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Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have erupted over a fresh transfer claim involving their club and Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria.

Jurgen Klopp has already been linked to a host of new midfield additions so far this month with the Reds and FSG seemingly setting their sights on a fair few central options.

The likes of Toni Kroos and Jude Bellingham have been mentioned recently given Liverpool’s arguable lack of depth in that area.

Now, sharing some news on who Liverpool are also eyeing, Sport 1 and their reporter Patrik Berger say that the the Anfield side are one of the clubs interested in signing Zakaria from Monchengladbach.

The Swiss ace’s deal is currently set to expire this year as things stand, meaning he can negotiate a pre-contract this month or opt to leave as a free agent in the summer.

Alternatively, Monchengladbach could even sell for a cheap fee, with Sport 1 claiming they could offload for as little as €6-7 million (£5.07m-£5.8m).

Liverpool fans erupt…

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have erupted with their takes, with some believing he could be an ‘absolute bargain’ for Klopp.

The powerhouse 6 foot 3 midfielder can play both as a defensive midfield player and a centre-back whilst still being only 25-years-old, leaving little wonder why some supporters feel this way.

Zakaria averages 1.5 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.9 dribbles per game, showing his quality on both sides of the ball.

Find all of their best reactions down below:

“Seems like a no brainer for Liverpool and Klopp….”

Credit: @TheKop_

“€6m-€7m??? This sounds like an absolute bargain?”

Credit: @TomBrownrigg200

“We are crying out for a midfielder. €8m would be a rob. Buy him”

Credit: @JamzLFC786

“Plz”

Credit: @jj___lfc

“Sign him up a beg and let minamino go for 7m”

Credit: @lfanCai

“This is the classic no brainer. Best bang for buck.

sign him already”

Credit: @muootarek

“SIIIUUUUUUU”

Credit: @RitsonLFC

Southampton have often been known as a selling club given their great recruitment and academy system, but they will be desperate to keep hold of their captain James Ward-Prowse.

However, former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey believes it will take at least £60 million for the Saints to consider selling him.

It has been a hectic 2020 for Southampton as they have seen their star players all linked with a move away from the south coast with Ward-Prowse, Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard all tipped to leave this summer.

Ward-Prowse was not a guarantee to start under former manager Mauricio Pellegrino but since Ralph Hasenhuttl arrived, he has instilled confidence in the midfielder handing him the captain’s armband and he has not missed a single minute of Premier League football for two seasons.

When you look at reports suggesting that Aston Villa would demand £45 million for John McGinn who has only had one season in the Premier League, Howey delivered a stern verdict when asked if £30-35 million would be a fair price for Southampton to accept for Ward-Prowse, telling Football FanCast exclusively:

“I think they’d want a lot more than that. I think you’d be looking at double that for him.”

It was the £35,000-per-week midfielder’s best season for the Saints as he found the net eight times and registered seven assists, with the majority of them coming from dead-ball situations as he is undoubtedly on penalties, free kicks and corners.

If the Saints don’t look to make obvious improvements to their side this summer, players such as Ings and Ward-Prowse may feel like they have to move on for the good of their careers to try and win trophies.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has recently delivered the devastating news that Southampton defender Sam McQueen might never play football again due to his injury concerns.

The 26-year-old left-back has been sidelined since before the Austrian even arrived at the club, as he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament whilst on loan at Middlesbrough back in 2018.

The initial injury was expected to keep him out for a year but the screws which were used in his knee reconstruction process became infected, which has led to him being on the treatment table for nearly three years now.

Hasenhuttl confirmed in a recent interview with Prost International: “Since I’m here I’ve never saw him on the pitch. But when you know the infection on his knee and how things are going on then it’s even now a wonder that he’s able to play football or maybe one time will be able to play football again.

“We don’t know if he will ever return back to the pitch but if (he does) then it is a miracle.”

It is terribly sad news for McQueen, who was once considered a bright academy prospect at Southampton, making 29 appearances for the senior side in total between 2013/14 and 2017/18.

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He was heavily praised by former Saints captain Jose Fonte after he made his Premier League debut against Manchester City, with the Portuguese centre-back saying: “He’s surprised me. He’s done really, really well and fully deserves to be in the team now. Well done to him, credit to him for the work he has done. I hope he can keep doing what he is doing. He needs to keep improving, because he’s been a very good surprise.”

