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In our latest instalment of theÂFlashbackÂseries, we take a look back at a certain moment and look at how things might have changed those initial reactions.

When Chelsea signed N’Golo Kante from Leicester City for a transfer fee believed to be in the region of £30m in the summer of 2016, many would have felt it was a steal at the time, however the France international has continued to impress and star in the middle of the Blues’ side.

Having impressed for the Foxes in his one season at the King Power Stadium with figures of 4.7 tackles, 4.2 interceptions and 1.5 clearances in the 37 games he played on their way to the Premier League title (per WhoScored), it was, perhaps, quite understandable as to why those in SW6 were extremely excited about what they were getting.

Here are just some of the reactions those fans had at the time…

The defensive midfielder has become a star for the Blues as he enters the fourth year of his Stamford Bridge tenure and he has continued to show his importance and significance to Frank Lampard’s side with his recent performances – something the manager highlighted following the defeat to Liverpool in the Super Cup.

As quoted byÂThe London Evening Standard, he said: “Kante is an amazing player, amazing character. He’s a machine on the football field. He hasn’t trained much, had a swollen ankle two days ago, but he was desperate to play and you saw what he gave to the team today. He will be hugely important. I am delighted to work with him.â€

Indeed, he stepped up against Liverpool once again in their most recent encounter in the Premier League, whereby he scored the Blues’ only goal of the game and appeared to have a stormer of a game – WhoScored gave him a 7.76 match rating, which was the best of anyone involved in the match.

There is no doubting that Kante is crucial to Chelsea and, arguably, has become the club’s most important player following Eden Hazard’s summer departure to Real Madrid, although, admittedly, the duo offer different things on the pitch.

The France World Cup winner has seen his game go up another level with each year that passes (taking just the Premier League competition into consideration). In 2016/17, the 28-year-old managed to achieve an average of 3.6 tackles, 2.4 interceptions and 1.2 clearances every game he was involved in.

2017/18 saw Kante produce an incredible 3.3 tackles, 2.5 interceptions and 0.8 clearances in the 34 outings he had in Antonio Conte’s final year in charge of the SW6 outfit.

In 2018/19, he managed to record an average of 2.1 tackles per match in his 36 Premier League appearances last season, as well as 1.2 interceptions, although he was largely played out of position under Maurizio Sarri.

Indeed, there have been comparisons between him and compatriot Claude Makelele and it would not be hard to suggest those are warranted, despite Football BH claiming it ‘lazy’ whilst the ex-Blue did not agree with them either (Reuters via the Independent).

The former Chelsea man managed to achieve an exceptional success rate of 82% when making a tackle when in Premier League action, making 55 interceptions and providing the Blues with 99 clearances whilst he never made an error that led to a goal being scored (official Premier League website).

Chelsea, essentially, stole Kante away from Leicester for £30m, however he has continued to show just how important of a player he is to the Stamford Bridge outfit and it turned out to be a very clever piece of business by Marina Granovskaia, Roman Abramovich and co.

Chelsea fans, how important has Kante become since signing from Leicester? Let us know your thoughts by sharing them in the comments section below!

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Liverpool have triggered a clause in Joel Matip’s contract to extend his current deal by a year, report The Athletic.

What’s the latest?

Matip joined the Reds on a free transfer in 2016 having spent seven years at Schalke, and with his current Liverpool deal set to expire next summer the club seem to be keen to ensure they don’t lose him in a similar fashion.

The Cameroon international has received many plaudits in his time at Anfield and last season secured his place as Jurgen Klopp’s main defensive partner for Virgil van Dijk, although injuries to Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren also contributed to that.

His average of 34 appearances a season underlines his importance to the team and suggests the management and fans alike will be pleased to see his deal extended.

Given he will be 30 when contract expires in 2021 it is an extension which should suit both teams, and by that point the likes of Gomez and perhaps even Sepp van den Berg could have established themselves as first-team players.

Has he been a success?

Even under Klopp, Liverpool’s defence has been their primary weak spot over the last few years, and it was an area which only improved once van Dijk arrived at the club.

However, Matip did make an impact upon signing, and his performances were a marked improvement on the likes of Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren, with Liverpool’s defence often criticised in 2015/16 when they conceded 50 Premier League goals.

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Last season the Reds conceded just 11 goals in the 17 league games in which the centre-back started, whilst he has also proved useful in the opposition’s penalty area at times.

Given he was signed for nothing he has been a very successful addition for the Anfield outfit, and if he can maintain his performance levels or improve as he has done so far, then he should be able to win more trophies with the club.

