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Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have erupted with their verdicts as a transfer claim emerged involving Barcelona gem Ronald Araujo.

The 22-year-old, who is currently a regular in the Catalans’ backline, has already impressed his new boss Xavi with his ‘excellent character’ and positivity in training (Heavy).

Indeed, Araujo’s form over this past year has also garnered praise from club legends like Gerard Pique, with the World Cup-winning defender saying that the Barcelona youngster will be a top centre-half for the next ’10 or 15 years’.

Steadily earning a name for himself in La Liga, his performances have also attracted attention from some of the Premier League’s biggest names, including Liverpool. According to ESPN correspondents Moisés Llorens and Samuel Marsden, the Reds and FSG have sent representatives in an approach to the player amid his contract dispute at the Camp Nou.

His current deal expires in 2023 and Barcelona apparently see Araujo as ‘key to the future’ of their club, but they are aware the ‘greats of the Premier League’ pose a real transfer threat. This is where Liverpool and Chelsea come in, with both clubs said to be ‘on the prowl’.

Liverpool fans erupt…

As FSG make their first move for Aruajo by sending emissaries to Catalonia, it’s little wonder this news has prompted many Liverpool fans to erupt on Twitter.

The Uruguay international, who Pique also called ‘physically strong, fast and powerful’, is a valuable commodity with plenty of sell-on value and a winding-down contract.

Liverpool’s stance in potential negotiations is strengthened by his precarious situation, and Barca could feasibly be put under a bit of pressure to sell if he continues to delay a renewal.

Lauded as a centre-back who ‘has everything’ by Pique, Araujo would surely strengthen Liverpool’s backline.

Here’s what these Reds supporters thought of this development:

“Ello, Ello, here we go.”

Credit: @SportsEnthusi17

“ain’t no way lol.”

Credit: @zak_tyrese

“Only watched him a handful of times but I’ve been impressed ngl.”

Credit: @AdxmLFC

“Uhm yes please”

Credit: @calcio_danny

“OMDSSSS please make it happen”

Credit: @Affanisntalive

“If it happens I’ll be madly happy!! Liverpool needs Uruguayans again!!”

Credit: @AndresStein05

“I’d have this guy over Gomez any day of the week. Gomez is good but he’s older and injury prone. Araujo would be an insane option”

Credit: @LFCDunc

In other news: This transfer claim also had numerous Liverpool fans excited

West Bromwich Albion have been dealt a major blow regarding the fitness of Alex Mowatt ahead of their upcoming Championship fixture.

What’s the latest?

According to The Athletic’s West Brom correspondent Steve Madeley, Valeiren Ismael confirmed that the central midfielder will not be available for selection in Wednesday evening’s fixture against Hull City, nor Saturday’s clash with Middlesbrough, as the 26-year-old is yet to recover from a foot injury that has ruled him out of the Baggies’ last three fixtures.

In his post on Twitter, Madeley said: “Ismael also ruled Alex Mowatt out of this week’s two home games v Hull and Middlesbrough with his foot problem. Hopes to have the midfielder back immediately after the international break, which comes after the Boro game.”

Major blow

Considering how important a part of the West Brom side Mowatt has become since his summer move to The Hawthorns, the fact that the midfielder is set to miss Albion’s next two league fixtures is sure to have left Ismael fuming.

Indeed, over his 12 Championship appearances so far this season, the £6.3m-rated man has scored three goals, provided one assist and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of one shot and making 1.4 key passes per game.

The £6.5k-per-week central midfielder has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.9 tackles, 1.9 interceptions, completing 25.8 passes and winning 5.3 duels per fixture.

These returns have seen the 26-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 7.19, ranking him as Ismael’s second-best performer in the league.

Furthermore, West Brom’s form with and without the former England U20 international further highlights his importance in the middle of the park, with the Baggies averaging 2.08 points per game with the midfielder and just one point per game without.

As such, the fact that Albion will be lining up without Mowatt against Hull on Wednesday evening would not appear to bode well for the club’s chances of leaving the fixture with all three points – something Ismael will be desperate for after a rather humbling 3-0 defeat at promotion-rivals Fulham last time out.

In other news: Ismael can finally live up to WBA promise by unleashing “important” 19 y/o gem vs Hull

Football is a sport based around constant progression and that means that squads are constantly changing and evolving, and Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has overseen plenty of development on the pitch in his time at Ibrox.

He has brought in the likes of Ryan Kent, Ianis Hagi and Connor Goldson to Ibrox from other teams in the transfer market, but buying ready-made stars is not the only way to go about improving your team. Utilising the academy set-up can be a profitable and worthwhile method of acquiring talented players and Gerrard has been able to bring through young defender Nathan Patterson.