Therefore, had he not suffered his injury problems, then you feel that McQueen could definitely have been a regular in Southampton’s first team by now, and it is a real shame that his footballing career looks to be over.

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Unfortunately for the Saints academy graduate, his contract with the club is set to expire at the end of the current season and it is very difficult to see him being offered a new deal in a playing capacity. It is a real shame for McQueen, who could have gone on to have a great footballing career but will now most likely need to look for alternative work.

In other news… Just 7 passes: £75k-p/w Saints disaster proved Hasenuhttl right with a woeful display

Manchester United have an exceptional talent on their hands in Alejandro Garnacho.

It’s been a tough decade for the Red Devils, but class is permanent and is clearly embedded into the roots of the club – as can be seen with their academy product portfolio.

Despite the emerging talents of youth players such as Hannibal Mejbri, Shola Shoretire, Anthony Elanga and Charlie McNeill – there is a bigger buzz around former Atletico Madrid prospect; Alejandro Garnacho.

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The Manchester United youngster has achieved a cool 18 goal returns (12 goals, six assists) in 30 appearances that span from the U18s to the U23s in Premier League 2.

Despite not making a first-team appearance for the Red Devils, the 17-year-old was called up to the Argentina national team last month in what looked to be a bid to get the starlet to secure allegiance – with Garnacho also able to play for Spain having been born in Madrid and growing up there.

Garnacho was described by the Spanish media (via Playmakerstats.com) as the “jewel in the crown” of Atletico Madrid’s academy, though, that was until Manchester United beat several top European outfits to his signature.

The youngster has also been described as “rampant” by Manchester United themselves, after a performance against Stoke City in which he bagged a hat-trick in the U18s’ 6-1 win.

With his record healthy, his reputation growing, and the fact that he is 17-years-old plying his trade with the U23’s – the main hype around the starlet is his adoration and subsequent comparison to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Taking to Instagram, Garnacho has already stated: “Greatest of all times… @Cristiano” after the great Portuguese gave the youngster the match ball after hitting a hat-trick against Norwich City.

The United starlet has also been seen emulating Ronaldo’s “Siuu” celebration after netting in the academy whilst his deal with Nike is yet another resemblance of the famous attacker.

The fact that Garnacho has trained with both Lionel Messi and Ronaldo at the age of 17-years-old is incredible but he has earned the right to do so with his performances for the youth set-up.

His goal in the FA Youth Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers served as a fantastic example of his prowess as a player.

Ten Hag could instantly impress the fanbase by utilising the youngster in what looks to be a major rebuild for the club.

In other news: Ten Hag’s first blow: Romano relays big update that will leave MUFC supporters gutted…

Former Newcastle and England midfielder Rob Lee has told Football FanCast that Everton’s signing of Josh King has served to bring the best out of Richarlison.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been in excellent form this season and are currently eighth in the Premier League table.

They are just five points off fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand, meaning there is some genuine excitement on the blue half of Merseyside as they consider the possibility of qualifying for Europe.

King arrived at the club in January and has played eight times in the league, with all of his appearances coming as a substitute.

Since the Norway international’s debut against Leeds United, Richarlison has scored four goals in nine games, nailing down his starting spot in Ancelotti’s XI.

And Lee thinks the arrival of King may well have inspired that form.

He told FFC: “I think he’s started well. I think they’ve got a good team, if you look around at their team and their squad, they’ve got some good people that don’t get in the team as well. He’s [Ancelotti] got them playing. They’ve been really, really good.

“King’s a good signing, it seems to have spurred Richarlison on.

“Sometimes Richarlison can seem not interested, but he seems to be thinking ‘someone might take my place here’ and it’s spurred him on. I think you need them extra players.”

Lee also thinks that King will help ease the burden on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been enjoying one of the best seasons of his career.

The England international has scored 19 goals in all competitions this season but he has scored just once in his last five games and Lee thinks King’s presence will prove beneficial for Calvert-Lewin.

He added: “Calvert-Lewin has been brilliant all season but he’s in a bit of a lull at the minute.

“It’s his first proper season where people will expect things from him now, at the start of the season they probably didn’t, but now they expect him to score every game.

“He’s only young, he’s going through a bit of a lull so it’s nice to have other players who can take the pressure off you and score goals. I think they’re a good team.”

Leeds United have made an approach for Manchester City midfielder Yangel Herrera, and he could be a massive upgrade on Mateusz Klich.

What’s the story?

