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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 The Sun, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has held conversations with Fred to reassure him that the midfielder remains a part of his first-team plans for next season.

What’s the word?

Reports in recent weeks had suggested that the Brazil international could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer, despite only joining from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk last year.

However, The Sun claim that Solskjaer has “big aspirations” for the 26-year-old and that he wants to help him adjust to the pace and intensity of English football.

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

The report adds that United have already turned down many loan enquiries for the midfielder from clubs across Europe, and that there is hope that Fred can still enjoy a fine career at Old Trafford.

Time to shine

Arriving in a £52m deal, much was expected of Fred in his first season at United, following claims that the Red Devils had beaten off competition from local rivals Manchester City to his signature.

However, the Brazilian – valued at £27m by Transfermarkt – endured a rather difficult campaign and struggled to nail down a place in the first-team; indeed, over the course of the season, Fred made just 25 appearances for the club in total and only 17 of those came in the Premier League.

What the midfielder perhaps needs to truly ensure he has the chance to shine, is clarity over the role he will be playing. The 26-year-old alternated between a holding role (five games) and a more orthodox central midfield position (16 games) last term, and his lack of positional awareness was exposed by the rip-roaring speed of the Premier League.

At Shakhtar though, he was tasked with helping to win the ball back from the holding role in a 4-2-3-1, before initiating moves with his incisive passing into the more advanced midfield players. Indeed, in the Ukrainian outfit’s Champions League run in the 2017/2018 season, Fred averaged 2.9 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 56.8 passes per game.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

It was the kind of all-around midfield action United bought him for; instead, the lack of a clearly defined role at Old Trafford saw his numbers in all categories take a massive dip with just 1.7 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 45.2 passes per game in the league.

Despite the significant loss of Ander Herrera, Fred may be the one to truly benefit from the Spaniard leaving as he looks to make that role of being the side’s industrious midfielder his own. It will simply be up to Solskjaer himself to truly recognise what position Fred best suits.

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The transfer saga that was never supposed to be one in the first place has finally come to its conclusion.

Nabil Fekir has officially been announced as Real Betis’ newest star signing and instead to the Premier League, the 26-year-old Frenchman will be heading to the sunny pitches of the Spanish La Liga.

And this certainly comes as a surprise pick, especially considering not so long ago Fekir was literally a step away from joining Liverpool. After all, he was already on his way to Melwood, Liverpool had everything done and dusted, just waiting for the announcement and Jurgen Klopp was no doubt putting Fekir’s name on the tactics board for the next big clash.

And then suddenly, the plug was pulled, the board was wiped clean and the social media announcements were promptly moved from the desktop to the bin, never to be restored again. The prevailing narrative came in the suggestion that Fekir carried a ligament injury which planted a seed of doubt in the Reds’ minds.

Naturally, a superstar with such a pedigree and more importantly, with a reported value of £53m could simply not be risked and the deal was ultimately scrapped. Fast forward a year and the coveted creator is donning the green and white, kissing the badge of none other than Real Betis. Who saw that one coming?

But was this the right move for Fekir or rather, was it the best move for Liverpool back in 2018 to snub such a talented player who would’ve easily slotted into the team and right into the vacant Philippe Coutinho-sized hole in the squad? Yes to the former and probably a no to the latter.

Sure, it’s quite easy to talk about it now that Liverpool were crowned champions of Europe and all the pieces Klopp assembled seemed to fall into place. It’s easy to say “see, they didn’t need Fekir after all”. Maybe so but who’s to say he wouldn’t have improved the team if he joined?

The talented attacking midfielder played a total of 193 games for Lyon, his former club, and managed to score 69 goals while also tallying 46 assists to his name. Compared to Coutinho’s 54 goals and 45 assists in 201 matches as one of the Reds, certain similarities can be drawn.

But even when we look at the player’s injury record, there’s also not much to be alarmed about. Three injuries in the span of three years and the last serious one was back in 2015/16 when he missed a total of 39 games due to a ligament rupture. Since then: two slight knee injuries that included a small bruise and a knock that sidelined him for only three games.

