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According to reports in The Mirror, Leicester City are considering offloading up to three of their players in the January transfer window, including centre-back Yohan Benalouane.

The Tunisia international cost the club £5m when they signed him from Serie A outfit Atalanta in 2015 but he has made just 18 appearances in all competitions for the Foxes since then.

The 30-year-old is yet to play a single minute of first-team football for the east Midlands outfit this term – failing to even make any of the matchday squads in the Premier League – and a move away looks certain in the New Year.

Meanwhile, Leeds United’s recent struggles continued on Wednesday night when they were beaten 4-1 by leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers and the defence that seemed so strong at the start of the campaign has been anything but in recent weeks.

Whites boss Thomas Christiansen will already be thinking about making additions in January to try and resurrect the Yorkshire side’s promotion push, and bringing in Benalouane could prove to be a shrewd move.

Here are three reasons Leeds should sign the Leicester centre-back in the upcoming transfer window…

They need a centre-back

After conceding just two goals in their opening seven matches of the Championship season, Leeds have let in 22 goals in 11 matches since and it seems they are missing the presence of Kyle Bartley in the backline.

He and Pontus Jansson forged a formidable partnership at the heart of the Yorkshire outfit’s defence last term, but the Swede looks a completely different player from the dominant one he was then without the 26-year-old alongside him.

With Liam Cooper equally unimpressive right now and Matthew Pennington seemingly not good enough to start on a consistent basis, Christiansen should be looking for an experienced performer like Benalouane in the New Year.

Defensive qualities

Benalouane didn’t appear at all for Leicester City in the Premier League last season until Wes Morgan suffered an injury in March, but he then started their final 11 top flight matches of the campaign as the Foxes avoided being sucked into a relegation battle.

The 30-year-old certainly showed the qualities he brings to the backline and according to Squawka he made 54 interceptions, 27 clearances and five blocks in those outings, while he also won 16 aerial duels and 15 tackles.

Those attributes and the fact he doesn’t mind a battle against an opposition centre-forward could make the 6 foot 2 defender the perfect addition for Leeds in January.

Cut-price fee

Having cost £5m when Leicester signed him in 2015 and having not made many appearances for the club since, it is possible that Benalouane could be available for a cut-price fee in January.

That is something that could tempt Leeds considering they don’t have bottomless pockets, and the chance to bring in a player on a permanent deal rather than on loan (who may not be as committed) should also attract Christiansen and the Yorkshire outfit into making an offer for the 30-year-old.

Do you agree, Leeds fans? Let us know below.

Aston Villa are performing well in the Championship, but they have suffered injuries along the way.

John Terry and Jonathan Kodjia are among the players on the treatment table, and now it has been confirmed that Mile Jedinak could be out for three months.

Injury has hampered the midfielder’s season as he has made just six appearances so far.

There was hope that the 33-year-old would ease his way back into Steve Bruce’s team after scoring a hat-trick for Australia in a World Cup qualifier in November.

After the international break, Jedinak featured in wins over Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland and Ipswich Town, but he played less than 30 minutes in each of them.

A shoulder injury has now put the midfielder on the backfoot, and while there is a chance that he may only be missing for a month, there are also fears that it could be much longer.

As expected, the fans were devastated to hear the news.

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According to reports in the Daily Mail, West Ham United have been joined by Spanish giants Real Madrid in the race to sign in-form Krasnodar striker Fyodor Smolov.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed an impressive campaign domestically for the Russian outfit to catch the attention of the Irons and manager David Moyes, while he also looks set to captain his country as they host the 2018 World Cup next summer.

Even though a move away from Russia would be considered risky by some considering he is the skipper and the huge event starts in just over six months’ time, the Daily Mail says the centre-forward is still open to a move away during the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, six goals in their last three matches has seen Southampton’s previous troubles in front of goal ease slightly – they now have 15 in 15 Premier League matches this term – but manager Mauricio Pellegrino is still likely to look to add to his squad in the New Year.

If a striker in on his wish-list, then a move for Smolov could prove to be a shrewd one.

Here are three reasons Saints should hijack West Ham’s bid to sign the attacker…

They need a new striker

While Charlie Austin has scored three goals in his last three Premier League games, his first start of the season in the top flight only came in the 4-1 win against Everton late last month.

