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Carlo Ancelotti has landed an £18million boost after Paris Saint-Germain Director of Football Leonardo confirmed the Ligue 1 outfit do not have an option to buy on-loan striker Moise Kean next summer.

What’s the word?

Leonardo has been addressing Kean’s future at the Parc des Princes while speaking at a recent press conference, where he was questioned over the potential of the Italian remaining in Ligue 1 beyond his initial year-long loan.

Everton reportedly sanctioned a temporary transfer for Kean to kick start his career with the French giants after struggling to impress under Ancelotti, with the Blues boss only awarding his compatriot four starts in the Premier League following his arrival last season.

The agreement had been claimed to feature an option for PSG to buy Kean in 2021 worth €20m (£18.08m), despite Ancelotti stating otherwise and Leonardo now going on record to rubbish speculation the Ligue 1 heavyweights are in a position to strike a permanent deal.

“There is no purchase option for Moise Kean,” Leonardo said. “It would, unfortunately, be very high. He is an excellent player, whom we have been following for a while, a very powerful player.”

Everton will be glad to welcome Kean back to Goodison Park next summer given his tremendous start to life in France, where boss Thomas Tuchel has lauded the striker after he netted a brace in the Champions League.

Kean has further struck three goals in four Ligue 1 appearances and was described by Tuchel as a courageous forward after scoring in a 3-0 win over Stade Rennais at the weekend.

“[Kean] has a big heart, he puts on intensity. He is not afraid, he is courageous. He does what is necessary,” Tuchel said, via quotes by One Football.

“I wouldn’t want to be a defender against him right now. It’s really hard to play against him. It’s very important for us because we miss that in certain times.”

A major boost for Carlo?

While Ancelotti was not as forthcoming with opportunities to feature in the Premier League last season as Tuchel has been in Ligue 1 this term, Kean’s return to Merseyside next summer will come as a huge boost for the Toffees.

Kean amassed a mere 489 minutes of top-flight football over 18 outings under Ancelotti before joining PSG, where he has already featured for 269 minutes in just four league fixtures which have been enough for the 20-year-old to better his goal tally with key efforts to open the scoring against Dijon FCO and Stade Rennais.

Everton are often lacking goals outside of their key playmakers in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and James Rodriguez, with defender Michael Keane (two) the next-best scorer at Goodison Park behind the England striker (eight) and Colombia winger (three).

Calvert-Lewin has managed just one goal in his last three appearances, too, as Everton failed to score in defeat to Southampton whilst Bernard broke the deadlock in a 3-1 drubbing by Manchester United.

A rejuvenated Kean could take some of that burden off Calvert-Lewin next term, offering Ancelotti crucial depth upfront in fixtures like those against Southampton and Newcastle, having impressed the most against two contrasting Ligue 1 outfits.

While Dijon are routed to the bottom of the French top-flight, Rennes are pushing for Champions League qualification and would sit just three points behind PSG had they emerged victorious in Saturday’s meeting, having lost just once in nine prior games.

AND in other news, in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, a former Premier League ace has revealed Everton made a mistake by not signing an 8-cap international this summer.

When it comes to Fantasy Premier League, you forward options are often the most important decisions to make before the start of each new season – and this one proves no different to the rest.

There is an abundance of strikers and wingers to choose from now, with plenty of forwards last season heading into double figures for their goalscoring tallies. This new season has seen plenty of new additions from new signings at the big clubs, all the way to the new players coming through from the clubs promoted from the Championship.

No matter what, you can always rely on your go-to’s from each season, as well as finding room for those hidden gems and cheaper players to help fill out your squad whilst making sure you build the best starting XI and bench possible.

With that being said, we’re going to take a look at four options up top that could be a make or break for your FPL team, ranging from all prices at any club in the league.

Aleksandar Mitrovic – £6.0m

The Serbian international is back in the Premier League with Fulham after their prometon via the Playoff final against Brentford. Last season in the Championship, Mitrović managed 26 goals in 41 appearances for the Cottagers – and in his last season in the Premier League, he still scored 11 goals for the club despite their relegation in the 2018/19 season.

The 25-year-old will currently cost you just £6.0m, a great price for a striker of his ability and proficiency, and has only been selected by 25.7% of users. Along with an ICT index rank of 512 of 521, Mitrović should be in everyone’s starting XI this season.

Anthony Martial – £9.0m

Last season saw the Frenchman enjoy his best goalscoring season for Manchester United yet, managing 17 goals in 33 appearances. During that time, he picked up a total of 200 points and certainly struck up a great partnership with Marcus Rashford both before and after the Englishman’s injury.