Leeds-based podcast Talking Shutt had previously revealed that Marcelo Bielsa’s side have got their eye on signing the Venezuela international this summer and that he is one of the players they have short-listed.

And now, speaking to LUFCFANZONE, Herrera’s agent has confirmed that the Whites have made an approach and asked about the midfielder’s situation, but at the moment, that’s as far as it has gone.

Massive upgrade on Klich

Able to play as a box-to-box central midfielder and even slightly deeper like Kalvin Phillips, Herrera’s arrival at Elland Road would see Leeds sign someone who is significantly better than Klich.

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, La Liga expert Euan McTear raved about the Venezuelan’s performances last season while on loan at Spanish side Granada, saying: “He’s been key to their qualification for Europa League and then the run to the quarter-finals.

“He’s like a classic box-to-box midfielder, a bit of a throwback in that way. His first instinct is to try and dribble, to pass it forward, charging forward he took so many shots this season, he would get in the box, he scored quite a few goals early on when they were lacking strikers and attacking midfielders and that’s the thing too, he’s been really versatile.”

Meanwhile, Venezuelan football expert and journalist Carlos Ponte said: “In Venezuela, we’ve never had as complete a footballer Yangel – elegant in possession, tall, very physically imposing, good at bringing the ball out, good in the air, the right mentality, and a good head on his shoulders.

“He has a lot of energy and stamina, is great at providing cover and a true team player. He’s good at bringing the ball out with a certain degree of elegance.”

And that “awareness” and being able to spot danger is clearly seen in his defensive numbers last season in La Liga – as per Sofascore, he averaged almost two tackles and one interception per game, while he’s an absolute monster in the 50/50s, winning a mind-boggling 8.2 duels per match in La Liga at a success rate of 51%.

To put that into context, Klich averaged just 1.1 tackles and 0.3 interceptions per match in the Premier League, while he could only win a measly 2.4 duels at a success rate of 36%.

Herrera meanwhile also bagged eight goals and provided two assists in all competitions last season, while Klich could only find the back of the net just four times, with Bielsa slowly easing the 31-year-old out of the starting line-up towards the closing stages of the season – he completed the full 90 minutes just twice in Leeds’ last 12 Premier League games.

It’s clear that the £17m-rated Herrera would be a huge upgrade on what Leeds have with the Poland international.

Meanwhile, Leeds facing major transfer blow as fresh twist emerges…

According to a report by the Daily Mail, new Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo has just been handed a big Harry Kane boost ahead of his first full season in charge of the Lilywhites.

The Lowdown: Kane looking for exit…

Tottenham’s star striker has been heavily linked with a move away from north London this summer ever since Sky Sports broke the news that he wishes to move on.

Of all the interested parties, Premier League champions Manchester City have made the first move for him, tabling a £100 million bid.

That offer has since been rejected despite Kane’s wish to exit N17, with chairman Daniel Levy taking a hard line stance when it comes to his superstar asset.

The Latest: Nuno gifted Kane boost…

As per the Mail, Spurs boss Nuno has just been handed a big boost in potentially guiding Tottenham to a successful 2021/2022 campaign, and it involves Kane.

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The outlet believes that Tottenham and Levy have now personally assured Nuno that his best player isn’t going anywhere this summer and to start planning for life with him in the team.

This development highlights Spurs will continue to resist offers for the 27-year-old with Levy apparently making the club’s intentions clear behind the scenes.

The Verdict: Good news for Nuno…

The 47-year-old has a mountainous task on his hands after putting to pen to paper on a two-year Tottenham deal, and that is to restore faith and pride in the club.

Jose Mourinho’s tenure has left a sour taste in the mouth of supporters and Spurs’ hapless search for a new manager, which lasted for over two months, certainly hasn’t helped matters.

Nuno needs all the help he can get with this massive challenge at Tottenham and potentially keeping Kane, who Alan Shearer recently dubbed ‘magnificent’, will boost the Portuguese’ chances of making it a success.

In other news: ‘I’d be excited, Spurs fans’…Stan Collymore thrilled by major news out of N17, find out more here.

Manchester City and Pep Guardiola could be set to receive a huge boost in the coming weeks, after it was revealed that Raheem Sterling is in talks over a new deal with the Citizens.

According to Fabrizio Romano, following the announcement that Kevin De Bruyne had signed a new deal with the club, the Citizens’ next priority is to negotiate new deals with both Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.

