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Without a doubt, Jean Michael Seri did not have the strongest of seasons following his £27m move from Nice to Fulham last summer.

After a particularly bright 2016/17 Ligue 1 campaign and previous interest from Barcelona, much was expected of the 27-year-old. However, in the end, he proved to be a huge disappointment, though that has not stopped his name from being linked with a host of clubs this transfer window.

And that includes Crystal Palace, with Football.London one outlet to report that the Premier League outfit are interested in signing the Ivorian midfielder.

Roy Hodgson, though, faces fighting a losing battle, with Napoli and both Milan clubs also said to be keen (Calcionapoli24.com via Football Italia).

Not only can the likes of Napoli and Inter Milan offer Seri the chance to play in the Champions League, but they also look like much better fits for the former Nice man than Crystal Palace.

One of Seri’s biggest strengths is his passing, something Football.London highlighted earlier in the season when things were going right for both him and Fulham. At either Napoli or Inter, the Ivory Coast international would surely be in a better environment to utilise that compared to Crystal Palace.

Inter and Napoli were the two highest ranked teams for possession in Serie A, averaging 56.9% and 56.8% over the course of the campaign. The Eagles, in contrast, ranked 15th in the Premier League with a significantly less 46.6% (as per WhoScored). They, of course, have lesser players than the two Italian giants.

Still, based on that and the lure of Champions League football, it is hard to imagine Seri opting for an England stay over a move to Italy if reports are true.

Crystal Palace fans, do you think the club can get this deal over the line? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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Loads of Manchester United fans are reacting to reports claiming they could sell Paul Pogba amid concerns over his behaviour and influence on younger players.

Sky Sports have produced a detailed article on the status and future of Pogba, after the French World Cup winner publicly announced he is seeking a “new challenge”.

According to Sky Sports, the feeling around the club is one of reluctance to sell their superstar midfielder, but also acceptance that his departure may just be inevitable.

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With just two years left on the 26 year-old’s contract, plus the option of a further year, the report says it’s “unlikely” he will sign a new deal, meaning his value will diminish over the coming years.

More worryingly though, the report states there are concerns from some within the club about his “behaviour and his negative influence”.

Loads of Red Devils fans have been weighing in with their verdicts on the man fast becoming the most divisive figure in football, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

In a season of strife and turmoil for Manchester United, only a few players ended the season with their head held high.

One of those was Luke Shaw as he turned in his most consistent season for the Red Devils to date and cemented himself as the club’s first choice left back.   

Shaw started the season with a goal and went on to make 40 appearances in all competitions.  

The World of Lewis, who can be seen in the video above filling out his Panini Tabloid, called Shaw “One of the most consistent players of the season.”  

Check out Lewis’s thoughts on Shaw in full in the video above.

The Premier League Panini Tabloid is a special commemorative newspaper sticker collection celebrating the exciting new partnership between the greatest league in the world and the legendary name in football publishing, Panini. As the official collectable licensee to the Premier League, Panini are delighted to bring consumers a new era of collectables and the best collecting experience. See more here: http://bit.ly/PaniniFFCEditorial

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

West Ham United have confirmed that Marko Arnautovic has completed his transfer to Shanghai SIPG.

What’s the word?

Arnautovic requested last week that a bid for him from the Chinese club be accepted, per Football FanCast sources.

That offer totalled around £19.7m and was rejected, with the club viewing it as derisory.

However, a new bid was tabled of £22.5m over the last few days and, after the go-ahead from manager Manuel Pellegrini, per sources, the Hammers have done business.

One figure within the club confirmed to FFC that the club were aware of how poor the finances of the deal were but that, due to the Austria international’s behaviour, they wanted him gone.

The Irons confirmed the news in a particularly frosty statement, saying: “West Ham United can confirm that Marko Arnautovic has joined Chinese Super League champions Shanghai SIPG for an undisclosed fee.

“The 30-year-old Austrian departs after two seasons at London Stadium, during which he scored 22 goals in 65 appearances in Claret and Blue.”

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A delayed decision

West Ham have made completely the right decision here but it may well have come six months too late.

Indeed, FFC reported in January that the club had rejected a £30m bid for the striker and they have now been forced to take a major hit on that valuation.

Nevertheless, the move is the right one; it is the second time Arnautovic has asked to leave the club and a club simply cannot keep a player who appears to actively poison the first-team as he does.

Shifting him out of the club, for a fee that can be reinvested, was always going to be the right move.

If only the Hammers had come to their senses in January.

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Thursday’s Liverpool transfer roundup consisted of a confirmed new contract for a Belgian international, a goalkeeper looking for an exit and interest in a 15-year-old. Today’s edition brings you a La Liga enquiry for a Dutch superstar, Bundesliga eyes on a Reds forward and Jurgen Klopp’s transfer window admission.

