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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

The self-anointed Special One is back with a bang. He may have only been sacked from the Manchester United job last December, but Jose Mourinho has found himself back in the Premier League spotlight by surprisingly being appointed the manager of Tottenham.

The Portuguese’ time at Old Trafford ended in rather dire straits, with suggestions of fall-outs with the likes of Paul Pogba (who can forget that infamous icy exchange on the training ground), and managing a team that languished 19 points behind leaders Liverpool without the season being at the halfway stage.

While United may have moved on since then, one man who will now certainly be looking over his shoulder, is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian was the man to take over the reins from Mourinho, and he promptly got his managerial career at the club off to a flyer. The Red Devils were racking up wins left, right and centre, including a heroic comeback against PSG in the Champions League.

But fast forward a few months later, and United are in a period of struggle once more. Despite winning five of their last six games across all competitions (an achievement slightly tempered by the fact two of them came against Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League), the Red Devils are in seventh place in the Premier League and already nine points off the top four.

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Such has been their relatively poor form over the course of the campaign, that reports in recent weeks have even suggested Solskjaer is fighting for his job. And whilst he may already be facing the heat himself, events in north London will only serve to increase the pressure too. Spurs have had a truly forgettable season so far themselves, and Daniel Levy has acted fast in trying to arrest his club’s slide.

In sacking Mauricio Pochettino – a man who has long been linked with the top job at Old Trafford – Levy has asserted his position that this is a results-based business. At United, Solskjaer has always been quick to emphasise his long-term project, insisting last season that he would be willing to give young players more of a chance. But following Spurs’ more short-term thinking behind the appointment of Mourinho, the Red Devils may be beginning to wonder themselves whether their Norwegian boss is the right man to lead them.

Pochettino’s availability, coupled with Spurs’ cold-blooded decision to name Mourinho as boss, cranks up the pressure on Solskjaer several notches. At a time when United are seemingly getting into their groove again in terms of picking up victories, the spotlight and scrutiny on the Manchester side’s manager has returned with even greater intensity.

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 summer was one of mass activity. Signing 12 players for a total cost of over £130m, it still feels too hard to judge whether it was right.

Immediate comparisons with Fulham were there but as the Villans sit in 15th and four points clear of the drop zone, more spending could occur in January.

Most recently, they’ve been linked with moves for wingers Said Benrahma, someone they targeted in the summer, and also Norwich’s Emiliano Buendia.

But focusing upon the Canaries wide man, what could he bring to Villa Park if he arrived?

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On the chalkboard

Buendia is a wonderfully gifted footballer and he got off to a flying start with Norwich after their promotion to the top-flight this term.

In his first six games of the campaign, he’d racked up four assists. However, they remain his sole goal contributions of the season.

That doesn’t mean the 22-year-old’s been poor, however.

In fact, the £16.2m-rated winger trumps both Jack Grealish and John McGinn in one key area. In 2019/20, the Argentine has completed a colossal 3.2 dribbles per game on average.

In one outing, he registered as many as nine versus Brighton which is a glowing testament to the abilities he has.

If you compare that particular quality to Grealish, someone who is notoriously good in tight spaces, he beats him by a considerable margin.

The Villa skipper averages just 1.8 per match this term. McGinn, meanwhile, is currently completing 2.6 each game on average. Buendia is also ahead of the Scotsman for key passes.

Given how the Villa duo have taken to life in the Premier League, registering 11 goal involvements this season, it’s impressive that the Norwich man still trumps them in one area.

Dean Smith clearly likes to operate with canny dribblers in his system because he signed Trezeguet in the summer too. In 2018/19, he registered a mighty 3.3 for Kasimpasa per game.

Buendia is clearly a player that would suit Villa’s style of play and he could certainly add a further dynamic to their squad.

Meanwhile, check out what one former Villa man has had to say about Steve Bruce…

The Liverpool Echo has suggested that the Reds should make a move for Wolves’ Diogo Jota.

You can certainly understand the thinking behind them wanting the club to sign the Portugal star. In 31 matches in all competitions so far this campaign, he has managed 15 goals and provided six assists. That follows on from him bagging 10 and 18 in the last two seasons, as well.

At 23 years old, he also represents the future – Michael Edwards and Jurgen Klopp could do a lot worse than taking him to Anfield.

