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Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills claims Tyler Roberts now needs to kick on in a Leeds United shirt, having signed a new deal.

The Lowdown: Roberts pens new deal

The Whites enjoyed a superb first season back in the Premier League, with so many players contributing in a positive manner.

One of those was Roberts, who made 27 appearances in the league, providing quality and work-rate out wide and dovetailing nicely with the likes of Raphinha, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford.

The Welshman has since signed a new deal at Elland Road, despite speculation linking him with a move away during the summer transfer window.

The Latest: Mills lays down gauntlet

Speaking to Football Insider, Mills urged Roberts to now find another gear for Leeds, as competition for places potentially becomes even greater:

“I think he needs to kick on now. He’s got a lot of talent and a lot of ability but we haven’t really seen on a consistent level and not enough at Leeds.

“He’s been in and around the first team now for some time. He now really needs to start pushing for a starting slot and having a real impact.”He needs to go from where he is now which I think is a squad player. He needs to go to that next level where he’s giving the manager a real problem of thinking ‘Do I need to start him or not?’”At the moment, it’s an easy decision – he sits on the bench.”He’s got to be pushing Rodrigo for a starting berth. He needs to be in the manager’s thoughts, not just a case of ‘Oh, Rodrigo’s injury so he starts.’ It has to be a case of ‘Oh Rodrigo’s fit and he’s still got half a chance.’”He needs to use that as a confidence boost and go to the next level.”

The Verdict: Time to go up a gear

While Roberts performed well last season, just one league goal suggests more is required from him in terms of attacking output.

Leeds are now in a position where they are aiming for European football next season and new faces could arrive – individuals who could make the Whites even more potent in the final third.

Roberts will know that he risks becoming a more peripheral figure if he doesn’t find another level, which will hopefully spur him on and result in him becoming a greater force for Bielsa.

In other news, a former Leeds man is fully behind the idea of the Whites signing one player this summer. Find out who it is here. 

Journalist Ryan Taylor has now dropped some Newcastle United transfer news on Hugo Ekitike.

The Lowdown: January bid

A reported £33m deal for Ekitike to move to St. James’ Park from Reims fell through on deadline day in the January transfer window, so Chris Wood from Burnley was the only striker brought in to boost Eddie Howe’s forward ranks.

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However, given recent links to the likes of Victor Osimhen and Arnaud Kalimuendo, it is clear that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) would like to bring in another forward to the North East in the summer, with Wood only finding the back of the net twice for the Magpies.

The Latest: Ekitike update

Taking to Twitter, Taylor has shared that the Tyneside outfit have now been ‘told’ that they can sign Ekitike this summer, following comments from Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot:

“Newcastle have been told they can sign Hugo Ekitike this summer after January deadline day deal collapsed. #NUFC

“Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot: ‘Hugo will be allowed to go & he’s probably going to leave.’ Also interest from West Ham, Wolves, Fulham.”

The Verdict: Exciting

The summer window is shaping up to be an exciting one for the Toon Army, and more so given this update on Ekitike.

Described as a ‘very special‘ player earlier on this season by Reims manager Oscar Garcia, the French teenager has a big future ahead of him, and many in France even go as far as to claim that he could be the ‘next Mbappe‘.

Like the now PSG superstar did at AS Monaco, Ekitike has burst onto the scene, with ten goals and four assists in 24 games in total over all competitions so far (Transfermarkt), and at just 19 years of age, he could be a real coup for the Magpies.

In other news, find out which NUFC target is ‘definitely an upgrade on Ciaran Clark’ here!

Manchester United take on Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon aiming to prolong Manchester City’s wait to be awarded the Premier League crown.

The Red Devils currently sit second – 13 points behind their nearest rivals and could extend their wait for a few more days at least with a victory against Dean Smith’s men at Villa Park.

One man who could certainly help them do that is Marcus Rashford.

The academy graduate is currently in the midst of one of the most prolific seasons of his career having hit 20 goals in all competitions.

In fact, only Bruno Fernandes has managed to net more goals than the 23-year-old at Old Trafford this season.

It is not just in his goalscoring where Rashford has been impressive – he has also managed to chalk up 13 assists, too.

That form has certainly been appreciated by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who labelled the forward as “absolutely brilliant” after he scored his 50th Premier League goal in a 2-2 draw at Leicester City back in December.

