West Ham: Fans praise former defender Steve Potts

A lot of West Ham fans were quick to praise former Iron Steve Potts after COYIrons wished the player happy birthday.

It clearly seems that the Englishman left fond memories at the club as fans discussed how good he was and it is easy to see why as he enjoyed a great career in East London.

The defender managed to make 506 appearances for the side, per West Ham United, from 1985-2002 and even managed to score one goal along the way, whilst picking up the accolade of ‘Hammer of the Year’ twice, once in 1993 and again in 1995.

It is amazing to see how long the player was at the club, and his loyalty has not gone unrewarded as he now finds himself as a coach for the youth sides and the young academy prospects will surely be starstruck that they are learning from a legend of the club.

Here is what fans had to say following the tweet, with one even dubbing him as “Mr Dependable”:

Hammers fans, how good was Steve Potts? Comment below!

Spurs fans react to Juan Foyth’s potential exit

It appears as if Juan Foyth’s time at Tottenham Hotspur is coming closer to an end and his agents recent comments have sparked a reaction from supporters in north London.

The 22-year-old’s agent, Claudio Curti, has suggested that Spurs centre-back has no future at the club in an interview with talkSPORT this week.

He said: “But we still have a pending talk with Tottenham to clarify the future. We don’t judge the coach’s decisions and we don’t get involved in his job, but what’s clear is that the club’s project with Juan has changed. We have a pending chat with Tottenham and for sure the topic will come up.”

Foyth has played just three times since Jose Mourinho took the managerial reins in November with his last appearance coming in a 2-2 draw with Norwich City where he was hauled off following a mistake.

Hilariously obscure Premier League players – Can you name them all?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

However, many fans at the club believe this would be a massive mistake whilst others have blasted him for being error-prone.

Here’s what the Spurs faithful have said in response…

AND in other news, Spurs fans dream of landing 18-goal “next DROGBA” this summer…

Everton: Fans are buzzing over transfer links with Celtic’s Kristoffer Ajer

Everton are reportedly linked with a move for Celtic centre-back Kristoffer Ajer.

According to 90min (posted via @ToffeeTVEFC), the Blues are just one of several clubs in the race to sign the Norwegian powerhouse. Leicester, Manchester City and Wolves are also eyeing up a move for Ajer, along with European giants Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.

The 22-year-old centre-back stands at a colossal 6 ft 6 and has started all but two matches in the Scottish Premiership this season. As well as contributing to 13 clean sheets in the league, Ajer has also racked up two assists and scored three goals for himself (via Transfermarkt).

Plenty of Everton fans have given their opinion on the club’s transfer links with the Celtic defender and many are already set on signing him this summer. One Blue has described Ajer as an ‘absolute monster’ whilst another supporter thinks the club ‘should’ve signed him last season’.

Check out more replies from the Toffees faithful below:

What do you think of this transfer link, Blues fans? Should Kristoffer Ajer come to Everton? Have your say in the comments below!

Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs offer Pochettino favourite a new extension ahead of Premier League restart

Tottenham Hotspur have offered Jan Vertonghen a new contract extension, according to Het Nieuwsblad via @Daily_Hotspur.

The Belgian outlet claims Spurs have offered Vertonghen a one-month-extension until the end of July. His current contract is set to expire in June, but the new terms would allow him to finish the season.

BBC Sport reported last month that clubs have agreed to finish the campaign by July 25. However, there is room for manoeuvre, in light of the unprecedented circumstances.

The Belgium international was a favourite of former boss Mauricio Pochettino, although he has fallen out of favour with his successor Jose Mourinho, and it seems he is ready to leave north London in the summer.

Despite initial reports suggesting Mourinho has ended talks with Vertonghen’s representatives, it appears the Lilywhites are prepared to extend the Belgian’s deal.

However, the wantaway veteran is weighing up his options, and he has recieved a lucrative offer from Real Betis, amid interest from ex-Chelsea and now Inter manager Antonio Conte, who is keen to bring the defender to the San Siro.

Although the 33-year-old has been a loyal servant of the club over the years, it is fair to say he has struggled for form this season, as he was hauled off early on in the second half during the 3-2 win over Southampton in the FA Cup after making several major mistakes.

It is clear he is below the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga in the pecking order, and he is widely expected to depart Tottenham in the summer.

Moreover, Vertonghen will certainly want to protect his own interests, and he may want to avoid picking up an injury that could ward off potential suitors.

Tottenham fans, do you think Jan Vertonghen should be allowed to leave for free? Let us know down below!

