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Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish was involved in a shocking incident during Sunday’s derby clash with Birmingham City at St Andrew’s when a pitch invader attacked him from behind, and we have all now seen plenty of images of the perpetrator and what he did.

However, there are some photos in the aftermath of the altercation that have gone under the radar, including the following one that shows Blues players gathering round the 23-year-old to ask if he is ok and to help the Villans captain to his feet.

On a day where one individual brought shame upon the game of football, it was good to see that even though it was a hostile occasion between two teams desperate for the bragging rights, the hosts were able to instantly react in the right way – as you would expect.

Who has been the Championship’s best player this season? The Pl>ymaker FC squad discuss in the video below…

Of course, Grealish went on to score the decisive goal in a crucial 1-0 win for his team, which took them one point above Garry Monk’s side in the league standings and just four adrift of the top six.

With one point separating the two and 10 fixtures remaining, it is still very much all to play for during the run-in.

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Brendan Rodgers wants to sign Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn for Leicester City, per the Daily Mirror.

The new Foxes boss wanted to secure the 24-year-old’s signature when he was Celtic manager but failed to strike a deal.

What’s the word?

The aforementioned report claims that Celtic tabled a £3million bid for McGinn last summer, when he joined Villa from Hibernian.

Rodgers has not given up, however, and is now said to be eyeing yet another swoop for the Villa man.

McGinn has enjoyed a productive season at Villa Park, playing 30 Championship games and scoring two goals, while also providing eight assists.

Rodgers also wants to sign Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata, per the report, as he eyes a raid on his former club for the centre-back.

Villa are currently 11th in the table, though they are only six points behind Bristol City, who sit sixth and occupy the final play-off position.

Moulding squad in his own image

Rodgers is attempting to mould the Leicester squad into his own image.

There is a lot for him to work with at the King Power Stadium; the likes of James Maddison, Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire are all remarkably talented Premier League players.

But Leicester perhaps lack a bite in midfield and McGinn would offer that if he can be lured away from the second-tier.

The Foxes arguably offer a greater pull than Celtic, with the carrot of playing in the Premier League sure to appeal to the 13-cap Scotland international.

A summer of investment can be expected once this season ends and McGinn may well be the first through what could be a revolving door.

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According to The Sun, Paris Saint-Germain are set to snap up Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera on a free transfer, with his contract at Old Trafford due to expire in the summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the French champions have reportedly offered the Spanish international a deal worth £150,000-a-week in an attempt to lure him to Paris, as the Red Devils are yet to offer him renewed terms.

The move suggests that the Parisians have turned their attentions away from Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who was the subject of a £25m bid from the Ligue 1 side in January, only for the Toffees to reject the offer despite Gueye handing in a transfer request.

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

It could be possible that the Senegalese international will now stay put at Goodison Park as a result of PSG’s interest in Herrera, a player who is far more experienced at the top level and one that would be considerably cheaper given his contract situation.

A worry for Everton

Whilst Marco Silva’s side obviously had no intention of selling the 29-year-old in January, Gueye clearly wanted to swap Merseyside for Paris given the fact that he handed in a transfer request.

And following his failed move to PSG, Gueye told L’Equipe: “I was honoured that PSG were interested in me. Now, I know that I am of interest to these types of clubs, I am ready to go to the final level to join a top European club.

“I am going to work even more so that they come back to me. Maybe it is not finished with PSG.”

Now that the French side look to have moved on, this should be a worry for the Toffees in terms of the former Aston Villa man’s motivation – his performance levels could dip as he seemingly no longer has such a glamorous suitor to impress.

The former Lille midfielder’s form was very impressive after the move, which, coupled with that last sentence in the aforementioned quote, could have been a result of him playing to keep PSG interested.

Now, however, the new developments regarding Herrera may well end Gueye’s attempts to keep Thomas Tuchel’s side keen, and consequently signal the start of a drop in form.

Whilst you could argue that Gueye is a professional and shouldn’t let the situation affect him, he was clearly swayed by PSG’s interest as he attempted to force an exit in the winter window.

With only Morgan Schneiderlin, the on-loan Andre Gomes and young Tom Davies as back up, this may be a worry for Silva as arguably his most important player could down tools after such a disappointing discovery.

أشاد هوجو لوريس حارس مرمى توتنهام هوتسبير ومنتخب فرنسا، بالنجم البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو، قبل مباراة المنتخبين في دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

فرنسا ستواجه البرتغال مساء الأحد في تمام الساعة التاسعة إلا ربع بتوقيت القاهرة، بدوري الأمم الأوروبية.

وقال لوريس في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة: “كريستيانو رونالدو لاعب مُتكامل للغاية، قادر على فعل كل شيء، إنه حاسم في الكثير من الأحيان وفي جميع المباريات”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ديشامب قبل مباراة البرتغال وفرنسا: رونالدو ومبابي سيقرران نتائج المباريات

وأضاف: “لديّ الكثير من الإعجاب بـ كريستيانو رونالدو ومسيرته، إنه لاعب غير عادي، ونحن سنحاول جميعًا إيقافه والفوز بالمباراة”.

