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As is always the case with clubs outside of the Premier League, trying to keep a tight lid on the finances can prove to be a tricky customer to deal with.

English football’s top-flight of course is filled to the brim with money coming in, what with all the lucrative TV rights and broadcasting revenue.

But going beyond that, and teams really need to be a lot more shrewder with their business.

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According to the latest update from The Athletic’s Phil Hay, there are some early worrying signs from Leeds’ accounts for 2018/2019. The journalist claims that the “headline figures are an operating loss of £36m and an annual loss of £21m”.

And after hearing about the situation, Leeds fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the matter.

Some Leeds fans felt the figures explained the club’s activity in the summer transfer window last year, with one supporter claiming that the sales of the likes of Pontus Jansson and Kemar Roofe should hopefully register better numbers for the future.

Earning promotion to the Premier League is of course a big deal for matters on the pitch, but they are equally just as important off it.

Whilst fans no doubt are itching to see their team play against the best of the best week-in and week-out, those in the boardroom know the financial implications of dining at the top table.

And Hay’s latest report is just another reason why Leeds desperately need to have their return to the top-flight confirmed this season.

Meanwhile, Leeds should give this player a chance instead of signing Couto.

Everton fans have been discussing the future of veteran midfielder Fabian Delph this week after one fan account posed the question – “keep or sell?”

And there has been an overwhelming response to get rid of the Englishman.

Delph joined the Toffees in the summer on a three-year deal from Manchester City with the Merseyside outfit paying an initial £8.5m for his services.

The 30-year-old, now valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, has featured in just 20 matches this term, starting 16 of them but evidently, he hasn’t done enough to convince the Goodison Park faithful.

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Since taking the managerial reins, Carlo Ancelotti has predominantly operated a 4-4-2 system, meaning there is only space for two central midfielders and despite having a few options in the role, it is the team’s biggest weakness.

Andre Gomes’ remarkable return from his nasty injury only highlights that even more with Tom Davies the other man in the middle.

Although some supporters are clearly hoping that Delph will be gone by the time next season swings around.

Here’s how they have been reacting…

AND in other news, Everton fans react to emerging Moise Kean news

Newcastle United’s prospective £300m takeover by Amanda Staveley’s Saudi Arabian-backed consortium is nearing completion after reports emerged this week suggesting that the Premier League had given the green light to the deal.It means that all that is left is the transferral of funds and the official announcement, which could be ‘on or around’ June 1st, according to Neil Custis.Now there’s has been an interesting claim made about the Magpies’ managerial position from Italian journalist Nicolo Schira.He suggests that the new owners’ “dream” option is either ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino or six-time Serie A winner Max Allegri. Both are currently unemployed.Schira tweeted the following on Friday morning…

There’s also the belief that Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi’s public investment fund, will be the new president of the northeast outfit.

Steve Bruce is currently at the helm in Tyneside and is indeed under contract for another two years, so if the incoming consortium really does want either of the two names mentioned, then they will have to sack the 59-year-old first.

The single toughest football logo quiz of all time…

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Pochettino has been out of work since his sacking at Tottenham, which came just months after reaching the Champions League final whilst Allegri left Juventus after five straight Scudettos.

Both are ambitious names and only go to show the direction in which the club could be heading under this wealthy new era.

AND in other news, Steve Bruce future discussed amid Newcastle takeover…

This article forms part of our Total Duds feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how bad a deal the club got.

When Celtic managed to acquire Efrain Juarez from UNAM Pumas in 2010, per Transfermarkt, fans did not know what to expect from the first ever Mexican to play in Scotland. They definitely found a surprise package but not in the ways a club would want and his brief spell at the club highlighted what a failure the signing was.

The right-back made 20 appearances in his first season at the club in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, even managing to pick up two goals along the way. Perhaps the player could have excelled at Paradise, but it was more his antics off the pitch that ruined any chances of a decent spell in Scotland coming to fruition.

