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Leeds United fans have every right to feel miffed after their move for Michael Cuisance collapsed at the 11th hour.

The Whites looked to be on to a winner when trying to sign the former European Golden Boy nominee, but the deal fell through due to problems with his medical.

We don’t have all of the information at the moment about why his medical went awry, but we can only assume that Leeds had a good reason to pull the plug.

While missing out on Cuisance is something of a blow, the fact that the club haven’t jumped the gun and signed a player who may have fitness problems is a good sign.

The Whites have been stung before when signing a player who wasn’t fit enough to come into the team with Jean-Kevin Augustin’s fitness being questioned by Marcelo Bielsa almost immediately after he signed, and a string of further problems meant that the RB Leipzig man failed to start a single game during his loan spell.

Perhaps a medical that didn’t take place in a hotel room would have seen these problems come to light before Leeds agreed to sign him, giving the Whites time and money to spend on another striker who could’ve made more of an impact.

In the end, it didn’t matter too much, as Patrick Bamford proved to be good enough to lead the line in United’s promotion push, but Augustin’s failing still has to go down as a black mark on Leeds’ recent transfer record.

Luckily, Leeds seem to have been a lot more stringent this time around, and they may well have just avoided another Augustin-type scenario by doing their due-diligence on Cuiscance’s medical.

This summer transfer window is bound to be increasingly chaotic for West Ham United. David Moyes is on an extremely important mission to somehow revamp a faltering squad and make them competitive with resources that are quite limited, to say the least.

One of their big transfer targets is also Queens Park Rangers’ young talisman, Eberechi Eze. The Hammers were already linked with the £20m-rated man earlier in the window and now, according to the latest report by the Evening Standard, they have the upper hand in the chase.

Interestingly enough, the same outlet reports the reason behind it is that they are planning to offload Jordan Hugill to QPR to somehow sweeten the deal and make the transfer of Eze possible in the first place.

The 28-year-old has more or less flopped in London since joining West Ham from Preston North End in January 2018. However, his loan stint at QPR was decently successful and this could prove to be crucial for Moyes.

Of course, the question remains, will the Championship side accept this ‘swap deal’ of sorts. Yes, Hugill was a good addition for their team but would they be willing to part with Eze for him?

The Hammers will definitely be hoping that’s the case. Who would’ve thought that a flop player would end up playing such a key role in one of their priority transfers for the summer window?

Verdict

It goes without saying that this deal, if it indeed goes through, would be an incredible piece of business for West Ham. Not only would they get rid of Hugill, who doesn’t exactly have a future at the club, but they would also be able to beat their rivals to Eze’s coveted signature.

But they shouldn’t celebrate just yet. The Evening Standard say they do have the upper hand but nothing is sealed just yet for the Premier League side.

Whilst the takeover hasn’t officially gone through yet, that hasn’t stopped talks of big-money transfers involving Newcastle.

And the latest man to be linked in recent days, is Fiorentina star Federico Chiesa.

According to Italian publication La Nazione (via Sport Witness), the Magpies have set their sights on the £43.2m-rated attacker, although they are set to face competition from fellow Premier League side Manchester United.

The report claims that whilst there’s no indication of how much Steve Bruce’s side would be willing to put on the table at this moment, the fact they may have considerable funds at their disposal in the near future may see them overtake other sides in the race to sign Chiesa.

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And if a deal can be struck for the 22-year-old, then Newcastle could have one of the most wide duos in the top-flight.

With Allan Saint-Maximin proving himself to be a superb acquisition from French side Nice last summer – he has four goals and seven assists – Newcastle already have one of the more devastating wingers in the division.

Adding Chiesa to the equation, who is comfortable playing on either side and even through the middle, could see the Magpies become a real force from out wide.

Former World Cup winner, Bruno Conti, waxed lyrical about the Italian’s abilities, saying: “He has all the quality to do well, because he is a genuine talent. Much like me, he can play on either flank depending on whether the Coach asks him to get to the by-line and cross or pull back inside and try for a shot. In order to do that, you need your basic technique to be flawless.

“That’s not even taking into account that Chiesa has a great eye for goal and is physically strong, which enables him to switch gears quickly from defence to attack.”

