As reported by The Daily Mail, Celtic have set their asking price for defender Kieran Tierney at £30m, should clubs like Manchester United come calling for him this summer or beyond.
What’s the story?
The Hoops 20-year-old has emerged as one of the brightest defensive prospects in British football and speculation rumbles on, on a near continuous basis that clubs are ready to pay money to convince Celtic to part with him.
One of those interested teams is Manchester United, according to The Daily Mail, who are joined by the likes of Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur in seeking his services.
The paper reckon though that Celtic are willing to hold out for £30m for his transfer.
Should Man United pursue his signature anyway?
Is he worth that kind of money?
Tierney has already accomplished a fair bit despite his young age. He’s captained his club and country, he’s won multiple trophies and he plays regularly in European football, on occasion shining in the UEFA Champions League.
If he were emerging in Spain or Italy, the hype surrounding him would be enormous.
He has excellent determination, stamina, pace and leadership skills that really suit the full-back position at the elite level, also possessing just enough attacking flair to be a threat on the left flank, as demonstrated by his four goals and 11 assists this season.
£30m isn’t a completely absurd valuation and it’s not a price tag that should put United off. He’s shown a character and hunger so far in his career that is absent in many of the more pampered youngsters emerging from the big five leagues.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
If United are serious about him becoming a first team star at Old Trafford, then they should pay the money.
FootballFanCast.com’s World Cup coverage is brought to you by 5p0rtz.com – try 5p0rtz.com’s World Cup Pool Predictor for free and you could win £1million! Click here to play.
Gareth Southgate clearly has a strong idea of the England team he wants to field in Russia this summer. While most international managers selected a preliminary 29-man cohort for the round of warmup friendlies, Southgate choose a 23-man squad only – putting the remaining six players on standby.
That suggests Southgate’s mind is pretty much set in terms of team selection, but as well as ensuring the Three Lions are prepared for the coming tournament, the friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica also represent a chance for a few players on the fringes of his plans to make the England gaffer think twice.
With that in mind, we take a look at five players who could force their way into England’s World Cup starting XI…
Trent Alexander-Arnold
[ffc_insert title=”Try 5p0rtz’s World Cup pool predictor for FREE and you could win £1MILLION!” name=”Win £1MILLION with 5p0rtz” image_ link=”https://po.st/5p0rtz” link_text=”Click here to play” ]
Could Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fairy tale season, becoming a first-team regular just in time to start Liverpool’s Champions League final showdown against Real Madrid, end with a starring role at the World Cup? In terms of energy and mobility, the 19-year-old certainly suits the identity of this England team, which is built around it’s ability to launch counter-attacks from all areas of the pitch.
The Reds prospect is glaringly inexperienced – he’s yet to receive an England cap – but with that in mind, making the squad was in itself a statement of how highly Southgate rates him. Kieran Trippier is a solid option for England, but Alexander-Arnold feels like a special talent and the wing-back roles are vital to the efficiency of Southgate’s 3-1-4-2 setup.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s unfortunate injury has left a hole in England’s midfield that Ruben Loftus-Cheek appears naturally equipped to fill. The Chelsea youngster shares that ability to be direct and dynamic from midfield, which is exactly what Southgate’s looking for in the dual roaming roles just in front of Jordan Henderson.
The England gaffer knows Loftus-Cheek well from his U21 days too, but the level of competition for those positions represents a significant challenge for the 22-year-old, who has only really come to the end of his first full season as a regular at senior level.
As things stand, Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard will likely be Southgate’s first picks for the lung-busters from midfield.
Ashley Young
On paper, Danny Rose remains the standout candidate for England’s left wing-back berth, so it’s down to Ashley Young to prove being battle-hardened by a long season with Manchester United has him better prepared for the tournament than the Tottenham defender, who missed much of last term through injury and eventually made just ten Premier League appearances.
Rose has looked much more like his old self in the final few weeks of the season, but Young’s wicked delivery from set pieces could be a key differential should he prove to Southgate that it really adds something to England’s armoury.
Nick Pope
The No.1 jersey feels like Jordan Pickford’s to lose after England’s previous batch of friendlies but the debate rumbles on over who should be England’s World Cup glovesman and Nick Pope boasts a pretty strong case.
He’s conceded the fewest goals of any English goalkeeper in the Premier League and the fact he started the season as Tom Heaton’s understudy is testament to the strength of the Burnley shot-stopper’s mentality.
With Jack Butland and Pickford seemingly a little ahead of him in the queue though, it’s vital Pope impresses in training enough to actually get some game-time against England and Costa Rica.
