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So far during this transfer window, Liverpool have been linked with more outgoings than incomings, with Ryan Kent and Harry Wilson just two of the potential departures. Today’s Reds transfer roundup, however, brings you news of interest in two players, as well as a report of another exit in the works.

Dembele available for right price

TEAMtalk is reporting that Barcelona have given the green light to Liverpool to sign Ousmane Dembele. The Catalan club are looking to recoup the initial £96.8m they paid in 2017 for the Frenchman, who scored 14 goals and provided nine assists in all competitions last term.

Targett of interest

Liverpool are interested in bringing Southampton left-back Matt Targett back to Anfield according to 90min.com. The England U21 international, who measures in at 6 foot, is seen as a good back-up option for Andy Robertson amid Alberto Moreno’s departure from Merseyside.

Camacho refuses new deal

Portuguese outlet A Bola is reporting that Rafael Camacho is refusing to sign a new contract with Jurgen Klopp’s team. Sporting Lisbon are interested in the 19-year-old, with Liverpool looking for €10m (£8.9m) for his services, and due to his contract expiring next summer an exit seems likely.

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon has a lot of big squad decisions to make this summer and figuring out which players need to be moved on will be as important as determining which players he should sign.

It’s a massive transfer window and with plenty of Celtic supporters expecting revolution in terms squad make-up, the reality is it will likely be more of an evolution.

Making too many changes too quickly will miss the point of what is needed at Celtic. This is a successful squad with players with ability well beyond the rest of Scotland. They need a bit of squad depth and a bit of quality in the team, they don’t need Lennon to rip everything up and start again.

One of the players whose Hoops future is unknown is Nir Bitton, who was speaking to the media over the weekend about his desire to play under the manager who signed him.

Keith from C’mon the Hoops throws back to Celtic legend Charlie Mulgrew in the video below…

On the chalkboard

Bitton’s last 18 months at Celtic have been severely hampered by injury, suffering a knee injury that required surgery last year and later admitting he feared it was something that would end his footballing career.

Returning to action in January, he came into the team and quickly looked sharp enough to get regular action, playing the full 90 minutes in massive matches away to Hearts and Hibs immediately after Brendan Rodgers departed as manager.

Subsequent action was limited but Lennon did include him in his team on trophy day, perhaps hinting he intends to use him heading into the summer and next season.

What can his role be next season?

It’s unlikely that the 21-cap Israeli international is ever going to be a first pick in the Celtic starting eleven. The days of him being an emerging prospect worth investing playing time in are long gone.

That’s not to say he isn’t worth having around at the Hoops though, even if he does just have a year left on his contract.

Calm in possession and defensively sound, he’s an excellent alternative midfield option to have, especially in Europe, when the majority of Celtic’s midfield show attacking ambition and flair over the less glamorous stuff.

He can also play a relief role against lesser teams in league and cup action, giving players like Callum McGregor some much needed rest in a potential 60+ game season.

As far as midfield depth goes Lennon could do a lot worse and keeping him around would prevent the need to invest in another central midfielder in the upcoming transfer window.

The 27-year-old has proven he can bounce back from injury and has the desire to feature for Celtic. Now entering his peak years, the club should welcome his return to the fold.

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There’s been a few selection shocks for the upcoming international friendlies due to take place at the end of the season.

Alexandre Lacazette has been excluded from the France squad along with Manchester City’s treble-winning Aymeric Laporte, James Maddison has missed out on a place in the England squad to the inconsistent and injury-plagued Jesse Lingard, and in happier news Santi Cazorla has made his long awaited return to the Spanish squad after four years away – a joy for anyone who follows football.

Whilst it’s the news about Cazorla that has caused the most delight, it’s actually the news about Lacazette, Laporte and Maddison that is most interesting.

The reasons for the Arsenal striker’s exclusion from the squad are probably applicable to all, but it’s only right to dissect exactly why a forward who’s played so wonderfully for his club hasn’t been given the chance to thrive for his country, especially as it’s coming at the expense of footballers in decline who haven’t enjoyed the same form as the Gunners no. 9 – such as Olivier Giroud.

It’s important to remember that the managers in question here, Didier Deschamps and Gareth Southgate, have enjoyed incredibly successful spells in their jobs at two nations who had lost their dominance and identity in international football for a very long time. Deschamps won the World Cup last summer, and it’s vital to understand how he did it in order to appreciate why Lacazette still hasn’t forced his way into the squad.

The France boss found a winning formula that he believed in, persisted with over Euro 2016 and then watched his plan come to fruition in Russia 2018, a devised approach that earned the French that golden globe trophy. In an era where one or two months of good form is rewarded with two or three international caps, Deschamps and Southgate are bucking that trend. It’s no longer enough to just be a good player, or to play out of your skin for a few weeks. To earn a call-up for these nations, you need to not only be better than your competition but also be good enough to penetrate your way past the years of preparation, team-bonding and trust that’s been built by these managers for their players.

