Liverpool’s Camacho the next gem in the academy

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Rafael Camacho is the next Liverpool youngster set to roll off the club’s production line.

The 18-year-old has been in excellent form in the youth ranks and appears certain to make a full breakthrough into the first-team sooner rather than later.

Camacho has been capped at various youth levels by Portugal, playing for the Under-16s, Under-17s, Under-18s, Under-19s and Under-20s.

His versatility, too, will surely appeal to Jurgen Klopp.

He can play at right-back and right midfield as well as the left flank and up front.

Camacho has already made his full debut for the Reds, playing 90 minutes in the 2-1 loss to Wolves in the FA Cup. He also played a single minute in the 4-3 win over Crystal Palace.

He is more than just a right-back, however.

Camacho has an excellent eye for goal, scoring 12 times in 38 outings for the Under-18s, as well as five times in 14 games for the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League.

At the age of 18, Camacho has played for the Under-23s, too, scoring three goals and providing five assists in 13 games.

Indeed, he is something of a Swiss Army Knife, able to adapt to any situation and thrive.

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Liverpool already have James Milner in that role in the senior side – he can play at full-back and in midfield too – but Camacho appears to be breathing down his neck.

Indeed, Steven Gerrard, then a Liverpool coach, said in 2017 that Camacho “can become a top wing-back if he wants to”, per the Liverpool Echo.

And in the same report, Camacho himself outlined his intention to do well for Klopp in the coming months.

“The boss is asking me to do a job as a right-back for him. He wants to see me defending-wise and I’m just trying to do my best to help the team. (I want) to impress and give everything everyday to show the boss and help the whole team and show I can be a part of this Liverpool squad and go from there.”

If it doesn’t work out at right-back, Camacho can slot in on the right wing; or up front; or on the left flank. Wherever he plays, he is surely an outstanding prospect.

Leeds fans react to Dan James’ stunning FA Cup performance

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Dan James scored a quite stunning goal in Swansea City’s 4-1 win over Brentford in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Swansea fell behind in the 28th minute, but levelled early in the second period before James sent the Welsh outfit ahead with an eye-catching individual effort.

Indeed, running from the edge of his own box, James blasted clear of a number of Brentford players before hitting the onion bag.

The 21-year-old, who was involved in two more of his team’s four goals on Sunday, was strongly linked with a move to Leeds United during the January transfer window.

Indeed, he passed a medical with the Whites on deadline day, only for Swansea to pull out of the deal.

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A number of Leeds fans watched James in action on Sunday afternoon, with many taking to social media to comment on the midfielder’s performance, which inspired his team to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Leeds fans can be seen below:

Spurs stars fear imminent Kane exit

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According to The Telegraph, several Tottenham Hotspur players fear that Harry Kane will soon leave the club should their trophy drought endure.

What’s the story?

Spurs’ recent defeat at the hands of Chelsea effectively ended the north London club’s title hopes for this season. Given that Mauricio Pochettino’s side missed out on the Carabao Cup and are already out of the FA Cup, the Champions League is their only remaining route to silverware this season.

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Spurs’ last trophy came in 2008, when they won the League Cup. That remains their only major triumph in the 21st century. Kane himself has accrued no major honours in his career.

The 25-year-old now appears to be growing impatient for success. There are certainly a number of clubs, who regularly win titles, who would be delighted to sign the prolific striker.

Keep at all costs

As their talisman and premier goalscorer, Kane’s exit would obviously be a devastating blow for Spurs. Since making his Premier League debut for the club in 2012 he has gone on to score more than 150 goals in all competitions for the Lilywhites.

The No. 10 is essentially irreplaceable. Kane is one of the world’s best goalscorers and has a Transfermarkt valuation of £135 million. Spurs would not be able to buy anyone of the same quality to replace their hitman, so fears of him becoming unsettled must not be ignored.

If Kane really does want to leave, Pochettino, Spurs’ backroom staff and chairman Daniel Levy must do all they can to change his mind or they risk an absolute catastrophe.