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نشبت أزمة في تدريبات نادي ريال مدريد الإسباني، قبل ساعات من مباراة أتالانتا الإيطالي، في مسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ريال مدريد يستعد لملاقاة أتالانتا، مساء اليوم، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، على ملعب “أتيتي أزوري دي إيطاليا”، ضمن لقاءات ذهاب دور الـ”16” من دوري الأبطال.

وبحسب صحيفة “ElDesmarque” الإسبانية، فإن البرازيلي، فينيسيوس جونيور، جناح نادي ريال مدريد أشعل غضب الدولي الكرواتي، لوكا مودريتش، متوسط ميدان النادي الملكي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. إيفرتون يراقب وضع لوكاس فاسكيز في ريال مدريد

وقالت الصحيفة أنّ التدريب الأخير للنادي الملكي، قبل مواجهة أتالانتا، تدخل البرازيلي بقوة على الكرواتي، ما تسبب لـ مودريتش بإصابة في الكاحل.

وأوضحت الصحيفة أنّ فينيسيوس قام بمد يده لـ مودريتش، من أجل مُصافحته والاعتذار له، ولكن لوكا رفض اعتذاره وبدا غاضًا من الجناح البرازيلي.

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Lots of Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to react after the signing of Fulham wonderkid Harvey Elliott was confirmed.

The 16-year-old starlet was attracting interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, and looked destined to leave the Cottagers after rejecting a scholarship deal – Scott Parker’s side will be due a significant compensation package after Liverpool swooped in to sign the attacker.

Elliott became the youngest player in Premier League history back in May when he appeared as a late substitute against Wolves, featuring at just 16 years and 30 days old.

The teenager is also Fulham’s youngest ever first-team appearance maker, after playing in the EFL Cup at just 15 years and 174 days.

He becomes Liverpool’s third signing of the summer after the Reds also completed deals for 17-year-old Sepp van den Berg and 35-year-old goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.

Let’s take a look at how the Liverpool fans on Twitter reacted to the news…

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Maxi Gomez is waiting to see if Tottenham Hotspur make a bid for him this summer, per the Daily Mirror, amid rival interest from West Ham United.

The Celta Vigo striker is wanted by the Hammers this summer.

Football FanCast understands that the club’s Director of Football Mario Husillos is attempting to negotiate a deal with the Spanish club as Manuel Pellegrini looks to strengthen his strikeforce.

However, the Mirror claim that the Uruguay international, who scored 13 goals in La Liga last season, is waiting to see if Spurs will make a move for him as they seek back-up to Harry Kane.

Indeed, the club are set to allow Fernando Llorente to depart upon the expiration of his contract, leaving Vincent Janssen, who played just three games in 2018/19, as the England captain’s deputy.

But is Gomez right to potentially miss out on a move to east London as he looks to become a second-choice striker?

Football FanCast’s writers give their verdicts below!

Charles Jones

“If Gomez thinks he can get a move to Tottenham then of course he is right to wait for them to come in for him. Spurs don’t have much depth up top, and they represent a great chance for Gomez to get a game at a top club.

“With all due respect to West Ham, they won’t be challenging for the same type of silverware as Spurs. Every player’s dream is to win trophies and Spurs have a much greater chance of doing that than the Irons – just a month ago they were playing in the Champions League final.

“On top of that, Mauricio Pochettino’s side are regulars in the competition, and any self-respecting footballer would have aspirations of playing in Europe’s most elite tournament. You can’t blame him for wanting to wait and see if Spurs come in for him.”

Matt Dawson

“It’s difficult to work out whether he’s right to hold out for a move because it depends on his aspirations. If he wants to play regular football then he should obviously choose West Ham but if he wants a better shot at competing for honours, he’s right to hold out for a move to Spurs. It seems as though he’s willing to play back-up to Kane too, with the player reportedly waiting for them to make a bid.

“After Llorente’s impact it’s easy to see why. The Spaniard popped up with eight goals, proving to offer a completely different option to Kane, and will be remembered as something of a cult hero in north London after playing such a key role in them reaching the Champions League final.

“Gomez could provide the same kind of threat, winning four aerial duels per game last term. On that evidence, he’d be a very good plan B – the more useful he proves in that respect, the more games he’ll end up playing. 

“In terms of his own development, however, West Ham would be a better choice. He could easily end up starting every week for the east Londoners and proving what he can do consistently in the Premier League.”