Whilst Rashford has certainly been lethal throughout the current campaign, he also comes into the clash at Villa Park well rested.

Following the decision to postpone the Red Devils’ Premier League clash against Liverpool, it means that Rashford’s last league outing was the 0-0 stalemate against Leeds United two weeks ago.

In the time since, he has played in both UEFA Europa League matches versus AS Roma but only played a total of 93 minutes over each leg combined, having started on the bench in Italy.

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So, having had time to recover ahead of what is a hectic schedule for the Red Devils, Rashford will certainly be aiming to continue his electric season at Villa Park.

With so many games, Solskjaer will have to manage his squad well but after Rashford is very well-rested.

The manager then, really must start him, get him back into rhythm and allow the Englishman to continue to flourish and hopefully for United, help earn his side another three points against Aston Villa.

AND in more news, the Red Devils need to secure a move for this Serie A star…

Sunderland are planning moves to bring a number of new faces to the Stadium of Light this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Kristjaan Speakman, with the Sunderland sporting director revealing in an interview with the Sunderland Echo that the club’s recruitment team are still working hard behind the scenes in order to secure several new signings before the closure of the transfer window at the end of August.

Speakman also revealed the type of players he and the Black Cats backroom staff are interested in signing, as well as the style of football the club’s hierarchy would like to install at the Stadium of Light.

In the interview, the 42-year-old said: “We want to make a few more signings to address the areas where we feel we’re in need of extra players. Stuart [Harvey] and the guys and as a team, we’re working really hard to do that.

“We want more acquisitions. It is a difficult marketplace at the minute. We’ve found ourselves with offers to clubs and players and at the minute, not been able to get them over the line.

“Ultimately what we’re trying to do is identify quality over quantity, and I think every Sunderland fan would respect that.

He continued: “You want to try and change the style of play to something that people want to come and watch, and I think you can tangibly see we’re working towards that as we change the personnel, the head coach gets time to work with the players etc.”

“We’ve been successful in acquiring some of the targets we set out to get, and we feel we’ve been really diligent in how we’ve gone about that in terms of the types of players and how they fit it into our playing style.

“We want to bring a youthful squad to Sunderland but it’s also about getting a blend.”

Music to the ears of fans

With Sunderland’s fall from the Premier League to the third tier of English football being a tale of uninspiring but extremely expensive transfers, vastly overpaid and underperforming players, disgraceful mismanagement from owners and coaches alike and, as a result of the aforementioned, disastrous performances on the pitch, Speakman’s latest comments must be music to the ears of Mackems.

Indeed, with the sporting director suggesting that he and his recruitment team are targeting younger talents with bright futures ahead of washed up and disinterested older players, this would appear to be one of the first sensible steps the club has made in the transfer market for a very long time.

Furthermore, with the 42-year-old also stating that he wants to install a brand of football that Sunderland fans actually want to come and watch – something that has most likely been debatable in recent years – through the signing of exciting and talented players, this too should be ticking a lot of boxes for the club’s fanbase.

However, as has been seen at Sunderland in the past, things are much easier said than done, and, ultimately, Speakman will be judged on whether or not he can pull his intentions off.

In other news: KLD dealt Sunderland blow over “fantastic” £180k-rated “beast”, Johnson will be fuming

The Celtic Way reporter Anthony Haggerty has backed Kyogo Furuhashi to build on the promising start to his Celtic career and follow in the footsteps of club legend Shunsuke Nakamura.

Furuhashi joined the Bhoys from Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe last month, becoming one of new boss Ange Postecoglou’s first signings.

The Japan international headed to Glasgow having been this season’s top goalscorer in his homeland’s top flight.

Furuhashi has taken that goalscoring form to his new club and scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 thrashing of Dundee at the weekend.

The attacker has now found the back of the net four times in his first three outings, much to the delight of Celtic fans and Postecoglou after a tough start to his reign.

Furuhashi has drawn comparisons to Nakamura, who is still playing in his homeland of Japan at the age of 43.

Nakamura scored 31 goals and recorded 36 assists in 145 appearances for Celtic. Haggerty believes Furuhashi is capable of enjoying as much success at Parkhead as his fellow countryman.

