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Glasgow Rangers fans are far from happy with comments from BBC journalist Chris McLaughlin on Twitter in the build-up to their trophy celebrations on Saturday.

This weekend, the Gers will finally be able to lift the Premiership trophy – the title itself has long since been won. Unfortunately, fans will be unable to be inside Ibrox to take in the trophy ceremony after the clash against Aberdeen, but there is likely to be plenty of supporters celebrating together in Glasgow.

McLaughlin, who is banned from Ibrox after previous negative stories against the Gers (The Daily Record), previously said Rangers are unhappy with other gatherings taking place in the city over the past few days, such as the Solidarity with Palestine protest in Govan Square – Rangers have been forced to implore fans to refrain from meeting up in large groups.

When asked about his comments on Twitter, McLaughlin revealed he had chats and message exchanges with those close to to the story. This attracted plenty of attention from the fans, and they took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

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

“No one at Rangers gives you the time of day, we treat you with the contempt you deserve so you are lying”

Credit: @Sweeney_T_SPB

“Liar.”

Credit: @christywhyte1

“So basically an outright lie then Chris?”

Credit: @pauljpwilson

“That’s about as vague as you can get Chris…..”

Credit: @TommyStark1980

“Just spouting utter nonsense again McLaughlin…. hope you never get the opportunity to darken our door again!”

Credit: @_fadgie_

“No. Chris is just a rangers hater and and negative angle he can put on a rangers story gets him stiff.”

Credit: @mancalledczar

In other news, Rangers eye this Ligue 1 star.

The ex-Real Madrid man is facing a four-match suspension after his red card against Southampton, which doesn't bode well for the Red Devils

Manchester United better brace themselves for the next four domestic matches without Casemiro, as they often fall apart when the Brazilian is missing.

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The Brazilian's red card against Southampton means they will have to cope without their midfield linchpin for the next four domestic games (he can still play in the Europa League).

He will miss Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final tie against Fulham, plus the visit to Newcastle on April 2 as well as the home fixtures against Brentford and Everton.

Only Marcus Rashford can lay a claim to being as pivotal as him to the Red Devils' resurgence under Erik ten Hag, and the best indication of the former Real Madrid man's importance to the Dutchman's side is how they have struggled in his absence this season.

GOAL takes a look at all the matches United have played without starting Casemiro since the season begun. Look away now, Red Devils' fans…

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  Man Utd 1-2 Brighton: The need for a top midfielder is laid bare

  After a really encouraging pre-season campaign, there was a huge sense of optimism ahead of United's opening game of the campaign at home to Brighton.

  That was quickly replaced by a sense of doom when United were overran in midfield by Moises Caicedo and Pascal Gross, who scored twice in the first half.

  Despite a summer of renewal with Ten Hag, United's backbone was still 'McFred', Scott McTominay and Fred, and it was painfully obvious new blood was needed in midfield.

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  Brentford 4-0 Man Utd: "I'll fix this"

  If Brighton was a warning of the coming storm, Brentford was the hurricane.

  United were picked apart by Thomas Frank's side in one of the club's most humiliating Premier League results, and people were already questioning whether Ten Hag could sort out the mess.

  Meanwhile, from his home in Madrid, Casemiro was watching with interest. United had spoken to his agent about a possible move as he was at risk of being usurped as first-choice holding midfielder in Carlo Ancelotti's starting line-up by the signing of Aurelien Tchouameni.

  "Tell them I'll fix this", Casemiro reportedly told his agent, urging him to answer United's call.

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  Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool: Paraded on the pitch

  Casemiro officially completed his move from Madrid to United worth £70 million on the day of the match with Liverpool, but his arrival did little to stem fans' fury against the Glazer ownership.

  He was welcomed by fans, but the applause for him was drowned out by "We want Glazers out" chants.

  United did not need him on this occasion, storming to victory thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.

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  Southampton 0-1 Man Utd: The debut

  The Brazilian made his debut in a 10-minute cameo off the bench in relatively comfortable victory, as Bruno Fernandes scored the only goal.

Daniel Pinder, the editor-in-chief of Get German Football News, has exclusively told Football FanCast that Taiwo Awoniyi would be a good signing for Rangers should Alfredo Morelos leave this summer.

The Gers, along with Glasgow rivals Celtic, were both linked to signing the 23-year-old striker back in January, with Premier League clubs also interested.