The 20-year-old has emerged as a first-team player over the past 18 months and is currently competing for the first-choice right-back spot with captain James Tavernier.

At the start of the year, Transfermarkt valued him at a measly £225k. This was after he made a couple of cameo appearances in the first-half of the 2020/21 campaign, with Gerrard easing him into the first-team picture slowly.

The Gers coach has been able to pull off a masterclass with the full-back by integrating him into the team bit by bit in 2021. Patterson has now made 20 first-team appearances in the Premiership, cup and Europa League to date and recently started and picked up an assist in a crucial 2-1 win over Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership. This has also led to him being capped five times by Scotland at international level.

Head of academy Craig Mulholland once heaped praise on the young full-back, saying: “Nathan has been fantastic for us this year.

“Again, we started the project five, six, years ago to get a level of player that we felt could go and compete in the Europa League, could go and compete in Old Firm games.

“And if you go and look at Nathan in the last 16 of the Europa League, if you look at him in the Old Firm game, it’s a great example for all the young players in here of what we’re trying to achieve.”

At the time of writing (18/10/2021), Transfermarkt value Patterson at £1.17m. This is a 420% increase from his initial £225k valuation back in January, perfectly illustrating his meteoric rise over the course of the year whilst working with Gerrard at Ibrox.

Therefore, the ex-Liverpool player and coach has pulled off a masterclass with Patterson. He has turned a talented young player into a serious first-team option and someone who could either earn the club a healthy payday, with Manchester United one of the clubs reportedly interested in the 20-year-old.

It is down to the Scottish international to keep working hard and ensure that he is constantly putting pressure on Tavernier. If he can earn a regular starting position in the team then his development could accelerate with the experience gained from minutes week-in-week-out.

AND in other news, Major update emerges on key Rangers figure that’ll leave fans worried…

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his attacker options.

What’s the story?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Reds are one of three Premier League sides interested in securing the highly-rated 24-year-old’s signature, with Chelsea and fierce rivals Everton also listed as potential suitors.

The report states that Newcastle will not consider selling their prized asset in the January transfer window, but there is said to be growing optimism from Saint-Maximin’s camp that an exit from St. James’ Park can occur next summer.

Liverpool fans will be absolutely buzzing

Saint-Maximin has proven to be a real fans favourite since arriving on Tyneside back in August 2019, thanks to his incredible skills, blistering pace and entertaining style.

The former France Under-21 international has become the main man for Steve Bruce’s struggling side since he arrived, bagging nine goals and providing 14 assists in 63 appearances for the North-East outfit.

However, Saint-Maximin appears to have taken his game to another level in the opening weeks of 2021/22. In just six top-flight fixtures, the flying forward has scored two goals and laid on another three assists for his teammates.

His impressive performances have caught the eye of a host of the Premier League’s heavyweights, although, with five years left to run on his current contract, it will take a sizeable fee to prize the player away from Newcastle’s clutches.

Nevertheless, Liverpool supporters will surely be buzzing to learn of their club’s interest in Saint-Maximin.

The Reds were heavily linked with a new wide man in the previous transfer window following the departure of Xherdan Shaqiri, but no new arrival materialised for the 19-time English champions, leaving Klopp short of options in the final third.

With Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino approaching their 30th birthdays, bringing in Saint-Maximin could be a good way for Klopp to refresh his forward line, ensuring Liverpool continue to challenge at the top end of the table for many years to come.

And, in other news…Reliable journalist drops exciting Liverpool transfer update, Klopp would love him 

Kevin O’Brien has pinpointed the league game against Bangladesh as the one crucial to his side’s chances of progressing in the World Twenty20

Cricinfo staff30-May-2009Kevin O’Brien, the Ireland allrounder, has pinpointed the league game against Bangladesh as the one crucial to his side’s chances of progressing in the World Twenty20.The other side in Ireland’s group is one of the tournament favourites, India, and two of the three teams move on to the Super Eights. “Bangladesh is the first group game for us and if we can get a good result, then I think we will go through,” he told the . “That’s unless India have an off day against ourselves or Bangladesh, which I can’t really see happening to be honest.”Ireland confirmed their standing as the leading Associate nation in the world by winning the ICC World Cup Qualifier in South Africa last month, but have had a rough time during the warm-up games for the World Twenty20. They have lost all three of their games so far, and have two more left before the tournament kicks off on June 5.The event also provides the Ireland side the rare opportunity to play in packed stadiums, something O’Brien is looking forward to. “Bangladesh and India … bring such great crowds and such a noise, we have to just live for those two games because you might never play in front of 28,000 again,” he said. “It’s going to be good – I can’t actually wait.”Ireland’s key match against Bangladesh is on June 8 at Trent Bridge, where they take on India two days later.

