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Youri Tielemans was exceptional for Leicester after arriving on loan from Monaco in January and after returning to the Monegasque club the rumour mill has been in full swing.

Brendan Rodgers initially admitted that the Foxes would do everything they can to sign the player but they have since been put off by the £40m valuation slapped on his head.

However, journalist Kristoff Terreur has now claimed that the Belgian enjoyed his time at the King Power, telling Sky Sports News’ Transfer Talk podcast that there has been interest from Tottenham and Manchester United.

Yet, Leicester fans have reacted with a sense of hope, praying that his enjoyable time in the Midlands will lead to a permanent switch.

One fan claimed the news was music to their ears whilst another said it was really positive.

Further supporters focused on the potential transfer fee, urging the Foxes to pay the money in a desperate attempt to let the club know how they felt about the 22-year-old.

After arriving in the Premier League, Tielemans scored three goals and claimed a further four assists in 13 matches.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

What a game we have ahead of us tonight. A Champions League final contested by two English teams in Tottenham and Liverpool. What an occasion it’s set to be. But what will be the outcome? That remains to be seen. For now, however, we can analyse the factors that will play a key role. 

Tottenham have received a huge boost ahead of the gigantic clash, with pivotal central midfielder Harry Winks back in action. Mauricio Pochettino is now in the fortunate position of having a genuine selection headache — a position he could only have dreamed of after what has been such a turbulent end to the season.

But how does Tottenham’s midfield man compare to Jordan Henderson of Liverpool? Let’s analyse it further below.

Harry Winks

It’s been a difficult season for the England midfielder, again disrupted by injury. But after undergoing surgery on his problematic hip, Winks is now once again raring to go, hoping to secure a place in the team for the final.

His injuries will have frustrated none more than his manager. He had truly formed a growing partnership with Moussa Sissoko, the two providing a strong, fluid and balanced midfield. In his absence, Tottenham have had to look to the likes of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen to drop into a deeper role, which has left the north London side short up top at times.

So, what does Winks bring to the team when he’s available? Well, there’s no one quite like him in the Tottenham squad. Always available and capable of moving the ball swiftly on. The Englishman often acts as the link between defence and attack, picking it up from deep before spraying an array of passes, short or long. He’s certainly not afraid of putting his foot in and looked to be improving his attacking game.

Pochettino has described Winks as Tottenham’s ‘little Iniesta’ and it’s not difficult to see why. Up against the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last two years, Winks has never looked out of place. In fact, he has shone. Fans will pray Winks’ surgery will mean the end of his injury woes as he’s such a talent when fit. His return truly is a huge boost for Tottenham. With a long-term spell without an injury, the 23-year-old could go on to become one of the best in the business.

TT Grade: A- Jordan Henderson

This is a man who has picked up his fair share of criticism in his time, but perhaps wrongly so. The Englishman has been such a solid figure in the heart of the Liverpool midfield in recent years. Even in a season where his role in the squad has perhaps become slightly more secondary, he still made 32 league appearances.

The club captain epitomises this particular Liverpool team. He puts in maximum effort every time he steps onto the pitch and truly wears his heart of in sleeve. Yet, he’s got the talent to match his desire. Henderson is calm on the ball, capable of getting forward and back with an engine that rivals anyone’s.

But perhaps the midfielder’s strongest quality is that he’s undoubtedly emerged as a big-game player. It’s for this reason it would be a major surprise should he not be given a role from the start. It’s the type of occasion Henderson has thrived in time and again.

Like Winks, Henderson could be criticised for his lack of goal involvement, with both players having only scored one goal this season. But similarly again, the Liverpool man provides so much more than just numbers. He’s essential to Liverpool’s pressing game, giving the opposition midfield no room or time to think. To put it simply, where many felt he wasn’t good enough, he’s proved them wrong.

TT Grade: A TT Verdict:

There we have it, Winks takes this one. It was a very hotly contested affair, with both players having similar roles in their respective teams. Yet, one thing is undeniable. Winks is more important to this Tottenham team. Yes, this is down to squad depth, but Winks is unique for Tottenham in his abilities. And he keeps getting better and better. At 23, he is five years younger than Henderson. If he continues to progress the way he does, he’ll leave the Liverpool man in his shadows.

What do you think Tottenham and Liverpool fans? Would Winks get in the Liverpool midfield over Henderson? Would Henderson have a starting role at Tottenham? Comment below.

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According to Le Foot, via Sports Witness, Aston Villa are interested in signing Nantes attacker Valentin Rongier in this summer’s transfer window.

The report is actually based around Lyon’s interest in Rongier but Villa – and Southampton – have also been mentioned when it comes to the 24-year-old.

The midfielder has just come off the back of a decent season for Nantes – scoring four times and contributing seven assists in 43 appearances in all competitions.

Rongier has a contract with his Ligue 1 side until the summer of 2022 but could be leaving ahead of the 2019-20 campaign in search of pastures new.

