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The Young Lions suffered a big defeat at the hands of the French team in the opening game of the U-21 European Championship.

Two late strikes, including an own goal, took away all of England’s points and now they face two crucial games against Romania and Croatia as they chase a chance out of the group stage.

Ryan Sessegnon played 75 minutes of that first clash before he was subbed off. Most of the players have remained quiet after that game but Fulham’s star has now posted an

/By8O8m8g_jw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram snap ahead of their do or die quest.

If they want to advance, winning the next game is an absolute must for the Young Lions and Sessegnon knows this, sharing some motivation for his team and the fans.

The snap has received good feedback from the fans who are still hopeful England can pull through, despite their rocky start to the tournament.

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The clash against Romania takes place on Friday before a showdown with Croatia on Monday.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Tanguy Ndombele is seeking a departure from Lyon this summer amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur, the club’s president Jean-Michel Aulas has said, per GFFN.

What’s the word?

Ndombele has been heavily linked with a move to Spurs throughout the summer transfer window.

Football.London have reported that the club are in talks with the midfielder over a potential deal that would surely eclipse the £42m that they paid to sign Davinson Sanchez from Ajax.

And Aulas has now confirmed that Ndombele could depart in this transfer window.

He said: “We’ve done we needed to do in terms of departures. It would have to be very substantial offers to advance with Tanguy, who would prefer to leave.

“If he left – which isn’t the case today – we would look to recruit someone with experience. For the moment nothing has happened, but the door is ajar.

“If Ndombele left, we have players to target and Thiago Mendes is one of them. Ndombele is pragmatic – he hasn’t said ‘I must leave tomorrow’. He is being chased by big clubs and when they come you have to listen. I haven’t spoken to him since his international duty.

“No, there is no end date for Ndombele is leave. I shouldn’t say it, but we don’t need to raise money before 30 June when we have to present our accounts. If he wants to stay, he’s very welcome.”

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The deal to do

This would be an incredible deal for Spurs.

Ndombele would be a genuine marquee signing as the club look to secure their first acquisition since January 2018.

The likes of Barcelona and Juventus have also been linked with the France international, who has made 96 appearances for the French club.

If Spurs can get the deal done, it may be all they need this summer.

They haven’t replaced Mousa Dembele, who left in January, but securing Ndombele would do that at a stroke.

One transfer doesn’t feel like much for a club who haven’t actually completed one in over a year, but the Frenchman would go a long way to solving the main issue the club currently faces: a weakness in midfield.

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Today’s Hammers transfer roundup includes an update in regards to the future of a star player, a new contract for a midfielder and Premier League interest in a defender.

Arnautovic wanted bid accepted

According to Football FanCast sources, Marko Arnautovic asked the club to accept an offer from an unnamed Chinese Super League side. However, that bid – believed to be worth €22m (£19.7m) – has been rejected by the east Londoners.

Snodgrass signs contract extension

Midfielder Robert Snodgrass has signed a contract extension with the London outfit it was confirmed on Tuesday. His deal will now run out in 2021 but it includes the option of a further twelve months.

United to step up Diop interest

French outlet L’Equipe is reporting that Manchester United are preparing to make an offer for centre-back Issa Diop, who moved to the London Stadium only last summer. United will be looking to step up their interest in the coming days.

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Having joined the club from Premier League rivals Southampton, Nathaniel Clyne has seen his Liverpool career take a bit of a downturn in the last couple of seasons.

The right-back initially started his Anfield career as first-choice, but the emergence of academy product Trent Alexander-Arnold and the versatility of Joe Gomez has pushed him well down the pecking order.

His limited opportunities on Merseyside saw him head down to the south coast to join Bournemouth on loan in January, but in an update from The Liverpool Echo, Clyne may not be heading out of Anfield this summer.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

The report claims that despite entering the final year of his contract, the 28-year-old has given the club “no indication” as to where he will be playing next season – thus leaving the door open for him to remain at Liverpool and fight for his first-team place.

After hearing the news on Clyne, Liverpool fans took to Twitter to voice their opinion and there was a definite air of division over the defender’s long-term future.

Some supporters felt that the former Saints defender should be sold this summer as he wasn’t firmly part of Jurgen Klopp’s plans.

