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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…

When speaking to SER Catalunya (via Sport) just recently, Pedro expressed his wish to go back to Barcelona one day, and it does sound like a tempting prospect for the Catalans.

What did he say, then?

Of course, Pedro and Barcelona share a long and rich history.

The now 32-year-old winger has practically spent his whole career in the Catalan capital and he rose through their ranks during his youth, only to depart for Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2015.

While he was one of the Blaugrana, however, he scored 99 goals and assisted a total of 62 in 321 games. By all means, that’s a pretty impressive return for a man who obviously doesn’t hide his love for the club.

When speaking to SER Catalunya, Pedro admitted he still hopes for a return in the future.

Here’s what he said, as quoted by Sport:

“It’s an option that’s always there and that I hope it could happen. Everyone knows what I feel for the club and it’s evident that it’s a possibility to go back.

“I’ve always said it. It’s a club I have special love for because I support them. I’ve had so many experiences there and was there so many years, I feel loved by the fans.

“I don’t know if it’s in the hands of the president, the coach or whoever. I think for them my return is difficult but it’s clearly a possibility.”

An intriguing prospect

With the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Carles Perez already in the team, it seems unlikely that Barcelona would ever go for a 32-year-old.

But with the former constantly struggling with injuries and the latter only just breaking into the team, maybe the Spaniard could offer them exactly what they need.

His contract is due to expire next summer and that means Barca could snap him up at a bargain price or, in an ideal world, for free.

Not to mention that he is still very reliable and offers that incredible work-rate in the forward line that not many have. With only 592 minutes under his belt in the ongoing campaign, he has clearly fallen down the pecking order in Frank Lampard’s squad but that doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t offer something back at his former club.

Even though he scored 99 goals during his Barcelona tenure, that was not nearly what he was all about.

His winner’s mentality and willingness to do the dirty work while Lionel Messi and co. banged in the goals was what made him such a perfect fit for the Catalans.

As Xavi Hernandes, a Barcelona legend, said himself, he gave so much to that team, as quoted by UEFA:

“He gives us a lot because he opens up the pitch – he takes players on and looks for space. He harries, presses and infuses us with his energy. When Pedro plays, the opposition full-backs can’t get forward, and if they do, he runs 30m to track them. He never stops running – he never tires.”

He still hasn’t lost that footballing IQ and that part of his player profile is something the current Barcelona should still very much welcome in their team.

It does sound like a stretch to say they’ll go for him but maybe it wouldn’t really be such a bad idea at all.

Michail Antonio has stated that West Ham United need to take their chances and become more consistent, as reported by the club’s official website.

What did he say?

The Hammers were dominant against Southampton, looking dangerous whenever they went forward, with Antonio and Sebastien Haller causing havoc for the Saints’ defenders.

They had 11 shots throughout the match, with four being blocked and another four going off target – it is an indication of how little their chances were capitalised on that things were so close at the end.

Watch West Ham United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

There were moments that could see West Ham coming out as unlucky, such as Pablo Fornals’ deflected shot that went narrowly wide and Antonio’s disallowed goal, but they need to improve in this sense to climb the table.

Watch Crystal Palace vs West Ham Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

Speaking after the game, Antonio said:

“We were great. We had some real good opportunities we didn’t take but there were loads of positives. Next game, I think we have got to take those opportunities but it was a much-needed win and we keep pushing on from here.

“We’ve just not been consistent enough. In our last three games, you could see there were loads of positives in our performances. Before that, to be fair, we weren’t performing well, then we performed well at Chelsea and Wolves where, even though we lost, there were loads of positives from the game.”

Capitalising on the dominance

Things have definitely improved in recent weeks, with the Hammers having won two of their last four matches in the Premier League, keeping two clean sheets.

However, they have still only scored three goals during that period, so this is definitely something that needs to be worked on, though having two strikers should help that.

It can be suggested that there have been improvements made during this period, which has come at a good time, with their three upcoming fixtures including matches against Crystal Palace and AFC Bournemouth.

Did he really play for us?! No West Ham fan has managed to name all of these obscure Irons signings….

With the Palace game coming on Boxing Day, there will be plenty of time for the clinical touch to be worked on in training. If Manuel Pellegrini is to save his job, his players taking their chances would definitely be a good start.

In other news, West Ham fans aren’t impressed by the treatment of Manuel Pellegrini.

Tottenham Hotspur are lining up a move for Watford ace Pervis Estupinan in the summer. 

According to AS, Estupinan has attracted attention from a number of European clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United, but Spurs have now entered the mix.

The 22-year-old has spent the past season on loan at CA Osasuna to mark three years in La Liga.

Although the left-back is yet to make his debut for the Hornets, he has impressed for Osasuna this term, featuring in 27 games in the Spanish top flight, scoring 1 goal, creating 3 assists, making 2.7 tackles per game, averaging 1.8 interceptions, and completing 1.5 clearances on average (WhoScored).