Unlike Saint-Maximin whose average of 4.6 dribbles per game ranks second in the Premier League, Chiesa is far more of a goal-scoring presence.

In Serie A this season, he has fired off 3.3 shots per game, whilst still maintaining averages of 1.3 key passes and 1.4 dribbles per match too. Having someone like Saint-Maximin to be more direct with his running and take players on, and then Chiesa on the opposite flank making driving runs into the box to finish seems like it has major potential to wreak havoc.

It’s a move that the Magpies could see major rewards from.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur this summer and he has now seemingly dropped a huge hint on social media.Â

Hojbjerg’s official Twitter account has liked a tweet from SPORT1 journalist Florian Plettenberg suggesting that Spurs is the club he wants to join in the summer.

Even if the ‘like’ is subsequently removed, @Daily_Hotspur quickly took a screenshot of the evidence, thus preserving its public nature.

Hojbjerg has informed Southampton that he will not sign a new deal at St Mary’s, which has seen him stripped of the captain’s armband by Ralph Hasenhuttl. He has been relegated to the bench in recent weeks, although he did play the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Brighton at right-back.

Spurs were first linked with the former Saints skipper back in January, as Jose Mourinho has identified the Dane as the signing he needs to rebuild the midfield.

The ex-Bayern Munich ace has played 33 games inÂthe Premier LeagueÂthis season, supplying one assist, taking 1.4 shots, winning 2.4 tackles and completing 1.5 clearances per game on average (viaÂWhoScored).

He has made more than 100 appearances for Southampton in all competitions but seems destined to depart from St Mary’s in the summer transfer window.

Recent reports had suggested that he favours a move to Spurs instead of Everton, and his social media activity all but confirms these claims.

However, supporters should not jump the gun, as a deal is far from done at this point in time. The Guardian reported that the Saints have accepted a £25m bid from the Toffees, although talks are still ongoing with Tottenham.

If Hojbjerg arrives in north London, Spurs could be set for a changing of the guard, as it is highly likely that Kyle Walker-Peters will head in the opposite direction, while Harry Winks could be forced to make way. This may seem unfair on the former Mauricio Pochettino favourite, as he has formed a crucial partnership with Giovani Lo Celso in recent weeks.

Tottenham fans, do you think Levy will sign Hojbjerg in the summer? Let us know your views in the comments section below!

After his incredible role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph, Divock Origi’s place in the Reds’ history will forever be secured.

The Belgium international has come up with some big goals in some big games for the club, but whether he’s good enough to play second-fiddle to Roberto Firmino and actually start games on a regular basis is seriously up for debate.

Against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon, Jurgen Klopp handed the striker the chance to feature from the off, and it was an audition that he failed miserably.

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The 25-year-old lasted just over an hour before being hooked for Firmino, and in that time did very little to convince anyone of a Reds persuasion that he should be someone who they must keep at all costs this summer.

As per Sofascore, despite playing through the middle, he registered no shots on goal whatsoever, and no dribbles either – so much for a supposed central striker.

Origi could barely get himself involved in the game, touching the ball just 26 times in the time that he was on the pitch, and making only 13 successful passes.

The Belgian couldn’t hold the ball up, or even make the right runs, and it was no surprise that some Liverpool fans were quick to voice their frustrations and anger towards him after the game – a few even called for him to be sold this summer.

For a team that won the Champions League last season, and has just been crowned Premier League champions this year, to have Origi be their second-choice striker just doesn’t fill anyone with confidence.

If Firmino were to get injured next season, then would Klopp seriously be confident about a striker who has scored just five times in 39 total appearances this season?

The Liverpool boss needs to be ruthless with him this summer, and whilst he has given Liverpool fans some memorable moments, it’s perhaps the perfect time for both parties to part ways.

Newcastle United’s takeover is going to go through, according to former Palace chairman Simon Jordan.

The owner-turned-pundit was appearing on Tuesday’s edition of ‘White and Sawyer‘ on talkSPORT where he was asked about the situation and emerging reports surrounding pirate streaming service beoutQ.

Jordan suggests it would be a very big surprise to see the Premier League block the deal and that they are merely trying to gain some leverage over the illegal broadcast of their matches in Saudi Arabia.

