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According to Corriere dello Sport, AS Roma are very close to keeping Manchester United ace Chris Smalling in the summer, via @utdreport.   

The Italian newspaper claims Roma are only ‘one step away’ from signing Smalling on loan, which could become a permanent deal next year.

It seems likely Smalling will leave Old Trafford on loan again for another season and the Italians will be obliged to sign him permanently in 2021.

Although the defender’s first spell in Italy was brought to an abrupt halt as a result of the pandemic, he has still managed to play 20 games in Serie A this season (Transfermarkt).

Roma boss Paulo Foncesca has been impressed by the England international’s work ethic, as he has averaged 2 interceptions per game, completed 4.5 clearances on average, scored 2 goals, and created 1 assist so far (WhoScored).

In comparison, Phil Jones has struggled for form this season and the defender is now in a vulnerable position. It is worth pointing out Smalling has earned a higher WhoScored rating than his teammate at the time of writing.

After arriving at the Theatre of Dreams from Fulham for £7.2m in 2010, the 30-year-old has made over 300 appearances for the Red Devils, winning the Premier League twice, the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup. He is currently valued at £14.4m via Transfermarkt.

United initially priced the centre-back at €25m, which equates to £22m, but it appears Ed Woodward has lowered the asking price to somewhere in the region of €12m-€15m.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted he is a fan of the veteran in the past, but Smalling wants to be playing regular football in order to improve his chances of being named in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad, and this is something the club legend cannot guarantee.

Indeed, Solskjaer has frequently used the pairing of captain Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof at the back this season, and it is hard to imagine the Englishman would be given a place in the starting lineup if he returned to Old Trafford.

Naturally, many United fans reacted to the transfer news on social media, with one supporter urging the board to “cash in ASAP,” and another adding “take Jones instead.”

Have a read through the rest of the mixed reactions so far…

United fans, should the board sell Chris Smalling permanently in the summer? Let us know down below!

Tottenham Hotspur fans want their club to snap up Giovani Lo Celso on a permanent basis in the January transfer window.

Spurs completed a deal to bring the Argentine into the club on an initial loan deal from Real Betis in the summer.

However, Spanish outlet Sevilla.ABC claimed over the weekend that it would cost Spurs €32m (£27.3m) to make the deal permanent when the winter window opens.

If they were to wait until the summer, however, it would cost €40m (£34.1m), leading to a belief in Spain that the deal will be done at the turn of the year.

Spurs are already reported to have paid €15m (£12.8m) to take Lo Celso on loan, a figure that has been banked by Betis.

Thus far, the 23-year-old has made just two starts in all competitions but he scored his first goal for the club in the 4-0 thumping of Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.

And fans are keen for him to be tied to the club on a permanent basis as soon as possible.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

أعلن المدرب الإيطالي، أنطونيو كونتي، المدير الفني لنادي إنتر ميلان، تشكيل فريقه الرسمي، لمباراة يوفنتوس في الدوري.

إنتر ميلان يحل ضيفًا على يوفنتوس، في تمام الساعة السادسة بتوقيت القاهرة، على ملعب “أليانز ستاديوم”، ضمن لقاءات الجولة السابعة والثلاثين من الدوري الإيطالي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أشرف حكيمي: كونتي أقنعني بالانتقال لـ إنتر.. ويُمكننا الهيمنة على أوروبا!

إنتر ميلان يحتل صدارة الدوري، وحسم اللقب قبل أربع جولات، حيث يتصدر المسابقة برصيد 88 نقطة، ويريد إنهاء الموسم بأعلى رصيد من النقاط. تشكيل إنتر ميلان اليوم ضد يوفنتوس

حراسة المرمى: هاندانوفيتش.

خط الدفاع: سيكرينار، دي فريج، باستوني.

خط الوسط: حكيمي، باريلا، بروزوفيتش، إريكسن، دارميان.

خط الهجوم: لوكاكو، لاوتاور مارتينيز.

مقاعد بدلاء إنتر ميلان

جاليارديني، فيتشينو، سينسي، رانوكيا، بيرسيتش، أشلي يونج، باديلي، دامبروزيو، رادو، بينامونتي.

