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Former Manchester United man Keith Gillespie has told Football FanCast that he hopes Paul Pogba remains at the club next season as they look to challenge Manchester City.

The France international was in sublime form against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in April, laying on two superb assists, though only one counted after Edinson Cavani’s first goal was ruled out after Son Heung-Min was adjudged to have been fouled by Scott McTominay.

Pogba also registered an assist in games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley, but there are some concerns over his future, with his contract expiring.

Pogba’s deal ends at the end of next season and that means he could be set to leave for nothing at the end of the 2022/23 season.

He has been linked away, with Italian newspaper TuttoSport, via The Sun, linking him with a potential return to Juventus, the club he joined United from.

Gillespie, though, believes that Pogba needs to stay if United are to have any chance of challenging City for the Premier League title next season.

He hopes that the 28-year-old can remain fit for the duration of the season, having missed six matches with a hamstring injury prior to the clash with Brighton.

Gillespie told FFC: “I’d like to see him stay at Man United. You think about a fully fit Paul Pogba.

“You know, he’s had his injury problems that season, but if Paul Pogba was fully fit for a season and was playing at the top of this game, gosh, that’s going to really help any club.”

Gillespie also thinks that United need a striker if they are to complete their squad, with United currently 10 points behind Pep Guardiola’s side with five games of the campaign remaining.

He added: “You add in them maybe signing that striker that they do need, then they look a really, really good side, with a few tweaks here and there, defensively, and then you think, well, now’s the time maybe they may be able to come up against Man City, who for me are still way out in front of anybody else at the minute.”

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing up a move for Sam Johnstone this summer, according to reports…

What’s the word?

The Athletic’s Steve Madeley claims Spurs have already ‘sent out feelers’ to West Brom over a potential deal for the 28-year-old West Brom goalkeeper, who could be available for as little as £10m in the next transfer window.

Jose Mourinho could even be in the market for two new options between the sticks as Hugo Lloris is thought to be a target for former manager Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain, whilst Paulo Gazzaniga is expected to depart, leaving only Joe Hart, who is the current no.2.

Bye-bye Lloris?

Any move for a shot-stopper of Johnstone’s calibre would surely spell the end for the Frenchman’s time in north London, and perhaps quite rightly too.

The 34-year-old veteran may be part of the side that holds the third-best defensive record in the Premier League, but he’s certainly shown signs of regression in the 18 months Mourinho has been in charge.

There have been a few notable clangers in that time, most recently when letting in a whopping five goals to Everton in the FA Cup. Lloris was soon brandished as Spurs’ “weak link” and also dubbed “lettuce wrists” by Trevor Sinclair and Jason Cundy on talkSPORT.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-april-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-and-more” title=”Read this week’s latest Spurs news, April transfer rumours and more!”]

Another factor is the fact that most of this squad still remain from that Pochettino era, and if Mourinho is to move on and truly contend for titles, then he ought to kickstart a rebuild and that should begin with Lloris.

He has been at the club for nine years and is the current club captain, though his exit would present the perfect chance for the Portuguese to cement his own mark down at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In Johnstone, they’d be getting a mighty fine successor as, despite all of West Brom’s struggles, the recently-called-up England man has been their star performer.

“He’s one of the best,” lauded Sam Allardyce back in December, echoing the thoughts of his former boss at Villa, Steve Bruce, who once labelled the glovesman a “diamond” to work with.

No goalkeeper in the Premier League has faced more shots on target (168) than Johnstone, and no goalkeeper has made as many saves either (116). His four saves per 90 minutes is far above that of Lloris (2.77), as per FBRef.

With Lloris being slammed for his weak wrists, it certainly seems like the English colossus could be a viable replacement, and for just £10m, this could be a bargain on Levy’s part.

AND in other news, Spurs could land bargain defensive solution in “complete” 6 foot 4 monster…

Jose Mourinho was sacked by Tottenham on Monday morning, three days on from their 2-2 draw at Everton.

Harry Kane scored 20 minutes from time to secure a point for Spurs after Gylfi Sigurdsson’s double. It’s a result which leaves Spurs five points adrift of the top four and only one clear of eighth-placed Everton, who have a game in hand.

A sequence of one win in six matches in all competitions spelled the end for three-time Premier League winner Mourinho.

