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Manchester City’s 3-2 win over Schalke might seem impressive considering they came back from two down despite being reduced to 10 men – Nicolas Otamendi was shown a second yellow for a cynical foul on Guido Bergstaller – but the Cityzens were far from their sparkling best.

Pep Guardiola’s arrival in the Premier League has gifted us some of the best team goals we’ve ever seen and, on their day, the Etihad Stadium outfit are unstoppable in their link-up play. However, it took something a little different to give City the advantage going into the second leg of their Champions League knock-out stage clash.

Nabil Bentaleb, formerly of Spurs, put his side ahead from the spot – his second of the game – on the stroke of half-time and City went after them after the break, although Otamendi’s dismissal with 22 minutes left to play meant the Premier League champions had to be careful.

S04 were intent on breaking down their opponents’ flow wherever and by however means possible – if they had to kick their man to the floor, they happily would. With referee Carlos del Cerro Grande blowing his whistle for a City free-kick left, right and centre, Leroy Sane stepped up to the plate and smashed home a beauty of a free-kick, but the visitors weren’t content with a draw.

Enter Raheem Sterling. The 47-cap England international has blossomed under Guardiola and his timing is rarely anything but impeccable – whether it be calculating his run in order to arrive on the end of a tap-in in the box, or popping up with goals just when City need them most.

The latter is precisely how he stamped his mark on proceedings on Wednesday night, as he cleverly nudged an off-guard Bastian Ockzipka and latched onto Ederson’s long pass, before slotting the ball past Ralf Fahrmann in the dying moments of the game to give his side the win.

Usually, 90th minute winners are special but, while there is no doubting the importance of Sterling’s midweek strike, the sight of the electric winger wheeling away to celebrate with seconds of injury time to go has become far from a rare occurrence – last gasp winners against Bournemouth and Southampton last season come to mind.

Fortunately for City, they have a plethora of players capable of providing moments of individual brilliance but Sterling, in particular, seems to thrive in clutch situations.

Kevin De Bruyne is widely regarded as the player to make things happen for the Etihad Stadium outfit when they are having an off-day – the Belgian has a unique eye for a pass – closely followed by David Silva and Sergio Aguero. But, if Sterling continues to deliver in the manner he did on Wednesday, the 5-foot-7 ace will take that mantle as City’s resident match-winner.

De Bruyne has been hampered by injuries this season and – although there is no doubting his outstanding quality – has hardly lit the world alight since his return to fitness.

Would you rather your club won the Premier League or Champions League? In the video below, Pl>ymaker FC’s Matty believes English clubs have already decided…

The luxury Guardiola possesses which few other teams share is that he can afford for his players, including De Bruyne, to have a dip in form, as the likes of Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan can step in more than capably.

The summer acquisition of Riyad Mahrez gave the Spaniard further options on the wings and the Algerian has justified his price tag when given the nod, although his opportunities will surely begin to vanish if Sterling continues to be the difference maker. Move over De Bruyne, there’s a new showstopper in Manchester.

West Ham’s main man Marko Arnautovic has been linked with a move away from the club for months, but he now needs to knuckle down and prove he’s worth being snapped up.

The Austrian striker’s brother pleaded with the club to let him leave in a statement in January, but his ‘dream move’ to an unnamed Chinese club fell through when a £35m bid was rejected. Why he wanted to go to China is beyond us all but since that deal didn’t materialise, the talented frontman should perform like everyone knows he can to earn a move to a club which is a step up from West Ham.

Why he’d even want to leave The London Stadium in January is another question that’s hard to answer. They’re playing some great football at the moment and are looking capable of mounting a challenge for a European spot over the next year or so. However, if he really does want to leave, then he needs to get his head back into playing for the Hammers until the end of the season.

There’s no questioning his quality, it’s there, but his attitude is something that sometimes lets him down, and that’s the difference between a good player and a world-class player – mentality. This is a test of character for the 29-year-old and could mean him signing for a Chinese club to rot away into obscurity or being picked up by a club already playing European football.

The opportunity to build up his goal tally is there. He’s now playing alongside players like Samir Nasri, Manuel Lanzini and Felipe Anderson who will be able to set him up for fun against most opposition. West Ham are creating chances against the best sides in the league too and he could be finishing those as their main man up top.

If Arnautovic would lift his head up and realise what an opportunity he has in front of him, he could be playing European football next season, whether that be with West Ham or not. Surely that would be more of a ‘dream move’ than China?

Where do you think Marko Arnautovic will be playing his football next season?

Not many Everton fans will be pleased with their side’s recent form and Marco Silva’s team selection has been an issue too, with Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun still receiving minutes. 

Of course, it’s obvious that the Toffees need to bring in reinforcements in attacking areas as they’ve struggled to get the best out of a number of attackers in recent times, so the summer transfer window could prove key.

Interestingly, it appears as if the Merseyside club have their eye on an attacker, as according to Calciomercato, Everton are interested in PSV Eindhoven’s Joel Piroe.

Worryingly, Juventus are already in talks with the youngster who is available on a free transfer in the summer, but Marcel Brands could hold the key to a potential deal for Everton as he took up the role of sporting director at the Dutch club prior to his move to the Premier League.

Many fans won’t be aware of Joel Piroe’s qualities but he’s quickly established himself as one of the most promising attackers at the Dutch club, having produced an impressive 12 goals in 25 appearances with the Under-21 side.

Indeed, the 19-year-old could quite easily become a Goodison Park hero if Brands manages to bring him to the Premier League as he has one quality that not many of the Toffees’ current batch of attackers are showing, which is the ability to find the back of the net on a consistent basis. He’s a well-rounded striker who could excite Everton fans as he has the ability to operate on either wing, with the pace and skill to pose a constant threat.

One slight worry is that Marco Silva hasn’t exactly turned to youth in the current campaign, so his chances may be limited for now.

Everton fans, would you like to see Piroe rock up at Goodison Park? 

What do Newcastle United need to do in order to get back among Premier League giants? Make big signings of course!

While the Magpies showed a lot of heart in their thrilling win over Everton recently, in which Rafa Benitez once again proved his ability to turn the Toon Army into a top-six side, heart isn’t enough. The need for quality is of paramount importance, Mr Mike Ashley.

Indeed, for the club to fight against those in the top positions, the Magpies need to sign top players themselves. They’re already looking to do so in the summer and according to reports (via ChronicleLive), United are scouting Roma’s wonderkid Nicolo Zaniolo.

The 19-year-old’s been their breakthrough star this season, dazzling everyone with his majestic ability out in the Italian capital and looks a cut above Newcastle United right now. Even the most ardent Geordie would struggle to disagree with that, though with the likes of Real Madrid also apparently interested, it’d be very hard to appeal to him.

Still, where’s the fun in that? Newcastle United need to be ambitious and, according to a report from the same source, the club are prepared to be in order to keep Benitez at the helm.

Zaniolo’s adapted himself to the brutal Serie A environment effortlessly, having scored three goals and assisted twice so far for Roma. An exciting young talent, Italy’s next great hope is an extremely skilful player full of surprises. His dribbling ability, tendency to score world-class goals and creativity can greatly add to Benitez’s side.

With big sides are on his tail, it’ll be a difficult task for Newcastle to sign him but Mike Ashley needs to show ambition in putting in a surmounting bid for the blooming Italian this summer and charge up his side with a future superstar.

Zaniolo can add swagger to the Magpies game, allowing them to play attacking football with a stunning rhythm. Not only can his link-up with Miguel Almiron and Ayoze Perez be a tantalising one, but a signing like Zaniolo’s can be a statement of intent detailing Newcastle’s future ambitions of getting back among the best.

Newcastle fans, do you think Zaniolo’s signing can be a profitable one? Join the discussion by commenting below. 

Marcelo Bielsa suffered a huge blow to his Leeds United promotion hopes, with the news that influential centre-back Pontus Janss0n has been ruled out for at least three weeks with a knee injury.

The Swedish international picked up the injury during Saturday’s hugely disappointing defeat to rivals Sheffield United, who leapfrogged the Whites into second place in the table.

According to Sky Sports, Jansson has already been ruled out for the visit of Millwall, but the club are hopeful that he will be back for the following week’s trip to Birmingham.

The loss of such an important player is potentially devastating news for Bielsa, especially in such a tight race for the two automatic promotion spots.

His influence on the back line cannot be underestimated, and he is one of the main reasons that Leeds are sitting on the verge of a Premier League return.

With goal difference likely to be very significant, they will need a tight ship at the back in the remaining weeks, with Leeds already having a worse ratio that both Norwich and the Blades.

Fortunately, his absence should be minimised by the international break, and Jansson will remain in England for treatment, instead of linking up with his Swedish teammates.

The defender has made more than 70 appearances for the club since arriving from Torino in 2017, and Bielsa will be hoping his spell on the sidelines is short-lived.

What are your thoughts on the loss of Jansson? Would you be confident in whoever Bielsa brings him in to replace him? Let us know your thoughts…

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Liverpool fans on Twitter have been discussing a move for Leicester star James Maddison, debating whether or not the Englishman would be a good fit for the club after impressing so far this season.

The 22-year-old signed for the Foxes from Norwich for a fee of around £20m back in the summer, having impressed for the Canaries in the previous campaign with 14 goals and eight assists in 44 Championship appearances.

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Maddison has carried that form into the Premier League with six goals and six assists so far, his latest effort catching the eye of spectators due to the pure technique on show – a wonderful, curled free-kick into the top left corner against Burnley.

The Reds have lacked a potent No.10 in midfield since the departure of Philippe Coutinho, and much has been made of the current midfield’s lack of creativity.

Naturally, as Jurgen Klopp’s midfield carries more pragmatic types such as James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, fans are keen to see a more forward-thinking option, hence the debate over a potential move for Maddison.

Let’s see what the Liverpool supporters are saying about the Foxes’ No.10 on Twitter…

Everton fans certainly won’t be excited by this weekend’s transfer rumours! The Sun on Sunday (page 59, via HITC) are reporting the club sent their top scout to watch Birmingham forward Che Adams. Great, right?

Well, no.

If this is the level of player they’re looking at, there’s no chance they’ll join the big six.

The Everton hierarchy have talked a good game for a few years now. There’s the promise of attacking football, a new stadium and money being available, with a huge amount being spent already. It’s looking positive, but they need to start investing more heavily if they’re to bridge the gap to the big boys.

Marco Silva’s attacking intentions are clear, and they’ve got a young squad. They now need to add some world-class talent to push them into the European spaces, particularly a striker. Che Adams is not world class by any stretch of the imagination and signing him would be a punch in the face to Evertonians who are hoping for success.

He could be a great prospect for the future, and he’s scored 21 goals for Birmingham this season, but Everton shoudn’t be the place where he’s tested in the Premier League. They need an established striker with experience at the highest level to take the club to new heights.

The 22-year-old, who is valued at £6.3 million (by Transfermarkt), would be a major disappointment to the Goodison faithful who need some big signings in summer to prove their club are planning on going places. If Everton did sign Adams there’d be so much pressure on him to perform like a Premier League star that he’d most likely crumble under it all.

If the Toffees are serious about catching up with the top six, they need to stop scouting in the Championship and cast their net across the best teams in Europe’s top five leagues. Buying players at the level you aim to grow to is the only way to reach the top.

Everton fans, who do you think your club should sign in the summer to help bridge the gap to the big six. Join the discussion by commenting below.

Leeds United have been a level above pretty much everyone in the Championship this season but they’ve failed to secure the right result in key games, which has halted their promotion pursuit. 

The Whites have the perfect opportunity to redeem themselves against Millwall at Elland Road tomorrow, with three points piling the pressure on the likes of Norwich City and Sheffield United who both face tough sides.

Although, with promotion on the line it appears as if Marcelo Bielsa is already eyeing a possible summer transfer window move, as according to Tuttomercatoweb (via HITC), Leeds are interested in Nahitan Nandez.

And, according to a more recent report from Tuttomercatoweb (via HITC), Leeds have received a boost in their pursuit of the midfielder, as his agent has shared that he wants to leave this summer.

However, the one factor that could affect a potential move for the Uruguay international is the hefty price tag that Boca Juniors have slapped on him, which stands at €20 million (£17 million).

Leeds could definitely do with bringing in another central midfielder if they manage to secure promotion to the Premier League as Adam Forshaw doesn’t look good enough to make the step up, while the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Mateusz Klich could attract transfer interest in the summer transfer window.

Indeed, Leeds have been linked with a move for Ander Iturraspe (as per AS, via Sport Witness), but Nandez has more life left in him and all the attacking qualities to cause problems in the Premier League if the Whites were to taste promotion, so Bielsa should forget about the Spaniard.

So, Andrea Radrizzani must pay the hefty price to sign the midfielder as he could turn out to be an Elland Road hero if his performances in recent years are anything to go by. He’s quick on the ball, can create in the final third and he has a knack for finding the back of the net, so he could be a force in attacking areas, as well as in the defensive third.

The Whites would make a huge statement by bringing the midfield star to Elland Road as they would have pipped the likes of Roma, Cagliari and Newcastle to the signing, which would speak volumes as Roma can offer European football and the Magpies are a guaranteed top-flight club. Also, the Leeds owner would highlight the club’s ambition by spending a large fee on the Uruguayan, as you have to pay the price if you want to bring in top players.

Leeds United fans, do you think Radrizzani should splash the cash on Nandez this summer? Join the discussion by commenting down below!

Considering all the changes West Ham United made in the summer, things have worked relatively well, haven’t they? Sure, there have been some poor performances and inconsistency continues to plague the club, but it would have been difficult for Manuel Pellegrini to have hit the ground running in his first season at the London Stadium.

However, one report is suggesting that might be all the time the former Manchester City manager gets in east London.

What’s the News?

RMC Sport are claiming West Ham are considering to make Bruno Genesio their new manager as his future with Olympique de Lyonnais remains in the air.

It is claimed that the Irons have already contacted Pini Zahavi, the manager’s agent, about a possible move and could look to appoint him in the summer.

The Verdict:

To say the news that West Ham could already be looking to replace Pellegrini in the summer would have to be considered a shock and also ludicrous at the same time.

Yes, the Chilean has hardly set the London Stadium alight, however, he has been a lot better than who the club have had in recent memory and has started to show some signs of progress with the group of players he has at his disposal.

After a huge overhaul last summer, the Irons are still within distance of finishing seventh in the Premier League and are well away from relegation, something that has not always been so sure at this stage of a campaign.

Pellegrini has managed to bring some star names to the club as well, with the likes of Felipe Anderson arriving, whilst he has reinvented the way West Ham play and has added an attractive element to it – although it can go missing at times.

Genesio only has experience of managing Lyon, so looking to replace Pellegrini with him could be a really risky piece of business and rather unnecessary at this moment in time.

West Ham fans, are you shocked that the board could already be looking to sack Pellegrini? Do you think Genesio would improve the team? Join in with the discussion below by sharing your thoughts with us.

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Manchester United fans on Twitter have been busy discussing the Independent’s story on Declan Rice, which suggests that the Red Devils are willing to break the bank in order to sign the West Ham man.

Rice only recently signed a new five-and-a-half year deal back in December, that saw his £3,000-a-week salary increase to £30,000, although United are prepared to dwarf that figure completely with their offer.

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The England international has shone for the Hammers this season in a midfield role, earning plaudits left, right and centre, and has been so impressive that the Irons are set to demand in excess of £50m for their academy product.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also looking to sign Jadon Sancho, as the 20-time Premier League champions target a youthful overhaul and a new strategy in the transfer market.

Despite his blossoming reputation, loads of United fans on Twitter strangely don’t want to see the 20-year-old arrive at Old Trafford for such a huge amount of money…