📢 | FORMAZIONE

Questi gli 1⃣1⃣ titolari scelti da Antonio Conte per #JuventusInter!

⚫️🔵 #FORZAINTER ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/qaQekHoER5 — Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter) May 15, 2021

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…

Following Wolves’ 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon, opposition manager Steve Bruce has given his thoughts on a key moment during the match.

In the second half, Matty Longstaff received his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Ruben Neves, but the Newcastle United boss’ comments show a worrying lack of sympathy.

What’s he said?

A well-placed close-range finish from left wing-back Jonny ensured that Wolves returned to the west Midlands with at least a point after his goal cancelled out Jamaal Lascelles’ 37th-minute header.

Newcastle ended the match with ten men after Longstaff went in late on Neves with what was a completely unnecessary challenge seven minutes from time.

In his post-game press conference, Bruce said:

“The behaviour of Neves… when they’re rolling around like that, you know they’re not hurt. If you’re hurt, you just stay motionless.

“He’s not in control of his foot, but how is he supposed to be when he’s just played the ball?

“In that respect I think it’s harsh on the boy (Longstaff), I really, really do.”

Outrageously outlandish

Firstly, Bruce is right to defend one of the most inexperienced and youthful members of his squad as he will likely face some sort of backlash from such a reckless tackle – even more so if it had cost them the match entirely.

But his comments are far too extreme to the point where you’re questioning if he’s even seen the incident correctly.

The 19-year-old has gone into the challenge with his studs showing, and instead of trying to evade Neves’ entire leg completely, his boots roll up his thigh.

It could have quite easily been a leg-breaker.

Watch Wolverhampton Wanderers Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Portuguese midfielder was hardly rolling around either as you could audibly tell he was in a lot of pain, so Bruce is completely wrong on that front.

But to then go and say it was a harsh call… that’s simply outrageous. It was a horrible challenge.

يثق إيدن دجيكو من قدرة روما على تجاوز مانشستر يونايتد في نصف نهائي الدوري الأوروبي، لكنه يعترف بأنه كان يجب أن يكون قويًا عقليًا للتعافي من صراعه مع مدربه باولو فونسيكا.

سجل البوسني هدف التعادل هذا المساء، مما سمح لروما بإخراج أياكس من ربع النهائي بنتيجة 3-2 في مجموع المباراتين.

قال دجيكو لشبكة “سكاي سبورت إيطاليا”: “لقد تأهلنا في النهاية، وهذا هو الشيء الأكثر أهمية، حتى لو عانينا من المواجهتين”.

وأضاف: “أظهر الفريق شخصيته وقبل كل شيء بعد أن سجل هدفًا، قاومنا وركضنا حتى النهاية، استحقينا مكاننا تمامًا في نصف النهائي”.

وعن الهدف الذي أحرزه، استطرد: “يجب أن أبقى هناك وانتظر الكرة، قد أحاول الركض أقل قليلاً، لكني أعرف بشكل أفضل إلى أين ستنتهي الكرة”.

وواصل: “لقد كانت حركة رائعة، اللعب من الخلف بثلاث أو أربع تمريرات، رغم أننا لم نفعل ذلك بشكل كاف الليلة، أنا سعيد من أجل كالافيوري، لأنه كان يبدأ ربع نهائي الدوري الأوروبي وقدم مساعدة حاسمة، إنه أمر رائع بالنسبة له”.

وعن فرص روما أمام مانشستر يونايتد وتكافؤ الفرص، أكد دجيكو: “إذا كنا في الدور نصف النهائي، فبالتأكيد يمكننا ذلك، من المؤكد أنه لم يكن طريقًا سهلاً، كانت مواجهات براجا وشاختار دونيتسك وأياكس صعبة”.

واستطرد: “الآن نواجه اسمًا كبيرًا آخر، لكن روما اسم كبير أيضًا، ويجب أن نبذل قصارى جهدنا للوصول إلى النهائي”.