Surely this is not something that would suddenly make you throw everything out of the window in a blink of an eye, especially considering the transfer was one step away from being completed. That sort of research is usually done way before the player is already offered a contract. Or is that not how transfers work anymore?

Either way, Real Betis is definitely not a bad team to join. On the contrary, they were among the rare ones to beat Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid throughout the season, and despite their 10th place finish, which is admittedly a far cry from Liverpool’s runners-up place in the Premier League, they played quality and entertaining football throughout the campaign.

And with them being a possession-based team, they suit Fekir and his skill set perfectly. After all, his creativity and danger he possesses in the final third is something any team would be happy to have in their midsts. Since 2016/17 Fekir has had the most dribbles completed of any Ligue 1 player and is leading the charts in goals and fouls won. He is also the player with the second-most chances created in the whole league.

Watch Spanish Football Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Stats clearly speak for themselves and it’s easy to see why any team would pounce on such a player. Maybe, at first sight, it seems like Fekir did fall from the pedestal a bit, and yes, that may be true. Liverpool have reached incredible heights since that failed transfer but it’s difficult to tell if another creator is indeed needed in the Merseyside squad at the moment. Back then, sure – with Coutinho gone in January, Fekir seemed to fit like a glove – a like-for-like replacement that would see the Reds maintain their style rather than changing things up dramatically.

But now, Fekir can be much more at Betis than he would be at the current Liverpool team. At Betis, he will be the main man, especially with Giovani Lo Celso being so close to finalising his move to Tottenham Hotspur. It’s Fekir’s time to shine, and if he can remain injury-free, only the sky is the limit.

Real Betis seem like an obligatory springboard that is bound to propel the Frenchman into greatness once again. And then, who knows, maybe Liverpool come knocking again.

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West Ham United could make a move for PAOK Salonika striker Chuba Akpom, according to The Daily Mail.

The Hammers have reportedly been keeping an eye on the former Arsenal man since his move to Greece, where he helped his club win the league for the first time in 34 years.

West Ham have let Marko Arnautovic, Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez leave permanently this summer, as well as loaning out Jordan Hugill, meaning they are in the hunt for another option upfront despite the signing of Sebastien Haller.

Akpom played 33 games in all competitions for the Greek champions last season, scoring eight goals and assisting five times, as per Transfermarkt.

The 23-year-old also showed what he can do in front of goal in pre-season, as he notched four in a 5-1 win against Fortuna Sittard – the best of the bunch saw him receive the ball on the edge of the box, turn and touch it away from the onrushing defender before convincingly firing into the bottom corner.

His dribbling is cited as being very strong on WhoScored, while holding onto the ball and defensive contributions are also strengths, though aerial duels and offside awareness are weaknesses.

In comparison, Javier Hernandez played 28 games for West Ham last season, scoring eight goals and assisting three times.

His finishing and headed attempts are put down as his strengths on WhoScored, while offside awareness and aerial duels are weaknesses.

This suggests that while ‘Chicharito’ can contribute to goals with more regularity, it is Akpom who can have a greater impact on the wider game. With Haller already through the door at club-record expense, perhaps a more expansive option could help supplement him better.

This move may be seen as somewhat left-field by some considering he wasn’t able to forge much of a chance for himself in England before, but this could be a fairly cheap signing for West Ham, who have already spent big bucks on a striker this summer.

He’s reportedly valued at £5m and, at 23, does have time to grow after a strong season out in Greece.

Could Akpom supplement Haller? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Leicester fans have responded to claims that they will not be signing James Tarkowski.

It was reported by Sky Sports News that the club had an interest in the England international defender, but they now claim that Leicester are unlikely to make a move.

The Leicester Mercury reported that Leicester City had an offer of £20m turned down by Burnley for their defender, which is when they came back with a valuation which was twice as much.

