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Leicester City will be subjected to a severe test of their top four credentials this weekend as they face Manchester City.

The Foxes host Pep Guardiola’s table-toppers at the King Power Stadium on Saturday evening, with a victory potentially going a long way to Leicester securing a place in the Champions League.

What changes could Brendan Rodgers make from the 3-1 FA Cup success over Manchester United before the international break?

All of the Foxes’ internationals came through the recent break unscathed so there won’t be any enforced changes at the weekend, but there could be a couple made for tactical reasons.

The defence should stay the same, with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel closely guarded by a back three of Wesley Fofana, Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu.

Meanwhile, there is likely to be one change at wing-back. Rodgers has revealed that £27m-rated Portuguese defender Ricardo Pereira is fit to return, so he could replace Marc Albrighton on the right. Timothy Castagne should remain on the left.

Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tielemans have dovetailed expertly in recent weeks so it is difficult to see that pairing disrupted for this match.

Another alteration is likely to occur slightly further forwards, where James Maddison can also return to the fray having missed the last four Premier League games. The former Norwich City man could replace Ayoze Perez in the number 10 position.

Elsewhere, the forward line should remain the same despite both Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy being in completely contrasting form.

The Nigerian was recently named Premier League Player of the Month for March after five goals in just three matches, whilst Vardy has only scored once in the league since Christmas. He will surely be hoping to get back on the goal trail following his hat-trick in the victory at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season.

AND in more news, take a look at which striker signing Leicester should prioritise in the summer…

In recent comments, Sam Allardyce revealed that on-loan central midfielder Okay Yokuslu is his priority transfer target for West Bromwich Albion in the summer market.

Since joining West Brom from Celta de Vigo on a five-month loan deal back in February, Yokuslu has highly impressed over his eight Premier League appearances for Allardyce’s side, making an average of 1.6 interceptions, two tackles, 2.1 clearances and winning possession 0.9 times per match, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 7.10 – ranking him as the Baggies’ best performer in the top flight.

And, with Celta de Vigo said to be open to selling the £31,000-per-week 27-year-old this summer, Allardyce has revealed that the midfielder is his priority target for West Brom in the upcoming transfer window.

As cited by Birmingham Live, the 66-year-old said: “Let’s talk about Okay playing for West Brom in the Premier League, because the first thing we’ll do if we stay up is sign him up, absolutely. It’ll be the first thing on the agenda – get him signed!”

Transfer Tavern Take

Considering just how well Yokuslu has taken to Premier League football in his short time at West Brom, it is not difficult to imagine many other top-flight sides also being keen on a move for the Turkey international come the end of the season.

And, with the Baggies currently sitting eight points behind 17th placed Newcastle United in the league standings, it would appear rather likely, at present, that West Brom will be playing their football in the Championship next season, something that would almost certainly rule them out of the race to land Yokuslu.

In other news: West Brom are plotting a £17m summer swoop for this star likened to Yaya Toure – find out more here!

According to Football Insider, Southampton are keeping tabs on midfielder Harry Winks ahead of the summer transfer window.

Southampton eye Winks

Winks, who currently plays for Tottenham, has made just 10 Premier League appearances so far this campaign (Transfermarkt), and therefore appears to no longer be a part of Jose Mourinho’s plans.

As such, the Saints are said to interested in taking him to the south coast, with Ralph Hasenhuttl seemingly on the hunt for reinforcements in the middle of the park considering they are also said to be eyeing Yangel Herrera.

Top target

Hasenhuttl and co should make Winks one of their top targets for the summer. While he has not played too much this campaign, he has managed 167 appearances for Spurs throughout his career, has considerable Champions League and Europa League experience, and also has 10 caps for England to his name.

Former Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino is a huge fan of the 25-year-old, previously comparing him to Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez (Goal.com), while former Spurs coach Russell Small said he plays like Zinedine Zidane – high praise indeed. Those comparisons may be over-the-top, but they illustrate the talent Winks possesses.

At Southampton, under the tutelage of Hasenhuttl and with a bigger role in the team, the central midfielder could go some way to fulfilling his potential. For the potential fee of between £15m and £20m, which is what Tottenham are said to be looking for, it could be an absolute bargain (The Daily Mirror).

