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West Brom owner Guochuan Lai hasn’t been one to open the chequebook since taking the helm from Jeremy Pearce in 2016, even despite a reported net worth of £2.8bn.

It is easy to forget this amidst all the success that the Baggies had last season but they now find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle thanks to the Chinese businessman’s lack of spending this summer.

According to the Express & Star, Albion only had around £20m at their disposal, which is why we saw a couple of players come in on loan and only really two big splashes – one of which being Grady Diangana.

The 22-year-old impressed during last season’s loan spell so much that the club parted way with £12m of that budget to bring him back. to the Hawthorns permanently. The deal, eventually, could exceed £17m.

On their way to clinching promotion, the Hammers academy graduate delivered eight goals and six assists in what was really his first full season in the men’s game.

And whilst things are yet to go to plan this season for the enigmatic wide man this term, he remains a key player under Slaven Bilic.

In eight starts, Diangana has found the net once and is averaging 1.8 dribbles, 1.1 shots and 2.1 tackles per game, via WhoScored.

The £10.8m-rated sensation, who earns around £45k-per-week in the west Midlands, has received many a glowing endorsement in the past 12 months with former WBA legend Carlton Palmer recently tipping him to become a £40m-plus player.

He also added: “He is a fantastic talent, I think it’s a great acquisition for West Brom. You can’t put huge pressure on a 22-year-old who has never played in the Premier League, but he’s definitely one for the future, he’s a talented, talented boy.”

Even Sky Sports’ EFL punditry duo, Keith Andrews and Lee Hendrie both lauded Diangana to the EFL podcast last season, calling him “explosive” and a “total nightmare” to play against.

If Lai has got anything right recently, it’s certainly the gamble on signing the England U21 international permanently. It may well be his finest parting gift and at least one positive to be remembered for.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Harewood tips one manager to bring West Brom back up if they are relegated…

Tottenham Hotspur have acted earlier this summer and brought in a trio of shrewd signings but chairman Daniel Levy’s actions from the January transfer window may prove to be the catalyst.

First, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was secured in a £15m deal from Southampton with Kyle Walker-Peters going the other way for £12m, so that’s just a mere £3m outlay with Joe Hart coming in on a free to replace Michel Vorm and Wolves right-back Matt Doherty joining for £15m too.

Jose Mourinho just needs to find a backup to Harry Kane and perhaps an additional centre-back, then it would be a rather decent summer all round.

It’s certainly a change in approach from Levy, who broke their club-record fee to land Tanguy Ndombele last year and maybe that switch happened at the start of 2020.

Spurs finally offloaded Christian Eriksen and surprisingly, the north Londoners got a fee for him despite being in the final six months of his contract.

Inter Milan caved in and paid out around £16.9m for the Danish playmaker but life has not gone to plan over in Italy.

This week there have been reports suggesting that the 28-year-old is available for transfer this summer despite only being at the San Siro for eight months.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Eriksen has never really been in favour of manager Antonio Conte with Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic and soon-to-arrive Arturo Vidal seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.

Inter want €50m (£44.5m) for him and they’ll be rather lucky to get that.

Once a favourite under Mauricio Pochettino, who dubbed him “amazing” and “outstanding” back in 2018, Eriksen hasn’t pulled up any trees for Inter leading to their club legend Luis Suarez believes he’s the wrong fit for the club as he lacks “character and aggression” and is “too mild and calm.”

Eriksen contributed to just four goals across the Serie A and the Coppa Italia, which only makes the decision to sell him look even more like a masterstroke as time goes by.

He is unlikely to have many suitors given former interested side Manchester United have since signed Bruno Fernandes in the position.

To get nearly £17m for a player that was free to leave soon after is very good business indeed. Even more so now this saga has developed in Milan.

AND in other news, Spurs fans slam midfielder after Birmingham performance…

Rhian Brewster’s future has resided with a question mark recently as reports have linked him with an Anfield exit.

Recent reports had claimed that Liverpool are prepared to listen to offers for the youngster amid a potential permanent move. However, The Star have claimed that he could be set for another loan move this season instead.

Sheffield United are keen on the striker and could be just days away from announcing his short-term move to the club (relayed via @LFCTransferRoom). This has come as a very welcome update for those Liverpool fans who had recently hit out at the club over even entertaining talks of cashing in on him.

Brewster spent half of last season with Swansea City, with whom he scored an impressive 11 goals in 22 Championship appearances (via Transfermarkt). He got this season underway with a cameo appearance in the Community Shield, but fatefully missed his penalty in the shootout defeat to Arsenal.

Many Kopites are in unison with the idea that another loan stint will help to rebuild Brewster’s confidence after a less than ideal start to the 2020/21 campaign. One fan has described it as a ‘perfect move’ for the forward and has urged the club to ‘make it happen’.

