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Lots of Celtic fans would love to see the club appoint Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez as manager this summer.

We are now a whole week away from reported talks between Benitez and the Magpies hierarchy as the saga regarding his long-term future at St James’ Park rumbles on.

There have been no official updates on him staying, which is only fuelling speculation another club could be ready to appoint him ahead of the new season.

As reported by The Scottish Sun on Thursday, he was at one point this week the favourite with bookmakers to land the permanent manager role at Celtic Park after more fluctuations in the market.

For many Celtic supporters he continues to be the outstanding choice, even if it seems unlikely he’ll switch from the English Premier League to the Scottish Premiership.

Fans are craving a ‘big name’ appointment that can maintain the standards of the Brendan Rodgers era and Benitez fits the bill in every department.

These fans have taken to Twitter this week to share their thoughts on it all…

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Sunderland executive director Charlie Methven has had his say on the club’s Wembley heartbreak, but the Black Cats shareholder has chosen his words extremely poorly.

Jack Ross’ side were simply not good enough at Wembley on Monday, and everyone knows it.

The fans were visibly frustrated throughout the afternoon, and it wasn’t hard to see why, as the Black Cats just did not take advantage of the gift-wrapped head-start afforded to them by Charlton.

After Naby Sarr’s comical early own goal, the Wearsiders sat on their lead, created absolutely nothing going forward and relied on an isolated Charlie Wyke to hold the ball up by himself.

Eventually, the Addicks found their way through to win the day in stoppage time, and Methven has given his verdict on the devastating result.

What did he say?

In an interview with Metro Radio, he said: “Ultimately Sunderland fans need to get realistic about that (staying in League One).

“Charlton have been in the Premier League for much of the last 20, 30 years and they had 40,000 fans to our 34,000 fans.

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

“On sheer size of club, it’s hard to say that Charlton are the ones that deserved to stay down. I thought the Charlton fans were very loud. I thought our fans were quiet.

“As management, we have to take responsibility that the club didn’t quite believe enough to make it happen.

“We all need to take a look at ourselves now and understand what we need to do to sort this out and get better because it’s obviously a terrific disappointment.”

Make up your mind

So which one is it Charlie? Is another season in League One a “tremendous disappointment”? Or do Black Cats fans need to “get realistic” and accept a second go at the third tier?

Methven, together with Stewart Donald, have brought life back to the club, and their efforts to constantly interact with the fans is admirable, but the executive director simply cannot place a single ounce of blame for Sunday’s disappointment on those fans.

40,000 Wearsiders packed into Wembley for the Checkatrade Trophy final, and another 34,000 rocked up on Sunday ready to produce memories that would last a lifetime.

The performance on the pitch was utterly lifeless, and the responsibility for that lies with the players, manager, staff and owners. Methven has got it all wrong on this occasion.

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West Ham United are considering a move to sign Fabian Delph from Manchester City this summer, per Football Insider.

The Hammers are keen to sign the versatile star, who can play as a left-back or as a central midfielder, as they look to strengthen a squad that finished 10th in the Premier League in 2018-19.

Delph made just 11 appearances in the top-flight as City pipped Liverpool to the title by a point, but played a more significant role during 2017/18 as the Premier League champions’ emergency left-back, filling a void left by injured Frenchman Benjamin Mendy.

With manager Pep Guardiola seemingly ready to cash in on the former Aston Villa star and Manuel Pellegrini no doubt keen to build upon his first year in east London, should the Irons make a move for the England international during the summer transfer window?

Some of Football FanCast’s expert writers give their verdicts below!

Luke Glanville

“The acquisition of Delph would be a very smart one for West Ham United and they should definitely make it happen in the summer transfer window. Mark Noble is not getting any younger and Pedro Obiang is clearly not good enough to be his long-term replacement. Delph has played in the World Cup, Champions League and been involved in Guardiola’s incredible Manchester City team. His experience, then, would surely help Declan Rice’s development greatly.”

Matt Dawson

“Absolutely not. The last thing West Ham need is another player who is simply way past his use by date. Delph has shown this season that he’s not good enough and it’s an incredible surprise that he’s made it into the England squad for the Nations League. I imagine he’d demand a considerable wage packet too so this is a deal that the Hammers should be looking to avoid at all costs.”

Billy Meyers

“I don’t see why not. Delph is a reliable player who has shone in the past for Aston Villa. He is more than good enough for a club like West Ham and would be one of the Hammers’ better players if he signed. It would definitely be a smart signing; the acquisition of a serial silverware winner can only be a good thing for the Irons.”