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James Beavis

“It wouldn’t be a surprise if he was holding out for a move to Tottenham Hotspur, but he’d be better off joining West Ham for his career. The Uruguay international is obviously keen on the idea of playing Champions League football, but what he needs to remember is that if he were to link up with the north London outfit, he would likely be playing back-up to Kane more often than not.

“On the contrary, he would have a good chance of being a first-choice starter and playing more minutes at the London Stadium under Pellegrini, given he has been described as the Chilean’s number one target this summer. At 22 years of age the South American attacker has time on his side, and he should look to prove himself at a club like the Hammers before moving on to a bigger one in the future. All in all, he’d be making the wrong career move by opting for Spurs.”

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Harry Maguire appears set to move to Manchester City this summer, per The Mirror.

The Leicester City defender, now an England cult hero, has been the subject of a tug-of-war between City and bitter rivals Manchester United and it is not difficult to see why. This is a no-nonsense centre-back with excellent positional sense, ball playing prowess and a genuinely brilliant heading ability. He is a solid tackler, too.

And yet, recent reports suggest that he could leave for £80m. That’s not a typo. The number is real and, were City to match it, he would complete a transfer for the same price that Real Madrid once paid to secure Cristiano Ronaldo, then the best footballer in the world.

This is not a one-off, either. City have been here before with English talent.

John Stones, Raheem Sterling and Kyle Walker are all among the most expensive transfers of all time.

And this speaks to a greater issue. English talent has for too long been overpriced but now it appears that we are reaching the peak of the fad. Maguire is a fine defender and his stock rose considerably after the 2018 World Cup, when he was a marvel in Gareth Southgate’s England team, but the price is, quite simply, insane.

Take Matthijs De Ligt as the counterpoint. The Netherlands international emerged as one of the most coveted defenders in the world during Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-finals, a player of impeccable timing and with a ceiling higher than many of his contemporaries. He could yet be the best defender in the world. He would cost around £62m.

Who’s doing these sums?

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Now, of course, an English player has not been the most expensive in the world since 1996, when Newcastle United, in more stable times, paid £15m for Alan Shearer. Prior to that, it was Jackie Sewell, in 1951, moving from Notts County to Sheffield Wednesday for £34,500. In today’s money, that’s £1m.

Since then, prices have mushroomed and we’re at the point where a £100m transfer barely raises an eyebrow.

But the inflation at the top has trickled down and led to the misguided belief that non-elite players can be worth it too.

Maguire is a prime example, and it affects other deals too.

Look at City’s move to sign Walker from Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs knew what they had. This was an elite full-back who was being courted by the richest club in the land. After months of negotiations with Daniel Levy City paid an initial £45m that could rise to over £50m. As a result, Monaco, when negotiating the sale of Benjamin Mendy to the Etihad Stadium, demanded the same figure. They got it because City could afford it.

But, really, it doesn’t make sense. Of course, buying British talent can lead to favourable views from fans. Instead of going out and buying the best talent on the continent, keeping it on these shores – as City have strived to do where possible – can lead to more engagement from supporters who are watching their countrymen do their team proud.

Yet to get them, now, one has to pay through the nose. Compare and contrast. Declan Rice at West Ham would cost around £100m to buy this summer, Football FanCast understands.

Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele, a player further along in his development, could move to Spurs for £66.6m.

Jack Grealish, a player who has never played for the England senior team and played in the Championship last season, has a £60m release clause in his contract.

Hakim Ziyech, the attacking midfielder who was integral as Ajax reached the Champions League semis, is reportedly available for £25m.

Remember too, that Jordan Pickford, at Everton, became the most expensive British goalkeeper of all time when he moved from Sunderland for a deal that could be worth £30m. Sunderland had just been relegated.

Maguire, then, is not the cause of this sickness. One actually feels that it is deals by foreign clubs that have inflated the market to the point of farce – Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Gareth Bale are perhaps the chief instigators – but Premier League clubs are now clawing each other’s eyes out as they look to take advantage.

If Maguire is now worth £80m, one has to wonder the price for the very best attacking English players, the likes of Harry Kane, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.

To City, of course, he may well be worth it. Maguire could come in, sign a five-year contract, and win five Premier League titles, helping the club to countless clean sheets. Perhaps he’d be able to repay the investment on the pitch.

Or maybe, just maybe, this is a sign that the Premier League has lost its grip on reality, and on its calculator.

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Villa Park has been a hub of activity during this summer transfer window, with the Villans having already signed five players. Today’s Aston Villa transfer roundup includes interest in another Southampton defender, a Bundesliga club’s rival pursuit for a 25-year-old midfielder and the potential departure of a goalkeeper.

