding midfielders stayed back, keeping an eye on the other two Liverpool midfielders.\nTottenham defended in a 5-3-2, as their wing-backs joined the defensive line and Bergwijn dropped into the midfield line.\nNow for Spurs’ build-up.\nTottenham used a 3-2 at the back with their three centre-backs and two defensive midfielders to play out from the back. Liverpool countered this with a 1-3, as Thiago pushed up from midfield to stay tight to Ndombele, while the front three held their positions.\nWhen the ball was moved to the left centre-back (Davies), Salah pressed the ball, while Firmino positioned himself in a way to keep Højbjerg in his covershadow. Thiago again stayed tight to Ndombele, while Mané stayed close to the right centre-back (Rodon).\nOn the opposite side, the idea was similar. This time, Firmino would try to move into a position to keep Højbjerg in his overshadow, while Thiago took out Ndombele and Salah kept Davies occupied. Mané didn’t press the ball but instead looked to prevent the out-ball to the wing-back. Previously, this was not necessary as Doherty, being right-footed, couldn’t progress the ball quickly if he received it on the left wing, but on the right, Aurier could move forward quickly.\nFurther back, Liverpool dropped into a 4-3-3, just as they lined up.\nWith that in mind, let’s see how both teams operated in possession further up the pitch.\nTottenham’s direct threat\nJosé Mourinho’s Tottenham are known to pose a serious counter-attacking threat, particularly with Kane and Son. They had a number of good chances from such situations in the first half.\nAs aforementioned, Spurs built up with a 3-2. So, their formation in possession was a 3-2-5, as the wingers tucked inside to make space for the wing-backs, who pushed forward.\nHowever, most of their potent attacks came in transition. The instance above is after Lloris punted the ball long. Spurs targetted Henderson in such situations because he is not a full-time centre-back, and Kane did outmuscle him on certain occasions. Here, he brings the ball down for Bergwijn in a 3v2 situation.\nWith Kane occupying Henderson, Matip had to focus on preventing Bergwijn from running past him. However, in doing so, he left Son all alone, and the Dutchman found his pacy teammate with a through ball.\nAs they have been doing all season, Son and Kane exchanged positions regularly. Above, you can see that Son has drifted into a central position, while his English teammate is on the left.\nThe South Korean international could then use his pace to run at the Liverpool defence, which was a bit low on pure speed with Matip and Henderson. Kane’s playmaking abilities helped too as he had to slip Son in with pinpoint through balls.\nSon and Kane’s positional interchanges could even hurt Liverpool without the two linking up. Kane often dropped deep, and this naturally stretched the Liverpool defence, as you can see. Then, a simple long ball over the top was enough to send Son racing through on goal. As aforementioned, he easily had the pace on the Reds’ centre-backs, so he was through on goal once again.\nIn each case, the common theme was to send Son through on goal in some way or another. The South Korean international didn’t finish as well as he usually does so he couldn’t beat Alisson in two of the three chances, while one was ruled out for a marginal offside.\nHowever, the injury that Kane sustained in the 12th minute reduced his mobility and eventually forced him off at half-time after it got aggravated, so Tottenham’s threat was nullified.\nLiverpool’s attacking movements\nAfter going for over 400 Premier League minutes without scoring, Liverpool finally ended their drought with three good goals in this match. Let’s take a look at some of their attacking routines which led to these goals.\nAt the sharp end, Liverpool had their front three in the most advanced positions, with one midfielder (usually Milner) joining them. The full-backs and holding midfielders formed a line behind them to create a 2-4-4.\nThe full-backs often joined the front line if the ball was played out wide into a crossing position, as you can see above.\nMané had a great match as he scored one and played a part in his side’s other two goals, and he was Liverpool’s most potent weapon attack. His diagonal runs caused the most damage to Spurs’ defence. Since he was deployed on the left, he targetted the space between Aurier (a defensively weak wing-back) and Rodon (the young right centre-back) in the first half.\nHe got a lot of joy out of it too. Let’s see how:\nPositioning himself on the inside of Aurier, Mané used the help of teammate (with or without the ball) who would drag the inexperienced Rodon out of the defensive line. When the ex-Swansea man committed forward, Mané’s teammate could slip the ball through to him, and he could meet it with a diagonal run.\nLet’s take a look at some in-match examples of this:\nIn the first instance, Mané took down a long ball for Salah right in front of Aurier, finding the Egyptian in what was essentially a 2v3 situation.\nThen, both Rodon and Dier stood their ground instead of running back along with Aurier to stop Salah, but in doing so, they left an open space in behind for Mané, who was easily found by his Egyptian teammate.\nNow for the next example. This time, Firmino has dragged Rodon out of position, and once again, Mané’s angled run across the inside of Aurier allows him to meet the Brazilian international’s through pass in the space in behind.