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West Ham are set to add two centre backs to their ranks this summer, and with the Hammers leadership stalling over offering Declan Rice a new contract, should Everton swoop for the breakout star?

What’s the word?

West Ham officially unveiled the signing of Issa Diop on Tuesday, and the Hammers have been strongly linked with a move for Swansea’s Alfie Mawson.

Manuel Pellegrini is desperate to bring in some top talent, as the Chilean manager looks to get his new side surging up the table after their disappointing season.

While the Hammers are looking impressive in the transfer market, their decisiveness could be bad news for Rice.

The 19 year-old had an incredible breakout season last year, but has yet to sign a new contract, something the Toffees should definitely capitalise on.

Able to play as a centre back or defensive midfielder, both areas the Hammers are looking to strengthen, his playing time could take a severe hit if all their moves go through.

Everton meanwhile are looking to trim their wage bill, so it would be no surprise to see them target younger players this summer. With Rice entering the last 12 months of his contract, the fee would not be astronomical, so Marco Silva should absolutely try and convince the versatile youngster to ply his trade up north.

Where would he fit?

The 19 year-old, valued at £9m by Transfermarkt, played mostly as a centre back for the Hammers, but also has the technical and physical traits needed to play that holding midfield role for Silva’s 4-3-3 at Everton.

The Portuguese tactician wants a good passer as well as the strength and intelligence to break up play at the base of his midfield trio, and Rice has the potential to be fantastic at all three.

The West Ham fan favourite was crowned man of the match on his international debut earlier this year, and possesses the type of composure and leadership that will quickly endear him to the fans on Merseyside, just as it has done in East London.

Could it happen?

It will be a difficult task to lure Rice away from a club he loves so much, but the promise of guaranteed playing time under a young, exciting manager could just do it.

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West Ham fans won’t want to believe their young star would leave, but with the owners seemingly stalling over offering him the deal he wants, it would be tough to turn down if another Premier League club came calling with an enticing offer.

So, Everton fans, do you think you could lure Rice away from West Ham? Would he be a good signing? Let us know by voting in the poll below…

According to reports from Spain, Real Sociedad are interested in signing Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal this summer.

The Spain international is a firm favourite at the Emirates Stadium but will turn 33 before the end of next season and his contract only has a year left to run – making this summer the ideal time for Sociedad to tempt the north Londoners into selling.

Monreal’s departure will no doubt split opinion in some quarters, but what are the possible ramifications?

Football FanCast take a look at three consequences – some positive, some negative – of the veteran full-back’s potential exit…

Sead Kolasinac gets the chance to impress

It was a strange debut season for Kolasinac last time out. He started with a fine flurry of form and goals but suddenly lost his place after Arsene Wenger changed back to a four-man defence and his performances after generally left much to be desired.

Considering how highly-rated the Bosnian was before he moved to the Emirates Stadium though, claiming a place in the Bundesliga Team of the Season, he seems nailed on to be given the chance to prove himself as a regular starter should Monreal depart this summer.

It’s certainly cheaper than signing a direct replacement for Monreal, and after having a year to acclimatise himself in English football we might start seeing the Kolasinac who earned such rave reviews with Schalke. There are definite weaknesses to the 25-year-old’s game though, so it’s a question of how willing he is to improve and make an impression on the new manager.

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Arsenal’s defence loses continuity

It’s certainly understandable that Emery is looking to overhaul Arsenal’s defence this summer and has already made some headway in that process, bringing in Stephan Lichtsteiner and goalkeeper Bernd Leno, after the Gunners conceded a whopping 51 times in the Premier League last season. But there’s a danger in going too far the other way – completely rebuilding the defence to create something that’s unfamiliar and lacking structure.