Stephens on radar

Aston Villa have already signed one Saints defender (Matt Targett) this summer, and now they are interested in taking another. According to Tuesday’s print edition of the Mirror (via HITC), Dean Smith and co have their eyes on Jack Stephens. The 24-year-old played 29 times in all competitions for Southampton last season.

Köln want Nakamba

According to Bild, FC Köln have entered the race to sign Club Brugge midfielder and Zimbabwe international Marvelous Nakamba. Villa were reportedly interested in the player, (The Herald via The Chronicle) but now it seems that they have competition from the Bundesliga.

Kalinic could leave

Lovre Kalinic may be available for as little as £5m this summer according to journalist Alan Nixon.The Croatian goalkeeper only joined the club in January of this year, but it now seems he is surplus to requirements at the Midlands club.

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Leeds United fans on Twitter aren’t sure about the potential takeover of the club by Qatar Sports Investments due to the effect it may have on the club’s identity.

The Yorkshire outfit have for years prided themselves on having one of the most raucous atmospheres in English football at Elland Road due to their passionate fanbase, and certain fans are fearing that it would be lost if the club were taken over by the oil-rich group.

Signing world-renowned superstars would certainly bring more tourists to Elland Road, and that may not be a good thing for people who have backed the club for years throughout their darkest times.

There are also plenty of concerns about the human rights violations that the Qataris are reported to have fallen foul of in recent years. Supporters on social media were quick to bring up the ethical implications if the club were sold to QSI.

A takeover by QSI would redefine the club’s future, but the Twitter reactions down below aren’t so sure it’s for the best…

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According to talkSPORT, Sheffield United are interested in bringing Macauley Bonne to Bramall Lane next season.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic season at Leyton Orient netting 23 goals in the National League, but you have to question any newly-promoted side that chooses to shop around non-league football.

Bonne’s season

The Zimbabwe international has proven over the last two years that he is one of the most potent strikers in the National League.

This season he found the back of the net more than 20 times for the second season running, so he knows how to score.

Whether or not that skill can translate in the Premier League remains to be seen, but it is a tough ask.

Strange signing

What on earth is Chris Wilder thinking when looking in the National League for strikers?

The Blades are headed to the Premier League. They should be able to cough up the funds to sign a top-class striker rather than scouring the bargain basement.

Indeed, there have been players who have come from outside the EFL who have made an impact in the top leagues, namely Jamie Vardy and Rickie Lambert, but those are few and far between.

Bonne’s record when he has played at a higher level doesn’t make for great reading either. Three goals in 33 games in League One with Colchester in the 2015/16 season is poor, and for the Yorkshire club to look at making him their first signing after promotion is baffling.

Perhaps this is a sign that Wilder is looking towards bringing in a backup striker rather than a new starter, meaning that the partnership of Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick will be given a chance in the top flight.

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

The Blades have also recently been linked to Gary Madine and Lee Gregory which supports this idea that they want to add depth up front rather than displace their current partnership.

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Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has agreed to sell the club for £350million to billionaire Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan, the half-brother of Manchester City’s owner, per The Sun.

What’s the word?

The report claims that contracts between the two parties have already been exchanged and submitted to the Premier League for ratification.

Ashley is said to have decided to bring the curtain down on a 12-year reign in charge of the Magpies by selling the club to Al Nehayan, a senior member of the Dubai royal family.

The Sheikh had previously attempted to buy Liverpool, but it now appears that he will be taking charge at St James’ Park.

Ashley has long been seen as the reason for Newcastle’s failure to kick on in the Premier League and The Sun claim that, if the takeover goes through, funds will be made available to manager Rafael Benitez to strengthen the squad.

Newcastle has been the subject of takeover bids before, with both Amanda Staveley and Peter Kenyon failing to reach an agreement with Ashley.

Since the report from The Sun, unconfirmed reports from the Middle East have also stated the deal is done, while Sky Sports claim talks are in place, but have not progressed that far.

Dreams come true

Newcastle may be taking a step into the unknown here but this is manna from heaven for most Magpies fans.

Ashley has been regarded as a poisonous influence in the north-east for so long and it now seems as though that will finally be put to rest.

Of course, fans will be hoping for a spending spree this summer as Newcastle look to once again establish themselves in the top half of the Premier League.

The first step to that is Ashley relinquishing control and heading off into the sunset; he finally looks set to do just that.

With the financial might of the Dubai royal family behind them, the Magpies could soon be challenging at the very top end of the division.

Supporters, surely, will be beside themselves.