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Southampton could be heading for a huge disaster as Ralph Hasenhuttl has seemingly made a decision about Mo Elyounoussi’s future at the club.

What’s the talk?

According to Norweigan outlet VG, Southampton manager Hasenhuttl has decided that he wants to give Mo Elyounoussi a chance next season at St. Mary’s. The report claims that Southampton are lacking options in the wide attacking midfield roles and that Hasenhuttl believes Elyounoussi could return from his loan at Celtic and fight for his place in the team.

VG also claims that several German teams are eyeing up a move for the Norway international. Wolfsburg, Frankfurt and Hertha Berlin are all interested in Elyounoussi and would make a swoop for him this summer if Southampton decides to make him available, although the report rules out any type of loan exit for the forward.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton labelled Elyounoussi as a “disappointment” earlier this season and said that that he flattered to deceive in the Scottish Premiership.. He told the Record Celtic podcast, as transcribed by 67HailHail:

“With Elyounoussi, I think he’s flattered to deceive at times. His goal tally for club and country surprises me a little bit, but he hasn’t been consistent enough and I think he’s been a disappointment if I’m honest.

“Celtic getting him back was a big deal. I was really excited about that link-up between Elyounoussi and Edouard at the start of the season because in the previous season there were signs in patches that their understanding was really exceptional.”

Heading for disaster

Southampton and Hasenhuttl are heading for a disaster with this decision. Instead of dipping into the market to bring in a top-class addition to the squad to improve the team going into next season, they appear to be exploring the possibility of gambling on Elyounoussi being a different player to the one he was for the club in the Premier League previously.

This could be a cost-cutting method for Southampton rather than one with the best intentions of improving the squad in mind, as it would allow them to avoid spending on a new signing.

Elyounoussi struggled in his first season at Southampton in the Premier League. The winger failed to provide a single goal or assist in 16 appearances, eight starts, as he averaged a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.51. He averaged 0.9 key passes and 0.7 dribbles completed per game, highlighting his lack of quality at Premier League level which led to his loan move to Celtic the following season.

The £60k-per-week flop must have seriously impressed at Celtic for Hasenhuttl to change his mind then? Well, no, not really.

In the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership season, the forward racked up eight goals and two assists in 29 appearances for the Hoops, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.72. This does not suggest that he is now somehow ready to make the step up to Premier League football as he failed to set the Scottish Premiership alight.

Southampton could be making a grave error by rejecting the German interest in his services to give him another chance in Premier League.

AND in other news, Major update emerges over “fantastic” £35k-p/w ace, Saints fans will be fuming…

Sheffield Wednesday have been dealt a huge blow to their chances of landing Reece James this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to journalist Dom Howson, who claimed in a recent Q&A on Yorkshire Live that, while there is genuine interest in the Doncaster Rovers left-back from Darren Moore’s side, a deal for the 27-year-old could be a difficult one for the Owls to get over the line, as James would prefer a move to a Championship club.

Howson said: “There is a genuine interest in Doncaster Rovers defender Reece James but it looks a bit of a long shot. His preference would be to move to a club in the Championship.”

Moore will be devastated

Considering just how impressive James has been for Doncaster this season, the likelihood that a move to Wednesday may be scuppered as a result of the club’s relegation to League One is sure to leave Darren Moore devastated.

Over the £3,700-per-week defender’s 43 league appearances this term, the 27-year-old scored seven goals, registered two assists and created two big chances, as well as making an average of one interception, 1.7 tackles and 0.9 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the Rovers man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.95, ranking him as the club’s fourth-best performer in the third tier.

With Moore likely to rely quite heavily on the free transfer market this summer as a result of Sheffield Wednesday’s dire financial situation, a move for James would appear to have suited the 47-year-old Owls manager down to the ground. That deal would have cost the club nothing but the players’ salary, while the Wednesday gaffer would have been gaining a talented left-back who he knows very well from his own stint at the Keepmoat Stadium.

