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Marcelo Bielsa will be lacking a vital defensive lynchpin when Leeds United host Millwall at Elland Road after the international break, with Pontus Jansson set to be sidelined.

Dicussion over who exactly will replace the Sweden international is running rife in Yorkshire. The obvious solution is to restore Gaetano Berardi into the team, but he has spent a considerable length of time on the sideline through injury this season.

Kalvin Phillips, who enjoyed a decent spell in central defence during the winter months, also represents a viable option.

However, a handful of the Whites faithful have taken to Twitter to call for 6ft 4 colossus Aapo Halme to make only his second Championship start of the season.

Millwall are a side renowned for their added physicality, so it’s easy to understand why the fans have identified the Finnish defender as the man who is best equipped to replace Jansson.

The inexperienced 20-year-old has offered much more than just a commanding aerial presence when he has been called upon this season, and it’s his ability to combine his commanding aerial presence with a composed approach to possession-based football which has really caught the eye.

Here’s what the Leeds fans have had to say about Halme:

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The Sun are reporting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United are lining up a summer transfer for Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale.

What’s the word, then?

Per the original report, the wantaway Welsh international is one of a series of names on the Old Trafford club’s radar for after the end of the season, already handed to Ed Woodward.

Bale is no stranger to United as the pair have met on numerous occasions, mostly during the 29-year-old’s time at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Before that, the left winger, who can also play out on the right or as a forward, progressed through the academy at Southampton.

He got his big move to north London in 2007 and then a switch to Madrid, where he has netted 102 times in 225 appearances so far, for a then-world-record-fee of £85.3 million.

Look beyond the name, a better option is out there

In this case, the Red Devils must look beyond the glitzy name of Bale as there is a better option out there, Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho – another rumoured target.

The former Manchester City man is a full ten years younger than Bale, so has the potential to be a key player in the north west for longer.

And if Woodward is seeking a left winger who can operate on the opposite flank as well as a series of other attacking positions in Bale, Sancho can do exactly the same.

The 19-year-old is as versatile as they come, able to play both right and left wing and essentially a much fresher version of the Wales star.

They both could cost roughly the same fee, meaning that there could be no significant increase on what they are prepared to spend on Bale, compared to Sancho.

This is a no-brainer if there ever was one for the Man United hierarchy, a chance to really think about the future and display to fans that a long-term vision is in place.

One would feel that, with plenty of other areas needing recruitment in the summer and without the bottomless funds of a Man City, Solskjaer won’t be able to sign both and he must make the right decision.

يعاني فريق الرجاء المغربي من أزمة كبيرة بين صفوفه بسبب غياب 8 لاعبين عن قائمته قبل ساعات من مواجهة الزمالك المرتقبة بدوري أبطال إفريقيا.

الرجاء يستضيف الزمالك في التاسعة مساء اليوم على ملعب مركب محمد الخامس، بذهاب نصف نهائي البطولة القارية.

وأفاد موقع “360 سبورت” المغربي، وفقًا لمصدر بنادي الرجاء، أن نتيجة الفحوصات الطبية الدقيقة التي خضع لها كل من عبد الرحيم شاكير، والليبي سند الورفلي وزميله عبد الجليل أجبيرة إضافة إلى عمر بوطيب، كشفت استحالة مشاركتهم أمام الزمالك في مباراة اليوم.

طالع أيضًا.. تشكيل الزمالك أمام الرجاء.. أحمد عيد أساسيا وإسلام حابر بديل ساسي

وشدد المصدر أن الجهاز الطبي للنادي المغربي يسعي لتجهيز هؤلاء اللاعبين من أجل مباراة الإياب في القاهرة والمقررة مساء السبت المقبل.

وينضم إلى قائمة غيابات الرجاء أيضًا، كل من أيوب نناح ومحمد زريدة، بسبب إصابتهما بفيروس كورونا.

طالع أيضًا.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الزمالك والرجاء في ذهاب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا

كما يعاني الرجاء من غياب الثنائي أسامة سكحان لعدم قيده بالقائمة الإفريقية، وحميد أحداد المعار من الزمالك لنهاية العقد الذي يربطه بالفريق الأخضر.

يذكر، أن الزمالك سيواجه منافسه الرجاء يوم 24 من أكتوبر الجاري في مباراة الإياب بدوري أبطال إفريقيا، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

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Fernando Llorente is expected to be available for Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League clash with Manchester City on Tuesday night.

Llorente was not included against Crystal Palace last week due to a concussion, but has returned to training ahead of the quarter-final first leg with City.

The Spaniard will, of course, not be in the starting XI against the Citizens. Well, not unless Harry Kane is a late withdrawal.

However, the Tottenham fans feel that Llorente might be able to have a say against City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It has been another tough campaign for the 34-year-old, but he has contributed seven goals in all competitions for Spurs this term, including one in the Champions League.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

And the news that he has returned to training ahead of the all-English tie has been welcomed by the Tottenham fans on social media.

A selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below:

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Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn returned to the starting XI and produced a man-of-the-match performance in the 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground on Wednesday night, and he proved he is destined for the Premier League next season with or without the Midlands outfit.