Lacazette is a better player than Giroud, no one could possibly dispute that, but that’s not enough these days. And to be honest, this approach is admirable. For years international squads lost their values and it felt anyone could earn a call-up, but these two managers are pioneering a change in attitude for what it means to play for your country – quite frankly it’s incredibly refreshing.

Giroud has spent years working with Deschamps, executing his instructions selflessly and perfectly, and it’s delivered success on a global scale. It’s only right that this is rewarded and built on further.

Jesse Lingard has had a poor season by his standards and has been totally outshone by Premier League debutant Maddison. However once again, that’s not enough. Southgate has preached that his squads will include leaders to make up a core element of his side, with every player understanding their role precisely, and the Leicester player’s exclusion is the clearest example of this yet.

As long as the door is not firmly shut on these players, there seems nothing wrong with making the squad harder to break into. It’s a fine balancing act though, because Joachim Low arguably went too far the other way as he omitted Leroy Sane from Germany’s World Cup squad filled with the same ageing names from Brazil 2014. The side were a tired, worn out group that struggled immensely in Russia. So, everything in moderation.

Lacazette is a phenomenal player, in fact he’s probably under-rated by those who don’t watch Arsenal regularly. However, Deschamps’ approach can only be respected, as he’s making the France squad his own. He’s not just pooling together a group of the best players he can, he’s considering very carefully who matches his footballing philosophy and building a group of specially selected players to make the best team he can. This can only be great for international football, and what it means to play for your country.

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Lots of Manchester United fans on Twitter have reacted in outrage after it was reported by The Sun that Jesse Lingard is set to be offered a new contract, including a pay rise that would take his earnings to £130k-a-week.

The England international’s wage will rise by a quarter after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted his most integral players to be tied down – Lingard currently has two years left on his deal.

Could Harry Maguire be on his way to Old Trafford? Check out the video below to see why it would make so much sense…

It is certainly a strange decision seeing as it is arguable whether the 26-year-old even is integral at Old Trafford right now, whilst his 2018/19 statistics certainly don’t suggest that – he managed to net just five goals and record four assists for the Red Devils throughout the last campaign..

That is a sentiment which a number of United fans clearly agree with. They seem outraged that such a non-influential player is going to be rewarded for his efforts, and have taken to Twitter to let their thoughts be known.

Let’s take a look at the best replies…

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Harry Kane has delighted Tottenham Hotspur fans by declaring himself fit to play in the Champions League final this weekend, per The Guardian.

Spurs face Liverpool in Madrid on Saturday as they bid to win the competition for the first time in their history.

Kane, of course, has not featured for the club since their first leg win over Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having sustained ankle ligament damage during a clash with Fabian Delph.

He subsequently missed the dramatic away goals triumph over City at the Etihad Stadium prior to the miraculous comeback against Ajax in the Netherlands.

Kane, however, insists that he is ready to go for the biggest game in Spurs’ history.

He said: “If the final was tomorrow, I would be fit to play. I feel good. I’m back [training] with the team and there have been no problems so far. I’ve been in full training, doing everything. I’m at a place now where I’m ready to go for any game. The manager will assess it and decide. But so far I feel good and ready.”

And fans have been left thrilled by the news, though it remains to be seen if Mauricio Pochettino will choose to start the England captain after such a long period out.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

عاد ثنائي ريال مدريد داني كارفاخال وسيرجيو راموس إلى التدريبات من جديد، ولكنهما تدربا بشكل منفرد ولم ينضما للتدريبات الجماعية، في ظل عدم تعافيهما من الإصابة بنسبة 100%، وذلك قبل مباراة إشبيلية في الليجا.

ريال مدريد يحل ضيفًا على إشبيلية مساء السبت على ملعب “رامون سانشيز بيزخوان”، ضمن لقاءات الجولة الثانية عشر من الدوري الإسباني.

وذكرت صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية أنه رغم تدرّب كل من كارفاخال وراموس، ولكنهما لن يكونا قادران على التواجد في مواجهة إشبيلية.

اقرأ أيضًا.. استعدادًا لـ ريال مدريد.. ياسين بونو يعود لتدريبات إشبيلية بعد تعافيه من كورونا

وأوضحت الصحيفة أن الثنائي يعلمان أنهما سيكونان جاهزان للمباراة المهمة ضد بوروسيا مونشنجلادباخ في الجولة الختامية من مسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وأشارت الصحيفة إلى أنه ربما راموس يحصل على بضع دقائق ضد إشبيلية، ولكن موقف المدافع الإسباني ليس واضحًا حتى الآن.