Pittodrie Stadium

Key information about Pittodrie Stadium

The Pittodrie Stadium was built in 1899 and is now the home of Aberdeen FC who are playing their football over in the Scottish Premiership. The ground is located close to the City Centre of Aberdeen and is also easily accessible by both private and public transport.

The stadium’s current capacity stands at 22,199 with all-seated space, and has a 100m x 66m pitch with natural grass and undersoil heating and no running track surrounding it.

Interestingly enough, the record attendance – 45,061 – is almost double its current capacity and was tallied during Aberdeen’s clash with Hearts in 1954.

A history of Pittodrie Stadium

The history of Pittodrie Stadium, or just commonly known as Pittordie, is quite convoluted because it essentially involved two different Aberdeens. The original Aberdeen football club, which was formed in 1881, would play on various different grounds until finally, in 1899, they settled on a land – which was previously a dunghill for police horses – after clearing it and leasing it from Mr Knight Erskine of Pittodrie.

The first game on the ground would be played on 2 September 1899, the home side thrashing Dumbarton 7-1. But then, in 1903, the club merged with two other local sides, Victoria United and Orion, to form the Aberdeen FC we know today.

With time and improved performances, the interest skyrocketed and the first major redevelopments of the Pittodrie Stadium happened in the 1920s. First the club finally purchased the land since they were just leasing it until then, and it’s got a Main Stand, adding in club offices, dressing rooms and trophy rooms in 1925. Around that time, they also got a dugout for the coach, as introduced by Donald Colman who liked to sit closer to inspect his players better.

The following years also saw them add floodlights and the conversion of the Main Stand into an all-seater area in 1968 as part of a big £100,000 improvement. This was also when the ground was finally renamed from Pittodrie Park to Pittodrie Stadium for the first time.

In 1978, the stadium became the second all-seated stadium in Britain and interestingly enough, it also pre-dated the Taylor Report by a decade or so and also coincided with the legendary reign of Sir Alex Ferguson as well. But the biggest changes were indeed happening during the 1920s and then, the final ones in 1993 when the Beach End got demolished and replaced with the two-tier Richard Donald Stand.

There were, however, some minor changes implemented to the existing ground here and there but as a whole, it does feel like Pittodrie Stadium is still very much outdated. For that reason, however, Aberdeen FC are waiting for their new stadium to be built and Phase Two is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2022/23 season. The ground will be called Kingsford Stadium.

Tickets to watch Aberdeen FC at Pittodrie Stadium

All tickets to watch Aberdeen FC at Pittodrie Stadium can be found on the club’s official website. The price varies depending on the category of tickets and the age of the buyer with the most expensive adult ticket costing £32.

Aberdeen FC also offer a season ticket option with multiple different pricing options depending on the type of ticket you want to purchase. The price of the new Red Shed ticket is £350, which is also the cheapest adult option out there.

https://www.afc.co.uk/ – Official website of Aberdeen FC

Priestfield Stadium

Key Information about Priestfield Stadium

Priestfield Stadium has been the home ground of Gillingham FC since it was built and opened in 1893. The stadium is located in the South East county of Kent, and it holds 11,582 spectators.

The all-seater ground comprises four famous stands; the Medway Stand, the Gordon Road Stand, the Brian Moore Stand (away supporters), and Rainham End.

A history of Priestfield Stadium

Gillingham Football Club, formerly known as New Brompton, moved into Priestfield Stadium in 1893, though it is unclear as to whether or not the ground was named after the road it was built on or whether the Priestfield Road was named after the stadium. The ground was officially named Priestfield Road until 1947 due to this mysterious question.

A record attendance at Priestfield Stadium was set in 1924 when 19,472 spectators watched the FA Cup tie against First Division frontrunners Cardiff City, and it was not until 1948 that this record was smashed by just over 23,000 spectators filling out the stadium to watch the Gills take on Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup once again.

Priestfield Stadium had not changed much until chairman Paul Scally arrived at the Gills. The most notable change came during the 1950s when the Town End was extended. One of the newest redevelopments of the ground was in 1997 when the brand new 2,600 all-seater Gordon Road Stand was built as part of a £2.2m refurbishment.

The Rainham End was demolished following the end of the 1998-99 season, subsequently, work began on providing a new all-seater stand which would house 2,400 fans with no visual restrictions as well as new catering and toilet facilities for home supporters. The redevelopment of the stand was completed in the summer ready for the start of the new 1999-00 campaign.

The Town End terrace was demolished in 2003-04 as it made way for the new Brian Moore Stand which was named after former Gillingham director and ITV football commentator. The brand new stand now holds a capacity of around 3,400, albeit for uncovered seats. In February 2016, the refurbished Blues Rock Cafe reopened as the Factory bar and restaurant which offers fans with hot food and drinks along with a number of brand new HD screens to watch live football.