Read more replies from the Anfield faithful here:

Do you think a loan move is the right decision for Brewster? Have your say in the comments below!

Liverpool youngster Jake Cain has committed his future to the club after signing a new long-term deal.

James Pearce has reported the 18-year-old will stay on with the Reds after impressing Jurgen Klopp in training. Cain has reportedly been involved with the senior sessions at Melwood and has been training with the first team regularly.

The teenager has had an impressive season which saw him make the leap from playing in the U18s league, to his senior debut in the FA Cup. Cain featured in the youthful side that took on Shrewsbury back in April, contributing to their 1-0 win which took them into the fifth round (via Transfermarkt).

Liverpool fans are delighted to see the young Englishman pen a new deal, with one supporter branding him ‘our very own Coutinho’. Despite operating from midfield, Cain scored six goals and bagged seven assists in just ten U18 appearances he also scored a goal in the reserve league which is a group up from his current age (as per Transfermarkt).

Another supporter has said they were ‘really impressed’ with Cain’s performance against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup. The 18-year-old earned a Sofascore rating of 7.1.

Read more replies from the Anfield faithful here:

What do you think we can expect from youngster Jake Cain, Reds? Join the discussion in the comments below!

Last year, Celtic were extremely close to completing the signing of a gifted Motherwell youngster, David Turnbull. Unfortunately, the now 21-year-old playmaker failed his medical exam due to a knee concern, sensationally collapsing the whole deal in the end.

It was seen as a huge blow for both parties and the youngster was devastated. Now, however, according to the latest information from The Scottish Sun, Neil Lennon is stepping up the Hoops’ scouting of Turnbull as his development continues.

Not only that but if his impressive comeback keeps on going, Celtic may very well make a fresh offer for the youngster and bring him to the club in the not so distant future.

Interestingly, Turnbull was exceptional in essentially every single game he played and started so far this season, including an incredible strike in the 2-2 home draw against Livingston. Of course, the Bhoys will face Motherwell and their young playmaker at Parkhead on August 30 and this will be another chance for Lennon to scout the player.

As things currently stand, however, they like what they’re seeing and a year after his dream of playing for Celtic was shattered, Turnbull may very well get his transfer after all.

The source doesn’t exactly say anything about the price or the negotiations that are bound to take place but it does seem like a real possibility further down the line.

Verdict

Turnbull was a great talent last year and he remains a great talent now. Needless to say, Celtic’s interest is not a surprise at all and can only grow as the 21-year-old keeps impressing the right people.

Of course, the clash at Parkhead at the end of the month could very well be his ‘trial’ with the Hoops. If he brings his A-game to the pitch then, there’s every chance Lennon will be ready to pull the trigger.

Nikola Katic and Alfredo Morelos scored the goals as Rangers recorded a 2-0 win over Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon.

However, it was the performance of Joe Aribo that caught the attention of the club’s fans.

The victory moved Steven Gerrard’s side onto 41 points in the table having now won 13 of their 16 league outings during the 2019/20 campaign.

A football legend: Can you get over 80% on this Gazza quiz? Find out now…

As a result, the feeling amongst the supporters was pretty positive throughout the contest, and many were keen to lavish praise on Aribo for his display.

Watch Rangers Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Many of the fans, meanwhile, were impressed with the 23-year-old’s work-rate during the two-goal success, which also saw Morelos pick up a red card.

The Nigeria international joined Rangers over the summer after scoring nine times in 36 League One appearances for Charlton Athletic during the 2018/19 campaign.

It remains to be seen whether Gerrard’s team can land their first Scottish Premiership title since 2011, but it would be fair to say that the club’s supporters are pleased with what they are currently seeing from Aribo in the final third of the field.

Meanwhile, a number of the Rangers fans have recently been highly critical of one player in particular.

Tottenham are convinced Giovani Lo Celso is a Premier League superstar in the making.

According to Football Insider, Jose Mourinho and his backroom staff believe Lo Celso can become a midfield maestro like Mousa Dembele and Luka Modric.

A source told the outlet Spurs will have to rely on swap deals and signing free agents in the summer. The club have been scouting for a number of different positions, including central defence, right-back, defensive midfield and striker.

Sky Sports revealed earlier this year that Tottenham have made Southampton star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg their top transfer target. Now, reports have emerged that Lo Celso is central to Mourinho’s plans, as he is considered to be capable of providing creativity and control in the midfield.

The Argentine has been one of the few highlights of the Lilywhites’ difficult season so far. The 24-year-old has worked his way back into contention after recovering from a hip injury, and it is fair to say he hasn’t looked back since.

In recognition of his performances on the pitch, the board decided to make his loan deal permanent (BBC). He actually signed for Spurs on the same day Christian Eriksen left for Inter Milan. He is currently valued at £36m via Transfermarkt.

Lo Celso started on the bench against Manchester United last week before coming on to play the last 20 minutes. He showed he was a class above the rest in the 2-0 win over West Ham on Tuesday night.

