In Focus: Arsenal youngster heading for Barcelona

According to El Confidencial, Arsenal teenager Marcus McGuane is on the verge of leaving the Emirates Stadium to join Barcelona.

What’s the story?

McGuane joined Arsenal at the age of five, and the now 18-year-old has previously captained Arsenal’s Under-18 team.

Scottish giants Rangers have previously been credited with an interest in the midfielder, but according to El Confidencial, Barcelona have enticed the young Englishman to Spain.

The report claims that McGuane will join Barcelona’s B team for the remainder of the season, with the view to potentially progressing into the senior side.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is believed to have given up hope of keeping McGuane after the teenager expressed an interest to continue his development in Spain.

How close is McGuane to the Arsenal first team?

The Greenwich-born midfielder made his first-team debut for Arsenal in the Europa League earlier this season. Indeed, he appeared off the bench in the club’s 4-2 win over BATE Borisov towards the end of September.

Having captained Arsenal’s Under-18 team and featured regularly for the Under-23s, there is no question that McGuane is highly-rated at the Emirates Stadium.

The 18-year-old has actually scored twice in nine matches for Arsenal’s Under-23 team this season, but his contract will expire this summer, and it seems that he has rejected an extension in favour of a move to Barcelona.

The news will come as a bitter blow to the Arsenal fans that have watched McGuane develop over the last 13 years, but when Barcelona come calling, there is usually only one outcome.

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McGuane could well be lining up alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in a couple of years time.

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Arsenal fans admit they forgot Jenkinson was still at the club

Carl Jenkinson has become the forgotten man at Arsenal due to his failure to land a regular spot in the first team.

The right-back has been part of the fold at the North London outfit since 2011 when he joined the club from Charlton Athletic.

Since then, the 26-year-old has dropped in and out of the team, but more recently, manager Arsene Wenger has not deemed the player good enough to use regularly in his squad.

Jenkinson had two loan spells at West Ham United in the last few seasons, and in the current campaign, the full-back is playing at Birmingham City on a temporary deal.

His term at St Andrew’s has been a miserable one given that he dislocated his shoulder on his debut against Reading in August, and has made just two further appearances – both in the FA Cup – since then.

Today, on his 26th birthday, Arsenal sent out a tweet wishing Jenkinson well, which sparked a reaction from the fans.

In Focus: Bergwijn fits the bill at Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur are one of many Premier League clubs keeping a close eye on PSV Eindhoven attacker Steven Bergwijn, according to ESPN.

What’s the word?

It is not difficult to understand why the 20-year-old is reportedly attracting attention from numerous clubs.

In 22 Eredivisie games this season, the youngster has scored five goals and created six assists for PSV.

ESPN reports that the Dutch club are expecting a number of clubs to make offers for their talented player.

The publication claims that Everton are also sniffing around, and it is likely that Bergwijn will sign for a Premier League outfit.

Tottenham are no stranger to dealing with Dutch clubs having signed Jan Vertonghen, Christian Ajax and Davinson Sanchez over the years.

Does Bergwijn suit Tottenham?

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has proven that he can help young players transform into first-team regulars.

Dele Alli is a prime example as he thrived on the elite stage following his 2015 move from MK Dons.

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At the age of just 21, the midfielder is frequently in Tottenham’s first XI and is a fully-fledged England international.

Bergwijn has shown plenty of promise and he also possesses versatility given that he can play on either wing.

Spurs could be the best environment for the Dutchman to develop in, and there is certainly a route to the first team under Pochettino.

Newcastle’s Merino warns Southampton ahead of Saturday’s clash

Mikel Merino has warned Southampton that Newcastle have “no intention” of losing Saturday’s huge clash.

Southampton travel to Tyneside on Saturday with both sides firmly in the midst of a relegation battle, and Newcastle’s Spanish midfielder says the side will look to correct the mistakes they made in the 2-0 defeat at Anfield.

“Those teams are maybe not at the high level of Liverpool but we know the way we have to play is the same as we played against Manchester United and Bournemouth,” Merino said of the upcoming matches with Southampton and Huddersfield Town.

Rafa Benitez’s team put in a lacklustre performance at Liverpool on Saturday, but know the games to come against Southampton and Huddersfield (both at home) will have the biggest impact on the relegation race.

After the visit of Mauricio Pellegrino’s struggling Southampton, the Magpies have three weeks rest before they host Huddersfield at the end of the month.

“After that game, we have a three-week break and it is always good to pick up a good result at a time like that,” Merino said.

“If you have a defeat, you have a lot of time to dwell on it. It is the worst thing to do because you have so much time to think about it, but we have no intention of losing it.”

Merino’s performances have dropped off considerably since a positive start to the season, but Benitez will hope the Spaniard – who Transfermarkt value at £9million – can put his confidence to good use in the absence of the injured Jonjo Shelvey.

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Newcastle fans, do you think you can get three points against Southampton? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below…

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Jason Cummings impressed Rangers fans on Sunday but they still feel Morelos is main man

Jason Cummings hit a superb hat-trick against Falkirk on Sunday to fire Rangers into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.

The 4-1 win against the Bairns means the Gers will now face Celtic in a mouthwatering clash at Hampden to determine who’ll get to go on to Scottish football’s showpiece final in May.

Supporters though, while hugely impressed with Cummings’ goalscoring performance, still believe that Graeme Murty show play Alfredo Morelos in next week’s match against the Bhoys in the Scottish Premiership.

The Colombian missed a number of chances to score yesterday but hasn’t been shy in finding the back of the net this season, with 17 goals in all competitions.

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Cummings is a lethal finisher but fans believe Morelos’ all-round game will be better suited to the Hoops match, especially if Murty decides to play just one striker up front.

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Competition is fierce for first team places at Rangers right now, which can only be a positive, and supporters will be eager to see which striker is chosen next week.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the debate after Sunday’s match…

Newcastle United should move quick to secure Kenedy for next season

Newcastle United will try to re-sign Kenedy from Chelsea on loan if Rafael Benitez says as manager, according to the Chronicle.

What’s the word?

It took time, but the Magpies eventually got their man when Kenedy moved to St James’ Park in January.

The Brazilian was coveted by the Magpies in the summer, but they failed to get a deal over the line.

In the winter window, a loan agreement was struck, and the 22-year-old has provided pace that the team needed.

The Chronicle reports that there is a possibility that Kenedy will re-join the club next season on another loan deal if Benitez is still at the club.

Should Kenedy be a priority?

There is no doubt that the young player has improved the team, and he showed his quality at the weekend.

The Chelsea loanee scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Southampton, with both goals coming in the first half.

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Two big things could be dependent on whether Newcastle get their man – the future of Benitez and which division the club will be playing in.

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At the moment, the Magpies are five points above the relegation zone thanks to their weekend win.

With eight games left to play, the club are not completely safe yet, but wherever they end up could be a deciding factor in Kennedy’s decision.

Rangers have a long way to go to compete with Celtic over a season

Writing in his column for the Scottish Daily Mail, former Celtic favourite Kris Commons has slammed the quality of the Rangers team and believes they simply don’t have the ability to compete with Brendan Rodgers’ outfit.

What’s the story?

After another disappointing weekend for the Ibrox side, beaten by Kilmarnock at Ibrox, fans are again questioning the future direction of the current first team squad and manager Graeme Murty, believing changes must be made this summer.

Some have wondered whether the thing holding them back in games against Celtic is mentality, but former Hoops attacking midfielder Kris Commons simply thinks they aren’t good enough.

Writing for the Scottish Daily Mail, he said:

I don’t think it’s a question of mentality. Rangers are just not good enough to break down really, really organised defending. Josh Windass needs a bit of space in behind, see a pass or open up his body and run forward. Daniel Candeias can put a good ball in the box but their top scorer, Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos, is missing sitters on almost a weekly basis. To be champions or contend at the top of the league, win cups, you need a striker who will score eight out of ten chances. It seems to me that Morelos is missing six or seven out of every ten he’s getting. Then you’ve got two holding midfielders who don’t carry a threat, except at set-pieces. So they just don’t have that cutting edge to break down a good defence.

Does Commons have a point or is that a harsh assessment of the current stars at Ibrox?

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Can Rangers compete next season?

Rangers’ problem isn’t even that they can’t compete with Celtic in head-to-head matches, it’s their inability to beat teams week-to-week in home matches with the pressure to win from a big crowd coming down on them.

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The Light Blues have lost seven of their 16 home games in the Scottish Premiership this season, drawing two more. It’s a dismal record that needs to change if they’re to ever challenge Celtic over the course of the season.

Until they add more of a creative cutting edge to their side and add players that can buy into the winning mentality of the club then they’ll be unable to close the gap.

Liverpool fans think Lovren is using Salah to avoid being sold

Liverpool fans are convinced Dejan Lovren is befriending Mohamed Salah to avoid being sold this summer.

It’s an age-old cliché amongst football fans – keep player B so player A stays happy. Liverpool fans suspect Lovren knows about this too, as the Croatian defender seems to have become best friends with Mohamed Salah.

The pair have been spotted in multiple social media videos around the club’s training ground, even to the point where the defender was waiting for Salah at his car on Wednesday morning.

Salah has been in red-hot form since joining the reds, and currently tops the Premier League scoring charts with 28 goals. The Egyptian put the icing on the cake of his incredible season against Watford, grabbing four goals in a 5-0 win.

Lovren on the other hand did not have quite the same impact as Salah. Every time the 28 year-old seems to be finding a bit of form, he puts in a shocking performance and reminds fans of his nightmarish first season at Anfield.

Fans have often called for the Croatian to be sold this summer, with plenty hopeful the reds will sign a young defender to grow alongside Virgil van Dijk.

It appears Lovren is one step ahead of the game though, as fans are now joking on Twitter that the Reds will keep the defender to keep Salah happy.

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Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…

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Gomes giving nothing away as Manchester United rumours intensify

In an interview with Barca TV, Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes has played down reports linking him with a move to Manchester United.

What’s the latest?

The 24-year-old has been part of the Catalan giants since 2016 when he signed from Valencia, and initially struggled to break into the team.

This season, Gomes has started just five La Liga matches and one in the Champions League, while 18 of his outings in all competitions have been as a substitute.

However, the midfielder has been getting more chances of late, and played the entire 90 minutes of Barca’s 3-1 victory over Leganes at the weekend.

According to The Express, United are the frontrunners to bring in Gomes this summer, but the man himself has kept quiet about his future prospects.

While speaking to Barca TV, the midfielder said:

“Right now I do not think about that. I am enjoying myself and living the dream that all children want to live.”

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Do United need Gomes?

Jose Mourinho is expected to make changes to his team this season, and the midfield is an area that is likely to be focused on.

Michael Carrick is due to retire when the campaign comes to a close, while the futures of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera remain uncertain.

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Gomes could be a strong addition to the pack, especially due to the fact that he can play in a variety of positions across the midfield.

The Spaniard can play centrally, on either the right or the left, plus he can drop back and do a defensive job in the middle of the park.

Tottenham Hotspur to appeal for Kane to be awarded goal, fans react

Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane is seemingly determined to win his third Golden Boot on the trot.

So much so that his club are prepared to launch an appeal to get the winning goal against Stoke City to be registered as Kane’s, reports BBC Sport.

Christian Eriksen was recorded as the scorer by the Premier League Goals Accreditation Panel in Saturday’s 2-1 victory, despite Kane claiming that he got a touch.

After a spell on the sidelines with injury, the England international relinquished his position at the summit of the top-scorers list.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah took over and he continues to lead the race with 29 top-flight goals to his name, while Kane has 24.

With only a handful of league games left to play, the chase to become the division’s top scorer is getting more intense.

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BBC Sport claims that the footage of the striker’s goal will be reviewed by a panel once an appeal is lodged.

Tottenham fans have been having their say on the reported appeal on Reddit.

Comment from discussion Spurs expected to appeal goal vs Stoke to give it to Kane.Comment from discussion Spurs expected to appeal goal vs Stoke to give it to Kane.Comment from discussion Spurs expected to appeal goal vs Stoke to give it to Kane.Comment from discussion Spurs expected to appeal goal vs Stoke to give it to Kane.Comment from discussion Spurs expected to appeal goal vs Stoke to give it to Kane.Comment from discussion Spurs expected to appeal goal vs Stoke to give it to Kane.Comment from discussion Spurs expected to appeal goal vs Stoke to give it to Kane.Comment from discussion Spurs expected to appeal goal vs Stoke to give it to Kane.Comment from discussion Spurs expected to appeal goal vs Stoke to give it to Kane.

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