In other news, Rangers fans are livid at this journalist’s comments.

Reports by Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, earlier this week claimed that Lazio are weighing up a potential summer swoop for West Ham defender Fabian Balbuena, which David Moyes cannot block without risking a major blunder.

The Serie A outfit are said to be considering a host of centre-back options to improve Simone Inzaghi’s squad, as he prepares to lose both Wesley Hoedt and Matteo Musacchio.

Hoedt is expected to return to Southampton once his loan deal expires after failing to establish himself at the Stadio Olimpico, while Musacchio is likely to be released just five months on from his arrival from AC Milan.

Balbuena is claimed to have previously been a player Lazio have targeted to add depth to the centre-back group in Rome, and he could be the subject of future efforts should he leave West Ham at the end of his contract in June.

The Paraguayan is expected to have desires of testing himself in a new environment after three years at the London Stadium following a £6.5m move from Brazilian side Corinthians during Manuel Pellegrini’s maiden transfer window at the helm with the Irons.

He has been linked with a potential return to South America with a move to Flamengo touted, along with rival interest from Internacional, a Saudi Arabian side and a team from Major League Soccer.

Balbuena’s agent Renato Bittar also confirmed last month that he was already “talking with several teams” with a focus on securing a move to a European club, but the centre-back had rubbished speculation of previous interest from Lazio.

“I have never received anything from Lazio. I only read the rumours on social media,” Balbuena told Versus Radio, via quotes shared by La Lazio Siamo Noi, in February.

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It remains to be seen whether Lazio’s interest in Balbuena is genuine this time around, but Moyes cannot block him from leaving West Ham either way, with the 29-year-old having fallen heavily out of favour at the London Stadium in recent months.

Moyes suggested recently that the Irons may still explore awarding Balbuena a new contract as his exit was no guarantee, and heaped praise on the “brilliant” £4.5m-rated enforcer.

However, the Hammers’ 3-2 win over Leicester City last Sunday was the first time that Balbuena had been seen on the field for a Premier League fixture since December 27, having come on to replace the injured Aaron Cresswell early in the second half.

Balbuena had stated that he has been fit throughout his time on the fringes, but he was overtaken by Craig Dawson in Moyes’ pecking order and overlooked when Angelo Ogbonna sustained a high ankle sprain in February.

To now try and retain a player clearly out of favour would be seen as a huge blunder by Moyes, by locking West Ham into paying potentially another £2m in wages to a £40,000-per-week outcast seemingly fifth-choice in his central defensive pecking order.

With Moyes also on the hunt for additional options despite loanee Dawson triggering a £2m permanent move from Watford and Frederik Alves being backed for a senior role next term, the Paraguayan could even be the sixth or seventh-choice at the London Stadium.

Balbuena may feel he can still regain a prominent role at West Ham if he sticks around for another season, but Moyes should be directing him towards the exit door and urging him to join Lazio if the chance arises.

AND in other news, David Moyes could discover his Jesse Lingard replacement in a “gifted” £18m-rated maestro…

As Manchester City gear up for their FA semi-final clash against Chelsea this afternoon, manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that club legend Sergio Aguero is still unfit and will not take part (via football.london) – prompting many Sky Blues to react as this news emerges. 

Aguero, who scored a brilliant looping header in City’s last FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea back in 2013, will not play today for Guardiola’s side as the boss confirms he is still not ready following his latest injury.

Bar the Argentine, every other member of the senior squad is fit and ready to do their part when called upon – with the Sky Blues still remarkably in contention for all four major trophies this season.

City edged past Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League second leg quarter final tie midweek and now take on the west Londoners in a bid to reach their second FA Cup final in three seasons.

Flocking to this injury news, which one fan called ‘sad’, Aguero not being able to feature does come as disappointing given his contract will be up at the end of the season and supporters may want to see as much of him as possible, especially in a knockout match such as this one, which is made for heroes to step up and be counted.

Find all of their reactions down below.