He told Football FanCast: “Nakamura came as a relative unknown and left as a God. People seem to forget that he was a gifted, luxury player.

“Kyogo Furuhashi is a more mobile version of Nakamura. He’s the kind of player that Celtic supporters like to see. He will excite them and get them off their seats. 

“He’s 26, so he is coming into his prime and has signed a four-year deal. That’s a commitment from Celtic to him. Everyone wants to see how well he can do.”

Liverpool fans were delighted with the performance of Sadio Mane during the first half of their match with Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Reds are in a battle with Chelsea and Leicester City to qualify for the Champions League on the final day of the Premier League season. A win will be enough for them to reach Europe’s premier club competition, and the Reds are leading after the first 45 minutes thanks to Mane’s goal.

29-year-old Mane was selected by Jurgen Klopp to feature in the starting XI, and he looked back to his best against the Eagles. Although he has nine goals and eight assists this term (Transfermarkt), it has been one of his worst seasons at the club – with him at his best, it is hard to see Liverpool being in the position they are currently in. However, his goal could be vital for the Reds in making the Champions League.

The fans were happy with the Senegal international, and the fans took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Mane below

“Mane loving the supporters being back, he’s got his mojo back”

Credit: @busterkelly

“Missed seeing Mane like this, he’s actually back to his best”

Credit: @YJAMJ1

“Omo only Mane and Thiago has sense on this pitch”

Credit: @M_borlarjorko

“Mane been the best player on the pitch so far.”

Credit: @fate_champ

“As stressed out as I am I must say Mané is balling rn”

Credit: @Auxanooo

“Mane is playing so well, could have something to do with the fans return to the stadium.”

Credit: @Chuka_emordi

In other news, Liverpool fans don’t want to sign this man.

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is expected to leave The Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a Joseph Masi report in the Express & Star, which relayed the comments made by Valerien Ismael in his first press conference as the new West Brom manager.

One of the major topics of conversation was the future of Albion shot-stopper Johnstone, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Championship side this summer, with the Frenchman admitting that he expects the 28-year-old to leave.

Ismael said: “It’s not a secret that Sam Johnstone… can maybe leave the club. It’s my expectation that they [will] leave. But I don’t need the best players, I need the right players for the position. Even if they leave, we will find the solution or we will reinvest the money.”

Fans will be gutted

With Johnstone having highly impressed for West Brom in the Premier League last season, as well as the fact the ‘keeper is currently away on England duty, perhaps it was to be expected that the £7.2m-rated man would be moving on to pastures new this summer.

However, Ismael’s latest comments on the matter do make the possibility of the goalkeeper’s departure very much a reality, with the 45-year-old’s remarks sure to have left the Baggies’ fanbase gutted.

Indeed, over his 37 Premier League appearances last term, the £28k-per-week man helped his side keep six clean sheets, as well as making an average of 4.5 saves and 0.4 successful run outs per game.

These returns saw the man Sam Allardyce dubbed a “magnificent” goalkeeper earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.03, ranking him as the club’s second-best performer in the top flight of English football.

As such, with West Brom hoping for a swift return to the Premier League next season, retaining the services of Johnstone would have provided the club with a massive boost to their chances of going on and achieving this feat.

However, following Ismael’s recent statement on the future of the England international, it would seem advisable for Albion fans not to hold out too much hope of seeing the ‘keeper at The Hawthorns next season.

In other news: West Brom plot bid for £12k-p/w beast with “so much potential”, Ismael would love him

Liverpool fans were livid with the performance of Jordan Henderson during their 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

The Reds were in action in Madrid in the Champions League, and they picked up an important three points away from home in a thrilling encounter.

Going 2-0 up early on thanks to goals from Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah, a brilliant brace from Antoine Griezmann levelled things up. The France international was then sent off, however, and Salah grabbed the winner to given Jurgen Klopp’s men the victory.

Captain Henderson started in the middle of the park, but he did not put in his best display. He won the ball back in just one duel in his entire 90 minutes on the pitch (SofaScore), and lacked the usual leadership and composure we have become used to seeing from him, surrendering possession ten times.

The fans were from happy with the performance of the England midfielder, and they took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Henderson below

“Henderson was horrible and was worse than Keita In fact.”