Ancelotti, Moyes, Rodgers… now Mourinho

BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty made an intriguing observation after the news broke. He noted that three other big-name managers had been sacked after failing to win at Goodison Park.

Current Everton boss Ancelotti was dismissed by Chelsea after a 1-0 defeat on Merseyside on the final day of the 2010/11 season. Former Toffees manager David Moyes also saw his Manchester United tenure come to an end in April 2014 after an unhappy return. Eighteen months later, a 1-1 Merseyside derby draw was the last straw for Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool.

This led McNulty to label Goodison Park ‘a bit of a graveyard for managers’.

Some Everton supporters felt that reflected badly on the club, whereas others took it more positively. One pointed to the similar example of Leicester, who inflicted decisive losses on both Mourinho and Frank Lampard at Chelsea.

Everton fans react after Mourinho joins list of Goodison casualties

“After some of the teams who have won at Goodison this season, it should be”

Credit: @real_dav_ral

“Is that a sign, well if you can’t even beat Everton then you’re gone”

Credit: @FreddieCollier

“Just shows that everyone expects to beat Everton! :-(“

Credit: @KramRetals

“Well if you can’t beat us, you deserve the sack”

Credit: @1878domingo

“Happens against Leicester too. I’d consider it a compliment. We’re the measuring stick for retaining their grip on the top spots.”

Credit: @TonyWitters

“That’s why they don’t want us in the #europeansuperleague”

Credit: @rodo_uk

In other news, Everton are at risk of losing one player as update emerges from transfer insider.

USMNT star Chris Richards has boldly declared that “another one’s coming” after breaking his Premier League goal duck at Crystal Palace.

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• Defender on target against Burnley
• Has one effort for his country
• Believes there are more to come

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States international defender moved to Selhurst Park from Bayern Munich in 2022. Opportunities were in short supply during his debut campaign in English football, with only 10 appearances made across all competitions.

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  He has figured more prominently this term, filling a holding midfield role at times, and registered his first goal for the Eagles at the 31st attempt in a 3-0 victory over Burnley. Richards hopes the floodgates will now open for him, with the 23-year-old confident that he can contribute at both ends of the field.

• WHAT RICHARDS SAID

  Richards has told Palace’s : “I've wanted it [my first goal] all year. Of course, you always like to score goals, but I think it was a very crucial goal in a very crucial game, so I'm very happy about it. Jordan [Ayew] was talking about hitting it back post the whole time, so I figured if T [Tyrick Mitchell] jumped with the man, I was going to be wide open, so I just tried to stay back post. Everybody likes to score goals. Fans like to see it, so it definitely changed the mood for the game, and the games coming up as well. I think another one’s coming!”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RICHARDS?

  Richards did find the target during a loan spell at Hoffenheim in 2021-22 and has one effort for his country – which came against Canada in June 2023. He will hope that there are more goals to celebrate over the coming weeks, with 2024 shaping up to be a big year for Palace and the USMNT.

Steve Bruce must strive to better utilise Jacob Murphy after the Newcastle winger’s influential cameo performance against Aston Villa in Friday night’s 1-1 draw.

Murphy had started the match on the bench as he continues to serve a bit-part role for the Magpies, having not started a Premier League game since January’s 2-1 loss to Leeds United.

The Whites’ visit to St. James’ Park marks Murphy’s only start across all competitions this calendar year, and was followed by the 26-year-old being omitted from three squads and being left an unused substitute on two of five possible occasions.

Bruce only gave Murphy the final 11 minutes of normal time against Aston Villa to prove that he deserves a greater share of the action on Tyneside, but was made to look naïve for overlooking his services so often.

With the deadlock yet to be broken, Bruce introduced Murphy in place of Ryan Fraser and soon saw the £3.15m-rated dynamo rattle the crossbar when his shot curled onto the woodwork after twisting smartly to shrug off Douglas Luiz.

Villa took the lead shortly afterwards through Ollie Watkins, who steered his header past Martin Dubravka via a cruel deflection off Ciaran Clark, but Murphy refused to let the fortuitous goal break Newcastle’s spirit and went on to set up Jamaal Lascelles’ stoppage-time equaliser.