لقد كان موسمًا صعبًا لدجيكو، الذي تم تجميده في يناير بعد خلاف مع المدرب فونسيكا وعاد للمشاركة بعد ذلك، لكنه جرد من شارة القائد.

وعلّق: “هذه هي سنتي السادسة هنا، كانت هناك العديد من التقلبات، ولم يكن هذا الموسم أفضل ما لدي على المستوى الشخصي لأسباب عديدة، لا أحب النظر إلى الماضي، ما حدث قد حدث، علينا أن ننظر إلى المستقبل”.

وأكمل: “هناك العديد من اللاعبين هنا يلعبون أول نصف نهائي لهم وعلينا الاستمتاع بذلك، لأن اللعب في أولد ترافورد لا يحدث كل يوم”.

وشدد دجيكو: “قلت دائمًا إن شارة روما كانت شرفًا لي، لكنني ألعب لروما وليس من أجل شارة القيادة، سأبذل قصارى جهدي دائمًا من أجل روما، اليوم وغدًا وفي المستقبل”.

واستكمل: “من الصعب التفكير في ذلك الآن، لدينا مباراة نصف نهائية قادمة والدوري الإيطالي أيضًا، لذلك سنرى في النهاية”.

وعن جلوسه بديلاً لفترة، أوضح دجيكو: “كان الأمر صعبًا عندما لعبت على أعلى مستوى، كان من الصعب قبول بعض الأشياء، لكنني كنت دائمًا قويًا عقليًا ولم أكن لأصل إلى هذا الحد لو كنت ضعيفًا”.

وأتم: “هذا ما جعلني أواجه هذا الموقف، الشيء المهم هو روما وليس شارة القيادة أو إدين دجيكو، وليس أي شخص”.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Off the Bench series, which places in-game managerial decisions and squad selections under FFC’s microscope.

In what used to be a titanic tussle for the title, Manchester United and Arsenal played out a drab 1-1 draw at Old Trafford that firmly reminded everyone of just how far both clubs have fallen.

Snapshot

Having slipped to a limp defeat to West Ham in the Premier League the previous weekend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side headed into the contest against the Gunners with a point to prove. A Monday night fixture, under the floodlights, the rain pouring down, and against one of your fiercest rivals. The stage was perfectly set for the Red Devils to get back on track.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…

Instead, Scott McTominay’s one moment of brilliance was cancelled out by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and the spoils were shared. Arsenal looked there for the taking, and United could have, and probably should have, sensed blood.

Instead, the home side showed no real courage in wanting to claim all three points – an attitude perhaps best encapsulated by Solskjaer’s baffling decision to only throw on Mason Greenwood when there were just 15 minutes left.

Off the bench

Arsenal’s game-plan of sitting deep (they averaged just 45% possession), should have prompted Solskjaer to bring on Greenwood much earlier. The teenager had scored two goals in his previous two starts for the club, and was the in-form forward for United.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Marcus Rashford looked toothless up top for the Red Devils, managing just one shot on target in the entire game. If you needed a quick snapshot of his struggles both in the match and the past few weeks as a whole, then look no further than when he got caught up to by a 31-year-old Sokratis, and subsequently got his legs in a tangle when clean through on goal.

In his last game against Rochdale, Greenwood scored, had four shots on target and provided five key passes. He always looked likely to create something, and for Solskjaer to not utilise him much earlier on against Arsenal truly baffles.

His unwavering faith in Rashford in certain respects is admirable. But to not display the same amount of courage in Greenwood is utterly criminal considering the circumstances.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has urged Ole Gunnar Solskjaer not to play Mason Greenwood when Manchester United host Arsenal on Monday evening.

United have just two wins from 11 games going into the clash against Merson’s former side, and he feels that playing youngster Greenwood in a team that is underperforming will be a hindrance to his development.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ The Debate, Merson believes that while Greenwood has a bright future, Solskjaer and United will be better off maintaining his confidence by not throwing him in at the deep end and starting him in the big match at Old Trafford.

Merson said (via Metro): “I hope – I know this won’t sound right – the young kid doesn’t get a chance, Greenwood.