Opinion: No more excuses for Mo Salah with title hanging in the balance

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Liverpool currently sit at the top of the Premier League table but a glaring absence of electricity and fluidity in Mo Salah’s performances of late are lending reason to believe that the momentum is firmly with Manchester City.

One point separates the Reds from current champions Man City, and the injury sustained by Roberto Firmino against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon could have plunged them into an uncomfortable situation, although it remains unclear how long he will be sidelined for – if he misses any action at all.

Liverpool are struggling for goals as it is and, with Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge the only natural alternatives at centre-forward, it’s fair to say the inspiration is going to need to come from elsewhere.

During the peak of Liverpool’s form, Salah has been a reliable goal machine and chief tormentor for the opposition’s defensive unit, but a flat performance on Sunday proved the worst fears of the supporters: the Egyptian is a shadow of the player he was last season.

Enough is enough – Salah must grab the proverbial bull by the horns

That Salah has underachieved this season has been an opinion which has bubbled beneath the surface for the entirety of the campaign. Even when he has been finding the net on a regular basis, legitimate questions have been asked of his form.

What is most alarming about his form this season is that his most mediocre performances have arrived in the big games – the same fixtures in which he often thrived on his maiden campaign.

When Liverpool needed a moment of inspiration last season, Salah was there to provide it. One of his more memorable moments of divine inspiration arrived away at Manchester City in the Champions League, when he dinked the ball over Nicolas Otamendi to effectively seal their place in the semi-final.

His finish was taken with a level of sumptuous composure which had shades of Lionel Messi about it, and his ice-cool celebration in front of the travelling Liverpool supporters saw him transmit his insatiable appetite for the big occasion through his dead-eyed gaze.

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That particular mentality seems to have eluded him somewhat this season. Perhaps the tactical tweaks implemented by Klopp are to blame, but the top players in world football allow no excuse to justify a dip in form; they stand up to the pressure and prove their worth.

If Liverpool are to finally break their Premier League duck by finishing in top spot this season, Salah must take responsibility for his own form and single-handedly breathe life back into Liverpool’s club’s title challenge.

Failure to do so will pave the way for Pep Guardiola’s city slickers to retain their crown.

Joe Worrall the ‘leader’ Rangers need to sign in order to secure title

Rangers have a great opportunity to capitalise on their neighbours’ uncertainty and signing current Nottingham Forest loanee Joe Worrall could show they really mean business.

Leaving behind a legacy of complete dominance, and now confusion, former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has unwittingly opened up an opportunity for rivals to assert their dominance over proceedings and finally topple Celtic from their perch at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers and Steven Gerrard are surely amongst those ready to pounce.

Currently second-placed in the league, trailing first by eight points, it is probably a little too late for the Gers to mount a successful charge this season; however, it certainly would not hurt their chances if they were to begin preparations for the next campaign.

Indeed, following another quality defensive display at the weekend, we believe it is in the club’s best interests for manager Gerrard and owner Dave King to arrange the permanent signing of Nottingham Forest loanee Joe Worrall.

Discussing Sunday’s draw against Aberdeen, Gerrard said: “I thought Joe was outstanding, it was a man-of-the-match performance and he will be a captain of whatever team he plays for.

“He is a leader and he stepped up today. It was a good corner from Ryan Kent and Joe got the contact. We need to score more from set-pieces and Joe deserves his man-of-the-match.” (source: The Scottish Sun).

It has not always been easy for Worrall this season – there have been some quite shaky games which have drawn a lot of criticism at times.

But, like with any decent player, he has shown time and time again that he can bounce back, and that is the kind of will power Rangers need if they are to overcome the mammoth challenge ahead of them.

Jan Vertonghen departure would leave Tottenham in the lurch

After a brief hiatus from the market, Tottenham’s activity in the next transfer window will shape the club’s performances in years to come.