Aston Villa gave Murphy all the time in the world to pick out where to cross the ball from the left-hand corner and he found Lascelles on the edge of the six-yard box to powerfully head home and snatch what could be a vital point in Newcastle’s fight for Premier League survival.

Murphy had come close to having his assist moments earlier when the winger easily ran past Matt Target and into Emiliano Martinez’s area, but Dwight Gayle could only flick his cutback into the Argentine’s hand before the Villans scrambled clear the danger.

Bruce should not have been surprised to see Murphy offer a creative touch in the dying stages, as the summer free agent almost set Joelinton up to win it against Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, only for Romain Saiss to bundle the Brazilian’s effort over the bar.

Like against Targett on Friday, Murphy made a great run before cutting the ball back into the area to meet a wide-open Joelinton on the penalty spot, only for Saiss to save Wolves a point as the Newcastle striker was unable to convert a glaring opportunity to score.

Despite his creativity, Murphy – who Noel Whelan has lauded as “a fantastic player” – was left an unused substitute for last Sunday’s goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion and in the dugout for much of Friday’s meeting with Aston Villa.

However, Bruce’s decision to leave Murphy out of the starting line-up against Dean Smith’s Villans was made to appear foolish, as he earned SofaScore’s highest match rating at 8.2 out of 10 thanks to creating each of his side’s two big chances to score.

He further won each of his three ground duels and two attempted dribbles, more than Gayle (2 duels won, zero dribbles) achieved throughout the full 90 minutes having started the game on the left wing before a move into the centre for the second half, per SofaScore.

Bruce must now look to unleash Murphy from the off when United visit fellow strugglers Brighton and Hove Albion next weekend in what will be a crucial six-pointer for both teams’ hopes of staying in the Premier League.

In other news, Newcastle eye summer swoop for £16k-p/w maestro once lauded for being “the most gifted” player…

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola reacted hilariously when asked what he felt about Kylian Mbappe.

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• Guardiola responded to Mbappe transfer question
• Mbappe was linked with Man City
• Set to join Real Madrid in the summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Last week reported that a representative of Mbappe caught up with City Football Group officials in Manchester. The person was reportedly spotted at the club's training ground where the team where preparing for their Champions League clash against Copenhagen.

  In a press conference, Pep Guardiola was asked if the French forward would join the Cityzens next summer and his opinion about the star player to which the Catalan coach responded, "I think he's quite good. He has a future."

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  The 25-year-old has already communicated his decision to his team-mates to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the current season. He reportedly has an agreement with Real Madrid and will be unveiled as a Los Blancos player in July.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

  After dropping two crucial points in the Premier League against Chelsea at home, Guardiola's side will aim to get back to winning ways against Brentford on Wednesday.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney may be regretting not signing a midfielder in January, with Wrexham being left “short” in that department.

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• Red Dragons bolstered their ranks in January
• Injuries have impacted numbers in engine room
• Heading into run of three successive away games

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons did bolster their ranks during the winter window, bringing in defender Luke Bolton and forward Jack Marriott on deadline day. They are now well stocked at opposing ends of the field, but injuries to the likes of James Jones, George Evans and Tom O’Connor mean that Phil Parkinson is light on numbers in the middle of the park.

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• WHAT PARKINSON SAID

  Wrexham’s boss has said of that predicament heading into a meeting with MK Dons: “We have got good a selection up front, players like Aaron Hayden and Jordan Tunnicliffe at the back and Ben Tozer who wasn't in the team on Saturday, Luke Bolton and Jacob Mendy, so we have got a lot of players. Obviously we are a bit short in the midfield area but we will adapt to that and we will manage that. We have still got options. You are going to get injuries, that is part and parcel of the game, and we got a couple on Saturday so we will have a bit of a headcount. We will have a good look at the injured players and think long and hard about the team for MK Dons but go down there ready to give a good account of ourselves, and see if it is good enough on the night.”

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  Wrexham edged out old adversaries Notts County in their last League Two fixture, but are now preparing for three successive away games against the Dons, Gillingham and Forest Green Rovers. Parkinson added on that challenge: “We are ready for that. We are prepared for that.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Back-to-back wins have returned Wrexham to the League Two automatic promotion places, with only three points separating them from table-topping Stockport. They still boast at least one game in hand on all of those around them, meaning that the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary cameras could have another title celebration to capture in 2024.