Whilst on international duty, (and still playing at Celtic), Juarez broke rules and received a six-match international ban, and the way he broke the rules caused it to be heavily highlighted in the media, leaving the Hoops in an awkward position via FootballScotland.

This whole scenario caused a rift between the player and the club, he never added to his 20 appearances and after a loan stint at Spanish side Real Zaragoza, the player left on a free transfer in 2012, via Transfermarkt, meaning the club lost money on him.

It seems like the player’s attitude ruined any chance of him being a success at the club and the fact he only managed one season there before being shipped out on loan whilst the Celts lost over two million on him highlights that signing him was a total disaster.

Celtic fans, what are your thoughts on Juarez? Comment below!

Manchester City are set to welcome back injury-ravaged duo Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane when the Premier League returns next week.

As per Manchester Evening News, the French defender, who missed several months with a knee injury earlier in the season, limped out of the Champions League win over Real Madrid in late February with a hamstring problem but is available to face Arsenal next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the German winger could be set for his first senior game in more than 10 months after overcoming an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture incurred last August – coincidentally, he made a tentative comeback in an under-23 fixture against the Gunners in the same week that Laporte got injured at the Bernabeu.

A sparsity of centre-backs in Pep Guardiola’s senior squad has seen Fernandinho moved into that role from his usual midfield position throughout the season, while neither Nicolas Otamendi nor John Stones has been overly convincing.

Laporte’s return would enable the manager to pick the player with the most interceptions per game (1.9) among the squad, as well as having an accomplished distributor of possession at the heart of Manchester City’s defence, with the 26-year-old boasting a 92.1% passing success rate. [via WhoScored]

Meanwhile, Sane’s return will allow Guardiola to call upon a player who hit 30 goals in the previous two seasons prior to his ACL injury, along with providing 37 assists. It could also inject fresh competition for fellow left winger Raheem Sterling, who began the 2019/20 campaign in scintillating fashion but has not scored this side of New Year’s Day (as per TransferMarkt).

With both Sane and Laporte in the team for the majority of last season, Manchester City were the Premier League’s highest scorers with 95 goals and had its second best defence in leaking just 23 goals (as per TransferMarkt).

This time around, with that duo missing almost all of the season, the champions have scored 68 times and conceded 31 in 28 league games so far. Preservation of those averages would see them end the season with 92 goals scored and 42 conceded.

The return of Sane should sharpen their attack, while Laporte being back certainly ought to bolster their defence ahead of the visit of Arsenal next week.

Man City fans, how big a boost will it be to have Sane and Laporte back in the squad for the Arsenal game? Comment below with your views!

Key information about Oakwell Stadium

Oakwell Stadium was built in 1888 and is now the home of Barnsley FC who are playing their football in the Championship. The ground is located along Grove Street in South Yorkshire and apart from being a football pitch first and foremost, it is also a multi-purpose sports development in the city of Barnsley.

Its current capacity is 24,009 with a 100m x 68m pitch that has a grass surface with no undersoil heating and no running track surrounding it.

The record attendance was tallied in 1936 when 40,255 spectators watched the clash between Barnsley and Stoke City.

A history of Oakwell Stadium

Interestingly enough, the Oakwell Stadium was built the same year when Barnsley FC were founded, albeit it didn’t officially open until a year after, in 1888. The name of the stadium does primarily refer to the pitch where the football is being played, but it is also the name for several neighbouring venues that form the facilities of Barnsley FC.

The stadium was mostly owned by the club itself but over the years, especially going into the new millennium, they experienced some financial difficulties, falling into administration and forcing them to yield the ground to Barnsley Council who purchased the stadium but not the surrounding facilities.

Even though it was far from ideal, it did give them enough financial backing to pay off their creditors while also remaining in the Football League. Still, the stadium was changed over the years with the majority of the biggest refurbishments being done in the 1990s and only the original main stand from the early 20th century is left of the old structures.

Oakwell Stadium got a brand new East Stand in 1993, and that was then quickly followed by a new South Stand in 1995. The North Stand – the stand mostly used for the away fans – was next in line and got finished in 1999 before the club’s aforementioned financial difficulties. Interestingly, once the East Stand was completed, Barnsley FC became the first football club in Yorkshire to incorporate ‘executive boxes’ into their ground, which was a huge step towards modernisation.

It is also quite interesting to note that apart from Barnsley FC obviously using the ground, it is also used by their reserve team, which is not exactly a common thing in the world of football.

Tickets to watch Barnsley FC at Oakwell Stadium

All tickets to watch Barnsley FC at Oakwell Stadium can be found on the club’s official website. The most expensive tickets for adults cost £36 and will give you an opportunity to be seated in category A. It has to be noted, however, that the cost rises by £2 if the tickets are purchased on the day of the game.

The club also offers memberships and season tickets which come with all sorts of financial benefits for the supporters. More information can also be found on their official website.

Related links

https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/ – Official website of Barnsley FC

Tottenham’s summer signings have struggled to make the most of their first season in the Premier League. 

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has a strained relationship with Tanguy Ndombele, who is the club’s record signing, and their dispute has been well documented in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Jack Clarke has largely failed to get many minutes under his belt at Leeds United and QPR, and Ryan Sessegnon has struggled for consistency this season.

Sessegnon seemed destined for greatness two years ago, but his career has taken a downturn ever since he arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He suffered a hamstring injury while away on international duty with the England U-21 squad and barely featured under Mauricio Pochettino and Mourinho as a result.

The former Fulham starlet has only made six appearances in the Premier League all season.

According to Alasdair Gold, Mourinho sees some similarities with Ashley Cole, although he is reluctant to rely upon him in the defence.

To compound his problems even further, he was dropped in favour of young left-back Dennis Cirkin, who was on the bench at home to Everton.

Gold revealed that the Portuguese  admires the 18-year-old, which could be bad news for Sessegnon in the long-term.

With only five games left to play in the league, his chances of starting are looking even more remote, as Ben Davies has started every game since football returned last month, which means he will have to take every opportunity he gets to prove his worth.

Competition for places is always healthy and he is surely too talented to go to waste at Tottenham. But the emergence of Cirkin could mean he is now third choice left-back.

However, it is worth remembering Mourinho sold Adnan Januzaj as he failed to live up to his full potential during his time in charge of Manchester United.

While Sessegnon signed a six-year-deal when he moved to north London last summer, he will not want to suffer a similar fate next season.

Tottenham fans, do you think Mourinho should give Sessegnon another shot? Let us know down below!

Bayern Munich have emerged as shock contenders to sign Tottenham Hotspur target Max Aarons from Norwich City.

Aarons has attracted attention from a number of suitors who are keen to stop him from playing in the Championship following the Canaries’ relegation from the Premier League.

Tottenham have been chasing the 20-year-old for several months but, according to Sky Sports Austria, as cited by The Sun, the Bundesliga champions have now entered the race to sign him this summer.

While Benjamin Pavard has established himself as Hans Dieter-Flick’s first-choice right-back at Bayern Munich, the German giants are keen to find suitable cover. However, Aarons could also be in contention to start, which would bring him into competition with Pavard for a place in their starting lineup.

The Lilywhites will face stiff competition from Bayern, as the England under-21 international may be unable to resist the temptation of playing in the Champions League, and this is something Spurs cannot currently offer.

Jose Mourinho is interested in signing Aarons as he looks to reshape his squad, even though he has private reservations about his physical build, as he is willing to give him a chance to prove himself in north London.

At present, Serge Aurier remains his primary option at right-back, although he is attracting interest from overseas with Monaco reportedly ready to bring him back to France, and Aarons may be the perfect replacement.

Norwich are demanding £30m for their academy graduate and Spurs are set to resume their charm offensive in the summer.

Admittedly, Aurier has earned a higher WhoScored rating than Aarons this season, but it is worth pointing out that the Englishman averaged more blocks per game and drew more fouls.

He is still at the early stages of his career, which gives him plenty of time to continue to grow and develop as a player, and he could turn out to be a shrewd signing to make if his talent is nurtured in the right direction. However, whether or not Daniel Levy will be willing to take on the risk on a prospect who is still largely unproven at the top levels of the game remains to be seen.

Tottenham fans, should Levy sign Aarons this summer? Let us know your views by commenting below!

Livingston have reportedly rejected a bid for Glasgow Rangers target Lyndon Dykes, according to the Daily Record.

The ‘Gers had been linked with a move for the Australian but Barnsley were the first side to make a bid for the forward.

That initial offer was rejected and now another bid from a Championship club – believed to be the Tykes – has been turned down. The sum was reportedly £1.2m but Livingston are looking for a fee of closer to £2m.

The ‘Gers had been in the market for a new striker but that potential problem for Steven Gerrard now looks to have been solved – he has added Cedric Itten and Kemar Roofe to his squad in the past couple of weeks, which gives him plenty more options up front even if Alfredo Morelos departs as speculation surrounding his future continues.

As such, the ‘Gers may have moved on from trying to sign Dykes this summer and, with just 12 goals last season in all competitions, he is not exactly the most prolific forward. Also, Livingston are clearly not ready to let one of their star players leave for a small fee – as such, perhaps the ‘Gers have been astute in already exploring other options.

‘Gers fans, will you be disappointed if Dykes doesn’t come to Ibrox? Let us know what you think by commenting below!

Brighton’s pathway development manager David Weir has backed the club’s returning loan players to push for inclusion in Graham Potter’s first team in the near future.

Ben White, Jayson Molumby, Christian Walton and Matt Clarke were among the numerous players loaned out by the Seagulls in 2019/20 and Weir believes that some of those could force their way into the first team manager’s plans for next season.

As per The Argus, he said: “It’s now Graham Potter’s job to assess his squad and his options, to try and see which player ticks as many boxes as possible.

“The lads have done their bit and I am sure a few of them will be in and around his thoughts, but not everyone can be. That’s why we see the benefit of the players being able to go out and get experience in other places.”

Brighton had a large number of players out on loan during 2019/20, some of whom have since left the club permanently (Anthony Knockaert, Leon Balogun, Beram Kayal) or, in Percy Tau’s case, been loaned out again.

However, several Seagulls players made the most of loan spells in the Championship. White is perhaps the most prominent of those, with the centre-back playing every minute of Leeds’ promotion-winning campaign and having a subsequent £22m bid from the Yorkshire outfit rejected by Albion.

Fellow centre-back Clarke started 34 league games for Derby and won an impressive 4.4 headers per game for Philip Cocu’s side. However, with strong competition for defensive places at the Amex Stadium, the 23-year-old could be set for another loan move, as hinted by The Athletic’s Ryan Conway.

Central midfielder Molumby played in 36 league games for Millwall last term, starting 31, with a goal and an assist to his name (as per TransferMarkt). However, like Clarke, he plays in a position where Brighton are already well-stocked, with Adam Lallana joining the midfield ranks last month, so the 21-year-old Irishman may need to bide his time with the Seagulls or opt for another loan switch.

Walton was Blackburn’s first-choice goalkeeper last season, playing the entirety of their Championship season and keeping 12 clean sheets in 46 games (as per TransferMarkt). That might be enough to persuade Potter to keep him at Brighton, albeit as backup to Mat Ryan, who was ever-present for the Seagulls in the 2019/20 Premier League.

Of that quartet, White seems the most likely to break into the Brighton first team next season, so long as he stays amid continuing transfer speculation. Walton may also get his chance if, heaven forbid, Ryan is laid low with injury.

Potter has shown a willingness to put his faith in rising talents like Tariq Lamptey, Aaron Connolly and Alexis Mac Allister, which may give hope to the players returning to the Amex from their respective loan spells that they might get their chance in the first team, with some of them enjoying the backing of Weir.

Brighton fans, which players can you see breaking into the first team next season? Have your say by commenting below!