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Reports by Le 10 Sport earlier this week claimed Stade de Reims are almost guaranteed to sell Boulaye Dia in the summer, but the striker’s efforts in Ligue 1 are starting to prove that West Ham were right to snub a January transfer.

Reims are unlikely to retain Dia beyond the current campaign as they are loath to lose the 24-year-old for free next year, when his £3k-per-week contract is due to expire.

With Dia also attracting interest from clubs around Europe, the Stade Auguste-Delaune natives feel they could recover at least €15m (£13m) for the Senegal international, despite the Irons refusing to match that valuation during the recently closed winter market.

Weekly magazine France Football claimed in January that David Moyes’ Irons felt the fee needed to acquire Dia in the middle of the campaign was too high for a player of his status, with the three-cap forward only in his third season of top-flight football.

Dia is also enjoying his best campaign in front of the net with 12 goals in 23 Ligue 1 appearances, though is yet to add to his tally since striking a brace at home to AS Saint-Etienne in early January.

Nonetheless, it was already proposed by France Football that the Plastics Vallee product was also on the radars of SSC Napoli, AC Milan and Torino, while Le 10 Sport now add Ligue 1 giants Olympique de Marseille and Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt to his list of suitors.

The German outfit seem particularly keen to elbow their way to the front of the queue, as well, with Adi Hutter’s Deutsche Bank Park natives planning to submit an offer at the end of the term.

Milan and Napoli have previously spoken with the attacker’s representatives over a move to Italy, while Telefoot Chaine, via GFFN, suggested the Irons were willing to pay €10m (£8.5m) in January.

But no matter the interest emerging around Europe, Dia’s efforts in Ligue 1 right now are proving Moyes and West Ham were right to ere on the side of caution and not swoop for the French-born striker.

Dia is six Ligue 1 appearances without a goal since scoring against Saint-Etienne, and it has not been through a lack of attempts with the 24-year-old taking 10 shots over those outings, per WhoScored.

He was also dispossessed five times – more than in any other league game this term – and took six unsuccessful touches – the second-highest amount in single-game – against RC Lens last time out, only against FC Nantes in December has he taken more (8).

Additionally, Dia registered a lowly 5.93 match rating against Angers SCO at the start of the month, to contribute to an average 6.2 over his last three appearances, far below his seasonal score of 6.92 or the personal best 9.62 achieved against Montpellier HSC in October.

The 5 ft 10 striker may have hit a brace in defeat to second-tier Valenciennes FC in the Coupe de France to take his tally to 14 in all competitions this season, and he would have offered another body in West Ham’s attack after Sebastien Haller joined AFC Ajax.

But Dia’s Ligue 1 efforts are only proving Moyes made the right call in refusing to match Reim’s asking price, and it will surely take a sizable turnaround for the Irons to swoop this summer.

It appears that the east Londoners dodged a sizeable bullet this January, even in their need for a proper striker replacement.

AND in other news, West Ham weigh up free-agent deal for 28-y/o who flopped after a £16m Premier League move…

Steve Bruce should brutally axe Jamaal Lascelles from his starting line-up and replace the Newcastle United captain with Federico Fernandez in Saturday’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves travel to St. James’ Park this weekend looking to continue their resurgence, with three wins in their last four games after going winless in the Premier League for almost two months.

United have endured back-to-back defeats in recent weeks after trips to Chelsea and Manchester United, to extend their torrid run of results to two wins in 14 top-flight fixtures.

Lascelles started both the Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford affairs after recovering from a hamstring injury, sustained just weeks after returning from a spell out with coronavirus.

But the 27-year-old could only let Bruce down in south west London with an uninspiring display as Thomas Tuchel’s side fired home twice to seal all three points, and again failed to walk the walk against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils after talking the talk pre-game.

“I just think we did not start well enough,” Lascelles said, via quotes by Chronicle Live, following the Chelsea defeat. “From our goal-kick, we kicked it out for a throw-in and that set the tone.

“We need to realise we shouldn’t need to go one or two down to get going. We were off them a bit and made it easy. Against a team like Chelsea, you have to be nasty and if you don’t do that, their quality will come through.

“The performances have been better but tonight was not good enough, especially the first half, we did not give up in the second half and them positive signs are always good to have.”

Lascelles’ comments did not inspire much at Manchester United and Newcastle lost again for an eighth defeat in his last nine appearances across all competitions.

The £13m-rated titan earned his worst WhoScored match rating of the Premier League campaign at Old Trafford, too, with an appalling 5.73 – the third time this term that he has scored below a base 6.0 out of 10, and far below his average 6.48 for the season.

