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MCFC fans slam transfer report

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.

Senegal coronation, Mukansanga history and four more unforgettable Afcon moments

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.

LAFC, Sounders top Goal's MLS Week 6 Power Rankings

LAFC's rout over D.C. United solidified the second-year team's place atop Major League Soccer's rankings, while the Timbers hit rock bottom.

Los Angeles FC's trip to Audi Field to face D.C. United was seen as the chance to figure out which of the then-unbeatens was the class of Major League Soccer at the moment. Four LAFC goals later, there was no doubt which teams has to be called the best in the league.

LAFC's fifth win of the season was its most impressive, as Bob Bradley's side thoroughly dominated D.C. United on the way to a 4-0 victory that cemented LAFC's place atop the Supporters' Shield standings.

The Seattle Sounders are still within range of LAFC, but their 1-0 victory against Real Salt Lake wasn't exactly impressive. Raul Ruidiaz's absence with an injury hindered Seattle's attack, but Nicolas Lodeiro delivered some magic to secure the Sounders' fourth victory in five matches.

Three teams boast three-game winning streaks after week six, LAFC, the LA Galaxy and the Philadelphia Union. Alejandro Bedoya's stoppage-time winner helped the Union pull of a dramatic late comeback against FC Dallas, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic led the Galaxy to an impressive road win against Vancouver. The Union will face the Galaxy next weekend.

On the wrong end of streaks are the New York Red Bulls, who have suddenly suffered three straight defeats after their 2-1 home loss to Minnesota United. Chris Armas' side has struggled to find the defensive stinginess and attacking efficiency that lead the Red Bulls to the Supporters' Shield last season.

The two teams mired in the worst losing runs at the moment are a pair of 2019 playoff teams, the Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake. They're both stuck in four-match losing slides, with Portland's 3-0 loss to San Jose feeling like rock bottom for a team in the midst of a 12-match road trip to start the season. The Timbers reached the MLS Cup final just five months ago, but now find themselves at the bottom of the MLS power rankings.

Here are Goal's MLS power rankings after week six action:

  • 1Portland Timbers (0-4-1)

    The Timbers have hit a new low after being thrashed by the San Jose Earthquakes. Diego Valeri had a day to forget, missing a penalty kick and committing a turnover that led directly to an Earthquakes goal. Things get no easier, with another seven road games to go, and upcoming trips to Dallas, Columbus and Toronto.

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  • 2Vancouver Whitecaps (0-4-1)

    Marc Dos Santos is still searching for his first victory as Whitecaps coach following the 2-0 loss to the Galaxy with a match against the Chicago Fire looming.

  • 3Colorado Rapids (0-4-2)

    Another loss and another four goals allowed for the worst defense in MLS. The Rapids are scoring goals, but their leaky back-line keeps giving up leads. The good news for the Rapids is they have two home games coming up. The bad news is those games are against Seattle and D.C. United, two of the best attacks in MLS.

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  • 4New England Revolution (1-4-1)

    Brad Friedel would pull his hair out if he had any due to the poor finishing by his Revs side in a loss to Columbus that could have at least been a draw. Neither of New England's strikers managed a shot on goal, spoiling an encouraging defensive performance, even though Michael Mancienne's red card made things more difficult. Up next is a rested Atlanta United in a very tough stretch of matches.

Ronaldo, Raul & Real Madrid's best XI of the Champions League era

The Blancos have had some wonderful players since the European Cup was revamped in 1992 but who makes our all-star selection?

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    1Substitutes

    Keylor Navas arrived without much fanfare from Levante but delivered high above expectations, so is well worth inclusion as our reserve goalkeeper. Michel Salgado, meanwhile, spent the best part of a decade as Madrid’s right-back and has plenty of trophies to show for it.

    Central defender Raphael Varane has been Sergio Ramos’s partner during Madrid’s rich era of European success and by the time his career at the Santiago Bernabeu is over, he may well end up in this side.

    Marcelo may have made the team ahead of his predecessor but Roberto Carlos paved the way, not just for his Brazil compatriot but also for the modern-day attacking full-back.

    Two of the smoothest midfielders in football history come next, in Fernando Redondo and Xabi Alonso, and you could count the number of times they misused the ball between them on one hand.

    And, finally, Ronaldo, would make any team, real or imaginary, at his peak but those selected in his stead did more for Madrid over the years than the legendary Brazilian, who was hindered by fitness injuries in the twilight of his Bernabeu career.

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    2FW: Cristiano Ronaldo

    Real Madrid fans will insist that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best to have played the game and even if you don’t agree, you can see their point.

    The Portuguese smashed umpteen records during his eight-year stay at the Santiago Bernabeu and helped the Blancos win four Champions Leagues, including three in a row. 

    He also claimed four Ballons d'Or in the era of Lionel Messi and left Madrid as the club's all-time leading scorer, with a ridiculous 450 goals in just 438 games.

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    3FW: Karim Benzema

    Karim Benzema is the fifth-highest goalscorer of all time in the Champions League – a fact that seems to have gone unnoticed by many football fans.