\nThis worked for the opener too. Milner’s presence just dragged Rodon a couple of yards away from the defensive line, and that is all that Mané needed to stay onside and meet the long ball in the space in behind the defence. He then squared it to Firmino, who tapped in to make it 1-0.\nMané’s goal also came in a similar scenario. In the second half, Spurs changed some things (which we will discuss below) which saw Doherty move to right-back in a back-four. So, Mané’s new target was the gap between the Irishman and Rodon, which is exactly what he used to turn in Alexander-Arnold’s cross in the second half.\nIn this way, Mané absolutely exploited Aurier’s defensive incapabilities and an off day for Rodon, punishing the pair’s every small mistake.\nTottenham’s second-half changes\nWith Kane injured and Liverpool one goal, Mourinho knew that he needed to switch things up for the second half. Interestingly, he chose Erik Lamela to replace Kane instead of going for a more traditional striker like Carlos Vinícius, while Harry Winks replaced a wing-back in Aurier. With that, Spurs switched to a 4-2-3-1 as Doherty switched to right-back, Davies moved over to left-back.\nWith a new formation and desperate for a goal, Tottenham built up with a 2-4, as the full-backs pushed up alongside the two holding midfielders.\nIn possession, Spurs’ front-four looked like this. Son was the main striker, with Ndombele drifting to his left behind him. Bergwijn switched over to the left wing to accommodate Lamela on the right.\nSo, in essence, Spurs had a 2-4-4 in possession in the second half.\nThe only time this worked was when Højbjerg scored in the second half. The move started with Lamela, who drifted inside from the right and fed the ball out wide to Bergwijn.\nWith the rest of the Spurs attack pushing into the box, Bergwijn cut inside and rolled the ball into the path of Højbjerg, who smashed it home first-time. So, the one time when Spurs’ new attack worked, it needed some brilliant individual quality to succeed.\nTottenham defended in their 4-2-3-1 in the second half, with Ndombele taking up Kane’s role of marking Wijnaldum from the first half. Depending on which side the ball was, one winger met the Liverpool full-back, while the other came so narrow that he could get in the way of an opposition midfielder.\nGareth Bale replaced Steven Bergwijn late on which led to Lamela switching wings to the left, but in the end, none of it made a difference on the result, and bar the Højbjerg strike, even on Alisson, as Spurs could only accumulate an xG of 0.04 in the second half, which was only from that one shot.\nConclusion\nAs he will undoubtedly admit to himself, Mourinho got his team selection and tactics wrong with the back-three, but his side were firmly in the match as long as Kane and Son were linking up. However, Kane’s injury firmly swung the tide in Liverpool’s favour, and their defence was absolutely untroubled after he went off.\nAs for Liverpool, while Jürgen Klopp did get his selections right by choosing to push Thiago further up in midfield, they could easily have lost this match had Son’s Achilles tendon not been offside early on in the first half. But, they did control the match thereafter, and they deserve credit for that.\nStats courtesy The xG Philosophy and Sofascore.com",
"Tactical analysis: How the pieces came back together for Liverpool against Tottenham"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-28T15:28:22 | null | 2021-01-28T13:17:02 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-west-ham-united-and-west-bromwich-albion-want-bordeaux-striker-josh-maja%2F330019%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion want Bordeaux striker Josh Maja
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
According to L’Équipe (via GFFN), West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion have been in contact over the possibility of signing Bordeaux striker Josh Maja before the end of the January transfer window.
Sportslens View
Hammers boss David Moyes knows the 22-year-old from his time at Sunderland, and it appears that he is eyeing a reunion.
With Sebastien Haller gone, the London Stadium outfit are looking to bring in a replacement and have been linked with a couple of names.
Maja has two goals in 17 league appearances for Bordeaux this term after ending last season with six goals and two assists in 21 league games.
The Nigerian international is under contract with Les Girondins until June 2023 and they are willing to sell him this month given their need for cash, but whether he is still rated £10 million remains to be seen.
Maja bagged 15 League One goals in 24 appearances for Sunderland in the first half of 2018-19 before leaving for the French top-flight, and that form attracted Tottenham Hotspur.
The club’s former Head of Football Operations and Director of Football Richard Hill was seen telling Donald Stewart in Netflix’s ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ season 2 that Spurs had watched the striker up to nine times ahead of a potential move.
While the north Londoners opted not to go after Maja’s signature, both West Ham and West Brom could offer him a Premier League lifeline.
Sam Allardyce’s side are struggling in front of goals and will need the services of a quality finisher this month in order to boost their survival chances.