Phil Jones
With Kyle Walker impressing at centre-half during the last batch of friendlies, Phil Jones’ role in this England side has come under threat – especially after his catastrophic attempt to contain Eden Hazard in the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Back in September, Southgate dubbed him England’s best defender, but the way England have evolved since then, focusing so heavily on playing out of the back, has almost eradicated the need for an out-and-out defender. That being said, John Stones is probably the most vulnerable to being edged out of England’s starting XI.
While he encapsulates everything Southgate wants from his back three, the Manchester City defender struggled for game-time towards the end of last season, losing his place to Vincent Kompany and January signing Aymeric Laporte.
There is a contradiction at the heart of long distance fandom that is difficult to square. On the one hand should you support a club situated hundreds of miles away or in another country entirely you are open to all manner of lazy accusations that place your authenticity in doubt and if your team happens to be successful then those accusations become outright dismissive. You are a ‘glory-hunter’. To the particularly callous you are a ‘plastic’.
Yet the very same reasons why long distance support is looked down on from some quarters can just as easily be regarded as being thoroughly commendable. The responsibility of following a particular team was not bestowed upon that person either through family inheritance or locality. There is no obligation to display such loyalty. A long distance fan chooses to sacrifice his or her sanity at the altar of that side. They choose to have their sleep pattern knocked sideways to stream a game in the middle of the night. They choose to endure the slings and arrows that come from a club allegiance and all while feeling frustratingly disconnected due to geography.
And when that supporter goes the extra thousand miles and attends the matches any prejudices they encounter is surely all the more erroneous.
Malcy began supporting Manchester City in the early 90s after going to university in the area. For 20-plus years he was a season ticket holder who would travel down from Scotland for every home game and moving to Sweden six years ago wasn’t going to deter him from watching his beloved blues. Which means that these days his regular trips to the Etihad necessitates flights – including transfers – and sometimes a sleep-over on his friend’s sofa and for all this it’s rare that he will see any change from five hundred quid.
For such devotion to the cause it is not uncommon however to have his credibility as a City fan questioned.
“I sometimes get asked “are you one of the new fans?” by blues or fans of other clubs, probably because of my lack of Mancunian accent. It doesn’t take long to put that one to bed though.”
Conversations with Liverpool, Manchester United and City fans based in Ireland meanwhile reveal a similar breakdown of cost, time and inconvenience that amounts to heroic dedication. Countless hours of travel, hotel stays, and wallet-shrinking fortunes being spent is the norm and that’s before we get to rearranged kick-off times throwing days of careful organisation into expensive disarray.
In the hyper-opinionated orbit of modern football there are a great many aspects that confound but perhaps nowhere is sheer unfairness more evident than in the negative perception reserved for overseas supporters such as the above. Liverpool are mocked for hosting a number of Scandinavian fans while Reds from across the world are derided as being ‘day-trippers’ for flying over to Old Trafford and so often the originator of the belittlement is less familiar with the ground in question but simply lives closer to it.
In researching this article discussions took place on social media and across various forums and though it was almost entirely civilised and respectful. Here, without any judgement whatsoever, are some of the more disparaging comments posted concerning long distance fans:
“Anyone who ‘chooses’ a team isn’t a real fan, more a customer.”
“I just can’t get my head around supporting a team you have no connection to that play miles away just because they were winning things when you grew up. Surely the bond you have with your football club stems from local pride?”
“The difference between a lad from Hull supporting Liverpool and a Thai supporters group that are mocked on social media is simply distance.”
“I detest what I call glory hunting fans from different places who have no connection what so ever to the team they’re supporting. I’ve no time at all for cockney reds and northeast folk supporting Liverpool.”
It should be noted that the vast majority of respondents wholeheartedly appreciated the sacrifices and commitment undertaken to support a club from afar but equally perhaps it is all too easy to pigeonhole the more sceptical as being prejudiced in some way. The global branding of the Premier League has resulted in genuine causes for resentment emerging from localised support as tickets become scarcer to secure not to mention the widely held suspicion that clubs now prioritise overseas fans due to their propensity to spend more.
It can be immensely annoying too, no matter how you feel on the subject matter, to see your club mocked with a hackneyed stereotype from a rival fan whose Twitter bio and location suggests that the misnomer has been sourced second-hand and from a position of ignorance.