Christy Malyan

“Wages would definitely worry me but I think this could be a very shrewd signing on the right terms. Delph is versatile, experienced, hardworking and defensively-minded – he could provide real balance and consistency to a West Ham team that has a knack of leaving itself far too open and struggles to deliver on the less glamorous occasions. In some ways he reminds me of Ashley Young – someone who has been a consummate professional at a big club for a long time – and while the Manchester United man has struggled throughout the most recent campaign, he’d enjoyed a real Indian summer in the 18 months previous. West Ham could be Delph’s renaissance”  

Neil Lennon already has an edge ahead of his first full season in charge of Celtic since 2014. Indeed, while not technically a new acquisition, Leigh Griffiths’ much-anticipated return is something we feel can certainly excite the Parkhead faithful as they aim for 9 league titles in a row. 

Former teammate and current Hibernian defender Lewis Stevenson’s confirmed to the Daily Record (reported on June 4th) that the 28-year-old is working hard for a return and fancies him to be a striker who will save millions for Celtic. Good news for the money men at the club, right?

Certainly, Stevenson has hit the nail on the proverbial head here. Obviously, Griffiths went through a tough time last season but now he’s back and seemingly raring to go, it’s good news for everyone on the green and white side of Glasgow.

Why is his return so important? Well, when you consider the fact that Rangers (who let’s face it, will probably be the favourites for second spot at the very least) outscored the champions last season with 82 to 77 goals for, you can start to see why nailing down a prolific marksman of some sort must be a priority.

Indeed, Odsonne Edouard – the Bhoys’ leading goal threat with 15 – was outscored by three players last time out, so there’s obviously room for improvement in the central striking area.

Griffiths is a man who notched 40 goals (across all competitions) back in 2015/16, of course. The first man to do that in Scotland since the legendary Henrik Larsson, it’s an in-house solution for what is obviously a slight issue for Scotland’s most dominant club.

Barring an absolute implosion, one of the only realistic ways Celtic can lose out on the title is surely down to any potential marginal gains picked up by the other clubs. Just looking at the facts we’ve talked about, they were outscored by their closest challengers and their leading marksman was the fourth best in the league for putting in the ball in the back of the net, it’s an area they need to improve on.

So, if Griffiths can even match half the tally he did a couple of years ago, it’s yet another reason as to why the club can take another step to that dreamy 10 in a row.

Celtic fans, would you be pleased to see Griffiths back next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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West Ham United have been urged to sell striker Marko Arnautovic this summer by Noel Whelan, per Football Insider.

What’s he said?

The Austria international attempted to engineer a move away from the club in January as he looked to seal a transfer to China.

He was eventually persuaded to remain at the club and sign a new contract that contains a £45m release clause.

However, Whelan believes that the Irons should cash in this summer if they receive a bid approaching £40m.

He said: “Can West Ham afford another season with someone like that? No. What about when he fancies not playing anymore? He’s tried to force a move away once and he’ll do it again when it suits him.

“He’s a snowflake character. He ruffles feathers on the pitch and is unpopular in the dressing room. If you could get £40million for him, that’s good business.

“If you can get the best out of him and manage his ego, there’s definitely a player there. He has everything you want in a striker – aggressive, physical, holds the ball up, got a trick and scores all types of goals.

“But you can’t rely on him and that’s the problem.”

Nail on the head

Whelan has got this one spot on.

Arnautovic went 11 games without a goal following his flirtation with China in January, seemingly downing tools after not getting his own way.

He is a sulky, sullen figure and there is certainly a feeling that the Hammers would be better off without him.

Football FanCast understands that the club could sell all of their strikers this summer; Andy Carroll will be released, while Lucas Perez and Javier Hernandez are both in the shop window.

However, if a bid is received for Arnautovic, they should absolutely cash in and see if they can secure a forward who actually wants to play for the club.

As it is, they have a striker who is something of a tinderbox, simply waiting to go up in flames and scorch the earth behind him.

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The dust continues to settle on what has been a fantastic season for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, but their attention will soon turn to the upcoming campaign as they look to continue on from the past term’s successes. In terms of the transfer market, there are likely to be more outgoings than incomings, although one or two may be added to improve the squad even further. Here’s a look at the latest gossip involving the Merseysiders…

No move for Pepe

According to the Liverpool Echo, one of those potential new arrivals will not be Lille’s Nicolas Pepe. The 22-year-old Ivorian has had a fantastic campaign with the Ligue 1 side, notching up 22 goals and 11 assists, and will likely be on the move this summer. RMC Sport’s Mohamed Bouhafsi had reported that Liverpool were interested in the player, but the Echo has rebuffed those claims, saying the player is not under consideration.

German stay for Grujic?

Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic may be on this way to the Bundesliga, according to Goal.com. The former Red Star Belgrade player spent the past season on loan at Hertha Berlin, and the side from the German capital are looking to bring him in on a permanent basis. However, Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen are also interested in Grujic, who is valued at £25m by the Anfield club.

Wilson eyed by Bundesliga

Harry Wilson could be following Grujic out of the door this summer, according to the Daily Mirror. Following a successful season with Derby County in the Championship, the Reds are prepared to let the 21-year-old leave for £21m. Some of the interest is coming from abroad, with Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig keeping an eye on the Welshman, but Leicester and Aston Villa are also interested alongside Valencia and Getafe.

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For most players, the post-season time and those short couple of months without football are used for fun and relaxation. And while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain might be using his time in Los Angeles to relax, his latest

/By7X6XwgzEh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram snaps tell a slightly different story.

The 25-year-old midfielder let his fans know he is hard at work and trying to stay fit ahead of the new season with the help of his nutrition program, after missing out on much of the last campaign.

After such an impressive season from Liverpool, finishing second in the Premier League and winning the Champions League, it would be acceptable for the players to take some time away from the office.

But Oxlade-Chamberlain was very much hampered by injuries last season so he only managed two appearances throughout the 2018/19 campaign.

Have Premier League grounds become “lifeless tourist attractions”? Decide for yourself by watching the video below…

Still, if the recent reports are to be believed, he is in line for a new and improved contract. If that is agreed, the 25-year-old will have the chance to give something back to Jurgen Klopp and co. next year.

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One of the deadliest duos in the Premier League at the time, it’s safe to say Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres struck up an almost telepathic understanding at Liverpool.

In three-and-a-half seasons with the Reds, Torres scored 81 times in 142 appearances and it was a major blow to the side when the Spaniard made the decision to join Premier League rivals Chelsea.

However, after announcing his prospective retirement this summer, Torres has admitted that Gerrard was his greatest ever teammate during his player career.

He said: “He was the player who completed my game. I think my level got into a different dimension when I was on the pitch with him. It was an amazing three-and-a-half years playing alongside Steven and I would love to go back to those days – even for one minute.”

After hearing their former star’s comments, many Liverpool fans took to Twitter to voice their opinion on the matter and reminisced about the 35-year-old’s time at Anfield.

Reds supporters waxed lyrical over Torres’ and Gerrard’s partnership whilst on Merseyside and acknowledged that the striker had chosen the Liverpool legend over Spain icons Xavi and Iniesta – a clear sign of just how highly he rated the now Rangers manager during his playing days.

Check out some of the reaction of Reds fans to Torres’ comments on Gerrard below:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Manchester United are confident of signing Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff this summer, as reported by The Evening Standard.

What’s the story?

United have already signed up Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad ahead of the new season and The Standard say they will now be moving on to other targets ahead of a pre-season trip to Australia next week.

The reason there has been a delay in making a bid for Longstaff, the paper reckon, is because the Red Devils are so confident that the player is eager to quit St James’ Park for Old Trafford.

Reports earlier this month from outlets such as The Mirror suggested any deal for the player could be made for around £25m, making him a low-risk signing when you consider Man United’s resources.

Watch a Man Utd fan’s epic Ed Woodward rant in the video below…

Untested talent, long-term potential

Longstaff made the breakthrough at the Magpies last season but has so far made just eight starts in the English Premier League.

When considering players that might be able to push Man United towards a top four spot in the division, he certainly lacks experience.

However, he has won admirers and not only are Newcastle United fans fearful of losing him this summer, it has been suggested he is already better than other players within Solskjaer’s squad.

The Manchester Evening News say: “He is not as lightweight as Andreas Pereira, he drives forward with the ball more dynamically than the rigid Nemanja Matic and he is not one-footed like Fred”.

That suggests he can become a competitive member of the first-team from the off.

At just 21 years of age, he’s at an age where the United boss can make an imprint on his style of play and help develop his potential, with a view to making him a midfield mainstay over the long-term.

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Tottenham Hotspur fans have told Christian Eriksen to leave the club.

Marca report that the Denmark international’s agent is set to meet with Real Madrid as he looks to discover whether or not the club will table a bid for the Denmark international.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The report states that Paul Pogba, the Manchester United midfielder, remains Real’s top target this summer.

But Spurs are said to be happy to negotiate the possible exit of Eriksen this summer.

Marca claim that Los Blancos will wait for United’s decision on Pogba before pursuing a move, but the Spurs star is said to have already decided against renewing his contract in north London.

The 27-year-old’s current deal expires next summer, meaning he could potentially leave on a free then if no transfer is agreed this summer.

And fans have now urged the Dane to leave as Spurs look to refresh a squad that finished fourth in the Premier League and reached the Champions League final in 2018/19.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!