A return to England could be appealing to the former Black Cats star, but he could prefer to join the Hammers – who are currently Champions League hopefuls – ahead of a side praying for a miracle in order to remain in the Premier League next season.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-west-ham-united-and-west-bromwich-albion-want-bordeaux-striker-josh-maja/330019/
|
en
| 2021-01-28T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/f9ee89313e1353938f136c0cce732e442708e1b11f7daa69fc7e03a58aef5e13.json
|
[
"According to L’Équipe (via GFFN), West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion have been in contact over the possibility of signing Bordeaux striker Josh Maja before the end of the January transfer window.\nSportslens View\nHammers boss David Moyes knows the 22-year-old from his time at Sunderland, and it appears that he is eyeing a reunion.\nWith Sebastien Haller gone, the London Stadium outfit are looking to bring in a replacement and have been linked with a couple of names.\nMaja has two goals in 17 league appearances for Bordeaux this term after ending last season with six goals and two assists in 21 league games.\nThe Nigerian international is under contract with Les Girondins until June 2023 and they are willing to sell him this month given their need for cash, but whether he is still rated £10 million remains to be seen.\nMaja bagged 15 League One goals in 24 appearances for Sunderland in the first half of 2018-19 before leaving for the French top-flight, and that form attracted Tottenham Hotspur.\nThe club’s former Head of Football Operations and Director of Football Richard Hill was seen telling Donald Stewart in Netflix’s ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ season 2 that Spurs had watched the striker up to nine times ahead of a potential move.\nWhile the north Londoners opted not to go after Maja’s signature, both West Ham and West Brom could offer him a Premier League lifeline.\nSam Allardyce’s side are struggling in front of goals and will need the services of a quality finisher this month in order to boost their survival chances.\nA return to England could be appealing to the former Black Cats star, but he could prefer to join the Hammers – who are currently Champions League hopefuls – ahead of a side praying for a miracle in order to remain in the Premier League next season.",
"Report: West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion want Bordeaux striker Josh Maja"
] |
|
[] | 2021-01-13T07:53:03 | null | 2021-01-13T07:42:41 | null |
https%3A%2F%2Fsportslens.com%2Freport-leeds-united-eye-move-for-loic-bade%2F326545%2F.json
|
en
| null |
Report: Leeds United eye move for Loic Bade
| null | null |
sportslens.com
|
Leeds United have reportedly joined the race to sign Loic Bade from French outfit Lens in the January transfer window.
According to reports from Foot Mercato, a host of clubs including Stade Rennais and Olympique Lyonnais are closely monitoring the progress of the young defender.
Italian giants AC Milan and German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach are also in the hunt for his signature.
Bade joined Lens during the summer transfer window on a free transfer and has really impressed this season. He has made 16 Ligue 1 appearance so far, and has progressed immensely.
The report claims that the 20-year-old defender has no plans at the moment to leave the club. However, a departure next summer looks likely and he will continue to generate interest among his suitors should he manage to string together high-level performances for the rest of the season.
SL View: Good option for Leeds
Bade will be an excellent signing for the Whites. Almost everyone at Lens will agree that he has been a revelation in the first half of the season, and he is very popular among the fans.
He is good at tackling, ariel duels, interceptions and marshalls the defence like a leader. Bade is skilful with the ball at his feet, and he is adept at bringing the ball out from defence.
He is a very good passer of the ball as well, and in theory, should fit in seamlessly at Elland Road. However, Leeds are unlikely to delve into the market to buy a defender but could move for him in the summer.
|
https://sportslens.com/report-leeds-united-eye-move-for-loic-bade/326545/
|
en
| 2021-01-13T00:00:00 |
sportslens.com/c3510a0b7addc0276ed8f0e1c88638788160c47f9231171ca2bd42555af9062a.json
|
[
"Leeds United have reportedly joined the race to sign Loic Bade from French outfit Lens in the January transfer window.\nAccording to reports from Foot Mercato, a host of clubs including Stade Rennais and Olympique Lyonnais are closely monitoring the progress of the young defender.\nItalian giants AC Milan and German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach are also in the hunt for his signature.\nBade joined Lens during the summer transfer window on a free transfer and has really impressed this season. He has made 16 Ligue 1 appearance so far, and has progressed immensely.\nThe report claims that the 20-year-old defender has no plans at the moment to leave the club. However, a departure next summer looks likely and he will continue to generate interest among his suitors should he manage to string together high-level performances for the rest of the season.\nSL View: Good option for Leeds\nBade will be an excellent signing for the Whites. Almost everyone at Lens will agree that he has been a revelation in the first half of the season, and he is very popular among the fans.\nHe is good at tackling, ariel duels, interceptions and marshalls the defence like a leader. Bade is skilful with the ball at his feet, and he is adept at bringing the ball out from defence.\nHe is a very good passer of the ball as well, and in theory, should fit in seamlessly at Elland Road. However, Leeds are unlikely to delve into the market to buy a defender but could move for him in the summer.",
"Report: Leeds United eye move for Loic Bade"
] |
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