If you asked your average Tottenham fans if they would have rather signed a new player or had a cheese room included in their brand-new stadium, the answer would be ‘yes’ every single time; the same goes for the microbrewery, in-house bakery (?), USB ports in seats, heated seats, and sky lounge.

The season has been going extremely well all things considered.

A non-existent budget has meant that the only transfer activity fans have seen is players leaving the club – but they are still in the running for the Champions League title and a Premier League top four spot, and that is probably what has kept them from rioting.

There is no excuse next season, however.

With the stadium is due to complete soon, the Spurs faithful will be expecting some serious business as a reward for their patience, and that means scarifying some of their current talent for some fresh faces.

One of those players who could see their head turned by a move away is Jan Vertonghen, with Matt Law’s Daily Telegraph briefing suggesting he could ‘consider his options’ if a bid were to come in, as he approaches the closing stages of his contract with the club. The Belgium international has been an absolute serviceman for the club since joining from Ajax back in 2012 and has actually seen his contract extended quite recently (as per the club’s official website) but Law’s briefing is certainly interesting.

However, now heading into the twilight years of his career, the 31-year-old may reportedly have his head turned by other clubs, as would anyone at his age.

The impact of any Vertonghen exit on the club’s form when moving to their new home could be quite significant. He played a huge part in the unbeaten home campaign during the final season at the original White Hart Lane and his stoic presence in the backline would be a welcome sight at the new home.

Clearly, there are going to be some early teething stages when it comes to moving stadiums. Spurs proved that with Wembley and, while the situation may not get quite as bad as West Ham’s struggles in the London Stadium, all hands will need to be on deck to ensure the transition is as easy as possible.

Considering Toby Alderweireld’s future at the club is also in doubt – sitting on a £25 million buyout clause – this leaves Tottenham with only two viable defensive options in Juan Foyth and Davinson Sanchez. Good players in their own right, yes, but lacking the experience and quality needed to drive Spurs forward.

Tottenham fans, could you see Vertonghen leaving? Let us know in the comments below…

Watford fans pay tribute to Gomes

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Watford fans have paid tribute to goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes after what may be his last appearance at Vicarage Road.

The Brazilian goalkeeper revealed to the club’s official website earlier this week that he was “99% sure” he would retire in the summer.

He played for the Hornets in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace and helped his side to a 2-1 victory, sealing safe passage to the semi-finals.

Gomes has played exclusively in the cup this season, with Ben Foster the club’s first-choice in the Premier League.

Both games remaining in the FA Cup will be staged at Wembley meaning that Gomes has likely played his last game at Watford’s home ground, provided Foster does not sustain an injury.

And the former Tottenham Hotspur stopper allowed emotion to overwhelm him at the full-time whistle, crying and waving goodbye to the club’s supporters, who gave him a standing ovation.

Fans on Twitter have echoed the sentiments of those who were at the game, issuing effusive tributes to the 38-year-old. Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

Wolves can afford to lose Jota with Gibbs-White waiting in the wings

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Tottenham are keeping a close eye on Wolves forward Diogo Jota according to the Express. But can Wanderers afford to lose such a key figure?

What’s the word?

Spurs are weighing up whether to make a move for Jota in the summer as Mauricio Pochettino aims to sign a player for the first time in three transfer windows.

The Portuguese forward has been terrific for the Midlands club in recent months, helping them to seventh in the Premier League.

His displays looked to have caught the eye of one of the Premier League’s top clubs as Pochettino hopes to add more depth in attack after Fernando Llorente has failed to impress.

One of Tottenham’s main issues has been depth and Jota could be the man to finally solve that issue.

The 22-year-old currently has seven goals and four assists in all competitions this season.

Sacrifice must be made

Losing Jota would be a blow to Wolves, especially with Raul Jimenez’s future still unclear. The pair of them are Nuno Santo’s top scorers this term, but if the former was to leave it would free up Morgan Gibbs-White to flourish in an advanced role.

It’s something that would prepare them for the long term and although Jota is young himself, his teammate could be at risk of not discovering his full potential if his game time continues to be restricted.