Others however were more reluctant to see Clyne go, and insisted that he could provide valuable back-up to the side.

Check out some of the mixed reaction of Liverpool fans below:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to Football Insider, Leeds United’s recruitment team have been blown away by in-demand defensive target Enzo Valentim, and director of football Victor Orta would be pulling off a blinding deal by bringing him to Elland Road.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Football Insider report that the Yorkshire outfit are keeping close tabs on the 18-year-old, who made his breakthrough for Reims II last season.

The report says that Orta is ready to make a move for the France youth international to persuade him move to Elland Road before the transfer window slams shut next month, with Championship rivals Stoke City and Champions League holders Liverpool also keen.

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He is said to have clocked up 36 first-team appearances already, including two at right-back for Reims II in Ligue 2 last term.

Blinding signing

Football Insider report that he is regarded as a player who can feature at a very high level in his homeland, and the fact that Liverpool are circling tells you all you need to know about how promising he is.

Watch fans explain why the Football League is better than the Premier League in the video below…

While Leeds are in a situation where they want promotion next season, it doesn’t mean they should ignore the opportunity to bring fresh talent for the future to Elland Road.

Valentim may only be 18 years of age and could easily begin his Whites career with the U23s, but the report says he could also be fast-tracked to the first team if he impressed Marcelo Bielsa.

The Argentine has shown previously that he isn’t afraid to blood youngsters if they are performing and are capable – Jack Clarke and Jamie Shackleton are just two examples of that.

That clearer pathway could be key to persuading Valentim to join the Yorkshire club rather than Liverpool where competition for places if more fierce, and now Orta shouldn’t waste any time in ensuring Leeds win the race for the teenager’s signature given how impressed the recruitment team is.

The new season is just around the corner, which means that the annual transfer frenzy should start any time soon. The weekend saw some big news break, including the departure of a Real Madrid star effectively confirmed and Bayern Munich targeting a Premier League ace in their attempts to sign a new winger before the start of the Bundesliga season. Let’s have a look at the 10 biggest stories from the past couple of days…

Despite scoring over 100 goals for the club and netting in two Champions League finals, Gareth Bale’s time at Real Madrid appears to over. Zinedine Zidane has made it 100% clear that the Wales international has no future at the Santiago Bernabeu, stating over the weekend, “We hope he leaves soon. It would be best for everyone. We are working on his transfer to a new team”. A move away from the La Liga club may not be bad financially, with it being reported that Beijing Guoan want to make him the best-paid footballer in history.

Bayern Munich have made no secret of their desire to bring in Leroy Sane this summer as they look to replace wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, both of whom left the club at the end of the last campaign. Over the weekend, it was reported that the Bundesliga champions had made an offer of cash plus left-back David Alaba for the Germany international. However, this was not entertained by the Citizens, who do not want to see the 23-year-old leave. Niko Kovac and co have made a similar approach to Barcelona for Ousmane Dembele, but that appears to have been met with the same response.

Romelu Lukaku’s agent has already stated that the Belgium international is looking for a move away from Old Trafford this summer, so it should come as no surprise that Internazionale, who are targeting the 26-year-old, made a bid for the striker. However, the £53.9m bid was not enough for the Red Devils, who are looking for more than they paid to Everton for the former Chelsea man’s services in 2017. It remains to be seen whether another bid will be lodged.

Wolves’ midfield is already brimming with talent. Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho were impressive last season and played big roles as the Midlands outfit qualified for the Europa League, whilst Morgan Gibbs-White is an up-and-coming talent. However, they still feel they can improve in that area, with it being reported that Nuno Espirito Santo and co are hunting Mainz 05’s Jean-Philippe Gbamin. Monaco are also interested, but both clubs will need to match the €30m (£27m)-€40m (£36m) valuation the German club have for the 23-year-old.

Following Laurent Koscielny’s refusal to go on Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the US, a move for the 33-year-old this summer is likely. And it is now being reported that the centre-back has agreed personal terms with Stade Rennais ahead of a return to Ligue 1.  The two clubs are yet to find an accord in regards to a transfer fee and other details, but this appears to be a transfer that could go through and would make sense for all parties.

It has not been a good summer so far for Bayern Munich, especially in their attempts to sign a winger. Their pursuits of Leroy Sane and Ousmane Dembele are yet to bring anything concrete, just like their interest in Callum Hudson-Odoi. There appears to be another target on their radar, though: Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha. It has been reported that the Bavarian club are considering a bid for the Ivory Coast international. At this point, though, no official offer has been lodged.

A fruitful summer for Tottenham has already seen the arrival of Tanguy Ndombele and Jack Clarke (although the latter was immediately loaned back to Leeds), and there could be more to come. It is being reported that Spurs are closing in on the signing of Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon. Since telling the Cottagers he wanted to leave the club during this transfer window, a move has been on the cards and, following a breakthrough during talks, the 19-year-old could be a Lilywhites player very soon.

Nabil Fekir became a household name in European football during the 2017/18 season as he scored 23 goals in 40 games primarily from midfield for Lyon. The past campaign was not as impressive, but there are still several clubs interested in the France international, including Serie A’s Napoli. It is being reported that the Italian club have even made an offer to the player, although they are yet to make a concrete proposition to Fekir’s employers. It is also understood that the 26-year-old has an agreement in place with Real Betis, so it remains to be seen where he ends up.

With the amount of a talent in Chelsea squad, it is difficult for the club’s young talent to find a way into the starting XI. As such, many of them are loaned out in order to gain playing experience. The latest of those to be shipped out temporarily is Ethan Ampadu. The 18-year-old has joined Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig on a one-year loan deal. Blues boss Frank Lampard said of the move, “I tried to sign Ethan on loan at Derby last year so I’m a big fan, but with the minutes he played last year, in the interest of Ethan and of Chelsea, the idea he can play a lot of games somewhere could be good for him.”

James Rodriguez has spent the last two years on loan at Bayern Munich, so it is fair to assume that he is not in the plans of manager Zinedine Zidane. According to Spanish outlet Marca, Los Merengues are prepared to see the Colombia international leave for just €40m (£36m), and they would also not block a move to Madrid rivals Atletico in an attempt to move him out of the door.

Lots of Sheffield United fans have taken to Twitter to praise youngster Marcus Dewhurst after he kept a clean sheet in his first senior appearance for the Blades in a 5-0 win over Chesterfield.

The 18-year-old recently made a name for himself as he was described as an ‘unlikely hero’ for England’s U18 side despite a penalty shoot-out defeat to Spain back in May, and continued that form as he kept The Spireites at bay.

It was a successful night all-round for Chris Wilder’s side as Billy Sharp scored a hat-trick and new signings Luke Freeman and Callum Robinson both found the back of the net.

The Blades are currently having a tricky time in finding a number one for the start of the season as Manchester United continue to delay the return of Dean Henderson as they want him to sign a new contract before he goes back out on loan.

And although the Yorkshire team have been linked with a move for Michael Verrips, plenty of supporters were impressed with the teenager’s ability in the pre-season friendly.

Here is just some of the reaction:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Aston Villa’s have made some tremendous strides in terms of improving their attack this summer.

Their first signing was that of Jota from Birmingham who has been impressive in pre-season, scoring twice last week, whilst they’ve also welcomed Wesley and Trezeguet to the club.

That, of course, was after they brought back Anwar El Ghazi too.

However, it doesn’t appear as though their efforts to bolster the forward line will stop there.

Sky Sports reported last week that the Villans and Newcastle were set to go head to head for Harry Wilson’s signature.

An update since claims that the Magpies have cooled their present, with the same outlet suggesting that it’ll hand an opportunity for Dean Smith’s men to pursue their interest in the 16-goal man further.

On the chalkboard

The fact Villa are keeping tabs on Wilson isn’t new after the club were initially linked with the attacker in June.

Sky Sports’ latest report suggests that an offer of £15m rising to £20m would be accepted by Liverpool for his services.

However, if Villa were able to bring him in it could represent a huge setback for one of their academy graduates in Andre Green.

The 21-year-old spent the first half of last season on loan with Portsmouth before being integrated into the Villa first-team again over the winter.

Green showed promising strides which included a late goal against Sheffield United but struggled for a proper run in the side, appearing 12 times as a substitute.

