Everton name Cenk Tosun price tag amidst Crystal Palace interest

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Everton have named their price for reported Crystal Palace target Cenk Tosun, with The Daily Star claiming the Toffees are open to cashing in.

What’s the word?

Tosun only moved to Merseyside a year ago when Everton landed the Turkish forward from Besiktas.

The 27-year-old, however, has struggled in England and has found himself ushered down the pecking order under Marco Silva.

Even scoring with his only effort on target in Saturday’s shock FA Cup defeat to Millwall does not seem to have done enough to warrant a further stay at Goodison Park, with  The Daily Star suggesting that Everton will sell the striker this month if they receive the right offer.

Crystal Palace have already enquired about taking Tosun on loan for the remainder of the season, and Huddersfield have also raised the question, but Everton are said to only be considering selling the 35-cap international and will demand £20million.

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Should Everton sell?

If Crystal Palace or Huddersfield are open to buying Tosun, Everton have to take the financial hit and sell.

He does not offer Silva enough to hold down the striker spot at Goodison Park and has shown he cannot find the target regularly enough to be the Toffees’ main forward, either.

Everton will lose millions of pounds by cashing in now, but it would be better to take the £20million if the club’s valuation is met rather than losing even more by not selling and letting Tosun’s value further depreciate.

The only question that should be debated on Merseyside is whether there’s enough time left in the January window to bring in a new option up top.

The Sun reported earlier this month that Everton are interested in Chelsea’s out-of-favour striker Michy Batshuayi, and the money raised from Tosun’s exit would help towards the potential £40million deal.

Leeds should celebrate promotion by signing goal machine Robert Skov in the summer

Leeds United made just one signing in the January transfer window – signing Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid on a free transfer.

The Whites are cruising at the top of the Championship table under Marcelo Bielsa who opted to sign the Spanish goalkeeper to add competition for Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Many players were linked with a move to Elland Road but the deals failed to materialise. Focus now returns to securing Leeds’ return to the Premier League.

Should the Whites earn promotion, they will be able to attract a much higher calibre of player in the summer. As well as the financial gain, Leeds will once again be viewed as an extremely attractive club to join under Bielsa’s stewardship. To keep them in the division, new signings will be needed.

One man the Argentine could target is Copenhagen hotshot – Robert Skov. Valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, the 22-year-old has been one of the most in-form players in world football after joining his current employers last January. Skov has firmly established himself as a crucial first-team player and his showings should make the Leeds scouting team sit up and take notice.

Skov has netted an incredible 18 league goals in just 20 appearances so far this season, highlighting the threat he poses from the right wing. The youngster is a constant menace and would give Bielsa another top option in attack. The Denmark U21 international is also a set-piece specialist which could prove vital in beating relegation.

Still improving and developing, working with a world-class manager like Bielsa could do wonders for his development. Should the Whites gain promotion, signing Skov should be a priority.

Leeds United fans, thoughts?

Benitez must stay if Newcastle want to make signings necessary to survive Premier League

Newcastle United finally break unwanted record signing Miguel Almiron for a transfer fee of £20 million signalling the start of what could be a new beginning. But most likely not.

The 14 (and a bit) year wait is finally over. Not since 2005 have the Newcastle faithful seen their club dip into their silver collection to fund a transfer anywhere close to what recent arrival Miguel Almiron has cost.

With owner Mike Ashley opting to continue his business strategy into football – signing budget items and hoping for the best, it’s been a tough time for the Newcastle faithful who have had to endure their team bouncing between the two top English tiers without a clear project in sight.

During his unveiling, Almiron, 24, claimed (via the Daily Mail): ‘I am the sort of player who tries to get the team playing around me, that’s how I’d describe myself.‘ Adding: ‘I try not to think about the pressure of the price tag or pay attention to it.

The Paraguayan international will undoubtedly be making his full debut for the club shortly to help secure their Premier League survival, and hopefully Rafael Benitez’s future on Tyneside.

He said, ‘When I heard of the interest from Rafa Benitez it was a no-brainer. We all know what a great manager he is, a great person, and there was no hesitation about wanting to play for him and the club.’

However, on the topic of the Spaniard’s possible departure from the club, he conceded: ‘It’s not a topic we’ve discussed. The only things I’ve spoken to him about is me feeling comfortable and settling in quickly so I can bring something to the side.

Does this go to prove how influential Benitez is at Newcastle?