“I think he’s a good player, I think he’s going to be special. You don’t want to be putting a young kid into a bad team.

“When you’re a centre forward, you’re only as good as the service you get. If you ain’t getting the service, you ain’t scoring the goals – I don’t care who you are.

“Not just his confidence, everything. The pressure is going to be on him. The fans are going to be saying ‘Oh, Greenwood’s in’. Solskjaer’s already said he’s one of the best finishers he’s seen.

“I just hope the kid don’t get in when the team are playing poorly because I think this lad is going to be special.”

Greenwood certainly has the makings of a fine footballer – getting off the mark for Manchester United in their recent Europa League tie against Astana.

And if going by precedent, Solskjaer would perhaps be better served ignoring Merson and selecting Greenwood based on his individual ability rather than the form of the team.

Starting the 17-year-old would echo the Premier League debut of Marcus Rashford, who scored twice against Arsenal back in 2016.

So Solskjaer needn’t be put off by Merson’s comments nor United’s frustrating form – and play to his team’s strengths wherever they lie on Monday night.

Manchester United fans, would you start Greenwood against Arsenal? Let us know in the comments below!

Mings said that he had a great experience during his time with the Three Lions, but the next part of his caption will be what many Aston Villa fans are really interested in.

The defender went on to say that he can’t wait to get back to the Midlands club and focus on the league.

This type of commitment will undoubtedly put him in the good books of many Villa supporters.

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What does the future hold for Shkodran Mustafi and Mohamed Elneny?

If it wasn’t already clear that they were not part of manager Unai Emery’s plans after they hadn’t featured at all in the first two games of the campaign, the former Sevilla boss’ recent comments have made it absolutely crystal what he thinks of them.

The 47-year-old said, “Really, I want players to be happy here. I want players to be protagonists here. Last year, for example, with Mustafi and with Mo, when they did not play, they were not happy.

Is the Arsenal player in the video below the man Liverpool should fear most on Saturday?…

“I spoke with them a lot of times last year and in this pre-season. I think it’s positive for them to leave and to sign for another team where they can be protagonists, they can be happy and they can continue in their careers as very big players. They are very big players.”

As such, it seems clear that the two will be leaving the Emirates Stadium before the end of the transfer window. Should they depart, it would bring an end to three years in north London for Mustafi and three-and-a-half for Elneny.

The two are not huge favourites with the club’s supporters, the Germany international in particular receiving criticism for his performances in the past. Therefore, some Gunners fans are delighted with the update, and have praised Emery for his ruthlessness and honesty.

They have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments below.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

In the aftermath of the whole Manchester United penalty fiasco against Wolves on Monday night, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s attempt to clear up the situation arguably raised more questions than it answered. The Norwegian insisted both Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford were designated spot-kick takers and it would be up to the players to sort it out amongst themselves on the pitch.

Understandably, many were left unconvinced the Red Devils boss had the right approach, with Gary Neville declaring: “This is a Manchester United penalty – this isn’t a tombola. This is not under-fives football on the playground.”

The whole debacle seemed to expose a lack of leadership and control at the club, and Solskjaer’s post-match assessment in front of the cameras did little to dispute that.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

But according to The Sun, the Norwegian “tore into” Pogba and Rashford in the dressing room and “blasted” the pair for failing to agree on who was the penalty-taker before the game. The report adds Solskjaer then made it clear to the squad Rashford would now be the man to take on spot-kick duties for the club.

If the claim that the United manager had looked to keep things in-house and away from the prying eyes of the media is true, then Solskjaer must be applauded. The Norwegian was put in an incredibly difficult situation by the duo, but rather than blaming them publicly, as a certain Jose Mourinho may have done, he backed them. Then, when he had the chance to make his feelings clear back in the confines of the dressing room, he reportedly took decisive action.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

What could he have gained by simply throwing his players under the bus? Indeed, in Pogba’s situation, it could have been the final straw in helping the Frenchman decide that his career was better off elsewhere.

At a time when United are beginning their rebuild following last season’s disappointment, Solskjaer’s willingness to protect his players in public, but deal with them in private, is a welcome sign of leadership.

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