Everton fans will have truly been disappointed with how some of their defensive players have turned out this season, despite reinforcing the department with a number of big names.

The Toffees continue to ship goals and find it difficult to keep them out the back of the net, even with the likes of Yerry Mina, Kurt Zouma and Michael Keane all involved.

However, it appears Marco Silva will try and address the situation in the summer as it appears he has identified a possible target.

What’s the News?

According to a report by Noticias de Gipuzkoa, Everton have shown some interest in Real Sociedad’s Diego Llorente this season.

The Spain international has been solid for the La Liga outfit over the last couple of campaigns and continues to impress, despite a difficult time at Real Madrid prior to his move to the Basque outfit.

However, it is claimed that Everton could have to battle fierce rivals Liverpool for his signature, with the Anfield outfit allegedly keen on the 25-year-old as well.

The Verdict:

Everton fans must be wondering what could have been if all the defenders they currently have at the club were playing to their full potential and to the standard many would have expected.

With Zouma set to return to Chelsea in the summer following the conclusion of his loan deal, the need for a new centre-back at Goodison Park will have only been further highlighted.

And, Llorente could be an excellent addition to the Toffees in the summer if they are able to prise him away from Real Sociedad.

With the player having a release clause of €50million (£42.8m), Silva may have to splash out big to land him, although going based off his performances this season, he would be an immediate upgrade to some of the options the club currently has.

The 25-year-old would also be able to feature in a defensive midfield role, which could be handy for Everton, whilst he also appears to have a knack for finding the net, although he is yet to do so this season following the seven he got in the last campaign across all competitions.

Everton fans, do you think Llorente would be a good signing for your club to make and would be able to improve the defence immediately? Join in with the discussion below by sharing your thoughts with us.

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Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic has revealed that he wants to stay with Hertha Berlin for another one or two years to continue his development.

Grujic signed a new contract with Liverpool last summer before joining Hertha on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old has scored three times in 16 Bundesliga appearances this term and is seemingly very happy in Germany.

It is currently unclear what plans Liverpool have for the midfielder, who moved to Anfield from Red Star Belgrade in 2016.

Grujic has, thus far, been unable to secure a first-team spot on Merseyside, but the fact that he recently penned a new long-term deal with the Reds suggests that the English club rate him very highly indeed.

The Liverpool fans have been on social media offering their views on the eight-time Serbia international and it would be fair to say that there are a lot of mixed opinions.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Arsenal aren’t going to win the title by buying bang average player are they? But for some reason, that’s exactly what the club seem to be aiming for if the link to Solly March reported in Team Talk is true.

The Brighton winger has impressed following his move from Fulham two years ago. He’s played 26 games this season and scored the late equaliser in their FA Cup quarter-final against Millwall, but is this isn’t the calibre of player Arsenal should be looking at.

We know sometimes a few diamonds can be found in the rough, but Arsenal are surely looking to challenge for the title and the Champions League in the next few years, so they should be after players already at the highest level of European football. March is nowhere near that level.

Arsenal will once again have a limited budget in the summer, and perhaps that explains why they’d be interested in the £7m-rated wide man (as per Transfermarkt). That may be true, but it’s simply not good enough, particularly when the club’s promising to compete at the top of table again.

It’s laughable to think Manchester United can be linked with Paulo Dybala and then Arsenal can be linked with Brighton’s winger. That just shows the ambition gap between the two clubs, and without signing the best talent Arsenal can’t compete with the teams that are.

His one goal and five assists this season will hardly have the Gunners’ faithful licking their lips in anticipation of a great season. This sort of signing is Europa League quality and that’s exactly where Arsenal will stay if they don’t aim for the best players in Europe.

Arsenal fans, what do you think about the prospect of your club targeting Solly March. Join the discussion by commenting below.

It has been well over a year since Michael Emenalo left Chelsea, leaving the club without an official technical director.

Since then, Roman Abramovich’s right-hand woman Marina Granovskaia has been overseeing player recruitment with quite a few underwhelming deals sanctioned under her watch.

The Blues, though, could finally be about to step up their search for a permanent successor to Emenalo in a potentially huge development for the club.

The Breakdown

According to France Football (via Sport Witness), Chelsea have spoken to Luis Campos about taking up the role with other clubs also said to be interested in his services.

Campos, who currently holds a similar position to the one Chelsea are willing to offer, has not had the most successful of times at Lille.

However, his track record still remains a strong one having helped assemble the AS Monaco team that went on to win the 2017 Ligue 1 title with the likes of Bernardo Silva and Kylian Mbappe starring.

Ultimately, it is that sort of eye for talent Chelsea need with some of the signings the club have made in recent transfer windows being absolutely atrocious.

The likes of Davide Zappacosta and Danny Drinkwater, for example, have failed to make the cut at Stamford Bridge, leaving question marks surrounding the west London club’s recruitment strategy — even during Emenalo’s tenure.