Tickets to Watch Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium

Season tickets for the current season stand at £300 to £405 for adults, depending on the chosen stand. Senior citizens can purchase a season ticket from £265 to £335, in addition, under-18s/students can attend every home game at Priestfield Stadium for a fixed price of £125 no matter which stand is desired.

This is the same case for under-12s who can purchase a season ticket for just £30. Adult matchday tickets range from £24-27, senior tickets cost £21, and under-18s/students/under-12s can all attend for just £9 per game.

https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/ – Official website of Gillingham FC

Chelsea: Michy Batshuayi’s wages could scupper potential move to Leeds [Opinion]

Chelsea are hoping to offload Michy Batshuayi this summer and have offered his services to Championship winners Leeds.

According to Get French Football News (GFFN), the Blues are hoping to cash in on their forgotten striker and are looking to strike a deal with Marcelo Bielsa.

Frank Lampard has shown that he is serious about pushing for success next season after already welcoming Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner through the door. More new signings look to be on the table as the Stamford Bridge legend trawls the transfer market.

It seems only a matter of time before heavily-linked Kai Havertz make the move to West London, after agreeing personal terms with Marina Granovskaia. Lampard has also outlined that Chelsea are in need of a defensive makeover and is particularly eager to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal.

Despite Roman Abramovich offering a £120m summer budget, the former England international clearly has more lavish spending in mind. As a result, he is hoping to offload some fringe players in order to make up the funds.

Whilst Batshuayi could suit a newly-promoted club like Leeds, Chelsea have very little chance of doing business with the Elland Road outfit. According to the GFFN report, the Whites are being bombarded with offers from French agents looking to send their clients to the Championship winners.

Leeds’ last season in the Premier League was back in 2004 and they will be taking extra care to ensure that they don’t slip back into the second tier any time soon. Bielsa and co are going to be diligent in selecting new personnel to ensure that they have the best men for the job in the top flight.

With Batshuayi currently earning £100,000 per week, according to Spotrac, the Yorkshire side may be unable to accommodate such high wages.

Chelsea must therefore consider other options for the Belgian if they are hoping to ship him out on a permanent deal this summer.

Do you think the Blues should keep or sell Michy Batshuayi? Have your say in the comments below…

Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs star should replace Hojbjerg at Southampton, according to Darren Bent

Former Spurs striker Darren Bent has tipped Oliver Skipp to leave Tottenham Hotspur and join Southampton on loan this summer.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-England international believes Skipp should replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg if the 33-cap Denmark international moves to north London.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho insists Hojbjerg is the signing he needs to rebuild the midfield before the start of the 2020/21 Premier League season.

The former Southampton captain looks likely to leave St Mary’s with only one year remaining on his current contract. He has told the Saints he will not sign a new deal.

Recent reports revealed Mourinho has reluctantly agreed to let Skipp leave on loan in the summer, amid interest from Premier League rivals Burnley, Fulham and Southampton, as well as Championship sides Reading and Nottingham Forest.

The academy graduate has signed a new four-year deal with Spurs but the Lilywhites will let him leave as he wants to play regular first-team football in the midfield and feels he has better chances of doing so at a Championship club than in the English top flight.

When asked where Skipp should go, Bent told assistant editor Russell Edge: “I really like what Southampton are doing so I’d probably say Southampton.

“It looks as though Hojbjerg is going to go to Spurs, I think he’s going to go so there’s a spot there. I really like Ralph Hasenhuttl, I think he’s been brilliant and I really like what they’re doing down there.

“They’ve got a nice young mix and blend of players so I’d probably say go down there. It’s a nice place to live, it’s beautiful down there, it’s not too far from London as well so I’m all for the Southampton move.”

It is hard to argue with Bent here, as Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has worked wonders with Spurs loanee Kyle Walker-Peters so far.

Walker-Peters has enjoyed a breakthrough spell since the Premier League restart, starring as Southampton beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 1-0 on the South Coast.

Making just his third start for the club, the former England U-21 international kept Raheem Sterling in his back pocket all game, as City struggled to score for the first time in five games. It is fair to say he hasn’t looked back since as the Saints enjoyed a 7-game unbeaten streak by the end of the season.

At first he found his chances limited before grabbing the opportunity to prove himself and becoming a vital part of Hasenhuttl’s side in the process.

Bouncing back from a humiliating 9-0 defeat by Leicester City at home, Southampton finished eleventh in the table on 52 points, a place above Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton.