The 28-year-old would certainly have been thinking about his future prior to scoring a brace against the Toffees, and he may not have changed his mind having been dropped to the substitutes’ bench against Man City in the following game.

The former QPR man bounced back by starting and finding the net in the draw against Bournemouth last time out, but it remains to be seen whether his long-term future lies at St Mary’s under Pellegrino.

Meanwhile, the south coast outfit’s other striker options are Shane Long and Manolo Gabbiadini, with the former without a goal in all competitions since February, while the latter has fallen out of favour in recent weeks after struggling in the lone role up top.

It seems clear that Saints need a new centre-forward, and Smolov could be the right addition at the right time.

His attributes

Southampton played the 4-2-3-1 formation most effectively when they had a physical striker like Graziano Pelle and Rickie Lambert in recent seasons, as those players could not only win headers but they could also hold the ball up for the midfield runners.

That is something that Saints don’t have right now – even if Austin has impressed in the last couple of weeks – and they need a new player to take up the mantle to improve their play in the final third.

Standing at 6ft 2in tall Smolov is strong in the air and able to win his fair share of aerial duels, but he is also useful dribbling with the ball too and has proven that he is able to score with both his left and his right foot – he has 13 goals in 15 games for club and country this term.

Price tag

According to the Daily Mail, Smolov could be available for around £15m during the January transfer window and while he may not have played in the Premier League before, that would seem like a good deal for any potential buyer.

The 27-year-old is captain of Russia and should be entering the prime years of his career, while he also speaks fluent English which should allow him to settle quickly.

Southampton don’t like to pay over the odds for a new signing, and they may feel that they can beat West Ham to the signing of the striker given the Irons’ current relegation struggles.

Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.

Everton have reportedly agreed terms on a deal for Kieran Tierney, and fans are absolutely desperate to get a deal done.

According to a report from The Scottish Daily Record, Everton have a deal “agreed in principle” and the Toffees are “well ahead” of Tottenham and Manchester United, who are also chasing the young left back.

Fans are expecting a replacement for the ageing Leighton Baines this summer, and Tierney is just about the perfect man to take over from the Englishman.

The 21 year-old is quite simply a future superstar. He is fast, versatile, loves flying down the wing on overlapping runs, and most importantly he has that extra bit of passion for football that fans love.

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The Scottish international was linked with a move to Goodison last week, and the rumours of a switch have been heating up ever since.

Marco Silva has got a lot of work to do patching up the defence this summer, but signing Tierney would be an excellent starting point.

The report claims the opening bid is around £25m, and it’s starting to look like Everton’s knack of having brilliant full backs is about to continue.

Fans are absolutely loving the report, and they’re desperate for a deal as soon as possible. You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Wolves have wasted no time in adding to their squad this summer, having already made seven signings ahead of their return to the Premier League, but pursuing a deal for winger Ademola Lookman would be their best decision yet.

What’s the story?

Since his move to Everton in January last year Lookman has struggled for game time, making only 15 league appearances for the Toffees in which he has only scored one goal.

However, last season the 20-year-old was sent on loan to RB Leipzig in January and impressed so much that, according to Goal.com, the German side have recently had a £12m bid rejected to take him back on a permanent basis.

Lookman scored five goals and recorded four assists in just 11 matches for Leipzig and would be a huge hit with Wolves fans if the club were to make an attempt to hijack any potential deal.

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A perfect fit

Wolves have already confirmed the permanent signing of former loanee Diogo Jota, who scored 17 goals and provided six assists as Wolves won the Championship last season but, despite often playing on the left, Lookman is right-footed and would fit perfectly into Nuno Espirito Santo’s attacking 3-4-3 formation.

Valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, the England U21 international terrifies defenders with his pace and trickery and is surely ready for a shot at the Premier League. A move away from Goodison Park does look likely this summer for Lookman and Wolves should do all they can to bring the youngster to the West Midlands.

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Fulham fans are still waiting for their first transfer of the summer window following their promotion to the Premier League.