Jamie Cox, the Australia selector, says there is still a definite place for spinners in the modern game, but he is unsure what it is. The current slow-bowling tendency in the national team is to use part-timers such as Marcus North and Michael Clarke, and Cox, the former Tasmania opener, said the landscape had altered since he retired in 2006.”The game for a spin bowler has changed, and changed really fast,” Cox said in the Sunday Herald Sun. “There’s still a definite role for them, but what is it? Is it the traditional role of slow spin to negate or is it just staying in the contest, getting into the contest by bowling lots of lots of balls and doing the team thing?”Australia have used the specialists Beau Casson, Jason Krejza, Nathan Hauritz and Cameron White, along with North, Clarke, Simon Katich and Andrew Symonds since Stuart MacGill retired last year. Bryce McGain is currently in South Africa but neither he nor Hauritz have been used in the opening two Tests.Cox said a good spinner in Australia would get two or three opportunities in a whole season on a surface that suited them. “It’s a very different landscape and we [the national selectors] are getting bashed from pillar to post over it,” Cox said.”But you look at what happens in Perth this year, Brisbane and Bellerive … all the wickets are falling to seam bowlers and batting averages are way down. In the space of five years it’s become a completely redefined role and a really tough one.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Queensland has missed a golden opportunity to host the FR Cup final after losing to South Australia in their final preliminary match at the Adelaide Oval by 48 runs. The Bulls’ defeat is the Bushrangers’ gain as Victoria will now welcome Queensland in Sunday’s decider at the MCG.The Bulls were cruising at one stage in their pursuit of 259 with the openers James Hopes (57) and Ryan Broad supplementing occupation of the crease with some agricultural blows in their 99-run stand. It seemed the perfect foundation despite Broad being incorrectly adjudged caught behind on 48. Injudicious strokes from Hopes and the competition’s leading run-scorer Lee Carseldine increased the pressure on the home attack that had combined for just 36 career domestic one-day wickets.South Australia’s total of 7 for 258 was thought to be too few at a ground where 13 of the last 16 domestic limited-overs contests had been claimed by the side chasing. The hosts started horrendously by losing the in-form opener Daniel Harris off the first legitimate ball of the innings.Callum Ferguson looked in good touch before ramping Ashley Noffke straight to third man to leave his side reeling at 2 for 23. Michael Klinger (70) continued his outstanding summer, combining with Cameron Borgas (31) to steady the ship, but Klinger’s innings chewed up 110 deliveries and left the lower order with significant work to do.Mark Cosgrove, the Man of the Match, capped his successful return to both domestic forms with a brisk 64 to help guide the Redbacks to what eventuated as a more than competitive total. Nathan Rimmington was the pick of Queensland’s bowlers with 2 for 43, which should have included Cosgrove who was dropped on 20.In the end an outstanding bowling performance by the inexperienced Redbacks proved the difference. The left-arm spinner Aaron O’Brien’s spell of 2 for 36 put enormous pressure on the Bulls lower order, which began the last ten overs needing 97. O’Brien was brilliantly supported by the debutant Peter George and Jake Haberfield, while Daniel Christian (3 for 50) and Gary Putland held their nerve during the batting Powerplay to secure South Australia their fifth win of the season.The Redbacks finished third on the table while the Bulls will travel to Victoria for the second time in nine days. “We’ve put in some very good performances at the MCG in recent years, so we’re not too fussed to be going there,” Queensland’s captain Simpson said. “[We have] got no choice other than to forget about tonight.”The last final down there we came away with the silverware so we’re feeling good and can’t wait for a crack at it.” Sunday’s decider is a replay of two years ago when Queensland triumphed.

أعلن مرتضى منصور رئيس نادي الزمالك، حصوله على حكم بحبس محمد عثمان المستشار القانوني للأهلي، بتهمة سب وقذف المسؤول الأول في القلعة البيضاء.

وقال مرتضى عبر صفتحته الرسمية بموقع التواصل الاجتماعي “فيس بوك”: “أصدرت المحكمة الاقتصادية عصر اليوم، حكما في الجنحة رقم 344 لسنة 2022، بحبس محمد عثمان محامي الكابتن محمود الخطيب رئيس النادي الأهلي والمستشار القانوني للنادي بالسجن سنة وغرامة 10 آلاف جنيه”.

وأوضح: “لارتكابه جريمة سب وقذف في حق المستشار مرتضي منصور رئيس نادي الزمالك والادعاء عليه بأكاذيب امتلأت بالبذاءات”.