That’s probably what Monreal offers the new Arsenal boss most at this moment in time; as well as experience and consistency, he can bring real continuity to that department of the team, which should help the likes of impending signing Sokratis integrate into the first team far more quickly. Monreal is an important figure in the dressing room and a particularly crucial done during this period of inevitable transition.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles spends season in wrong position

Maitland-Niles showed increasingly convincing glimpses of his natural talent last season, but the midfielder’s first Premier League outings for the Gunners bizarrely came at left-back. A prospect of his age should be looking to get minutes wherever they can but it’s clear Maitland-Niles’ future lays in the engine room, where he can use his exciting energy and technical quality.

What do you think of the World Cup so far? Let us know and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

The concern though, is whether Emery will end up following Wenger’s lead in using the 20-year-old in a lesser-favoured role, simply because of the needs of the squad. Curiously, Arsenal haven’t been linked with any left-backs, at least not convincingly, since Emery’s arrival and it’s even claimed the Spaniard’s lack of interest in signing one could ultimately prevent Monreal’s departure.

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Emery doesn’t have much money to work with this summer, so deputising for Kolasinac may well end up being Maitland-Niles’ primary duty for much of his first season under the new Gunners gaffer. That’s an almighty waste of the youngster’s huge potential, but needs must.

So, Arsenal fans, should your club cash-in on Monreal? Let us know by voting below…

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Everton succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to champions Manchester City on Wednesday night, with Marco Silva’s men taking the defeat lying down without a fight, although one man looked like he wanted to take the game to Pep Guardiola’s men.

The Toffees’ star man on the night

Second-choice right-back Jonjoe Kenny, who was making just his sixth Premier League start of the season against the Cityzens, excelled up against Leroy Sane and made life difficult for the German, so much so that he was withdrawn in the 58th minute by Guardiola.

Marco Silva opted to deploy the 21-year-old ahead of Seamus Coleman, and Kenny did his chances of a regular spot in the starting XI no harm with his display. The Englishman had 81 touches of the ball, 23 more than his nearest teammate managed, whilst also making two successful tackles against arguably the league’s most dangerous side.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

Kenny also made a huge six clearances on a night where he was unfortunate to be on the losing team, and his performance could have serious ramifications on a Goodison Park icon.

Coleman’s time at Everton could be over

Despite making 20 league starts for the Toffees this season, the Republic of Ireland international has failed to live up to his form of yesteryear and looks like he is starting to decline as a footballer.

Fans of the Merseyside-based side have already lambasted Coleman for his woeful performances so far this season, so Kenny’s vastly different showings could persuade Silva to give him a few more starts – if that becomes the case, the 30-year-old’s decade-long stay at Goodison Park could soon be over as a place on the bench beckons.

Everton have spent significant fees on revamping their ageing backline, including £18m on left-back Lucas Digne and £27m on Yerry Mina to replace Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka respectively, and Coleman could be the next Toffees icon to face the chop.

Liverpool have been less than convincing so far this season, with Brendan Rodgers’ men riding their luck to some degree.

Despite the fact that it took a last gasp piece of individual magic from Philippe Coutinho to see the Reds beat Stoke on the opening day and Christian Benteke’s goal was offside against Bournemouth, the Anfield outfit have importantly won their first two games of the campaign.

Rodgers has stuck with the same team and formation in both games, with the Northern Irishman fielding a 4-2-3-1 side.

In central midfield, the former Swansea boss has clearly decided on English duo Jordan Henderson and James Milner as the ‘heartbeat’ of his team, with both surely set to play regularly as they have been named as the club’s captain and vice captain respectively.

This decision seems logical following the departure of long-serving hero Steven Gerrard, but it also leaves the Merseysiders with a problem in the heart of their team. If Rodgers continues with the formation and central midfield pairing that has worked so far this term, it appears that there is no role in the starting XI for the impressive Emre Can.

The former Bayern Munich youth graduate was a real success last season and one of the only players signed in the summer that actually delivered in their his campaign in English football. Can showed that he has the array of attributes to excel in the centre of midfield in the Premier League, but most of his football was played as a central defender in a back three. The Germany under-21 starlet’s ability on the ball, positional awareness and range of passing were real attributes from deep last term, but in a back four Can does not fit in.