It comes after the Guardian’s revelation into a World Trade Organisation report which had found the Saudi government to be involved with beoutQ, but that doesn’t necessarily mean those involved in the Magpies’ takeover are involved too.

In response to the situation, Jordan offered an encouraging verdict on the prospects of it being approved, he said:

“I just feel that the Premier League will use it as leverage to try and get some reigning in of that, but I will be very, very, very, very surprised – you [Jim White] talk to Amanda Staveley, you get the gist of it as well – I’d be very surprised if they block this and are able to block it because there are other people that own football clubs that one could question the veracity or the advocacy of their ownership and I think this is going to be a very difficult situation.

“The Premier League, if it blocks this move, is pretty much saying – to some extent – that club’s only to their approval, owners only to their approval, irrespective of the conditionality of that and then you move the bar and move the bar down, and you’ll have this argument raging in Newcastle more than anywhere else that this only retains the status quo for those that it suits.

“I’d be very surprised if it’s blocked, Jim. Very surprised.”

Jordan emphasises his thoughts that it would be a massive surprise to see the PL reject United’s takeover by a Saudi-backed consortium.

He also raises an interesting point that would call into question their decisions to approve other deals in the past, and whilst it remains to be seen who he’s talking about, it’s fair to suggest that Manchester City may come into the equation given they are owned by the UAE.

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The 52-year-old’s words perhaps ring truer than most speaking about the situation, particularly from those looking in from the outside as Jordan was in charge of Crystal Palace for ten years.

AND in other news, George Caulkin delivers update over Newcastle takeover…

Newcastle United’s prospective takeover by a very wealthy Saudi-backed consortium has come with its outlandish rumours, especially considering their worth would put them in the Man City and Paris Saint-Germain bracket.

And those reports have continued this week with the club being linked with an audacious move for former Liverpool target come Real Betis star Nabil Fekir.

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Spanish outlet AS claim the 26-year-old is in the Magpies’ sights along with the likes of Edison Cavani, Philippe Coutinho and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Mark Douglas of the Chronicle as penned a piece in response to the links, which has sparked a reaction from sections of the St James’ Park faithful on Twitter.

The takeover needs to pull through before any such reports can even come to fruition, and even then, it’s hard to gauge whether any are accurate or if they are merely agent talk.

Which is why many Magpies supporters have their doubts.

Here’s how fans have been reacting to Douglas’ post…

AND in other news, Newcastle fans react to new letter opposing takeover deal…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to a new exclusive report coming from talkSPORT, Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Schalke’s 23-year-old goalkeeper, Alexander Nubel.

But the Germans should make sure their talent doesn’t leave the club just yet.

What’s the word, then?

It seems that Jose Mourinho wants a new goalkeeper in his squad and Nubel, Schalke’s young, up and coming talent, certainly looks like a juicy target for them.

This is reinforced even more with the fact that they are in serious need of another reliable man between the sticks. Hugo Lloris has been struggling with injuries and while Paulo Gazzaniga has held his own between the sticks, he simply hasn’t been as good as they would have hoped, as was explained by talkSPORT in the same report.

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Nubel, although young and very much at the beginning of his career, is already captaining his club but could be on his way out seeing how he hasn’t signed a new contract and his current one is slowly but surely running out.

And even though it makes sense for Mourinho to snatch the youngster away, for Schalke it could be disastrous.

An important piece

Needless to say, losing the captain of the ship is never really a good thing.

Schalke have been sturdy this season, having conceded just 15 goals in 12 games with Nubel between the sticks, and the 23-year-old has been a key figure in this development.

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Kevin Hatchard showered him with praise when talking to talkSPORT:

“He is the captain of Schalke and a goalkeeper in his early 20s. He is a very good goalkeeper with a [Manuel] Neuer vibe about him. He’s good with his feet, commanding, and he’s got a bit of arrogance about him which I don’t think is a terrible thing.”

Losing him now would definitely be a hugely disappointing blow for the club to take.

Schalke are currently sitting in fifth in the table, level with the team above them and just two points off second-placed Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.

And while it’s difficult actually seeing them fully contest for the crown, Nubel could play a key part in them making a mark on the Bundesliga this season already.