Credit: @ninawiththe9

“Henderson was atrocious. he should’ve been cutting off the line of pass to griezmann but was caught behind the ball. As a no.6 for the game he didn’t recognise his role and was all over the place and poor in possession.”

Credit: @i98NDK

“Both goals came from the right side, are you not gonna say anything about TAA? What can you say about Milner and Henderson who were equally shambolic. As for the defining game for his career at LFC, not your call, you are not Jurgen.”

Credit: @LNdzabe

“Henderson has been garbage and Milner is an old man. Both should be replaced down the line.”

Credit: @AlucardKing7

“Henderson should never have gotten a contract”

Credit: @LFCShafic

“He was overplayed. Guy played all of his international team games and the game at Watford. Henderson was also very poor.”

Credit: @TemnoLFC

In other news, these were Liverpool’s best three players against Atletico.

Crystal Palace have received a major injury boost as their promising start to the season continues to gather pace after key midfielder Eberechi Eze made his return from injury.

What’s the word?

The creative talent started for the Eagles’ U23s against Blackburn Rovers on Monday afternoon, impressing throughout his hour-long runout.

Eze was unable to prevent the capital club’s youngsters from falling to a 2-1 defeat, but he was central to most of their attacking play and came through his first appearance since May unscathed.

A match report on Palace’s official website read: “Eberechi Eze took to the field in a Crystal Palace shirt for the first time in five months, the next step in his lengthy rehabilitation from injury.”

And The Athletics Dan Woosnam also provided an update on the former England U21 international’s comeback.

He tweeted: “Eze brought off after 61 minutes for #CPFC Under-23s. Comes through unscathed & was heavily involved in most of Palace attacks. Will take time to build up to full fitness & sharpness but this was almost as good a start as could have been expected.”

News that Eze has started his first game in almost half a year and come through it without any further issues will leave Palace manager Patrick Vieira feeling absolutely delighted.

Last season, no Eagles player bettered or matched his tally of six Premier League assists and he also produced the most key passes and dribbles, with average totals of 1.3 and 1.9 per league game respectively, as per WhoScored.

Adding those impressive figures to Vieira’s new-look attack will make the south London outfit a frightening prospect in the months to come, especially with the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Odsonne Edouard already in fine form.

That being said, Eze’s first outing for the first team this term is still likely to be some weeks away.

And, in other news…Report shares encouraging Crystal Palace update, fans will surely be delighted

According to a report by Calciomercato, as written in their headline, Tottenham Hotspur are ‘serious’ about signing Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini this summer with the club also ‘fast approaching’.

The Lowdown: Paratici turns to Italy…

Pellegrini is just one of the many Italian stars linked with a move to Spurs ever since the Lilywhites appointed new managing director of football Fabio Paratici.

The likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Domenico Berardi and Manuel Locatelli have also been mentioned as well as Serie A legend Leonardo Bonucci.

Now, Calciomercato bring the latest as Spurs eye yet another Azzurri international.

The Latest: Spurs ‘serious’ about signing Pellegrini…

Tottenham are ‘serious’ about signing Pellegrini this summer amid his current contract dispute with Roma.

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The 25-year-old’s deal is set to expire in 2022 as it stands with former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, now manager of Roma, speaking to the player in ‘recent days’ over his situation.

While Pellegrini’s first choice would be to remain at the Stadio Olimpico for the time being, Calciomercato says to ‘beware’ of interested clubs with the interest of Spurs ‘confirmed’.

They say Tottenham and Paratici are ‘fast approaching’ for the player but unwilling to pay his €30 million (£25.7m) release clause which expires in under 10 days.

The Verdict: Great option for Spurs…

Lauded as ‘phenomenal’ by Roma legend and World Cup winner Francesco Totti, the dynamic ace could certainly provide a real element of attacking threat in Tottenham’s midfield.

Scoring seven goals and assisting six others in 30 Serie A starts over 2020/2021 (WhoScored), Pellegrini also averaged more shots on goal per 90 (2.1) than any Tottenham player last season bar Harry Kane (3.9).

Indeed, he also reigns superior over almost every Spurs man in terms of key passes per 90 (1.9) apart from Son Heung-min (2) – marking him out as a real one to watch out for this summer.

In other news: ‘News regarding Tottenham’…Sky Sports drop big live TV transfer claim, find out more here.