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Danny Mills has dropped a big claim on the potential takeover of Newcastle United as an update emerged involving Mike Ashley.

The Lowdown: Ashley releases statement

The Guardian have recently reported that Ashley released a powerful statement this week after HMRC quietly discontinued a long-running investigation into the tax affairs of the St James’ Park club.

As per the Shields Gazette, Newcastle and its chief executive have also accused the Premier League of what they believe to be anti-competitive behaviour in their decision-making process on the proposed deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

They are looking to take the Premier League to court over the matter and have also taken on an anti-competition case given to them by the Newcastle Consortium Supporters Limited (NCSL), with the EPL given fresh legal papers as Ashley looks to force them to wave through the bid.

The Latest: Mills reacts to Ashley activity

Mills, who is now a pundit after playing for the likes of Leeds United and Manchester City in his career, has since given his thoughts to Football Insider on Ashley’s latest activity, and his view on the potential takeover on Tyneside:

“It’s a case of Mike Ashley being desperate to sell and doing everything he can to get his money.

“But I think he’s right, it does need to be investigated as to why.

“There is the golf super league with Saudi Arabia, we’ve seen all the boxing going on over there as well and other sports.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a reason why they weren’t allowed to take over.

“There’s no better time with all the issues surrounding the so-called ‘big six’ and those smaller clubs can say ‘Hang on a minute, how can you allow this to happen to these other clubs and let them spend what they want but you’re not letting us compete?’

“It isn’t really fair. It’s almost like it’s a monopoly on who can do what they want and spend what they want.”

The Verdict: Ashley seems desperate

Given that there is already an arbitration hearing to take place between Newcastle and the Premier League, it seems as if Ashley is already starting to feel desperate by taking them to another legal battle to try and claim damages.

What the result of the arbitration case would be remains unclear, but the report that the businessman is trying to at least get some compensation from the failed takeover bid suggests that he may not be confident about getting a positive outcome from the saga.

In other news, find out what big claim another pundit has made on the potential takeover!

Many Glasgow Rangers fans are delighted following the outcome of the Scottish Cup fourth round draw.

The Gers progressed to the next round of the competition on Sunday after a comfortable victory over Cove Rangers. The 55-time Scottish champions prevailed 4-0 thanks to a brace from Kemar Roofe and a goal apiece from Nathan Patterson and Jermain Defoe. Their quest to win the domestic double remains on track.

Their reward for making the next stage is a home tie against fierce city rivals Celtic. The Gers have had a good record against the Bhoys so far this campaign, winning twice, drawing once and conceding just one goal along the way (Sky Sports), as well as dethroning their rivals as league champions. However, an Old Firm derby is always a tense affair and could go either way.

The news was shared on Twitter by the Gers’ official Twitter account, and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters. These fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts, with one supporter describing the cup draw as “glorious”.

Let’s see what the Rangers fans had to say below

“Glorious”

Credit: @King_Kamara18

“Class”

Credit: @Declan_1872_

“Take the cup off them and the total meltdown will be a joy to behold.”

Credit: @thenextday13

“Let’s make their season even more miserable”

Credit: @stephdavis32

“You beauty, get in”

Credit: @macmacgill1

“Ruin their season completely”

Credit: @EwanMcElroy

In other news, Rangers have been urged to sign this striker.

Leicester City have made a number of hugely profitable transfer sales in recent years.

The names of Riyad Mahrez, Harry Maguire, Danny Drinkwater and Ben Chilwell immediately spring to mind with the East-Midlanders having accumulated approximately £220m in transfer fees from their departures to Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea respectively.

However, one shrewd move that appears to fall under the radar is the jettisoning of former record signing Ahmed Musa before the 2018/19.

Signed by Claudio Ranieri following Leicester’s miraculous title success from Russian outfit CSKA Moscow, the Nigerian arrived with a big reputation and a costly transfer fee of £16m.

It was thought that he could have “played with” Jamie Vardy, according to the Italian title winner but it did not play out that way.

The 87-cap forward had a disastrous time at the King Power Stadium as he scored just five goals in 33 appearances in all competitions.

Just 18 months after he had signed, Musa left the club albeit temporarily for former employers CSKA Moscow in a loan deal that saw him score seven goals in 16 games.

He had no future at the club upon his return though and just as though it looked like the Foxes were going to sustain a huge loss on him, Saudi outfit Al-Nassr swooped for Musa for an officially undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £15m.