يُذكر أن ريال مدريد ما زال يملك فرصة من أجل التأهل لثمن نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا رغم الهزيمة مُجددًا من شاختار (طالع ماذا يحتاج الملكي للتأهل لدور الـ16).

ما زالت هناك حالة من الغضب الشديد يشعر بها المدير الفني لمنتخب فرنسا الأول، ديديه ديشامب، تجاه مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، كريم بنزيما.

وبدأت الحرب الكلامية بين بنزيما وديشامب منذ عام 2015، عندما أتُهم مهاجم ريال مدريد الحالي بأنه شارك في ابتزاز مواطنه وزميله في منتخب فرنسا، ماتيو فالبوينا، بسبب شريط جنسي.

بعد هذا الاتهام، قام ديشامب باستبعاد بنزيما من منتخب فرنسا ولم يستدعيه في بطولة يورو 2016 والتي أقيمت في بلده، ولكن رد فعل مهاجم ريال مدريد كان قويًا للغاية عندما قال: “ديشامب استسلم للضغوط التي فُرضت عليه من بعض العنصريين في فرنسا”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أسطورة ريال مدريد يوجه نصيحة لـ بنزيما ويؤكد: كان يجب أن يبقى رونالدو

وتحدث ديشامب عن أزمته مع بنزيما، وقال في تصريحات لشبكة “RTL” الفرنسية: “على الرغم من مرور الوقت، لا يمكنني أن أنسى ما قاله عني”.

وتابع: “كانت هناك أيضًا تصريحات أخرى قد أثرت على عائلتي من أشخاص آخرين، كل ما قيل عني أثر على اسمي وعائلتي في فرنسا”.

وأضاف: “تجاوز بنزيما بما قاله الخط الأحمر، تصريحاته اللفظية العدوانية كانت لها تأثير نفسي وأثرت علي جسديًا في وقت من الأوقات، لا يمكنني نسيانها لا أستطيع أن أنسى ولن أنسى أبدًا”.

وعن استبعاد بنزيما من منتخب فرنسا طيلة الفترة الماضية، رد: “عندما أقوم باختيار لاعب للمنتخب، آخذ فقط في الحسبان الجانب التكتيكي والفني ولا يهمني أي شيء آخر”.

There was once a time when Henri Lansbury was considered one of the brightest sparks at Arsenal, but now he’s struggling to collect minutes in the Championship.

The Enfield-born central midfielder was a key part of the Arsenal youth team that collected the FA Youth Cup back in 2009, alongside Jack Wilshere and Francis Coquelin – both of whom have suffered their own disappointing fates (one more than the other).

We’re going to fire out a few generic buzzwords on this one, but they are all applicable for a reason. Lansbury had immense technical ability and an industrious work rate to boot. His passing ability was what you’d expect from an Arsenal player, and much like ex-Gunner Aaron Ramsey, he knew where to put himself in the box to make himself dangerous. He even bagged himself a goal against Spurs.

Widely considered to be a member of the Gunners’ golden generation, Lansbury was shipped out on a number of loans during the earlier days of his career. The mighty Scunthorpe were the first to benefit in 2009, then Watford the season after, soon followed by periods at Norwich City and West Ham in 2011.

Each period looked like a promising one, and he was even rewarded an extension to his current deal in 2011. Evidently, Wenger saw something in him.

But maybe Wenger’s misplaced faith in the man was a sign of his waning judgement, and just one year after committing himself to the Arsenal cause, he was sold onto Nottingham Forest, the cursed club of England.

In January 2017 the Englishman linked up with promotion-chasing Aston Villa, and despite captaining old club Forest, he slowly but surely fell down the pecking order this season after a string of injuries

With Villa back in the Premier League now and Lansbury’s already doubtful position at the club contested by fans, there’s every chance he could be moved on this season to make way for genuine top-flight quality.

‘Roller coaster’ just about sums his career up.

Arsenal fans, what are your standout memories of Lansbury? Let us know in the comments below…

Now officially into the second Neil Lennon era, Celtic are surely set for major changes to, not only their system, but their squad as well.

With the season officially ended, all the loan players will be heading back to their parent club, but the magic of Parkhead may have tempted them to come back for more.

Indeed, the towering Filip Benkovic is one player who deserves to be recalled next season. The 21-year-old’s open (as per the Scottish Sun) to another move to Parkhead and, with their fairly shaky defensive line, Lennon could do well with the vibrant defender.

Benkovic – who hasn’t ruled out a return – had a decent season in the Scottish Premiership, helping the Hoops keep 13 clean-sheets from 19 league games. With Dedryck Boyata on his way out and little cover for Kristoffer Ajer or Jozo Simunovic, the 21-year-old’s a better option than bringing in someone entirely new.

