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Leeds fans are feeling gutted after Ezgjan Alioski had to come off injured against Brentford.

The Macedonian international has been one of Marcelo Bielsa’s most consistently selected players this season having started all 44 of Leeds United’s Championship games so far.

It is unknown how long the left-sided player will miss for the Whites, but initial signs don’t look good as the usually resilient Alioski had to be replaced by Stuart Dallas early on at Griffin Park.

With Barry Douglas also ruled out for the remainder of the season this injury will be a huge dent in Leeds’ promotion push, with Leif Davis or Dallas two potential options who will have to step up to play left-back during the most vital part of the season.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side are still behind in the race for the Premier League and an injury to a key player such as Alioski will make things much harder for the Whites in the final two games of the campaign.

Here’s what Leeds fans have been saying on Twitter…

حدد مجلس إدارة نادي برشلونة الحالي موعد إجراء انتخابات رئاسة النادي، حسب ما أفادت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية.

وأوضحت الصحيفة أن المجلس اجتمع اليوم الخميس، واستقر على يوم الأحد 24 يناير 2021 ليكون موعدًا لانتخابات رئاسة برشلونة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بيدري: الاستماع إلى نصائح ميسي فخر.. وشعرت بصدمة عند رؤيته أول مرة

وأشارت إلى أنه بين التواريخ التي تم النظر فيها 17 و 24 يناير، وتم اختيار الأخير، على الرغم من أن نهاية الأسبوع برشلونة سيلعب بعيدًا عن أرضه أمام إلتشي بمنافسات الليجا.

ووفقًا للصحيفة ذكر برشلونة أنه في غضون الأسابيع القليلة المقبلة، سيتم جعل التقويم الانتخابي النهائي رسميًا، بالإضافة إلى الأماكن واللوجستيات الخاصة بالعملية برمتها.

يأتي ذلك بعد استقالة المجلس السابق برئاسة جوزيب ماريا بارتوميو، والذي قدم استقالته قبل احتساب تصويت سحب الثقة الذي رغب أعضاء برشلونة في إجراءه.

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Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham United venture to the new White Hart Lane for the first time on Saturday to face the daunting task of trying to cause a shock against an in-form Tottenham Hotspur under Mauricio Pochettino, but there’s four key starting Xl changes the Hammers should make to give themselves some hope.

What are they?

The quartet of alterations would mean changes in the defence, midfield and attack from last weekend’s disappointing Premier League home draw with Leicester City at the London Stadium.

At the back, it’s time for summer signing Ryan Fredericks to return at right-back in place of veteran Pablo Zabaleta and to the left of him at left centre-back, Issa Diop to do the same by replacing Angelo Ogbonna.

Looking further forward into the left centre of midfield, a rethink is also a must for Pellegrini here, giving Jack Wilshere his first start since early September 2018 by ousting Robert Snodgrass.

And finally, up front, lone striker Marko Arnautovic needs to be replaced by Lucas Perez.

How will they give West Ham a chance of pulling off an upset?

Suggesting these changes to the starting team is all well and good but how exactly are they going to give the Irons a chance of pulling off an upset in north London?

Well, Fredericks at right-back rather than his mentor Zabaleta will give West Ham that much-needed pace to be able to cope with Heung-min Son.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the back four, centre-half performances have really let the side down in recent weeks. Pellegrini’s tried to make Ogbonna alongside Balbuena or Diop work and but it just hasn’t with at least two goals conceded in each of the last six matches.

It’s time to reunite Balbuena and Diop in the partnership that was working so well up until the former’s injury prior to Christmas.

Snodgrass started the term well in Claret & Blue but has since faded away and offered little more than the odd deadly set-piece. With Wilshere back, the 27-year-old desperately needs starts and the Scot will have to be the unlucky one to drop out in the centre – the weakest link.

Another incentive for Wilshere’s inclusion is his willingness to beat Spurs, bitter rivals of his former club Arsenal, and the same will apply for Perez, who should replace an out-of-sorts Arnautovic and bring form to the table after what should have been two goals against the Foxes.

Despite four alterations, Pellegrini shouldn’t waver from the 4-1-4-1 that was effective on home soil last time out as these are like-for-like changes, ones that will give his team the best possible chance of taking something back to east London.

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Having only scored 13 times in 64 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, it is difficult to say that Fernando Llorente has been a success in north London.

The 34-year-old has been absolutely key in recent months, though, particularly in the absence of Harry Kane.