Countering this, several long distance fans were keen to point out how extremely lucky local supporters are to have the ground on their doorstep requiring the minimum of effort to watch their team in action. Granted this additionally makes derby defeats all the more visceral and harder to endure on a Monday morning should you live in the area but it also follows that those who reside elsewhere have less rivals to gloat to in the workplace following a derby win. As Felix from Germany puts it – “I always have to celebrate alone and I have no person to share my passion in real life”.
It is unquestionably a huge boon to feel emotionally connected within a club’s catchment area and more so to be able to get home in time for the X-Factor after a Saturday kick-off. Others meanwhile begin car journeys that don’t end past midnight, or head for the airport, or go back to bed for a couple of hours prior to feeling like a zombie for the next 24 – and all while feeling detached again from their obsession and relying on the internet for vicarious connection.
In wrestling this topic down, that appears to be the nub of the issue: local fans should feel fortunate to reside in the same postcode as their heroes, with all the benefits that brings, only some do not. Some instead feel entitled.
Sadly this entitlement is becoming more prevalent largely due to the aforementioned global branding of the game and social media making a big world smaller. It has even made itself known at games with Manchester City supporters recently turning on their own at Chelsea asking ‘where have all the Mancs gone?’
At that match Stuart from Hampshire was accosted by a fellow blue outside the stadium who demanded to know how he’d accrued the necessary loyalty points for a ticket given that he had no northern accent.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Our attitude towards long distance fans used to be so different back in the day when it was commonplace for supporter’s groups visiting from overseas to be paraded on the pitch prior to kick-off and given hearty applause for their dedication. Now resentment seems to be increasingly on the rise.
Surely though such exclusivity has no place in a modern game that has a significant impact far beyond injury updates in local newspapers and office one-upmanship. In writing this a quote from The Stone Roses’ singer Ian Brown kept coming to mind – It is not where you’re from, it’s where you’re at: and if you’re chewing your fingernails down to the quick at three o’clock on a Saturday afternoon you’re a fan regardless of location.
The sentiments of Cliff from America linger. “I am in California and I feel Manchester City fans in Manchester might be a bit more connected then me by going to the games. But I live and die with every win or loss. I bleed Blue and am clued in on everything City.”
Another comment, this time from a forum, also resonates – “How lucky you are to fall out of bed and stroll up to our ground when you feel like it and sneeringly dismiss those of us not blessed to be born within peeing distance of the pitch.”
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”253276″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Man City’s record breaking Premier League season in quotes”]
The 2018 World Cup is well underway and there are a number of players that have already made a big impact for their country in their opening group game, and surely some of them will have caught the eye of Birmingham City manager Garry Monk.
The 39-year-old will surely be keen to make some moves in the transfer market this summer to ensure the Midlands outfit significantly improve if they want to be promotion contenders this season, having flirted with relegation last term.
If the former Swansea City and Leeds United boss is to achieve that he may need to strengthen his team all across the pitch, and he may have a particular focus in attacking areas give his team only scored a paltry 38 goals in 46 Championship fixtures during the 2017/18 campaign.
The Bedford-born boss will already have some targets in mind for City, who should move to sign a 5ft 9in Leicester City attacker now the Foxes have signed James Maddison, but he may have been convinced by the impressive displays of a number of individuals in Russia, too.
Here are three World Cup stars that Monk has surely added to his summer transfer wishlist…
With the futures of both David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak said to be in doubt, one of Monk’s transfer priorities this summer may well be to bring a new number one to St Andrew’s, and he could be tempted to make a shock swoop for Halldorsson following his brilliant display for Iceland in their memorable 1-1 draw with Argentina on Saturday.
The 34-year-old, who currently plays for Randers FC, saved a Lionel Messi penalty and made a number of other impressive saves for his country, and he could be a key player for Birmingham in the Championship this season.
Australia weren’t fancied to take anything against France in their opening 2018 World Cup fixture, but they came close to getting a point before they eventually fell to a 2-1 defeat, and Kruse made a big impact on the left wing for the Socceroos.
The 29-year-old caused Les Bleus right-back Benjamin Pavard plenty of problems, and as well as using his pace to drive forward, he also won five fouls according to WhoScored.com.
The wideman scored seven goals and provided a further six assists in 30 appearances in all competitions German second-tier side VfL Bochum last term, and with just one year remaining on his contract he could be snapped up for a reasonable fee this summer.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Another of Monk’s priorities may well be to bring in a goalscoring winger and centre-forward this summer, and he could get a player that is able to play in both positions in Tunisia international Ben Youssef.
The tall attacker was the one that Kyle Walker was adjudged to have fouled for his country’s penalty against the Three Lions on Monday, and he caused problems in the final third for England’s defence.