However, this latter point could be something which gives Wednesday a sliver of hope in their pursuit of the “adaptable” defender. Moore’s prior relationship with the player, in addition to the Owls being fancied to make an immediate return to the Championship next season, could yet be enough to convince James of a move to Hillsborough this summer.

In other news: SWFC handed huge blow over “immense” £270k-rated beast, Moore will be gutted – opinion

Leeds United have been linked with a move for Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn, potentially pipping Norwich City in the process.

The Lowdown: Incomings expected

Marcelo Bielsa could have a busy summer on his hands, as he looks to bring in players who can take the Whites up another level.

Reinforcements are expected across several areas of the pitch and a new ‘keeper should arrive, with Kiko Casilla expected to leave imminently.

The Latest: Gunn linked with move

According to Football Insider, Leeds are eyeing up Saints man Gunn as a new signing, claiming they are planning on ‘hijacking’ Norwich’s move for him.

It is stated that he is seen as ‘ideal cover’ for Illan Meslier, with the 25-year-old making 15 Championship appearances on loan at Stoke City last season.

The Verdict: Strong backup for Meslier

There is no doubt that Meslier is the undisputed first-choice ‘keeper for Leeds, so finding a deputy who is content with being on the substitutes’ bench is no easy task.

Gunn’s career has often seen him play second fiddle to others, though – he hasn’t made 15 appearances in a season since 2017/18 – so he looks an ideal man to come in.

Whether or not Leeds can wrestle him away from Norwich remains to be seen, however, especially as his father, Bryan, once played for the Canaries, but it would be a very good deal for the Whites if they can secure a deal for a much better back-up than the irratic and controversial Casilla.

In other news, one Leeds player is set to sign a new deal – find out who it is here. 

An unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 67 between Craig Light and Mark Lavine lifted North West out of a spot of trouble on the rain-curtailed first day of this match, after the home side, put into bat, had collapsed from 40 without loss to 76 for four

MWP08-Dec-2000An unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 67 between Craig Light and Mark Lavine lifted North West out of a spot of trouble on the rain-curtailed first day of this match, after the home side, put into bat, had collapsed from 40 without loss to 76 for four.Lavine, with a typically belligerent 48 off 52 balls, including five fours and two sixes, and Light, with a far more sedate 19, took the home side to 143 for four after heavy rain had ensured that play would only start at 3pm and just 48 overs of a scheduled 104 would be possible.Riaan Niewoudt, who made 35 on his first class debut, and Gary Outram put together a solid first-wicket stand of 40, but that was where the wickets began to tumble, with the much-vaunted Northerns pace trio of Steve Elworthy, Greg Smith and David Townsend all chipping in. Smith was the most successful, ending the day with two for 19 from 12 overs.North West currently lie fourth in their section of the competition and will qualify for the Super Eight phase if they prevent Griquas, struggling against Boland on day one, from overtaking them. Lavine’s efforts mean they are within seven runs of a first batting bonus point, with 52 overs left to pile up points. Should he stay in for any length of time on Saturday, a good number should come their way.

حقق فريق صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي فوزًا كبيرًا على حساب منافسه الهلال السوداني بنتيجة 4-2 في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وحل صن داونز ضيفاً على حساب الهلال في اللقاء الذي جمع بينهما في إطار مواجهات الجولة الخامسة من مرحلة المجموعات بالبطولة القارية.

ويتواجد صن داونز والهلال في المجموعة الأولى بدوري أبطال إفريقيا بجانب الأهلي والمريخ.

طالع | ترتيب مجموعة الأهلي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا بعد فوز صن داونز على الهلال

وسجل بيتر شالوليلي الهدف الأول لصن داونز في الدقيقة 2، بينما أضاف موكوينا الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 30، بينما أحرز مورينا الهدف الثالث بالدقيقة 60 من عمر اللقاء، واختتم مورينا رباعية الفريق الجنوب إفريقي في الدقيقة 90.