Just like his predecessors, Lo Celso is able to dictate the game from a deeper role.

While he was unlucky to miss out on his first Premier League assist after Son’s goal was disallowed, the playmaker has shown he is more than meets the eye, as he put in a shift all over the pitch.

Indeed, he took 119 touches of the ball with a pass accuracy rating of 89%, producing 3 key passes, and making 2 interceptions via SofaScore.

Whether or not Mourinho will move him around remains to be seen, but Spurs certainly have a young talent on their hands and the best is yet to come.

Tottenham fans, do you think Mourinho should build the team around Giovani Lo Celso? Let us know down below!

Southampton welcome Watford to St Mary’s this weekend in what will be an absolutely crucial game down at the bottom of the Premier League.

The Saints find themselves in 19th place with just nine points to their name from 13 games, whereas the Hornets find themselves one point below Southampton in 20th.

Obviously, the loser of this encounter will head into December rooted to the bottom of the table, so there is plenty at stake in the battle for survival.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have conceded the most goals in the division with 31 – the most by a single side in Europe’s top five leagues – whereas Watford have scored the least goals in the Premier League this term with just eight strikes.

Nevertheless, here’s the XI that we think the former RB Leipzig boss should select for this crucial game…

Southampton lined up in a 4-3-3 formation last time out against Arsenal, and were excellent having had 21 shots to the Gunners’ 12 – it was only for some extremely wasteful finishing that the Saints didn’t win the game.

We think that Hasenhuttl needs to stick with this system, but there are also some changes he needs to make in terms of personnel.

The Austrian coach revealed that Stuart Armstrong – who we outlined could soon become Southampton’s most important midfielder – will miss the game due to injury.

Instead of simply bringing Oriol Romeu back into the fold, Hasenhuttl should bring 20-year-old Callum Slattery in from the wilderness to replicate the Scot’s energy and tempo in the middle of the park – none of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Romeu or James Ward-Prowse have the intensity needed to press effectively.

Elsewhere, Hasenhuttl also revealed that Jannik Vestergaard has been ill and may be a doubt for the game, although the Dane wasn’t even on the bench last time out anyway – as a result, Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens should start.

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In attack, Moussa Djenepo must start having began the Arsenal game on the bench following international duty – we have already seen how the Malian can win games alone with moments of brilliance such as against Brighton and Sheffield United, which could be the difference against Watford.

In other Southampton news, Hasenhuttl must be wary of this Watford duo…

Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to name their Moment of the Decade, and they all seem to be in agreement over what it was.

These supporters in question have opted for the second leg of the 2013 Championship playoff final tie against arch-rivals Brighton as their best Palace moment of the last ten years, and it’s hard to argue with them given the circumstances.

With the first leg finishing all-square at Selhurst Park following a goalless draw, it was all to play for at The Amex where the winner would progress to Wembley for a shot at promotion to the Premier League.

Midway through the second-half with the scores still level at 0-0, the Eagles academy graduate popped up with a diving header to send the away end into raptures, before sealing the win with a thumping effort in off the crossbar on his weaker left foot to earn a huge amount of bragging rights over the Seagulls.

The south Londoners eventually navigated their way through the final against Watford, but the semi-final was arguably a sweeter occasion given the circumstances – you can see why the supporters on Twitter have named Zaha’s antics on the coast as their Moment of the Decade.

The first of these two fans said that there was “no debate” to be had over the Palace Moment of the Decade, whereas another mentioned that there have been loads of good ones but it has to be the playoff semi-final win.

This supporter simply referenced the now iconic piece of commentary when Zaha thumped in his second, in which the commentator screamed the Ivorian’s name followed by “oh yes!”

‘Lee Brown’ also named Zaha’s double as his Moment of the Decade in quite straightforward fashion, whereas another supporter said that the 27-year-old’s heroics at The Amex saw the playoff semi-final win get his vote.

Lastly, if you though Lee Brown’s tweet was lacking much detail, LONDON EAGLE only needed two words to get the message across.

In other news, these Crystal Palace fans react as the club identify a potential candidate to replace Zaha…

A number of Newcastle United fans have taken to social media to lavish praise on the performance of Allan Saint-Maximin in Saturday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth.

The 22-year-old is still waiting for his first goal for the club but there is no getting away from the fact that he contributed to his team’s 2-1 win over the Cherries.

According to WhoScored, before being replaced in the final exchanges, Saint-Maximin had two shots, completed four successful dribbles and made two tackles.

He is a threat with his pace and power even if the end product isn’t always there.

And many of the Newcastle fans were impressed with the performance of the attacker, who scored 11 times in 74 games for Nice ahead of a switch to St James’ Park.

Things are starting to look up at Newcastle courtesy of back-to-back wins, and the club’s supporters seem to have found a new hero.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below: