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Hakim Ziyech is a man in high demand with Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City holding interest in the current Dutch Footballer of the Year while, according to the Guardian, Tottenham Hotspur hold a long-standing interest.

The Moroccan playmaker’s exploits with Ajax in the Champions League – that’s seen him score twice and provide two assists as de Godenzonen continue to enthral with a semi-final looming – has only seen his estimation grow further, both in reputation and value.

So, with a summer move looking plausible, we take a look at what those in the know have to say on the 26-year-old attacking midfielder.

Two at least are entirely complimentary.

Steven Pienaar – former Ajax star

If Ziyech impressed last term then this time out he has progressed to another level with an outstanding 17 goals and 14 assists for the Dutch giants as they seek a historic treble.

Suitably blown away the club’s former schemer, Steven Pienaar, insisted this week via Goal.com that the 23-cap international is a ‘complete’ footballer while intimating too that the praise he receives pales to that lavished on Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong due to each star’s nationalities.

“Ziyech is one of the players that has been playing really well all season, he’s the type of player that when you watch him in action, he makes you happy,”

“He’s a complete footballer, but underrated, you know if you’re not European, you are always underrated.”

Erik ten Hag – Ajax coach

It would be unrealistic to expect a manager of Ajax to speak too effusively on his players given how much the club values the need for their young talent to remain grounded. This is especially pertinent to Ziyech who hardly lacks self-belief.

Even so, the pragmatic coach – who has also seen his stock significantly rise of late – temporarily dropped his guard back in September and was content to eulogise on his ornate creator, via BBC:

“Ziyech is a piece of jewellery for Dutch football. I think he plays football in a nice team, with lots of good footballers around him and it runs smoothly, which gives him pleasure and motivation to achieve even more.”

Algemeen Dagblad – Dutch newspaper

So impactful has Ziyech been in the Netherlands since his progression through the Heerenveen ranks that it surprises many that he remains in the Eredivisie when so many of his contemporaries are being lured away elsewhere.

This can partly be explained by the player’s temperament off the pitch and inconsistency on it because make no mistake about it Ziyech is a special prospect; he is also mercurial though.

Last May the respected Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad – via Reuters – perfectly summed up his hot and cold application.

“Ziyech is a player whom everyone is always talking about. It is because in a single game he can manage to be both absolutely brilliant and astonishingly sloppy.”

Verdict

When he’s on his game there are few better at influencing proceedings and carving out opportunities anywhere across the attacking third, but particularly down the right. His vision and anticipatory reading of openings is excellent and, crucially, he has the touch and technique to do that justice.

With Christian Eriksen struggling for form it is surely necessary for Spurs to ease their Dane’s creative burden this transfer window. They need look no further than Amsterdam and the city’s king of the assists.

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West Ham United are exploring the possibility of signing Aleksandar Mitrovic from Fulham this summer, sources have told Football FanCast.

Manuel Pellegrini is keen to revamp his striking options this summer as the Hammers prepare for something of a squad overhaul.

And the Serbia international has emerged as a major target, with the summer transfer window due to open later this week.

Fulham endured a difficult season in the Premier League and were relegated to the Championship in April.

The 24-year-old, though, scored 11 goals in the top-flight and has experience in the league, having previously played for Newcastle United.

The Hammers, who last summer signed Lukasz Fabianski from Swansea City after their relegation, are now attempting to find out if Mitrovic’s contract, which runs until 2023, contains a release clause.

Of course, if it does, the Hammers would be able to trigger it and enter into negotiations with the striker, who appeared for Serbia at last summer’s World Cup.

West Ham also remain interested in Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez, who first emerged as a target when Marko Arnautovic appeared set to leave for China in January.

He has scored 13 goals this term and his contract does contain a release clause, of £45million, though that drops to £22.5m if Celta are relegated.With one game of the Liga season to go, they are three points clear of the drop zone with a far superior goal difference to 18th-placed Girona.

It remains to be seen if the club would countenance the prospect of making Gomez their record signing this summer if, as appears likely, the Spanish side retain their top-flight status.

Elsewhere, sources have confirmed that Lucas Perez and Andy Carroll remain likely to leave the club this summer, while Javier Hernandez will also be allowed to depart if an acceptable bid is tabled.

