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Leeds United duo Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford both put in impressive displays in their side’s 2-1 win against Swansea City at Elland Road on Wednesday night, and teammate Mateusz Klich may well be the one to suffer if they maintain their form.

On the chalkboard

Well, manager Marcelo Bielsa has often preferred Roofe in the lone striker role this season – especially with Bamford absent for the majority of the campaign because of injury – but they have both started the Yorkshire outfit’s previous two Championship clashes.

The former Middlesbrough man was given the centre-forward role for the second successive fixture as they hosted the Swans, with Roofe starting in an advanced central midfield role behind him.

It is a similar one to the one that Klich has had for much of the season, with his most frequent partner Adam Forshaw arguably more defensively-minded.

The chosen duo certainly made an impact on Wednesday, having nine shots at goal between them according to WhoScored.

Is Klich in danger of losing his place?

He might well be, especially since he hasn’t been in the best form in recent months.

With Kalvin Phillips having the defensive midfield role wrapped up it will leave the likes of him, Roofe and Forshaw – when he returns from injury – fighting for the two spots ahead of him.

While it may have been deemed fine to deploy the Poland international and Leeds’ top goalscorer there for the visit of Graham Potter’s men, Bielsa may choose for a slightly more conservative line-up in the future – especially away from home given he has attacking players like Pablo Hernandez, Jack Harrison and Jack Clarke on the wings.

Should Roofe remain in midfield then the experienced manager may well favour Forshaw alongside him when he needs to be more defensive – something that could easily happen in what could be a nervous run-in for the Yorkshire club.

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John McGinn will be available for Aston Villa this weekend having served a two-game ban.

The suspension meant that the midfielder missed the 1-1 draw with Stoke City on February 23, in addition to last weekend’s 4-0 win over Derby County.

Villa boss Dean Smith has admitted that he has a selection dilemma when it comes to the clash with Birmingham City because his team were so impressive against Derby.

McGinn has been very, very good this season, though, contributing two goals and eight assists in the Championship since being signed under the reign of Steve Bruce back in the summer.

It seems unlikely that the Scot will be left on the bench against Birmingham, but Villa’s performance against Derby, in his absence, was excellent.

Thogden has ranked his top 5 sets of Championship away fans for Pl>ymaker FC. Did your club make the list? Find out in the video below…

The Villa fans have been on social media offering their views on the team selection.

And it would be fair to say that a number have mixed opinions.

Indeed, whilst some want McGinn to come back into the team, others feel that the midfielder should start on the bench:

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According to a report in The Liverpool Echo, Everton have no intention of selling West Bromwich Albion loanee Mason Holgate this summer, which will surely leave Baggies boss Darren Moore seriously frustrated.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the 22-year-old joined the west Midlands outfit on a temporary basis until the end of the season during the January transfer window, and he has gone on to establish himself as a key player ever since.

The versatile defender has played the full 90 minutes in West Brom’s previous nine Championship fixtures, and he has picked up three assists from the right-back position.

However, any hopes of bringing him to The Hawthorns on a permanent deal at the end of the campaign have been quashed, with The Liverpool Echo reporting that Toffees manager Marco Silva is a big fan of the England U21 international.

Moore will be frustrated

He certainly will, with The Liverpool Echo saying that the club was keen to have Holgate in their side next term and beyond.

Given his lack of football at Goodison Park previously, the Baggies boss may have felt that he had a good opportunity to get the defender – especially if they do end up winning promotion to the Premier League – but that now appears to be off of the table once and for all.

It will certainly give the 22-year-old plenty of confidence that he can still have a big role to play under Silva in the future, and that should be enough to stop him from pushing for an exit elsewhere.

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Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has suggested that Unai Emery could leave Arsenal for a job in La Liga in the coming years, per the Islington Gazette.

The Spaniard only joined the club in the summer, moving to the Emirates from PSG, and Balague has claimed that Real Madrid have been interested in the manager in the past.

What’s he said?

Balague believes Emery could soon be tempted back to La Liga.

The Gunners boss spent his entire playing career in Spain and has managed the likes of Sevilla, Valencia and Almeria in his homeland.

His move to Arsenal is his first foray into English football and he has thus far taken the club to fourth in the Premier League, the final qualification spot to the Champions League.

Nevertheless, Balague does not expect the 47-year-old to stick it out in north London.

He said, per the Islington Gazette: “Emery is very well-respected in Spain for what he did with Valencia and Sevilla.

