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Manchester United have confirmed that they have entered contract talks with attacking midfielder Juan Mata as Ole Gunnar Solksjaer starts putting his summer plans in place.

What’s the story?

The 33-year-old’s current deal is due to expire at the end of this month, but the Red Devils have the option to extend his contract by a further year.

Mata played just 511 minutes of Premier League action last season as United finished in second place, 12 points behind champions Manchester City.

Woodward heading for a mistake

The diminutive creative talent has enjoyed seven relatively successful years at Old Trafford, scoring 51 goals and providing 47 assists in 273 appearances for United, winning the FA Cup, Europa League and League Cup during his stay.

However, Mata’s powers have wained in recent years, limiting the World Cup winner to just 14 league starts since the beginning of 2019/20, reducing him to a bit-part role in Solskjaer’s set-up.

His lack of action, therefore, brings into question the reasoning behind United’s renewed interest in extending the Spaniard’s stay with the 20-time English champions.

With United expected to embark on a summer of spending, with the likes of Jadon Sancho, Declan Rice and Raphael Varane all linked, renewing an ageing stars reported £160,000-per-week wage packet seems illogical.

The financial impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has hit all football clubs hard, but not many sides have suffered as big a loss as the Red Devils.

It means departing chief executive Ed Woodward is going to have to be extremely clever and prudent in the transfer market this summer in order to secure the club’s top targets.

Committing such a large figure to a player like Mata, who has arguably become a liability on the biggest stage throughout his twilight years, is a mistake that may further taint the unpopular 49-year-old’s legacy even further.

While Mata has previously acted as a good mentor and added an experienced voice in the dressing room, United have now moved on and require a different set of stars to bring silverware back to the red half of Manchester. He’s not up to the standard required, keeping him around makes no sense at all.

And, in other news…Time’s up: Ole must brutally axe £30k-p/w Man Utd flop this summer, he’s been shocking 

Liverpool have been dealt a huge blow ahead of the Merseyside derby with Everton after Roberto Firmino missed training and is a huge doubt for the clash.

He was the only absentee at training yesterday according to This is Anfield, with the Reds fielding a strong squad at their Kirkby complex. The Brazilian also missed his side’s comfortable victory over rivals Manchester United in the week, following a foot injury he sustained in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend.

Manager Jurgen Klopp said the situation was still uncertain heading into the game and that “he’s getting better” but “it’s uncomfortable and painful” for him.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

The 30-year old has had a smaller but still as crucial role in Liverpool’s success this campaign appearing 31 times and being directly involved in 15 goals. His availability against Everton would have provided Klopp with the perfect chance to rotate and rest players ahead of the important Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Liverpool and Everton are further apart in terms of their form this season than they have been in a very long time. The Reds are battling for the Premier League title whilst their neighbours are fighting to avoid relegation.

Frank Lampard’s side desperately need the points so might prove tougher than what their league placing suggests, the local rivalry here is also huge so that surely adds extra motivation.

Firmino hasn’t scored in any of the 11 games he has played against the Toffees but does have two assists to his name. He was, however, involved in the league game last year where Everton defeated Liverpool for the first time in over a decade.

If he misses out today then we potentially could see him play in the game against Villarreal. If Liverpool are to be successful on all fronts this season then they’ll have to use the squad.

As for his future, it remains to be seen whether or not he is content with being more of a squad player. His contract expires next summer so Liverpool could cash in this year to avoid losing him on a free transfer.

Former England international Kevin Phillips said in an interview last month that he believes Firmino “is likely to move on” and that “he will want a new challenge”.

Even if that ends up happening, there’s no doubting his overall ability with him producing many great performances in a Liverpool shirt.

IN other news: Sources: Liverpool agree terms to sign “special” £36m-rated ace, Klopp surely buzzing – opinion…

Lee Johnson’s Sunderland head into their penultimate fixture of the season this Saturday knowing that a win will secure a place in the League One play-off positions.

Following their 1-0 defeat to Blackpool on Tuesday, Johnson’s team now find themselves on a rather alarming run of seven league games without a win, with the Black Cats slipping from a team in contention for automatic promotion to one who are now at risk of slipping out of the top six in the space of a few short weeks.