The Scotland international joined the Championship club for an undisclosed fee last summer and has quickly gone on to make a big impression at Villa Park, becoming a key player in the middle of the park.

Following a two-match suspension having accumulated 10 booking over the course of the league campaign, the 24-year-old sat out the draw with Stoke City and the win against Derby County, before having to settle for a spot on the substitutes’ bench for the second city derby on Sunday.

However, with the scoreline at 0-0 the former Hibernian man and gave his side some fresh impetus in the final third, and he was rewarded with the impact he made with a spot in the XI in place of Glenn Whelan against Martin O’Neill’s side.

McGinn didn’t disappoint despite the visitors falling 1-0 behind with just three minutes on the clock, as he scored two brilliant first-half goals to give Villa a crucial advantage as they continue to close on the play-off positions.

The Scot needed to make an impression from an attacking point of view and he certainly did that with his two goals coming from four shots in total – he was unfortunate not to get a hat-trick when he saw one of his efforts hit the woodwork.

It wasn’t just his work going forward that was good either and he proved that he is an all-round midfielder by also winning two aerial duels, as well as making three interceptions and three tackles for his team.

A WhoScored rating of 9.48 is nothing to be sniffed at and given his all-action box-to-box displays and the fact that he has four goals and eight assists to his name in the Championship this term, he is ready for a move to the Premier League, and it will happen whether Villa win promotion or not come what May.

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Bryan Oviedo made a first appearance for Sunderland since the 22nd of January as they beat Rochdale 2-1 on Saturday, and the Costa Rican international reacted to his return his official Twitter account the following day.

Oviedo saw a deadline day move to West Brom fall through due to an administrative error, but his return is a timely boost for Jack Ross’ side.

The ex-Everton man has made 22 appearances this season collecting three yellow cards and a red, but he is undoubtedly the best left-back in the league considering he represented his country at the 2018 World Cup before returning to England to play third-tier football.

Sunderland fans have suffered a lot of heartache over the years but one fan manages to pick his ultimate low in the video below…

The 29-year-old Costa Rican international has played for Sunderland since the 2016/17 season and has suffered back-to-back relegations, despite this he has stuck with the Black Cats and has become a fans’ favourite.

Their supporters have taken to Twitter to heap praise on the left-back.

Granit Xhaka has enjoyed arguably his best season at Arsenal so far, since moving to the club in 2016 but his recent comments that North London will not be his permanent home in the future might just start to rattle a few fans and the manager Unai Emery.

Speaking to Tagblatt, via the Daily Mail, the 26-year-old Xhaka hinted at moving on from the Gunners in the near future by saying ‘Arsenal does not have to be the last stop’ of his football career.

Emery and Xhaka have worked brilliantly together since the manager took over from Arsene Wenger last May and has been the key figure in the midfielder’s development as both a linkup player in the centre of the pitch and one of the club’s leaders.

The manager wasted no time in naming Xhaka as one of his five captains for the season and the times the Swiss international donned the captain’s armband, he’s led his team with great pride and with example. We’re sure most Gooners reading this will agree, the former Borussia Monchengladbach man has really come into his own since the departure of Arsene Wenger, looking so much more disciplined in the engine room.

All that money wasn’t wasted then, right?

Indeed, Xhaka’s all-round play has been excellent this campaign and instrumental to the Gunners’ fine form with his defensive aptitude especially showing massive improvement compared to past seasons.

His discipline on the pitch has also been terrific after building somewhat of an ill-tempered reputation since his first season at the club, finally emerging as the holding midfielder the fans must have thought they were getting almost three years ago now.

For Arsenal to make further strides in the near future, both domestically and in Europe, a player like Xhaka will be of high value to the manager and he could be in a position to be a future club captain. Emery will, therefore, need to consult both the player and his directors about a possible new contract for Xhaka in order to keep him at the Emirates for a longer period of time.

Arsenal could be set to lose a few players in the coming summer market as the Emery project enters its second phase, Aaron Ramsey being the main example here, and Xhaka, who is valued at £45 million (by Transfermarkt), should definitely not be one of them.

Finally, Arsenal are starting to see the best of him.

Arsenal fans, do Xhaka’s comments scare you? How big a loss would he be? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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James McClean has urged any players hoping to follow in the footsteps of Declan Rice to “*** off and play for someone else”, per RTE.

Rice won three caps for the Republic of Ireland, all of which came in friendlies, but declared his international allegiance to England and made his Three Lions debut in the 5-0 win over the Czech Republic last week.

What’s the word?

McClean, a controversial figure who has regularly hit the headlines due to his refusal to wear a poppy around Remembrance Sunday, played with the West Ham star for Ireland.

Indeed, he has won 63 caps for Ireland, and he says that Rice should not have switched allegiance, having previously expressed his pride at playing for the Boys in Green.

McClean, though, made a similar decision when he was younger. He won seven caps for Northern Ireland’s Under-21 side, having been born in Derry.

Speaking in an interview with RTE, he said: “He said he was a proud Irishman. Then he said he was a proud Englishman.

“If he’s both… good luck to him but I don’t buy it. I think you’re either one or the other.

