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Everything you need to know about Gavi, Barcelona's midfield prodigy

Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, commonly known as Gavi, is a rising star in the world of football. Born on October 22, 2004, in Santpedor, Spain, Gavi has quickly made a name for himself with his exceptional talent, skill, and vision on the field. At a young age, Gavi has already showcased immense potential, capturing the attention of football enthusiasts and experts worldwide.

Gavi's journey in football began at a tender age when he joined the youth academy of FC Barcelona, one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world. Under the guidance of exceptional coaches and surrounded by a rich footballing environment, Gavi flourished and quickly rose through the ranks. He demonstrated remarkable technical abilities, impeccable control over the ball, and a deep understanding of the game that surpassed his years.

As he progressed through the ranks, Gavi caught the eye of many scouts and coaches within the Barcelona organization. His performances in the youth teams were electrifying, leaving spectators in awe of his natural talent. His passing accuracy, dribbling skills, and ability to read the game stood out, setting him apart from his peers. Gavi's rise was meteoric, and it was only a matter of time before he would make his mark on the senior stage.

In August 2021, Gavi received his first senior call-up to FC Barcelona's first team for preseason friendlies. It was a significant moment in his career, marking his transition from the youth ranks to the professional stage. Despite his young age, Gavi displayed maturity and composure beyond his years, earning praise from his teammates, coaches, and fans alike. His performances were breathtaking, showcasing his ability to dictate play, control the tempo, and create scoring opportunities.

Gavi's playing style can be described as a combination of elegance and dynamism. He possesses exceptional close control, allowing him to navigate through tight spaces and evade opponents effortlessly. His passing range is exceptional, with the ability to execute both short, precise passes and long, visionary balls that can dissect defenses. Gavi's technical prowess is complemented by his agility, quickness, and ability to change direction swiftly, making him a nightmare for opposing defenders.

Beyond his technical abilities, Gavi's work ethic and humility are equally noteworthy. Despite the praise and attention he has received, he remains grounded and focused on continuous improvement. He is known for his dedication to training, constantly seeking to refine his skills and expand his knowledge of the game. Gavi understands that talent alone is not enough to succeed in football; it requires discipline, perseverance, and a hunger for constant development.

Off the field, Gavi's personality shines through. Known for his affable nature and warm smile, he has quickly become a fan favorite. His humble demeanor and respect for the game have earned him admiration from supporters and fellow professionals. Gavi is aware of the responsibility that comes with representing a prestigious club like FC Barcelona, and he embraces it with grace and gratitude.

While Gavi's career is still in its early stages, he has already shown immense promise and potential. He has the opportunity to become a key figure not only for Barcelona but also for the Spanish national team. With his unique blend of skill, vision, and maturity, Gavi has the potential to leave a lasting impact on the footballing world.

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  Started out his career in Seville

  He was reared in the 40,000-person Los Palacios y Villafranca neighborhood of Seville. Two other football players, Jesus Navas, and Fabian Ruiz, were also raised in the same place.

  Given that he was raised in a football-crazed household, Gavi was only natural to develop a passion for the sport. He began showcasing talent and innate aptitude with a football as a young child. As a result, in 2010, his parents registered him in La Liara Balompié, a team in his region.

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  Scored 95 goals in 2 seasons at Betis ⚽🦾

  After spending a couple of years at his hometown club, Gavi was recruited by the Real Betis Academy to showcase his talents. The young midfielder was provided with much larger resources and could prove his mettle in front of a larger crowd, paving the way for his future.

  Gavi spent another 2 seasons at the Real Betis youth academy, where he astonishingly scored 95 goals. His talent and hard work were on display as he kept racking up the numbers with every passing game, catching the eye of scouts across Spain.

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  Was offered a chance to play at Real Madrid

  By scoring a record 95 goals in two campaigns at Betis' academy, Gavi was on the watchlist of multiple elites in Spain including Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid. It's very rare that a generational talent like Gvai who was arguably head and shoulders above the other players in his batch gets ignored by the Spanish scouts.