وجاء هدفي الهلال في الدقيقة 56 من عمر المباراة عن طريق ياسر موزامل، والثاني عن طريق أسامة مختار الطيب في الدقيقة 93. أهداف مباراة صن داونز والهلال في دوري أبطال إفريقيا 

وبهذه النتيجة واصل صن داونز تصدر المجموعة الأولى برصيد 13 نقاط، بينما تجمد رصيد الهلال السوداني عند النقطة 4 في المركز الثالث.

تقدم الدولي المصري أحمد حسن كوكا لفريقه كونيا سبور على جالطة سراي في المباراة التي تجمع بين الفريقين ضمن الجولة 27 من الدوري التركي.

وانطلقت المباراة في تمام الساعة السادسة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” على ملعب “توكو أرينا” في مدينة “كونيا.

كوكا سجل هدف المباراة الأول في الدقيقة 8 برأسية رائعة في مرمى فريق العاصمة، بعد عرضية رائعة على القائم البعيد من بيتيكي.

المباراة مستمرة حتى الآن ويتقدم كونيا سبور بثنائية نظيفة، على فريق جالطة سراي تحت أنظار المصري الآخر مصطفى محمد من مقاعد البدلاء. هدف كوكا اليوم في مرمى جالطة سراي

Carlton Palmer has exclusively told Football FanCast that it would be unfair to pin West Brom’s relegation on Callum Robinson.

Robinson joined permanently last summer following a successful loan spell in the Baggies’ promotion winning campaign 12 months ago.

The striker scored three times in 16 Championship appearances to help West Brom make an instant return, but has struggled to cope with the step up in quality this time around.

Robinson has netted in just three games this season, although that does include two braces against Chelsea.

Only Matheus Pereira (11) has scored more than the Republic of Ireland international, but his five goals in 27 Premier League outings weren’t enough to save Sam Allardyce from suffering a first ever relegation as a manager, which was confirmed following their defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.

But whilst Robinson was signed for a seven-figure fee believed to be around £4.95m, Palmer doesn’t think he should take more of the blame than his teammates.

Asked whether he had potentially let West Brom down, he told Football FanCast:

“When you get relegated, there’s a reason why you get relegated.

“There’s a reason why it’s called a team – it’s not one person’s fault. To blame it on one player is unfair.

“Some players when the team is not going well, struggle to find their best. I think that’s a bit unfair criticism.”

Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that Everton should sign Ismaila Sarr, who they were tentatively linked with last summer, with the ex-Toffees striker believing he is approaching the peak of his career.

Sarr joined Watford the summer before last, and became their club-record signing from Rennes, although he almost left the club following their relegation to the Championship last season.

The Senegalese winger was involved in a transfer saga with Manchester United, who were heavily linked, but he ended up staying at Vicarage Road and has lit up the second-tier with a number of sparkling performances.

Sarr has scored 13 goals and provided 10 assists to help Watford bounce back at the first time of asking, with his brilliant form likely to once again attract interest from the Premier League.

And with Everton in need of another winger themselves, with neither Alex Iwobi nor Bernard cutting it, Bent would be happy should his former side move for Sarr.

He told Football FanCast:

“He’s stayed at Watford and he’s scored a load of goals and got them promoted. He’s on the rise, but he’s coming to an age where he’s showing maturity about his game.

“Being promoted, he’s still buzzing, playing in the Premier League, and he’s done really well. I think that would be a good move for him and Everton.”

Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt has been tipped to move to Manchester City in the future by former Ajax man Bryan Roy recently, and if he were to make the move to the Etihad Stadium, it could be bad news for Aymeric Laporte in Pep Guardiola’s side.

A report from Sport Witness has included some quotes from Roy from his recent interview with Tutto Juve, where he discussed the future of De Ligt.