Four goals and one assist in eight appearances for Saudi side Al-Ettifaq in 2018 shows the quality he could bring in attacking areas for Birmingham.
West Ham United have made a surprise £12million bid for West Bromwich Albion’s Craig Dawson which has been rejected by the Baggies, according to The Telegraph.
The Hammers have already been in the transfer market this summer, having signed right-back Ryan Fredericks from Fulham on a free transfer, Toulouse defender Issa Diop and Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Clearly new boss Manuel Pellegrini is keen to strengthen the defence as he has made a bid for 28-year-old Dawson.
According to the report, West Brom boss Darren Moore rates the centre-back closer to £20million which seems steep for a player valued at £7.2million on Transfermarkt.
What do you think of the World Cup so far? Let us know and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.
Dawson made 28 appearances for the Baggies last season, scoring twice, but his consistent defensive displays could not prevent the side being relegated to the Championship.
West Ham fans have been reacting to the latest transfer news on social media and it appears they aren’t too happy with Pellegrini’s decision to move for Dawson.
Some Manchester United fans are not keen to see the club make a move for Adnan Januzaj this summer, despite his sumptuous winning goal against England on Thursday night.
Januzaj’s winner in the 1-0 victory ensured that Belgium topped their World Cup group at the Three Lions’ expense, leading to speculation that Man United may be interested in re-signing him.
Outlets such as the Manchester Evening News reported in the wake of his goal that United had a buy-back clause with regards to the winger, after selling him to Spanish club Real Sociedad last summer.
At club level last term he did fairly well, scoring four goals and assisting six times in all competitions, winning his place in Belgium’s talented squad.
It’s also true that United need a natural right winger ahead of next term if they are to compete for major honours on multiple fronts.
Supporters though don’t appear especially keen to activate that on the back of one World Cup goal.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
These fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on a potential return after he scored his winner…
West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Sunderland’s top scorer Josh Maja on a permanent deal before sending him back to Wearside on an 18-month loan, as reported by The Sunderland Echo.
What’s the word, then?
The 20-year-old has been in exquisite form for the Black Cats so far this season, scoring 15 goals in 23 League One starts and 16 in all competitions – as per Transfermarkt – for Jack Ross’ side, who are hopeful of an immediate return to the Championship following their relegation last term.
Maja’s rejection of a new contract offer at the Stadium of Light has left them in a perilous position though, seeing as the youngster’s current deal is set to expire in the summer.
Who should replace Marko Arnautovic if he leaves West Ham? FFC’s James Jones has the answer! Check out the video below to find out…
Sunderland must now sell Maja this month to attain a significant sum for their prize asset, or risk losing him for a mere compensation fee at the end of the season.
Would he suit West Ham?
In a year or two, yes. Maja is a powerful striker with a fantastic eye for goal, but he would perhaps struggle to make the jump from League One to the Premier League immediately. Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini currently has Marko Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez, Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez at his disposal, so the youngster would struggle to continue his development in east London through regular game-time.
The aforementioned deal, which would see Maja sign for the club and then return to Sunderland for 18 months, seems an ideal move for all parties, especially for the reported £3m fee being touted by The Sunderland Echo.
West Ham would secure Maja’s services in the long run at little cost but keep him at a level where he is clearly thriving and learning by the game, while Sunderland wouldn’t lose a key figure in their promotion push mid-season.
As reported by Spanish outlet Don Balon, Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane has told Mauricio Pochettino that if he is to ever leave the club, he wants it to be to Real Madrid.
What’s the story?
The kind of goalscoring impact Harry Kane has brought to the English Premier League in recent seasons is bound to attract attention and a big fear for Tottenham fans is that he leaves the club at some point, leaving them without his talisman presence.
A worry then that Don Balon report Zinedine Zidane is ready to welcome him with open arms at Real Madrid, with the player privately revealing to Mauricio Pochettino that if he does leave London, his first choice destination is the La Liga giants.
The website say that while Kane is happy at Spurs at the moment, his ambitions could change after next year’s World Cup.
Destined for greatness?
While Harry Kane’s reputation is growing all the time at Spurs, to truly reach his potential perhaps he needs a move to one of the giants of world football and Real Madrid of course fit that description. A move to another English Premier League outfit seems unlikely, meaning the list of super-clubs he could join is small indeed.
Surrounded by the creative superstars of Real Madrid, his goalscoring contribution could be taken to new levels, which would be remarkable considering he’s already scored 112 goals in 175 appearances for Spurs.
