Sheffield Wednesday’s hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs took a massive blow on Saturday after they were leapfrogged by Fulham.
Dropping points away to Barnsley, that poor result was compounded as the London side picked up all three points away to Rotherham United.
Fulham are now a point ahead of Wednesday, with a vastly superior goal difference. Given there’s only 7 games remaining between now and the end of the season, fans are now very worried their season has comes off the rails.
It was all going so well for Carlos Carvalhal’s team, who took the lead at Barnsley just after half-time thanks to Sam Winnall. However, an injury time leveller from Angus MacDonald delivered a hammer blow that left the travelling support gutted.
They now have a massive two weeks ahead with a trip to Rotherham on the cards before hosting Newcastle and Cardiff in successive weekends.
Can they rally and get back in front of Fulham or is their play-off dream dying?
Supporters took to Twitter to call for drastic change in the closing weeks of the season…
Chelsea have issued a champions response to their 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United last week, giving Tottenham Hotspur what-for at Wembley in the semi-final of the FA Cup whilst re-asserting their dominance over their title rivals in the Premier League with a stunning 4-2 win over Southampton.
The six-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge was by no means an immaculate performance; sloppy defending at a set piece allowed Southampton back into the match after the Blues had already gone one-nil up, whilst concentration at the back slipped once again as former Chelsea youngster Ryan Bertrand grabbed a consolation goal in the closing stages.
Nonetheless, Chelsea were relentless going forward, carving Southampton open on four occasions with four high-quality goals.
Eden Hazard opened Chelsea’s account early on with a tidy finish, Gary Cahill’s powerful header re-established his side’s lead just before half time, Diego Costa nodded home from close range after the interval to grab his first goal in eight and the Spaniard doubled his tally late on, following some brilliant combination work between himself, Hazard and Pedro.
So, Chelsea fans, who was your Man of the Match from Chelsea’s impressive win? Let us know by voting below…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has ruled out making a move for Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, and the fans have given mixed reactions.
The England number one is expected to be available at the end of the season after he was shipped out on loan to Torino.
City manager Pep Guardiola made it clear that Hart would not be his number one at the start of the 2016-17 campaign after he brought in Claudio Bravo from Barcelona.
It has not quite gone to plan, though, as numerous blunders have led to Bravo fighting Willy Caballero for the first-choice spot.
Hart is likely to be a regular name in the transfer gossip pages when the window reopens this summer, but his destination is uncertain.
From Klopp’s point of view, though, the 30-year-old will not be arriving at Anfield any time soon.
When probed in Thursday’s press conference about possibly adding to his group of goalkeepers, the German coach told reporters:
“Extra competition? You ask about goalkeepers but even though you don’t say the name, is it about Joe Hart? We don’t usually talk about these sort of things but in this particular case I think we can.
“He is a fantastic goalkeeper, the goalkeeper of the English national team, the highest quality, but we have highest-quality goalkeepers. It is not for us in this moment and hopefully not for us in the future – not because of Joe but we already have two strong goalkeepers.”
Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius currently occupy first and second in the goalkeeper ranks, and both have come under criticism this season.
Despite this, some fans do not think that Hart is the answer, while others are disappointed by Klopp’s admission.
As reported by The Telegraph, Tottenham Hotspur are facing a fight to hold on to one of their top performers this season; Kyle Walker.
What’s the story?
Walker has been a huge part of Spurs’ success this season, often a key attacking outlet on the right hand flank, as well as offering significant defensive stability.
That form has attracted the attention of Manchester City, according to The Telegraph, who say that City are confident of landing their man this summer.
The Citizens believe that Mauricio Pochettino may be tempted to cash in on the right-back and despite Daniel Levy’s preference to sell him abroad, are ready to offer Walker a significant increase on his current wage at White Hart Lane, say the paper.
Is it the right time to sell the defender?
Too good to leave
With 36 appearances for Pochettino’s side this season, it’s clear Walker is a massive part of the current set-up at Spurs and we reckon in order to continue their progress, they need to keep the vast majority of the current XI intact. Spurs should be looking to add to the existing spine of the team, not take away from it.
There’s the theory that you should maximise your assets and reinvest but in Walker they have a player at his peak who you’d fancy to have another storming season next year.