A transfer ban handed by FIFA complicates things in some aspects, but Chelsea would be foolish not to go all out for Campos and carry on with their same unconvincing regime.

Chelsea fans, do the Blues need a new technical director like Campos or are you happy with how things are under Granovskaia? Join the discussion by commenting below.

أعلن نادي إنتر ميلان المنافس في بطولة الدوري الإيطالي عن سادس لاعب مُصاب بين صفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بفيروس كورونا المستجد، كوفيد 19.

وكان النادي قد أعلن خلال الأيام القليلة الماضية عن إصابة 5 لاعبين بالوباء وهم ميلان سكرينيار، أليساندرو باستوني، راجا ناينجولان، روبيرتو جاليارديني ويونوت رادو. (طالع التفاصيل)

ولكن إنتر ميلان من خلال بيان رسمي جديد صادر منذ قليل عبر الموقع الرسمي له على شبكة الإنترنت، أكد إصابة آشلي يونج بفيروس كورونا ليصبح الحالة السادسة.

يأتي ذلك في ظل انتشار الموجة الثانية من فيروس كورونا في إيطاليا خلال الأسابيع الماضية، هو ما ينذر بتخوفات من إيقاف بطولة الدوري من جديد.

الجدير بالذكر أن إنتر ميلان ليس الوحيد المتضرر من إصابات كورونا بل جاره ميلان قبل ديربي المدينة بعد انتهاء التوقف الدولي بالإضافة إلى نابولي وجنوى.

أكد أندريا بيرلو المدير الفني ليوفنتوس، أن التدريب أكثر صعوبة من الأداء كلاعب كرة قدم.

بيرلو تولى مهمة تدريب يوفنتوس خلفًا لماوريسيو ساري، وقد سبق ولعب للسيدة العجوز وكان أبرز لاعبي خط وسط البيانكونيري.

المايسترو بدأ مسيرته التدريبية بفوز على سامبدوريا (3-0)، ثم تعادل مع روما (2-2) بمنافسات الدوري الإيطالي.

وتحدث بيرلو عن العمل مع أصدقائه القدامي من اللاعبين في يوفنتوس وقيادتهم كمدرب، واعترف بأن دوره الجديد ربما استغرق بعضًا من التعود عليه.

وقال في تصريحات للاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”: “إنه شعور رائع، لقد كانوا متعاونين حقًا، ربما لم يكن من السهل عليهم رؤيتي كمدربهم في البداية، لكن في غضون ساعات قليلة، فهموا أن دوري كان مختلفًا عما كان عليه قبل أيام قليلة”.

وأضاف بيرلو: “لذلك تغير موقفهم بسرعة وسهولة، يمكنهم مساعدتي كثيرًا، لأنهم يعرفون معنى اللعب ليوفنتوس، يعرفون ماذا يعني الفوز، وهم يعرفون أيضًا ما يشبه العمل معي، كما فعلوا خلال السنوات التي لعبنا فيها معًا، لذا فهم يعرفون الروح التي أريد أن أجلبها لهذا الفريق، لذا سيكونون عونا كبيرا خلال هذا الموسم”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بيرلو: حالفني الحظ بالعمل مع أفضل مدربي العالم.. وجوارديولا مثال يحتذى به

وأكد بيرلو أن هناك فرق كبير لقيادة الفريق بأكمله من كمدرب بدلاً من السيطرة على الكرة في الملعب: “الأمر كمدرب بالتأكيد أكثر إرهاقًا منه كلاعب، لأنه في الملعب يمكنني أن أقرر ما أريد أن أفعله بالكرة”.

وواصل: “من مقعد التدريب يمكنني إدارة الأمر، لكن الأشخاص الآخرون هم الذين يفسرون دورهم، هم الذين يلعبون المباريات، لذا فإن الأمر أصعب قليلاً كمدرب”.

وأتم بيرلو: “عندما كنت ألعب، كان لدي أسلوب معين مما يعني أنني يمكن أن أشارك في مواقف معينة وأن أكون حاسمًا في مواقف أخرى على أرض الملعب، والآن يجب أن أفعل ذلك بمفردي من خط التماس”.

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Loads of Rangers fans have been running the rule over the weekend’s action, and they’re absolutely fuming at Kilmarnock defender Kirk Broadfoot.

The Gers continued their horrific form in the month of March this weekend, failing to get past Kilmarnock at home.

Ibrox has seen just five visiting teams leave with points to their name in the league this season, and the performance on Saturday was really worrying.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Alfredo Morelos equalised for the Gers after Conor McAleny had given the visitors the lead, but it’s a different incident involving Morelos that has really got fans talking.

The striker is reportedly (09:13) sweating over a possible ban for a collision with the 34 year-old Broadfoot, in which the Gers ace shoved the Kilmarnock defender.

Footage has since revealed the reason why Morelos acted so aggressively though, as Broadfoot appeared to deliberately rake his studs down the Colombian’s Achilles.