طالع أيضًا.. مرتضى منصور يعلن إيقاف تنفيذ حكم حبسه في قضية سب محمود الخطيب

وأشار المسؤول عن الصفحة إلى أن المستشار مرتضى منصور سيصدر بيانا عقب انتهاء مباراة الزمالك والنادي الأهلي، عن التجاوزات التي ارتكبها محمد عثمان وبعض المحسوبين على الخطيب في حقة طوال العامين السابقين وصدور عدة أحكام نهائية بحبسهم، موضحًا أنهم هاربون.

وشدد على أن مرتضى منصور أرجأ بيانه لانشغاله مع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، الذي سيخوض مباراة هامة غدًا في كأس مصر.

ويلتقي الزمالك مع الأهلي على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي، في تمام التاسعة مساء غد الخميس، بنهائي كأس مصر نسخة الموسم الماضي.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith was coy when asked whether or not Emiliano Buendia and Emiliano Martinez will feature against Everton at the weekend.

And a number of Villa fans have been reacting to the news on social media.

Both Buendia and Martinez went away with Argentina during the international break and missed the 3-0 defeat against Chelsea last weekend.

The pair have been in Croatia to avoid quarantining for ten days in the UK and have used Hajduk Split’s facilities to train recently.

The South Americans are due to return to the UK on Saturday morning, so could technically feature at Villa Park.

Smith was asked about the pair’s possible involvement against the Toffees on Saturday evening, to which he said:

“We are expecting them to join us tomorrow morning and I will assess it then and decide whether they will be involved or not.

“They are in a good place physically.”

Villa fans react

Villa posted Smith’s update on Buendia and Martinez on their official Twitter page on Friday.

It didn’t take long for a number of Villa supporters to react to the news, with a selection of responses below.

“People saying ‘if he starts Steer we’ve lost’ need to get a grip.. he’s a solid keeper, didn’t do much wrong against Chelsea, and even though we conceded 3 there wasn’t a lot he could do about any of them… the keepers only as good as the defence in front of him”

Credit: @BigMidgeGaming

“If he starts steer we’ve lost before kick-off”

Credit: @checkley_josh

“so sick of hearing ‘we’ll assess them in the morning’ just TELL us they’re not playing”

Credit: @Josh1874_

“He can play I ain’t watching Steer ball again”

Credit: @AlexAV1982

“This is Smith code for ‘definitely not starting’”

Credit: @HolteendHorizon

“That’s a not involved then”

Credit: @CWilko9

In other news: ‘Hate this club’ – Many Villa fans fume at ‘risky’ official announcement. 

Speaking to ‘Waiting for Calciomercato’, via Inter-News.it, journalist Alfredo Pedulla has made a Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving Argentina star Lautaro Martinez.

The Lowdown: Martinez saga…

The Times first broke news of Spurs’ move nearly two weeks ago, lifting the lid on a fee which could have reached more than £60 million for the Inter Milan forward.

However, after the Serie A champions sold Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea, the move was instantly called off with Martinez then looking set to stay (Fabrizio Romano).

His agent even confirmed the player is ‘ready to stay’ with contract talks about to be opened, but that hasn’t stopped some reports flooding in as Pedulla brings the latest twist to this saga.

The Latest: Pedulla drops Martinez claim…

Speaking to ‘Waiting for Calciomercato’ (via Inter-News.it), the Sport Italia reporter has made a transfer claim involving Spurs as he indicates they have not quite given up yet.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news/” title=”Tottenham latest news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

He claims that the Lilywhites have tried again for Martinez ‘in the last few days’ and Tottenham are trying to get into a ‘hypothetical dispute’ between the player and his representatives.

“Tottenham also made concrete attempts before the transfer of Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea,” Pedulla explains.

“Once the Belgian sold, the Nerazzurri removed Lautaro Martinez from the market, to the satisfaction of the player who never put his foot down. Will have the increase to 6 plus bonuses, that’s up to you.

“Atletico Madrid and Tottenham have also tried in the last few days, trying to get into some hypothetical dispute between Inter and the player’s entourage. But the situation is serene and Lautaro Martinez is happy. The contract is now an obligatory step.”

The Verdict: Interesting news…

While this update doesn’t edge Spurs any closer to signing the star striker, with Martinez still staying as it stands, this could still indicate managing director Fabio Paratici’s determination to strengthen Nuno Espirito Santo’s options going forward.

The 23-year-old bagged 19 goals and 11 assists across all competitions for Inter last season and would be a stellar addition to Spurs’ attack.

He has also been called ‘phenomenal’ by Serie A journalist Nima Tavallaey Roodsari for his movement, explosiveness, timing and technical ability (The Arsenal Review).

It remains to be seen who Spurs turn to as an alternative to Martinez, but however unlikely they are to sign him, at least Paratici hasn’t quite given up hope judging by this update.

In other news: Offer incoming: Levy readying Spurs bid to sign ‘amazing’ player who Nuno personally wants, find out more here.