This season has only seen 13.8% of user select Martial, likely due to his £9.0m price tag – but don’t let that scare you off. Now that the 24-year-old has found his feet in a Red Devils shirt, I can’t see that slowing down now, and he would be a great option in your starting XI if you give him the chance.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin – £7.2m

Everton’s No.9 has certainly shown what he is about in the Premier League last campaign.

The 23-year-old scored 13 goals for the Toffees last season, amassing 126 points by the end of the year, and I don’t see that being the end of the Englishman’s goalscoring form. This season has seen Carlo Ancelotti sign three new midfielders in Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and James Rodriguez, with the latter being the most important for Calvert-Lewin.

Rodriguez will bring a new attacking dimension for Everton, and I can see Calvert-Lewin benefitting greatly from this. This season the striker will only cost you £7.2m and has only been selected by 24% of users.

Neal Maupay – £6.5m

The French striker has been something of a revelation for Brighton. Since 2016, Glenn Murray was a fantastic goal scorer for the Seagulls, but the 2018/19 season was far from Murray’s brilliance – and this led to the now 36-year-old being side-lined due to injuries and his age.

In steps Neal Maupay, and suddenly Brighton have themselves a real goalscoring striker in their hands. Last season was Maupay’s first for the club, and the 24-year-old managed 10 goals in 37 appearances, totaling 131 points for the campaign.

Maupay can currently be picked up for just £6.5m. Only 2.1% of users have selected him, meaning he has certainly gone under the radar.

According to an exclusive update courtesy of 90min, Tottenham Hotspur have had an approach to sign AS Roma starlet Nicolo Zaniolo rejected – with the Italian club’s newly found takeover meaning they’re no longer looking to offload one of their most prized assets. 

Back in early August, US billionaire Dan Friedkin completed a £530 million buy-out of Roma from ex-majority shareholder James Pallotta – injecting some financial stability and ultimately changing their stance on selling star players.

Previously, the Serie A side had been tipped to negotiate an exit for Zaniolo as they looked to finance new additions in weakened areas, and Spurs allegedly lead the race ahead of Juventus and Inter Milan.

The Lilywhites, who have been tracking the attacker since 2019, seemed to have a fair chance of landing him – with manager Jose Mourinho reportedly looking to add some fresh final third options ahead of a 2020/2021 Champions League qualification push.

However, following Friedkin’s move to buy Roma, Spurs will no longer have the chance to sign Zaniolo as per 90min – with the club now reluctant to let go of the 6ft 3 creative force.

This news should come as a hammer blow to chairman Daniel Levy and the club board, especially considering Tottenham have so far failed to land a successor for ex-hero Christian Eriksen.

Indeed, Mourinho’s side have an abundance of midfielders who play in slightly deeper roles, having also recently acquired Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton. 

However, Dele Alli and Steven Bergwijn appear to be their only attacking midfielders who are debatably adept at playing through the middle – with Zaniolo previously seen as a player who can fill that mould. 

Described as ‘incredible’ by Italian footballing icon Daniele De Rossi, Spurs’ rejected approach for the starlet simply must prompt the club to search elsewhere for alternatives before the start of next campaign.

Spurs fans, are you disappointed that Zaniolo looks unlikely to join the club? Let us know below…

To say that Leeds United have been outside of the top-flight for the past 16 years, their academy has still produced some absolute gems.

Lewis Cook, Danny Rose and Fabian Delph are three that immediately spring to mind with the trio going to to be capped by England, but the likes of Sam Byram and Charlie Taylor have also gone on to become established Premier League players.

Unfortunately, it’s been a while since their academy has produced one of these players, and while there is talent coming through it is seemingly being mishandled at the moment.

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Jamie Shackleton made just five league starts last term, Mateusz Bogusz didn’t play at all despite fans calling for him on numerous occasions, and perhaps the most criminal mistreatment has been towards Ryan Edmondson.

Leeds have had problems up front all year with Eddie Nketiah leaving in January and Jean-Kevin Augustin being perennially injured since coming in, but despite this, Edmondson hasn’t been in a matchday squad since the final game of the 2018/19 season.

Phil Hay has previously predicted that he’ll depart the club permanently, but that doesn’t seem to be the case yet as he’s just joined Aberdeen on loan.

While getting a chance at first-team football could do him the world of good, a season in Scotland surely won’t aid his development all that much, nor will it give Leeds any sort of indication of how ready he is to play Premier League football.