Awoniyi is currently on loan in the Bundesliga with Union Berlin, but whilst the Nigerian has produced some impressive numbers, his spell in Germany has been overshadowed by a muscle injury which has seen him miss the previous 10 league matches.

Despite his troubled campaign, the young striker managed five goals and three assists in 20 appearances this season, one of which came in their victory over Borussia Dortmund before Christmas.

And Pinder believes that his goal record in Germany would give him every chance of being able to replicate that record in the Scottish Premiership in place of Morelos.

But it would be big boots to fill, with the Colombian striker scoring close to 100 times in four seasons for Rangers, which culminated in their title-winning triumph.

He told Football FanCast:

“If you look at his form for Union Berlin pre-injury, he is a player that could potentially get 15-20 goals in Scotland.

“I think for Rangers for example, playing alongside Kent and Hagi, potentially as a Morelos replacement if he leaves, it would be a decent signing for them.”

The German forward produced a masterclass while two favourable VAR calls helped the Blues secure a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea overturned a first leg deficit with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund to reach the Champions League quarter-finals against all the odds on Tuesday.

Kai Havertz was the hero, putting in a scintillating all-round display and keeping his cool to score the decisive goal from a retaken penalty. He had hit the post with his first effort, but a VAR review for encroachment saved his blushes and he made no mistake the second time.

The German produced a marvellous piece of skill in the build-up to the opener, too, with Raheem Sterling lashing the ball into the roof of the net at the second time of asking.

Dortmund – who had won every game they've played in 2023 leading into this game – huffed and puffed, but could not find a response.

Here are GOAL's Chelsea player ratings from Stamford Bridge…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Kepa Arrizabalaga (6/10):

  Forced into one fine second-half save and picked up a booking for time-wasting. Not unduly tested.

  Wesley Fofana (6/10):

  Another very mature display from a player who has such limited experience at this level.

  Kalidou Koulibaly (7/10):

  Chelsea's outstanding centre-back, he didn't let anything get past him.

  Marc Cucurella (6/10):

  A performance that will give him some confidence having been left out of Premier League squads altogether recently.

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  Midfield

  Reece James (7/10):

  Didn't look fully fit initially on a bitter night in west London, but warmed up and grew into the game.

  Mateo Kovacic (6/10):

  His passing wasn't precise enough and he looked ponderous at times, but compensated with his busyness.

  Enzo Fernandez (6/10):

  More workmanlike than we're used to seeing and cut a frustrated figure at times.

  Ben Chilwell (7/10):

  So effective at both ends, providing an assist for Sterling before producing a goal-saving intervention.

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  Attack

  Raheem Sterling (7/10):

  Second time's the charm! Miskicked an initial effort before crashing home the opener.

  Kai Havertz (8/10):

  After somehow not scoring himself in the first half, he showed sublime skill in the build-up to Sterling's strike. Played like his life depended on it, and rewarded as he just about kept his cool from the retaken penalty.

  Joao Felix (7/10):

  Carried Chelsea's biggest threat for large periods before being sacrificed for a more defensive set-up.

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  Subs & Manager

  Conor Gallagher (7/10):

  Really industrious at both ends of the pitch, adding real bite.

  Christian Pulisic (6/10):

  Failed to take advantage as he raced away a couple of times late on.

  Ruben Loftus-Cheek (6/10):

  Did the job required of him as Chelsea saw it out.

  Denis Zakaria (N/A):

  A late introduction.

  Graham Potter (9/10):

  A fantastic result for Potter, who rode his luck with the VAR calls but has battled through what could have been a killer week for his Chelsea tenure.

The in-demand PSV forward was the hero as the Oranje began their World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win in Qatar

Better late than never, as far as the Netherlands are concerned. For long periods of their tight, tedious Group A contest with Senegal, it looked as if Louis van Gaal's much-fancied Dutch side were about to fall flat in their first World Cup match for eight years.

But in Cody Gakpo, the Oranje have one of Europe's most in-form forwards, and the PSV man was the hero at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, taking advantage of a misjudgement from Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to head home a priceless opener for his side, six minutes from time.

It was Gakpo's fifth international goal in 11 appearances, and substitute Davy Klaassen added the icing on the cake in stoppage time, following up after Mendy had pushed Memphis Depay's effort into his path.

The 2-0 win is enough to put the Dutch very much in the driving seat to qualify for the knockout stages. Van Gaal's side, indeed, can seal progression when they take on Ecuador on Friday.

