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Manchester City travel to Olympiakos on Wednesday night in the hope of securing their place in the Champions League knockout stages with a win against the Greek side.

Pep Guardiola’s side have won all three of their opening fixtures in Group C and sit comfortably top, so this could be an opportunity for the Citizens to make plenty of changes, with one eye no doubt on Saturday’s game against Burnley in the Premier League.

There are already signs that Guardiola may field a slightly weakened starting 11, with it reported that both Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker haven’t travelled to Greece for Wednesday night’s game.

Meanwhile, the likes of Fernandinho, Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko have all recovered from injury in time for the Champions League fixture, so will be in contention for a start.

Here’s how Football FanCast thinks Guardiola will line his side up in Piraeus…

Ederson keeps his place in goal but there is plenty of defensive changes that could be made by Guardiola, with Joao Cancelo likely to start at right-back considering Walker has been left at home.

Mendy has a point to prove on Wednesday and must impress at left-back after recovering from injury, as Cancelo has deputised well there so far this season.

Ruben Dias should be rested for this game, with John Stones making a rare start under Guardiola. The England international was linked with a move away during the summer and the former Everton man, who earns £100k per week at City, has made just one Premier League appearance so far this season.

Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan add the experience in midfield, as this game may come too soon for Fernandinho to start but if City are comfortable we may see him make a return from the bench.

Phil Foden should start as an attacking-midfielder, whilst Ferran Torres will be hoping to improve on his impressive return in the Champions League thus far, by starting as a left-winger.

Bernardo Silva can give his confidence a much-needed boost by scoring or assisting in this game, so Guardiola should trust him to start on the right-wing.

Meanwhile, legendary striker Sergio Aguero should get some much-needed minutes under his belt after returning from injury in the recent loss against Tottenham Hotspur, with Gabriel Jesus given a rest unless he is needed to make a difference against Olympiakos.

Brighton are among three Premier League clubs reportedly showing an interest in signing Ryan Sessegnon on loan.

The Telegraph reported that the Seagulls, along with Burnley and Southampton, are keen on securing a loan move for the 20-year-old, who has drifted to the periphery of Jose Mourinho’s squad at Tottenham.

Spurs paid Fulham £25m for Sessegnon last year but the youngster has been unable to establish himself in north London, playing just 12 times for his current club and failing to make an appearance so far this season.

He showed his qualities in the attacking third of the pitch for the Cottagers in 2017/18, when he netted 16 times as they won promotion to the Premier League. However, he has often been deployed as a left-back during the formative years of his career, alternating between that and a left midfield role. [via TransferMarkt]

A winner of five individual awards at Fulham during that aforementioned 2017/18 season, the 20-year-old is also a Guinness World Records holder, albeit not for the most celebratory of reasons – he claimed the fastest-ever time to hit both goal posts and the crossbar, doing so in 7.75 seconds during England under-21 training in May 2019.

Quirky records aside, Graham Potter may see Sessegnon as an option in an area where he is not particularly well-stocked. Bernardo is currently the only natural left-back in the Seagulls’ squad and, having struggled for game-time in recent months, the Brazilian has been linked with a potential loan exit to the likes of West Ham and Newcastle (as per Sky Sports).

Although the Brighton left-back made more tackles (1.9 to one) and took more shots per game (0.5 to 0.2) than Sessegnon in 2019/20, the Spurs youngster averaged more passes per game (26.5 to 23.6) and had a superior success rate in terms of his ball distribution (77.4% to 73.6%).

Whether or not Bernardo will leave the Amex Stadium in this transfer window is unclear – he has started both of Albion’s Carabao Cup matches this term – but even if he stays put, Sessegnon could provide some welcome competition for the left-back slot.

It should also bring an end to Potter’s preference for deploying centre-back Dan Burn on that flank, while the Tottenham youngster’s ability to play further forward would offer the Brighton manager tremendous choice if the 20-year-old makes the move to Sussex.

Brighton fans, where would you deploy Sessegnon in the team if he joins on loan? Have your say by commenting below!

It may only be a few games into the new Premier League season, but Aston Villa currently find themselves second in the table and with a game in hand on table-topping Everton.

To put it simply, you just couldn’t have scripted a better start for Dean Smith’s side. And as if to underline that point, their remarkable, and truly historic, 7-2 dismantling of reigning champions Liverpool on Sunday night, just made a mockery of the fact that they survived relegation by the skin of their teeth on the final day of last season.