Despite his heroics so far, the £6m-valued prospect has struggled to break into Watford’s first team, it seems his time at Vicarage Road is coming to a premature end. His contract with his parent club is set to expire next year.

Jose Mourinho is in the market for a new full-back, as Ben Davies remains the club’s only viable option on the left flank.

Last week, David Ornstein revealed Danny Rose has signed a new contract extension with Newcastle United, which will keep him at St James’ Park until the end of the 2019/20 season.

Mourinho is adamant Rose is not a part of his plans for the future, and Magpies boss Steve Bruce has previously suggested a permanent deal makes perfect sense.

As the Englishman is seemingly heading out the door, this has left a gap in the squad that urgently needs filling and the Osasuna loanee could be the man to replace Rose in North London.

It is rather baffling that Estupinan has lacked opportunities at Watford, given his obvious talent, but it remains to be seen if Daniel Levy can compete with the likes of Barca, Atletico and United for his signature. Indeed, his valuation will no doubt increase if the transfer battle intensifies.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sign Pervis Estupinan in the summer? Join the discussion in the comments section!

According to the Evening Standard, Barcelona have approached Tottenham Hotspur over Tanguy Ndombele and Ryan Sessegnon to enquire about signing the Spurs pair in part-exchange deals.

The La Liga giants are prepared to offer the duo a way out of Tottenham but only if the Premier League club are willing to accept players plus cash, as they are strapped for cash as a result of the pandemic. The duo cost a combined total of £80m last summer but are prepared to reconsider their futures at the club as they fear they will spend another season on the fringes.

Jose Mourinho has already rejected the interest in Sessegnon, who is being monitored by a number of potential suitors. Spurs have blocked Barca’s approach for Ndombele, even though Mourinho has reservations about the club’s record signing. However, they may leave the club anyway in the not-too-distant future. [via Evening Standard]

Sessegnon’s development has been restricted right from the start as he moved to north London with a hamstring injury that he picked up while away on international duty.

The 20-year-old has grown frustrated by a lack of opportunities, as he was an unused substitute against Manchester United and West Ham before being dropped from the squad altogether for the past two games.

Mourinho sees him as a full-back in the long run, as he considers him a successor to his former pupil Ashley Cole, but he included Dennis Cirkin in his place instead on Monday night. This hasn’t gone down well with Sessegnon, particularly as the Portuguese wanted to sign him from Fulham during his time in charge of Manchester United.

Earlier this week, The Telegraph reported that Spurs may be forced to send him out on loan in the summer, as the club are concerned that he is failing to make any progress under Mourinho.

He needs to be playing regularly so he can develop as a player, which is something the head coach cannot guarantee at the moment. His versatility continues to be a problem, as even Mourinho can’t work out where he best fits, so he may choose to leave in order to work his way into contention for Gareth Southgate’s England squad for EURO 2020.

Meanwhile, Ndombele and Mourinho have a strained relationship, which has come under scrutiny in recent weeks. Despite the manager’s denial of any rift, he has only used the Frenchman once since the Premier League restarted last month.

Ndombele has struggled for form and fitness throughout the season and could be on his way out of the club sooner rather than later. Paris Saint-Germain have been calling for his signature and their wealth may be too tempting for Daniel Levy to ignore.

It is no secret that the chairman likes to count the coffers and he will want to recoup some of the funds that he spent on the French international last year. Ndombele is open to a move and it may be best for all parties involved if he were to move on, as Spurs could then reinvest the income for him on a player who may be more to Mourinho’s liking.

Tottenham fans, do you think Levy should let Ndombele and Sessegnon go? Let us know in the comments below!

Ross Wilson and Glasgow Rangers have confirmed that Peter Lovenkrands has left his role as a coach at the club’s academy.

Lovenkrands signed for the Gers as a player for £1.98m in 2000, and soon became a cult hero for the Ibrox outfit, scoring 37 goals in 89 starts in the Scottish Premiership. After pursuing his career elsewhere at the likes of Schalke 04, Newcastle United and Birmingham, he returned to the 54-time Scottish champions as a coach in 2017, first on a part-time basis and then permanently a year later.

Now, though, the Gers have confirmed his departure, saying:

“Rangers can confirm that Peter Lovenkrands is leaving the club to pursue his career elsewhere.

“Peter made over 180 appearances, scoring 54 goals for the club, winning league titles and cups including a stoppage time winner in the 2002 Scottish Cup Final.

“As a coach he has developed his off field skill set in the Rangers Academy working with various age group squads. Peter has had a positive influence on many of our young talents in the academy.

“We respect Peter’s desire to pursue his career elsewhere and would like to thank Peter for his contribution to the club as a player and a coach.