    Of course, that's probably because the Frenchman, for years, worked tirelessly to provide for Cristiano Ronaldo, before flourishing as Madrid’s main striker following the Portuguese forward's departure for Juventus in 2018.

    Jose Mourinho once moaned that he wanted at hunting dog at Madrid and was instead stuck with a cat but, as AS pointed out last year, Benzema has since become Madrid's lion.

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    4FW: Raul

    Raul's Atletico Madrid origins were long forgotten by the time he left the Santiago Bernabeu, having scored 323 goals in 740 games for Real.

    A legendary striker, he made his first-team debut at just 17 years of age and went on to win 16 trophies with the club. Raul lifted the Champions League three times and netted in two finals.

    Franz Beckenbauer once said, "Raul is Real Madrid’s essence." Who are we to disagree?

Ancelotti, Low & the managers in line to replace Wenger

Arsene Wenger has announced that he will stand down at the end of the season – Goal looks at the most qualified candidates to succeed him at the helm

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    Joachim Low

    Joachim Low's Germany side are the reigning world champions and in excellent shape to retain their title in Russia this summer.

    He may lack experience at the highest level of the club game, with Fenerbahce and Stuttgart the most notable names on his CV, but the 58-year-old is rightly regarded as one of the game's top coaches.

    Interestingly, he also shares the same agent and lawyer as Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi.

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    Manuel Pellegrini

    Manuel Pellegrini won the Premier League title with Manchester City in 2014 and is currently manager of Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune.

    The 64-year-old Chilean has vast managerial experience but there are – perhaps unfairly – still doubts over his credentials because of the fact that he was let go by both City and Real Madrid.

    However, he reportedly met with Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis last year…

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    Massimiliano Allegri

    Massimiliano Allegri is already popular among Arsenal fans after guiding his Juventus team past Tottenham in the Champions League last 16 but the job he has done in Turin marks him out as an outstanding candidate.

    Since joining the Turin giants in 2014, he has recorded three consecutive domestic doubles, as well as reaching the final of the Champions League twice.

    His teams are tactically adaptable and solid in defence, while he is said to be keen to work outside of Italy, with his future at Juventus set to be decided at the end of the season.

    Allegri speaks an adequate level of English and his European pedigree would be exactly what Arsenal need to get back on top again.

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    Carlo Ancelotti

    Carlo Ancelotti has already met with Gazidis this season and the former Bayern Munich manager is undoubtedly one of the frontrunners to replace Wenger.

    The Italian's impressive CV includes three Champions League titles, with AC Milan (2) and Real Madrid, while he also obviously had a successful spell in England with Chelsea, winning a double in his first season at the helm.

    Previously praised for his man-management style, his laid-back approach failed spectacularly at Bayern. However, Ancelotti remains one of the game's most respected coaches.

Leeds receive Matheus Cunha boost

Leeds United have been boosted in their efforts to sign Hertha Berlin star Matheus Cunha this summer, according to reports in Germany.

The Lowdown: Attacking signing needed

The Whites have been superb in their first season back in the Premier League, looking every bit a mid-table side and playing some of the best football in the division.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men have been too reliant on the goals of Patrick Bamford, however, with the 27-year-old the only player to reach double figures in the league.

For that reason, Bielsa could be eyeing up attacking reinforcements in the summer transfer window and Cunha has been linked with a move in the past.

The Latest: Leeds given Cunha boost

According to Kicker [via MOT Leeds News], the fact that the £27million-rated Brazilian has signed a new deal at Hertha makes no difference to the current situation.

It is believed that Leeds have upped their efforts to bring in Cunha at the end of the season, having scored seven goals and registered four assists in the Bundesliga in 2020/21.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-3/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Snap him up, Marcelo

Cunha looks a player of enormous promise, already shining in a top league at the age of just 21, so Leeds should do all they can to bring him in, despite Hertha wanting around £30million for his services.

It would ease the burden on Bamford, especially if Rodrigo moves on this summer, and an average of 1.3 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game suggests he would suit Bielsa’s pressing from the front style, too.

Cunha’s versatility could also stand him in good stead, allowing him to thrive across the front-line and dovetail with those around him, and who could forget the outrageously skilful wonder-goal he scored back in 2019, winning the Bundesliga’s goal of the month with a sublime spin past a defender and audacious chip over the goalkeeper.

In other news, Leeds have been tipped to sign an exciting attacking player this summer – find out who it is here.

Liverpool fans urge Reds to sign Daka

A number of Liverpool fans have been reacting to Patson Daka’s record-breaking hat-trick at the weekend, urging the Reds to sign him this summer.

The RB Salzburg striker was on fire on Sunday, inspiring his side to a 3-1 victory at home to Sturm Graz. Incredibly, Daka had already scored a hat-trick with just 11 minutes on the clock, registering an eight-minute treble – the fastest in the history of the Austrian Bundesliga.

It means the Zambia international has now scored 64 goals in 115 appearances for Salzburg, also chipping in with 23 assists for good measure.

Liverpool have been linked with a summer move for Daka, with Jurgen Klopp potentially seeing him as ideal backup to the Reds’ first-choice attackers.

At just 22, he would represent not only an immediate squad option, but also a long-term addition who could eventually take over as a star man at Anfield once the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino drift past their peak.

