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As reported by The Daily Mail, Clint Hill’s former manager Harry Redknapp has given his backing to the 38 year to win another contract at Ibrox this summer.

What’s the word?

Hill is a former captain of Redknapp’s, the two working together when they were both at Queens Park Rangers. Now the defender’s former boss reckons he can go on to have more seasons full of good form in Glasgow.

As quoted by The Daily Mail, Redknapp said:

The new manager at Rangers would have a leader on the pitch if Clint stays. If they don’t keep him, I’m sure someone else will snap him up because I definitely think there are another couple of years left in him. As a manager, he is the type you want in your team any day of the week.

Hill has been in fantastic form for Rangers so far this season but can he really have another campaign like this one, or is the inevitable decline about to come?

Past it?

At 38 years old, it’s clear that Clint Hill is no spring chicken. However, what he lacks in pace is more than repaid with his leadership and determination. Scoring 6 goals so far this season, he’s also made an unlikely impact on the club’s internal scoring charts.

His understanding and reading of the game from centre back is arguably second to none in the Scottish Premiership.

He also made himself a Rangers icon with his goal in the final minutes of the recent derby at Celtic Park.

On this season’s showing he’s more than worth a new contract, but it will be interesting to see what decision Caixinha takes in one of his first big decisions at the club.

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Injuries have claimed the peak years of many great players. Physical troubles have snatched the potential of some dazzling youngsters. They are part of football, with certain players proving almost indestructible despite the miles they clock up over the course of many seasons. It is a sad reality that a lot of players have to cope with lengthy lay-offs at one time or another, but it is one football clubs have to cope with.

Some clubs, however, find this harder than others. Brendan Rodgers became overly reliant on the regularly absent Daniel Sturridge at Liverpool, Manchester City had periods of dependency on Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany despite their niggling troubles and now Arsenal are suffering due to the loss, once again, of Santi Cazorla.

Cazorla has been one of the Premier League’s most underrated players while in North London. Capable of spreading play from a deep midfield role or playing as a number 10 – as he often did earlier in his career – Cazorla is a technically gifted wonder in the middle third with his talent visible from both feet. A joy to watch so often, the Spaniard has become the lynchpin as the initial creator for Arsenal in midfield.

This role grew out of the struggles to find a complete deep-lying midfielder, with Granit Xhaka now tasked with filling that role. Xhaka is a playmaker by trade and offers passing range that they have lacked in Cazorla’s absence. Despite Xhaka’s arrival, though, the ex-Malaga man is sorely missed in the heart of the pitch by Arsenal. Too often too slow in the build-up and with often ineffective passing from the pivot players, it has led to Mesut Ozil dropping deeper and a lack of attacking potency.

Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny have their respective merits, but none can make Arsenal tick in possession quite like Cazorla. An artist who despite his stature survives in the physical world of the Premier League midfield, Cazorla has vision and the superb ability to carry out the passes he sees. Line-breaking balls to Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez between the lines are rarely played when Cazorla is not available, but they are no more than bread and butter for the Spanish international.

Since the start of 2015/16, Cazorla has started a measly 22 Premier League matches. As key as he can be for Arsenal and as good as they are with him in the side, they must find either a direct alternative for him or a different way to set up. Xhaka is still finding his way, but will undoubtedly improve, leaving Arsenal with an empty space in midfield. Ramsey could have provided the energy and attacking instincts, but his defensive naivety and poor form this season even brings his future at the club into question.

Since he last featured in the 6-0 drubbing of Ludogorets back in October, there has often been a Cazorla-esque hole in the Arsenal side. Without his guile the attack has lacked fluidity and it has been a key factor in yet another collapse for the Gunners. This dependency on a player seldom available must stop for Arsenal, though. This summer could be a tough goodbye to one of the best players to watch in the Premier League.

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According to the Daily Mail, Mesut Ozil may have to back down from his mammoth demands over a new deal at Arsenal following a poor season for the club.

What’s the word?

Well, much has been made about Ozil’s future in north London, with his contract running out at the end of next season. When on form, the World Cup winner is one of the most creative outlets in the Premier League, though has struggled to wholly convince on a consistent basis over the last few months.