He said of the 21-year-old: “He will make his last year, he will close the three years with the Juventus shirt and then he will go away. This is my thought. Where? I don’t know, I believe in one between Barcelona and Manchester City.”

Both City and Barcelona were linked with a move for the young defender after his superb campaign with Ajax in 2018/19, when he captained the Eredivisie side to a Champions League semi-final, but he ended up joining Juventus in a deal reportedly worth £67.5m.

Since then, the Dutch international has gone on to make 63 appearances for the Old Lady, in which he has contributed four goals and one assist.

Injury problems, as well as the current viral outbreak, have meant that De Ligt hasn’t really been a regular in Andrea Pirlo’s side so far this season, but there is no doubting his quality and potential to become one of the best defenders in the world.

During his time with Ajax, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was full of praise for the youngster’s performances both on and off the pitch, saying: “I saw him giving a speech at the end of the season on a stage, speaking like he was 29, not 19. To be captain of Ajax and with them getting to where they got to this season, he’s clearly a leader and top-class.”

Although City arguably have three top-class centre-backs already in John Stones, Ruben Dias and Laporte, if they were to sign the £67.5m-rated De Ligt, he would surely demand a regular spot in Guardiola’s defence.

Therefore, when you consider that Laporte has often been third-choice this season as a result of Stones and Dias’ excellent partnership, you worry that the Frenchman would be the one to depart if De Ligt made the move to the Etihad.

However, given De Ligt’s impressive performances with both Juventus and Ajax in recent seasons, City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain should definitely consider signing him if the opportunity arises.

In other news… City could be set to lose Aguero heir who “creates fear”, Guardiola won’t be happy.

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Everton will be without Yerry Mina “for a few weeks” after he sustained an adductor injury at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Colombian was forced off the field an hour into the Toffees’ goalless draw at the Amex Stadium on Monday night, to add to Ancelotti’s mounting injury woes.

Everton were already without a number of first-team regulars including top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, forcing Ancelotti to name Isaac Price and Reece Welch in a first-team squad for the first time.

Calvert-Lewin was unavailable due to an abductor problem he had developed in training, but Ancelotti is confident he plus midfielders Allan and Andre Gomes will be fit to feature when Everton host Tottenham Hotspur on Friday.

Mina is facing a number of weeks on the sidelines, though, just after returning to a Premier League squad from a calf issue for the previous 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

“Yerry Mina had a muscle problem on his adductor, and I don’t think he will be available for a few weeks,” Ancelotti said. “The others, I hope to recover. For sure, [Jordan] Pickford will be available, I hope Allan and Gomes will be available, Calvert-Lewin and Joshua King.”

Mina missed four games as a result of his calf issue before returning to action in last month’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City.

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Monday’s draw with Brighton marked the defender’s 25th appearance of the season across all competitions, but Mina now faces an anxious wait to see when he will feature again amid doubt in his long-term future at Goodison Park.

Mina would have surely been keen to use the final games of the campaign to elevate his standing in Ancelotti’s pecking order, with the Italian tactician said to have concerns over the Valencia target being too erratic and error-prone.

Mina joining a growing list of injury-stricken players will be particularly worrisome for Ancelotti in the now, after Monday’s draw with Brighton dealt a huge blow to Everton’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

The Toffees’ performance was a far cry from their best as they lacked a clutch of key men, leaving Ancelotti no doubt desperate for a swift change with players returning to fitness ahead of hosting Tottenham in what is now a must-win match.

Everton trail fourth-placed West Ham United by seven points and only have the one game in hand over David Moyes’ side, which – with a win – can only see the Merseyside outfit move above Spurs and into seventh.

Ancelotti is relying firmly on results elsewhere going in Everton’s favour after a run of two defeats and two draws, seeing the early promise of the season fade to unfulfilled potential.

AND in other news, Everton have been tipped to sign a £25m star once dubbed “a freak of a talent”…