However, despite this disastrous run, a win against Plymouth Argyle this afternoon would secure Sunderland’s spot in the play-offs, so will Johnson decide to make any changes to the side which started against Blackpool?

Here’s our predicted XI, along with the latest team and injury news…

With a host of injuries to deal with ahead of the trip to Plymouth, including Dion Sanderson, Arbenit Xhemajli, Tom Flanagan and Jordan Willis, Johnson has a number of tough decisions to make ahead of Saturday’s fixture.

However, with the potential return of Conor McLaughlin from injury, we expect the 39-year-old to make three changes from the starting line-up against Blackpool.

Firstly, the 33-year-old McLaughlin immediately slots back in a right-back, freeing up Max Power to move into his natural position of central midfield. The 27-year-old replaces Josh Scowen, who had something of a shocker on Tuesday – with no Sunderland player earning a SofaScore match rating worse than the midfielder’s 6.3 as he failed to register a single shot.

Meanwhile, Aiden O’Brien – who is without a goal in eight appearances – also drops out of the XI, with Jordan Jones coming in to partner Charlie Wyke up front.

In other news: Lost possession 22 times: Johnson surely furious with shocking £5k-p/w Sunderland ace – opinion

Sunderland took the ultimate smash-and-grab from their match against Gillingham this afternoon, winning 1-0 and taking all three points as they now go unbeaten in their last five games, climbing back into the play-off positions in League One, one point ahead of Oxford United.

Despite having 80% possession, 25 shots, eight corners and three big chances, the Black Cats could not convert any of their opportunities against their stubborn opponents at the sunny Stadium of Light this afternoon within the regulation 90 minutes.

It was only when 69th-minute substitute Nathan Broadhead nodded the ball past the Gills goalkeeper from a cross delivered into the box by Elliot Embleton in the fifth minute of added time that Sunderland finally broke their stalemate, stealing all three points and an important win in their pursuit for promotion this year.

One player who had one of his worst performances in a Sunderland shirt this season was the current League One top scorer Ross Stewart, who dropped an absolute stinker in front of the home fans and almost cost Alex Neil’s side an important win with his complete lack of attacking output against the Gills.

According to SofaScore, Stewart was rated the worst player on the pitch (6.0) and with good reason, considering that his team had 25 shots and he didn’t have a single one on or off target throughout the day. He also lost 89% of his ground and aerial duels combined, failed with 100% of his dribbles and only had 25 touches of the ball.

The 25-year-old – who was hailed a “handful” by former Ross County boss Stuart Kettlewell – has scored 22 goals and contributed four assists in 39 appearances for his team in League One this season, so it was clearly just one of those off-days for the forward, who has scored more than anybody else in the league and recently earned his first call-up to the senior Scotland side for their international friendlies.

Sunderland are now in a great position to secure a second chance at promotion into the Championship after moving up to sixth this afternoon, just two points behind Sheffield Wednesday, and Alex Neil will be hoping that his side can continue their unbeaten run over their last six games of the season. Stewart will quickly need to put this uncharacteristic off-day behind him, though.

In other news: Sunderland will have nightmares over “surprise” 18-year-old, he’s the new Harry Kane

French expert Adam White reckons that both PSG and Moise Kean are interested in making a loan return possible – but there are complications in a potential deal.

Kean spent last season with Mauricio Pochettino’s side, and despite heading to the French capital having scored just four goals for Everton, made a significant impact for PSG, both domestically and in Europe.

In fact, Kean’s 17 goals in 41 appearances was more than he’s managed throughout the rest of his club first-team career combined for Everton and Juventus.

With the 21-year-old’s future at Goodison Park looking bleak, having failed to repay the £25.1m Everton paid for him two years, a return to France has looked on the cards for some time.

However, with PSG currently trying to secure a sensational deal to sign Lionel Messi, which comes after Pochettino has already added the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Sergio Ramos and others to his squad, bringing Kean back isn’t set to be an easy process.

White told The Transfer Tavern:

“RMC reported last month that both PSG and Kean would be keen for another loan, but those talks are becoming increasingly complicated because all the signings PSG are making, and they need to sell other players, but those are going to be factors.

“But PSG and Kean would be keen on a return. He was really good last season; he was surprisingly prolific and scored some important goals in the league.”