Over his last nine outings, the Magpies have also conceded two or more goals on every occasion but January’s 2-0 win at Everton, when Lascelles was forced off early in the second half with his hamstring injury.

Bruce must surely now face a dilemma over retaining Lascelles in his starting line-up for Saturday’s clash with Wolves, which could prove a must-win fixture – not only for his position at the helm but the Toon’s survival hopes.

United are set to welcome Fernandez back from injury for the Molineux natives’ trip to the north east, as well, after being without the Argentine for their last eight top-flight games.

Bruce has previously lauded Fernandez for the “positive influence” the defender can bring on and off the pitch at St. James’ Park, and should look to capitalise on that if Newcastle are to avoid potentially ending the weekend inside the Premier League’s bottom three.

Fernandez also offers almost twice as many successful (1.5) and attempted (1.8) tackles per game than £40,000-per-week Lascelles (0.8/0.9), who ranks last among all five players that Bruce has fielded at centre-half in the top-flight this term, per WhoScored.

Lascelles is also last for interceptions (0.6), though level with 32-year-old Fernandez who is first for clearances (5.6) while his English teammate ranks fourth (4.2).

It may be brutal to axe the captain, but Bruce must make the tough decisions if he’s to keep Newcastle out of the relegation zone.

AND in other news, Newcastle are exploring a deal to sign a £31.5m-rated star for free this summer…

According to The Liverpool Echo, Everton are reportedly looking to offload long-term Glasgow Rangers target Muhamed Besic in January.

What’s the word?

Besic joined Sheffield United on loan from Everton in the summer of 2019, with Chris Wilder’s side having an option to buy.

But the Blades decided against signing him on a permanent basis and he returned to his parent club after his loan spell expired last year.

The Bosnia international was heavily linked with a loan move to Ibrox during the extended summer transfer window.

While a move never materialised, it looks like Rangers could potentially have another opportunity to make a move for the out-of-favour midfielder, who has been deemed surplus to requirements by Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park.

Imagine Besic and Glen Kamara

Steven Gerrard’s Gers are well-stocked in the midfield after Ross Wilson brought in Bongani Zungu on an initial loan deal from French Ligue 2 side Amiens before the close of play on transfer deadline day.

However, there were no other additions to the midfield despite the departures of Greg Docherty, Jason Holt and Jordan Rossiter in the summer.

This means that Gerrard still has six options for three positions at least until the transfer market closes at the end of January, with Zungu, Steven Davis, Scott Arfield, Ryan Jack, Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara competing for three places behind the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten.

However, Arfield and Jack are currently out injured, and an injury or coronavirus crisis could quickly cause some unnecessary problems, so perhaps the Ibrox boss may feel inclined to dip into the market, and he ought to do so especially with Besic now available.

The £1.8m-rated 28-year-old, who typically plays as a defensive midfielder but can also play as a centre-back or right-back, previously scored three goals and supplied six assists in 56 appearances across all competitions for Middlesbrough, via Transfermarkt. Whilst he is fully capable of slotting into place alongside the likes of Arfield and Kamara, his versatility could prove to be an added bonus.

Roberto Martinez was effusive in his praise for his former charge back in 2014 as he was quoted as saying: “He is a character who is an out-and-out Everton player.

“He can become a big legend for Everton but he is a character who is still developing and working. Sometimes you forget he is only 22, but when you the bravery and wanting to do the right things it is impressive.

“I love those sort of characters – reliable. You can build strong teams around those characters.”

This strength of character would be most welcome in the Govan side of Glasgow and to be able to snap up a player with proven Premier League experience for a snip of a price is surely a no-brainer at this stage.

AND in other news, Steve Parish must sanction Crystal Palace swoop for Jason Knight as a James McCarthy alternative…

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has discussed whether Tyrone Mings deserved to get sent off during Aston Villa’s recent win over Crystal Palace.

Dean Smith’s men did pick up three points from the game despite Mings’ sending off. Goals from Bertrand Traore, Anwar El Ghazi and Kortney Hause helped Villa get the win. Mings picked up one yellow card for a clash with Wilfried Zaha and then picked up a second yellow for a holding offence on the same player (as per BBC Sport).

Smith’s side were 1-0 up when Mings was sent off but despite the numbers disadvantage, they still managed to win the game 3-0.

Halsey criticises Mings’ reaction

Halsey, whilst talking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern spoke about whether Mings deserved to get sent off. The former referee believes that Mings was ‘silly’ to get involved with Zaha and the Englishman had himself to blame for the sending off, although he did say that Zaha was clever in drawing the two yellow cards.