The Villa boss deserves enormous credit for the work he has done, not only for staying up last season or their incredible beginning to this one, but also for getting them promoted in the first place. But whilst he’s someone who of course is always going to be in the public eye, there’s another key man behind the scenes who needs just as much of that love: Johan Lange.

Recruited from FC Copenhagen earlier in the summer to become Villa’s new sporting director, and thus replacing Jesus Garcia Pitarch, Lange had the unenviable task of trying to ensure the Midlands club didn’t just repeat the same mistakes of the 2019 summer transfer window, but also move the team forward.

Villa splashed the cash last summer in the hope of really taking the Premier League by storm, but in end, it was really hit and miss. Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa have formed a rock-solid partnership at the back, but then there were some absolute duds in there too, not least Jota, who left the club just a year after joining.

This summer has seen Villa be far more co-ordinated, structured, and ruthless about their transfer planning and negotiations. Areas that needed strengthening were quickly identified, and reinforced, whilst players who weren’t cutting it – like Jota for example – were moved out with no room for sentiment.

Villa have made five new signings in this transfer window, and all of them have already had moments of brilliance. Emiliano Martinez with a penalty save on his debut. Ollie Watkins with the perfect hat-trick against Liverpool. Even Ross Barkley getting in on the act on his debut too. Things have been far smoother sailing at Villa Park, and their dealings in the market have a lot to do with Lange.

So whilst Smith will rightly get most of the praise, some love needs to be shared with Lange too.

According to Calcio Mercato, Tottenham could offer Erik Lamela to Serie A giants Inter this summer in order to sign Ivan Perisic.

What’s the word?

After guiding Tottenham to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League, and thus securing Europa League football for next season, Jose Mourinho will no doubt be hoping he gets backed in the transfer market this summer.

Can you name every one of Spurs’ top goalscorers from the past 15 seasons? It’s a tricky one…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

And as per Italian publication Calcio Mercato, Spurs are keen on Croatia international Perisic, and are willing to send Lamela in the opposite direction to lure him away from Inter this summer.

Mourinho’s perfect signing

With finances set to be tight this summer, swap deals may become the norm in the Premier League, and if Daniel Levy can engineer a move in which Spurs get Perisic for Lamela, then it would be an absolute masterclass.

Mourinho has gone on record with his praise for Perisic, with his comments after his performance in Croatia’s World Cup semi-final triumph over England back in 2018 showing just how much he rates him.

He said: “Perisic is the kind of winger that is different to the others. Normally you look at wingers and they are just fast and creative. But he is also physical, very physical, fantastic in the air.”

Described as a leader and someone who sacrifices himself for the team by former Inter boss Luciano Spalletti, the 6 foot 1 ace has all the hallmarks of being a prototypical Mourinho signing.

Tall, strong and someone who rises to the big occasion – he struck the equaliser against the Three Lions in that semi-final – Perisic could add some vital trophy-winning experience to Spurs ahead of next season and ensure they have the kind of player who won’t shirk the key moments.

Leroy Sane might not have played for Manchester City’s first team for more than 10 months but his name has rarely been far from the headlines in recent weeks and months.

The German winger has yet to feature in the 2019/20 Premier League after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the Community Shield against Liverpool last August, although he should be available for Wednesday night’s clash against Arsenal having recovered from that huge setback (as per Sky Sports).

While neither Sane nor his Etihad Stadium team-mates were in action over the last three months, the 24-year-old was regularly in the news amid ongoing speculation linking him with a summer move to Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga champions continue to focus their transfer efforts on trying to sign the Manchester City winger, according to the Daily Mail at the weekend.

Sane actually made a tentative comeback for the under-23 side in a Premier League 2 game against their Arsenal counterparts at the end of February, although he didn’t get the chance to return to first team action before the season was halted three months ago as the coronavirus pandemic swept across the UK.

The contribution of 30 goals over the previous two seasons shows that the German can be a hugely effective presence in Manchester City’s attack, while goals from his preferred left flank were proving hard to come by before the season’s enforced stoppage as Raheem Sterling had not found the net in the first two months of 2020.

It remains to be seen whether Sane will be rusty upon his comeback, having gone so long without playing a competitive first team fixture. However, the 24-year-old has a happy record against Wednesday night’s opponents. He has won five of his previous seven games against Arsenal, with three goals in those fixtures, while Liverpool are the only club against whom he has found the net more often during his professional career.