TalkSPORT don’t make it clear when would Spurs be hoping to snatch him away but either way, the time is not right for him to leave just yet whichever way you look at it.

They’d be wise to make his contract juicier and convince the young goalie to stay.

Meanwhile, many Spurs fans haven’t really been impressed with the club’s recent links with a young defender already plying his trade in England.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

Everton have struggled immensely this season and found themselves in an early relegation scrap as a result of some horrendous displays.

After their win over Southampton, the Toffees now have a bit of breathing space above the drop zone but Marco Silva and his men are far from pressure free.

Certain players have really struggled to pull their weight, as the club sit just six points clear of the drop having conceded 18 goals in 12 games. One of the players who has been under the spotlight is captain Seamus Coleman, who has registered just one assist all season long.

The signing of Djibril Sidibe from Monaco this summer has put more pressure on the Irishman, and the loanee’s performance against the Saints hinted that he is a strong candidate to resume the role of first-choice right-back.

The Frenchman was consistently a threat going forward and looked solid at the back for the Merseysiders.

The likes of Moussa Djenepo and Cedric Soares found little action down their left-hand side, as Sidibe completed an impressive seven tackles and blocked one shot.

The 27-year-old also made one interception and one clearance. However, it was going forward where he really impressed and may well have sold his credentials to Silva.

Sidibe made 23 accurate passes for Everton, which equalled to an 88% completion rate – the highest amongst any Everton player on the pitch. Within this impressive attacking display, the France international delivered a sweet cross to Richarlison, who tapped home the winner for the away side.

The fact Coleman is the club’s captain certainly adds a crucial layer to Silva’s team selection.

However, Sidibe has proved over these past few games he should be Everton’s main right-back regardless of the captaincy situation.

His 7.35 rating against West Ham United and now this performance away from home suggest he is more of an attacking threat than the 31-year-old.

Plus, with a crucial fixture against Norwich City up next, Silva cannot afford more dropped points and must continue to trust Sidibe at right-back.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking on talkSPORT, Danny Murphy has suggested that Arsenal would be better off with Chris Wilder or Sean Dyche as their manager than sticking with Unai Emery.

What did he say?

Arsenal currently sit sixth in the league, enduring a run of five games in all competitions without a win.

This has seen plenty of pressure being put on the shoulders of Unai Emery, with many fans wanting him out of the club.

It turns out that discontent about the Spaniard’s tactics aren’t exclusively coming from the stands, as Murphy has also questioned the Arsenal manager and the way he has gone about things this campaign.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “His hands are tied a bit in terms of recruitment, but ultimately tactically they’re so inept. They keep playing out from the back and keep losing it. I’m all for sticking with your philosophy, but change it in the game, mix it up.

“He has shown before that he doesn’t mind mixing it up, when he first came there were lots of substitutions early in games, lots of tactical changes.

“But now… maybe the players have lost faith a little bit and that unfortunately subconsciously creates a really bad physical reaction in terms of you’re not believing in what you’re doing when you go out on the pitch and it drains you.

“If you look at Sean Dyche and Chris Wilder at Sheffield United, they are two English managers who have come up the hard way.

“Would Arsenal be in a better position now if Wilder was in charge or Dyche? Would they have more points? I think [they would], 100%.”

Getting a chance

It can be very difficult for managers of traditionally unfashionable clubs such as Burnley and Sheffield United to get their chance at a top team.

Once that does happen, it doesn’t always work out, with the most obvious example being when David Moyes took over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Arsenal are arguably a club in a crisis. Questions have been raised over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s captaincy due to his relationship with members of AFTV, as reported by The Athletic, while the situation surrounding Granit Xhaka and whether he will play for the club again remains a pertinent problem.

While this type of situation can make things far more difficult for someone taking a step up in their managerial career, it is arguably the best chance for them to show they are up to the job.

This season, Wilder has taken his Blades side to a win over Arsenal and a place above them in the league, while Dyche has overachieved with Burnley, leading them to Europe in the past and a top 10 position this campaign.

Giving them a chance may not be the safest or most popular choice, but there is definitely a case that can be made for the argument that they would be an improvement on Emery.