Halsey said:

“I think Mings has got himself to blame in that situation. I mean, everyone knows what Zaha is like, he’s got a short fuse, we all know that. So why does Mings get involved? Mings did show a little bit of petulance by sort of coming down hard on him on the back of his leg or the back of his hamstring and there was no need to do that.

On the second one, Mings has given Anthony Taylor nowhere to go for a second caution for a holding offence. Zaha knew exactly what he was doing and as I said, Mings was silly, you know, he was silly, and he’s got no complaints.”

The 27-year-old Mings has made 13 Premier League appearances this season and it was his first sending off of the campaign. He has racked up a good rating of 6.89 in the league (As per Whoscored).

Mings’ suspension can hurt Villa

Because of Mings’ sending off, the defender will be suspended for Villa’s Premier League game against Chelsea later today and considering his performances in the current campaign, he could be a very big miss for Smith’s men.

Villa are currently as high as seventh in the Premier League table and they are only three points behind third-placed Leicester City. They even have two games in hand on three on Leicester, Everton, Tottenham and Liverpool (as per BBC Sport).

This suggests that Villa are in an advantageous position in the table because of the games in hand but Mings’ absence might prove costly against Chelsea, who are level on points with Smith’s men as things stand.

Premiership giants Rangers reportedly ‘fear losing’ their star right-back James Tavernier amidst growing interest in the player.

It has been claimed that the Gers are aware of the fact that clubs are looking at Tavernier, as well as the likes of centre-back Connor Goldson and left-back Borna Barisic.

Rangers ‘fear losing’ Tavernier

Football Insider have recently reported about potential exits for the Gers and one name that has cropped up is that of Tavernier. The report states that Steven Gerrard’s men ‘fear losing’ at least one of their star defenders and while they haven’t sold any major players so far, that could well change soon.

The report states that the Gers are already looking at potential replacements for Tavernier, ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window. Rangers are currently hoping that they can fend off interest for their captain and others, but they know that it might not be easy when the time comes.

The 29-year-old right-back has been in great form for the Gers this season, scoring 11 goals and picking up nine assists in 22 Premiership appearances. Earlier in the season, Gerrard had been full of praise for the Englishman, saying:

“He’s looking like the powerhouse we know we can be. He returned hungry and his application and return from lockdown has really impressed me.”

Replacing Tavernier could be stiff for Rangers

In all competitions, Tavernier has contributed to 31 goals in 33 appearances for the Gers. 17 of them competitions have been goals, with 14 of them being assists. It shows the impact he’s had at Ibrox this season, even though he’s played at right-back regularly (as per Transfermarkt).

Because of his output from right-back, it could prove to be a tough task for the Gers to replace the 29-year-old and they should look to get a big fee from his potential sale so they have more funds available if they do need to find a new player to replace their captain.

In other news, Rangers have been linked with a League One star – read more about it here.

انتهت مساء اليوم الأحد منافسات الجولة الثانية عشر من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بفوز توتنهام على ليدز يونايتد بهدفين مقابل هدف.

وشهدت تلك الجولة فوز ليفربول على آرسنال بأربعة أهداف دون رد، وفوز مانشستر سيتي على إيفرتون بثلاثية نظيفة، وهي نفس النتيجة التي حققها تشيلسي على ليستر سيتي.

وخسر مانشستر يونايتد أمام واتفورد بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف وهو ما تسبب في إقالة المدرب أولي جونار سولشاير من منصبه كمدرب للشياطين الحمر.

وحقق أستون فيلا فوزًا على برايتون بهدفين دون رد في المباراة الأولى للمدرب الجديد للفريق ستيفن جيرارد.

أما وست هام فقد سقط في تلك الجولة أمام ولفرهامبتون بهدف دون رد، وتعادل كريستال بالاس مع بيرنلي بثلاثة أهداف لمثلها. ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي بعد نهاية الجولة الثانية عشر

1 تشيلسي، 29 نقطة.

2 مانشستر سيتي، 26 نقطة.

3 ليفربول، 25 نقطة.

4 وست هام، 23 نقطة.

5 آرسنال، 20 نقطة.

6 ولفرهامبتون، 19 نقطة.

7 توتنهام، 19 نقطة.

8 مانشستر يونايتد، 17 نقطة.

9 برايتون، 17 نقطة.

10 كريستال بالاس، 16 نقطة.

11 إيفرتون، 15 نقطة.

12 ليستر سيتي، 15 نقطة.

13 ساوثهامبتون، 14 نقطة.