  It's no shock that even Real Madrid wanted to recruit the Spanish prodigy owing to his wonderful skillset. And when different clubs came knocking on the youngster's doors, Gavi decided to wear the famous blue and purple of Barcelona above others. Despite Los Blancos' interest in him, Gavi embarked on a journey with Madrid's biggest rivals joining the La Masia Academy in 2015.

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  Youngest debutant ever for Spain 🧒

  30th September 2021 marks a very important date in Gavi's professional life. The Barcelona wonderkid was enlisted in Luis Enrique's Spanish national side to face Italy in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals to be played on the 6th of October.

  The appearance made him the youngest player to ever feature for La Furia Roja, and he showcased his talent once again by playing for his national team. Enrique's men ended the reigning European Champions' winning streak that stretched to 37 games as Gavi played a crucial role in the victory. The midfielder was also selected by the former Barcelona manager to feature in Spain's squad that traveled to Qatar for the World Cup in 2022.

Queens Park Rangers have confirmed that Liam Kelly has left the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on a permanent basis.

What’s the latest?

In a short statement posted on the QPR website, the club confirmed that the 25-year-old goalkeeper has joined Graham Alexander’s Motherwell side on a permanent basis, following his loan spell at the Scottish club at the back end of last season.

The shot-stopper had looked set to join the Scottish Premiership side for a number of months, with Alexander revealing back in May that he and his side were in talks with the Championship club regarding the transfer of the Scot.

And, following the completion of the deal, QPR thanked the former Scotland U21 international for his service to the club, before wishing him well for the future.

Warburton will be buzzing

Having joined QPR from Livingston back in the summer of 2019, it would appear a fair statement to make that Kelly did not quite live up to expectations during his time south of the border.

Indeed, in his first season at the club, the 25-year-old featured in 19 Championship games for Mark Warburton’s side, keeping three clean sheets and conceding 29 goals, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.79.

These appearances would turn out to be the only league games the £360k-rated ‘keeper would feature in for QPR, with Kelly falling behind both Joe Lumley and Seny Dieng last term, before being loaned out to Motherwell in January.

And, considering the fact that the man Alexander dubbed a “fantastic” shot-stopper was earning a hefty £7k-per-week in west London, as well as giving a rather frank interview regarding his desire to leave the club earlier this summer, the fact that Warburton has been able to secure the ‘keeper a move away from the Rs is sure to have left the 58-year-old buzzing as he looks to build a squad capable of pushing for promotion next season.

In other news: QPR make approach for “excellent” £4.1k-p/w beast, Warburton will be buzzing

The Blues' goalscoring woes continued into the post-Graham Potter era as they were held to a 0-0 draw by fellow strugglers Liverpool

Graham Potter may have been relieved of his duties, but Chelsea's ineptitude in front of goal continued on Tuesday as they played out their second goalless draw of the season with fellow underachievers Liverpool.

Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic were the main offenders on this occasion, spurning a pair of glorious chances each as the Blues failed to make their dominance pay. When Havertz did have the ball in the back of the next – a rebound from another poor finish – it was chalked off for handball.

N'Golo Kante's first start since August was a major positive as he bossed the midfield in typical fashion, but he was unable to help his team to a much-needed win.

🏆 TOP STORY: Messi offered £350m per year by Al-Hilal

📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Should Chelsea appoint Nagelsmann?

🚨 MUST READ: Why Chelsea will regret firing Potter

Here are GOAL'sChelsea player ratings from Stamford Bridge…

• Goalkeeper & Defence

  Kepa Arrizabalaga (6/10):

  Forced into one good save to deny Joe Gomez from range but largely untested.

  Wesley Fofana (7/10):

  Continued his impressive form from before his most recent injury, putting himself about and making some key interventions.

  Kalidou Koulibaly (7/10):

  Made an important intervention to cut out Henderson's long-range strike bound for an empty net. Equal to every test.

  Marc Cucurella (6/10):

  An improvement on his display against Aston Villa, although he was guilty of misplacing some passes.

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  Midfield

  Reece James (6/10):

  Denied a goal by a marginal offside call by VAR. Seemed to rediscover his attacking thrust and made a goal-saving block at the back, although his passing became a little loose.