The Foxes are in the hunt for a new centre-back after allowing Harry Maguire to leave the club for what was a world record transfer fee for a defender – £80m.

Sky Sports reports that Tarkowski is one of a number of targets for Leicester, which also includes Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake, though a move for the latter is now unlikely after the Cherries slapped a reported £75m plus price tag on his head.

However, despite their failed attempts, plenty of fans remain optimistic. In response to the Sky Sports News tweet there were many responses from Manchester United fans, which many called ‘karma’ for the hardball they played with Maguire.

Leicester fans laughed off these responses in droves, with one saying “all the Man United fans crying. Love to see it”. Elsewhere, other fans remained optimistic with their current options in Caglar Soyuncu, Filip Benkovic and even 35-year-old Wes Morgan.

Here are some of the best responses…

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According to Football Insider, Doncaster Rovers are in talks with Aston Villa over a potential loan move for 21-year-old attacker Callum O’Hare.

O’Hare has made nine first-team appearances for Villa but could find it difficult to secure regular action this season following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

Football Insider have claimed that Villa have high hopes for the attacker and are keen to tie him to a new contract before any possible loan exit.

And it does appear that the England Under-20 international will be leaving Villa Park on a short-term deal.

O’Hare actually spent the second half of last season on loan with Carlisle United in League Two – scoring three times and providing three assists in 16 appearances for the club.

Watch Aston Villa Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Villa fans have been on social media offering their views on the latest speculation.

And a selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below:

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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… 

Despite having the notoriously defensive Jose Mourinho at the helm, Manchester United encountered some alarming problems at the back during the first half of the last campaign. That frailty seemed to continue into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time in charge, and in the end, the Red Devils ended up with the worst goals conceded record in the top six.

But following the arrivals of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, there is understandably a sense of optimism that the club’s struggles in defence may have been eased. The duo are renowned for their imposing styles of play and will surely offer more protection to David de Gea in goal than an ageing Antonio Valencia, or the comedy double act of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

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However, United’s troubles may not be dramatically washed away by their new signings. Solskjaer’s intent to press from the front and win the ball back up high will likely result in the Red Devils playing a high line with their defence. At both Leicester and Crystal Palace – two sides not expected to dominate possession or play on the front foot – Maguire and Wan-Bissaka were often part of defences that stayed deep and soaked up the pressure, before countering.

At United, that simply will not be the case. The pair will be part of a back-line that is expected to push up and compress the space for the opposition to play out from; but as is the risk, a routine ball over the top could be something United face on a constant basis, and Maguire’s lack of pace is certainly something of a cause for a concern.

Indeed, whilst the Red Devils’ summer arrivals will boost the club’s defence in the long-run, the protection in front of them will have a major bearing on whether Solskjaer’s side will see a marked improvement. Ander Herrera’s departure has robbed United of a tenacious midfielder who was willing to get his foot in, whilst Nemanja Matic has underwent somewhat of a decline since his Chelsea days.

As United have seen with their top-four rivals Arsenal in recent seasons, the need for a dominant holding midfielder can often be the difference-maker. So whilst Maguire and Wan-Bissaka are a step forward in the right direction, the side’s defensive woes may not be over just yet.

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Sheffield Wednesday are flying high under caretaker boss Lee Bullen, and it doesn’t look like they’re coming down anytime soon. Especially if Julian Borner has anything to say about it.

Indeed, while we’re just four games into the long and gruelling Championship season, we see no reason not to get a little excited over the prospect of fallen giant of English football finally making their way back to the top flight. Only 42 more games to go!

Wednesday’s win over newly promoted Luton Town on Tuesday night put them at the top of the Championship table, for 24 hours at least. Fans have come out in their droves to hail summer acquisition Borner, who signed under Steve Bruce in July from German second division side Arminia Bielefeld.