So far, the former Real Madrid playmaker is understood to have snubbed an offer of around £250k-per-week, even though that contract would be a marked improvement on the cool £140k-per-week he’s thought to be on now.

Having won the World Cup and played for Los Blancos, huge interest was expected in him this summer, though such a flurry has not reportedly been forthcoming.

Who is keen?

There’s little doubting the fact Ozil would improve most squads around Europe. Still, considering the financial implication a deal of this magnitude would have on any potential buyer, it’s unlikely too many of the European elite would splash out on what would be a supplement to other attacking options.

Turkish giants Fenerbahce are understood to retain an interest in the 28-year-old and, while a move to Istanbul would be a step down, Ozil does have Turkish heritage in his family. However, the SuperLig side would not be able to offer the sort of money Ozil is currently rejecting at Arsenal.

He’s also believed to have offers from the Chinese Super League, though a lucrative move to the Far East is not thought to interest him right now.

Good news for Arsenal?

Yes. With so much tension around the Emirates right now, reports of this manner at least indicate Arsenal still hold some sort of power over their players, in stark contrast to the situation surrounding Alexis Sanchez right now.

Now, the Gunners seem to have the advantage in the power struggle, something they’ve not really had in years.

According to reports in The Sun, Chelsea are ready to offer Andreas Christensen as part of a deal to sign in-demand Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk this summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Blues – along with Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton – are said to be keen on signing the £50m-rated Saints defender this summer.

The south coast outfit appear to have accepted that the Dutchman – who has been out of action since January because of injury, and is set to sit out the rest of the campaign – will leave St Mary’s this summer and now they must get the best possible deal.

The west London outfit are said to have offered 21-year-old Christensen as a sweetener in the deal and it could put Antonio Conte’s men in pole position to sign the 25-year-old.

Would selling Christensen be the right decision?

It’s difficult to say.

Chelsea are said to be keen on bringing the Denmark international back to Stamford Bridge this summer following two successful seasons on loan at Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach, but it was thought that he would be competing with the likes of Gary Cahill and David Luiz for a spot at centre-back.

However, the latest rumour suggests that Conte would rather have Van Dijk, which has thrown Christensen’s future at Stamford Bridge into doubt.

How good can Van Dijk be for Chelsea?

In the past two seasons Van Dijk has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and winning the race for his signature this summer would certainly be a big statement of intent by the Blues.

Strong in the air and comfortable in possession and bringing the ball out of defence, Van Dijk would fit in perfectly at Stamford Bridge and has the ability to be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

What’s the verdict, then?

With Southampton looking to get the best deal they can, money plus the arrival of a highly-rated young defender will certainly suit them, while a move to the likely Premier League champions and opportunity to play Champions League football next season would be the next step in Van Dijk’s career.

Newcastle United have won the English Championship on the last day with a thumping 3-0 victory over Barnsley at St James’ Park. With the Magpies cruising, Brighton & Hove Albion were the architects of their demise with Jack Grealish scoring a last minute equaliser for Aston Villa against the Seagulls.

It means Rafa Benitez’s side can go into the summer with maximum confidence and momentum, knowing that they did exactly what was expected of them this season.

It’s been a long campaign but the Benitez rebuild will continue when the transfer window opens and they have the chance to bring in players of real quality. For Brighton it’s obviously a blow but they’ll just be delighted they’ve managed to secure automatic promotion too.

Chris Hughton’s side switched off when they secured that promotion and despite a healthy points lead over Newcastle, were reined in as the weeks went on.

Newcastle fans are of course delighted and took to Twitter this afternoon to savage a Brighton side they perceived to be overconfident and disrespectful, amidst accusations from the Seagulls camp that Newcastle lost their ‘bottle..

Writing in his weekly London Evening Standard column, West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has dropped the biggest hint yet over his summer transfer plans after revealing he will be targeting first team, whilst looking to add pace to his side.

What’s the word?

One major frustration for West Ham fans across their first season at the London Stadium has been their lack of top quality investment in the team after an atrocious summer window leading up to the move from Upton Park set the standards for a below par maiden year in Stratford.

After months of promising huge investment and a big name addition this time last year, the Hammers board failed to deliver and landed Bilic with a swelled squad of players not up to the challenge ahead.