It is expected to be a fairly busy summer transfer window for Villa as they prepare for life back in the Premier League.

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

And it would be fair to say that the club’s supporters are keen for their team to move for Rongier in this summer’s transfer window.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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Arsenal are seemingly closing in on the signing of Dalian Yifang’s Yannick Carrasco, reports from the Evening Standard claim, and the fee, should it be met by the Gunners, will be around £25m. Other reports from Italy have also gone as far as saying that this deal is essentially done and only the details are left to be discussed before the clubs shake hands and call it a day. However, even if we take into consideration that the demanding price tag is not that surreal, this is a deal Arsenal should really be staying clear of and here are two mains reasons why.

Carrasco is past his brilliant best

Players leaving to China is not really a new thing in modern football anymore – you play for as long as you can and when you feel your career is slowly fading away, you pack your suitcases and head towards the sunset in China or the MLS. That’s simply how things work nowadays. But Carrasco was quite different. He chose to leave at the peak of his power, for whatever reason, and even though he is only 25, his best days of football are looking likely to already be long behind him. His rather average return of 14 goals and 11 assists in 36 appearances in total in those two years for Dalian Yifang is just that – bang average, especially considering the quality of football and his rivals in the East.

If Arsenal are truly aiming for someone who can bolster their squad and bring them to the next level, Carrasco is most likely not the ideal transfer target for that. After having a failed experiment with the likes of Denis Suarez recently, Emery cannot really afford to make another blunder in the market, not when the stakes are so high.

From 6-0 FA Cup final maulings to Mkhitaryan missing the the Europa League final, is football broken? Fans discuss in the video below…

The total price is not worth it

This reported £25m would in itself be more than half of what Arsenal are supposedly working with this summer, and throwing that much money on a player who’s not a guaranteed upgrade would be most unwise. Sure, the sum on its own would be pocket money for some of the biggest spenders out there but the Gunners don’t have that financial power just yet so they have to tone down these transfers as much as they can. Not to mention Carrasco’s big wage demands, as reported by Standard, could end up being in the region of £8.8m-a-year, which is what the player currently receives at his Chinese club.

Even if Arsenal somehow manage to water those figures down, and Carrasco maybe agrees on a wage-cut, we’re still talking about a lot of money entering his pocket. At the end of the day, forking out such numbers for a player returning to Europe from China is a bit of a stretch, especially if you’re not financially equipped like the north London outfit.

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Danny Welbeck’s Arsenal days are quickly coming to its conclusion. The Gunners have already officially confirmed the 28-year-old will be departing the Emirates on 30 June as his contract won’t be renewed.

Still, despite this somewhat expected news, Welbeck has been enjoying his holiday without the imminent departure from the club dampening his good spirits.

He took to

/By3B3B7BRsF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram to show it in his latest snap, depicting him relaxing on the beach side with smiles all around, as it should be.

Welbeck’s departure from the club was solidified by a rather small amount of appearances throughout the season, mostly due to injuries hampering him the whole time. In 2018/19 he was out for a total of 200 days.

Watch Arsenal Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Last season, he also only managed eight appearances, scoring and assisting once in the process.

With all of the unlucky breaks he has had as of late, a nice holiday might just be what’s best for this soon to be ex-Gunner.

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People around the world celebrated Father’s Day and the biggest footballing stars shared some touching tributes to their dads.

Paul Pogba was one of those who posted his message on

/ByxlFWsiJ3E/” data-lasso->Instagram alongside a snap depicting himself and his father from the Manchester United star’s days as a young boy.

The image was labelled with a short tribute to Pogba’s late father and the midfielder also dubbed him as the “best dad in the seven kingdoms”.

Fassou Antoine Pogba died two years ago after a long battle with a difficult illness but that doesn’t stop his son, Paul, from posting these messages despite his dad’s absence.

The post was met with a lot of support from fans and celebrities alike, all of them replying sending love either towards the 2018 World Cup winner’s family or remembering their own on that special day for all of us.

Superstars or not, we are all similar in this context and Pogba made touched many with this emotional snap.

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

Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has put his allegiances to the Red Devils to one side and has praised an unsung Anfield hero.

In an interview with El Pais, the Dutchman took the bold step of comparing James Milner to two of the world’s top talents in Lionel Messi and Neymar.

What’s been said then?

When speaking to Spanish newspaper El Pais, the former Netherlands manager spoke openly about how much he rates Milner as a team player.

He said: “Look at Barcelona. How many Champion Leagues have they won with what they say is the best player in the world? Look at Neymar at PSG. How many Champions Leagues won? Neymar and Messi I like them as individual players, not as team players. I believe that in collective games there is nothing more important than the team player.

“One of the best is James Milner. In the final of the Champions League, he played as a defender and as a midfielder. It’s great that he can offer that at 33.”

Big claim

This is, of course, a massive claim from the former Barcelona boss, but it is in keeping with the philosophies he tried to implement at every club he managed.