His chances of securing regular football in the Villa setup were likely to be limited with their promotion to the Premier League but if they bring in yet another winger after signing three already, the likelihood of him attaining regular minutes would be slim.

Last season, Villa had minimal wide options and thus, Green was able to make headway. However, this term looks as though it could be the polar opposite.

Smith has been keen to add bodies in an attacking sense but that doesn’t bode too well for the young winger at this moment in time.

If Wilson arrives, perhaps the youngster would benefit from another loan spell elsewhere.

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Sunderland U-23 boss Elliott Dickman has confirmed that the club have turned down signing former Burnley prospect Tinashe Chakwana.

The youth manager admitted to the Sunderland Echo that the 20-year-old striker impressed on trial for the northeast club, but they turned down signing the youngster as Chakwana was too similar to options already available to Dickman in the U-23 side.

Chakwana would have been the fourth youth player to join Sunderland this summer, joining the likes of Ruben Sammut, Michael Collins and Ahmed Abdelkader this window.

Burnley Academy manager Jon Pepper once compared Chakwana to former England international Jermain Defoe (per the Zimbabwe Standard), and this high praise alone could be enough for Sunderland to regret signing the 20-year-old attacker.

As is stated in the aforementioned report, Chakwana is a natural-born goalscorer. Lightning fast and intelligent to spot the right areas of the pitch to get into and exploit, and these attributes were a contributing factor to the striker being Burnley’s U-23 top goalscorer last season (per BSS Fan Forum).

With Will Grigg failing to make much of an impact since his move to Sunderland last January after scoring four goals in 18 League One appearances for the Black Cats last season (per Transfermarkt), Chakwana could have been a different option for Sunderland to utilise heading into the new season.

Jack Ross has already shown in the past that he is willing to give exciting youth players a chance in the first-team, with former striker Josh Maja proving to be one of Sunderland’s most consistent players last year before his move to Bordeaux after scoring 16 goals in 30 appearances (per Transfermarkt) , and Chakwana could have provided something similar.

The Wigan-born Zimbabwe youth international has proven to both his former coaches and supporters of the U-23 game that he is a striker who could make the jump to senior football this season, and Sunderland might have missed a trick in not taking Chakwana on a free this summer.

Sunderland fans, will the club regret not signing Chakwana? Let us know!

Lionel Messi will miss Barcelona’s La Liga curtain-raiser against Athletic Bilbao this evening, with manager Ernesto Valverde unprepared to risk his star man after he picked a knock in training, via The Mirror.

The Catalans No.10 injured his calf before Barca’s brief pre-season tour of the United States, ruling out of the La Liga champions’ opening league fixture at the San Mamés Stadium.

Videos of Messi being put through his paces on sand emerged on social media earlier this week, but his manager revealed that he would not be including him in his matchday squad for the trip to Bilbao.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Valverde said: “We never like to risk any players and much less someone like Leo.”

“He still hasn’t returned to training with the team and while we are happy with his progress, individual training is very different to playing a match. We are going to wait and see.”

The 55-year-old also remained tight-lipped about rumours surrounding former winger Neymar, who has been heavily linked with a return to the Camp Nou after becoming unsettled at Paris Saint-Germain.

Valverde refused to answer questions about the Brazilian wide man, instead explaining his confusion over the Spanish transfer window not ending before the season begins, like it now does in England.

“It’s inconvenient and it’s not logical. The normal thing would be that the team you start with is the same one that will compete for the whole season,” he said.

“Now we have two weeks until the transfer window shuts and you can’t breathe easily until then. I’m very happy with the squad I have at the moment but I don’t know what will happen next.

“I am far removed from transfers and I’m focusing on the players I have for our first game,” he added.

“Neymar belongs to PSG and we’ll see what happens but I can’t say anything more about him.”

Resting Messi is a wise choice considering his importance to the team over the course of the season. Indeed, last time out he was the club’s top scorer, top assister, had the most shots per game and made the most passes per game, so risking him seems rather pointless for a single game.

Barcelona still have a great deal of attacking quality at their disposal in the form of Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele and summer signing Antoine Griezmann, so should still have enough about them to cope without the Argentinian superstar against Bilbao.

Who will step up with Messi out? Join the discussion by commenting below…