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According to reports in the Shields Gazette, Newcastle United outcast Massadio Haidara says he is frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities under Rafa Benitez in 2017.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the French defender was highly-rated when he moved to St James’ Park from French side Nancy in 2013, but things haven’t quite worked out for the left-back during his time with the Magpies – he has made just 51 appearances in all competitions in total, and just two this term.

Why’s that?

One of his main problems has been the number of injuries he has suffered.

He has suffered from five different knee injuries, which have kept him out of action for more than a combined 18 months, with his latest return to action coming at the start of this year.

What’s Haidara said?

He told the Shields Gazette: “I am a little bit disappointed with this season because every player wants to play in the first-team.

“When you are not frustrated at not playing there must be something wrong.

“But you have to make sure you use your frustration in a good way.”

Is he ready now?

Of course, after so many injury problems and time on the sidelines it can take a while to get back to your best form.

However, the 24-year-old has managed to make two appearances in the FA Cup, as well as a handful of outing for the Under-23 side, and is now desperate to help his side return to the Premier League.

Will he get the call from Benitez?

It’s difficult to say.

Paul Dummett has become something of a consistent performer at left-back this season, while the likes of Jesus Gamez, DeAndre Yedlin and Jack Colback can also fill in there if necessary.

Does he have a Newcastle future, then?

He will need to prove to Benitez that he is good enough, and fit enough, quickly.

With the Magpies on the cusp of returning to the Premier League, the Spaniard will want quality players that he can rely on, and he may already be looking for a new left-back for next season if they do win promotion following recent links to Manchester United’s Luke Shaw.

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As reported by The Daily Mail, Celtic are interested in the services of Fulham midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen, currently on loan at Championship side Burton Albion.

What’s the story?

The Hoops are on the lookout for talent all over the world in their search to add real quality to their squad ahead of UEFA Champions League qualification but may have found a diamond in a market that Brendan Rodgers knows very well indeed.

The Daily Mail reckon the Hoops are one of the clubs interested in Danish 22 year old Lasse Vigen Christensen, alongside the likes of Sheffield United and Birmingham City.

Christensen has made over 70 professional appearances in English football but has failed to force his way into the Fulham first team this term and is said to be looking for a fresh start to kickstart his career.

A loan spell at Burton Albion has given him some vital game time and he has put in some impressive performances since joining in January.

Good enough?

Christensen has been capped at five youth levels for Denmark and has 20 U21 caps to his name for his country, so the national team set-up over there clearly rate him. With that many appearances at that age group, you’d have to tip him to be a future senior Danish international.

Struggling to get into the Fulham side this season in their promotion push, he might not be the finished article yet, but has managed to come through their youth sides to make 68 appearances for the Londoners.

At 22 years of age he has plenty of time to become the complete package and under Brendan Rodgers would be working with one of the best coaches around at uncovering hidden talent.

He could be a rough diamond ready for the famous Rodgers polish.

It is not usual for a Liverpool legend to speak so highly of local rivals Everton, but Steven Gerrard has waxed lyrical about youngster Tom Davies.

The 18-year-old midfielder has certainly caught the eye this season having fought his way into the first team under manager Ronald Koeman.

Davies has plenty of time to develop, but the fact that he is already keeping out the likes of James McCarthy and Gareth Barry suggests that he will be an important figure in the future.

So far, the Merseyside-born footballer has made 20 appearances in all competitions, and 13 of those have been starts in the Premier League.

Davies has looked far from daunted by playing at the top level as he has netted two goals and created three assists.

Gerrard, who spent 17 years of his senior career playing for Everton’s neighbours, believe that Davies has the potential to become one of the best in his position.

While carrying out punditry duties on BT Sport, Gerrard said:

“I think the one to be excited about at Everton is Tom Davies, who seems to have broken in and stayed in. He’s a terrific footballer who has scored a few exciting goals.

“What he has done is announce himself and basically said to a regular starter, ’I’m taking your place and I’m staying in there’. Those types of players are the ones that usually go on to become superstars.”

Beating Manchester United this weekend is Arsene Wenger’s only chance of giving Arsenal a glimmer of hope of making it into the top four and preserving his long-standing record of Champions League qualification.

The fifth-placed Red Devils are still five points ahead of the Gunners in the Premier League table, but beating a divisional rival will at least show Arsenal have what it takes to come out on top against high-quality opposition and could leave Manchester City looking nervously over their shoulders with just a few games left to go.

But after what proved to be a rather humiliating 2-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, it’s imperative Wenger gets his tactics and team selection absolutely perfect when his old foe Jose Mourinho comes to the Emirates Stadium this Sunday.

Thus, we asked Arsenal fans earlier this week whether Wenger should stick with the 3-4-3 formation that produced wins over Middlesbrough, Manchester City and Leicester but saw the Gunners receive an absolute pasting at White Hart Lane, or revert back to his usual 4-2-3-1 system.

And although our poll revealed the fan base is relatively divided on how Wenger should set up his side, the majority still voted in favour of giving 3-4-3 another try against United. Whether Le Prof agrees or not, we’ll have to wait and see.

Jose Mourinho may have laughed off his first competitive loss to Arsene Wenger, but there’s no doubt defeat at the hands of his old enemy will have infuriated the Portuguese.

Manchester United started well at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday but became more pinned back as the game went on and were eventually punished by two goals in the space of ten minutes from former Red Devil Danny Welbeck and summer signing Granit Xhaka.

It wasn’t a particularly positive performance from the Red Devils, who managed to test Petr Cech just four times and struggled to get into the game after the interval. But if there was one silver lining, it came in the form of an impressive Premier League debut from defender Axel Tuanzebe.

On the day, he was arguably United’s best performer, registering the most tackles and second most interceptions of any player on the pitch, and it’s incredibly telling of the right-back’s impact that Alexis Sanchez endured an incredibly quiet afternoon by his usual standards; he had just two efforts at goal, created only one chance and completed a mere two dribbles, whilst both of Arsenal’s goals came from the other side of the pitch.

Perhaps more impressively for a defender so young, especially in a game against high-quality opposition and a high-quality player in Sanchez, he committed only one foul, recorded zero unsuccessful touches and wasn’t dispossessed once, showing his composure and temperament.

It was an impressive debut from the 19-year-old at No.2 and he already looks like the perfect Mourinho defender – quick and powerful with a strong natural leap. His future could well reside in the centre of defence but what matters most is that Tuanzebe didn’t look out of place away from home against the sixth-best side in the Premier League.

Should he start at right-back again when United face Tottenham in the top flight next weekend? Let us know by voting below…

As reported by The Daily Mail, Celtic are said to have around £15m for a summer splurge on talent as they look to build a squad capable of success both domestically and in Europe.

Celtic’s signing strategy has seen a shift since Brendan Rodgers arrived at the club, the Irish manager clearly favouring a more focused and tight squad of players compared to the scattergun approach of regimes previous.

That means he is unlikely to sign more than three or four players in the upcoming transfer window by our estimation. His current group of players have developed incredibly well over the last 12 months and only appear to be getting better.

Supplementing that group with some quality in key areas could take them to the next level.

Who should they target and in what positions?

Here are four potential Hoops stars we reckon could play a big role in the season ahead…

Ovidiu Popescu

23 year old midfielder Ovidiu Popescu has only been at Steaua Bucharest since last summer but has already racked up the appearances, making 30 so far in all competitions, with his club engaged in a title race in Liga I, the Romanian top-flight.

Also making 3 appearances in this season’s UEFA Europa League, it’s clear he’s seen as a key figure at the club. He’s certainly attracting plenty of praise.

Steaua owner George Becali, quoted by The Daily Record, said last month when the Hoops were linked:

“Ovidiu is the same type of player as Frank Lampard at Chelsea. He will be worth £25 million one day. He’s a central midfielder, who can also play right back – he’s so versatile. He runs at opponents and humiliates them when he gets past them. No one can keep up with him with that initial five yard burst of pace.”

Having that kind of creative spark in midfield could be key and if his talent is truly as great as officials at his club say then making a move for the player could prove a bargain, even though the release clause in his contract is reported to stand at £8m.

Filip Manojlovic

Senior Celtic scout David Moss was reported by Serbian media to have travelled to Serbia specifically to watch giant goalkeeper Filip Manojlovic recently. Moss is a key figure at the Hoops and was instrumental in bringing Moussa Dembele to the club last summer. The fact he is scouting the stopper would suggest the Hoops are interested.

Celtic already have a quality goalkeeper in the form of Craig Gordon but given his age, it would make sense that if Brendan Rodgers was to bring in back-up, he would be young and ambitious and potentially be part of any transition between the sticks at Celtic Park.

6ft 5in tall and just 21 years of age, Manojlovic is already first choice at Red Star Belgrade and has even won a senior cap for his country after representing Serbia at four age levels.

He’s one to watch for the future and if Celtic can invest in him early this summer, they could have a potential bargain on their hands.

Patrick Roberts

Keeping Patrick Roberts at Celtic is not going to be easy and it seems certain that, initially at least, he will return to Manchester City in the summer for pre-season training. His 18 month loan deal will have come to an end, bringing closure to a mutually beneficial relationship for both club and player.

He’s been a sensation in attacking midfield for the Hoops and even if they have to shell out a significant sum to land him, it’s something they should consider.

He has the ability to play in the UEFA Champions League and not only that, but improve year on year. He is only 20 years old after all.

Rodgers knows how to get the best out of him and if the deal can be done then it’s worth a chunk of their £15m budget in the upcoming transfer window.

Liam Lindsay

An outstanding prospect in the centre of defence, Liam Lindsay is one of the few talents in Scotland outside of Celtic that may have the potential to star for the Hoops. Unlikely to be a first choice immediately, Lindsay would certainly provide good cover for the likes of Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata, especially so considering the likes of Efe Ambrose and Kolo Toure are unlikely to be playing for the Bhoys next season.

Lindsay is a player not just with the physical attributes to be a success in the Scottish Premiership but at Partick Thistle has learned how to play the ball out from the back which is a key attribute for any defender playing under Brendan Rodgers.

He’s been a stand-out for Alan Archibald’s men in the club’s finest season for over 30 years and if Celtic don’t move for him, it seems likely he is a 21 year old with a bright future at a bigger club ahead of him.

Hull City announced on Wednesday that they wouldn’t be taking up an option to sign Everton striker Oumar Niasse on a permanent deal following a loan spell at the KCOM Stadium during the second half of the Premier League season.

The Senegal international scored four goals in 17 top flight appearances for the Tigers but it wasn’t enough to help prevent them suffering an immediate return to the Championship with a 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace sealing their fate earlier this month.

The relegation means that the Yorkshire outfit won’t be signing the 27-year-old on a permanent basis, meaning the attacker will return to Goodison Park.

Big things were expected of Niasse when he joined the Merseyside outfit for a fee of around £13.5m at the end of the January transfer window in 2016, but he has made just seven appearances in all competitions since and has failed to impress Ronald Koeman.

Everton supporters were quick to react to the news of the striker’s return via social media, and they predictably poked fun at him, suggesting he could play in goal.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

According to reports in the Daily Express, Liverpool are ready to rival Manchester United and Arsenal for the signing of £50m-rated Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette this summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the France international is keen to leave the French outfit this summer after a fourth-place finish was only enough to see them qualify for the Europa League, and he had his heart set on a move to Atletico Madrid to link up with Antoine Griezmann.

However, the La Liga outfit are currently serving a transfer ban and having failed with their appeal, they won’t be able to sign any players this summer.

That has alerted the Premier League trio, who will now try and bring the prolific attacker to England before the summer window slams shut in August.

How well did he do this season?

The 26-year-old was once again brilliant and scoring a huge amount of goals is becoming a real habit for the Frenchman, who has now netted 113 goals in the last four seasons for Lyon.

This year was his best yet as he scored 37 in 45 appearances in all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit, and surely now he will join one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Would he be a good signing for Liverpool?

Well, with Daniel Sturridge seemingly fail to impress Jurgen Klopp because of his injury record, Roberto Firmino was often deployed as a striker this term.

However, the German manager will surely want a player that is more familiar to the role if the Reds are to become Premier League title contenders and make an impact in the Champions League as well, and there are few better options on the market than Lacazette right now.

Can they see off competition from United and Arsenal?

Jurgen Klopp will certainly hope so.

The former may well turn their attentions to Lacazette after top target Griezmann committed his immediate future to Atletico while Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has also said that he is happy at the club.

Meanwhile the Gunners seem to be focusing their attempts on Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe as they look to sign a new striker, which could leave Liverpool with a free run at the Lyon star.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, the Reds know they need to spend big and be ambitious if they are to keep up with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City and they would be making a huge statement if they could get a deal for Lacazette over the line.

WIN! Take our survey below for a chance to win your favourite club’s new 17/18 home or away shirt…

Today, Patrick Vieira celebrates his 41st Birthday. But rather than being any part of the club he became a legend at, as the midfield driving force behind Arsenal’s iconic Invincibles campaign, the Frenchman is earning his managerial stripes in MLS with New York City FC, a consequence of his ties with one of the Gunners’ divisional rivals and a club he represented just 46 times during the dying embers of his career – Manchester City.

Of course, Vieira has no divine right to be employed by Arsenal at the post-playing stage of his career. Nonetheless, for a former captain of top-class quality, incredible experience, an enormous understanding of Arsenal Football Club and such obvious leadership abilities, you have to wonder why the Gunners have left him out in the cold, only for one of their title competitors to embrace him as firstly reserve team manager and then the gaffer of their American affiliate. The City Football Group are nurturing Vieira and clearly rate his potential highly – Arsenal, meanwhile, are standing idly by, seemingly prepared to pass up on everything the former France international could offer them.

It’s not just Vieira either; Arsenal’s entire setup is almost completely bereft of the characters and players who once made the club one of the most defensively resilient outfits in Europe under George Graham and then the most dominant, irresistible force the Premier League has ever witnessed. The only ex-player exceptions throughout the Arsenal staff are scout Gilles Grimandi, one-time youth players Kwame Ampadu and Daniel Karbassiyoon, Steve Gatting and assistant manager Steve Bould. How much influence the latter has, rarely seen actually conversing with Wenger during his five years next to him on the touchline, remains open to debate – but an educated guess based on his apathetic body language would be near minimal.

Searching for reasons why stems back to the age-old criticism of Wenger’s reluctance to delegate and his dominance over the backroom power structure at Arsenal. Compounded with the complete Wenger-in-Wenger-out split of the Gunners fan base, Wenger’s refrain from bringing a former player under his wing is more understandable than ever. From a political perspective, a popular figure hanging over your shoulder, looking on disappointedly at the edge of the shot for every post-concede grimace, is never a good idea. In fact, it’s almost a self-setup for his own sacking.

Yet, Wenger must know his days at Arsenal are numbered, regardless of his latest deal. Every contract offered has been of shorter duration than the one previous, whilst the dissidence against his generation-spanning tenure has continually grown. His determination not to leave appears to be, in part, due to a belief that no manager can carry on what he’s started or be trusted to maintain the philosophy that now defines Arsenal, but the two-year deal signed earlier this summer represents Wenger’s last chance to address that and ensure he leaves a legacy behind – former players like Vieira, who have not only a unique understanding of the style of play but also what is required to make it successful in the ever-competitive Premier League, can and should play a massive part in that.

It’s not always the case that top Premier League clubs have coaching talent in their former players to call upon, but Arsenal do. Tony Adams may have failed as a manager but he was once a very competent assistant to Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth, achieving their highest league standing since the 1950s and winning the FA Cup. Likewise, Marc Overmars helped build the Ajax side that reached last season’s Europa League final as Director of Football whilst Denis Bergkamp has been on the club’s coaching staff since 2011.

David Platt is another who has played a part in the trophy-winning revolution at Manchester City as Roberto Mancini’s former colleague and even Thierry Henry, Arsenal’s all-time top scorer, attempted to get involved in Arsenal’s youth set-up before being eventually turned away by Wenger. Similarly, Vieira is clearly a promising managerial prospect; he’s already turned down opportunities to man the dugouts at Newcastle and Saint-Etienne, whilst his performance at New York City FC has been solid if slightly unspectacular for a club that only came into effect in 2015, finishing fourth last season.

With two years to go until his future is once again a divisive talking point lingering over the club, or in real terms probably 18 months, now is the time for Wenger to bring someone in, someone who understands him, his philosophy and Arsenal Football Club and who could eventually succeed him, carrying on what Le Prof has spent the last two decades building in north London. Vieira seems like the perfect candidate at the age of 41 but as ever, Wenger’s resistance to change will almost certainly stand in the way.

Everton star Romelu Lukaku is expected to complete a move away from Goodison Park this summer, so Toffee fans are expectedly curious about who will replace the Belgian.

A player like Lukaku is going to leave big shoes to fill and although he may not be a well-known name to English fans, Cyle Larin may be the best option.

The 22-year old Canadian striker is currently in his third professional season for MLS side Orlando City. In 76 career games, Larin has scored 40 goals for the Lions and was named MLS Rookie of the Year in 2015.

Larin was linked with a move to Everton in the build up to the current MLS season, but the talk has quieted down as the season has started. The rumours are sure to pick up once Lukaku completes his move away, as Larin hasn’t slowed down, scoring eight goals in 15 league appearances this season.

Lukaku and Larin are barely an inch apart in height and play very similar styles, so the Canadian could be a perfect fit for Ronald Koeman’s system.

Playing alongside former Ballon d’Or winner Kaka has helped the 22-year old develop into one of the best strikers in MLS, a league whose quality has vastly risen within the past five years. It is still a far cry from the Premier League, but Larin’s physicality would likely make his transition easier. Playing around more high-quality players should only improve Larin’s play as scoring chances increase.

The striker is widely considered the best player Canada has produced in a long time and already has 20 caps and five goals for the senior team. The 22-year-old has become the focal point of the national team and will be hoping to lead the Canucks to the 2022 World Cup after failing to qualify for Russia.

Lukaku is clearly the more talented player so Larin can’t replace the Belgian’s 25 league goals all on his own, but Ronald Koeman has a history of getting the most out of his players, especially under-23s. The Dutchman impressed during his time at Southampton by bringing through players like Sadio Mane, Nathaniel Clyne and James Ward-Prowse, and he continued that success this season with seventh placed Everton.

Larin drew Premier League and Bundesliga interest before deciding to play in MLS, and after spending a few years developing, this summer could be a great opportunity for the striker to finally make the jump to Europe.

It would be difficult for any club to replace a player like Romelu Lukaku, but Larin could be a perfect replacement if he is willing to take the chance.