GOAL runs through the winners and losers from Monday's game…

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  The Winners

  Cody Gakpo:

  That's the life of a forward, eh? You can be as quiet as you like for 84 minutes, but one chance, one moment can change everything. That was certainly the case with Gakpo here. The PSV star was, in all honesty, pretty underwhelming for the most part, but when Frenkie de Jong got his head up and teased in a lovely cross from the right, six minutes from the end of the 90, it was he who timed his run to perfection, he who reached it ahead of Mendy and he who made himself the matchwinner. He's been scoring for fun at club level this season, and with a host of European clubs – including at least three in the Premier League – considering a move for him in January, the 23-year-old did himself no harm at all here. After eight years in the World Cup wilderness, the Dutch needed a hero. He arrived right on time, wearing the No.8 shirt and a big, beaming smile.

  Ecuador:

  All eyes to Al Rayyan on Friday, then, when the winner of Ecuador's clash with the Netherlands will guarantee progress to the last 16. This was a good result for Ecuador, who opened their Group A account by beating a dreadful Qatar side on Sunday. Their fate is very much in their hands, as even a defeat against the Dutch would leave them knowing a win over Senegal in their final fixture would see them through. For Senegal, the task is equally simple. They need two wins, starting against the hosts. They will need to show a lot more punch than they did here.

  Andries Noppert:

  The World Cup loves a story, doesn't it? And the tale of the Netherlands' 6'8 goalkeeper and his unusual journey to the big stage is one to warm the heart. They've had some wonderful goalkeepers down the years, have Holland, but at 28, Heerenveen shot-stopper Noppert is far from a household name. He has played fewer than 100 senior club matches, and as recently as 2021 he was warming the bench for Go Ahead Eagles in the Dutch second tier. He is not a man accustomed to big games, so for him to even be in the Dutch squad is pretty remarkable. For him to make his international debut in a World Cup, ahead of Ajax's Remko Pasveer and Justin Biljow of Feyenoord, is even more so. Noppert didn't have a great deal to do, as it turned out. There was one comfortable piece of fielding from a tame long-ranger by Youssouf Sabaly in the first half, and a smart stop at his near post from Boulaye Dia after the break. Besides, he was tidy enough with his feet and showed good reactions to deny Idrissa Gueye, although the flag would have gone up for offside in any case. All in all, a night to be proud of, and a story that we will surely hear a lot more about in the coming weeks. This was his first cap, but it won't be his last.

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  The Losers

  Edouard Mendy:

  For every hero there is a villain, and if Gakpo's day summed up the life of a striker, then Mendy's was the perfect counterbalance. Who would be a goalkeeper? The Chelsea man was largely untroubled for 84 minutes, but his first misjudgement would prove costly, as he ran from his line to punch away De Jong's delivery and got nowhere near it, Gakpo heading into the unguarded net. There would be another mistake for the Netherlands' second goal too, Mendy weakly pushing Memphis Depay's tame shot straight into the path of Klaassen, who gleefully accepted his gift. 2-0, game over. Having lost his club place to Kepa Arrizabalaga recently, this was not a night to rebuild Mendy's confidence. He'll need to put it behind him quickly, or his side will be on their way home.

  Matthijs de Ligt:

  It is fair to say that Louis van Gaal is not short of options to play on the right of his three-man central defence. For this game he selected De Ligt, ahead of the experienced Stefan de Vrij and the up-and-coming Jurrien Timber, but the Bayern Munich man endured a difficult evening against Ismaila Sarr. He was constantly troubled by the Watford man's pace and running power, committing more fouls than any Dutch player. One of them, early in the second half, earned him a yellow card and leaves him walking a disciplinary tightrope for the rest of the group. The Netherlands did, in fairness, finish with a clean sheet, but Timber and De Vrij will feel they are in with a shot of starting against Ecuador. De Ligt will have expected better of himself.

  Sadio Mane:

  We already knew it, but this game simply served to underline it; Senegal needs Sadio Mane. Badly. Aliou Cisse's side matched the Dutch for the most part. They were strong defensively, with Kalidou Koulibaly particularly good, and had plenty of the ball in midfield, with Idrissa Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyate and Nampalys Mendy bright and energetic. But in the final third? Not much. Senegal had 15 shots but only four on target. Sarr was good, denied a goal by a good Virgil van Dijk block, but much of his best work was away from goal, and neither Dia nor Krepin Diatta offered much. This is a tournament of big-name absences, of course, with the likes of Karim Benzema, Reece James, Paul Pogba, Timo Werner and N'Golo Kante all on the missing list. Mane's absence, though, looks like the one that could be most costly, in terms of his side's prospects.