So many times we’ve seen top strikers in Scotland flop in England, with the likes of Michael Higdon and Adam Rooney unable to cut it at even Championship level despite winning the Golden Boot north of the border.

Indeed, Higdon went from scoring 26 in 37 in the SPFL to just two in 13 in League One, while Rooney has just scored eight in 32 in League Two, just a few seasons on from winning the Golden Boot in Scotland.

Edmondson may rip it up at Aberdeen, but what good is that doing him? Leeds would have been better sending him to the Championship, even if he wasn’t guaranteed to be a starter so that he could get to grips with the pace of the English game rather than sending him to Scotland where even a 20-goal season would ultimately mean very little.

The North London Derby is upon us as Jose Mourinho’s side welcome Arsenal to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Once upon a time, this match would be one of high stakes, with both teams challenging for a top-four finish. However, such has been the decline of both clubs this season, this fixture in one being played with both sides languishing in mid-table, with only an outside chance of taking one of the Europa League places that are on offer this season.

This is a Premier League fixture that normally delivers goals and entertains the neutral, but if Mourinho’s charges continue to park the bus as they have during their last two outings, then we may be set for a dreary affair.

Form

Whilst Tottenham have rediscovered their abilities to keep a clean sheet, the goals have dried up completely as Mourinho’s more pragmatic approach has impacted the fluidity of Spurs’ attacking play.

Despite only one defeat since the Premier League restart – a 3-1 capitulation against Sheffield United – they haven’t looked convincing at all. Arsenal, on the other hand, after a shaky start, have been growing in confidence and Mikel Arteta’s side are starting to gel, although they didn’t get the result their performance deserved against Leicester City at the Emirates earlier this week.

The Gunners will be relishing their first visit to their bitter rival’s new stadium, such is the fragility of Spurs at present.

They may also believe they have the bonus of Michael Oliver as referee; the official who has been responsible for two controversial VAR decisions that have gone against Tottenham in recent weeks.

Team news

Eric Dier remains suspended following his four-match ban from the FA, whilst Juan Foyth and Japhet Tanganga remain out injured.

Arsenal have Bernd Leno, Gabriel Martinelli out with knee injuries and Nicolas Pepe remains a doubt over a personal issue, but the Gunners hope to welcome back Mesut Ozil to their squad following a back problem.

How to watch

Spurs v Arsenal kicks off at 16:30 UTC at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London and will be broadcast live Sky Sports, while fans can also live stream football online.

Chelsea will look to continue their positive run of form as they prepare to take on reigning champions Manchester City. 

Unarguably, something exciting is happening down at Stamford Bridge as Frank Lampard continues to poach serious talent.

Even without top scorer Tammy Abraham, the Blues were able to fight back from being 1-0 down, to securing a win against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Wins from both sides see them retain their respective positions in the Premier League table, but a win against City would be a huge statement from Chelsea. After a tough start to the season, they have done extremely well to come back fighting and have Champions League football locked in their sights.

City’s 5-0 win over Burnley earlier this week will have put them in good stead, so the Blues must be ready to defend against that blistering Pep Guardiola attack.

Transfer Tavern has put together a predicted starting lineup for how Lampard may opt to go into the game.

Olivier Giroud did well to get himself on the scoresheet against Villa and it will be a huge boost for his confidence. He will keep his position with Abraham still easing himself back to full match fitness.

Christian Pulisic will take the place of Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the left-wing after his superb substitute appearance. The former Dortmund man netted Chelsea’s equaliser against Villa which set the tone for their eventual win.

Lampard will keep the defence the same and will have more than likely worked on how to shut out Man City’s clinical attackers. However, a start for Billy Gilmour could be on the cards over the likes of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho. Although he is less experienced than the other two, his raw passion to play for the club could be a driving force in the heart of the midfield.

His last Premier League match against Everton saw him maintain a 91% passing accuracy rate as well as creating a goal-scoring opportunity and making one tackle (via Sofascore). Gilmour may also be underestimated as a weak link and he could catch City off-guard with his pace and movement on the ball, whilst he will also be fresh having not featured at Villa Park.

Guardiola and his men will still have hope they can catch leaders Liverpool and will push to score goals. If Chelsea can make them pay on the counter-attack, they could walk away with all three points.

Do you think this is a lineup Lampard could opt for, Blues? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

A lot of West Ham fans were raving over footage posted by the club on Twitter showing a fantastic finish from Robert Snodgrass in their London derby fixture against Fulham last season.

The Scotsman received the ball on the edge of the box from winger Felipe Anderson and, without feeling a need for a first touch, the attacking midfielder smashed the ball into the top left corner.