“We wish him every success in his future endeavours.”

This could well indicate that the former Denmark international is looking for a more senior role somewhere else in the footballing world. Still, though, this spell with the Gers will have likely been beneficial for all involved – Lovenkrands has been able to share his experience at the highest level with those coming through the club’s system, whilst the 40-year-old himself has now climbed on to the first rung of the coaching ladder.

Who knows, maybe he could return as manager of the first-team in the future!

Let us know what you think below!

Plymouth manager Ryan Lowe has been touted as one of the leading contenders for the managerial vacancy at Championship outfit Bristol City.

As per Plymouth Herald, the 41-year-old is the second favourite among several bookmakers to become Lee Johnson’s successor at Ashton Gate, with Chris Hughton currently believed to be in pole position for the role. Rangers boss Steven Gerrard and Newport County’s Michael Flynn are also high on the list of potential candidates with some bookmakers.

Lowe’s managerial stock has risen after winning promotion from League Two with Plymouth this year, taking the Pilgrims straight back into League One following their relegation in 2019. He has won more than half of his matches in charge at Home Park so far (24 out of 45), with an average of 1.8 points per game.

Indeed, the 41-year-old performed a similar feat at Bury last year, guiding them to an immediate return to League One before the club was expelled from the Football League last autumn for failing to provide sufficient evidence that they were able to meet its financial commitments.

Despite his successes at those two clubs, however, Lowe has never managed in the top two divisions in English football, while his record in League One shows just five wins from 22 matches – not the best audition for a job at a top-half Championship club.

In contrast to the Plymouth manager’s lack of second-tier experience, Hughton has twice been promoted from the Championship, taking Newcastle and Brighton into the Premier League over the past decade.

Bristol City may well opt for Hughton over Lowe, given the ex-Brighton manager’s track record of winning promotion from the Championship.

That would likely come as a great relief to the Plymouth faithful, with Lowe duly left to continue the excellent work he has done so far at Home Park. However, having also been linked with the Bolton job before they appointed Ian Evatt, don’t be surprised if his name is whispered among further managerial vacancies should Argyle make waves in League One next term.

Plymouth fans, how big a blow would it be if Lowe took a job at another club? Share your views in the comments section below!

Tottenham Hotspur defender Juan Foyth is set to leave north London ‘imminently’, according to reports from Italy. 

Leeds United are interested in signing the 22-year-old defender, who was once considered a Mauricio Pochettino prodigy. Foyth has fallen out of favour with his successor as he has featured just twice for Jose Mourinho since the Portuguese took over from Pochettino in November.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, as relayed by Ricky Sacks, both clubs are hoping to reach an agreement of a fee somewhere in the region of £10m-£12m and are confident that they can agree terms for the Argentine in the coming days.

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa is keen to bolster his squad as he prepares for the club’s return to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years and it seems that he is one step closer to getting his wish as regards Foyth.

Bielsa feels that his fellow countryman can strengthen his newly-promoted squad and he is keen to sign the versatile player this summer as it is unlikely that the Lilywhites will stand in his way, so the defender could be set to leave north London.

Mourinho wants to replace Foyth with Freiburg’s Robin Koch and the Argentina international is considered surplus to requirements as a result.

Bielsa wants to recruit his compatriot as he believes he can get the best out of him, which is something Mourinho has failed to do so far. The maverick Leeds manager has earned a reputation for turning young talent into top-class players and Daniel Levy may decide to insert either a buy-back or sell-on clause into Foyht’s contract.

The Spurs chairman should sell the Argentine to raise funds for other summer signings after he failed to register a goal or assist in the Premier League last term.

Tottenham fans, do you think Daniel Levy should let Foyth leave for Elland Road? Let us know your views in the comments below!

Burnley youngsters Josh Benson and Anthony Glennon have been targeted for loan spells by a former Premier League manager now operating in League Two.

Grimsby Telegraph reported that Ian Holloway wants to bring the Clarets duo to Grimsby Town, where the 20-year-old duo both had loan spells last season.

The 57-year-old, who has managed Blackpool and Crystal Palace in the English top flight, told the Mariners’ official media channels: “I’ve made a call to Burnley and those two lads ended up on their bench, and because we used them in level two, they might want to put them into level one or the Championship. I don’t know if I can get them back, but I have asked the question.

“What I am trying to do is to make sure I bring in the right blend, to make a beautiful cake mix that has got every different ingredient in it – so it isn’t boring. I want new and fresh people to come in, and it is really important to start on a positive footing.”

Former Arsenal academy midfielder Benson scored twice in 11 appearances on loan at Grimsby last season, having gone out to Blundell Park in January, and was included among the substitutes for Burnley’s final six games of the Premier League season, albeit without making an appearance (as per TransferMarkt).