The Cottagers returned to England’s top division for the first time since 2014 after defeating Aston Villa in the playoff final. Slavisa Jokanovic revamped the squad last summer, but the Whites were expected to struggle. However, they earned plenty of praise for their entertaining football that ultimately got them back into the Premier League.

Jokanovic needs to add to his squad if Fulham are to survive next season. The Cottagers sealed a new contract for star player Tom Cairney earlier this month but are yet to make a signing. Given the strength of the newly promoted sides, it will be even more difficult to avoid the drop.

Fulham will need to bolster their squads to cope with the demand of the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup next season. Therefore, they should make a move to sign West Brom defender – Kieran Gibbs. Valued at £7.2m by Transfermarkt, the former Arsenal man is too good to be playing in the Championship.

The former England international was one of the shining lights in a dismal season for the Baggies. He made 36 appearances in all competitions as Darren Moore couldn’t save his side from the drop. Fulham should take advantage and bring him to Craven Cottage.

One issue for Fulham is a lack of Premier League experience in their squad, a problem which Gibbs would solve. The left-back made over 200 appearances for Arsenal including Champions League appearances. Still only 28-years-old, bring Gibbs back to the Premier League is a no-brainer.

Fulham fans, thoughts?

Fulham sent a slight tremor around the footballing world last week when they announced the signing of Ivory Coast international Jean Michael Seri for £25m ahead of their return to the Premier League.

The highly-rated midfielder was heavily linked with both Arsenal and Chelsea this summer and, according to Sky Sports, Barcelona only pulled out of a £36.8m deal at the final moment during last year’s summer window.

The 26-year-old arrives from Ligue 1 side Nice, where he has spent the past three seasons. It was in 2016/17 where he really came to the attention of Europe’s elite though as the diminutive midfielder provided nine assists and secured a spot in the Ligue 1 team of the season, with his side finishing third in the table.

Seri is a central-midfielder who excels at finding a pass, whether that be long range or in and around the penalty area.

With Kevin McDonald holding, Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic may deploy both Seri and club captain Tom Cairney as creative midfielders in an attempt to keep hold of possession next season.

Seri is also a full Ivory Coast international with 18 caps to his name, having made his debut for The Elephants in 2015.

Last season Nice laboured to an eighth place finish in the League, but 5ft 6in Seri still impressed. He managed to provide five assists as well as playing 2.1 key passes per game on average, which would suggest strikers Mickael Le Bihan and the ever controversial Mario Balotelli were off target more often than not.

Seri was dispossessed less than once a game on average last season and with a 90.4% average pass completion rate, it’s clear Fulham have signed a player who regards possession as nine tenths of the law.

Further to the Ivorian’s impressive stats though, beating some of Europe’s top clubs to his signature will also open the doors at Craven Cottage to a world of players who may not have considered the West London club before.

A newly promoted club breaking their transfer budget is a sign of intent and Seri now represents the ambitions of Fulham to remain in the Premier League beyond the coming season.

Seri’s Nice team-mate Maxime Le Marchand also joined the Cottagers in the same deal as Seri. The 28-year-old cost just £3.6m and will provide cover for both the centre-back and left-back roles vacated by Tomas Kalas and Matt Targett, who have both rejoined their parent clubs.

The next big name to be linked with Fulham though has been Bordeaux star Malcom. The Sun recently reported that Fulham were set to battle it out with Inter Milan and Tottenham to sign the 21-year-old Brazilian who is rated at £40.5m by Transfermarkt.

Seeing Seri sign for Fulham will no doubt have an effect on Malcom’s decision and could sway the young winger in favour of the new Premier League side, where he is guaranteed game time and can test himself in the world’s most watched domestic league.

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Rangers are interested in signing Bolton Wanderers defender Mark Beevers as an alternative to Jake Cooper, according to The Express.

What’s the story?

The 28-year-old central defender joined Bolton in 2016 and has been ever-present at the heart of their defence ever since, making 89 league appearances for the Trotters, scoring eight goals.

Beevers is in the final year of his contract and is valued at £450,000 on Transfermarkt, so would represent a much cheaper alternative to Rangers target Jake Cooper, who is currently the subject of a stand off between Steven Gerrard’s side and Millwall.