It is a good scenario for Rodgers to have, with an abundance of riches to select from, but it remains to be seen just how content the former Bayer Leverkusen man will remain if he is to play a bit-part role this season.

Can’s influence and footballing intelligence are unique attributes in the Liverpool squad and as such it seems logical that he should play some part in the team if they are to have a successful campaign. If Rodgers does not want to change his formation, it appears that the only solution to accommodate Can is to move the versatile Milner, who is more than able to play in a wide or attacking midfield role. The former Manchester City star could well be one of the three players behind lone striker Benteke, allowing the German to take his place in the team’s core.

Alternatively, in tough away games in particular, it could well be a wise idea to play all three central midfielders together, sacrificing one of the attacking players, like Adam Lallana, to make the team more compact.

Henderson looks to be an injury doubt ahead of the upcoming clash against Arsenal and as such Can may get a chance to remind the club’s fans and his manager just what he is capable of.

In the longer term, logic decrees that the talented German should be facilitated in some capacity to make Liverpool a more rounded team.

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Next year’s European Championships in France will mark 50 years since the 1966 World Cup, England’s only victory at a major championship to date. Since that great triumph at Wembley, our great rivals Germany have gone on to win three World Cup’s, in 1974, 1990 and more recently 2014, and also lifted three European Championships, in 1972, 1980 and 1996.

After a disastrous 2004 European Championships Joachim Low took charge of the German national team in 2006 and his first aim was to install an identity to his side, something I am sure we all can agree that the England national side severely lacks. His identity was to pass the ball on the ground from front to back as quickly as possible, creating a dynamic attacking style of play which was also easy on the eye.

Since 2004 Germany have been mightily impressive in major tournaments, reaching the Final of Euro 2008, finishing third in the World cup of 2010, third again at Euro 2012 and, finally, winners of the World Cup in 2014. One of the main reasons why Germany have surpassed England’s own efforts over the last decade has been the amount of German players Low has to choose from.

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It was Low himself who quoted in 2014 that England would struggle to win the World Cup due to the high amount of foreign players playing in the Premier League, hampering the young English talent from breaking through into the top flight. In last season’s Premier League campaign only 35% of the players were English. Compare that to the German Bundesliga, where around 60% of the players are German, and Low definitely has a valid point.

With Low having a larger number of home grown players playing in the German top division, it is no wonder that he appears to have an almost constant conveyor belt of young talent at his disposal. Over the years, Low has integrated such world class players as,Marco Reus, Julian Draxler, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Matts Hummels, Manuel Neuer and Mario Gotze into his German side.

Low finds a way to blend up and coming talent with the experience and reliability of players like Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski, whilst still allowing Germany to compete for major honours and continue playing with identity.

In contrast, England have been less successful in major European competitions since 2004. They only reached the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup, didn’t qualify for Euro 2008, went out in the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup , reached the quarter finals of Euro 2012, but then failed to make it out of the group stages at the 2014 World Cup.

With England fans now accustomed to a lack of trophies and identity, will we ever challenge again? World class players have come and gone but England have still never been close to reaching the highs of ’66. We have the players coming through: the Barkley’s, Sterling’s and Stones’. So surely it’s time for a new approach? An proper identity? A real philosophy?

With the Premier League and FA big wigs monitoring the amount of foreign players involved in the English game and rumours circulating of number restrictions being added to Premier League teams, I have no doubt that putting a cap on foreign players in our top flight would allow young English players more space to progress through the ranks. But would the quality of football in the Premier League then diminish?

With the German Bundesliga not having number restrictions on foreign players but consisting of nearly a third more home grown players, I ask, are Premier League clubs not recognising talent? Are they not producing or nurturing the talent correctly? Or is the English model just simply not good enough and out of date?

This, I am sure, will be a debate that drags on for many years to come.