14 برينتفورد، 13 نقطة.

15 أستون فيلا، 13 نقطة.

16 واتفورد، 13 نقطة.

17 ليدز يونايتد، 11 نقطة.

18 بيرنلي، 9 نقاط.

19 نورويتش سيتي، 8 نقاط.

20 نيوكاسل يونايتد، 6 نقاط.

ويمكن متابعة ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2021/22، محدث بشكل مستمر من هنا.

يواصل نادي برشلونة المنافس في بطولة الدوري الاسباني العمل من أجل إقناع جناح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، عثمان ديمبلي، بالتجديد والاستمرار داخل قلعة “كامب نو”.

ويعاني ديمبلي من إصابة جديدة في الوقت الحالي عبارة عن شد في نصف غشاء الفخذ الأيسر، بعد عودته من إصابة سابقة في أوتار الركبة خلال مباراة دينامو كييف في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ولكن يرغب برشلونة رغم ذلك في التجديد مع الفرنسي خاصة بعد تصريحات مدرب الفريق الجديد، تشافي هيرنانديز، بأن استمرار ديمبلي أولوية.

هذا ما أسعد ديمبلي بحسب التقارير الكتالونية في الساعات الماضية، وشعر بأهميته لدى تشافي وإمكانية تحقيق النجاح تحت قيادته وعودته إلى التألق.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جمال بلماضي: تشافي قد يضم مهاجم منتخب الجزائر إلى برشلونة

وبحسب صحيفة “سبورت” الكتالونية هناك عرض مبتكر من طرف برشلونة لوكيل ديمبلي للتجديد ولا يضر الوضع المالي الدقيق للنادي.

واقترح المدير الرياضي لنادي برشلونة، ماتيو أليماني، عقدًا يعتمد على مشاركة اللاعب الفرنسي في المباريات، من أجل تخفيض راتب ديمبلي خاصة في ظل إصاباته.

وبالتالي، يرغب برشلونة في دفع الأموال للاعب فقط في حالة المشاركة مع بعض الحوافز المالية الأخرى حالة الفوز بعدد من المباريات والبطولات.

سيتم تقسيم عقد ديمبلي إلى عدد صغير من المباريات يمكن أن يكمله في الموسم الواحد 3 أو 4 مرات ليتقاضى عليها الفرنسي راتبه، وبالتالي، إذا تألق اللاعب وشارك على مدار الموسم سيحصل على راتب كبير.

وسينتظر برشلونة قرار ديمبلي الأخير بشأن العرض المقدم وهل سيعتبره تحديًا أم شيء آخر، قبل أن يقرر ماذا سيفعل تجاه الفرنسي خاصة وأن عقده الحالي ينتهي في يونيو 2022.

A number of Glasgow Rangers fans have been fuming over reports that the first Old Firm derby of the season could be postponed.

Glasgow Times reported that the fixture, currently scheduled for Saturday 17 October, could be cancelled amid rising concerns over the increasing spread of the global pandemic, with UK government officials set to discuss the possibility of fresh lockdown measures in Scotland.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday warned that ‘additional restrictions’ are likely to be imposed in the coming days, with reports of a potential ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown over the upcoming October holidays, at the end of which the Celtic v Rangers clash is scheduled for Parkhead.

According to Glasgow Times, public health officials are concerned that large groups of supporters could gather to watch the game on TV or go to the stadium on the day of the match. As things stand, all Premiership fixtures are being played behind closed doors.

These ‘Gers fans on Twitter were raging over the reports of the derby’s potential cancellation and feel that it should go ahead as scheduled just like other top-flight fixtures:

‘Gers fans, will you be annoyed if the derby is moved from its scheduled date of 17 October? Comment below with your views!

Speaking on The Last Word on Spurs podcast, journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Erik Lamela is adamant that he doesn’t want to leave Tottenham.

What’s the word?

The Argentina international played 35 times across all competitions, scoring just two goals and providing three assists in the Premier League.

Is it Mido or Pedro Mendes? This Spurs quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

A hamstring injury kept him out of action for the best part of a couple of months mid-way through the season, whilst he completed the full 90 minutes just once after the Premier League’s restart back in June.

Now, Romano claims that Lamela is intent on staying in north London and is convinced he can perform at a high level next season.

Daniel Levy must be ruthles

Earning a reported £80k-per-week, Lamela remains one of Spurs’ highest-earners, but the truth is that he has shown little to justify the north Londoners paying that much money for him.

His struggles with injuries are well-known, and it was quite telling that even when fit, Jose Mourinho hardly started him, let alone allowing him to play the full 90 minutes.