To only make a minimal loss on a player that was dreadful in his spell at the club was a masterstroke by the Foxes and that decision looks even better a couple of years down the line.

After two years with Al-Nassr, Musa, now rated at just £5.4m, is without a club after a move to relegation-bound West Bromwich Albion fell through.

It’s a dramatic fall from grace for the Nigerian but Leicester will be hugely thankful that they cashed in on him when they did.

AND in more news, take a closer look at some of the Foxes’ woeful signings…

Mohamed Elyounoussi has endured a torrid run of form with Celtic recently, which suggests that he won’t be capable of making an impact at Southampton next season, so manager Ralph Hasenhuttl should consider axing him in the summer.

The Norwegian joined the Scottish Premiership side on loan for the second successive season during the summer but after a promising start, the 26-year-old’s form has dropped significantly and he now finds himself on the fringes of the first-team squad.

The winger has 13 goals in all competitions for the Bhoys this season but has now failed to score in any of his last 10 appearances, having found himself relegated to the bench for six of those following a 2-1 home defeat against St Mirren, before being restored to the starting line up for the 0-0 draw with Dundee United at the weekend – a result which saw Rangers secure the title.

Therefore, it is difficult to see the 26-year-old returning to Southampton and forcing his way into Hasenhuttl’s plans, as since signing for the South Coast club from FC Basel in 2018, he has managed no goals and no assists in 19 appearances.

Although his confidence might have been boosted earlier in the season when he was scoring goals fairly regularly, this latest run of form suggests that his goalscoring fortunes are unlikely to turn around anytime soon.

Considering Hasenhuttl has the likes of Moussa Djenepo, Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong available as wingers in his squad, as well as Nathan Tella coming through, it is difficult to see where Elyonoussi would fit in.

Unfortunately for Southampton, his contract there is set to expire in 2023, so they should look to cash in on him rather than keeping him on their books for another two seasons.

The Austrian manager wasn’t really backed to make signings in the winter transfer window, perhaps as a result of the financial impact of the current viral outbreak, and therefore, if he wants to rebuild his squad this summer, then he may need to axe some of the deadwood in his squad.

Elyounoussi is valued at £10.8 million by Tranfsermarkt so holds some decent value, and therefore, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he is one of the first players out of the door during the off-season, as unfortunately, he has been a flop for Southampton in his time with the club.

And, in other news… Southampton signing £36m-rated beast would be shades of Graziano Pelle

MatériaMais Notícias

O Remo continua crescendo em número de sócios-torcedores neste ano. Até agora em 2016, foi o terceiro clube que mais angariou associados (2.495), atrás apenas de São Paulo e Corinthians.

Com isso, o Remo começa ameaçar outro grande clube carioca. O Leão Azul já deixou para trás o Botafogo e atualmente ocupa o 15º lugar do Torcedômetro, ranking nacional do Movimento por um Futebol Melhor, com 16.173 sócios. Na 14ª colocação está o Vasco, com 17.466 associados.

RelacionadasFutebol MelhorÍdolos, experiências e benefícios: clubes inovam e atraem sóciosFutebol Melhor17/03/2016

Os sócios aproveitam descontos em produtos e serviços das empresas parceiras do Movimento por um Futebol Melhor: Ambev, Unilever, Sky, Pepsico, Premiere, Centauro.com.br, Easy Taxi, Méliuz e Bic.

Em muitos casos, os associados têm o valor investido na mensalidade sendo retornado na forma de descontos. Com isso, os sócios, os clubes e as empresas são beneficiados.

O Brasil possui mais de 1 milhão e 100 mil associados, de acordo com dados do Movimento por um Futebol Melhor. O projeto conta com 69 agremiações e contempla equipes de todas as regiões do país.

يأمل نادي برشلونة الإسباني، في التعاقد مع الدولي النرويجي، إيرلينج هالاند، مُهاجم فريق بوروسيا دورتموند الألماني، في نافذة الانتقالات الصيفية القادمة.

وكان رئيس برشلونة، خوان لابورتا، قد التقى بوكيل أعمال اللاعب، مينو رايولا، أول أمس الإثنين، لمناقشة إمكانية التعاقد مع النرويجي هذا الصيف.

ويريد برشلونة بقوة الحصول على خدمات النرويجي الدولي، فهو الهدف رقم 1 لدى لابورتا وإدارة النادي الكتالوني، ويفكر في إمكانية عقد صفقات تبادلية مع بوروسيا دورتموند للتعاقد مع اللاعب الشاب.