“Whether he is at Arsenal for two or three years or longer, I do think that at some point he will take a big job in Spain.

“Maybe Atletico Madrid. Don’t forget Real Madrid looked at him. But he is doing his best and working hard at Arsenal.”

Depends on timing

This is a tricky one given the managerial situations at the top clubs in Spain.

Atletico have Diego Simeone and he is likely to stay for a while as he bids to turn the club into regular poopers of the Real Madrid and Barcelona party.

Real, meanwhile, have just reappointed Zinedine Zidane, who can quite literally do no wrong in the eyes of many fans after winning three consecutive Champions League trophies.

Barcelona, too, are romping to the La Liga title and are safely through to the Champions League quarter-finals under Ernesto Valverde.

Emery may well be at the top of their respective lists if those managers decide for a change of scenery, but he will have a while to wait.

That can only be good news for Arsenal, as the Spaniard seems to be growing stronger in his new role as the season wears on.

وضح جناح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي باريس سان جيرمان، آنخل دي ماريا، موقفه من الاستمرار مع العملاق الباريسي بعد انتهاء الموسم الجديد.

وينتهي عقد دي ماريا مع نهاية الموسم الحالي في يونيو 2021، وهناك رغبة من طرف باريس سان جيرمان بتمديده لسنوات أخرى لأنه عنصر أساسي في تشكيل المدرب، توماس توخيل.

اقرأ أيضًا.. دي ماريا: لا توجد عداوة بين ميسي ورونالدو

وعلق الأرجنتيني على الأمر في تصريحات لشبكة “ESPN”، وقال: “أود العودة مرة أخرى إلى روزاريو سنترال”.

وتابع: “لكن هنالك الكثير من المشاكل في الأرجنتين أهمها انعدام الأمن، وهو ما يُعقد عودتي إلى هناك في الوقت الحالي”.

وأضاف: “أشاهد دائمًا القنوات في الأرجنتين وأرى ما يحدث وأنظر إلى بناتي، أمر صعب للغاية ما يجري هناك وهو سبب بقائي هنا لأغلب الوقت في باريس”.

وواصل تصريحاته: “تناقشت حول الأمر مع زوجتي، عقدي مع باريس سان جيرمان سينتهي بنهاية الموسم الحالي، والنادي يرغب بتمديده ولا أعرف ماذا أفعل حقًا”.

وأتم: “تريد زوجتي متابعة تطور الأحداث في الأرجنتين بالفترة المقبلة، ولا أريد أن أجبر عائلتي على أي شيء لأنهم الأهم في حياتي”.

The January window passed with minimal fuss for Manchester United, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to stay with his already trusted troops for the remainder of the campaign.

The Norwegian has been superb for United since taking over from Jose Mourinho and is rightly in the frame to be the full-time manager come the summer.

However, this week’s loss to PSG highlighted the need for the Red Devils to ensure that the summer months do not pass them by in terms of making a splash in the transfer market.

We here in the Tavern feel that the club need to wade in with the big money and make a real impression this time round.

With that, we’ve taken a look at TWO players who Man United and Solskjaer need to have on their radar heading into the summer…

Mauro Icardi

In the news this week after being stripped of the Inter captaincy, the enigmatic forward could be just the world class talent United need.

Full of goals and despite some off-field issues still a massive talent, Icardi would complement an already superb looking United attack.

One to consider for sure, and one that would leave a lasting impression on the rest of the market.

Raphael Varane

What better way to make some noise in the market than by going out and bringing in one of the world’s best in their position?

Varane has developed at Madrid and with France into one of the finest central defenders around.

It is clear United need something at centre half if they are to really compete with the best, and Varane certainly fits the mould of world class defenders.

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According to the printed version of The Mirror (February 12, page 56), per HITC, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, it is looking likely that the 29-year-old will leave Anfield at the end of the campaign considering there have been no developments in him extending his deal with the Merseyside outfit, and The Mirror, via HITC, reports that he is interesting clubs both from the Premier League and abroad.

The Mirror report that the England international may well choose to remain in the English top flight however, and Spurs are keen on him to provide back-up to Harry Kane next term with Fernando Llorente likely to leave the north London club this summer.

The report adds that the centre-forward, who earns £120,000-a-week, would help to boost Tottenham’s number of home-grown players.

Would he be a good addition?

He certainly would be.

While Sturridge turns 30 years of age this year and has suffered from his fair share of injury issues over the years, he has still scored 77 goals in 213 Premier League appearances and the chance to sign him for nothing would be an opportunity that is too good to turn down.

Of course, Tottenham have found themselves without the injured Kane in recent weeks and while their form hasn’t really suffered, they would be much better off if they had an out-and-out striker who is proven over many years at this level – something that Llorente isn’t – and would allow Son Heung-Min to play out wide instead as well as through the middle.

Harry Kane gets his hands on the Super Bowl and Dele Alli gets his hands on a superb owl in the latest episode After 90 below…

After a good spell of defensive solidity, Chelsea’s defence has absolutely crumbled in recent weeks. 

Humiliating 4-0 and 6-0 defeats to Bournemouth and Manchester City have seen many eyebrows raised over Maurizio Sarri’s defence, and failure to improve could now see the Blues spend heavily in the summer to improve that area of the squad.

The Breakdown

Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness) reports that Chelsea are keen on signing Ajax central defender Matthijs de Ligt in a move that makes perfect sense, though it could be a deal that proves extremely difficult to pull off.

The likes of Juventus, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also said to be interested in de Ligt, according to the Spanish outlet, leaving Chelsea with some serious competition if they do intend on making an offer for the 19-year-old.

The Blues, however, must do all they can to see off rival interest; de Ligt is exactly the kind of player they need at the back going forward.

David Luiz has been an absolute shambles in defence at times this season and, at 31 with his contract set to expire in the summer, his long-term future does not look to be anywhere near Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, Antonio Rudiger, who started off the season well, has also been poor of late, constantly committing silly fouls and failing to win simple headers.

By no means will de Ligt solve all of the problems at Stamford Bridge, but signing a defender with his potential would definitely be a good start and a step in the right direction for the west London club.

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has only started one Premier League game and has been a spectator for most of this year, as his personal battle with manager Unai Emery has caused problems.

The former Germany international came off the bench on Sunday as Arsenal saw off Southampton at the Emirates, and he once again showed how good he can be.

Ozil’s 27-minute cameo suggested that Emery should put more trust in him, as he’s the ability to play a big part from here on in until the end of the season.

Arsenal moved ahead of Manchester United on Sunday following the Red Devils’ draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford. The Gunners will now host Bournemouth at the Emirates on Wednesday before making the short trip to Wembley on Saturday for the North London derby.

Of course, having Ozil, who is valued at £31.5 million (by Transfermarkt), confident and ready to produce this week is something that could benefit the Gunners massively on the field, as he is the type of player who could produce a match-winning performance.

Indeed, this week could be season-defining for the German as he has the perfect opportunity to cement a place in the side by putting in a couple of dominant performances. But, things could also go horribly wrong if he returns to his old ways, with one bad performance possibly ruining his chances of securing regular minutes.

Billy Sharp may have fired in the goals to get the Blades within touching distance of automatic promotion this season yet the form of his strike-partner could prove pivotal over the coming weeks.

David McGoldrick has scored on eleven occasions for Chris Wilder’s side during their Championship campaign but has been experiencing somewhat of a drought in recent games having failed to find the target in five games.

Following the departure of Leon Clarke and Ben Woodburn in January, Sheffield United have inadvertently put more pressure on Sharp to lead the line as both Gary Madine and Scott Hogan have failed to provide the necessary impact in-front of goal since their arrival at Bramall Lane.

In order for the Blades to reach the promise land of the Premier League at the end of the season, McGoldrick will almost certainly have to return to form as Norwich City and Leeds United show no signs of slowing down in the hunt for the top two spots in the Championship.

An injury to top-scorer Sharp could prove to be devastating for the Blades in their hunt for promotion yet even if their veteran forward stays fit, his fellow forwards will need to step up at some point if they are to overcome a tough run-in.

Wilder’s side face the likes of Leeds United, Bristol City and in-form Brentford over the next three weeks with the fixture against the Bees occurring on Tuesday night.

The 31-year-old forward has previous experience of playing in England’s top flight division during a five-year spell at Southampton and his calm aura whilst on the pitch could help his side overcome any nerves that they may experience.

A second promotion in three years would cap off a meteoric rise since the arrival of Wilder from Northampton Town who joined the club after they limped to a disappointing eleventh placed finish in League One under previous boss Nigel Adkins.

A fairytale indeed, but Sharp isn’t the protagonist.

Sheffield United fans, do you think Sharp is your main man? Join the discussion by commenting below…