Man City fans react as Aguero misses Chelsea

“Man is so washed. I can’t believe it”

Credit: @Relly_95

“finished player. sad”

Credit: @jessealordiah

“it’s a horrible ending for him but he’s lifting 4 trophies at the end of the season so…”

Credit: @ttomconnolly

“He’s finished”

Credit: @WeavusChrist

“this is a sad ending”

Credit: @mcfc_kai

“Disappointed, but not surprised.”

Credit: @MCFC_Liban

“Something is up. I do not understand it.”

Credit: @CharlesMCanada

“Yeah man I’m hurt”

Credit: @Invisibleman137

In other news: Man City fans also flocked to a Romano update, find out more here.

Sunderland are currently stuck in a horrible rut.

Lee Johnson’s men haven’t won in five matches and in the space of a fortnight; they’ve seen their automatic promotion hopes dusted.

On the chalkboard

Sunderland’s chances of securing promotion this season won’t be made any easier by the news emerging regarding Aiden McGeady.

The Irishman missed their 2-2 draw with Hull City in midweek because of a bruised foot which, given he’s got 13 assists to his name this term, was a huge blow.

It doesn’t look good for McGeady’s involvement this weekend either. Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon, Johnson admitted: “I would put him at 50-50.”

The boss continued: “He is tough and he wants to play, but his foot is still very bruised even though it is only a superficial injury, if you like – it’s nothing bone or ligament related.”

Consequently, the manager may have to start thinking about alternatives.

The solution

When the Black Cats drew with Hull it was Jordan Jones who started on McGeady’s favoured left side.

Next to Jones were Josh Scowen and Lynden Gooch but they put in two different performances.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-sunderland-transfer-rumours-and-news-grigg-denayer-louis-dreyfus-sanderson-melamed” title=”Latest Sunderland transfer news and views!”]

Gooch stood out on the right-hand side and was a menace for the Tigers’ backline. Scowen, however, isn’t particularly adept in forward areas.

Thus, in order to extract more from Sunderland’s front line, Johnson should consider unleashing Chris Maguire.

The Scot hasn’t started for the Mackems since the current manager’s very first game in charge, a 1-0 defeat to Wigan Athletic.

That’s a run of outings stretching back to the 5th December, a painstaking 27 straight league matches.

Though, there was a spell within that, specifically towards the end of February and the beginning of March where he showed his quality.

Dubbed “very talented” by Steve Parkin, he hasn’t shown many glimpses of that apart from a three-game run.

During the aforementioned time frame, the 32-year-old scored a superb goal against Crewe while picking up assists against Fleetwood and Swindon.

Maguire made his feelings felt in a recent U23 match. He let rip from range and scored a breathtaking strike from long-range against Burnley.

Having endured a spell in the youth team to get his fitness up to scratch, Johnson needs to bring him back into the first team.

AND in other news, SAFC can finally axe McFadzean by signing 18 y/o that Jack Ross thinks is “brilliant”…

Former Premier League striker Dean Windass has exclusively told Football FanCast that he expects Danny Ings to leave Southampton this summer.

Ings’ deal at St Mary’s expires next summer, and he hasn’t yet extended his contract, with growing concerns surrounding his future.

The England striker hasn’t been firing on all cylinders this term, failing to replicate his form from 12 months ago, scoring just 10 Premier League goals all season and only four since Christmas.

Despite failing to hit the heights of last season, Ings is still Southampton’s top scorer, with his goals alone earning the Saints an extra 12 points.

But the Southampton man has already been strongly linked away from the South Coast this summer, with Manchester City and Tottenham both keen, and with just 14 months left on his deal, Southampton might be forced to cash-in on Ings to prevent him from leaving for free next summer.

And that’s exactly what Windass expects to happen. He told Football FanCast:

“Danny Ings will score goals in any team. He’s just a natural goalscorer. There was talk a few weeks ago about him going to Man City.

“He could go to Spurs, Harry Kane leaving, a replacement, depending on who gets the job.

“I can’t see him being at Southampton, I can’t see him signing a new contract, I can’t see Southampton offering him a new contract because they must have a wage cap.

“Southampton are not a club that let players go for free. He’ll get in any top-six team. He’ll get in any team. If you put balls in the box, you know he’ll get goals.”