The continuation of that fine record against the Gunners this week would be the perfect way for Sane to lay the ghosts of his injury anguish and make headlines for what he has done on the pitch rather than what others are speculating about his future off it.

Man City fans, will Sane make a triumphant comeback to action after his 10-month injury layoff? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below!

Many Aston Villa fans have heaped heavy praise on club captain Jack Grealish after news emerged of a £200k gesture he has made to the NHS.

The young attacking midfielder was in the press for all the wrong reasons as the United Kingdom went into lockdown due to the recent pandemic in March, flouting advice by attending a house party.

The 24-year-old has since apologised via a video link, but a recent raffling of a match worn Villa shirt has now gained him some plaudits, seeing him donate the money to the NHS.

The shirt gained £55,000 as fans of the club and the midfielder bidded for the item, whilst Grealish also handed his two-week fine of £150,000 for his lockdown rule break, straight to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Grealish’s future at Villa is not yet known after being linked with a move to both Manchester United and Everton.

Whilst the midfielder could leave the Midlands based club this summer, Villa’s own future is not yet known, sitting 19th in the Premier League as things stand.

Reacting to the former England U21 international’s gesture via @PreeceObserver, fans handed Grealish a response…

Villa fans, will Jack Grealish stay at the club beyond the summer? Let us know below…

Plenty of Wolverhampton Wanderers fans have raved over a post from Tim Spiers as the journalist relayed information from The Telegraph writer James Ducker about the Europa League on his official Twitter page.

Ducker writes that the UEFA Europa League final in Gdansk, Poland has been provisionally earmarked for August 26th, with the Champions League final scheduled for three days later.

The Wanderers’ last game in the competition was the 1-1 draw against Olympiacos away in Greece over a month ago, with Pedro Neto scoring what could turn out to be a crucial equaliser against the ten men, who opened the scoring through Youssef El Arabi, as per Sky Sports.

The second leg is yet to be played but WWFC supporters may be silently confident with an away goal that they can finish the job at Molineux and progress through to the next round.

These fans were raving over the news, as many, jokingly or not, were already talking about seeing Wolves in the final:

Wolves fans, what do you make of the news? Comment below!

Many Celtic fans happily recalled the 13-year anniversary of a memorable European victory for the club, one which was settled by a moment of brilliance.

On November 21st, 2006, Shunsuke Nakamura curled an 80th-minute free kick into the top corner of the Manchester United net from 30 yards out to give Celtic a 1-0 victory that ensured the Hoops’ place in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time. [via BBC]

That sumptuous strike from the Japanese attacking midfielder was named by Matt Le Tissier as one of the best five set piece goals he had ever seen, as per The Guardian.

It was one of 28 goals scored by Nakamura in his four-year stint at the club, which encompassed 142 appearances and saw him win three league titles, two Scottish League Cups and the Scottish Cup.

That win over Manchester United 13 years ago also saw Artur Boruc save a penalty from Louis Saha in stoppage time on a dramatic night, as per BBC.

These Celtic fans on Twitter looked back with fondness on Nakamura’s history-making free kick:

Was Nakamura’s free kick winner against Manchester United one of your favourite Celtic moments? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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The ‘Class of 92’ has become an iconic celebration of a group of Manchester United academy prospects who all made it to the big-time together. Coming through the youth sides and eventually stepping out onto the hallowed turf of Old Trafford as bona-fide first-team stars. A tale worthy of being made into a movie…

But where once they heralded an era of unprecedented dominance in the Premier League, the Red Devils now find themselves in the midst of one of their darkest periods in recent memory. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have endured a nightmare six years since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, and things have never looked so bleak on the pitch.

Just how could they do with a touch of inspiration? Well, they appear to have a rare silver lining in the shape of a new crop of prospects. Solskjaer has talked up the emphasis on giving young players a chance, and given the quality and quantity of those coming through the club’s academy system, it is easy to see why.

Whether they can match up to the achievements of the ‘Class of 92’ remains to be seen, but there are some striking similarities in terms of the position, profile and personality of those from yesteryear and now.

[snack_break title=”Mason Greenwood-David Beckham”]

The two most talked about names of their respective classes, Greenwood and Beckham are the undoubted standouts when it comes to the public eye. While the latter may not have been the ‘best’ player in the ‘Class of 92’ – that award generally seems to go to either Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs – he certainly became the most high-profile individual of any United academy graduate.