Pochettino will need a deep squad next season if his side are to compete in the league and in Europe and holding on to the likes of the England international will be key.
Even if they do sell, doing so to one of their rivals in the Premier League would be a silly move. He’s too good to have him help out the likes of Manchester City.
“Why on earth did we buy them?” will be the words that ring out of Manchester United fan’s mouths when they look back at some of the players they’ve bought in the past, and perhaps the present.
The glory days of the class of ’92, the trophy-clad years of the late 2000’s. Both were memorable eras in the United timeline, but while those periods will be remembered best for the likes of David Beckham, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs, there will be some less-than-memorable names amongst them.
Just as any club in the Premier League, some signings are just unfortunately destined not to work out, and with a club the size of Manchester United and the spending power they have, their ability to hand pick players from almost anywhere in the world makes them all the more susceptible to such failures.
Amongst those who have been part of that un-glorified group of United players that never made the bar are Bebe, the Portuguese starlet who appeared to have lied about his credentials on his CV; Massimo Taibi, the keeper who simply didn’t know the distance between his body and his hands and even big Belgian Marouane Fellaini, the much lamented midfielder part of the current crop under Jose Mourinho.
Who do you think has been the worst United signing however? Have your say in the poll below…
According to reports in The Sun, West Ham United are one of a number of Premier League clubs lining up a move for £20m-rated Leeds United striker Chris Wood this summer.
Irons manager Slaven Bilic is keen to bring in a new attacker this summer with continuing injury issues for Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho, and he has identified the impressive Championship star as a potential signing.
The New Zealand international enjoyed a spectacular personal season in England’s second tier, but he could choose to make the step up to the top flight after Garry Monk’s men narrowly missed out on a place in the play-off positions despite spending the majority of the campaign in the top six.
It won’t be a straightforward deal though with the Yorkshire outfit not keen to lose their best player and with Southampton, Stoke City and Swansea City also interested in the 25-year-old, but he would certainly be a good addition.
Here are three reasons the Hammers must win the race to sign Wood…
Goals
With the absence of Carroll and Sakho at various stages of the season – and for the latter the majority of it – West Ham have somewhat struggled for goals.
Winger Michail Antonio – who was often deployed at right-back earlier in the campaign – is their top scorer with nine goals and the Irons have netted just 45 in total in 37 Premier League games.
Having scored 30 in 48 appearances in all competitions for Leeds this season, Wood could be the answer to the Irons’ woes.
Style of play
Some of West Ham’s most effective football seems to come when Carroll is on the pitch, but whether that is a good thing for supporters is another matter.
However, standing at 6’3” tall and having shown he is able to play and make a huge impact on his own up top – this would suit Bilic as he likes to play either a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3 formation – Wood’s hold up play and ability to link up with his teammates could mean he is the ideal addition for the Irons this summer.
Age and potential
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At 25 years of age, Wood is entering his prime and that can only be a good thing for West Ham as they look to improve while keeping the average age of their side down.
The New Zealand international still has the potential to improve as well and if he can prove to be as effective in the Premier League as he has been in the Championship this season, there is no doubt that he could prove to be a bargain buy for the Irons.
According to reports in Portuguese publication A Bola, La Liga side Villarreal are closing in on the €14m (approximately £12.2m) signing of Newcastle United and Southampton target Ruben Semedo from Sporting Lisbon.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Premier League duo are both looking to strengthen their central defensive options this summer and they had both been linked with a move for the 23-year-old.
However, it appears as though the in demand Portuguese player is set to move to Spain rather than England, which will come as a blow to the Magpies and the Saints.
Why did they want him?
Well, despite receiving two red cards this season and often finding himself on the substitutes’ bench in the closing stages of the campaign, the tall defender has all of the attributes to be a success in the Premier League.
He is strong in the air, has a good reading of the game and is comfortable on the ball and bringing it out of defence – shown by his 90% passing accuracy for Sporting in Primeira Liga this term.
Even though he is understood to have had a release clause of €45m (approximately £39.1m) the duo also would have been interested as soon as they realised they could buy him this summer for less than a third of that total.
Who could they turn to?
