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Swansea City are bracing themselves for a deadline day offer from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur which could see Joe Rodon leave the club.

22-year-old Welsh international Rodon first arrived at Swansea as an eight-year-old and he has since developed through the club’s academy to become a first-team regular.

Appearing in the Swans’ first-team fold for the first time back in January 2016, the central defender has since gone on to make 54 appearances in which he has managed to gain one assist.

With the domestic transfer window now coming to an end in England, speculation is mounting about the youngster’s future at the Liberty stadium with Spurs said to be interested in signing him.

Swap deal reported for defender to join Spurs

Football Insider have looked into Spurs’ interest in Rodon, claiming that the North London club have offered a number of fringe players to the Championship club as part of the deal, which is said to be worth around £15m.

The report goes on to add that Cameron Carter-Vickers is one of the players that has been offered by Jose Mourinho’s side with a further statement claiming that Spurs officials are confident they can seal a deal before Friday’s 5pm deadline.

Swansea are said to be keen on gaining a transfer fee of around £18m for Rodon but that could now drop to £15m if a player or two arrives on loan from the Premier League club as part of the deal.

What will Rodon offer Spurs and how much will Swansea miss him?

The central defender may not be handed first-team chances straight away with Spurs but his efforts for Swansea thus far have seen him become one of the most wanted youngsters around with Manchester United said to be admirers too.

Mourinho will be keen to embed the young defender into his plans and build for the future, leaving Swansea without a player who has started four games already this term.

Certainly, a centre back arriving on loan from Spurs would soften the blow of losing Rodon but that will only be sufficient if it is a player who can come in and perform to the standard Rodon has over the last 12 months.

Do you think Spurs is a good move for Rodon? Let us know in the comments section below…

Newcastle United welcome West Ham United to St James’ Park on Sunday, with both sides going into the match in high spirits after excellent wins in midweek.

Steve Bruce’s side broke the 40-point barrier on Wednesday with a 4-1 over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium and can now start looking ahead of them in pursuit of a top 10 finish.

Meanwhile, West Ham earned a very much needed win against Chelsea at the London Stadium to move clear of the bottom three, although they remain in the midst of the relegation fight.

A last-minute Andriy Yarmolenko goal sealed the win and helped build a three-point buffer to 18th-place Aston Villa.

Form

Newcastle are actually one of the form teams in the Premier League, unbeaten in five league matches and taking 10 points from their last four.

Their home form is similarly strong, with Newcastle also unbeaten in their last five matches at St James’ Park.

West Ham have been on a less impressive run and ended a run of three consecutive defeats on Wednesday against Chelsea.

Away from home they have been particularly poor too and have lost their last seven Premier League away matches, with their last away points coming against Southampton back in December.

Team news

Javier Manquillo and Sean Longstaff are likely to miss out due to muscular and hamstring problems respectively, while Ciaran Clark has been ruled out.

Centre-back Florian Lejeune is being assessed with a muscle injury, and Miguel Almiron and Valentino Lazaro could be in line for a start after scoring from the bench against Bournemouth.

Striker Sebastien Haller is once again a doubt due to a hip injury, while fellow injury concerns Mark Noble and Arthur Masuaku who could also miss out.

Robert Snodgrass is still out due to a back injury, but could look to return later this month.

How to watch

A big match for both sides that still have plenty to play for, Newcastle vs West Ham kicks off at 14:15 UTC on Sunday at St James’ Park.

The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports, while fans can also follow the match online via live stream.

According to 90min.com, Dinamo Moscow and Dynamo Kiev are prepared to pay up to £10m for Glasgow Rangers’ Glen Kamara this summer.

Kamara signed for the Gers in January of last year for the meagre fee of just £50,000, but the Ibrox outfit could be in line to make an awful lot more in the next couple of months if they were to move him on.

It isn’t just the two eastern European sides who are interested, either – Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Everton, Newcastle and Southampton, as well as Norwich City and Brentford, are all said to be in pursuit.

Kamara was purchased from Dundee FC, and since then he has become an important member of Steven Gerrard’s squad. He has played 57 times in all competitions, scoring two goals, and he looks to be a guaranteed starter for the 54-time Scottish champions in the middle of the park, with him having played every minute of the first two matches of the Premiership term.

Having said that, £10m would be an incredibly hard offer to turn down for Ross Wilson and co. That would represent a profit of 19,900%, and would give them even more funds to add to their squad in this current transfer window as they look to win their first piece of major silverware since 2011.

With Bongani Zungu still reportedly on the Gers’ radar, it could be the perfect opportunity to bring in a considerable sum for 24-year-old Kamara.

Let us know what you think below!

One of the undoubted bright sparks of Rangers’ campaign this year, Ianis Hagi has finally joined the club on a permanent deal.The starlet joined the club on loan from Belgian outfit KRC Genk, and had been in inspired form for Steven Gerrard’s side in the short time he has been at Ibrox, netting three times and providing two assists in 12 games.

Are you a massive Rangers fan? Know everything about the club? Well do you know your Gary Stevens from your Michael Ball? This quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

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Speaking after the confirmation of his permanent arrival, Gerrard said: “Ianis is recognised throughout Europe as a young, exciting player so to have him join Rangers on a permanent basis is great news.

“I was able to develop a relationship with Ianis very quickly, he is a pleasure to coach as he is willing to learn and become better every training session. He has already experienced the pressure and expectation of Ibrox, I know he is ready for next season.”

And judging by the reaction of most Rangers fans, they have been left buzzing by the news too.

Some Gers supporters were quick to thank sporting director Ross Wilson for getting the deal over the line, with reports suggesting that Hagi will only cost around £3.5m.

One Rangers fan in particular appeared to poke fun at Michael Stewart, who was particularly critical of the club going after Hagi on a permanent deal in recent days.

Already a ten-cap Romania international at just 21, Hagi could be the kind of player Gerrard builds the side around at Rangers for the years to come.

And for the reported low cost that they appear to have signed him for, he promises to surely at least make a hefty profit for the club if he does leave later.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a promising start to life after lockdown since the Premier League returned behind closed doors earlier this month. 

Spurs followed up a hard-fought draw with Manchester United by beating West Ham to pick up their first win in eight games (BBC).

After conceding the penalty against the Red Devils, Eric Dier was part of the side that kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 victory over the Hammers.

Jose Mourinho praised the Englishman for his hard work in an interview with the club’s official website, saying: “Eric is playing really well and adapting very well to a position that he thinks, and personally I also think, is a great position for him.”

However, the Lilywhites still haven’t offered Dier a new deal, although this should not be a cause for concern. According to The Athletic, the 26-year-old wants to stay at Spurs and he is building a strong relationship with Mourinho.

Moreover, the club are confident that he will sign an extension in the summer, as per Football Insider. A source told the outlet that early indications suggest both sides will be able to reach an agreement in a matter of weeks.

Dier, who was a favourite of Mauricio Pochettino, has played 16 games in the Premier League this season, supplying two assists, making 1.2 tackles and averaging 3.1 clearances per game (via WhoScored).

The England international has had quite a roller-coaster of a career during his time in north London so far, as he has been plagued by multiple injuries, illness and mixed form over the years.

Nevertheless, he believes he can flourish in the defence under the Portuguese and intends to establish himself as a regular in the starting lineup. Dier can play in a variety of positions and it is his versatility which arguably makes him most useful, as it earned him four consecutive starts in a row and praise from Mourinho.

While Spurs are still waiting to find out if he will be banned for allegedly bringing the game into disrepute (The Sun), he will be looking to consolidate his position in the busy schedule ahead.

Tottenham fans, do you hope that Dier will sign a new contract with the club? Let us know down below!

A lot of West Ham fans are reacting to the latest reports suggesting that centre-back Issa Diop has told the club that he wants to leave in the summer, via TEAMTalk.

The former U21 French International is a key part of West Ham’s defence and, since his arrival in July 2018, he has already played 64 times, per Transfermarkt. Now, it seems like he’s keen to depart – with London rivals Tottenham said to be leading the queue as per the report.

This season, he has managed on average one tackle per game, 1.1 interceptions per game and an impressive 5.3 clearances per game, via WhoScored, proving his importance to the cause.

It will be interesting to see how to club react to his request but, if they want to be a team pushing higher up the Premier League table next season, they surely need to keep their best players and Diop is one of them.

Here’s how fans have reacted to the latest reports:

What do you think will happen to Diop this summer? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

Many Crystal Palace fans are reacting to comments made by defender Mamadou Sakho which were recently posted on Twitter.

Speaking to Stadium Mag, he spoke about his career at Palace and his future and said: “You can never predict anything in a career, but today, I’m happy and settled at Crystal Palace where I have a year and a half left on my contract.”

This sounds positive from the Frenchman, who has been a fan favourite since his £25.38 million move from Liverpool in August 2017, via Transfermarkt.

Since then the 30-year-old has featured 80 times and whilst only managing to score the one goal, it was a crucial late winner in the 92nd minute against Stoke back in November 2017 which moved them only three points away from safety as the South London side sat bottom of the Premier League, via BBC Sport.

The only problem with the centre-back is that this campaign he has only managed to feature eight times due to various injuries and one suspension, via Transfermarkt. It might be hard for him to get back into the squad when football resumes as current pairing Scott Dann and Gary Cahill have kept three clean sheets in their last three games which have seen the Eagles pick up nine points, via Crystal Palace.

Here is what Palace fans had to say following his comments:

Crystal Palace fans, do you think Sakho will stay at the club? Comment Below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Harry Kane’s form has been sliding to the point where it has become a worry for Tottenham Hotspur.

On the chalkboard

The England international remains an elite calibre striker with a genuinely exceptional scoring record.

After a quiet start to the season, he has still scored 10 goals in 15 outings in all competitions.

Yet his statistics point to a player who is struggling.

Per WhoScored, he averages 2.7 shots per game, 0.7 key passes, 0.5 dribbles, two dispossessions and 2.4 unsuccessful touches, while his passing accuracy is a mere 69.1%.

Compare that with last season: He averaged 3.6 shots per game, 1.1 key passes, 1.4 dribbles, 1.6 dispossessions, 2.9 unsuccessful touches and a passing accuracy of 73.1%.

The season prior is even starker; in 2017/18 Kane averaged five shots per game, 0.9 key passes, 1.3 dribbles, 1.6 dispossessions and 1.7 unsuccessful touches. His passing accuracy was 71.2%.

This is a decline. In 2017/18, a season in which he netted 30 Premier League goals, one sees a single-minded striker who is always looking to hit the back of the net. In 2018/19, his game is slightly more rounded, as he looks to bring others into play, while his passing accuracy also improved.

This season, though, he seems caught between a rock and a hard place. He doesn’t shoot as much as he used to, he rarely runs with the ball and he loses the ball regularly. Combine that with poor passing accuracy and it adds up to a headache for manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Bring him into the game

The Spurs boss has to find a way to bring Kane into play.

Examine his match statistics thus far this season. He has attempted over 20 passes three times. His average passes per game number is just 16.5.

At his nadir, he completed just 50% of the passes he attempted in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal. The conclusion? Seven accurate passes.

Now, this is not to say that he should be dropping deeper and upping that number, quite the opposite.

Pochettino needs to construct his attack around Kane’s strengths because, at the moment, Spurs are merely accentuating his weaknesses.

Yes, he is still scoring goals, but he is toiling when he is not shooting and it is not helpful to the team.

Against Sheffield United at the weekend, as Spurs drew 1-1, Kane didn’t make a tackle, an interception or complete a dribble. He had two shots on goal but didn’t score and attempted 17 passes with an accuracy of 58.8%.

Kane remains an elite striker and his record speaks for itself but he needs some help.

Pochettino needs to find a way to surround him with the support he requires in order to get back to the lean, hungry striker he once was.

The stats prove that Kane can do it if he is given the tools; it is his manager’s challenge to source them.

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

Tottenham Hotspur remain anxious about Harry Kane’s future at the club, per The Daily Mail.

What’s the word?

A special report detailing Jose Mourinho’s first days as manager claims that the Portuguese has leaned heavily on the England international.

He is said to have held one-on-one chats with the forward, although there are reported to be doubts within the club over his future, should Spurs’ trophy drought extend beyond next season.

The club have not won a major honour since 2008 when Juande Ramos’ side won the League Cup at Chelsea’s expense.

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Mourinho’s job

Spurs have appointed Mourinho as manager for this very reason.

He has won a trophy at every club he has managed since Porto and one has to feel that his remit is to bring genuine success to the north Londoners.

Kane, for his part, has not shown any desire to leave the club and he is tied to Spurs until 2024, with Transfermarkt valuing him at £135m.

Nevertheless, it is better to be safe than sorry and it is on Mourinho to fashion this side into one capable of winning major trophies, be it the Premier League, the Champions League or the FA Cup.

It remains to be seen if he will be successful but if he is, expect Kane, and other major stars, to be more than happy to stick around.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans have gushed over a rival player after his recent performance. 

Raul Jimenez was yet again on the scoresheet for Wolves in their Europa League victory over Slovan Bratislava on Thursday night, and some Wolves fans have been praising the performance of their Mexican striker in the club’s vital victory.

Jimenez, 28, scored his seventh goal in nine Europa League matches to lift Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to second in the group K table, and the striker’s clinical finish from the spot after he was fouled by Vernon de Marco has given the West Midlands side an excellent opportunity of qualifying for the knock-out stages.

With Wolves having recovered from an initial six-game winless run in the Premier League, Nuno’s side now sit 13th in the table and are unbeaten in four. The impressive team performance on Thursday night, and Jimenez’s display, in particular, has got some Wolves fans praising their striker’s performance against Ján Kozák’s side.

Here are some of the best reactions to Jimenez’s latest goalscoring display below.