His most successful teams were built around these team players. His Ajax team had players such as Frank Rijkaard doing the dirty work that Milner does for Liverpool in the modern day, while his time at Bayern Munich saw Bastian Schweinsteiger become one of the world’s greatest midfielders.

Van Gaal has always been an admirer of these players who aren’t flashy but do everything they are asked to do to the best of their abilities.

To say that Messi isn’t a team player may be selling the Argentine short, but to say that Milner is one of the best at that role in Europe is pretty much spot on.

The Englishman’s versatility has allowed him to remain as a top player into his 30s, and he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down yet.

Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Milner will obviously never be anywhere near Messi’s level technically, but the work he does clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed by one of the greatest minds in football history.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Robert Snodgrass has signed a new contract at West Ham United until 2021, the club have confirmed.

What’s the word?

The Scotland international has signed a one-year extension after a season in which he rebuilt his reputation at the Hammers.

Snodgrass made a total of 38 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals and registering nine assists; the 31-year-old missed just five games in the Premier League.

It is a remarkable turnaround for the versatile midfielder, who can play in the middle and on both flanks, as he spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Aston Villa.

And he has expressed his delight at penning a new deal, which contains an option for the Hammers to extend it by a further year.

He said: “I’m delighted to commit my future to this great club. Sometimes you get a chance to play for that one club that’s special, going through that special time, and I believe at this moment that’s West Ham.

“We’re trying our best to keep progressing and keep moving forward.”

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

A reward for his loyalty

Snodgrass could well have left the club last summer.

Having spent the season on loan at Villa, it appeared that he was expendable at the London Stadium.

But under Pellegrini, he has been reborn and has become a trusted lieutenant of the former Manchester City boss.

Having a player of Snodgrass’ experience at the club can only be a good thing, particularly with the likes of Declan Rice and Grady Diangana improving with every game.

That the former Hull City star has stuck around, knuckled down and become a key member of the squad is a testament to his mentality.

He deserves this deal and he will surely enjoy another solid season at the club.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Tottenham Hotspur have tabled a bid worth €23m (£20.6m) plus Toby Alderweireld for Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, per Corriere dello Sport.

What’s the word?

Spurs have been linked with Zaniolo throughout the summer transfer window and are now reported to have made a formal offer.

The midfielder is also wanted by Juventus and Liverpool, the report claims, and he is said to prefer a move to the Old Lady, as he does not feel ready for a move abroad.

Nevertheless, Spurs are said to have offered to increase his wages as they look to secure yet more summer signings, having already acquired both Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon and Jack Clarke from Leeds United.

Alderweireld has been linked with Roma and it appears that Spurs are now attempting to incorporate him into the deal.

A move is complicated by the fact that, per Corriere, Zaniolo’s potential transfer to Juve is said to depend on the future of Gonzalo Higuain, who could potentially move to Roma in exchange.

The 20-year-old, they state, could reconsider Spurs’ offer, if an agreement with Juve is not reached.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The best way to lose Alderweireld

The central defender, of course, has a £25m release clause in his contract that could be triggered at any time this summer.

Utilising him in this way, by offering him to Roma in exchange for Zaniolo, makes a lot of sense, then.

It ensures that Spurs are in control of his movements and a club matching the clause, particularly in the closing stages of the transfer window, will not suddenly surprise them.

Zaniolo has made a total of 36 appearances for Roma, scoring six goals and registering two assists, from an attacking midfield position.

Aged 20, he has yet to reach his peak and could grow under Mauricio Pochettino’s management, while Alderweireld is 30 and is heading towards the twilight of his career.

This is a swap that makes all the sense in the world.

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It has been quite a journey for Andy Lonergan in the past couple of years.

The 35-year-old goalkeeper has seen better days as he has swapped shirts an almost ridiculous amount of times in the last few seasons.

His last gig, however, was with Middlesbrough, but he was released from the club this summer after his loan spell with Rochdale came to a close.

But now, out of the blue, he has received an invitation from none other than the champions of Europe, Liverpool.

Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Reds are reportedly extremely short on goalkeepers with Alisson still on holiday and none of the youth players available. Jurgen Klopp decided to get creative, and he certainly achieved that.

Lonergan will now be joining the Merseyside team on their pre-season tour as their second man between the sticks alongside the only fit senior ‘keeper, Simon Mignolet.

Naturally, the fans just couldn’t believe this was happening as Lonergan is clearly punching well above his weight, even if the situation is only temporary.

To put things into perspective, back when he was at Leeds in 2017/18, the Whites were going through a goalkeeper crisis, about to face a red-hot Wolves side with only out-of form Felix Wiedwald, inexperienced Bailey Peacock-Farrell and the trusty veteran Lonergan to choose from.

But did Paul Heckingbottom choose Lonergan? No, he selected Peacock-Farrell, who made just his second Leeds appearance in the 3-0 defeat.

Take a look at some of the best fan reactions to the news down below…