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Both Leicester City and Everton are finishing the season well, with European football in sight for both clubs.

The Foxes and the the Toffees will be looking to maintain their form and head into the summer with plenty to offer any potential signings, and today has seen the pair linked with a move for Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has been one of few shining lights for the Cottagers this term.

The big Serbian striker has been in fine form when given the chance and will be one of the players Fulham will be looking to cash in on during the summer as a rebuild looks certain to take place at Craven Cottage.

Mitrovic would indeed prove a fine signing for both Everton and Leicester, with both clubs crying out for someone who can fill the central striker role and bring others into play, as well as get amongst the goals themselves.

While at Fulham, he has proved himself to be a more than capable striker who can smash in the goals when given the chance.

His time at Newcastle United might not have been the most successful, but Mitrovic has proven that he can hang with the big boys so to speak, and he’d be a fine addition to both the Foxes and the Toffees.

Big, strong, and with a real eye for goal when the chances are presented to him, Mitrovic would more than hold his own at either club and be a massive boost to the attacking threats on offer for both Brendan Rodgers and Marco Silva.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s dry spell in the transfer market surely has to come to an end this summer. Daniel Levy has been stringent in his dealings during the last three windows and the club are well overdue a handful of new signings.

With the stadium move officially complete and the beginning of a new era well underway, there can be no more excuses for the club in the next window.

And if reports in recent months are to be believed then it would be no surprise to see Spurs bid for Ivan Perisic, who signed for Inter Milan in a £17.1 million deal from Wolfsburg in 2015.

According to a report published by Tuttosport (via the Daily Mail) in February, Mauricio Pochettino was impressed by the Croatia international when his side faced Inter in the Champions League group stage and Spurs are reportedly preparing to make a bid for his services in the summer.

And now Corriere dello Sport (via Sports Witness) have brought a similar story to the surface once again this week, claiming that Spurs and Arsenal are two sides who could be interested in prising Perisic away from the San Siro.

With these reports in mind, Football FanCast writers have been discussing whether Spurs should be targeting the experienced attacking midfielder this summer and it’s fair to say his credentials have divided opinion.

Here’s what FFC writers have had to say about Tottenham’s reported interest…

James Beavis

“For me, yes they should. While many may argue they need some pace out wide you also need to be guaranteed to be getting a player with actual quality. Tottenham have taken punts on pacey players like Georges-Kevin Nkoudou before and it hasn’t paid off. It is different with Ivan Perisic. Signing him would not be a risk because he has proven time and time again that he can deliver at the highest level. He may not be the quickest but he would make a huge impact and would get fans off their seats in other ways – by delivering consistently.”

Matt Dawson

“Tottenham need greater depth in their side but a move for Perisic given his age would be questionable. Pochettino’s starting XI is pretty settled when everyone is fit and he may struggle to find a way into the team. Although the Croatian is a player who has done it on the biggest stages before, he is past his best. His inconsistent form with Inter this term shows that. I think he’s a really good player but Spurs should search for better alternatives.”

Harry Elnaugh

“Perisic is a player who can deliver consistently in the final third – as we all found out in the summer, at England’s expense – but he would be a surprising addition considering Spurs’ transfer policy focuses heavily on signing players who will grow into stars in the future. The Croatian is already at that level and promises to make an immediate impact in north London. He has proved he can do it on just about every stage and he could form a lethal partnership with Harry Kane”

Jack Saville

“Levy would be a fool to sanction a move for Perisic. There is no doubt he is an immensely gifted footballer with a big-game mentality but his skill set is too closely aligned to that of Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min. Add in the fact that he wouldn’t contribute to the homegrown quota and the case for his purchase looks weak.”

For the most part, Liverpool’s signings have surpassed expectations over the last few seasons. When you look at players like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, it’s fair to say that the Reds’ recent form has been driven, in large part, by the brilliant form of signings made by Jurgen Klopp.

However, not every signing over the last few years has been faultless. In fact, the Reds have had their fair share of misses as of late, and Belgian forward Divock Origi certainly falls into that camp.

Since signing for the club from Lille, the Belgian has been below par, it’s fair to say, with his development not going as planned. A mixed campaign at Wolfsburg last season failed to generate much excitement, and whilst he’s been a fairly regular member of the Liverpool matchday squad as of late, he’s hardly impressed.

Nonetheless, maybe there’s still time for him to impress. His contract expires in 2020, and so if Liverpool want to get any money for the Belgian, a sale this summer makes sense.

The only way that the Belgian will be able to avoid being in the discussions when Klopp discusses potential sales this summer is by having a strong end to the season, and with 3 Premier League games left this term, he’s running out of time.

That said, with Liverpool fighting for a Premier League title, if Origi is able to bag a winning goal to help seal the trophy, he’ll earn his place in Liverpool folklore – and likely a new contract in the process.