His hat-trick was further proof of his pedigree and he should only improve even further as the years pass.

Liverpool fans call for Reds to sign Daka

These Liverpool supporters on Twitter provided their thoughts on Daka’s “amazing” feat, urging the Reds to make a move for him this summer.

“He has an amazing work attitude. He would be a major asset for Liverpool”

Credit: @MinistryOfPeac3

“Sounds like an FSG kinda deal”

Credit: @Reza_Gasant

“Yes please. Get him now before he ends up at Dortmund going for £90M in a years time”

Credit: @MritalkApple123

“I could get behind Patson Daka to Liverpool”
Credit: @abowling4ua

“Do it”
Credit: @CalvLyfeson

“Sign him”
Credit: @SerikiDaniel

In other news, one Liverpool player’s performance against Arsenal was criticised by some supporters. Read more here.

West Ham youngster snub would annoy Noble

Frank McAvennie has exclusively told Football FanCast that West Ham captain Mark Noble would be “annoyed” if David Moyes ever opts to pick a youngster instead of him while Declan Rice is out.

The Hammers have one of the most settled midfield partnerships in the Premier League in Rice and Tomas Soucek, but the former has been ruled out for around four weeks with a knee problem sustained on international duty.

Prior to West Ham’s game with Wolves last week, the pair had played every minute in the Premier League season, with that run finally coming to an end at Molineux.

Mark Noble was the obvious choice to replace Rice, with 21-year-old Conor Coventry, who was an unused substitute for the recent defeat to Manchester United, their only other senior recognised central midfielder in the squad following the summer departures of both Carlos Sanchez and Jack Wilshere.

But McAvennie told Football FanCast that playing a youngster ahead of Noble wouldn’t sit well with the Hammers skipper:

“Nobes would be annoyed at him because you automatically want to get in.

“Sometimes you say ‘right Nobes, you go and sit in in front of the centre-halves and don’t let them get in’. But it’s so defensive. Because it’s so good to watch West Ham at the moment because they’re so quick and lively.

“They’ve got players there, it’s how they do it. Do they bring Nobes in or bring a youngster in and play the same way, that’s why David Moyes is given the big bucks. I know for a fact that Noble will want to play, but whether he can or not I don’t know.”

Fry says FSG must rebuild Klopp trust

Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry has told Football FanCast that Jurgen Klopp will need backing in the summer transfer window by Liverpool’s owners if he is to learn to trust them again.

The Reds were, of course, at the centre of the European Super League storm at the beginning of last week.

Along with Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Manchester City, Liverpool attempted to form a breakaway league that would have taken the place of the Champions League.

It also led to the prospect of the Reds being excluded from the Premier League, and led to furious fan protests from across the country.

Klopp gave an interview to Sky Sports before their clash with Leeds United, when the Super League was still on the table, and could not hide his displeasure, insisting his previous opposition to such a league had not wavered.

Fry thinks that FSG’s decision to involve the club in the plans will have severely affected the trust Klopp has in the owners, and believes the club will have to spend this summer to help rebuild that relationship.

He told FFC: “He’s got a great relationship with everybody and I think no matter what, it has soured that, however he is a football man and if they back him in football terms, i.e. his recruitment in the summer, which he’ll have to do some, I think he’ll be alright.

“But I’m not sure he’ll trust them the way he trusted them before this came out, I’m not sure any manager will.”

Crystal Palace: Fans fume at Rak-Sakyi news

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been giving their views on an update regarding young midfielder Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

According to the Daily Mail, the 18-year-old looks set to move to Germany and join either Borussia Monchengladbach or Schalke after turning down a two-year professional contract at Selhurst Park.

Celtic, Everton and West Ham also hold a strong interest in Rak-Sakyi, however, it seems as if he is likely to become the latest young Englishman to move to the Bundesliga.

Rak-Sakyi best Palace youngster since Wan-Bissaka?

Palace will reportedly be in line to receive just £150,000 in training compensation for Rak-Sakyi, who has scored seven goals and registered three assists in his last eight fixtures for Palace’s U18 and U23 sides.

The Daily Mail claim that Rak-Sakyi is regarded as one of the brightest talents to emerge from Palace’s academy since Aaron Wan-Bissaka, so it appears as if it could be a big loss for the Eagles.

The news was shared on Twitter by @cpfc_xtra on Tuesday afternoon.

This is what these Palace supporters had to say, with one describing the teenager as a ‘high ceiling’ player.

Palace fans react

“Well done Hodgson”

Credit: @D_Shootz

“Oh. Please, no”

Credit: @cpfcjude

“Cat 1 and we still can’t keep our best talents”

Credit: @joelcpfc_

“Need to keep him for sure. High ceiling player. Gotta keep the best youngster to prep for the first team.”

Credit: @TtimeSTL

“Let’s build a Cat A academy and then make our players not want to sign progressional contracts peak Parish that”

Credit: @Northyy001

“Nothing much can be done about things like this unfortunately”

Credit: @CPFCRonnie2

In other news: Many Crystal Palace fans shudder as club confirm news, find out more here.

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