  Enzo Fernandez (6/10):

  Another calm display from the midfield metronome, although he was unable to influence things much in an attacking sense.

  Mateo Kovacic (5/10):

  Really should have scored early on after rounding Alisson and blazed horribly over early in the second half. Booked after slipping and handballing, which summed it up.

  N'Golo Kante (7/10):

  His first start since August, and he was absolutely everywhere. Great to see him back and looking sharp.

  Ben Chilwell (6/10):

  Didn't hit the heights of some of his recent displays but solid nonetheless.

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  Attack

  Kai Havertz (5/10):

  Denied from mere yards out and then dragged well wide when clean through. When he finally did score, he did so with his arm. Not his night.

  Joao Felix (6/10):

  Scintillating early run through the Liverpool defence but couldn't finish. A bright spark, but couldn't find a goal.

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  Subs & Manager

  Conor Gallagher (6/10):

  All action as usually but a lot of his play reflected the scrappiness of the latter stages.

  Mykhailo Mudryk (5/10):

  Didn't have very long to make an impact and didn't see much of the ball.

  Raheem Sterling (N/A):

  Very late introduction and didn't do much.

  Bruno Saltor (interim) (6/10):

  Picked his first-ever line-up as a coach and his side did well for the most part, but their goalscoring problems are probably above his station.

Everything you need to know about Arsenal's star-boy Bukayo Saka.

Bukayo Saka is a young professional football player who was born on September 5, 2001, in Ealing, London, England to Nigerian parents. He has been at Arsenal since the age of seven, making his first-team debut in 2018 after progressing through the levels.

The England winger's excellent performances have earned him several accolades. He was named the Arsenal Player of the Month for December 2019 and December 2020 and the Premier League Player of the Month for July 2020. He was also named in the 2020 PFA Premier League Team of the Year and was the runner-up for the 2020 Arsenal Player of the Season.

Saka is known for his versatility, technical ability, and exceptional work rate on the field. At just 5'10", he compensates for his lack of physicality with his quick feet and agility.

For England, Saka has become an integral part of the team, having made his debut for the Three Lions in October 2020. He was a part of England's 2020 Euro campaign, playing in five of their seven games.

Off the field, Saka is known for his humility and down-to-earth personality. He is a big advocate for social justice and equality, and has spoken out about the need to tackle racism in football and society as a whole.

Here are 13 interesting facts about Saka that you absolutely need to know.

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  Nigerian roots

  Saka was born in Ealing, Greater London, to a Yoruba Nigerian parents Adenike and Yomi Saka.

  Both of his parents are Nigerian and migrated to London for work. He is the younger of the two children of the couple.

  The English superstar attended Greenwood high school and had very good grades in his GCSEs, achieving four A*s and three As.

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• Happiness in the name

  Saka's name has a meaning that matches his personality.

  His name "Bukayo" originates from the Yoruba language spoken in southern Nigeria, meaning "adds to happiness".

  The winger has a reputation of being a jolly figure in the dressing room and is adored by the fans and teammates alike.

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  Little Chili for teammates

  Saka is referred to as the 'Little Chilli' among his teammates, a nickname given to him by former Arsenal striker, Pierre-Emrick Aubameyang.

  "It started from Auba," Saka said in a press conference, per "He said it in French.

  "We're doing one finishing drill one time in training and he kept saying it, and I kept scoring, I was shooting with so much power and he was calling me little chilli in French [petit piment].

  "I didn't know what it was. I asked him after and he told it means little chilli. From then on he kept calling me it and then it became a thing, and now it's a big thing, a lot of people call me it, and make it my nickname.”

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  Faith in Christianity

  Saka grew up in a Christian household and attended The Edward Betham Church of England Primary School, which has a strong Christian ethos. His family regularly prays for his success.

  “I grew up in a Christian family who believe strongly in God. This always made me curious to get to know God more and I have done so by reading my Bible a lot and going to church a lot over the years. My faith is constantly being exercised when I’m put in different situations or I play in big football matches such as my England debut," he revealed.