Illan Meslier only signed for Leeds United permanently last summer but David Norris, who made 36 appearances for Leeds, has exclusively spoken to Football FanCast about how the 21-year old has surprised everyone with his performances.

Meslier was dropped for Leeds 2-0 win against Southampton as Marcelo Bielsa axed the young shot-stopper for just the first time in the Premier League, with Kiko Casilla keeping his first league clean sheet of the season.

The French goalkeeper made his debut for his former club Lorient in 2018 when he was still just 18-years-old, and his performances for the French side convinced Bielsa to sign him on loan last season.

During Leeds’ title-winning season Meslier kept four clean sheets in 10 appearances and his performances have continued to impress people, something that has surprised Norris, who spoke exclusively to FFC:

“He’s surprised me and made that number one spot his own. You never know what you’re going to get from foreign keepers, especially young ones, but he looks like he’s just come in and settled really well.

“It gives so much confidence to the players in front of him who will know they’ve got a keeper who can produce what he has this season, and it looks like he’s got that spot nailed down.”

The 21-year old has impressed this season managing to keep 11 clean sheets in a Bielsa side that always wants to think about attacking over trying to defend.

Before he signed for Leeds on loan in 2019, Meslier had been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea were impressed by his performances at such a young age.

A number of Liverpool supporters have been left frustrated, following a claim that Neco Williams and Nat Phillips could both leave this summer.

The Reds could have a busy summer transfer window on his hands, with Jurgen Klopp looking to perfect his squad ahead of next season.

Ibrahima Konate has already been signed from RB Leipzig and the hope is that a number of other new faces also arrive by the end of August.

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There could be some players heading the other way, however, with Klopp deeming them surplus to requirements and the club looking to generate transfer funds.

According to Goal‘s Neil Jones [via LFC Transfer Room on Twitter], Liverpool are willing to listen to offers for both Williams and Phillips this summer.

Burnley and Southampton are credited with having an interest in both players, suggesting they may be plying their trade elsewhere next season.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/the-latest-liverpool-transfer-news-copy-3/” title=”The latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to show their frustration at the update, with some of the opinion that it further weakens the Reds’ squad.

Liverpool fans fume at Neil Jones update

“Making our tragic depth even worse”

Credit: @TobyLA2

“Desperate banter club resorting to selling its already limited depth”

Credit: @MedioCampistaV2

“Nat Philips, Neco Williams, Kabak, all off…”

Credit: @MCShifwoka

“There is no way Klopp wasn’t impressed by Phillips. I bet he is forced to sell him because we need the money and FSG won’t put out money from their own pocket. It’s frustrating. The fact that *we* are spending less than our Merseyside rivals shows how ‘miser’ FSG are”

Credit: @wearewinnin

“So after a defensive injury crisis and with 2 CBs returning after serious knee injuries, along with perennially injured Matip, we decide not to sign Kabak and decide to sell Nat…oh and why not sell our RB cover and rely on Milner again…this club doesn’t deserve its fans”

Credit: @theflaskofzorro

“So if we sell Phillips does that mean another defender coming like Kabak?”

Credit: @Matthew46012930

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting to a key piece of transfer news. Read more here.

Everton are reportedly closing in on the signing of Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey as new manager Rafael Benitez begins to make his mark on the first-team squad.

What’s the story?

The Toffees are one of a number of Premier League sides who have been linked with a move for the 30-year-old in recent weeks, with Crystal Palace and Newcastle United also credited with an interest.

However, it appears as though Everton have moved ahead of their domestic rivals in the race for Ramsey’s signature, with Italian outlet Calciomercato claiming he is “increasingly likely” to sign for the Goodison Park outfit.

The report also states that doors will “reopen” for the Wales international in January after he turned down several opportunities to leave Turin over the summer as the Blues prepare to “welcome” the creative talent to the club.

Everton fans will be buzzing

News that Ramsey could soon be joining Benitez’s revolution on Merseyside will surely have large sections of the club’s supporters buzzing with excitement.

His current contract doesn’t expire until the summer of 2023, but rumours suggest the Italian giants are eager to get his £187,000-per-week wages off their books over the winter window after falling down the pecking order under Massimiliano Allegri.

In a recent interview, Ramsey expressed his displeasure at how Juve staff have managed him regarding his persistent injury issues, claiming the national team setup knows how to get the best out of him.