With that in mind, the Croatian manager, who has expressed delight in top scorer Michail Antonio’s contract extension announced this week, seems hell bent on rectify the mistakes of last summer.

The former Hammers defender wrote in his column;

“Now we are 100 per cent sure of our destiny next season, we can step up our planning. We have been doing this as a club for many weeks already but now we are safe it has more intensity.

“The priority is not so much about improving the squad as signing the sort of players who would be expecting to play in our first team.

“Without giving anything away at this early stage, I will say we will want to bring in some players who have pace. But it is not all about pace: it is the balance which is all-important.”

Is it an empty promise?

Whilst Bilic makes his intentions of adding proven first team quality clear, it seems Hammers fans could be set for another summer of disappointment.

Southampton forward Shane Long and out-of-favour Chelsea man Michy Batshuayi have been mooted as potential additions in the coming months and, whilst the latter could turn out to be a masterstroke, the former certainly isn’t the inspirational signing fans in east London are pining for.

The Irish international does offer pace, in fact he has recorded the fastest sprint in the Premier League this season, however he brings little in terms of goals.

The 31-year-old enjoyed his best Premier League goal-scoring campaign with the Saints last season, notching ten, but has followed that up with a measly three in the top flight so far this term.

This time of the year is filled with anniversaries. May is when trophies are won and lost. It’s when titles are bestowed upon the best teams in the world.

One such anniversary, though, takes place on Friday, which marks 18 years to the famous day when Manchester United battled back from behind against Bayern Munich in the Camp Nou. Two stoppage time goals, from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, took Manchester United from down and out to the top of Europe, sealing a treble without precedent.

Just as no team wants to lose in such a soul-destroying way, winning like that brings an unbridled joy few have ever experienced.

What goes around comes around, of course, as United suffered a similar defeat in 2012, when near-neighbours Manchester City did almost exactly the same thing to them: the blue half of the city were 2-1 down to Queens Park Rangers before two goals in added on time brought victory, and with it a Premier League title on goal difference.

But that’s sport, it’s all part of the story. If there’s a winner, there must be a loser.

Nights like those in 1999 create legends. The myth of the Manchester United team of the 90s doesn’t rest solely on winning the Champions League. Their 13 Premier League titles under Alex Ferguson would deserve legendary status even without the European prize. But it’s what makes them icons.

Next month, at The Belfry, some of these icons will take their place in a different setting. The ICONS of Football tournament’s Ryder Cup-style format pits a side of England footballing legends against some of their counterparts from the Rest of the World. It’s a format which leads to high-drama and iconic moments with the ability to captivate a nation. Like in 1999, it can come right down to the wire.

But these are men who can handle the pressure. And they’re appearing on both sides.

An England side featuring Andrew Cole and Teddy Sheringham will take on a Rest of the World team with Peter Schmeichel, Ryan Giggs and Dwight Yorke in their ranks. Paul Scholes will also appear for the England team – he won the competition with United that year, too, but missed the final through suspension.

The Icons of Football takes place from 23-25 June at The Belfry and it’s sure to be a dramatic event with the kinds of sportsmen who know exactly how to handle that sort pressure, just like many of them did in 1999. Make sure you don’t miss it: get your tickets now.

Tickets for Icons of Football 2017 are available now at icons-series.com

It may all have hinged on winning a Europa League final, but the consensus is that Manchester United had a good season because of that.

Two minor trophies were sweetened by the Champions League qualification the second one brought, and as a result, minimum requirements were met. No one is under any illusions, though, next season we will see a very different United side: there will be more heavy investment and, many would like to think, a new style of play, too.

There are some positives, though. It’s been called the most unproductive unbeaten run in history, but their 25 game unbeaten run in the Premier League does at least show some signs that Mourinho is assembling a resilient side. Although it was characterised by turgid football, frustrating draws and more points away from home than at Old Trafford, only Tottenham Hotspur lost more games than the Red Devils. They are small mercies and nothing to write home about, they certainly represent a platform to build on.

They will have to invest heavily in order to build, but it’s interesting that perhaps one of the best suited players to this current Manchester United squad was a man who was linked with the club in previous seasons, when the team certainly lacked the resilience Mourinho has instilled. Lazio’s Felipe Anderson – valued at £21.25m by Transfermarkt.com – seems to have matured into a player who looks like a perfect addition for United’s squad.