Here are some of our favourite responses…

The hopes and dreams of the Hillsborough faithful sit comfortably on Borner’s shoulders, but can he handle the pressure? Find out in next week’s episode…

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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 La Nazione (via Calcio Mercato), Fiorentina are lining up a summer swoop for Manchester United midfielder Fred.

What’s the word?

The Brazil international has yet to feature under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season, and has struggled to establish himself in the Red Devils’ first-team since his big-money move from Shakhtar Donetsk last summer.

Now, the report claims Fiorentina are contemplating make a move for the 26-year-old and the Italian side value the midfielder at €30m (£27.2m).

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

It adds that whilst the Viola have made an enquiry about his securing his services, it is still yet unclear whether United would be willing to let him go following the departure of Ander Herrera earlier in the summer transfer window.

Lack of depth

Surely United can’t afford to lose another player without having the opportunity to replace them? Even with Fred only being on the fringes of the squad at the moment, he still represents a proven option from his time in Ukraine. The Red Devils signed no midfielders in the summer window but have seen the likes of Herrera and Marouane Fellaini leave this calendar year.

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

To kick the season off, Solskjaer has had to make do with a midfield two of Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, and the options to replace the duo in case of injury or loss of form are incredibly limited, with Nemanja Matic the only other senior option in the middle of the park.

United could really struggle if injuries begin to take their toll over the course of the season, and so really need every one of their current squad to do their bit. Letting Fred leave would be tantamount to a massive oversight on the Red Devils’ part.

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Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah scored twice as England Under-21s recorded a 3-2 win over Turkey Under-21s on Friday night.

The 20-year-old is currently on loan at Leeds United from Arsenal, and he has scored three times in five appearances for the Whites this season.

Nketiah continued his impressive form for England’s Under-21s on Friday – netting a brace to help Aidy Boothroyd’s side pick up their first win since November.

As expected, a number of the Arsenal supporters took to social media to lavish praise on the attacker, with some calling for him to return to the Emirates Stadium.

Nketiah was involved in the club’s preparations for the 2019/20 campaign before being allowed to spend the year away from the Gunners on loan.

Watch Arsenal Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

It might not be too long before the Lewisham-born ace is seen back at his parent club, though, especially if his recent scoring form continues.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Arsenal fans can be seen below:

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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 playoff-winning honeymoon in the Premier League has been far from the perfect marriage.

It started with a Saturday evening trip to north London to face the Champions League finalists, Tottenham, who were baying for blood after defeat to Liverpool.

They then finished just before the international break with a controversial loss just north of Croydon – not the most glamorous holiday, mind.

The angry scenes at Selhurst Park weren’t helped by the referee nor from winger Trezeguet, who was sent off for two silly yellow cards – but that in itself epitomised what appears to be a problem out wide for Villa boss Dean Smith.

The aforementioned Egyptian plus Jota and Anwar El Ghazi have managed just a goal and one assist between them in four Premier League matches, per WhoScored, which isn’t good enough and considering they’ve lost three of those games, something has to change.

On the Chalkboard

One solution may lie in a slight tweak to the system, one that could be made a serious reality because of the options Smith has at his disposal.

The squad has a wealth of talent in central midfield – if you consider that Jack Grealish and John McGinn are certainties to start then you’ve also got the summer signing pair of Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba on top of Conor Hourihane and Henri Lansbury.

Currently, only one of those four are going to get a start alongside the boss’ regular duo – both played 34 or more games last season and have started all four games this campaign.

Even then, it is usually a defensive-minded midfielder so that rules out Lansbury to some extent.

But the 48-year-old should utilise another one of them in what could be a diamond midfield spearheaded by McGinn or Grealish.

Hourihane did no wrong in the opening game against Spurs, scoring a rating of 7.06 before being dropped for Luiz ever since.

Meanwhile, Lansbury has shown he could prove to be an unlikely rotation option gong forward after his brace in the Carabao Cup.

Considering the wingers have struggled in the Premier League, moving to this system and making use of their strength in depth in midfield would be a viable alternative. It could just allow them to finally thrive in the Premier League.

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