There’s no doubting his commitment or work-rate, but that can only take him so far. He needs to score more goals, and an important one towards the end of the season would cause most fans to forget all about his misgivings. He’s proven he’s got the goalscoring touch, with a goal against Everton of particular importance, but he needs to do it more often. Maybe, with the Champions League reaching its climax, he’ll get a chance or two on the field in the coming weeks.

Make no mistake, if he doesn’t impress between now and the end of the season, he could be facing an exit. However, a goalscoring end to the campaign could change everything.

Liverpool thoughts – do you want him to stay? Let us know below!

Celtic are yet to find a suitable candidate for the permanent job, but it seems every Tom, Dick and Harry are throwing their name into the hat – and Bayern Munich legend Willy Sagnol the latest punter.

According to The Scottish Sun, the Frenchman, 42, is chasing a move into management in Britain and was linked to the Huddersfield job in January to succeed outbound, David Wagner.

The Hoops are still chasing a permanent manager since Brendan Rodgers’ premature departure to Leicester with Neil Lennon, a man who is also said to be keen on the job, stepping into the caretaker role until the end of the season.

The Bayern Munich legend’s representative Alex McDonald recently confirmed that his client would be applying for the role.

McDonald announced: “Willy is definitely interested in the Celtic job and will apply in the summer.”

What is his pedigree, you might ask?

Sagnol was the head coach of France u21s before moving his tactical talents to Bordeaux in 2014 where he spent nearly two years donning a points-per-game ratio of 1.50 (as per Transfermarkt). More recently he has served as the interim manager at Bayern Munich and assistant to Carlo Ancelotti.

As much as we can appreciate that every manager needs to start somewhere, recruiting the relatively untested Frenchman could have potentially disastrous consequences.

Celtic are chasing a historic ten league titles in a row and what they need now is someone who really understands the club and what they are trying to achieve. Indeed, in an ideal world, the perfect candidate would have an extensive range of experience at the top level of football as well as some appreciation for the cultural significance of the club and Scottish football. Willy Sagnol does not. For Peter Lawwell and those behind the scenes at Celtic Park to take a punt on the Frenchman would be taking a huge unnecessary risk; one which could backfire and plummet Celtic into the same position of uncertainty come next season.

Disclaimer: we are not hinting Lennon should get the job, though it may seem like it. His archaic style seems a little counter-intuitive to future progression.

Celtic fans, would you be happy with the untested Sagnol? Let us know in the comments below…

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Ryan Sessegnon has once again been linked with Tottenham Hotspur from Fulham ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Fulham left-winger is a versatile player, having played left-back and right-wing as well in his short career with the Cottagers.

Tottenham will have to be quick to acquire his services with reported interest from Juventus sure to raise the price of the youngster, who is rumoured to be valued at around £40m.

Sessegnon was expected to be one of the young stars of the Premier League this season, but along with his Fulham side, he’s struggled to make the impact everyone hoped for.

At just 18 years old though, it’s easy to forget how young he is, and there’s plenty of potential that Pochettino could work with and develop similarly to how he has with Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Harry Winks.

Despite the undoubted potential of the youngster, fans have suggest that perhaps the price of a player like Sessegnon just isn’t worth it, especially with the stadium debts incurred from the move to the new ground.

It’s divided opinion amongst fans, but there are others who believe he could be a very shrewd piece of business for Pochettino…

This Twitter user probably sums it up the best.

It has been a frustrating season to be a Middlesbrough supporter hasn’t it?

After starting the 2018/19 campaign in positive fashion, the Smoggies have lost their way somewhat since the turn of the year which has resulted in them slipping out of the top-six in the Championship.

Despite suffering a dreadful run of six consecutive defeats between March and April, a recent upturn in form has given Tony Pulis’ side a sniff of a chance of securing a play-off place on Sunday. If Boro can overcome the challenge of Rotherham United on Sunday, they could leapfrog Derby County if the Rams slip up against West Bromwich Albion.

Regardless of what happens at the weekend, it is clear that Pulis needs to make some key alterations to his squad heading into next season yet in order to get the necessary funds, he may have to cut ties with Marcus Tavernier.

Despite being one of Boro’s most prodiguous young talents, the 20-year-old has only featured on 28 occasions in all competitions in which he has scored just five goals (via Transfermarkt).

Although he clearly has the potential to become a top player, it may be beneficial for both parties if he continues his development elsewhere as he has been far too inconsistent this season.

According to the Sun, Tavernier is on AFC Bournemouth’s radar with Eddie Howe reportedly weighing up a summer swoop for the winger.  If this is indeed true, Pulis should consider cashing in on Tavernier as it would make more sense than keeping him at the Riverside Stadium where he has been limited to substitute appearances in recent weeks.

What do you think Middlesbrough fans? Should Pulis sell Tavernier in the summer? How much do you think he is worth in the current market? Let us know below.

Kelechi Iheanacho: from inspired signing to utter shocker.

Once upon a time, Kelechi Iheanacho was battling for titles in the sky blue of Manchester City, but two years on a lot has changed, and now he can be found handing them to his former side in the royal blue of Leicester City (we are, of course, referring to that utterly abysmal miss at the Etihad on Monday night).