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  Netherlands Ratings: Defence

  Andries Noppert (7/10):

  Making his international debut, the giant goalkeeper did what was required, making four saves and distributing the ball well.

  Denzel Dumfries (6/10):

  Full of energy but didn't always get the better of the determined Abdou Diallo.

  Matthijs de Ligt (5/10):

  Given a rough time against Ismaila Sarr, and looked uncomfortable on the right of a back three. Booked.

  Virgil van Dijk (6/10):

  Marked his first World Cup appearance, and his 50th cap, the captain had a few scruffy moments but made a good block with his head to deny Sarr and had a couple of chances from set pieces at the other end.

  Nathan Ake (7/10):

  Looked accomplished on the left of the back three, covering well and seeing more of the ball than any Dutch player.

  Daley Blind (7/10):

  The veteran showed he still has the class with a few lovely deliveries from the left. Defensively he was fine.

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  Midfield

  Frenkie de Jong (6/10):

  A real mixed bag. Dallied with a great chance on the counter-attack in the first half, and put his side under pressure with a few careless moments. But he also looked classy when carrying the ball, and his delivery created the all-important opener for Gakpo.

  Steven Berghuis (6/10):

  One of the brighter Dutch players when he was on the field, the former Watford man put one on a plate for De Jong in the first half and was willing to try his luck from outside the box.

Celtic are going about their proposed move for Eddie Howe ‘in the right way’, Kevin Campbell has told Football Insider.

It was reported at the beginning of April that the Hoops were on the verge of appointing Howe, but no official announcement has been forthcoming. Football Insider claimed that a “wonderful offer” is on the table for the 43-year-old.

John Kennedy has been in interim charge at Parkhead since Neil Lennon resigned at the end of February.

‘Eddie Howe may be putting together his backroom team’

Campbell reckons that the Hoops are keen to show Kennedy, who has been part of the coaching team for a decade, as much respect as possible in their handling of the appointment, and he suspects that Howe may be ‘working quietly in the background’.

The former Arsenal striker told Football Insider: “It seems a little strange that it is taking so long but perhaps they are waiting to announce it out of respect for John Kennedy. I think an announcement will be made at the end of the season.

“It does not faze me. If it is going to be Eddie Howe, he would want to pay his respects to the incumbent.

“Howe may be putting together his backroom team and working quietly in the background before it gets announced.

“I think the club are going about it in the right way even though it does seem as if it is taking an age.”

Celtic nearing finish line after season to forget

Celtic are just two games away from bringing their dismal season to an end. They host St Johnstone a week on Wednesday before travelling to Hibernian the following Saturday.

With Rangers 23 points ahead and Hibs 14 points behind the Hoops in second place, it’s all about salvaging some pride for the rest of the campaign.

Transfer Tavern verdict

It’s understandable if some Celtic fans are feeling frustrated and uneasy and may be wondering what’s causing the apparent delay in appointing Howe. Has the deal hit a snag?

Above all, though, you sense that supporters just want a glimmer of hope that the deal could still go through, particularly after two galling defeats by Rangers in as many weeks.

Hopefully Campbell’s suggestion that the particulars of Howe’s appointment are being executed in the background turns out to be accurate.

In other news, read this pundit’s bold prediction about Eddie Howe’s tenure.

Formerly known as the Ras Abu Aboud stadium, this is the seventh venue to be completed for the World Cup…

Qatar, on Saturday, unveiled their seventh tournament ready venue for the 2022 World Cup – Stadium 974.

The venue follows Khalifa International, Al Janoub, Education City, Ahmad Bin Ali, Al Bayt and Al Thumama in being declared ready to host matches for the World Cup, with only one more venue left to be unveiled.

Previously known as Ras Abu Aboud, Stadium 974 will be inaugurated during the Arab Cup which kickstarts on November 30, 2021. The stadium will host the match between Syria and UAE on the opening day and will host a total of six matches during the tournament.

Stadium 974 will play hosts to seven 2022 World Cup matches, up to the Round of 16 stage.

The venue has a lot of interesting aspects to it. Let's take a look at five facts you must know about Stadium 974.