Llorente was named on the bench against Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but was introduced at the interval.

It would be fair to say that the Spaniard played a key role in his team ultimately making the Champions League final courtesy of a 3-2 win on the night, with his hold-up play and physical presence providing a spearhead from which to play off in the final-third.

It seems very likely that the striker will leave Tottenham on a free transfer this summer when his contract expires, but he has made a decent claim to earn a new deal in recent weeks.

However, the Spurs fans are absolutely loving his form at the moment, with many taking to social media in the aftermath of the incredible game against Ajax in Amsterdam.

A selection of the best Twitter reaction to his performance can be viewed below:

يراقب نادي ليفربول الإنجليزي آخر تطورات حالة اللياقة الخاصة باللاعب أندي روبرتسون، في ظل شكوك حول معاناته من إصابة في أوتار الركبة.

وغاب روبرتسون عن مباراة منتخب اسكتلندا أمس أمام منتخب سلوفاكيا في الجولة الخامسة من بطولة دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

وأكد مدرب اسكتلندا أن روبرتسون كان يعاني من إصابة قوية في أوتار الركبة، أجبرته على الغياب عن مباراة الأمس.

وأشار المدرب كذلك إلى وجود إمكانية لمشاركة روبرتسون في مباراة الأربعاء القادم أمام الكيان الصهيوني (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وحسب شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” الإنجليزية، فإن ليفربول يراقب عن كثب حالة روبرتسون، خاصة إذا شارك في مباراة الأربعاء.

وأشارت إلى أن ليفربول يأمل جاهزية روبرتسون، حيث لا يستطيع المدرب يورجن كلوب تحمل خسارة جديدة في خط الدفاع.

ويعاني ليفربول من كثرة الإصابات في صفوف الفريق وخاصة في خط الدفاع، حيث يعاني فيرجيل فان دايك وجو جوميز من إصابات طويلة الأمد، إلى جانب إصابة ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد والتي ستبعده عن مواجهة ليستر سيتي يوم الأحد القادم.

A loss at the new stadium was going to happen at one point. The main focus for Tottenham now though is how they will land themselves a spot in the Champions League final. Yikes, what a sentence. 

After miraculously making their way through to the semi-final, the aim for Tottenham, believe it or not, has to be getting to the final in Madrid. It would take some doing but with the quality Mauricio Pochettino’s players have shown at times this season, nothing is impossible.

What a story it’d be.

Next season though, is bound to be very different prospect entirely. Whether Tottenham can seriously challenge for the Premier League title and other silverware is unknown but building for the future is something they’re doing very well right now.

With a number of top quality youngsters throughout their team, Tottenham would do well to sign another highly-rated player in the name of Norwich City’s Max Aarons.

Aarons, (who is valued at £4.5 million on Transfermarkt) has rightly been named within the Championship Team of the Season this campaign, after playing his part in allowing Norwich to be promoted back into the Premier League. The 19-year-old has been crucial for the Canaries in every sense this season. His defending ability is fantastic, whilst he constantly gets up and down the pitch providing balls into the box for his team-mates.

Touted with a move to North London by the Telegraph late last month, he looks every inch the kind of player who’d thrive under Pochettino. Young, hungry and talented, it almost makes too much sense not to make a move.

With two goals and six assists, Aarons has shown exactly what he is capable of, and what an asset he could be for a club like Tottenham attempting to build for a better future. Over Kieran Trippier who has been poor this season, Max Aarons could be a fantastic addition for Tottenham and one that solidifies the right-back role for years to come.

Tottenham fans, would you take Aarons? Even over Kyle Walker-Peters? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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According to the Guardian, Leicester are looking into the possibility of signing Italian striker Andre Petagna. Standing at 6 ft 2, he could give the Foxes a completely new dynamic in attack.

What’s the word?

Currently on loan at SPAL from Atalanta, Petagna has had a fantastic season in Serie A, contributing to 41% of his team’s goals.

He’s bagged 14 strikes in just 31 matches, putting him in joint seventh place in the race for the golden boot in Italy’s top flight.

He certainly knows where the back of the net is and after his exceptional campaign, he could now make a move to the Premier League, per the Guardian. The report suggests that Leicester may be weighing up a bid of €20m (£17.25m) after sending scouts to watch the forward in action. He’s currently rated at £9m according to Transfermarkt.

Any possible transfer for the 23-year-old could be out of Leicester’s hands, though. SPAL have an option to buy in Petagna’s loan contract if they don’t get relegated which means the Foxes may miss out on their man.