وحسب صحيفة “سبورت” الكتالونية، فإن هالاند حدد فقط شرطًا واحدًا من أجل الموافقة على ارتداء قميص برشلونة في الوسم المُقبل.

اقرأ أيضًا – بعد طلب تشافي.. الشارقة الإماراتي يُعلن عودة ريكاردو إلى برشلونة

وأكدت الصحيفة أن هالاند لا يفكر في المال أو الراتب والحوافز التي سيحصل عليها وما يهمه فقط هو المشروع الرياضي.

وأوضحت أن هالاند أخبر المُقربين منه، أن إذا لم ينجح برشلونة في التأهل إلى مسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا بالموسم القادم 2022/2023 لن ينتقل إلى النادي الكتالوني.

برشلونة بعد مُضي 17 جولة في الدوري الإسباني، يتواجد في المرتبة الثامنة في سلم ترتيب الدوري الإسباني بـ24 نقطة، وبفارق 5 نقاط عن أقرب مركز مؤهل لدوري الأبطال، حيث يتواجد أتلتيكو مدريد في المركز الرابع بـ29 نقطة.

David Sullivan and Co at the London Stadium may rue missing out on a deal for West Ham United to sign now Newcastle striker Callum Wilson in the last transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to ExWHUemployee, the Irons have made several moves to sign Wilson previously, including in the aftermath of AFC Bournemouth’s relegation from the Premier League last season, as per Sky Sports.

However, Wilson joined Steve Bruce’s St. James’ Park natives in a £20m move and took his tally for the term to 10 in 19 top-flight games, after scoring a match-winning brace against Everton on Saturday.

The 28-year-old was widely linked with a move away from the south coast after the Cherries’ five-year stay in the Premier League came to an end last summer, with West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur said to have been keen to rival Newcastle for the England international.

Wilson now has 51 career top-flight goals to his name following a double at Goodison Park this weekend, and is on course for his best single-season return having only once boasted a double-digit tally for Bournemouth when scoring 14 in 30 games during the 2018/19 term.

West Ham failed to sign a striker in the summer market and are now again on the hunt for centre-forward reinforcements after selling Sebastien Haller to AFC Ajax, with RB Leipzig’s Hwang Hee-Chan considered to be the Irons’ last hope ahead of Monday’s deadline.

GSB may rue failed Wilson swoop

Wilson has been widely praised since his move to Newcastle last summer, with the striker settling into life on Tyneside like a duck to water with a career-best top-flight goals-to-games record of 0.52 thus far.

And that’s despite often being starved off service at St. James’ Park, to such a degree that it sparked Toon icon Malcom Macdonald to claim “it makes me want to cry†while waxing lyrical over the “excellent footballer and finisher†when speaking with The Sun.

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Matt Holland has also only been able to sing Wilson’s praises, telling talkSPORT via quotes by The World News: “Goals give you a chance of winning games and Callum Wilson has been one of the best signings in the Premier League this season.

“He offers them something they haven’t had for a long time. He is a threat in behind, he is a constant menace, he is a goalscorer and he has made such a difference to that Newcastle team.â€

Few players have scored more often in the league this season than Wilson, who now boasts by far the highest contribution rate of any player in the division having scored 48% of Newcastle’s 21 goals to date.

Midfielder Tomas Soucek is presently West Ham’s top-scorer with seven of their 30 strikes ahead of Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen (5), before a drop off to Angelo Ogbonna and Pablo Fornals who boast two each ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Liverpool.

Bowen (37) and Soucek (35) also lead the way in east London for total shots taken, on par with Wilson (36) despite the forward playing 110 fewer minutes than the Irons’ Czech titan.

Needless to say, then, that Wilson would have been able to offer David Moyes a lot had Sullivan and the Irons board been able to strike a deal with Bournemouth. They would also likely not be leaving it late to potentially sign a striker this month after Haller’s exit.

AND in other news, West Ham eye late loan for teen gem who “makes the game look easy 

Wayne Rooney has been backed by former Derby County midfielder Rob Lee to succeed Phillip Cocu on a permanent basis.

Rooney has previously made it clear he wants to permanently take over as Derby manager after Cocu was sacked by the club, with the Manchester United legend having been installed as caretaker boss.

The former England captain is in interim charge at Pride Park and is considered to be a genuine contender, with a John Terry and Ashley Cole combination also reportedly an option, according to The Mirror.