Skipp, 19, played seven games in the Premier League this season, although the majority of his appearances came from the bench. In comparison, Walker-Peters featured in ten matches for the Saints.

If Hojbjerg leaves as expected, Hasenhuttl will be looking for a holding midfielder to fill the gap in the transfer window. Whether or not he will be willing to take a risk on a teenager who is still largely unproven at the top levels of the game is another matter entirely.

While there is no guarantee Skipp would get the same amount of game time as his teammate, it may turn out to be a shrewd move in the end, as he could pick up valuable experience on the South Coast, before returning to his parent club to challenge for a place in the starting lineup.

Tottenham fans, do you think Skipp should join Southampton this summer? Let us know down below!

Burnley: Ben Gibson has transfer interest from Middlesbrough and Norwich

Ben Gibson could be offered at least a temporary escape from Burnley, with two Championship clubs reportedly interested in his services.

Journalist Alan Nixon tweeted (via @reluctantnicko) that Middlesbrough and Norwich are keen on signing the defender, although the former only want a loan deal.

According to Lancashire Live, the Canaries’ interest also seems to be for a loan rather than a permanent move, with the Clarets holding out for a transfer fee for the 27-year-old.

Gibson, who became Burnley’s joint-record signing from Middlesbrough in a £15m deal in 2018 (as per BBC), has made just six appearances for the Clarets, with only one of those coming in the Premier League and the most recent being almost a year ago in a Carabao Cup defeat to Sunderland (as per TransferMarkt).

As per The Mirror, he grew frustrated at the lack of game-time under Sean Dyche and his relationship with some of the club’s management became strained, which resulted in him being exiled from the Lancashire outfit and being given permission to train with his former Teesside employers earlier this year.

Even when Burnley had a shortage of senior centre-backs towards the end of the Premier League season, Gibson was not considered for selection, a rather damning indictment of where he stands at Turf Moor.

As per Lancashire Live, the Clarets want to recoup a substantial amount of their £15m outlay for him, although this could be complicated by clubs’ finances suffering as a consequence of the global pandemic. Therefore, any prospective suitors may be looking at a loan move rather than a permanent deal for now.

For both Burnley and Gibson, it would seem mutually beneficial that they part ways at the earliest opportunity, and at least the reported interest from Middlesbrough and Norwich is offering him a temporary escape from Turf Moor.

Whichever club lands the 27-year-old could be determined by who can be first to table an acceptable offer, as well as which one seems to present a greater chance of ultimately taking him off Burnley’s hands permanently further down the line.

Burnley fans, do you want Gibson gone from the club as soon as possible? Join in the discussion by commenting below!

Sheffield United: Chris Wilder discusses his plans for the rest of the transfer window

Sheffield United have been linked with several players in the transfer window, with Championship stars like Matty Cash and Antonee Robinson (who went to Fulham) among their targets.

However, with only two confirmed signings so far in Aaron Ramsdale and Wes Foderingham, Chris Wilder has been answering questions around the transfer window, giving Blades fans an insight into his plans.

Speaking to Yorkshire Live, the Blades manager said, “The market is slow, there’s not much happening, We have obviously done the big one from our point of view in terms of Aaron, delighted that we have got him in. The timing was key for him, we have secured a fabulous goalkeeper that has had a season in the Premier League and will get better and stronger and wants to come back home. I am delighted with his attitude, I think the world of the boy and he’s going to be a big player for us next season.

“Others we are working on, there’s a couple of players potentially who are going to go out and a couple of positions to cover and improve. We are working overtime as we always are – we have made our big signing now and we have to make sure from a financial point of view that we see what’s available.

“The loan market is available to us and we are going to use that and the key is when that window shuts and I am sticking the team down on that piece of paper that it looks better than what it ended up and I am certain that it will do.”

It is understandable that he feels like Sheffield United have already made their big signing in Ramsdale, who cost them £18.45m to become the second most expensive signing in their history, per Transfermarkt.

However, his indication of using the loan market may suggest that players like Cash, who is valued at around £15m, might not be heading to Bramall Lane in this window.

A deal for Cash might not be out of the question, though, as Wilder has hinted that some players could be offloaded, which may hint at an intention to sell first to free up space and funds for further signings.

With the transfer window not over until 5 October, the Blades have plenty of time to add more signings, but hopefully they can move on some players that Wilder believes are surplus to requirements in order for him to add greater squad depth.

His comments highlight that, despite their top 10 finish last season, the Blades cannot just splash the cash, but Wilder has earned the trust to utilise the transfer window in the best possible way that he can.

Blades fans, what further transfer activity do you expect in this window? Let us know your views by commenting below!

Game
Register
Service
Bonus