It’s certainly evidence that he’s one of the fundamental incentives behind big money transfers. Moves which have become intrinsically linked with Premier League success.

Celtic fans split on Toljan after Europa League setback

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Celtic’s Europa League hopes are dangling by a thread after a 2-0 defeat to Valencia this week, and fans are still unconvinced by January signing Jeremy Toljan.

Toljan’s arrival at Parkhead was a very welcome sight for Celtic fans, as the right side of Brendan Rodgers’ defence has been a weak point all season.

Mikael Lustig is well past his best and Cristian Gamboa never really seems to have earned the manager’s trust, so it was no surprise to see Toljan go straight into the starting XI after his arrival from Borussia Dortmund.

However, after impressing and grabbing an assist in a 2-0 win over Hibernian, he struggled massively at times on Thursday night.

The 24 year-old, who already has 72 Bundesliga appearances to his name, recorded the lowest pass completion rate of any of the Celtic defenders or midfielders with just 86 per cent.

It was on the defensive end where his vulnerabilities were more clearly exposed though, as Valencia made scoring European away goals look easy against a disorganised Hoops back line.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans are split on the young defender…

Jan Vertonghen says Tottenham can’t be complacent in Champions League tie

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Jan Vertonghen has told tottenhamhotspur.com that the 3-0 win against Borussia Dortmund last week is in his top three results since he has been with Spurs, but he has warned that the team can’t be complacent ahead of the second leg after what has happened in the past.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the north London outfit posted an interview on Sunday with the Belgium international, who was one of the stars of the victory against the Bundesliga leaders after scoring one and assisting another from a left wing-back role, who believes the clash is one of the best he has been involved since he arrived at White Hart Lane back in 2012.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men were knocked out of the competition by Juventus at Wembley last season and also suffered a huge scare against Inter Milan back in the 2012/13 campaign, and Vertonghen has told tottenhamhotspur.com that they must not repeat those slips.

The 31-year-old said: “We all know what then happened against Juventus (in the Round of 16, lost 4-3 on aggregate) and we don’t want that to happen again.

“This result is massive for us. We’re still not finished because I can remember the Inter away game where we lost 3-0 (in 2012/13 we won the first leg of our Europa League tie 3-0, went 3-0 down at the San Siro and eventually lost 4-1 to go through on away goals) and that can’t happen again.”

Will they do it?

Given Tottenham are a huge threat away from home, solid at the back and could reportedly have Harry Kane and Dele Alli back and available for the second leg in Germany, it is difficult to look past them reaching the quarter-final stage.

That said, they have shown their weaknesses in Europe previously and if Dortmund get an early goal in the return leg in March and the huge Westfalenstadion crowd get behind their team, then it could be more nervy than it should be.

Spurs will certainly need Vertonghen’s experience to help ensure nothing like that happens, as they look to keep things as tight as possible defensively.

Quick read: Jack Rodwell must be dropped for Birmingham clash

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Jack Rodwell has started each of Blackburn Rovers’ last seven Championship games. However, last time out against Middlesbrough, after a truly miserable first half display, the 27-year-old was hauled off at half time by Tony Mowbray.

Should Darragh Lenihan be back to fitness in time to face Birmingham City at St Andrew’s Stadium on Saturday, then he must come into the starting XI in Rodwell’s place.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Rodwell looked against Boro like a player who needs some time out of the firing line. Given that Rovers have lost their last four consecutive league games, Mowbray has to change something in order to inspire his team to get back to their best.

Swapping out Rodwell would likely make Rovers a more solid unit at the back, and being dropped should also encourage the 3-cap former England international to concentrate on rediscovering his best form.

After last week’s woeful first half performance at Ewood Park, Mowbray needs something different, and taking Rodwell out of the team would be a positive alteration to make.

Mkhitaryan’s wise words must not fall on deaf ears with Arsenal now leading the pack

Arsenal were able to climb to fourth in the Premier League table after they beat Southampton 2-0 at the Emirates over the weekend.

First-half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Henrikh Mkhitaryan saw Arsenal leapfrog Manchester United following their boring 0-0 draw with Liverpool, but the north London club’s second goalscorer of the day is refusing to get carried away.

The Breakdown

“We are not looking at the table at the moment because we still have lots of games to play,” Mkhitaryan told Press Association Sport (via BT Sport) after the game.

“The most important is to be focused and to be ready for every game because we are not going to think that we are in the top four and nothing will change,” the Armenian attacking midfielder added.

Looking at the big picture, Mkhitaryan’s words are undoubtedly ones his team-mates need to listen to.

Following that win versus Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men, momentum is on their side. However, with the form Manchester United have been in under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Chelsea showing signs of life in their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, further improvement is needed at Arsenal if they are to succeed in their pursuit of Champions League qualification.

With the firepower the Gunners have up front thanks to Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, though, there is reason for supporters to be optimistic, while progression in the Europa League should only add to that.

Opinion: Newcastle should ignore pundit’s advice to sign Aaron Mooy

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Aaron Mooy should leave Huddersfield at the end of the season and Newcastle would be a good landing place, claims Australian football pundit Simon Hill.

What’s the word?

As reported by Chronicle Live, Hill expects Mooy to leave Huddersfield this summer if, or when, the Terriers get relegated.

The Yorkshire outfit currently sit 13 points from safety with just nine games left to play, so it seems likely that a few of their players will jump ship to stay in the top flight this summer.

And Hill, speaking on a Fox Sports podcast, sees a future in the top tier of English football for his compatriot.

“Maybe somewhere like a Newcastle. Let’s be honest, he’s not going to go to Man United or Man City or Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea etc. but I think that next tier down of club is a possibility.”

The aforementioned Chronicle report claims a deal would likely cost in the region of £20m, so should the Magpies make a move this summer?

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

Is he worth it?

There’s no question Mooy is an incredibly talented player, as it has been clear both in Australia’s World Cup squad and in Huddersfield’s short stay in the Premier League that he is suffering for a lack of quality teammates.

That said, the midfielder is 28, and shelling out close to £20m for his services this summer would be a massive risk.

He has scored just twice and provided no assists in 21 Premier League appearances this season, and his performances have actually gotten worse from the last campaign.

Spending big money (in Mike Ashley terms at least) for a player who is regressing rather than improving, in a position where the Magpies actually have some decent depth, would be completely foolish and would force the club to neglect other positions in more urgent need of upgrades.

Newcastle should ignore Hill’s advice and focus on signing another winger and a left-back before they go about strengthening the midfield, where Rafael Benitez already has five decent options to choose from.

Liverpool fans react as Naby Keita is ruled out of the game against Bayern Munich

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Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to react after it was revealed by James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo that Naby Keita will miss the trip to Bayern Munich, with a minor thigh injury keeping the midfielder out of the crucial Champions League clash.

The Guinean started the first leg of the tie at Anfield in the middle of February and impressed against the Bavarians, but has played just 19 minutes of football since he was inexplicably dropped by Jurgen Klopp – it can’t have been a result of his performances, as the 24-year-old had been playing well.

Mixed fortunes for English sides in the Champions League so how far off are they from dominating Europe’s top table? The Pl>ymaker FC squad discuss in the video below…

Now, with just hours before the pivotal second leg tie, the former RB Leipzig man has been ruled out, which will be sure to anger Liverpool fans who feel that Keita helps to provide some creativity from a midfield that sorely lacks such a thing.

Let’s see how the Reds supporters reacted to the news on Twitter, with some providing some conspiracies as to why he has been missing from the first-team…

Harry Kane responds to Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League draw

[ad_pod ]Tottenham Hotspur have been drawn against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in the quarter finals of the Champions League. The first leg of the tie will be a home fixture for Spurs, taking place on April 9th, whilst the return leg will be staged at the Etihad Stadium on April 17th.The north London outfit are certainly the underdogs, but Mauricio Pochettino will believe his side have what it takes to overcome Pep Guardiola’s men. Spurs’ talismanic No. 10, Harry Kane, is certainly in bullish spirits ahead of the clash.Check out the video below for pure scenes at the North London Derby on Sunday…

What he said

The England captain took to Twitter to deliver a simple, straightforward three-word response to the outcome of the draw: “bring it on.â€

Such a confident response will give Spurs fans heart and hope heading into the encounter, but they’ll be relying upon Kane to back up his words with a fine performance on the pitch.

Living up to the billing

If Spurs are anything short of their best then City will likely tear them apart. However, if Kane is on song then he has the capacity to hurt the opposition.Â

The 25-year-old striker is one of the best goalscorers in world football. He must now live up to that billing, on the biggest domestic stage, when his side meet City in April.

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