  “I hold onto God’s promises such as the scripture ‘Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’.

  "So before every game I ask God to help me play well, help my team and try to score a goal or assist a goal and he answers my prayers so this is why I point to the sky to thank him.” (via PremierChristianity)

Spain goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, picked ahead of David de Gea, was one of the standout performers as La Roja got the three points against Norway

Luis de la Fuente's reign as Spain coach got off to a winning start as La Roja ran out 3-0 winners against Norway on Saturday.

It was not the most convincing of performances in their opening game of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign as Norway put La Roja under pressure for large spells after Dani Olmo's early goal gave the hosts the lead.

But the visitors could not find a way through amid the absence of superstar forward Erling Haaland, as Kepa pulled off some strong saves to keep his team in the lead and ensure they did not miss David de Gea.

🏆 TOP STORY: Nagelsmann's girlfriend blamed after sacking

📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Have Bayern made the right call?

🚨 MUST READ: Why PSG will pay for Tuchel miss

Norway were made to pay for their wastefulness as late substitute Joselu struck twice in quick succession in a fantastic debut appearance as De la Fuente's men breathed a sigh of relief.

GOAL rates Spain's players…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Kepa Arrizabalaga (8/10):

  Made an excellent save in the first half to keep his team in the lead and was generally assured between the posts. Remember when the Chelsea goalkeeper's career seemed on the verge of stalling out? He's come a long way.

  Dani Carvajal (6/10):

  Set up a good chance for Merino but almost gave away a penalty for a needless shove.

  Nacho Fernandez (7/10):

  Did well to block a shot from Odegaard in a solid defensive display from the Real Madrid man.

  Aymeric Laporte (6/10):

  Sound on the ball as he looked to keep things moving against a deep-lying opposition.

  Alejandro Balde (7/10):

  His dangerous ball in was met by Olmo for the opening goal.

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  Midfield

  Rodri (7/10):

  Made some good defensive interventions as well as neat passes to help create some danger.

  Mikel Merino (6/10):

  A solid display in the midfield as he supported the attack. Had a shot blocked late on.

  Iago Aspas (5/10):

  A tame performance from the veteran, who could not get much time on the ball. His passing was lacking.

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  Attack

  Dani Olmo (7/10):

  Perfectly placed to divert the ball in to open the scoring and was lively on the ball before his exit after 67 minutes.

  Alvaro Morata (5/10):

  The newly named captain was not enough of a direct threat on goal and struggled to link up with team-mates beyond his hand in the goal.

  Gavi (6/10):

  A decent performance from the Barcelona youngster but was taken off surprisingly early.

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  Subs & Manager

  Mikel Oyarzabal (6/10):

  Looked lively after coming on in the second half and played a role in the third goal.

  Dani Ceballos (6/10):

  Set up Pino with a good pass, not a bad substitute appearance.

  Yeremy Pino (7/10):

  Conceded a free kick seconds after coming on for Olmo. Sent a shot wide and then had a low cross roll through the box.

  Fabian (6/10):

  A late swap for Merino and sent in the cross for Joselu to double their lead.

  Joselu (8/10):

  Took Morata's place for the last 10 minutes in his senior debut. Completely missed Pino's dangerous cross but made up for it seconds later with a goal from a header and then fired in the third.

  Luis de la Fuente (6/10):

  His team struggled to build on their early lead for much of the game as Norway took control, but his changes proved effective as Joselu, Oyarzabal and Fabian were all involved in the vital late goals.

Frank McAvennie believes Barry Douglas would jump at the chance to join Glasgow Rangers this summer.

The Lowdown: Douglas would consider Gers move

Douglas, who spent last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers from Leeds United, will be a free agent this summer after his contract ran out with the Whites (Transfermarkt).

When speaking about his next move, Douglas admitted he would consider a switch to Ibrox if the interest was there (Yorkshire Evening Post). He is a boyhood Gers fan.

The Latest: McAvennie thinks Douglas would love to join Gers

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie went one further, as he believes Douglas would jump at the chance to join the 55-time Scottish champions. He said:

“Would he go to Rangers to be a number two?