Ah, it makes for cringe-worthy viewing (unless you’re a Manchester City fan – of course).

The Nigerian’s close-range flunk, which scarpered away from goal like a video game fanatic with an aversion to sunlight, was a pretty accurate representation of how his career has panned out since joining Craig Shakespeare’s Leicester City side for a jaw-dropping £25million in 2017.

Side note: we had genuinely forgotten how much Iheanacho cost the Foxes and we must admit our mouths are currently ajar.

The 22-year-old used to be the golden boy of Manchester City, bursting onto the scene with immeasurable amounts of raw talent and ambition, and netting an impressive 14 goals in his debut season. However, in a matter of two seasons, this has all come crumbling down as he sits precariously on the edge of flop status.

When we attempt to dissect the tragic transfer tale that is Iheanacho to Leicester, it almost feels like the player gave up when City decided to sell him on – his dreams and ambitions of playing for a big six club crushed there and then. He had peaked in his eyes, and there was no getting back. Which is a shame really given the positive direction the club are heading in under Brendan Rodgers.

The once prolific super sub has netted just ten times in 61 games in all competitions for his new side, and for the price they paid, that makes for desperately poor reading.

Leicester fans, just how bad has Iheanacho been? Do you see any way for him to come back from this? Let us know in the comments below!

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The war of words between Patrick Bamford and Aston Villa fans has continued as Leeds were denied a shot at promotion on Wednesday night.

Bamford’s side went 2-0 up on aggregate, only to let their lead slip and lose 4-3 across both ties with Derby. But the striker found himself at the centre of yet more controversy after being booked for diving.

This came after the 25-year-old had just returned from a ban for a theatrical incident against Aston Villa.

As a result, Villa fans absolutely ripped into the Leeds man after yet another mishap in midweek.

One supporter called him a shocking excuse of a footballer whilst another said he had more interest in cheating than scoring goals.

A further fan called for him to be banned again as the Villa Park faithful launched a scathing attack on the Whites’ front man.

Bamford had initially been at the centre of a spat with Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi in the lead up to the play-offs. After Leeds had controversially played on and scored after an injury to Jonathan Kodjia, the Dutchman went towards Bamford before the Englishman threw himself to the ground.

Following his performance on Wednesday, it appears as though there’s been no love lost between him and Villa.

Here’s the best of the reaction from Twitter.

Like the rest of his team-mates, Nathan Redmond really struggled last term as Southampton just about escaped relegation.

The 25-year-old was unable to replicate the sort of performances he displayed in his debut season at St. Mary’s, going on to finish the 2017/18 Premier League campaign with just a sole goal to his name.

This time round, however, things have been much better, with Redmond really going up another gear under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

And having shown Hasenhuttl his true quality, the Austrian is now ready to build his team around the England international.

“He [Redmond], Pierre Hojbjerg and a few more players we have a good core and that’s the reason why we want to build a new team around these guys,” Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo.

His massive slump in form can be seen as cause for concern. But even so, Redmond is still the type of player you want your team to be designed around.

He has the quality to win games; therefore, the team should be built in a way that brings the best out of him.

And from Hasenhuttl’s perspective, he looks well worth it. Redmond is perfect for the style of football the former RB Leipzig manager is trying to encourage at St. Mary’s, possessing the pace to cause damage on the counter and energy to press high.

Under Hasenhuttl, the former Norwich City man has the potential to spearhead Southampton to much better results next season.

Southampton fans, how big of a role do you expect Redmond to play in the next campaign? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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Bolton Wanderers are set to make a decision on the future of Tottenham Hotspur target Luca Connell in the coming days, per The Bolton News.

What’s the word?

The club are in dire financial trouble and were relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2018-19 season; they will begin the next campaign with a 12-point deduction after being placed into administration.

The Bolton News report that the club is now attempting to raise funds and that they see more value in young prospects as opposed to first-team stars, with Connell wanted by a number of clubs.

The Sun claimed earlier this month that Spurs were among the suitors for the 18-year-old, who is also wanted by Wolves, Everton and Norwich.

Connell’s contract actually expires next month but Bolton will be due a £300,000 fee due to compensation rules relating to young players, and they are now set to decide whether or not they will attempt to extract a fee from any interested party.

The teenager plays primarily as a defensive midfielder and made 10 Championship appearances in 2018-19.

Levy time

This could work out brilliantly for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

Bolton are clearly desperate to sell in order to raise funds, however negligible the price may seem for a Premier League club, and Connell is a highly-rated youngster who would fit right in with Spurs’ academy.

He has been capped at youth level by the Republic of Ireland, playing for the Under-17s and the Under-18s and appears primed to make the step up.

Of course, he is unlikely to move to Spurs and instantly start strutting his stuff at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but this is a low-risk, high-reward deal that Levy will surely love.

If he doesn’t make it, Spurs are almost guaranteed to make a profit; if he does, they’ve got a star on the cheap.