وأتم تصريحاته بالحديث عن الثأر من البرتغال بعد الفوز على البرتغال في نهائي يورو 2016: “إنها ذكرى مؤلمة، لكنه شيء من الماضي، لا يوجد نية للثأر أو الانتقام، بالفعل البرتغال بطلة أوروبا وحامل لقب دوري الأمم، ولكن نحن أيضًا فزنا بكأس العالم قبل عامين”.

Are there any players who are better at scoring free-kicks than James Ward-Prowse in the Premier League?

The Southampton midfielder backed up his stunning set-piece effort at Old Trafford earlier on this month with an equally impressive strike against Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday.

Ward-Prowse’s goal against Spurs secured a vital three points for a Saints side who are currently sixteenth in the league standings, two points clear of Cardiff City who currently occupy the relegation places alongside Huddersfield Town and Fulham.

The 24 year-old’s form since the turn of the year has been very impressive as he has scored six goals in 10 appearances for Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side with his contribution earning crucial victories over the likes of Everton and Leicester City in January.

Ward-Prowse’s supreme level of fitness has been a major reason behind the effectiveness of Southampton’s midfield under their Austrian coach.

According to Sky Sports, no other player in the Premier League has covered more ground than the play-maker in 2019 (123.7km) with the closest challenger being Burnley’s Jack Cork with a distance covered of 122.9km.

The form of the Portsmouth-born star had led to calls for him to be part of the England squad for the national team’s fixtures upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro at the end of March.

However, Gareth Southgate decided instead to opt for the likes of Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for his midfield options leaving Ward-Prowse having to continue his wait for a second cap after being given his debut in 2017.

England’s loss could be Southampton’s gain as international fixtures can often see players pick up knocks which leaves their club sides worse off. By not being considered for selection by the Three Lions, Ward-Prowse can now focus totally on helping his side avoid relegation by preparing for the Saints’ fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on March 30th.

A victory for Hassenhuttl’s side at the Amex Stadium could see them edge ever closer to Premier League survival, preserving their top-flight status for another campaign.

What do you think Saints fans? Should Ward-Prowse have been called up for England? How big is the midfielder’s influence on your team’s recent successes? Let us know below.

Celtic can send fans into dreamland by getting the better of Old Firm rivals Rangers tomorrow in the Scottish Premiership, as they’d secure the bragging rights and would be one step closer towards retaining their title. 

The Hoops have gone about their business brilliantly since Brendan Rodgers ditched Parkhead for the bright lights of the English Premier League, as they remain on course to secure yet another treble this season.

Although, one thing that has been on the minds of supporters in recent times at Parkhead has been the future of Dedryck Boyata, as his contract is set to expire in the summer transfer window.

Of course, the central defender has established himself as a star in Glasgow after his fantastic performances at the World Cup with Belgium last summer. But, his time in Scotland appears to be coming to an end with a summer transfer window exit looking inevitable at this point.

But, Rangers may just already have their eyes on a potential replacement for the 28-year-old, as according to Nacion Deportes (via HITC), Celtic are interested in signing Edson Alvarez. The Mexico international is also attracting interest from Inter Milan, while a move to PSV or Ajax is also a possibility.

Alvarez, who is valued at £6.75 million (by Transfermarkt), is only 21-years-old but he’s already managed to make 22 appearances on the international stage with Mexico, so it’s clear to see just how highly-rated he is. The youngster is deceivingly quick, he’s strong in the tackle and he looks to play out from the back, so he could fit into Celtic’s style perfectly.

And, Peter Lawwell would make a big statement by securing the services of the central defender as Italian giants Inter Milan are interested and the likes of Ajax and PSV Eindhoven are a possibility.

Celtic fans, do you think that Alvarez could be the man to replace Boyata this summer? Join the discussion by commenting down below! 

The impact that Steve Bruce has been nothing short of breath-taking, wouldn’t you agree? It might have taken a while to get him through the door but the former Aston Villa boss is certainly proving worth the wait. 

Under the former Manchester United skipper, they look a completely different side to come up against, one that will put up a fight against any team in the league.

And whilst it’s probably too late to strive for a play-off place, if Bruce can take his side’s form into next season, they will be in a terrific place to achieve great things. That of course, is resting on the potential signings Sheffield Wednesday may recruit over the summer, with Brighton’s Beram Kayal a player that could be of interest to them.

Kayal, (who is valued at £1.3 million on Transfermarkt) has rarely been used for Brighton this season, which could lead to the midfielder eyeing a move away this summer. Surely he’s too good to sit on the bench.

With just seven Premier League starts to his name, the 30-year-old could be forced to look elsewhere to get regular game-time as he gets nearer the end of his career than the start point.

Sheffield Wednesday would surely be grateful recipients of such an influential player, one who could perfectly fit into their system.

