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According to reports in The Mirror, Southampton are leading Premier League rivals Newcastle United, Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace in the race to sign Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek on loan.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the 21-year-old looks set to leave Stamford Bridge on a temporary basis this summer after struggling to break into the first team under Antonio Conte last season, and Saints are ready to beat the newly-promoted duo – and the Eagles – in the battle for the midfielder, according to The Mirror.

The England Under-21 international wants regular playing time next term and he could get the opportunity to get it under new Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino.

How did Loftus-Cheek do last season?

After featuring heavily during pre-season last summer, the highly-rated midfielder may have hoped that he would have been given a real chance to shine in the first team under Conte last season, but it just didn’t happen for the 21-year-old.

The England Under-21 international featured just six times in the Premier League – all substitute appearances – and 11 in all competitions in a frustrating campaign, although he did get on the scoresheet twice in FA and League Cup win against Peterborough United and Bristol Rovers respectively.

Why hasn’t he been given an opportunity?

It’s no surprise that he wasn’t a regular given Chelsea were going for the title and the likes of N’Golo Kante, Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas were brilliant in midfield, however he would have expected to play more than 343 minutes of first team football.

Perhaps one of the problems is that Conte used Loftus-Cheek as a striker last year, and therefore was unwilling to use him in a more defensive position.

Would he be a good signing for Southampton?

He certainly would be.

While Saints have Oriol Romeu in central midfield, they lacked height and energy in the middle of the park at times last season and the addition of Loftus-Cheek would certainly help them overcome that issue.

They would also be willing to give the 21-year-old an opportunity – as they have done with the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Jack Stephens and Nathan Redmond recently – and that can only benefit them and the player.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, there is no doubt that Loftus-Cheek is the type of player Southampton were missing in midfield last season, and it would be a big coup if they could bring him in on loan, although they would probably prefer a permanent deal.

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Aston Villa fans have given Thomas Sorensen their well-wishes after he announced his retirement from football.

The goalkeeper has opted to call time on his 24-year career after having spells at Odense, Sunderland, Villa, Stoke City and more recently Melbourne City.

Sorensen spent the last two years in Australia and he has decided to remain in the country, and will switch his attention to some charity work.

The former Denmark international, who earned 101 caps, confirmed his retirement in a post on Instagram.

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The 41-year-old made more than 400 appearances in the Premier League, and a chunk of those outings came at Villa.

Sorensen played for the Midlands outfit between 2003 and 2008, and he managed to keep hold of the number one spot under the management of David O’Leary and then Martin O’Neill.

Following his announcement, the goalkeeper gave a special mention to Villa on Twitter, and as expected, he received plenty of support from the club’s fans.

Transfer speculation surrounding Barcelona star Neymar went into overdrive on Friday when he was filmed storming out of training following a bust-up with new signing Nelson Semedo.

Video footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows the Brazilian squaring up to new signing Semedo following a challenge during a small-sided game.

Neymar’s teammates had to intervene to prevent the confrontation from getting more heated, and the 25-year-old eventually trudged off the pitch.

Before leaving the training field, the attacker threw his bib to the floor and kicked a ball in anger.

This footage is only going to fuel rumours that Neymar is on his way out of Camp Nou, with ESPN recently reporting that the Brazilian has agreed terms with Paris Saint-Germain over a world-record €222m (£198.8m) transfer.

Even though all signs are pointing towards the French giants, Manchester United fans want their club to scupper the deal.

The Red Devils certainly have the financial clout to compete, and many supporters think that Neymar is just what the club need.

After learning of the Brazilian’s training ground scuffle, United fans took to Twitter.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has hinted in his pre-match press conference for the club’s clash against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Sunday that while Eden Hazard is improving, he doesn’t have the match fitness to line up against Spurs.

The Belgium international suffered an ankle injury while on international duty with Belgium in June, and he missed the club’s opening day defeat against Burnley last weekend.

The Premier League holders, who were missing Hazard, Pedro and Tiemoue Bakayoko because of injury and Victor Moses through suspension, suffered a disastrous 3-2 defeat by the Clarets in a match where both Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas were sent off.

Conte’s men will be hoping to bounce back on Sunday but they face a tough task against Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who will once again be looking to compete for the title.

Chelsea supporters were quick to give their opinion on the news, and they were divided with their opinions.

While some don’t want the club to rush him back in case he further aggravates his injury, others say that he is needed against Tottenham.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Everton manager Ronald Koeman has insisted that the club need to bring in a striker before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

The Dutchman, who ideally wants two new players brought in over the next few days, made the claims after overseeing his team lose 2-0 to Chelsea.

The Toffees travelled to Stamford Bridge on Sunday for the third Premier League match of the season, but it was not a happy afternoon for the club.

The team ended up leaving West London having conceded goals from Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata.

Everton never looked as though they would perform a comeback, and despite signing eight new players in this window, Koeman is desperate for more.

The blue half of Merseyside have spent well over £100m on shaking up the squad, which has picked up four points from a possible nine.

After losing to Chelsea, the Everton boss told reporters that he intends to jump back into the market, which got the fans talking.

A much-changed Leeds United advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after a thrilling 5-3 win on penalties against Premier League side Burnley at Turf Moor on Tuesday, and it has certainly given boss Thomas Christiansen something to think about ahead of the weekend clash against Ipswich Town.

The Spaniard decided to make nine changes to the team that lost their first match of the season against Millwall at The Den on Saturday, with Pierre-Michel Lasogga, Samu Saiz, Vurnon Anita and Kalvin Phillips among those dropping out of the starting XI.

Two goals for each team in a frantic end to the game saw the tie go to extra-time and then penalties, with the Yorkshire outfit’s players keeping their cool from the spot as the Whites saw off the Clarets and former players Chris Wood and Charlie Taylor.

The performances of some of the players that came into the side have certainly given their manager something to think about as he looks to get back to winning ways against Ipswich at Elland Road this weekend.

Here are four Leeds outcasts that have given Christiansen selection headaches after their Burnley heroics…

Conor Shaughnessy

The 21-year-old was one of only two Leeds players to keep his place in the starting line-up from the defeat to Millwall on Saturday amid injuries to Pontus Jansson, Liam Cooper and Matthew Pennington.

It was only the Irishman’s fifth start in 11 matches though and after a wobbly performance against the Lions at the weekend, he bounced back at Turf Moor with a solid and assured display.

With the aforementioned trio of centre-backs potentially all available again for the visit of Ipswich, Christiansen has a big decision to make and it will be difficult to drop Shaughnessy after such an impressive showing.

Ronaldo Vieira

Eunan O’Kane and Kalvin Phillips have quickly established themselves as Thomas Christiansen’s preferred central midfield partnership this season, but their below-par showing against Millwall and Vieira’s energetic performance against Burnley has given the Spaniard a dilemma.

While the 18-year-old has played every minute of Leeds’ Carabao Cup campaign this term, he has featured for just 31 minutes in the Championship, but that could change this weekend.

The England Under-20 international improved as the game went on at Turf Moor, and it was his initial intervention that set the visitors away on the break for Hadi Sacko’s opening goal.

Mateusz Klich

Like Vieira, while the Poland international has been a regular in the Carabao Cup, he has found first-team minutes hard to come by in the Championship, playing just 43.

The 27-year-old would surely have been hoping for better following his summer move from FC Twente, but his performance at Burnley should mean that Christiansen seriously considers keeping him in the side for the visit of Ipswich on Saturday.

The midfielder produced an assured performance alongside Vieira in the middle of the park and nonchalantly tucked away his spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out.

Hadi Sacko

Despite making 42 appearances in all competitions during his loan spell with Leeds last season, the 23-year-old has obviously failed to impress Christiansen after the move was made permanent during the summer transfer window.

The winger hasn’t been in the Whites’ Championship squad since he came on as a late substitute against Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the campaign, while he was only a 60th-minute substitute against Burnley on Tuesday.

However, he scored just 20 minutes after coming on with a fine goal to give the visitors the lead and caused a threat with his direct running.

After making the most of a rare chance, he has certainly given Christiansen something to think about ahead of the visit of the Tractor Boys on Saturday.

Do you agree, Leeds fans? Let us know below.

International breaks. No one likes them. Not even the England players, judging by recent performances. It does, however, give us some extra time to consider our Fantasy Premier League options ahead of the next gameweek.

This season we’ve set up five just-for-fun teams to make our FPL seasons a little more interesting, and we want your help with the decisions we make.

One of our teams is the England XI, made up purely of English players. You could say it’s our way of showing Gareth Southgate that we could probably do a better job than him.

The England XI has so far raked in a decent 329 FPL points and boosted that heavily with a GW7 haul of 64. It leaves them second in our mini-league.

We made just the one transfer ahead of GW7, bringing in Raheem Sterling for Michail Antonio but other than that there’s not a great deal we can do to this team, we feel.

If it wasn’t for the free-scoring Harry Kane, this England XI would be struggling massively and its clear he needs some help from other players in the squad. Marcus Rashford should still bring in some decent points, while John Stones and Dele Alli are more than capable of returning good numbers on a weekly basis.

But the others? It’s a bit average really, which is an accurate reflection of a real life England squad.

We need your help ahead of GW8. What changes should we make, if any? There’s £1.2 in the bank and a wildcard still available, so there’s plenty of room for tinkering if needed.

Let us know in the comments below…

Stoke City picked up a vital three points at home to Southampton on Saturday, snatching victory with just five minutes remaining thanks to super sub Peter Crouch.

Mame Biram Diouf had opened the scoring for the home side but Saints had looked to have won a point after Maya Yoshida equalised with just 15 minutes remaining.

The defeat means Saints have won just one of their last six matches, with supporters growing increasingly impatient with their poor results and poor performances.

One of their fans’ particular points of contention on Saturday was Mauricio Pellegrini’s insistence on playing Shane Long as a lone striker. The 30-year-old hasn’t netted in English Premier League since February and that lack of goals is costing his team dear, especially when playing on his own leading the line.

Supporters are calling for a change in tactics and personnel in the first-team and took to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…

At last FIFA 18 has arrived on our shelves, and that can only mean one thing: Ultimate Team time!

With the Premier League continuing to attract some of the best players in the world over the summer, the sheer level of quality on show in England is at its highest ever. That means there’s more top quality players to pick from when it comes to buying the very best for your Ultimate Team.

Not sure who to go for? Here’s a run down of the 30 highest rated players in the Premier League on FIFA 18…

30. Bernardo Silva

Bernardo Silva has been a revelation for Portugal and will hope to bring his form at Monaco to the Premier League.

89 dribbling and 91 passing will be a major threat.

29. Sadio Mane

93 pace and 85 dribbling means Mane is a defender’s nightmare. Will terrorise defenders for fun.

28. Dele Alli

England’s most exciting young talent. 80 shooting and 82 dribbling makes him a threat for defenders.

27. Ilkay Gundogan

Injury forced Gundogan out for most of last season but the German will be itching to get out there this term and show the quality he possesses.

87 dribbling and 83 passing makes him a midfielder to be reckoned with.

26. Vincent Kompany

One of the most trusted centre-backs in world football. With 84 defending and 83 physical, Kompany will get into most Premier League teams.

25. Henrikh Mkhitaryan

86 pace and 85 dribbling Mkhitaryan is a great player to have on your side.

24. Jan Vertonghen

85 defending and 81 physical makes the Belgium international very difficult to beat.

23. Cesar Azpilicueta

Mr. Reliable. The Spanish centre-back is a fine choice in defence with 86 defending.

22. Alexandre Lacazette

Pace, power and goals. Alexandre Lacazette is one of the most complete strikers in the world.

21. Petr Cech

87 handling and 83 positions makes Cech a reliable goalkeeper, even at the age of 35.

20. Diego Costa

He may be a controversial figure but who doesn’t love Deigo Costa? With 88 physical and 83 shooting, Costa will score you goals for fun.

19. David Luiz

84 defending, 91 physical and brilliant hair. David Luiz is someone you simply need at the back.

18. Toby Alderweireld

The Belgium international is a rock at the back and one of the main reasons Tottenham conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League.

17. Cesc Fabregas

Pulling the strings for Chelsea on a weekly basis, Fabregas is as classy of a footballer as they come. 88 passing and 81 dribbling is a strikers’ dream.

16. Harry Kane

One season wonder? Two season wonder? Three season wonder? Harry Kane has proved his doubters wrong and is now among Europe’s elite.

87 shooting + 83 physical = goals galore.

15. Philippe Coutinho

Coutinho is the creative spark every team needs. Luckily for Liverpool, he plays for them. His 88 dribbling dazzles opponents and with 82 pace and 83 passing, Coutinho is the real deal.

14. Romelu Lukaku

After making his big money move to Man United, Lukaku is already proving he was worth every penny.

With 84 physical, 83 pace and 85 shooting, Lukaku is one of the most lethal strikes in the league.

13. David Silva

Probably the most underrated player in the Premier League, Silva is one of the most creative midfielders in the world.

With 87 passing and 87 dribbling, Silva has the technique and skill to find that killer pass or goal out of no where.

12. Christian Eriksen

Eriksen is the heart of Tottenham and the Danish national team. His 84 dribbling and 88 passing ratings make him an assist machine.

11. Paul Pogba

Composed, agile and powerful, Pogba has everything you would want in a midfielder.

88 strength and 84 dribbling ratings mean you’re not getting the ball off him anytime soon.

10. N’Golo Kante

Clean up on aisle 4!

Kante will look after the back line and protect the midfield with his 81 defending and 84 physical stats.

His 80 dribbling will also help him go from defence to attack in seconds.

9. Mesut Ozil

Lethal in attacking areas, utilise his 87 passing with his left foot and you will unlock any defence.

8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Known for his strength and finishing, Ibrahimovic has 88 shooting – one of the highest on FIFA 18 – and 82 physical, making him a force to be reckoned with.

7. Hugo Lloris

Lloris is a cat in front of goal and one of the more impressive goalkeepers in the world thanks to his 90 reflexes, 88 diving and 86 handling. As solid as they come.

6. Thibaut Courtois

Known for putting Cech on the bench at Chelsea, Courtois has established himself as one of the best in the world.

91 handling and 88 reflexes stats make him one of the best shot-stoppers in the game.

5. Sergio Aguero

Strong, fast, determined and brilliant in front of goal, Aguero’s 88 shooting, 89 dribbling and 87 pace means that he’ll always be scoring goals, like he is in real life.

4. Kevin De Bruyne

If you look up well rounded in the dictionary, you’ll find Kevin De Bruyne. He creates with his 88 passing and 85 dribbling stats but can also strike a ball with the best of them thanks to his 84 shooting.

3. Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal’s hero and saviour, Sanchez uses his 89 dribbling and 86 pace to tear apart defences. His 84 shooting attribute allows him score from anywhere, too.

2. David De Gea

The Spain international’s 90 diving and 90 reflexes make him a wall in front of goal and a must have between the sticks.

1. Eden Hazard

90 pace and 92 dribbling stats mean Hazard is dazzling and technical on the wing.  Perhaps the greatest Belgian footballer ever.

If there was ever a defining moment for a Tottenham side who have now arrived as players on the world stage, this was it.

At a stadium where they’ve never really felt at home, against the reigning two-time European champions, in a game to potentially decide the top spot of a Champions League group, Spurs didn’t just turn up, they eviscerated Real Madrid.

There have been signs over the last few years that they were the real deal, but now we know for sure: it’s not just in the frenzied haze of a Premier League season where Pochettino’s side feel at home, it’s in Europe, too. This is a side who have their manager to thank for almost everything great about their recent rise, but who are also incredibly well-positioned for the future, provided they can keep their best young talent happy, and keep them at the club.

This doesn’t just have implications for Tottenham, though. Nor is it just a case of the knock-on effect for the rest of a league who now have to deal with another member of the top six cartel. This has implications to some of the other established clubs in England’s capital. And especially the one-time Invincibles Arsenal.

There’s a simple and obvious way in which that’s true. In order to win their first league title since 2004, Arsenal must now overcome a Spurs side who are now their superiors in the current Premier League hierarchy. In order to qualify for the Champions League, the Gunners, too, have to scramble their way past another team. But in order to keep their position as one of the top clubs in the country in terms of prestige and commercial position, they may also find themselves taking on their north London rivals once again.

When Mauricio Pochettino told Spanish radio at the end of last season that Tottenham was the biggest club in London, it just seemed like the sort of jibe you always get among club rivals. It was picked up, caused a small stir and then we went back to our lives thinking, “well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?” But Pochettino might have had a point.

Whilst it’s true that Tottenham have a history to be proud of, the same is true of Chelsea and Arsenal, too. But to say that Spurs were more popular perhaps sounded like a stretch, even for the manager of the club.

But it’s also true that Spurs are a club whose star has been rising for the last few years, who play a modern brand of attractive football, who have a top manager, some players who are fast becoming household names, and they are about to move into a new stadium to rival anything else English football can boast.

On the other hand, whilst local rivals Arsenal had most of that a decade ago, they don’t anymore.

They have a world class stadium, a manager who is a household name – though rapidly becoming a caricature – and a team of players who haven’t lived up to expectations. The discontent around the club is there for all to see, and the mutiny doesn’t look too far over the horizon.

But what’s so shocking about the Arsenal position is that the problems in the boardroom stem from the fact that the ownership of the club treat it as a money-making company. It’s their club, they’ll say, and they can run is as they wish, but you get the feeling that, given the rise of Spurs, this is incredibly short-sighted.

Because whilst the Gunners can wish to make money out of the prestige of being able to call themselves the biggest club in London and have some sort of evidence to back that up, they are in danger of having no evidence to back up even the claim that they’re the biggest side in their own little corner of the capital.

Spurs’ victory over Real Madrid calls to mind the Gunners’ own victory in 2006, when a Thierry Henry inspired side knocked Los Blancos out of the Champions League and made it all the way to the final in Paris. But that is now over a decade ago, and whatever announcement that Wenger’s Arsenal made to Europe that night, they have failed to live up to it, and now its their rivals who are in the same position as the Gunners were back then, whilst they are now known as the cup team whose spineless but attractive style of football can’t quite cut it in the league.

As prescient as Pochettino’s comments may look, though, this is only on the back of one result. They are, much like Arsenal were, a team who need to capitalise on that and build even further.

Just as Tottenham’s rise may be a warning to Arsenal that their past success is no guarantee of future prestige, Spurs should also take their north London rivals as a warning sign, too. Just weeks after Arsenal lost the Champions League final, they moved into a new stadium, found themselves in a precarious financial position and didn’t win another trophy for nearly a decade.

Wednesday night was another milestone moment for Pochettino’s Tottenham who are well on the path to becoming a truly big team, known to and respected by football fans worldwide. But if Pochettino’s comments about being the biggest in London are to be true, they need to kick on in a way that Arsenal didn’t. There are warning signs everywhere this week in north London.