The Englishman’s current contract with City is set to expire in 2023, so any extension to that will perhaps see Sterling spend the rest of his career at the top with the Citizens, as he continues to impress following his move from Liverpool.

Since signing from the Merseyside outfit in the summer of 2015, the exciting winger has gone on to make 283 appearances for City, in which he has contributed a superb 113 goals and 86 assists.

Whilst this season has seen him lose his guaranteed starting spot in the starting eleven, he still has 13 goals and 11 assists to his name in all competitions, so is clearly still a hugely important part of Guardiola’s squad.

His recent form, and finishing, has certainly come under scrutiny but his average rating of 7.24/1o in the Premier League so far this season ranks him as City’s fifth-best performer in the top-flight.

There is no doubting that the 26-year-old, who reportedly earns £300k per week, is on a disappointing run of form, with no goals for City in any of his last seven appearances, but it is surely a matter of time before he gets his confidence back and starts finding the net on a more regular basis.

Guardiola is certainly a big fan of the former QPR youngster and was full of praise for him earlier in the season, saying:

“We’ve seen him play on the right, off the left, and as a false nine – you can rely on Raheem every time he steps on the pitch in terms of goals and assists. That’s a remarkable thing. He started as a flair player, now all of a sudden, Raheem gets you those numbers.”

Therefore, it will undoubtedly be a huge boost for City if they can get Sterling to commit to a new deal at the club and perhaps once the negotiations are dealt with, he will quickly get back to his best.

And, in other news… Forget Mendes: Txiki should seal City swoop for 26 y/o dubbed “one of the best”

Former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that Wilfried Zaha’s situation at Crystal Palace will not affect the club’s manager search.

Goal recently reported that Zaha is attracting strong interest from Everton and Tottenham as the 28-year-old winger considers his future.

Zaha once again proved to be Palace’s talisman this season, scoring 11 goals in the Premier League campaign that has just gone.

Losing a player of his quality will no doubt make the Eagles a much weaker side, and replacing him will probably be no easy task. Still, Palmer does not believe that will detract managers from the Palace job.

When asked by FFC if losing Zaha makes the vacancy for the Selhurst Park dugout less attractive, the ex-Leeds United star said:

“No, not really. You’ve got to expect at a club like Crystal Palace, no disrespect to them, you’re going to produce players like Wilfried Zaha… you know that the player is not going to stay.

“They must have had discussions with Wilfried time and time again about, ‘Stay for this time and we’ll allow you to go then at that time.’ ”

Even if Zaha does end up staying in south London this summer, Roy Hodgson’s successor still has a momentous rebuild job on his hands.

Palace have 15 players who will soon be out of contract, while striker Michy Batshuayi is also set to return to parent club Chelsea.

Nottingham Forest are in talks to bring Facundo Ferreyra to the City Ground.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Cesar Luis Merlo, with the South American journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that Forest have entered into negotiations with the 30-year-old centre-forward, who left LaLiga side Celta de Vigo earlier this summer.

Luis Merlo continued by stating that both parties are keen to find a quick resolution to the discussions, however, an agreement regarding the terms of the player’s contract is not close to being reached at present.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “Facundo Ferreyra is in negotiations with Nottingham Forest of the second division of England. Both parties welcome the opportunity, but the deal is not yet close to being closed.”

Major coup

Considering how hard Forest pushed to bring a new centre-forward into the club during the closing stages of the summer transfer window, seeing moves for Josh Maja, Yuma Suzuki and M’Bala Nzola all fall through, should the Reds go on to secure the signing of Ferreyra on a free transfer it would undoubtedly be a major coup for the Championship side.

While the striker did not enjoy much game time with Celta de Vigo last term, starting just two LaLiga games over the course of the season, the 30-year-old has nevertheless proven in his career that he is a forward who boasts a clear eye for goal.

Indeed, during his time with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, the £1.8m-rated man enjoyed two remarkable campaigns, scoring 19 goals and providing two assists over 25 appearances in the Premier Liga and Europa League back in 2016/17, as well as bagging 30 goals and five assists over 42 appearances in the Premier Liga, Champions League, Ukrainian Cup and Ukrainian Super Cup in 2017/18.

As such, should the player Peter Beardsley once dubbed an “outstanding” talent go on to agree a switch to Forest, and subsequently be able to refind this form in the Championship, it would undoubtedly provide Chris Hughton’s side with a huge boost to their chances of getting off of the foot of the second tier table, and subsequently help them mount a push towards the top half of the league.