Whether he adopts a more defensive or attacking role, Kayal is a player that would improve the Owls overall squad and with one year left on his contract, may not be costly either.

Steve Bruce currently has a number of different midfield options he could turn to but with the Championship being 46 games long, plus cup competitions, a big competitive squad will be ideal for him.

Do you agree that Beram Kayal would make a good signing? If not, why not? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

كشفت تقارير تونسية عن تصنيف الأندية المشاركة في دوري أبطال إفريقيا خلال الموسم الكروي الجديد.

وأكد موقع “foot 24” أنه سيتم إعفاء أربعة أندية فقط من المشاركة في الدور التمهيدي للبطولة (دور الـ64).

وأوضح الموقع أن الأربعة أندية، هي، الترجي الرياضي التونسي والأهلي ومازيمبي الكونغولي والوداد البيضاوي المغربي. وسيشارك الزمالك أو بيراميدز حال تأهل أحدهما للبطولة من الدور التمهيدي للبطولة رغم وقوعهما في التصنيف الأول للأندية.تصنيف الاتحاد الإفريقي لأندية دوري أبطال إفريقيا

التصنيف الأول: الوداد – الترجي – الأهلي – مازيمبي – الزمالك (في حال ترشحه) – صن داونز – الرجاء – حورويا – فيتا كلوب – بريميرو أوجستو – الهلال – أنيمبا – الصفاقسي – بيراميدز (في حال ترشحه) – بيترو لواندا – سيمبا – جور ماهيا الكيني.

التصنيف الثاني: بلاتينيوم – نكانا الزّمبي – المولوديّه – أهلي طرابلس (حال ترشّحه) – آشانتي كوتوكو – المريخ السّوداني – جمعية أوتوهو – كايزر تشيفز – بلوزداد – حراس الغاب الزمبي – بلاتو يونايتد – اشانتى سويغري الغيني – أبيدجان – كوستا دي سول – فايبرز الاوغندي – الملعب المالي – الجيش الراوندي.

التصنيف الثالث: الجواميس الإسواتيني – غالاكسي جوابينغ البوتسواني – آسكو كارا الطّوغولي – جواميس بورغو البينيني – نواذيبو الموريتاني – رهيمو البوركيني – باميندا الكاميروني – بوانغيدي الغابوني.

التّصنيف الرّابع: مالدنجي الزنجباري – موغاديشو الصّومالي – سكّان الغابات السّيشالي – الرياضي الزّراعي ساوتومي – شبيبة سان بيار جزر رايونيون – صونادياب النيجري – الغزال التشادي – ريال بانجول الغمبي – شباب الفوسا الملغاشي – رصاصات نيازا الملاوي – بانتو الليزوتي وبعض الفرق التي لم تؤكد مشاركتها.

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According to football.london, via Claret & Hugh, West Ham United remain interested in a deal for Celta Vigo forward Maxi Gomez.

The Hammers were strongly linked with the Uruguay international during the January transfer window, but the striker ultimately remained in Spain.

It is widely thought that Gomez will leave Celta this summer, though, and according to football.london, West Ham’s director of football Mario Husillos is working on a deal for the 22-year-old ahead of the 2019-2020 campaign.

The London club’s fans have been on social media commenting on the rumours and it would be fair to say that not too many expect the deal to take place.

Gomez has scored 11 La Liga goals for Celta this term and is regarded as one of the best young forwards in world football.

It will certainly be interesting to see what happens with the South American this summer.

And a selection of the Twitter reaction from the West Ham fans can be seen below:

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Tyrone Mings has gone from being a spare part at Bournemouth to a huge hit with the fans at Aston Villa, where his performances have earned rave reviews almost every single week. Clearly the defender is enjoying his spell in the Midlands, perhaps partly because of how tough his time at the Vitality Stadium was prior to his January loan move.

The behemoth centre-back’s Cherries career has been plagued with long-term injuries in recent years – knee ligament and back injuries have accounted for 608 days out and 81 games missed between August 2015 and September 2017 – however he is proving to be a fantastic signing for the Villans, who have climbed into promotion contention.

Having rejuvenated his career at Villa Park and referred to his recent time at Bournemouth as ‘jinxed’, the 26-year-old expressed how much the past couple of months have meant to him:

“This loan is massive for me. I don’t think I could underestimate how big it is and how big a decision it was to choose where to go because everything had to click immediately.

“The aim is obviously to make the play-offs, but coming here and playing games, and feeling wanted was so important. Personally, it was a big choice and I 100 per cent believe I made the right one.”

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

Certainly, the Bath-born big man wasn’t all that useful on the south coast – he accumulated just 140 Premier League minutes last campaign, but has played the full 90 minutes in each of his eight appearances under Dean Smith since joining Villa in January.

Now a firm fan-favourite further north, the 6-foot-5 brute will surely be reluctant to return to Bournemouth in the summer if these comments are anything to go by.