Similarly, Greenwood is the name on every Red Devils fans’ lips at the moment – the recently turned 18-year-old burst on to the scene during the club’s pre-season tour earlier in the summer, and his two Europa League goals in limited game-time this season have already earned him a new long-term contract.

[snack_break title=”James Garner-Paul Scholes”]

If there is one player United desperately need to succeed out of their new crop of youngsters, it may well be Garner. The 18-year-old is talked about highly by those within the club and outside, and his style of play has already earned rave reviews.

The central midfielder boasts calmness and composure in equal measure, and in a first-team squad that quite truthfully lacks anyone who can sit back and dictate the tempo of the game, Garner is surely destined to be fast-tracked into the first-team. Scholes was the heartbeat of the United side for an entire generation – the Red Devils will hope their new teenage sensation can do the same now.

[snack_break title=”Tahith Chong-Ryan Giggs”]

United have always been blessed with world-class wingers during the Premier League era, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Giggs no doubt the two best. One man who has been tipped to follow in the footsteps of the latter, is Chong. Former academy coach Clayton Blackmore – who reportedly encouraged the club to sign the Dutchman from Feyernoord – was quite unequivocal in his praise of the 19-year-old.

He remarked: “The closest player I’ve seen to filling Ryan Giggs’ boots was Angel Di Maria but Mr Van Gaal did not play him in the right position. He (Chong) could be the next one. He’s playing on the wing, looking really good running with the ball as well like Ryan. He’s done well since coming back from injury. He can go the distance.” Quite the comparison.

[snack_break title=”Brandon Williams-Gary Neville”]

A club stalwart, Neville racked up 597 appearances for United as he defined himself as a reliable, one-club man. A solid defensive full-back, the former England international was an ever-present in the Red Devils’ first-team under Sir Alex Ferguson. Whilst Williams is a left-back by trade, by being naturally right-footed, he could switch over to the opposite flank and be the long-term heir to Neville’s throne.

Even if that positional change doesn’t happen, Williams will back himself to assert himself in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side sooner rather than later, particularly if his only genuine competition is a 34-year-old Ashley Young and an injury-prone Luke Shaw.

[snack_break title=”Axel Tuanzebe-Phil Neville”]

The ultimate utility man, Neville made a career out of putting the team’s needs first, and playing wherever the manager wanted him – something he admitted sometimes worked against him. And whilst Tuanzebe may similarly take offence at simply being known as someone who fills gaps, he could enjoy a remarkably long career by proving his versatility to the side.

He showed his commitment to the cause earlier this season, when in the space of a week, he played at left-back against Arsenal, and then at both centre-back and right-back in the same game against Newcastle. Injuries and tactical switches are bound to happen over the course of a season, and so the 21-year-old can enhance his reputation at Old Trafford by becoming the man his manager relies upon to step up when needed.

[snack_break title=”Angel Gomes-Nicky Butt”]

Perhaps the least heralded member of the ‘Class of 92’, Butt still went on to play 383 times for the club – a feat that arguably goes unremembered because he played second-fiddle to midfielders like Scholes and Roy Keane. The former England international was a reliable lieutenant for Ferguson, playing in crunch clashes and never letting the side down.

Gomes, is similarly diminutive in terms of stature (he stands at just 5 foot 3), but has shown glimpses he can be a figure Solskjaer can turn to. Gomes and Butt are distinctly different in terms of their positions and their play-styles, and compared to the other members on this list, perhaps not quite as talented. But as Butt proved in his spell at the club, hard work can beat talent.

And that’s exactly what Gomes should take inspiration from.

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Charlton fans have taken to Twitter to react after they heard that Lee Bowyer was on Cardiff’s list of potential candidates to replace Neil Warnock, following the 70-year-old’s departure from his managerial post on Monday.

This isn’t a new feeling for Charlton supporters. Bowyer has already been linked with the Huddersfield job earlier in the campaign, only for the Addicks boss to declare his loyalty to Charlton – the 42-year-old did however admit that the Terriers’ offer was “tempting”.

Bowyer was also touted as a candidate to replace Stoke boss Nathan Jones.

The Charlton manager has worked wonders since stepping into the hotseat midway through last season, guiding the south Londoners into the Championship and also overseeing a respectable start to the campaign with 22 points from 16 games.

After all he’s done, it would presumably be gutting for Charlton fans to see Bowyer depart – Richard Cawley from the south London Press revealed that Cardiff ‘expect’ to appoint Neil Harris or Bowyer within 72 hours.

Let’s see what the Charlton fans on Twitter are saying about the news…