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  Why is it called Stadium 974?

  The venue's nomenclature is interesting. You must probably be thinking why a number has been assigned as part of the name for a World Cup venue. But it has a couple of very interesting reasons.

  Stadium 974 has been constructed using shipping containers, as already mentioned. 974 is the number of shipping containers used to build the venue. Intriguing, isn't it? That's not all.

  974 is also Qatar's international dialling code and that also played a part behind the stadium's name. The name also is supposed to reflect the stadium's strategic position, located close to the Hamad International Airport, Doha Airport and Doha Port.

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  First fully demountable stadium in World Cup history

  Stadium 974, quite interestingly, can be fully dismantled after use and is the first fully demountable stadium in the history of World Cups. The stadium has been constructed using shipping containers and modular steel frames, reflecting Qatar's maritime history.

  The design of the stadium makes it visually appealing while also ensuring cost effectiveness, given that fewer materials were used compared to a traditional stadium.

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  No need for Advanced Cooling Tech

  One of the most distinguishing features about the 2022 World Cup venues has been the Advanced Cooling Tech which will keep the temperatures inside the stadiums to an optimum, both for the fans and the players alike.

  However, Stadium 974 will be the only World Cup venue which will not have the cooling technology. It doesn't need one, given its innovative design.

  The stadium is naturally ventilated due to its design and location very close to the sea front.

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  Sustainability at the forefront

  Stadium 974 is a shining example of sustainability, on quite a few counts.

  Given that there is no need for cooling tech, combined with the stadium's efficient design, means water use at the venue has been reduced by almost 40 per cent.

  The modular design of the stadium makes use of shipping containers. More interestingly, the containers were initially used to transport building materials for the venue before becoming part of the facade!

  To add to it, much of the stadium's structure has been built using recycled steel.

According to Alasdair Gold, Tottenham are interested in appointing Erik ten Hag as their new manager.

Spurs eye Ten Hag

Following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, it had been suggested that Julian Nagelsmann was heavily on Spurs’ radar (Daily Mail). However, he has now been confirmed as the new Bayern Munich manager.

In a Q&A for football.london, Gold revealed THAT Ten Hag is one of a number of managers on the north London outfit’s shortlist.

Fantastic option

With the likes of Bayern (Sky via bulinews.com) and Barcelona (Sport) being previously linked with the Dutchman, it is perhaps a surprise that he is still at Ajax. He has done a marvellous job in Amsterdam – he is closing in on his second Eredivisie title at the Johan Cruyff Arena, has averaged 2.32 points per game during his time at the club (Transfermarkt) and also took them to the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018/19 season.

He also has a reputation of developing younger players, with the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong flourishing under his tutelage. Quite frankly, there are few better coaches in Europe that Daniel Levy could target, and he certainly seems attainable.

In other news, this Spurs hero has thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant position.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that his side could be better at the back, with a move for a new defender a priority in the upcoming window

With the end of the season fast approaching, planning has begun at Manchester United for the next campaign and how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can take his team from title challengers to real contenders.

Manchester City look set to run away with the 2020-21 Premier League trophy but United’s results – and some of their performances – this season have shown that perhaps with a couple of tweaks they could have what it takes to properly push for top spot.

There are arguments for strengthening in a number of positions but, with Covid-19 affecting finances, the club will unlikely be able to fund every single one of their targets.

One of the main priorities is a centre-back. Victor Lindelof has come under fire for his performances in recent weeks and there is not enough depth in the position. 

Solskjaer admitted ahead of his side’s clash against Chelsea this weekend that he wants to see defensive improvements from the whole team.

“We know we have scored a lot of goals and of course we need to be a better team defensively,” Solskjaer said. “We have conceded too many goals so we need to improve on that and winning tighter games.”

It is understood, therefore, that United are in the market for a central defender this summer. Here, Goal analyses the names they’ve looked at in the past, a wild card and a few candidates for the future to potentially solve their defensive dilemmas.

Also considered are a couple of in-house solutions should United fail to get the deal done. 

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  Jules Kounde – Sevilla

  Kounde is one of the hottest defensive prospects in Europe and it’s hardly surprising United are interested in the 22-year-old.

  Manchester City tried to land him last summer but ended getting up Ruben Dias instead after being put off by the price set by Sevilla. Afterwards, sporting director Monchi admitted that their price may have been inflated.