With strong interest in Eibar’s Florian Lejeune it looks as though Toon boss Rafa Benitez could be looking for two new centre-backs this summer, and he could turn his attentions to Manchester City’s Eliaquim Mangala, or perhaps even Hull City’s Harry Maguire.
Meanwhile, Southampton may wait to see on the outcome of the Virgil van Dijk saga before they commit to buying a new centre-back, as the need for one wouldn’t be as urgent if the Dutchman is to stay at St Mary’s.
What’s the verdict, then?
Well, while the news may come as a blow the Premier League duo don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves and must quickly move on to their next target in order to strengthen their respective squads as soon as possible.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract situation at the Emirates is reaching crisis point and clubs like Liverpool are actively monitoring developments.
Despite making 45 appearances for the Gunners last season in all competitions, it appears the Gunners don’t see Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract renewal as a priority this summer.
Given his talent and potential, he is just 23 years of age after all, you’d expect Arsenal to have wrapped up any doubt about his future at the Emirates.
Liverpool are looking for more depth in their attacking options and Oxlade-Chamberlain also has the kind of versatility that could make him a very attractive option to Jurgen Klopp.
Fans of the Reds seem mixed on reports that Klopp is showing interest in him, some believing he doesn’t contribute enough goals or assists to be a hit at Anfield.
On the other hand some reckon he could fit in at Liverpool perfectly.
Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…
According to reports in the Sunday Express, Liverpool have been told that they must pay £70m if they want to sign Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk this summer.
What’s the word, then?
Well, Jurgen Klopp made the Saints centre-back one of his priority summer transfer targets and even though they believed they were closing in on a deal for the 25-year-old earlier this month, the club was forced to issue a statement of their official website apologising after the south coast outfit had reported the club to the Premier League and accused them of tapping the defender up.
However, the Sunday Express reports that the German hasn’t given up on bringing Van Dijk – who is keen on the move – to Anfield, although Southampton are refusing to budge on their £70m valuation of the player who has five years remaining on his contract at St Mary’s.
Also attracting interest from Chelsea and Manchester City according to the report in the Sunday Express, the Van Dijk saga seems to be far from over.
Why are Liverpool so keen to sign him?
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Klopp wants to strengthen his squad and sign a commanding centre-half who is comfortable bringing the ball out from the back and in possession, and those are attributes that Van Dijk has shown he has on a consistent basis for Southampton.
Brilliant in the air – he won 96 aerial duels in 21 Premier League fixtures last term – the 25-year-old has established himself as one of the best in the English top flight just two years after signing for Southampton from Celtic.
Would they be willing to pay £70m?
It’s difficult to say but if they really want him, then they know what they have to do and the Reds certainly seem to be willing to splash the cash this summer.
Would Southampton really sell to Liverpool?
You can never-say-never, but it seems unlikely.
While the player may want the move, Saints are in the strong position of having a player who has five years remaining on his contract and they would prefer to keep him – or sell him to Chelsea or Manchester City instead if their valuation is met – rather than to the Reds.
What’s the verdict, then?
Well, while Liverpool have been quoted £70m it remains to be seen whether Southampton would be willing to do business even if they met the asking price, and it will be interesting to see how things develop in the coming weeks.
According to BleacherReport, Swansea City are holding out for £40million from Everton for star midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The 50-cap Iceland international was one of the stars of his country’s fairytale Euro 2016 campaign and carried that momentum into the 16/17 Premier League season.
The set-piece specialist turns 28 in September and is currently valued at £21.25m by transfermarkt. Sigurdsson was the star man in Swansea’s successful battle against relegation, scoring nine league goals while finding his teammates for 13 more. He played in every league game for the Swans and didn’t miss a minute after matchday four, showing how absolutely vital he was to their survival.
Paul Clement surely doesn’t want to lose Sigurdsson, whose contract runs until the summer of 2020, but if he must the former Chelsea assistant will be sure to get a pretty penny for him.
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Everton have shown a willingness to spend this summer as they attempt to propel the club into the Champions League and adding Sigurdsson would be a key move towards that goal, particularly with current star midfielder Ross Barkley being linked with a move away from Goodison Park.
Paying £40m is probably a little high for a 28-year old, but if he can help Everton get to the Champions League his price probably won’t matter very much. What do you think Toffees fans? Is his worth breaking you transfer record?