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee has revealed that he believes his former club West Ham will come up just short in their pursuit to finish in the top four.

After last season’s relegation battle, nobody had the Hammers down to make a serious push to qualify for the Champions League, but after some smart signings and consistency in team selection, David Moyes has put them in a great position.

The arrival of Jesse Lingard from Manchester United in January has further boosted the Hammers’ efforts, especially during Michail Antonio’s latest injury setback, with the England international netting nine goals and notching four assists in the 11 Premier League games he’s played so far.

Speaking on why he thinks West Ham won’t finish in the top four but how it could change the club if they qualify for the Champions League, Lee said exclusively to FFC:

“Yeah, for West Ham to finish there would be an unbelievable achievement but I think they’ll fall short. I hope I’m wrong because it would be great for them.

“It will give them great pulling power if they finish there to bring in some really talented players, because for the top players that’s the pinnacle of their playing career if they make the Champions League.”

Moyes was brought in last season to keep the Hammers in the Premier League, much like in 2018 when he was not offered an extension despite guiding them to safety.

The Hammers are currently in a battle with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur for fourth place and the last Champions League spot, and trail the 4th-placed Blues by three points with five games remaining.

Wayne Rooney’s Derby County left-back Lee Buchanan is attracting interest from the Premier League ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are considering a move for the £1.8 million-rated defender ahead of the upcoming transfer market.

While no figure is quoted in the report regarding how much Derby would be demanding for the 20-year-old, the fact his current deal at Pride Park expires next summer may force the Championship strugglers into a sale.

Derby must not repeat Bogle mistake

Despite having made five appearances in the Championship last season, 2020/21 has undoubtedly been Buchanan’s breakthrough campaign at Pride Park.

So far this term, the 20-year-old has made 34 appearances in the second tier, over which he has provided three assists and has made an average of one interception, 1.6 tackles and 0.4 key passes per game, culminating in a respectable average SofaScore match rating of 6.68.

And, considering how well the England U21 international has fared at Championship level so soon after breaking into the Derby first-team, it would appear as if the defender will continue to improve as he gains more experience in the league.

Indeed, Rooney has stated his belief that Buchanan is already a “top player” and that he would “argue he’s one of the best young left-backs in the country.”

As such, Derby must do all they can to avoid a repeat of the £3.47 million sale of Jayden Bogle to Sheffield United last summer, when the Rams sold one of their brightest stars for just over half of his market valuation of £5.67 million – with the right-back now being worth £6.3 million.

So, come the end of the season, whatever league Derby happen to be playing their football in as of next year, Rooney should make the signing of Buchanan to a new deal his absolute priority, in order to retain one of the club’s most promising young players for as long as possible, as well as increasing his value in the event the club wish to cash in on the defender at some point in the future.

In other news: Lost possession 14x: Derby dud who completed just 7 passes massively let Rooney down – opinion

With a 3-1 deficit to make up and three matches remaining, the West Indies have rung the changes for the fifth one-day international against South Africa in Bridgetown on Wednesday

07-May-2001With a 3-1 deficit to make up and three matches remaining, the West Indies have rung the changes for the fifth one-day international against South Africa in Bridgetown on Wednesday.Leon Garrick, Nixon McLean and Wavell Hinds have all been cut from the 14-man West Indian squad with opening bat Daren Ganga, leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine and Barbadian Corey Collymore all winning call-ups.If Collymore plays in one of the three remaining games in the series, he will become the first Bajan to have played against the South African in either the Tests or the one-dayers during their 2001 tour, an extraordinary and embarrassing state of affairs for Barbados given the island’s history and contribution to West Indies cricket.In the South African camp, all-rounder Lance Klusener seems certain to miss Wednesday’s match and might well be out of the remainder of the series with a groin strain that forced him off the field during the fourth ODI in Grenada on Sunday.West Indies teamCarl Hooper (captain), Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, Neil McGarrell, Mervyn Dillon, Corey Collymore, Cameron Cuffy, Dinanath Ramnarine, Kerry Jeremy, Marlon Samuels.