  It will be interesting to see what kind of bid might prove to be acceptable this summer. A compromise would have to be reached as United would not be willing to pay over the odds, especially in the current climate.

  Although Solskjaer is after a left-footed centre-back and Kounde is right-footed, he is comfortable on the left side and also fits the profile as a young, exciting player – the kind of player that the United boss wants to fill his side with.

  Another positive is that he is able to play right-back. United have been looking at right-backs to provide competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka. If budgets become a problem and decisions have to be made over which positions to prioritise that could prove to be a benefit.

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  David Carmo – Braga

  Portuguese defender Carmo is another who fits the profile as the kind of player Solskjaer is keen to have in his squad.

  The 21-year-old centre-back, who has already been likened to Virgil van Dijk, also fits the bill in terms of being left-footed. He would compliment the right-footed centre-backs Solskjaer already has at his disposal.

  Real Madrid are also believed to be keeping an eye on the Braga stopper, while he was briefly linked with Liverpool in the January window.

  Carmo is currently recovering from a bad ankle injury suffered two weeks ago which saw him leave the pitch in an ambulance.

  Nevertheless, he remains on Solskjaer’s watchlist.

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  Ibrahima Konate – RB Leipzig

  Young Frenchman Ibrahima Konate is another hot prospect when it comes to centre-backs in Europe.

  The RB Leipzig defender has been linked with the majority of the big Premier League clubs and has been monitored by United.

  The 21-year-old has developed a good relationship with compatriot Dayot Upamecano and their success in Julian Nagelsmann's backline has led to interest from a variety of clubs.  

  With Upamecano already agreeing to join Bayern Munich in the summer, it is hard to see Leipzig letting the other key man in their defence leave in the same window.

  The fact that Konate has attracted attention from a number of clubs is even more striking given that he has missed a large chunk of this season through injury and has only started four times in the Bundesliga. 

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  Raphael Varane – Real Madrid

  Compared to the other, younger candidates, Raphael Varane is heading towards the veteran category at 27 years old. That would not be seen as a negative though with Solskjaer having such a young dressing room.

  The United boss has regularly spoken about the experience of older players helping to mould the younger generations and Varane has had plenty of experience at Real Madrid and also in winning the World Cup with France.

  A proven winner, he’s out of contract in the summer of 2022 and has yet to agree an extension which could see him move on in the next window.

  The United hierarchy are believed to be admirers and his key attributes would compliment captain Harry Maguire at the back.

Many Aston Villa fans have been discussing Jack Grealish’s latest tweet, which has elicited a glowing response on the social media platform.

The 25-year-old recently relayed a tweet from the official club account after Aston Villa had posted a video involving actor David Bradley, who was talking about the club and it’s rise and fall through the years. The title of the video was – “They say you don’t choose Aston Villa, it chooses you.”

Bradley was talking about the beauty of fans and how so many Villa fans are connected to the club. The video included footage of the Villans’ greatest moments over the decades.

Grealish shared his admiration for the video, retweeting it with the added comment of: “What a video man ❤️💙 the way I can’t wait to have fans back!! @bradders_david you legend! 🙌🏻”

This came after the European Super League was announced amidst widespread vehement outcry. Even during Leeds’ Premier League against Liverpool, the Whites’ players wore training jerseys in protests of the ESL, while protests were held outside Elland Road (BBC Sport).

Liverpool are among the six English clubs to have signed up to the Super League, while Gary Neville launched a scathing attack on the concept of the ESL.

Grealish’s tweet drew the attention of many Aston Villa fans, who loved the response from the 25-year-old, whose local status and love for the club has often been apparent.

What did Aston Villa fans make of Grealish’s tweet?

“100% accurate, I know cause it hit me when I was 5 years old and now I’m 49 and still as strong as ever.”

Credit: @Simon1874Villa

“Who needs a Super League when we’ve got Super Jack!”

Credit: @Gareth32Gareth

“Love you forever and always.”

Credit: @LawsAVFC

“We are, without any shadow of a doubt, a truly great club… if not the greatest in the country.”

Credit: @skippyjackson

“You’re never leaving are you hahahahaha love you.”

Credit: @AVFCOlly_

“Goosebumps, passion, pride, yes we are Aston Villa!”

Credit: @TonyV1lla
In other news, “The last thing you want to see” – Exclusive: Lee Hendrie reacts as big Aston Villa blow emerges