A veteran of the green and white cause already, he knows where Celtic’s strengths lie, helping fit into their system perfectly. Frankly, he just gets it.

The towering centre-back’s size and confidence in defending help with keeping a tight rope around the opposition attack. Benkovic is extremely comfortable with Ajer and can easily be rotated with Simunovic. Now with a season’s experience under his belt, he can command over oppositions to protect Celtic’s defensive frailties.

To strengthen their backline, Celtic must try to get Benkovic back. The Hoops are certainly owed a favour (to say the least) from former boss Brendan Rodgers and should go for the 21-year-old as soon as they can.

Celtic fans, would you want Benkovic to be loaned in again next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Will he or won’t he go? That appears to be the lingering question surrounding Leicester City star Harry Maguire at the moment.

Last summer the central defender was linked with a switch to Manchester United. That never happened despite an impressive World Cup, but a year on he’s attracted yet more interest.

Manchester City appear to be at the front of the queue at the moment for a deal that could cost a monumental £80m, breaking the £75m record fee for a defender that Liverpool paid to bring Virgil van Dijk to Merseyside.

It’s a deal that would be a bitter blow to the Foxes. Over the last few years they’ve become accustomed to seeing their best players walk through the exit door.

Watch Leicester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Last season Maguire played 31 times in the Premier League, once again forming a brick wall in front of Kasper Schmeichel. On average, he won 3.8 aerial duels per game, something that provides clear evidence of the influence he has over the side.

If Leicester do indeed receive £80m for his services, it would be phenomenal business after signing him for a mere £17m from Hull in 2017.

To think that a player who was relegated with the Tigers would eventually garnet a world-record fee for a defender is verging on incomprehensible.

But then again, that appears to be the essence of the modern market.

If the deal goes through it would represent Leicester’s record sale. Hardly surprising is it? But it would eclipse the £60m fee Man City handed Leicester for Riyad Mahrez last summer.

Signed for a measly £400,000 from Le Havre, they gained a remarkable profit for a man who once helped them to a Premier League title. Similarly, Danny Drinkwater also signed for a six-figure sum, only to leave for a whopping £30m.

Not only do Leicester’s scouting team deserve a tremendous amount of praise to find players like these, but those who are involved in negotiating player sales are clearly some of the best in the business.

In many ways, they are the masters of the transfer market. They brought N’Golo Kante to England as a relatively unknown footballer, but he soon blossomed into one of the most outstanding midfielders in world football, commanding a £30m fee when he signed for Chelsea just one year after he moved to the King Power in a £5.6m deal.

The only fee from their potential list of top five sales that they didn’t recoup was from Ahmed Musa. They bought him for £16m, only to then sell him for less.

For the most part, their dealings in the transfer window have been exceptional and they’ve been able to deal with the departures of star players.

Wilfred Ndidi has been a stellar acquisition in the middle of the park, whilst they’ve been able to build their side around players like James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira.

Yet, there should be a warning for Leicester, particularly if they do end up selling Maguire. You only need to take a look at Southampton to realise how things can go wrong.

The Saints have done some similarly exceptional work in the market but somehow nearly ended up on their haunches.

They were able to command a record fee for Van Dijk, as well as take £25m and £27m for two of their academy players.

Luke Shaw, of course, cost nothing when he arrived as a boy, whilst Southampton only had to pay £3000 compensation for Adam Lallana to sign him from Bournemouth as a 12-year-old.

Huge profits for the likes of Sadio Mane and Morgan Schneiderlin were also gained after initial moves from RB Salzburg and Strasbourg.

But the Saints are only just recovering after experiencing some turbulent years in the top-flight.

They were a side who looked capable of competing for a Europa League place not too long ago, but up until Ralph Hasenhuttl’s arrival midway through last season, they looked stuck for ideas while buried in a demoralising crisis of identity.

They’re now beginning to pick themselves back up again after some pretty hefty blows to their playing squad, but a lesson can be learned here for the Foxes.

It’s vital they capitalise on the profit they’ve gained by bringing in capable replacements and building a more positive future.

Could Daniel Sturridge be set to reunite with Brendan Rodgers? Check out the video below to find out…

You sense that with Brendan Rodgers at the helm, the Midlands outfit are far better placed to do so than Southampton ever were when they sold Van Dijk.

However, £80m is a huge fee and the temptation to spend it all at once could be problematic.

Leicester must show caution if the deal does go through and act sensibly. They must use events that have unfolded at Southampton as a warning sign.

At times they have been sensible, but spending £29m and £25m on Islam Slimani and Kelechi Iheanacho shows they can get things wrong.

As they aim to return to Europe, it’s crucial they act wisely and rebuild sufficiently if their star defender walks away in a stunning summer deal.