It’s claimed the Rams are unlikely to appoint their new manager until Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan’s takeover has been completed.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast editor James Beavis, Lee believes that the board “might as well” give the former Red Devils forward the job on a full-time basis if Terry and Cole are an option.

He told FFC:

“If you’re going to give it to someone like that, you might as well give it to Rooney. Why give it to John Terry or Ashley Cole if Rooney is there?

“He’s already being paid by the club, his stature is as good as them, he’s as inexperienced as they are – I know John Terry’s been assistant to Dean Smith at Aston Villa, but he’s never been a manager.

“Not saying he won’t be good, but Rooney’s already there, I don’t see why you would pay more money for those players if you’re going to go down that route.

“If you’re going for an experienced manager, like Sam Allardyce, then it’s different. Maybe Rooney could near underneath him? But it totally depends on who takes over the club.”

It’s surely a no-brainer at this point, isn’t it?

Rooney has played 35 games for Derby in all competitions, scoring seven goals and supplying three assists, via Transfermarkt.

His knowledge of the game is arguably second-to-none, as his impressive resume more than speaks for itself – five Premier League titles, one Champions League trophy, one FA Cup and four English League Cups during his time at Old Trafford.

The 35-year-old then steered Derby to just their second win of the season against Millwall which lifted the Rams off the bottom of the Championship table and ended their 12-match winless streak in the process.

If he is genuinely serious about getting his first job in management, then surely there is no better place to start, as his former England teammate Frank Lampard cut his teeth at Pride Park before he became Chelsea boss.

Memphis Depay shined while on international duty for the Netherlands versus Spain in a friendly game last night.

The match finished 1-1 as Manchester United star Donny van de Beek cancelled out an opener from Sergio Canales, with Premier League players such as Nathan Ake, Gini Wijnaldum, Hector Bellerin and Rodri on show.

However, it was the performance of Depay that may have caught the eye for several members of the Goodison Park faithful.

Indeed, the Merseyside club were linked with a move for the Holland international back in June, and may well rekindle their interest in the January transfer window given that he seems to have opened the door to a possible move away from Lyon this week.

Depay shone for his country

Indeed, Depay shone for his country on the night, achieving a 100% shot accuracy and also an 86% pass success rate. The 26 year-old also won no fewer than five of his duels, and managed to record five crosses, three successful dribbles and one key pass in the game (Fotmob).

This is not the first time that he has impressed while on international duty either, as former Toffees boss Ronald Koeman once described him as ‘a joy to watch’ when he was manager of the Oranje.

Depay could be a good signing for Everton

Indeed, Depay could be a good signing for the Blues as he is more than capable of stepping in if the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison are injured or misfiring in front of goal.

He has already scored five goals and supplied a further three assists in ten appearances in Ligue 1 so far in the 2020/21 season (Transfermarkt), highlighting that he has an eye for both a goal and an assist.

Nonetheless, time will tell if Ancelotti opts to renew his summer interest when January rolls around.

In other news, find out which Everton player has been linked with a January exit here!

Portsmouth are looking to move Paul Downing on after the arrival of Danish defender Rasmus Nicolaisen, according to The News.

With the summer transfer window currently open, manager Kenny Jackett has opted to bolster his defensive options, bringing in the likes of Cameron Pring, Callum Johnson and Sean Raggett.

Following that trio of new signings, Jackett also agreed a deal to bring in Nicolaisen earlier this week..

The youngster’s arrival to Fratton Park has added strength in depth at the back for Pompey but a latest report has now claimed that Downing could be set to leave as a result.

The 28-year-old defender, valued at £225k, arrived at the club in 2019 after leaving Blackburn Rovers and has since made 16 appearances for the first team.

Downing’s chances of appearing for Jackett’s side in the starting eleven do seem to be in doubt with the likes of Raggett, Nicolaisen and Jack Whatmough all vying for a place.

A poor start to the new League One season for Pompey has seen them fail to find the back of the net, but they have kept two clean sheets in consecutive 0-0 draws against Shrewsbury Town and Rochdale without Downing’s involvement.

Downing is better off moving elsewhere and finding first team football, as his Portsmouth spell has not really gone according to plan.

Limited appearances and the fact he is now fourth choice leaves him with little chance of appearing in what is set to be one of Portsmouth’s most important campaigns to date, given that they must ensure promotion.

Do you think Downing should stay at Fratton Park? Let us know in the comments section below…