If he stays at Tottenham for the rest of his career, he’ll likely always been a prolific talent, but to truly have a stellar career full of trophy wins, does he need a club like Madrid?
Tottenham Hotspur star Eric Dier has revealed that he wants to emulate Arsenal legend Tony Adams, according to reports from the London Evening Standard.
Dier joined Spurs from Sporting Lisbon last summer as a defender, but the Englishman has been recently deployed in a central midfield role by manager Mauricio Pochettino early in the season.
It seems that Dier’s rather unconventional upbringing of being born in England but growing up in Portugal has helped him play in a more advanced position, however the 21-year-old admitted that he wants to become a great leader like former Arsenal centre-back Tony Adams.
WANT MORE? >> Arsenal Transfer News | Tottenham Hotspur Transfer News
Adams is one of the Gunners’ greatest icons, so Dier’s admiration for the ex-Arsenal man could displease Tottenham supporters given the hatred between both sets of fans.
“Tottenham fans might not be happy with me for this, but I met Tony Adams quite a few times. He came away with us when I played for England when I was younger and it was great to be around him.
“I think it was when I was with the Under-19s. One day in training we were a player short so he trained with us – and it was great.
“It was unbelievable. I don’t know how old he was at the time by his body was past it, yet he managed to cope because he could read the game so well and just talked non-stop.
“I hope leadership is something I grow into more. It is something that comes naturally as you become more cemented in a team. I have only been here a year but hopefully I can become one.”
The Lilywhites managed to grab their first win of the season in a 1-0 victory over Sunderland on Sunday after three successive draws, pushing them up to 12th in the table.
Sections of the Sheffield United support are expressing their discontent with the ominous sound of boos, despite their recent run of good form launching the Blades into a lofty 5th place, six points off the top and firmly in playoff contention.
The signing of Dean Hammond will add stability, and Che Adams appears to be finding form in League One. After the disappointment of Nigel Clough’s second season in charge, could the Blades finally be on the up?
It’s been difficult for Sheffield United fans, where Clough was supposed to be their saviour, he largely filled the squad with mediocre players – even at League One level. With Nigel Adkins now in charge, the Blades are well suited to at least challenge for promotion.
After Fleetwood disposed of seemingly imperial Burton, only to be subsequently tanked 3-0 by Adkins’ side, a feeling that anybody can beat anybody in this league is starting to form.
However, the club need to shift some of the deadwood out of the club after the last few transfer windows.
Here are FIVE Blades to bounce in the New Year Sales…
PAUL COUTTS
It’s been less than a year since the Scot arrived at Bramall Lane, but it simply isn’t working out for the former Derby County man.
The 27-year old can’t seem to find a starting place in the side, amid suggestions he continually gives the ball away in good positions. With even Jamal Campbell-Ryce available in wide areas, Coutts’ departure is unlikely to cause huge upset in the squad.
MICHAEL HIGDON
Higdon has recently been loaned out to Oldham, hoping to rediscover some of the form that saw him become a mainstay at Motherwell a few years ago.
The former NEC man has suffered with injuries since arriving back in England from Holland, and the Blades look well stocked in forward positions. Connor Salmon already backs up the likes of Billy Sharp and Matt Done.
Likely to garner some sort of fee, if Higdon impresses and proves he is injury fee, Adkins should sell up.
FLORENT CUVELIER
The Belgian ace has been seriously unfortunate with injuries, having picked up an ACL tear during a brief loan spell with Port Vale last year.
Moving then to Burton on a similar deal, the former Stoke City youngster impressed during the club’s title run towards the end of last season. Scoring against Hartlepool to secure a crucial win, the player once again picked up an injury and played no further part in the title run in.
A shame really, just as he was getting going. Adkins could be wise to sell the 23-year old, if he can.
JAY MCEVELEY
Seem rather odd to sell your captain mid-season, right? Wrong.
The former Scotland international seems to have been hampered by his appointment as team captain earlier this summer, and has put in some shaky performances. Particularly the 3-1 reversal at the hands of Bury last month.
Where he is now out injured, the backline look far more assured and a decent run of results have followed. Unfortunately for the former Blackburn youngster, his injury has only highlighted that the defence is better off without him.
MARC MCNULTY
Perhaps it could be risky, selling a young striker who appears to be blessed with decent potential. The former Livingston man has shown in glimpses he has the potential to be a decent frontman, but his departure could be managed pretty easily.
Matt Done and Billy Sharp look to be the first-choice front line, with Connor Salmon and Che Adams able to provide – even Jose Baxter could be deployed up top.