Now, it seems the club’s supporters have been given another reason to want him to make the switch. Liverpool are currently 25 points clear at the top of the table, but the current pandemic has prevented them from confirming their status as champions. Jota, though, told The Daily Mail they should be awarded the title.

“For me they would be fair champions,” said Jota. “Even though we lost both games, we were a small step away from doing something different in both games.

“But this year, in addition to having a very fluid style of play, they are very strong and have had a bit of luck as well, which it takes to be a champion.”

The quotes were shared by the Anfield Watch, and they have delighted the fans. They have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Let us know what you think in the comments!

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has sparked a reaction from sections of the Elland Road faithful this week after he named his Leeds United ‘Player of the Year’ in his recent column.

He elected for Stuart Dallas over the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Ben White and Mateusz Klich and it has led to mixed emotions from supporters, as seen below.

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The Northern Irishman’s versatility to play a wide variety of positions under Marcelo Bielsa this campaign has been the predominant reason behind the choice, and it’s hard to disagree.

Dallas has made 37 appearances, scoring three goals and providing one assist via Transfermarkt, but that’s only part of the story as he’s been averaging 2.2 tackles, 1.6 shots and 0.9 key passes per game.

Predominantly a central midfielder during his career, the 29-year-old has often had to play at both left and right-back due to injuries and has more than held his own, which is why he’s often one of the first names on the teamsheet regardless of position availability.

Here are the thoughts from fans…

AND in other news, Phil Hay offers update on Marcelo Bielsa’s contract situation at Leeds

English defender Reece Oxford is rumoured to be heading back to English football, with reports suggesting Crystal Palace are interested and a lot of their fanbase are reacting to the transfer rumour.

According to the Mirror, the former West Ham player will be available for around £2 million and a host of EFL clubs are interested in the defender as well as the Eagles.

The centre-back looked to be a player for the future at the Hammers when he made his debut in the Premier League against Arsenal at the age of 16, per Transfermarkt. Now at 21 years-old, he has already moved from the Premier League to Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach and moved again as he is now is at fellow German side Augsburg, but it has not gone as well as he would have hoped as he has only made eight appearances this season.

You could argue that signing the player could be a risk for the South London side, however for such a cheap price, it could turn out to be a risk worth taking especially considering he is still very young. With their centre-backs all over 30, per WhoScored, a youthful defender with some potential could be exactly what the club need for their future.

Here is what fans had to say about the news:

Just want me need another CDM/CB 🙃

— General Tomkins (@cpfc_sean) April 22, 2020

Palace fans, would you sign Oxford? Comment below!

With their Premier League survival still somewhat in doubt, planning for the summer is unlikely to be David Moyes’ priority right now.

The Hammers currently sit 16th in the Premier League table, but are only clear of the bottom three on goal difference.

A porous defence has perhaps been their biggest weakness so far this term.

Only Norwich City, Aston Villa and Southampton have conceded more than the Hammers in the league this term, who have let in 50 goals from their 29 fixtures.

Their offensive play has been slightly better, but their remain doubts about the form of Sebastien Haller.

Signed for big money last summer from Eintracht Frankfurt the striker has scored seven goals from 27 league appearances, but has managed just three goals since October.

In midfield, the signing of Pablo Fornals has not yet borne fruit, with the Spaniard making just 15 starts, while injuries have continued to plague Jack Wilshere.

Here, we look at five players the club should target this summer…

Hirving Lozano

A player that has been linked with the Hammers in recent weeks, Lozano is an exciting talent that can play across the front line.

The 24-year-old was highly rated prior to his move to Europe, but has managed just two Serie A goals for Napoli in 16 appearances so far this season.

However, prior to his move to Italy he was prolific for PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie and would hope to rediscover that form at West Ham.

With Felipe Anderson scoring once this term for the Hammers and injuries restricting Yarmolenko to just nine starts, Lozano could add quality in area Moyes needs it.

Serhou Guirassy

Reportedly available for around £15m, Amiens forward Serhou Guirassy is name that has been linked with the club recently.

With nine goals in 23 Ligue 1 appearances this term he has not been prolific, but with Amiens relegated after picking up just 23 points from 28 matches, he was a bright spot.

An able hold up man who excels in the air, Guirassy really found his best form towards the end of the season and scored five times in his last seven matches of the year.

If he was to come to East London he would likely play back up to Haller, but with the ability to also play out wide, he offers a good value option.