Glennon, a versatile defender who can play centrally or on the left and who was previously on Liverpool’s books, netted once in his 12 appearances for the Mariners earlier this year before being included in the Clarets’ matchday squads towards the end of the campaign (as per TransferMarkt).

Indeed, the two players share numerous similarities – both came to Burnley from the academies of high-profile Premier League clubs, both went on loan to Grimsby in January before being recalled for the latter weeks of the Clarets’ league season and both are still awaiting their breakthrough at Turf Moor. Even their birthdays are close to one another, with Glennon just nine days older than his team-mate.

Despite both being included by Sean Dyche in matchday squads towards the end of last season, that neither Benson nor Glennon made it off the bench indicates that they still have a road to travel if they are to get into the Clarets’ first team.

Should they go back to Grimsby on loan, they will return to a familiar environment under an experienced coach in Holloway (more than 600 games in management) who wants them there, hence raising the distinct likelihood of them getting regular game-time.

It’s a move which seems to make perfect sense for the two 20-year-olds as they continue their development and hopefully push for first team inclusion at Turf Moor in the foreseeable future.

Burnley fans, would you be in favour of Glennon and Benson going on loan to Grimsby again for this season? Comment below with your views!

Leeds United chief Victor Orta could soon land a devastating one-two on the rest of the Premier League…

What’s the word?

According to La Lazio Siamo Noi, the Yorkshire giants are keen to sign Lazio centre-back Luiz Felipe after contact was made between the two clubs earlier this week.

It’s claimed that United are ready to pay €30m (£26.8m) with add-ons to clinch the 23-year-old, but the chairman of the Serie A outfit Claudio Lotito would ideally like around €38m (£34m) to let him leave the Italian capital.

He’s also hoping that interest from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain sparks a bidding war for the Brazil U23 international.

Imagine him and Koch

Leeds also appear to be closing in on the signing of Freiburg colossus Robin Koch for around £13m, so this could be the perfect way to announce their ambition on the big stage.

It would certainly be one way to move on from Ben White.

The 23-year-old has been a regular presence in defence for Lazio this campaign, averaging 2.3 clearances, 1.6 tackles and 1.6 interceptions whilst also managing a passing accuracy of just under 90%, via WhoScored, which makes him an ideal fit for Marcelo Bielsa’s brand of football.

Following a “monumental” display against Inter Milan in March 2019, Felipe was described as a “very aggressive defender” who “gave little breathing room” to the opposition by World Football Scout.

Whilst according to Bleacher Report, the Lazio faithful have compared him to Alessandro Nesta and ranked him alongside outgoing Lille sensation Gabriel as a Brazilian to watch earlier this year.

Currently, Bielsa has skipper Liam Cooper as the only senior option going into their first PL bow in over 16 years, so if Orta and co can clinch both Felipe and Koch, then it would be one hell of a statement to the rest of the division.

AND in other news, Leeds target 26-cap international who is a perfect fit for Bielsa…

This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.

Moussa Sissoko is now an established Premier League player for Tottenham Hotspur under Jose Mourinho, but before then he was playing for Newcastle United when a fan would often shout “comeon” when the Frenchman was on the ball.

Signed for a mere £1.8 million from French club FC Toulouse on the 21st January 2013, manager at the time Alan Pardew was very pleased with his capture:

“This transfer window has proved very productive for us and Moussa arriving today is a massive plus for the Club.

“He will bring drive and energy to the squad, he is a winner and that’s why I’m especially pleased to have him with us,” the 59-year old claimed, according to the official website of the Tyneside club.

Indeed, Sissoko’s debut term at St. James’ Park was not a bad one at all, as he managed to score three goals and make a further three assists in 18 games in all competitions from the heart of the midfield, as per Transfermarkt.

His market value by the end of the 2012/13 season rose up to £10.8 million, and so the £1.8 million paid for to get his signature over the dotted line was already looking like a bargain.

The 31-year old would go on to play in a further 115 matches in all competitions over the next three campaigns, netting nine more times and providing a further 16 assists (via Transfermarkt).

Sissoko’s market value while in the North East would rise to a peak £13.5 million before moving to Spurs in for a mammoth £31.5 million transfer fee on Deadline Day in the summer window of 2016.

Given that the Magpies initially paid £1.8 million for his services, they made a quite staggering 1650% profit.

The French international still remains in North London, where he has made 160 appearances so far over the last four consecutive terms, but he has only managed to bag just four strikes and produce 15 assists (per Transfermarkt), which is arguably a poor return for a midfield player.

Given also that his market value only increased to a high £22.5 million while playing for the Lilywhites, it seems as if the Toon have done great business selling Sissoko when they did for the huge amount of money that they got for him.

However, NUFC fans will be hoping that he does not come back to haunt them in the new 2020/21 season.

Geordies, was the selling of Sissoko great business? Comment below!