Barcelona make van Dijk enquiry

According to The Mirror’s John Cross, FC Barcelona have made enquiries into to the potential signing of centre-back Virgil van Dijk. However, the 28-year-old’s representatives quickly told the Catalan club that they had no chance of bringing in the former Celtic defender.

Bundesliga sides eye Duncan

The Daily Mail is reporting that there is foreign interest in Liverpool’s Bobby Duncan. A number of Bundesliga sides, including Borussia Dortmund, have their eyes on the 18-year-old. The forward scored in the Reds’ pre-season friendly against Tranmere Rovers on Thursday.

Klopp makes transfer admission

Jurgen Klopp has been speaking about Liverpool’s transfer activity and does not expect it to be a busy summer for the Merseyside outfit. Following his team’s first pre-season match, the German said, “The transfer market is open until August 8… We will see what we do but I don’t think it will be the biggest transfer window of all time.”

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

Liverpool’s transfer window has been extremely quiet with just one arrival coming through the doors of Anfield so far.

They made a move to sign 17-year-old defender Sepp van den Berg for PEC Zwolle earlier in the summer but another defender could well make a move to the Reds.

Earlier in the window Marca reported that Jurgen Klopp’s men were interested in Real Betis’ Junior Firpo, who currently has a €50m (£45m) release clause.

Newspaper Diario de Sevilla, via Sport Witness have now claimed the Merseyside club are very attentive to signing him.

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On the chalkboard

After releasing Alberto Moreno, Liverpool are now short at left-back.

Andrew Robertson shone in that position last season, cementing himself as one of the top players in his role in the Premier League, making 2.2 tackles per game whilst also claiming a massive 11 assists, via WhoScored.

But there is a key area where Firpo could actually improve Liverpool.

In La Liga last season and indeed during the recent European U21 Championships, the left-sided Betis man was tremendous in his reading of the game and demonstrated terrific concentration.

For his country, he made a colossal 2.3 interceptions per game, whilst making one interception on average in the league for his club.

If you compare this to Robertson, he made just 0.8 in the top-flight for Liverpool. The Reds had less defending to do than Betis, who conceded 52 goals compared to the Anfield club’s 22.

However, during the U21 European Championships, he starred for a team that ultimately went on to win the entire tournament.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

In forward areas there is another area he could benefit, particularly in terms of his technical ability.

There is no doubting Robertson’s skill in creating chances but the arrival of the 22-year-old could give Klopp a slightly different dimension.

Firpo is an exceptional dribbler of the ball and made 1.3 for Betis per game in 2018/19, but he was also fouled 1.1 times per outing as well.

The Scot, on the other hand, made 0.8 dribbles and was fouled just 0.4 times every 90 minutes.

It’s unlikely Robertson would be dislodged, but the addition of Firpo can certainly give the Reds manager something extra to think about.

It’s been another big week in world football, with some big completed moves and some huge offers being lodged. In today’s briefing, we take you through the nine biggest stories of the last five days, which includes a 19-year-old talent heading to an Italian giant, Barcelona’s bid to bring back a former star to the Camp Nou and an England international making a switch to La Liga.

Matthijs De Ligt has long been linked with a move away from Ajax this summer after a fantastic season in which he led the Eredivisie side to the Champions League semi-finals and impressed whilst playing for the Dutch national side. And this week, his next destination was confirmed – the 19-year-old has completed his move to Serie A side Juventus. The Old Lady paid £67.8m for the centre-back, who has signed a five-year deal with his new club and will earn a basic £14.5m a season.

The English player abroad is not a path well trodden in recent years, but Jadon Sancho’s performances at Borussia Dortmund appear to have inspired others to try their luck in another European league. The latest is Kieran Trippier, who has completed a move to Atletico Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur. Los Rojiblancos have paid £20m for the England international, who has signed a three-year deal to stay at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Marko Arnautovic’s departure for Shanghai SIPG has increased West Ham’s need to bring in a new striker this summer. Fortunately for the Hammers, they do not need to look any further. The Irons have signed Sebastien Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee of £45m, with the 25-year-old signing a five-year deal with the London outfit. The former Utrecht striker contributed to 32 goals in all competitions last season for the Bundesliga side as they reached the Europa League semi-finals.

Borussia Dortmund have had a busy summer, having already brought in five new faces. The biggest of those was the capture of Mats Hummels, who BVB re-signed from Bayern Munich. Of course, this means that some players will need to be moved on to make space for the fresh recruits. One of those who has departed the Signal-Iduna Park is Abdou Diallo, who has signed for PSG. The Ligue 1 champions have paid a fee of £29m to the German outfit for the centre-back, with the 23-year-old putting pen to paper on a five-year contract.