Leeds United player Ezgjan Alioski has reportedly agreed to join Galatasaray this summer, bringing an end to his time at Elland Road.

The 29-year-old joined the Whites back in the summer of 2017, making the move from Swiss side FC Lugano. In the years since, the left-back has proven to be a key performer for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, playing an important role in them returning to the Premier League.

In total, Alioski has made 162 appearances for Leeds, scoring 22 goals and also chipping in with 16 assists for good measure. He also has 39 caps to his name for North Macedonia.

[freshpress-quiz id=“347980″]

Alioski set to join Galatasaray this summer

Alioski’s £15,000-a-week contract at Elland Road expires in the summer, and it now looks as though he already has his next club sorted.

According to Football Insider, he has agreed a pre-contract with Galatasaray prior to joining them ahead of the start of next season.

Transfer Tavern take

In truth, it has seemed increasingly clear that this would be Alioski’s final season at Leeds, having failed to agree an extension on his current deal.

He will always be remembered as a cult hero for the Whites, though, and someone who largely contributed positively to a great period in the club’s history, featuring prominently as they ended their 16-year top-flight exile last year.

In other news, Leeds are believed to be keen on a move for a hugely experienced Serie A player this summer. Read more here.

Mauricio Pochettino confirmed Thiago Silva has joined Chelsea's injury list but Robert Sanchez is fit to face Manchester City after two months out.

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• Silva and Chukwuemeka out injured
• Pochettino confirms Sanchez return
• Chelsea travel to Manchester City

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Blues manager Pochettino revealed a mixed bag when it came to his players' fitness, with the Argentine ruling out Silva and Carney Chukwuemeka for the clash against Pep Guardiola's men. However, goalkeeper Sanchez is available after a lengthy knee injury, and Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto are in contention as well, ahead of Saturday's trip to the Etihad.

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  WHAT POCHETTINO SAID

  The former Tottenham manager told reporters on Friday: "[Thiago Silva has a] Minor injury, but he is not available. We need to assess day by day.

  "[Gusto and Colwill] are OK. They recovered well. Both available. Robert Sanchez is available. Carney Chukwuemeka twisted his ankle two days ago. He is out.

  "[Sanchez's return] is a good thing for the team. You will see [the selection between him and Petrovic]. It's very good to be back. It's better to have all the players available."

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  While Chelsea are still without key personnel in Reece James and Wesley Fofana, their injury list has began to shrink during a season where they have had a hefty absentee list. However, Silva's injury gives Pochettino a selection conundrum in defence, but Sanchez's return in goal is a more positive dilemma – even if Djordje Petrovic has largely been reliable between the sticks in the Spaniard's absence.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  This huge test at second-placed City is Chelsea's last game before they take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Sunday, February 25. After that, the Blues take on Championship side Leeds United in the fifth round of the FA Cup three days later.

Chelsea were hammered this weekend as they succumbed to a 6-0 mauling at the hands of title contenders Manchester City.

The Blues were blown away in an opening 25 minute period which saw the home side go 4-0 up, and could do little to prevent the score being racked up further in the second half either.

It was a timely reminder to onlookers that things are not going well for Sarri at the Bridge, and following a 4-0 humbling at the hands of Bournemouth a few weeks back, we here in the Tavern feel there are a few players who Sarri should be looking to get rid of.

With that, we took a look at the Chelsea squad and the performance today, and picked out THREE players we feel the Blues need to move on quickly and bring in replacements for in order to move forward as a club…

David Luiz

Shambolic today at times, Luiz has never really covered himself in glory throughout his time with the club.

Mistake prone and often out of position, Chelsea need a proper centre half who can dominate much like John Terry did in years gone by. Luiz unfortunately, is anything but a John Terry.

Jorginho

It’s amazing really but Sarri insists on playing the Italian midfielder while trying to utilise Ngolo Kante in a more advanced position.

It’s clear as day for all to see – other than Sarri it seems – that Kante needs to in his holding midfield role, meaning there can be no room for the former Napoli man if that move happens.

Marcos Alonso

What has happened to a left wing-back who was once regarded as the best in the Premier League?

The Spaniard appears disinterested and looks to have his mind elsewhere. For all his talent, Alonso should be sold on by the Blues with a replacement sought in the summer.