“It might be the best thing for him. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind a bit less game time if he’s at his boyhood club. 

“Blackburn were alright last season so he must still be decent. He’s a Rangers boy and 31-years-old. 

“If that offer from Rangers comes in, he’ll jump at it. There’s pride in wearing the jersey of your own club. 

“I can see that happening if he gets the offer.”

The Verdict: Back-up is best option

Douglas has proven himself to be a solid player throughout his career. He has played both in Turkey and Poland as well as England and Scotland, and the 65 career assists he has amassed despite being a left-back indicate he has plenty to offer going forward.

At the Gers, Steven Gerrard has Borna Barisic to rely on on the left side of the back four. The 28-year-old is Croatia’s first-choice left-back – Douglas will have little chance to displace him in the starting line-up.

As a back-up option, though, he could be an interesting arrival, although he would be competing with youngster Calvin Bassey for that role.

In other news, Rangers have been urged to sign this striker.

GOAL breaks down Gregg Berhalter's 26-man squad, from the surprise calls-ups to the shocking omissions.

On Sunday afternoon, members of the U.S. men’s national team felt their phones buzz. One by one, their screens lit up with a text from Gregg Berhalter, all with the same message.

“Hey, are you available to talk?”

As everyone knows, there are few scarier messages from a boss than that. When it comes from your national team coach just days before a World Cup roster is announced, it can cause your heart to stop entirely.

For 26 of the players that received that text, what ensued was a dream come true. That text was followed by a video call with Berhalter that confirmed they’d be going to the World Cup. Smiles, laughs, tears of joy all in equal measure.

But, for others, the news devastated. The nature of the squad-trimming system forced Berhalter to crush the dreams of some players who had been a part of the program’s difficult rebuild throughout the last four years.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll find out if Berhalter made the right decisions.

For now, here’s a look at the biggest winners and losers from Wednesday’s roster announcement.

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  WINNER: Surprises

  There was no Landon Donovan-esque omission from this squad. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna, the team’s big stars, are all involved as expected.

  But there were some omissions that few could have seen a few months ago, and some inclusions that have played their way onto the roster from purgatory.

  Tim Ream is one of those latter players, as is Shaq Moore. Neither was really involved recently and both looked like players destined to miss out.

  Haji Wright was another stunner, having seemingly fallen out of the picture after this summer. Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris, meanwhile, were always on the bubble, and both heard their name called on Sunday.

  No roster prediction is ever 100 percent accurate as there are always twists and turns before a World Cup, and there may still be more if someone were to suffer an injury in the run-up to the tournament. But it's safe to say that Berhalter threw in a few wrinkles that few saw coming, with the biggest being the next on our list…

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  LOSER: Zack Steffen

  The one that no one would have ever seen coming before this week.

  For the better part of four years, Zack Steffen was the USMNT’s starter. He was the No. 1 all through World Cup qualifiers and, despite the rise of Matt Turner, Berhalter seemingly leaned towards Steffen in the USMNT’s goalkeeper race.

  And that race is now over. Turner is in the squad. Steffen is not.

  When asked why that is, Berhalter wasn’t fully willing to go into details. He preferred to talk about the guys he does have, he said. He talked up Turner’s skill set, Sean Johnson’s leadership, Ethan Horvath’s willingness to step up when called up on.

  What Berhalter did say, though, was how hard it was to tell Steffen the news that he wouldn’t be part of the 26.

  "It was a lot of emotion involved for them and me," Berhalter said of his call with Steffen. "Me and Zack go way back and he's been there for me a bunch of times, so to tell him that he wasn't going to be a part of the World Cup team was heartbreaking. But these are the decisions that have to be made."

  The fact is that Steffen simply hasn’t played enough over the last two years. His time as Ederson’s backup at Manchester City may have made him better, but it hasn’t made him sharper. He hasn’t played like the USMNT’s No. 1 in some time, but it is surprising to see that he isn’t No. 2 or No. 3.