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Manchester United Under-21 coach Warren Joyce has admitted that Nick Powell is ready to make a return to the first team following an extended spell on the sidelines, Manchester Evening News reports.

The 21-year-old was out of action for about nine months after suffering a serious hamstring injury when featuring for the reserve squad.

He last featured for the senior squad when United suffered a devastating 4-0 loss to MK Dons last season as his contract is set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

However, Joyce revealed that the midfielder is currently in the best condition of his life as he believes Powell is ready to play regular football either under manager Louis van Gaal or at a Championship club.

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“He’s certainly put in the hours in the gym and on the training pitch and, like I’ve said, is probably in the best condition physically he has ever been in his life,” he said.

“We’re hoping he will be able to push himself forward – either in the first-team or out in the league again. He’s had that already and is really too good for Reserves football.”

Depending on whether he can impress Van Gaal for another shot at first team football, Powell could be loaned out to a Championship club once the transfer window reopens in January.

“He has proved he can play in the Championship but, if he’s got ambition, which I’m sure he has, then he’d want to prove to himself he can play in the Premier League.”

He completed the move to Manchester from Crewe Alexandra back in July of 2012 for an estimated fee of £6million, but is yet to make a major impact for the Red Devils.

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Regardless of the crazy amounts of cash that have been spent down at Old Trafford in recent seasons, Manchester United are a club never seemingly far from the next big transfer head-line or suspicious newspaper story linking them with yet another young, up and coming Premier League star.

Louis van Gaal’s side are currently swimming along casually in the English top-flight without a great deal to concern them at the moment. The Red Devils are just about achieving some form of balance within a starting XI clearly hampered by a lack of top level experience and differing playing styles – but once again – the club will nonetheless be reportedly looking to improve their situation come the January transfer window just a few months down the line.

This latest exciting name to be linked with Manchester United may serve to surprise some of the Old Trafford faithful however, for Newcastle United’s Ayoze Perez isn’t exactly the most established striking option the Premier League has ever paid witness to. Quite the opposite actually – this is a player who has undoubtedly shown promise, but ultimately not a great deal more than that in what can still be considered the very early stages of his career.

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So then, is there actually any more to this story than pure speculation and heresy, or will Manchester United eventually move for the 22-year-old Spaniard as soon as the chance presents itself for Louis van Gaal?

Well, although most Premier League sides looking to make a name for themselves in the modern era wouldn’t give up a player like Ayoze Perez lightly, Newcastle United may well yet prove the anomaly in such a usually reliable trend.

The club’s chairman on Tyneside – the controversial and much disliked figure of Mike Ashley – very rarely sees fit to build upon what he already has at St. James’, often selling on certain assets just when his side finally look to be going places.

The likes of Andy Carroll, Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba have all left the club in differing circumstances in recent years, with the sale of each player subsequently contributing to the current predicament Steve McClaren’s team find themselves in near the bottom of the Premier League table.

Although a fair amount was in-fact spent at the club this summer, the timing of such a huge injection of cash has hardly been ideal for Newcastle when they certainly could have used some of that money throughout the course of last season instead.

The Magpies could therefore easily see fit to cash in on Ayoze Perez should the time come this January, even if the club’s loyal fan-base would likely express a vastly opposing attitude on the matter.

The 22-year-old Spanish U21 international has proved one of the shining lights for Newcastle so far this season, successfully registering himself on the score-sheet on a couple of different occasions and certainly looking decent out on the pitch whilst doing so.

The former Tenerife man has a fair amount of technical ability to count upon within his locker, he can link-up effectively with each of his attacking teammates in the final third – and when it comes to taking on shots from anywhere just outside the opposition’s penalty box – Ayoze Perez has been far more impressive than most English football fans were initially expecting of the striker.

Manchester United have arguably proven themselves to be rather shrewd in reportedly targeting Perez for his services later on down the line. He wouldn’t likely cost the Red Devils an extortionate amount at this stage in the proceedings and he could easily improve among the Premier League with just a bit more top-flight experience firmly locked under his belt.