Rangers fans will be praying their talisman is allowed to feature in the Old Firm at the end of the month, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions to the incident down below…

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January signing Lovre Kalinic sat on the Aston Villa substitutes’ bench for the third match running and watched Jed Steer keep his second successive clean sheet against Birmingham City on Sunday, and manager Dean Smith’s post-match comments suggest the recent addition won’t be starting again anytime soon.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Midlands outfit agreed a deal to sign the 28-year-old on a four-and-a-half year deal from Gent just prior to the January transfer window opening, and he was thrust straight into action on January 5 in the FA Cup following Orjan Nyland’s Achilles injury.

That was the first of eight successive appearances in all competitions for the Croatia international, before he suffered concussion during the 2-0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion last month and was taken off at half-time.

Despite recovering he has been an unused substitute in every fixture since, and watched Steer produce another impressive display between the sticks against arch-rivals Birmingham City at St Andrew’s on Sunday.

What did Smith say?

Speaking post-match, via The Birmingham Mail, the Villa boss said: “I signed Kalinic because of the ability he has got.

“I probably didn’t want to throw Kalinic in as early as we did but we had to. Unfortunately Nyland ruptured his Achilles.

“I gave Jed the chance when Kalinic got concussed. He’s taken it. I’ve said before that he doesn’t have too many shots to save.

“Everything he did today except from his last goal-kick was good. He’s very vocal and has got a presence about him.

“Kalinic has come from a league where he was more protected.”

Smith’s words certainly suggest that he doesn’t feel the Croatian is ready to start on a regular basis right now, and with Villa making a late promotion push he appears unlikely to get another chance before the end of the campaign, unless Steer makes a bad error or gets injured himself.

Mark van Bommel, Netherlands’ resident hardman, former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan star, was targeted by David O’Leary’s Leeds United in 2002.

Leeds United were in desperate need of some solid quality in midfield and having failed to sign summer transfer target Keiron Dyer, who was set to join Newcastle, Mark van Bommel was their man.

According to the Daily Mail, Chairman Peter Ridsdale and then-manager David O’Leary were long-term admirers of the PSV Eindhoven enforcer, having tracked the player over a period of 18-months, and were prepared to table a £15 million bid to secure his services.

Leeds’ lacklustre performances in Europe – yes, it really was that long ago – was said to have spurned the club’s decision to make bold movements in the market, and Van Bommel, 24, was the most ambitious of all.

Ridsdale said: ‘Our club needs to build its team, and to do that you need money. Nobody is saying we don’t want to be in the UEFA Cup. This, the FA Cup and even the Worthington Cup are financially very rewarding.

‘The expectations of the fans are high, but we have to remember that we haven’t won anything for 10 years, where Manchester United have won something every year in the past decade.’

But what happened next?

Mark van Bommel – 2002

When you search Mark van Bommel on YouTube you will not find well-edited videos of the Dutchman dancing around players and pinging shots from 30-yards. Instead, you will compilations upon compilations of him flying through players, committing fouls, assaults, earning bookings, and suspensions – you name the infringement and it is probably conveniently documented somewhere.

There are clips from his PSV Eindhoven days, as well as ones from his stints with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and the Dutch national team, but nowhere will you find Leeds United.

Why you might ask? Well, easy answer: the move never came to be.

Indeed, despite all of Ridsdale and O’Leary interest and optimism, Van Bommel was decidedly uninterested in the prospect of joining Leeds United.

“I have heard about Leeds but if I move to England, I want to go to Old Trafford,” the 24-year-old was reported to have said at the time (as per Sky Sports).

Interesting choice of words.

Van Bommel would instead join Barcelona where he won one Champions League, one domestic title and two domestic cups, before moving to Bayern Munich. His commanding performances in the midfield role were lauded far and wide, and fans will likely never forget how he quite literally battled the club towards two Bundesliga titles and two cup wins.

AC Milan was equally as fruitful, and perhaps the most significant, in a way, because it was the last time anyone other than Juventus won the title.

You will notice a trend forming. Winning. Needless to say, a department Leeds United were lacking in shortly after 2002.

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Aston Villa fans have taken to Twitter to praise their ex-manager Paul Lambert after his Ipswich side were able to do them a favour last night.

The Tractor Boys, who are bottom of the Championship, held Villa’s play-off rivals Bristol City to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening, a result which brought great joy to supporters of the Villans.

After the game they were in fine voice, thanking Lambert for his efforts in helping Villa with their promotion push. In a series of comical tweets, they labelled the 49-year-old a hero and called him an agent, suggesting he had been sent specifically by Villa to help them out.

The Robins’ result last night also drew a certain Villa fan to believe that if they can’t beat a team rock bottom of the league, then they don’t stand a chance of getting in their way.

A win for the Midlands club on Wednesday when they face Nottingham Forest would see them move to within a point of Bristol City who currently occupy the final play-off place.

Ipswich had initially gone 1-0 down courtesy of Adam Webster but grabbed an equaliser through an own goal from Lloyd Kelly.

Here’s what the Villa fans had to say.