As a professional footballer, it should be obvious that using your position and inside information to make bets is a no-go. Not for Daniel Sturridge though, it appears. On Thursday, the former Liverpool striker was banned from all footballing activities until July 31st. He was found guilty on two of 11 counts for which he was charged –  he had instructed his brother to bet on a possible move Sevilla, and then given him insider information. The 29-year-old will also have to pay a fine of £75,000.

Neymar has not had the best of times at PSG recently, and is reportedly looking for a move this summer. A return to Barcelona seems most likely, and now there has has been an update in the saga that could run until the end of the summer. It is being said that the Catalan club have made an offer of £90m offer plus two players for the Brazil ace. The Ligue 1 outfit have apparently been given the choice of taking two of Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele, Ivan Rakitic, Nelson Semedo, Malcom and Samuel Umtiti. However, it is understood that the Qatar-owned side want over £200m for the 27-year-old.

Newcastle had been previously linked with a whole host of names as they looked to replace Rafa Benitez, who left his role as the club’s manager last month. Earlier this week, though, they finally filled the vacant position. The new Toon boss is none other than Steve Bruce, the former Sunderland manager. The 58-year-old has signed an initial three-year deal with the North-East side. He said upon his appointment, “I’m delighted and incredibly proud to be appointed as head coach of Newcastle United. This is my boyhood club and it was my dad’s club, so this is a very special moment for me and my family.”

RB Leipzig already have a young squad, and now they have added another up-and-coming talent to their ranks. It has been confirmed by the club themselves that they have signed Christopher Nkunku from PSG on a five-year contract. Die Roten Bullen have reportedly paid €13m (£11.7m) for the France U21 international, who scored 11 goals in 78 games from the centre of the midfield for the Ligue 1 side.

It was always clear that Salomon Rondon would no longer be a West Brom player at the end of the current transfer window. Finally, his new club has been revealed. The Venezuela international has joined former Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez at Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang. The 29-year-old has moved to China for an undisclosed fee, the Baggies confirmed on their official website. It brings an end to a four-year spell at the Hawthorns for the former Zenit St Petersburg striker.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Amidst all the drama surrounding Leroy Sane’s future this summer, it’s difficult to comprehend that the whole saga revolves around the Premier League champions. The club who won the league title for the second time in a row are being rag-dolled around by Bayern Munich and are seemingly just letting it happen to them.

Pep Guardiola had previously indicated that he would like to keep the winger at the Etihad and that he was keen for him to stay and realise his potential in Manchester. Just a week later however, the City boss appeared to change his tune on the Germany international and instead admitted that Sane’s future was not in their hands and that he was just “hopeful” he would stay.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

The change in attitude all comes from the way Bayern have manipulated the situation this summer. The Bavarian giants’ boss Niko Kovac publicly declared that Sane would be a “dream player” for the club, were he to join. Kovac then claimed just days later that he was confident of taking him to the Allianz Arena.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rumminegge downplayed Kovac’s comments and insisted that he “did not like the statement”, but to all intents and purposes, the damage had been done. Whether Kovac knew what he was doing or not, Bayern have explicitly made it clear to Sane and his representatives that they see him as a vital part of their team moving forward.

Watch Manchester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Guardiola and City on the other hand have been left scrambling around waiting to see what the German decides, rather than trying to proactively take control of the situation. Despite not nailing down a place in the first-team last season, Sane registered some impressive numbers from out wide and at just 23-years-old has plenty of room for growth.

Allowing Bayern to dictate the negotiations in public does City no good. The City hierarchy simply have to re-assert their dominance and make it abundantly clear that Sane is not for sale.

Getting pushed around whilst being the champions of England reeks of embarrassing weakness. Taking a stand and shutting down the five-time European champions however would show the footballing world that City aren’t just a superpower on the pitch but off it as well.

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Yesterday’s Ligue 1 transfer roundup consisted of interest in Montpellier’s Ruben Aguilar as well as Monaco’s pursuit of Mattia Perin and Andre Silva. Today’s edition is comprised of Yusuf Yazici being chased by Lille as well as the latter’s desire to capture Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic. Also, Liverpool have their eyes on Francois Kamano.

Lille in talks for Yazici

Report: Trabzonspor’s president Ahmet Agaoglu has been talking of Lille’s hunt for Yusuf Yazici. He said that negotiations are in progress, with the French club having offered €15m (£13.8m) for the Turkey international’s services. However, this is a long way off what Trabzonspor want, Agaoglu added.

Verdict: Yazici is a man in demand this summer, with Manchester United also said to be keen. The 22-year-old did not have his best campaign in the Super Lig last time out, but interested parties will be more impressed by the attacking midfielder’s 2017/18 season during which he scored 10 goals and provided five assists. Lille have a lot of money to spend towards the end of this transfer window following the recent sales of Nicolas Pepe and Rafael Leao and so they should be able to get closer to Trabzonspor’s demands. With just Jonathan Ikone in attacking midfield, more depth is needed if Christophe Galtier’s team are to be competitive both in the league and in Europe next season.

How likely is the deal? 7.5/10

Lille eye Simunovic

Report: According to The Daily Record, Lille are also said to stepping up their attempts to sign Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic. Les Dogues have entered into talks with the Scottish Premier League outfit but as of yet, they have been unable to complete a deal.

Verdict: With the windfall from those two sales, Lille are beginning to flex their muscles as they look to bring reinforcements in. Simunovic was not a guaranteed starter for Celtic last season, playing just 30 games in all competitions, but a lot of that was down to injuries which blighted his campaign. Still, the 24-year-old contributed enough to help the Bhoys win the famed treble-treble. Neil Lennon and co do not necessarily want to sell him so a good offer would need to be lodged. Lille do already have five centre-backs, but Jose Fonte is now 35, whilst Edgar Le (TRT Spor via Sport Witness) and Antoine Soumaoro have both been linked with moves away from the club, which may mean another defender is required.

How likely is the deal? 7/10

Liverpool consider late Kamano bid

Report: As per The Sun, Liverpool are weighing up a late bid for Bordeaux’s Francois Kamano. Jurgen Klopp and co are said to be considering a £20m deal for the 23-year-old as they look to bring in cover for their attack.

Verdict: Whilst Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are undisputedly Klopp’s first-choice trio in attack, it is always good to have other options. Last season, Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri played the role of back-up options to positive effect, but a third replacement would mean that the German manager has two players in each offensive position should disaster strike. And the Guinea international would not be a bad choice, either. He netted 10 goals in Ligue 1 for his side last term, as well as three in the Europa League. Les Girondins are short at left-wing though so would need to bring in a replacement should Kamano move to Merseyside.

How likely is the deal? 6/10

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Manchester City appear set to complete the loan signing of goalkeeper Scott Carson from Derby, with the 33-year-old having a medical with the Premier League champions.

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The Mirror reported in the early hours of this morning that the veteran goalkeeper was in talks with Manchester City about a one-year loan move, with Pep Guardiola seeking an experienced backup to Ederson and Claudio Bravo.

Sky Sports News then tweeted at 10:44am this morning: “Scott Carson is currently undergoing a medical at Manchester City ahead of a season-long loan from Derby”.

According to The Mirror, Carson had been previously linked with a move to Derby’s rivals Nottingham Forest but now looks set to move to the Etihad Stadium for a season-long loan.

Carson has been with Derby for the last four seasons, having previously played for Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton, Aston Villa, West Brom, Bursaspor and Wigan.

He has not played in the Premier League since 2011, when he was at West Brom, but he has 145 appearances in the division and won four caps for England. However, his national team career remains tainted by his costly error in a fateful Euro 2008 qualifying defeat to Croatia.

He played 33 times for Derby last season, conceding 45 goals (1.36 per game) and keeping just six clean sheets (18.2% of games).

With Ederson set to be Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper after making 100 appearances in his two seasons at Manchester City, Carson is most likely to be competing with Bravo for the role of the Brazil netminder’s backup.

Since the end of the 2017/18 season, Bravo’s only club appearances have both been in the Community Shield. He played just 13 games in the 2017/18 campaign after Ederson joined and has made 45 appearances for the club, conceding the same number of goals and keeping 15 clean sheets (33.3% of games).

Carson has made 10 errors leading to goals in 145 Premier League games, one per 14.5 appearances in the division.

Despite being dubbed the worst signing of the 2016/17 season by Matt Stead for Football365, Bravo has only been culpable of one goal-causing error in his 25 Premier League appearances, indicating that criticism of his performances may have been over the top.

In the battle of the backup goalkeepers to Ederson, Bravo seems a clear winner over Carson if the England veteran completes his move to the Etihad.

Carson’s impending Manchester City switch has echoes of Robert Green going to Chelsea last year, with the ex-West Ham goalkeeper failing to even make the bench for a first team game for the Blues before retiring two days after their Europa League final win over Arsenal.

Perhaps Carson will be given more of a chance by Guardiola at the Etihad, but with Bravo seeming like the more dependable backup to Ederson, this deadline day move seems like a strange one from a Manchester City perspective.

Manchester City fans, what are your thoughts on Carson’s impending arrival? Join in the discussion by commenting below!