However, one question seemingly remains for Louis van Gaal within this whole discussion – do Manchester United actually need Ayoze Perez this January with all things considered?

The answer could well be, no. LVG already has a bit of a selection dilemma on his hands in keeping each of Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial, Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney all happy throughout the 2015/16 campaign. The Red Devils’ Dutch boss has failed to integrate all of those aforementioned names at the same time within his current ranks so far this term, so how he expects to include Ayoze Perez on top of that remains anyone’s guess…

Without guaranteed game time, the current Newcastle United star is never going to fulfill his potential among the English top-flight. Manchester United would therefore be better served looking elsewhere this winter – not just to do themselves a favour, but simply to do the right thing for every different party involved in this surprising, yet albeit equally unlikely, transfer story.

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A surprise name has been on the lips of Chelsea fans this afternoon as they lead an impressive Crystal Palace away at Selhurst Park in today’s early game.

Despite the illustrious names of attacking talent on show such as; Diego Costa, Oscar, Willian, Pedro and Cesc Fabregas, a shock figure has emerged as today’s lynchpin.

Nigerian holding midfielder John Obi Mikel has been singled out for his solid performance in the engine room by fans on social media.

The 28-year old has been selected over Nemanja Matic next to the aforementioned Fabregas in the middle of the park and has proved solid in the role so far.

Despite being a Blues player for over a decade, the Nigeria international has often been utilised as a squad option under a number of different managers.

However, fans all over the world have been waxing poetic over his efforts in today’s London derby.

The former Lyn youngster has come in for some VERY high praise.

Chelsea face Newcastle in the Premier League’s late kick-off on Saturday, and Newcastle must be licking their lips at this game in that case.

The Magpies do markedly better when their game is on TV, and indeed they have done quite well against Chelsea over the last few years. Chelsea are harder to beat than they were under Jose Mourinho at other points this season and they are still unbeaten under Guus Hiddink this season.

The prize this time will, as always, be three points. But on Saturday there could be a little bit more to play for. Newcastle, for all their investment in their playing squad over the last two transfer windows still find themselves in a real relegation scrap. Chelsea, on the other hand, are still only seven points above the relegation zone, and defeat to Newcastle would leave them only three points above the Magpies. If, after a victory on Saturday evening, Newcastle are still considered to be in a relegation battle, then surely the same would have to be said for Chelsea, too.

This, it turns out, is a big game. And here are some stats to whet the appetite.

Harbinger of Doom

Newcastle United have taken more points off Chelsea (13) than any other team in the last five seasons.

Hard to Beat

Guus Hiddink has still only lost one of his 21 matches as a Premier League manager (W13 D7 L1) and is unbeaten in his last 16.

Talisman

Chelsea haven’t won any of the four Premier League games that Kurt Zouma hasn’t started in this season (W0 D2 L2) and have conceded 10 goals in these matches.

Hot Streak

The Blues are on the current longest unbeaten run in the Premier League; nine games (W3 D6 L0).

Bogey Team

Steve McClaren has collected just one win and seven points in 11 Premier League games as a manager against Chelsea (W1 D4 L6) – this was a 3-0 home win for Middlesbrough in February 2006.

There are just 10 games remaining for Newcastle United to pull themselves out of the relegation zone and retain their Premier League status.

Though they only managed to secure survival on the very last day of last season, the current campaign is far more disappointing due to the hefty player investment across the last two windows.

It’s currently unclear whether manager Steve McClaren will continue in his role for much longer, though what is painfully evident is the fact the Tynesiders face a defining couple of months. If they slip out of the top flight, the utter lack of characters within their ranks could see the Magpies tumble down the leagues at an alarming rate.

A scary thought for all those involved with the North East giants, though they are currently just a single point off fierce rivals Sunderland with so much still to play for.