In the league this year, United came second for both interceptions per game and fouls per game as well as coming fifth for tackles per game. Those stats mean little in isolation, but taken together, they suggest that United are an aggressive side who are proactive when it comes to winning the ball back.

That’s been obvious in the rebirth of Ander Herrera as something of a midfield general and on-pitch Mourinho emissary. He’s begun to excel at the nastier side of the game, putting his foot in and winning tackles and interceptions.

Anderson, whilst not a central midfielder, has made more tackles this season in Serie A than Herrera has in the Premier League, averaging 2.8 a game, compared with the Spaniard’s 2.7. It’s clear that Anderson fits into the Mourinho ethos when his team doesn’t have the ball

But he would bring something extra to the team in a completely different area, too.

This season, Anderson has made 3.3 dribbles per game, and only three players in the Premier League made more. Interestingly, though, that’s an area where United have been lagging behind their rivals.

In fairness, this is a stylistic issue. There’s no need for United to increase the number of dribbles they make, and it’s clear that Mourinho’s tactical game is very different from most of the rest of the top six clubs. Having said that, each of five clubs who finished above United this season feature in the top six on the list of dribbles per game. United come ninth.

That alone isn’t a reason for Mourinho to change his outlook. Although United fans will want to see a more exciting brand of football next season, it doesn’t really matter how the team does it, so long as they win more games. But the sheer number of draws this season, and the times United have dropped points to teams they’d expect to beat – especially at home – probably shows they lack something when it comes to breaking down opponents, and given the low number of dribbles compared to their rivals, that could well be one option Mourinho would be well advised to strengthen.

And in that context, Felipe Anderson looks like it would be a very shrewd signing for United. He seems to fit the defensively aggressive side that United have displayed this season, and will use as a platform to build upon next time, but will also bring something different to the table in attack.

Mourinho’s first season in charge at Old Trafford is barely a success, but it would take something very special in the cup competitions to claim sixth place in the Premier League as a success next season. And for that, United will need to be more inventive.

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As reported by Fotomac, Newcastle United are interested in a move for Fenerbahce defender Martin Skrtel this summer.

With Rafa Benitez looking for defensive reinforcements in his bid to guide the Magpies to a comfortable finishing position in the English Premier League next season, it seems he’s set his sights on a player he knows well from his time at Liverpool.

The Spaniard signed Skrtel for the Reds in 2008 where the defender enjoyed a fantastic few years, even winning the club’s Player Of The Year award in 2012.

Now 32 years of age the Slovakian international is coming off a fine campaign in a Fenerbahce shirt, helping them qualify for Europe with consistent defensive performances.

However, Newcastle fans are divided on whether he will add anything to their first-team set-up. Some see him as an excellent addition who can add a lot of experience to the side while others reckon he’s a cheap option well past his prime.

Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…

Chelsea have contacted Bayern Munich regarding a possible swoop for defender Jerome Boateng, according to Sky Italia.

What’s the story?

Blues boss Antonio Conte is said to be in the market for a new centre-back due to the departure of John Terry.

Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus have been targeted by the Premier League champions, but The Express claims that little progress is being made.

Now Boateng has entered the fray, with Sky Italia claiming that an enquiry has already been made by the West London outfit.

The Germany international is familiar with English football having spent a year at Manchester City before joining Bayern in 2011.

During his time in Munich, Boateng has won 13 trophies, including five Bundesliga titles and the Champions League.

Is he a good option for Chelsea?

The 28-year-old’s experience, particularly in European competitions, could make him a huge asset for the Blues.

Not only does he play on the elite stage week in and week out, he has a winning mentality due to the amount of success that he has had with Bayern.

The German outfit dominate the Bundesliga season by season, and you need the right mental strength to cope with that level of expectation.

An issue that needs to be addressed is the defender’s recent injury problems.

Boateng stated just 10 league fixtures and featured in just 21 games in all competitions last season.

During the campaign, the German experienced a whole host of issues with his fitness, including injuries to his knee, shoulder and thigh.

Chelsea need to sign a defender that they know can will be fit enough to cope with the demands of the season.