The Mexico international scored seven goals in the Premier League in 2018-19 but completed the full 90 minutes just once. He was on the bench for the final three games of the campaign, against Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Watford; West Ham won every game.

He is valued at £10m and it is unclear if any interested parties have registered an interest in signing him.

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Manchester City’s bank account might just be more discussed than their remarkable feats in the Premier League. While they certainly have been spending more than most as of late, The Daily Mail’s Martin Samuel suggests others are also at fault for this and the glaring difference might actually lie in a completely different matter altogether.

The word on the street

Manchester City have been under attack from rival fans quick to point out cash is certainly a big part of their success. And you can’t help but notice they truly have opened the warchest in the last decade or so.

Splashing the cash has been a powerful tool for many big clubs in the modern market as prices skyrocket with each passing year.

As a result, Manchester City were not shy to offer the big bucks for their superstars. However, Samuel points out that they are not the only ones but rather one of the few who actually invested their money sensibly:

“City haven’t got a defender as expensive as Virgil van Dijk, a midfielder as costly as Paul Pogba, even a striker in the range of what Arsenal paid for Alexandre Lacazette. So do not be fooled. Other clubs spend, too — but perhaps not as wisely.”

Dominating on and off the pitch

Ever since Pep Guardiola arrived in the Premier League, he has been wreaking havoc and setting the bar even higher each and every passing year. This season was no exception as City have taken the domestic treble in the most dominant fashion imaginable.

But apart from completely dominating the opposition on the pitch and with the ball at his team’s feet, the Catalan manager seems to be outfoxing his rivals off it as well.

Not many would say his spending is actually proof of a cunning strategy but Samuel’s words are as harsh as they are true – other clubs have spent big money as well but no one as wisely or as correctly as City have. And the difference is right there for everyone to see – in the results, the mentality and the accolades around their necks and the trophies in their hands.

The art of spending is maybe not something many would be proud of in this day and age, but saying Guardiola has mastered that as well would not be a far fetched declaration.

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Aston Villa and Leeds United played out a hugely controversial 1-1 draw at Elland Road on Sunday, and it might not be the last time the two teams meet this season.

Three yellow cards for the Yorkshire outfit and none for the visitors in the opening 70 minutes was pretty usual, but things turned ugly in the 72nd minute.

The Whites ignored the fact that Jonathan Kodjia was down on the floor injured before Mateusz Klich scored from the edge of the penalty area, sparking altercations between the two sets of players on the pitch and the coaching staff on the sidelines.

After a long stoppage and a red card for Anwar El Ghazi, Marcelo Bielsa instructed his side to let Dean Smith’s men score straight from the kick-off – Pontus Jansson certainly wasn’t happy about that decision however.

The Swede and Tyrone Mings had a coming together themselves during an amazing game at Elland Road, and the on-loan Bournemouth man was then pictured on the pitch celebrating with his manager once Stuart Attwell had blown the full-time whistle.

Villa now look likely to finish in fifth position in the Championship table which means they will face whoever finishes fourth in the play-off semi-finals.

That could still be Leeds given they are three points ahead of West Bromwich Albion but with an inferior goal difference to the Baggies, meaning the two clubs could still meet again at that stage, or even in the final at Wembley.

The relationship between Bielsa and Smith and some of the players may well still be strained, so it could be another tasty fixture should it happen.

أعرب لوكا مودريتش لاعب وسط ريال مدريد الإسباني، عن سعادته بملاقاة زميله السابق في النادي الملكي كريستيانو رونالدو، قبل مواجهة اليوم بين كرواتيا والبرتغال.

اللاعب الكرواتي يواجه زميله البرتغالي حامل اللقب في الجولة الأخيرة من بطولة المجموعة الثالثة ببطولة دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

طالع أيضًا.. موعد والقناة الناقلة ومعلق مباراة البرتغال وكرواتيا اليوم في دوري الأمم الأوروبية

وقال مودريتش في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “أنا جاهز، أشعر أنني بحالة جيدة بدنيًا، أشعر بتحسن عندما ألعب عدد من المباريات المتتالية، أكثر من أن أستريح لمباريات طويلة”.