New plan B for the Foxes?

Whenever Jamie Vardy has been paired with a striker it’s been a largely inconsistent tactic. Shinji Okazaki worked well alongside the Englishman but the likes of Ahmed Musa, Islam Slimani and Kalechi Iheanacho have failed to set the world alight playing with him.

However, the addition of Petagna could be exactly what both Leicester and Vardy are looking for.

By pairing the two of them together should he join, it would give them an intriguing plan B. Most of Vardy’s work is done in the channels but given that Petagna is a powerful forward known to drop deep and string passes to runners in front of him, he offers the former England man a very interesting partnership.

Vardy has predominantly had to make deal with long balls in behind during his time at Leicester but by having a striker closer to him who is used to being more creative, it has the potential to be deadly.

At SPAL and Atalanta, Petagna drops between the lines on regular occasions and this could be of great benefit for Leicester’s star striker. Vardy’s runs would create space for Petagna in turn.

Securing a forward shouldn’t be Leicester’s priority this summer but it would certainly give them an interesting new option and change of system to boot.

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The war of words between Patrick Bamford and Aston Villa fans has continued as Leeds were denied a shot at promotion on Wednesday night.

Bamford’s side went 2-0 up on aggregate, only to let their lead slip and lose 4-3 across both ties with Derby. But the striker found himself at the centre of yet more controversy after being booked for diving.

This came after the 25-year-old had just returned from a ban for a theatrical incident against Aston Villa.

As a result, Villa fans absolutely ripped into the Leeds man after yet another mishap in midweek.

One supporter called him a shocking excuse of a footballer whilst another said he had more interest in cheating than scoring goals.

A further fan called for him to be banned again as the Villa Park faithful launched a scathing attack on the Whites’ front man.

Bamford had initially been at the centre of a spat with Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi in the lead up to the play-offs. After Leeds had controversially played on and scored after an injury to Jonathan Kodjia, the Dutchman went towards Bamford before the Englishman threw himself to the ground.

Following his performance on Wednesday, it appears as though there’s been no love lost between him and Villa.

Here’s the best of the reaction from Twitter.

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The PFA have announced their Championship Team of the Year and it has been decided that Middlesbrough’s goalkeeper Darren Randolph is the best in his position in the second tier.

The shot-stopper has been in superb form this season keeping 19 clean-sheets and helping Boro keep up a playoff challenge despite their own struggles in front of goal.

The fans certainly agree with the players who voted as the 31-year-old has been nominated for Boro player of the year and appears to be clear favourite for that award as well.

His inclusion in the Team of the Year will only strengthen the love Boro fans have for the Ireland international, and one fan even went so far as to call him the best keeper in English football.

Randolph has certainly impressed for Tony Pulis’ side and it appears his performances have not gone unnoticed by his fellow professionals either.

If Middlesbrough do make it to the playoffs could he be the difference between promotion and another season in the Championship? The fans down below certainly like what they see…

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Jordan Ayew is surely destined for a move this summer and The Sun report that Southampton are the latest club interested in signing him. The purchase would allow them to add a forward with Premier League pedigree at a low cost.

What’s the latest, then?

Ralph Hasenhüttl could bolster his forward options this summer, with the likes of Danny Ings, Shane Long and Charlie Austin all having mixed seasons.

However, it may not be the signing Saints fans want. Ayew also struggled for form this season at Crystal Palace and was often used as a back-up option, resulting in just one Premier League goal scored in 20 appearances.

In fact, Ayew has never impressed on the goal-scoring front since his arrival to England in 2015. In four seasons he has scored 24 goals in all competitions, with some of those coming in a six month Championship spell.

Long is much maligned for his lack of goals but offers a whole lot more, which begs the question as to why Southampton would make Ayew a key target.

Positives of the move

Ayew would likely be offloaded at a low cost – he’s recently been valued at just £4million – allowing Saints greater room to manoeuvre in the transfer market. For example, they could still go after Ademola Lookman, who was recently linked by The Independent.

Furthermore, Hasenhüttl has built his brand on quick, attacking football and Ayew suits this style. He is a flexible forward who makes clever runs beyond the defence and drifts wide – opening up space for the likes of Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse. If he could form a partnership with Long or Ings, Saints could transform into a real attacking force that doesn’t spend next season fighting relegation.

Snapping up the Ghanaian early doors could also prove beneficial. With a pre-season under his built and an understanding of Hasenhüttl’s playing style, he could prove to be a real coup.