  At just 27, Steffen’s World Cup dreams may not be over. He’s a very good goalkeeper, and goalkeepers get better with age. Who knows where he is in a few years when 2026 rolls around?

  This one will hurt, though, and rightfully so, for a player that always seemed to be destined to start in Qatar.

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  WINNER: Tim Ream

  When asked to explain why he’d selected Tim Ream, a player that hadn’t put on a USMNT jersey in more than a year, Berhalter offered a simple explanation.

  “Have you watched any Fulham games lately?”

  And that statement, in many ways, is more than enough justification for including the 35-year-old central defender.

  Ream has been incredible for Fulham this season, serving as the club’s captain in the Premier League after leading them back from the Championship last season. You could easily argue he’s the USMNT’s most in-form central defender at a time when form matters most. Add in the fact that he’ll be very, very familiar with most players involved with group-mates England and Wales and you have all the reason needed to bring Ream in.

  Now the question is where he fits. Walker Zimmerman is all but solidified as the No. 1  center back, but there is still some debate when it comes to his partner. We now know it's down to three: Ream, Aaron Long and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

  Long is probably the favorite as he’s partnered Zimmerman the most. But, if it does come down to playing with Ream, Zimmerman says he’s more than okay with it.

  "He's one of those guys that can come in and fit in right away due to that experience and leadership," Zimmerman said. "So we feel confident with him and he's obviously performing at a really high level this year for Fulham. We believe in him on and off the field and I'm excited that he made the squad."

  Zimmerman's partner may be TBD, but Ream may just get his chance after spending an entire year out of the picture.

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  LOSER: Ricardo Pepi

  From the USMNT’s No. 9 of the future to missing the World Cup entirely, the last year or so has been a nightmare for Ricardo Pepi.

  His move to Augsburg totally backfired as his struggles in the Bundesliga dropped him out of the picture completely. He’s now been left out of the World Cup despite a strong start on loan with Groningen, with Berhalter opting to bring Jesus Ferreira, Josh Sargent and Haji Wright to Qatar.

  It’s another horrible lesson in what happens when a transfer goes wrong. A year ago, Pepi was the hottest prospect in American soccer. But his move to Augsburg, a bad team with a bad attack, stifled his momentum to the point where he was leapfrogged by at least three of his competitors.

  This won’t be Pepi’s last chance, not by a long shot. The teenage striker has brighter days ahead, with his spell at Groningen so far proving that the talent everyone saw in him a year ago is still very much there.

  But spare a thought for Pepi, a young player who will certainly be heartbroken to miss out on a dream opportunity. Brighter days may be ahead, but this one will sting for a while given the position he was in just one year ago.

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is keen on signing Turkey star Okay Yokuslu this summer as he looks to reinforce his midfield options ahead of the new Premier League season.

What’s the story?

Recent reports from Faro de Vigo (via Sport Witness) suggested that the Whites have identified Yokuslu as a potential transfer target, with the Turkey international having joined West Brom on loan back in January from La Liga side Celta Vigo.

And now, Spanish publication Eldesmarque claim that the midfielder is a man in demand, with Leeds, Crystal Palace and West Brom all interested in signing him this summer.

Premier League quality

The 6 foot 3 Yokuslu was a revelation after joining West Brom back in the January transfer window, establishing himself as a key part of former boss Sam Allardyce’s side and earning some rave reviews along the way.

His teammate at the Hawthorns, Kyle Bartley, raved about the kind of ability the holding midfielder possesses, saying: “He’s been brilliant. He seems to have settled in really quickly which is always important for a player at a new club. You can see already that he’s a really good player.

“I thought he was great against Manchester United on his full debut and then he backed that up with another impressive performance on Saturday against Burnley. He’s tenacious. He’s good on the ball. He’s calm and composed.”

And, former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson has previously insisted Yokuslu would be a very good signing for the Whites, claiming that he has shades of Kalvin Phillips to his game.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “He will be highly sought-after this summer. He plays in a very similar way to Kalvin Phillips and that is the type of player that Leeds need.”