“Philosophy and training methods are different in Juve compared to those carried out with the Wales national team,” said Ramsey.

“In the national team, there are people who have been used to managing me for years and who know how to bring out the best in me, helping me to play many consecutive matches, as I was able to demonstrate at Euro 2020.

“I feel good when I am managed correctly and when I have the opportunity to play regularly,” Ramsey concluded, leaving Juventus’ hierarchy reportedly open to his exit.

During his career, the former Arsenal ace has secured three FA Cups, one Serie A title and one Italian Cup, illustrating the quality that he would bring to Everton, and he could be an ideal replacement for the departed James Rodriguez.

With his potential successor already in the pipeline after just a matter of weeks, supporters will surely be thrilled. He is a proven Premier League talent who has thrived on the continental and international stages.

And, in other news…Signed for £1.7m, now worth £13.5m: Brands struck gold for Everton with £57k-p/w beast 

It’s no secret that Southampton have unearthed some unbelievable talents through their youth system who have gone on to enjoy incredible careers such as Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana and Theo Walcott among many others.

In terms of their current senior squad, Southampton have James Ward-Prowse, Jack Stephens, Yan Valery and Nathan Tella to name but a few of their current youth players who have worked their way into the first team.

Looking ahead to the future, it seems as though the club could potentially unearth their next youth star with 17-year-old left-back Thierry Small as their next Bale.

Since joining Southampton from Everton on a three-year professional contract in August, the defender has yet to feature for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side and has instead started with the club’s B team, making three appearances.

The teenager, who has previously been praised by former Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti for his innate “quality”, has played twice as a left-back and once in a more advanced role as a left midfielder, showing his versatility at such a young age in a similar way to Bale during his time at the club.

Even though the Welshman ended up leaving Southampton for Tottenham in 2007 after making just 45 senior appearances for the Saints, we feel that Small has the potential to bide his time with the B team for the time being before hopefully breaking into Hasenhuttl’s side to show that he is capable of playing regular senior football on the south coast and demonstrating why the club chose to pursue him in the summer.

Also, with Southampton currently having Romain Perraud as the only fit player in their squad who predominantly plays at left-back, it’s entirely plausible that Small could make his senior debut at some point this season either in a cup game or in the event of an injury crisis.

Either way, even if Small doesn’t end up making his senior debut for the Saints this season, he still has plenty of time to develop and progress with the B team before he’s ready to make the big step up.

In other news: Saints plotting January swoop for “quality” £12.6m beast, fans would be buzzing

Southampton have been linked with a move for Manchester City midfielder Yangel Herrera recently, and the Venezuelan could be a superb addition to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad this summer.

What’s the word?

According to The Telegraph, Southampton are expressing an interest in the 23-year-old, who has spent the last two seasons on loan with Granada in La Liga.

Crystal Palace and West Ham are also said to be interested in the midfielder, who could cost as much as £20m, as City look to raise funds in order to afford big-money moves this summer, with top targets Jack Grealish and Harry Kane both likely to cost north of £80m.

Would Herrera be a good signing for Southampton?

During his time at Granada, Herrera has made 82 appearances, contributing 10 goals and five assists, and was a key part of their run in the Europa League last season.

During the 2020/21 campaign, the Venezuela international would make 32 appearances in La Liga, contributing three goals and one assist to his name, averaging a solid 6.79 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He was also very impressive for Diego Martinez’s side in the Europa League, managing two goals and one assist in just 10 appearances, averaging a 7.00 rating from WhoScored, which suggests that he would add some quality and experience to Hasenhuttl’s midfield.

Considering the Saints struggled last season in the absence of Oriol Romeu, adding more depth in midfield should be something of a priority for the Austrian manager this summer.

Herrera has won a lot of plaudits in the past, winning the praise of Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira during his time at New York City, with the Frenchman saying:

“He’s a tactically intelligent midfielder who is strong in the tackle and reads the game well. Yangel also has good passing range and spatial awareness, which is crucial for a player in his position.”

Therefore, he could be an excellent addition to Hasenhuttl’s squad both now and for the long-term future, so Martin Semmens should definitely look to bring him to St Mary’s.

And, in other news… Semmens should seal Saints swoop for gem with “a taste for the big games”