William Carvalho

A name that has been linked with a move to the Premier League for many years is William Carvalho, but with the Portugal international apparently keen on a move to England, the deal could finally happen.

Despite his injuries concerns Carvalho is a player of plenty of talent and in the current environment could be available for less than the £20m Real Betis paid for him in the summer of 2018.

The 28-year-old has been restricted to just nine league appearances this term and with Wilshere’s injuries proving a real difficulty for the club, they may want to avoid signing another injury prone midfielder.

However, if they can secure him for a cut price and get him fit, he is an international with plenty of quality that could make a difference.

Tim Krul

With Lukasz Fabianski now 35 years old, finding a solution in the goalkeeper position must be a priority for the summer.

The addition of Roberto Jimenez did not work last year, with the Spaniard making a number of high-profile errors.

If money is short this summer one player that could represent a good option is Tim Krul, who has made the fourth-highest number of saves this term.

The Dutchman’s form this season saw him earn an international recall and with Norwich City likely to be relegated, he could be available at a cut-price.

Gonzalo Montiel

One player West Ham already look to be closing in on is Argentine defender Gonzalo Montiel.

According to reports in Spain, the River Plate man already agreed to join the Hammers, with a work permit the only potential stumbling block.

At 23 years old, he will bring some much-needed youth to the back line and having just made his national team debut, he is highly-rated back home.

With Pablo Zabaleta now 35 and a potential departure this summer and Ryan Fredericks managing just 19 starts this season, Montiel looks to be a smart deal.

Newcastle United fans may breathe a slight sign of relief as the Daily Mail have reported that the prospective takeover in the northeast would not be affected by the possible relegation from the Premier League this season.

Indeed, the Tyneside club are relatively comfortable in 13th place in the table at the moment on 35 points, eight above the dreaded drop zone with nine games left to play. Whilst the Magpies could see themselves as reasonably safe currently, it is still a mathematical possibility that they could eventually be relegated.

However, if the worst case scenario was to happen, then it would perhaps not be all doom and gloom at St. James’ Park, as the proposed deal between Mike Ashley and Amanda Staveley’s Saudi Arabia-led consortium would reportedly not be affected by this situation.

The Daily Mail understands that the £300m bid does not include any clauses which relate to the possibility of relegation or, equally, European qualification. As per the report, the terms of the buyout were struck in early April and are locked in at £300m, with a non-refundable £17m deposit having already been paid to Ashley.

There is also the possibility of the agreed price taking on added value, were Steve Bruce to lead his team to FA Cup glory and continental competition for the 2020/21 season.

However, according to the Daily Mail, the only two things that can now scupper the takeover are the Premier League blocking it or, if it is approved, the buyers not producing the money. This can be seen as another encouraging sign towards the deal finally being completed.

Geordies, will the Premier League block the takeover or are you confident that it will go through? Comment below with your views!

Sunderland shareholder Charlie Methven has revealed why the club sold Tunisia international Wahbi Khazri.

Arriving at Sunderland in the 2015/16 season, Khazri played a part in the club’s Premier League stint which came to an abrupt end during the winger’s second season on Wearside.

Relegation to the Championship saw the Black Cats struggle and the 29-year-old would play just three games in England’s second tier before being allowed to join French club Rennes on a season-long loan. That loan was then followed by a permanent move away from the Stadium of Light, seeing the lively attacker join Saint-Etienne.

Discussing his sale, shareholder Methven revealed the reasons behind the attacker’s exit from the Wearside club. Speaking in an interview with Sasikumar Ramu’s YouTube channel as quoted via Roker Report, he said:

“There were some players, some honourable players, who wanted to leave who said ‘look, even if I have to take a pay cut, I want to play at the highest level I can possibly play’.

“It was a case for those players, of trying to find them the right club for them to go to and there were several examples of that.

“A top player from the last World Cup, Wahbi Khazri, the Tunisian playmaker, Wahbi was very clear ‘I want to play in top division football and if it means that I earn less, that’s fine. I just want to play at a great level of football’. So he went to St-Etienne and we received £6m from St-Etienne and that was very helpful.

“Khazri right from the start was very football orientated, it’s all about football, money comes afterwards, I have no interest in money, it’s all about football and then you have other types of players who are like ‘well no other club is going to pay me what my contract at Sunderland is, so I’m going to stay here’.