وأضاف: “أنا متحمس، أعلم أنني لست في بداية مسيرتي، وأن هذا لن يدوم إلى الأبد، لكنني أرغب في الاستمتاع بكل لحظة، وأعطي أكثر ما لدي”.

وأكمل: “اللعب لـ كرواتيا دافع كافٍ لنا، خاصة ضد فرق مثل البرتغال، لا يمننا توقع أي نتيجة، كما أننا لم نظهر جيدًا في البطولة، ولا يوجد سبب أو عذر”.

وشدد: “البرتغال فريق رائع مع بعض اللاعبين الشباب والكبار، وأعتقد أننا نواجه أحد أقوى الفرق في العالم، مستوى جودتهم مشابه لـ أبطال العالم فرنسا”.

وعن ملاقاة رونالدو: “رأيته وكنت سعيدًا للغاية بعد هذا الوقت الطويل، تحدثنا قليلًا عن المباراة، وعن الذكريات الجميلة التي تشاركنا فيها سويًا”.

واختتم: “من الجيد دائمًا رؤية رونالدو، نتذكر لحظات ريال مدريد، لقد استمتعت بالحديث معه، لأنه صديق جيد”.

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West Ham are set to trigger Salomon Rondon’s £16.5million release clause as they attempt to sign the West Bromwich Albion striker, per the Northern Echo.

What’s the word?

The 29-year-old scored 11 Premier League goals during a loan spell with Newcastle United in 2018-19 and is now a man in demand.

The aforementioned report claims that the Magpies would like to sign him permanently, but that the Hammers are hoping to steal a march on their domestic rivals.

Indeed, the Northern Echo state that there remains uncertainty over the future of manager Rafael Benitez and that there will be no transfer activity until that is resolved.

Rondon’s clause is active after West Brom failed to win promotion to the Premier League.

And Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini is keen to sign an experienced striker this summer as he looks to build on his club’s 1oth-placed finish in 2018-19.

The first of many

West Ham need more than just one striker this summer.

Football FanCast understands that Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic is also a target, with the Hammers trying to ascertain whether or not his contract contains a release clause that has been activated by the Cottagers’ relegation to the Championship.

And FFC has also reported that Javier Hernandez, Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez are all likely to depart the club this summer.

Only bringing in Rondon, then, would leave the Hammers with just the Venezuela international and Marko Arnautovic, whose future is far from certain, given the £45m release clause in his contract.

This deal, if completed, then, cannot be the last for Pellegrini’s men, as they look to push on and attempt to qualify for Europe next season.

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Jamie Shackleton has largely been overshadowed by Jack Clarke this season but has he been unfairly omitted from the starting XI by Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa?

On the chalkboard

Shackleton, a central midfielder by trade, stepped into the starting XI at late notice against Swansea City during the early stages of the season.

But despite his incredible lack of experience and the fact he was playing out of position at right-back, he excelled in the role and provided an assist for Kemar Roofe following a marauding run forward.

That performance alerted supporters to the extent of his talent and he has performed with immense composure and confidence every time he has been called upon thereafter.

The problem is that, despite regular calls for him to start from the Leeds supporters, his appearances have been limited to cameos from the substitutes bench.

An injury to Adam Forshaw against Derby County, though, saw him enter the fray in the 23rd minute, and he provided another strong reminder of his abilities with an excellent performance in central midfield.

The 19-year-old was not heavily involved but he managed to play one key pass and crunch into two tackles during his time on the pitch, while his pass accuracy was superior to that of Pablo Hernandez, per Whoscored.

One of Bielsa’s biggest blunders

Amidst the hype surrounding his performance there was a rueful undertone. This was Leeds’ biggest game of the season so far and yet Shackleton handled the occasion with the maturity of a seasoned pro, so why on earth has he not been selected on a more regular basis this season?

The Whites are not blessed with strength in depth and there have been a multitude of occasions when Bielsa could have turned to the teenager for a fresh dynamic and some much needed exuberance.

That the 19-year-old stepped up to the big occasion was as frustrating as it was encouraging, and Bielsa may be pondering over his selection policy throughout the season so far in light of his performance.