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Experience over youth

Having racked up a wealth of experience in the Championship and League One, Beevers represents a safe option for Gerrard at the back.

He fulfils the brief of a powerful left-sided centre-back, standing at 6ft 4ins tall, and would be much cheaper than Cooper who looks increasingly unlikely to head north of the border this summer.

Beevers would do the job of marshalling the defence and his physical presence would be a great asset both in defence and from set plays.

As Martin Keown turned 52 on Tuesday, we at Football FanCast decided to rank the top 10 quotes and quips that the Arsenal legend has let slip during his time in the limelight.

Of course the great man was born in 1966, the year England ruled the footballing world, something Keown has clearly carried with him for his whole life.

Now working as a pundit for the BBC, we’re treated to classic Keown on Match of the Day and were overjoyed when we heard his dulcet tones as a co-commentator at this summer’s World Cup.

Check out our top 10 Keown quotes here…

10. “That… is a goal.”

Classic, Alan Partridge-esque commentary from Keown at this summer’s World Cup. One of the many highlights of a fantastic tournament in Russia.

9. “Kante’s got so much stamina it’s almost like he’s got an iron lung.”

An iron lung – described on the source of all knowledge (Wikipedia) as “a nearly-obsolete mechanical respirator which enables a person to breathe on their own in a normal manner”. Not the worst description this, but a strange thing to pop into your head when commentating.

8.

Now we’re not questioning Keown’s knowledge of the beautiful game here, but surely there’s something else right that the player under scrutiny could have done with his finish here.

7. “I think we were a little bit intoxicated during the last three minutes of that game and we’ve been hammered ever since.”

The only one that made our top 10 from Keown’s playing days. A lovely bit of word-play on the aftermath of ‘that’ United-Arsenal game and ‘that’ Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty.

6. “There’s a Bobby Moore statue outside Wembley – Harry Maguire’s presence in this team is almost as big as that statue.”

Another from this summer, Keown attempting to praise England’s Harry Maguire but somehow failing to find quite the right words.

5. “Del Bosque has played his hand here. It’s almost like a game of chess.”

Does Martin Keown play chess? A question most likely answered by this piece of commentary on ex-Spain manager Vicente del Bosque. No Martin, playing cards aren’t involved.

4. “Brazil are totally reliant on one player – Neymar and Silva.”

Counting – why learn when you can execute a perfectly timed sliding tackle that’ll pay way more than maths ever will?

3. “He’s got such a great leap. It’s like an NFL basketball player.”

Clearly Keown has never paid too much attention to the American version of football, or any other sport for that matter.

2. 

An absolute classic from England vs Colombia in the round of 16 tie this summer. You have to wonder what books have ever done to Keown?

1. “He said retirement is for old people… and old people die.”

A frank assessment of why Arsene Wenger hadn’t left Arsenal in the summer of 2017 from one of our favourite pundits. This classic had to come in at number one.

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Celtic are hoping to remain on course to match or even better their trophy haul from the last two years, having won the double treble in brilliant fashion. 

Brendan Rodgers has done a brilliant job with the Celtic team ever since he arrived at Celtic Park and the fans hope that long continues, especially into this season. European improvements is at the top of the list for Celtic to achieve this year as no matter how dominant they’re in Scotland, European opposition is often too much for them to contend with.

In a bid to help that, the Hoops should seriously look at bringing Oliver Burke into the club, a player valued at £9 million on Transfermarkt.

Having signed for West Brom last season from RB Leipzig, many people were confident that Burke would be a success in the Premier League due to his electric pace and strong physicality on the ball.

At 21-years-old, Burke has years ahead to improve his game and he could do exactly that with Celtic, where he could become one of their best players. He was limited to just 15 Premier League appearances last season and that wasn’t enough for anyone to judge his true ability but with a loan spell at Celtic, his unbelievable talent could be revealed.

The Hoops have already acquired the services of one forward this summer, as Odsonne Edouard made his loan spell permanent from PSG in a record deal for Celtic. However, the real concern is the force they have let go in Stuart Armstrong and Patrick Roberts which could be perfectly replaced and improved on by bringing in Oliver Burke.

Do you agree… Let us know!