Yokuslu is currently at EURO 2020 and started in Turkey’s 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Wednesday, and Bielsa will no doubt be keeping a close eye on how the midfielder performs.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/leeds-united-marcelo-bielsa-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-elland-road-rodrigo-de-paul” title=”Read the latest Leeds transfer rumours and news!”]

Given that he plays like Phillips and has that tenacity to his game that Bartley is a big fan of, he could be a very shrewd, Premier League quality signing for Leeds.

It would give Bielsa some valuable cover for Leeds’ talisman in the middle of the park, and ensure the Whites don’t see a real drop-off in quality if he finds himself injured or out of the side.

Meanwhile, Leeds could land a bargain in this Premier League star…

GOAL analyses major happenings in the concluded campaign held in Cameroon

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  Sikazwe show

  In the Group F match featuring Mali and Tunisia staged in Limbe on January 12, both teams were desperate for victory. Mali went on to score their goal through Ibrahima Kone – from the penalty spot – while the Carthage Eagles wasted their chance courtesy of Wahbi Khazri.

  However, the spotlight was on Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe; he reportedly failed to stop his watch and went on to blow the final whistle in the 85th minute. He was corrected but again ended the game with a few seconds remaining in regulation time. Tunisia, later on, refused to return to the pitch to play the final few minutes. It was later revealed Sikazwe had health issues that affected him.

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  Algeria's elimination

  Coming into the competition, favourites Algeria had gone 34 matches without tasting defeat. However, things did not go for them as planned.

  Sierra Leone held them to a goalless draw before Equatorial Guinea claimed a shocking 1-0 win. They fell 3-1 to Ivory Coast and were eliminated from the competition. It was unexpected but it happened, giving them a chance to go back to the drawing board.

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  Ghana's humiliating exit

  Just like the former champions, Ghana were considered among the favourites and nobody would have predicted they would fall in the first hurdle. Things did not work out for the West African nation from the first game where they lost to Morocco by a solitary goal.

  There were ugly scenes in the 1-1 draw with Gabon that saw Benjamin Tetteh get suspended for three games, before a 3-2 loss to debutants Comoros sent them packing. Questions will be asked about the impact of Andre and Jordan Ayew. Will they redeem their reputation in the World Cup qualifiers?

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  Mukansanga makes history

  Rwanda referee Salima Rhadia Mukansanga made history as the first-ever woman referee to officiate in the Africa Cup of Nations when she blew the whistle for Zimbabwe's surprise 2-1 victory over Guinea on January 18.

  The 35-year-old, who had already served as the fourth official during the Malawi versus Guinea fixture, took charge of the Group B clash at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

Manchester City fans are far from happy after it was revealed Benjamin Mendy, Gabriel Jesus, Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva could all be sold this summer.

The 2020/21 season is now officially over, and the Citizens can look back on a campaign which included extreme highs and of course one devastating low.

They came away with two trophies, winning the Premier League and the League Cup, but the one thing they want the most, the Champions League, slipped from their grasp as they lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the final in Porto last Saturday.

Plans will already be underway to prepare for the new campaign, and there could be a number of players leaving the club. According to Chris Wheeler of the Daily Mail, as many as six first-team regulars could be moved on this summer.

The news was shared on Twitter by @City_Xtra, and it attracted plenty of attention from the supporters. They took to the social media platform the share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the Man City fans had to say about the news below

“What are we doing”

Credit: @rkmcr6

“Wait mahrez??? Nahhh and Bernardo?? Wth peps lost it”

Credit: @alexquintani11a

“Excuse me!? Bubblegum and Aymeric shouldn’t be on this list lol!! Riyad has been good as well hahaha.”

Credit: @aviwe_m16

“gabby, bernardo and mahrez it would be a big loss for us”

Credit: @thegbzz

“genuinely can’t fathom why bernardo silva would want to leave. absolutely baffling.”

Credit: @mattmcfc_

“Why on earth would Mahrez and Bernardo want to leave??? Literally two of our most important players and they know it. They play near to every game when they are needed. Surely this has to be fake”

Credit: @QJweRfWQ4YzvJ8R

In other news, Man City fans slammed this man’s performance in the Champions League final.