The Argentine hasn’t got a lot wrong this season but everything about Shackleton’s form up to and including yesterday’s showing hint that the revered manager missed a trick during the push for automatic promotion.

Plenty of Leeds fans are well within their rights to say I told you so.

It has been a great year to be a Barnsley supporter, hasn’t it?

Following the disappointment of relegation last season, the Tykes have bounced back admirably under the guidance of Daniel Stendel who has completely transformed the club’s fortunes since being appointed manager in 2018.

The German’s faith in possession-based football has paid off massively as his side finally fought off the intense competition demonstrated by Portsmouth and Sunderland to secure automatic promotion in midweek.

Although Stendel will be focusing entirely on trying to secure a first third tier title for Barnsley in 64 years on Saturday, it would not be at all surprising if he is already making plans for the summer transfer window.

Despite the vast majority of his squad being more than good enough to make the step up to the Championship next season, it may be time for the Tykes to cut ties with Lloyd Isgrove.

Having initially impressed on loan for the Yorkshire-based outfit, the winger has failed to make any sort of impact since making a permanent move to Oakwell in 2017.

With the likes of Mamodou Thiam and Jacob Brown offering intense competition in Isgrove’s position this season, he only managed to make two appearances for Barnsley before joining Portsmouth on loan in January.

Whereas his time with the Tykes could be described as frustrating, his spell on the south-coast has been utterly disastrous. Despite Kenny Jackett’s side playing an expansive style of football, Isgrove has not made any impression at all for Pompey as he has been consigned to the substitutes bench at Fratton Park.

With it being overwhelmingly clear that the £225k-rated ace (via Transfermarkt) is nowhere near good enough to play in the second tier next season, Stendel should put the 26-year-old up for sale when the transfer window opens in July.

What do you think Barnsley fans? Should Stendel cut ties with Isgrove in the summer? Or is it worth giving the midfielder another chance to impress? Let us know below.

[ad_pod ]Oliver Burke is an enigma. There aren’t too many other ways to describe the young Scot.After arriving at West Brom for a massive £15m from RB Leipzig, he’s never been able to hit the ground running. But with the 22-year-old now returning to his parent club after a loan spell at Celtic, Albion fans have been quick to discuss whether they want him in the team next term.With as many as five players potentially departing the Hawthorns, he could be someone who benefits from a mass exodus for the Baggies.Sharing their views on Twitter, one fan suggested that he should be integral to next season’s plans whilst another said the club should try and mould him into a striker.A further supporter hoped that West Brom wouldn’t give up on the 6 ft 2 winger. There was also a comment made in reference to the managerial situation that has engulfed the club, claiming that if Burke was to develop then a progressive coach needed to arrive.West Brom fans will want to cover their ears for the video below…The former Nottingham Forest man scored four goals in 11 SPFL appearances whilst at Celtic but has rarely been afforded much game time with Albion.However, that could be about to change next season.Here’s the best of the debate.

أكد سيسك فابريجاس لاعب موناكو الفرنسي الحالي وبرشلونة السابق أن هناك أشخاص في الفريق الكتالوني حاولوا إيذاء ليونيل ميسي قائد البارسا.

وتحدث فابريجاس لراديو كتالونيا، قائلا: “من وجهة نظر شخصية، تريد أن يقوم أصدقاؤك بعمل جيد، لا أعرف ما الذي يمكنك أن تطلبه من ميسي بعد سنوات عديدة من العطاء”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فابريجاس: مع جوارديولا وقعت أشياء لا يجب الحديث عنها.. ومورينيو ساعدني

وأضاف: “عندما فاز بالثلاثية مرتين لم يتحدث أحد، ربما تكون قد أعطيت الكثير لكن يبدو أنهم يتذكرون الأشياء الحديثة فقط”.

وأتم فابريجاس: “رأيت أشخاصًا من النادي حاولوا إيذائه، لكنني أشعر بالامتنان لأنه ما زال في برشلونة، هل يشعر ميسي بالوحدة؟ لا أعتقد ذلك، لقد عاصر العديد من اللاعبين ولم يعد أحد منهم موجودًا، وكان سواريز داعمًا له”.