It was a significant game back in December 2018 as the 2-0 win meant it was the side’s fourth consecutive victory, the first time they had managed that feat for five years, as per BBC Sport.

Michail Antonio grabbed the other goal but it is sheer moments of quality like the strike from Snodgrass which highlight why David Moyes’ is reportedly very keen to keep hold of the player next season, even though he is 32, as the club will offer him a new contract, according to a report from Claret and Hugh.

Hopefully, if he does sign a new contract, he can continue to impress Moyes and push the Hammers further up the table.

Here is what these West Ham fans had to say following the tweet:

Hammers fans, was this Snodgrass’ best goal for the club? Comment below with your views!

Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold has revealed Tottenham could once again target a move for Chelsea ace Olivier Giroud in the summer transfer window.

Reports back in January claimed that Spurs were very much keen on luring Giroud across London, but a deal failed to materialise before the end of the deadline.

However, with finances set to be restricted this summer what with the ongoing situation surrounding football, Gold has suggested that the north London could once again return for the Frenchman, despite reports of him potentially extending his contract at Stamford Bridge.

In a Q&A on Football.London, he said: “I would still expect Tottenham to sniff around Giroud in the next window, with any transfer fee unlikely to be large for a player of his age. I also think he fits the bill perfectly at Spurs of being a good foil for Harry Kane – he was superb in the match at Stamford Bridge between the two teams – and will not block the long-term progress of Troy Parrott.

“Artem Dzyuba is another player Spurs looked at in January and the big, prolific Russian striker is currently available for free in the summer. You can see the type of striker Tottenham are looking at bringing in and the price tag or lack of.”

With Spurs seemingly intent on keeping Harry Kane at the club, the north London side don’t necessarily need a new number one striker. A back-up option to help fill in when necessary and take the pressure off the England international’s shoulders will be most welcome, and Giroud certainly fits that bill.

At 33, he can come in for a season or two to share the goal-scoring burden with Kane, and that time will allow Parrott to develop, just as Gold suggests.

It’s a move that makes a lot of sense on many levels, and it certainly wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Giroud in a Spurs shirt come the start of the next season.

Missing football!? There’s still plenty of Spurs discussion going on in the Vital Tottenham Forum! Click here to get involved!

According to Football Insider, Leeds United will be in the race to land Rhian Brewster this summer, but it could depend on a couple of crucial factors.

What’s the word?

It’s claimed that the Yorkshire side missed out on the impressive 20-year-old in the January transfer window with the English starlet opting to join Championship rivals Swansea City on loan instead.

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A source has told Football Insider that those at Elland Road are continuing to monitor Brewster ahead of a second attempt ahead of the new season.

However, this will only be able to happen if Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp gives the green light for another loan move – something that may be bolstered if the Reds clinch Timo Werner from RB Leipzig.

Second time lucky?

Brewster has gone on to be a prolific source of goals for the Swans in the second tier since moving to the Liberty Stadium. He’s found the net four times in just 919 minutes of action, via Transfermarkt.

Victor Orta and Marcelo Bielsa had to settle for Jean-Kevin Augustin instead, and he’s only been able to make three short cameo appearances, so that is looking more like a disaster as every week passes.

The Liverpool youngster has been lauded as “exceptional” and “fearless” in the past and is clearly rated highly by Klopp despite a lack of senior opportunities.

It’s also believed that there could be a chance he progresses up onto another Premier League club rather than returning to the Championship, so Leeds would need to ensure promotion so they can springboard to the front of the interested pack.

Therefore, if the Whites hold a genuine interest in Brewster, then they’ll need to firstly, be a top-flight team once again, and secondly, hope that the popular German sanctions another temporary exit.

AND in other news, Leeds fans react to huge Andrea Radrizzani claim…

In one of the more dramatic games of the Premier League this season, Manchester United thought they had clinched a remarkable victory against Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Devils found themselves 2-0 down, before a second-half rally saw them go 3-2 in front. However, having thought they had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, the Blades equalised in the dying moments of the game.

Speaking after the match, Marcus Rashford delivered an encouraging verdict on his side’s comeback, he said: “The manager knows when we play on front foot we’re a good team. The three goals is the response we managed to give. We have to keep pushing though – if we kept going then perhaps we would have got the win.”

After hearing the England international’s comments, United fans flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the forward.

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Many supporters of the Manchester side insisted that Rashford would make for a better manager than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and that he is slyly taking a dig at the Norwegian.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below:

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford has delivered an ominous warning to the rest of the Premier League about his potential.