The 19-year-old has predominantly been deployed in deeper midfield roles for the club in 2018/19 but has also excelled when given more license to attack. This was especially the case against Chelsea as Wolves won 2-1 and he was deployed in a number ten role, a position Jota has also played in.

But Santo’s system often sees a more disciplined midfield playing behind a front two which means Gibbs-White is left out and as a result rarely gets a chance to prove his worth in the final third.

Therefore, Jota leaving would only be a good thing for the England U17 World Cup winner. It would give the club more opportunities to play him up alongside someone like Jimenez whilst Wolves could also explore the option of playing one striker and having the Englishman in behind.

Yohan Benalouane the kind of quick-fix Leeds United will need next season

Leeds defenders have a tough job don’t they? The style of play Marcelo Biesla aims for often leaves the back four exposed, so their interest in Yohan Benalouane would be a great addition to make sure they don’t leak goals next season.

It’s unclear whether the Whites will be playing Premier League football next season, but either way, they need to shore up at the back. Things have got better over the last couple of months as the players start to learn and adapt to the situations they find themselves in every week playing this philosophy, but it still needs work.

Pontus Jansson has done a great job of organising his back line this season, but a man like Benalouane would mean there are more voices of experience to keep the defence tight when Leeds are pressed high up the pitch. The Guardian sport’s deputy news editor Ed Aarons linked Leeds to the centre-back via Twitter and he could be the level head required to take the club to promotion next season or keep them tight if they go up this term.

He’s been hugely impressive at the City Ground after joining back in January. The Tunisian is rated at £900,000 on Transfermarkt, so it wouldn’t bust the bank to seal his signature for next season.

His age doesn’t matter, because Leeds need success now, and if they don’t reach the Premier League this season, there’ll be even more pressure from the fans next time around. He could well be an invaluable short-term signing for Bielsa, building more trust in the back line to allow the rest of the team to press further up the pitch more often.

His nine games for Forest since January have looked promising.

Leeds are that team and Bielsa should fight hard for him in the summer.

Leeds fans, who do you think your team should sign in summer? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Newcastle United: Asia Trophy trip speaks Ashley’s language but same can’t be said for Rafa

Newcastle United will take part in this summer’s Asia Trophy in China, some 16 years after their last participation, which was the inaugural competition.

After some speculation, the trip was confirmed by the official Newcastle United website, and will see them play a semi-final and either the final, or third-placed play-off, against two of Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United.

The Newcastle Chronicle report that the Newcastle hierarchy see the tournament as an ideal platform to spread the Newcastle United ‘brand’ across Asia.

But cynics will see it as Mike Ashley using his ownership of the football club as a front for giving exposure to his sportswear company, and tapping into a lucrative market in a bid to net him more money.

The trip is contradictory to the type of preseason tours Rafa Benitez prefers — read into that what you will.

The Spaniard likes to focus on short-haul trips — Ireland has been his location of choice on many occasions — which focus on seclusion and fitness training, with a game tagged onto the end of it for match sharpness.

A trip to China for the Premier League preseason showpiece event is hardly going to be a secluded one, with media appearances and hundreds of English football loving fans following their every move.

That said, it does provide two games in quick succession, in humid temperatures, giving the bulk of the squad some challenging conditions to overcome, which will help in their preparations for the new season.

Hopefully, Rafa will have been consulted on the preseason plans, and the club are taking part with his full agreement, meaning he is likely to be in charge next season.

Or are they making plans, regardless of what Rafa wants, in preparation for a new man to take over in the summer?

Until Rafa is asked about it directly, we have no idea if he gave his blessing to the trip, or whether he had any say at all. But either way, Newcastle will be there, and fans will be desperate for news that it will be Benitez in charge when they arrive.

Do you think taking part in the Asia Trophy is good for Newcastle? Would you prefer them to stay in Europe, as Rafa likes to do? Let us know your thoughts…

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