“In some cases, I think that meant indicating to them in the most tactful way possible that their life at Sunderland from now on would not be all that enjoyable and probably they would be best served by looking elsewhere and they were under an illusion if they felt that Sunderland was going to carry on being this easy place to be for guys on big money and it would be a bit more uncomfortable than that.

“Of course in two or three of the player’s cases we fired them and then sued them, it was a case by case basis but in the end we did it.”

Khazri, who is still playing for Saint Etienne, netted three goals and gained two assists in the 2019/20 season.

There was simply no way Sunderland could have kept hold of Khazri, especially if the player wanted to play at a higher level. However, the creative attacker was not replaced, along with other players who left, and that is one of the downfalls of the club over the last few seasons.

This summer is another important one in the club’s immediate future and boss Phil Parkinson must ensure that players are signed to replace those who are due to leave at the end of June.

Should Sunderland have kept hold of Wahbi Khazri? Let us know in the comments section below…

With just two games to go in the Championship season, Leeds United need just one point to clinch their return to the Premier League after years of hurt and suffering.

Marcelo Bielsa has been the chief orchestrator behind the Whites’ impressive campaign, and after a hard-fought, grind-it-out victory against Barnsley on Thursday, English football’s top-flight has never looked closer than it has now.

And whilst the plaudits will ring out for the likes of Ben White, Kalvin Phillips and Spanish magician Pablo Hernandez, Leeds fans mustn’t forget the contributions of Illan Meslier.

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The 6 foot 6 goalkeeper has been an ever-present for Bielsa’s side since Kiko Casilla’s ban, and for a side chasing promotion, losing your number one shot-stopper would surely have left some people fearing the worst.

Instead, Meslier has been nothing short of assured and composed in between the sticks, and it’s a sentiment echoed by both his manager and teammates as well.

Bielsa said earlier this year after a win over Hull: “Calm, confident, he took risks, good in the aerial play, gave us feeling he is confident”.

And Tyler Roberts added:  “He was confident, he tried things and he’s definitely got the ability so it will be good for him to show it in this run of games. He is trying what the manager wants him to try, he’s not backing out of things, he’s being confident and he’s commanding so I think it’s good for the defenders to have him behind them as well.”

Since his introduction into the first-team, Meslier has looked imperious. The man earning a reported £1.5k-a-week hasn’t made a single error leading to a shot or goal, and has a very impressive save percentage of 80%.

And with Bielsa looking to keep things on the deck, and playing out from the back, the Frenchman has looked as comfortable as anyone, averaging a 72% pass accuracy.

So whilst players like Hernandez who have been in and amongst the goals in recent weeks may steal all the headlines, Meslier has been that under-rated performer who Leeds can absolutely rely upon in their promotion hunt.

Tottenham Hotspur are eager to add to their attacking options during the summer transfer window. 

Jose Mourinho has made it clear that he wants to bring in a back-up striker for Harry Kane, as the club’s top scorer has struggled with injury this season.

According to Goal, as relayed by Daily Mail, Tottenham are keen to sign Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik this summer. Napoli are bracing themselves for the Poland international to leave in the summer, amid interest from Spurs and Juventus, as they continue to be linked with a move for Victor Osimhen. The Lilywhites could face stiff competition from the Turin outfit in their pursuit of the £28m-valued ace.

Milik has scored 10 goals in 20 games in Serie A this season, taking three shots per game, with a passing accuracy rate of 82.9% (via WhoScored).

Mourinho has endured a difficult time during his first season in charge of Spurs, as his team currently sit well behind the Champions League-chasing clubs in the top five.

The 26-year-old Milik, who has been compared to Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp, will be out of contract next season. The Polish international has been in fine form for the Parthenopeans over the years, as he has scored 47 goals in 115 appearances in all competitions, but it seems he is now set for a departure from the Stadio San Paolo.

Last month, Corriere dello Sport claimed that Aurelio De Laurentiis is demanding £45m to seal the deal.

Clubs all over the world are facing financial pressure from the coronavirus crisis and Daniel Levy has borrowed £175m from the Bank of England to cover the costs.

As it stands, it is difficult to imagine that Levy will be willing to spend heavily on Milik, as Spurs wrestle with the economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Tottenham fans, do you think Daniel Levy should sign Milik in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!