In fact, Lamela did not score a single Premier League goal after netting almost 12 months ago when he notched in a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace. With Steven Bergwijn signed up in the January transfer window, Spurs have yet another option to play out wide, and it’s an area in which they are well covered.

Getting rid of Lamela this summer would free him from the wage books, and potentially give them extra money to splash out on positions that actually need prioritising. Levy must be ruthless with the Argentine for the greater good of the team, and if that means showing the exit door to someone who has been a virtual passenger for them, then so be it.

يستضيف اليوم الأحد، ليفربول نظيره مانشستر سيتي ضمن الجولة السابعة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على ملعب أنفيلد رود، في قمة الأسبوع.

ليفربول ومانشستر سيتي، مباراة أصبحت قمة بين الفريقين الأفضل في إنجلترا خلال الـ5 سنوات الأخيرة، وتحديدًا منذ انضمام الدولي المصري محمد صلاح للريدز، وما يؤكد ذلك، أرقام مو في مواجهة بيب جوارديولا سواء بالدوري الإنجليزي أو دوري أبطال أوروبا.

طالع أيضًا .. جوارديولا يحذر مانشستر سيتي من محمد صلاح وهجوم ليفربول 

النجم المصري انضم إلى ليفربول في صيف 2017 قادمًا من روما، ورغم أن مباراته الأولى ضد مانشستر سيتي لم تكن لها ذكريات جيدة، إلا أنه تمكن من ترك بصمته في المباريات الأخرى.

المباراة الأولى انتهت 5/0 لـ مانشستر سيتي في سبتمبر 2017، حينها ليفربول لعب 10 لاعبين فقط منذ الدقيقة 37 بسبب طرد ساديو ماني.

لكن النجم المصري قاد ليفربول للثأر في لقاء الدور الثاني على ملعب أنفيلد رود، في يناير 2018، وفاز الريدز 4/3 وتمكن محمد صلاح من تسجيل هدف رائع من وسط الملعب في مرمى إيدرسون، وصنع آخر لـ ساديو ماني.

بعد 3 أشهر، استضاف ليفربول نظيره سيتي مجددًا ولكن هذه المرة في ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا، وفاز الريدز بثلاثية نظيفة سجل محمد صلاح خلالها هدفًا وصنع آخر لـ ساديو ماني.

وفي لقاء الإياب في أبريل أيضًا، فاز ليفربول 2/1 على ملعب مانشستر سيتي، وتمكن النجم المصري من التسجيل للمباراة الثالثة على التوالي ضد فريق بيب جوارديولا، ذلك الهدف الرائع والذي احتفل به أمام جماهير ليفربول.

في أكتوبر 2018 انتهت 0/0 مباراة الريدز وسيتيزين، في الدور الثاني، خسر ليفربول في يناير 2019 بثنائية مقابل هدف، تلك الهزيمة التي كانت سببًا في خسارة الريدز لبطولة الدوري الإنجليزي لصالح سيتي.

في موسم 2019/2020 بكأس الدرع الخيرية قبل بداية الموسم، خسر الريدز بركلات الترجيح، وكاد النجم المصري أن يسجل هدفًا رائعًا، ولكن إنقاذ كايل ووكر الأسطوري منعه من ذلك.

في نوفمبر 2019، كان هدف محمد صلاح الأول بالرأس ضد مانشستر سيتي، سببًا أساسيًا في فوز الريدز بثلاثية مقابل هدف على ملعب أنفيلد رود، ولكن في يوليو خسر ليفربول على ملعب الاتحاد 4/0، في مباراة لم تؤثر كثيرًا على لقب الدوري الذي كان ليفربول قد حسمه قبل تلك المباراة.

آخر مباراتين، تمكن النجم محمد صلاح من تسجيل ركلة جزاء في مرمى إيديرسون نوفمبر 2020 وانتهت المباراة بالتعادل 1/1، وفي لقاء فبراير الماضي ورغم الهزيمة 4/1 في ملعب أنفيلد، لكن النجم المصري سجل أيضًا بنفس الطريقة.

إذاً مجموع مواجهات محمد صلاح مع ليفربول ضد مانشستر سيتي 11 مباراة، سجل خلالها نجم روما السابق 6 أهداف وصنع 2 بمختلف المسابقات.

مباراة اليوم ستكون الـ12، والنجم المصري محمد صلاح يعيش أوقاتًا طيبة للغاية وبداية مثالية للموسم، حيث سجل 8 أهداف في 8 مباريات وصنع 2.