Whoever ends up in charge, they will face 10 cup finals. A cliche perhaps, but the sentiment rings true around the corridors of St. James’ Park.

Upon closer examination, the relegation run in does offer some winnable games for the club. It’s just the fact that very little of what this expensively assembled side have shown so far provides any sort of hope for disgruntled fans.

Suggesting that the team should make their home a fortress may be a touch too radical after just a torrid campaign. Still, there are some favourable fixtures coming up at home.

Due to their absolutely comical away form, it may just be their performances on home soil that keep them in the Premier League.

With all this in mind, here are FIVE fixtures that will make or break Newcastle United’s survival chances.

SUNDERLAND (HOME) 20TH MARCH

The Tyne-Wear derby is always one of the showpieces of the season, despite the fact both contestants are usually towards the bottom of the league.

In recent campaigns it’s a fixture that has been dominated with Sunderland victories. Particularly at St. James’ Park. Particularly by a scoreline of 3-0.

Put simply, if the Toon lose this game, it’s hard to see them staying up. A win over their arch rivals can lift the beleaguered Magpies in both a mathematical and a symbolic sense.

To finally put an end to some many dismal derby day defeats could spark the momentum required to stave off the drop.

Yet another loss would only add to the feeling of discontent currently engulfing the club.

NORWICH (AWAY) 2ND APRIL

A series of comical away days is one of the major reasons as to why Newcastle find themselves in the position they are in. There have been just two victories on the road this season amid a plethora of capitulations.

A trip to East Anglia as April begins in earnest will be crucial. While many think the last relegation spot is reserved for one of the Toon or Sunderland, it is important not to write Norwich off.

Should the Canaries condemn their visitors to yet another away defeat, they could feasibly leapfrog them and battle the Black Cats for the last spot in next year’s Premier League.

Still, Alex Neil’s men conceded SIX goals to a Newcastle team struggling at all to score. Surely, the faltering frontline will be relishing the notion of lining up against Norwich once more.

SWANSEA (HOME) 16TH APRIL

When Swansea sacked Garry Monk and then sold Jonjo Shelvey to the Magpies, they looked to be heading into free fall.

However, their decisive action to sack Monk looks to have paid off, though it may have been a tad harsh and there was some dithering in appointing Francesco Guidolin.

Still, the Swans afforded themselves enough to time to make a change and now look likely to stay in the Premier League as a result.

When they travel to the North East in mid-April, they can show decision makers at the Toon exactly what they should have done.

Whether McClaren loses his job soon or not, the mere fact he has been in it so long is laughable. With so little of the season left, the club have brought such nervy times on themselves.

For the Magpies, it’s another home time in which they could feasibly earn all three points.

CRYSTAL PALACE (HOME) 30TH APRIL

April ends with the visit of Alan Pardew and his struggling Crystal Palace side to St. James’ Park. Earlier in the season, the Toon were humbled 5-1 by their former boss, though the Eagles have lost any trace of form since.

For many, it would poetic justice to see Pardew relegate the club at which he endured a turbulent relationship with a win at a stadium where he was so often booed.

However, the 54-year old has barely covered himself in glory over the last few months and the clash represents an ideal opportunity for Newcastle to scramble together as many points as possible.

ASTON VILLA (AWAY) 7TH MAY

When Newcastle last played Aston Villa, they were on their best run of the season after two successive wins over Liverpool and Spurs.

During the game at St. James’ Park, the home side missed a series of chances and were frustrated all the way to a 1-1 draw. That particular result takes on a certain level of poignance now. For since then, they’ve struggled to string together any sort of momentum.

Villa are currently the only side worse off than Newcastle, though only Manchester City invested more over the summer. They look dead and buried and heading for the Championship.

In order to have any hope of not joining the Midlands outfit in that regard, the Magpies simply have to win at Villa Park on the penultimate game of the season.

It was the scene of their last relegation under the stewardship of Alan Shearer, a desperate reminder of their continued struggles.