“I was with Derry City when I got the call-up to play for the North, and I turned it down because it’s not my country, it’s never been my country. I’m an Irishman.

“It’s not just Declan, it’s anyone else. If you’re not proud to be here and we’re a stepping-stone, then *** off and play for someone else.

“I’m an Irishman. I grew up on the island of Ireland, simple as that. We only want players here who want to play for Ireland, who feel Irish and are proud to be Irish.”

Raging hypocrite

This is rank hypocrisy from McClean.

He is uniquely positioned to be aware of how difficult a decision Rice faced.

He chose England, of course, and explained why in an eloquent statement thereafter, claiming, per Football London: “Like so many people around the world, I consider myself to be of mixed nationality. I am a proud Englishman, having been born and raised in London. However, I am just as proud of my family’s Irish heritage and my affinity and connection with the country.”

McClean is clearly deaf to that. He does not even claim to understand what Rice has been through despite his own personal experience in playing for a different nation at youth level.

Perhaps he is merely trying to buy himself some goodwill among Ireland’s fans. If so, this is a shameful way of going about it.

كشف أمير مرتضى منصور، المشرف العام على الكرة بنادي الزمالك، عن موقف ناديه تجاه الأنباء المتداولة بشأن تأجيل مباراة الأبيض والرجاء المغربي، في إياب دور نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وكانت أنباء قد ترددت في الساعات الأخيرة حول استقرار مسئولي الاتحاد الافريقي لكرة القدم “كاف” على تأجيل مباراة الزمالك والرجاء في نصف نهائي بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا بسبب تفشي إصابات الكورونا في الفريق المغربي.

أقرأ أيضًا.. اتحاد الكرة يكشف لـ بطولات موقف الدوري حال تأجيل مباراة الزمالك والرجاء

نشر أمير مرتضى عبر حسابه الرسمي على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “تويتر”: “حتى الآن لم يتواصل معنا أي مسئول من الاتحاد الإفريقي بشكل رسمي أو ودي بشأن تأجيل مباراة الرجاء”.

تابع: “الأخبار المتداولة حول موافقة الزمالك على التأجيل ليست صحيحة، لسنا طرفًا في تأكيد أو تغيير ميعاد، ومستعدين لخوض المباراة في أي وقت، ولكن طبقاً للوائح نتمنى الشفاء العاجل للأشقاء المغاربة”.

حتى الآن لم يتواصل معنا أي مسئول من الاتحاد الافريقي بشكل رسمي أو ودي بشأن تأجيل مباراة الرجاء والأخبار المتداولة حول موافقة الزمالك على التأجيل ليست صحيحة لسنا طرف في تأكيد أو تغيير ميعاد ومستعدين لخوض المباراة في أي وقت ولكن طبقاً للوائح نتمنى الشفاء العاجل للأشقاء المغاربة🇲🇦🇪🇬 — Amir Mortada Mansour (@AmirMortada) October 22, 2020

الزمالك فاز على الرجاء المغربي، بهدف دون رد، في ذهاب نصف النهائي الإفريقي، الذي أقيم على استاد محمد الخامس، بالدار البيضاء، وكان من المفترض أن تُقام مباراة الإياب مساء السبت المقبل، بالقاهرة، إلا أن وزارة الصحة المغربية منعت سفر الفريق المغربي إلى القاهرة واعتبرته بؤرة لانتشار المرض.

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Leeds came from behind twice to put themselves back in the automatic promotion places on Saturday, and it was all down to a gutsy tactical tweak from Marcelo Bielsa.

While Sheffield United blew a 2-1 lead at home to lose 3-2 to Bristol City, Leeds did the opposite, producing a dramatic late comeback against Millwall.

Goals from Ben Thompson, Ben Marshall, Pablo Hernandez and Luke Ayling set up a nervy finish at 2-2, and Hernandez slammed home his second of the game to steal all three points.

None of it would have been possible without Bielsa though, who made one of the bravest substitutions you’ll ever see when the Lions were leading 2-1.

On the chalkboard

After Marshall’s 55th minute penalty, Leeds fans could be forgiven for thinking ‘here we go again’.

The Whites were staring down the barrel at the possibility of Sheffield United moving four points clear with just seven games left to play.

But while Chris Wilder’s team threw away their lead, Bielsa showed why he is considered one of the world’s best tacticians, withdrawing centre back Pontus Jansson for winger Jack Clarke with his team needing two goals.

The switch meant defensive midfield ace Kalvin Phillips moved back into the heart of defence, Mateusz Klich took Phillips’ spot deeper in midfield, and Clarke took Hernandez’s place on the wing.

Hernandez was thus left to roam free in the number ten position, and to say he wreaked havoc would be an understatement.

The Elland Road favourite was absolutely everywhere in the last 20 minutes, and by full time he had amassed seven shots, two key passes and seven successful dribbles, per Whoscored.

Withdrawing your best defender against a team who is notorious for being dangerous in the air was incredibly brave of the boss, even a little too brave perhaps, but it paid off and then some.

If the Whites do earn promotion ahead of the Blades, fans can look back at this decision as the one that quite literally saved their season.