All posts by z3u9t.icu

To ensure that Everton enjoys a more comfortable season, whereby they’re further distanced from relegation, Sean Dyche will need to add more attacking impetus to his side.

Last term, the Merseyside outfit netted just a miserable 35 goals in the Premier, which was the second-lowest in the division. They only scored two or more times in a single game on six occasions to underline their lack of forward threat.

Due to their current predicament, they don’t have time to allow players for periods of adaptation – they need proven top-flight players to hit the ground running.

One man who has recently suffered relegation from the Premier League but will be on the lookout for an instant return is Wilfried Gnonto, who has been linked with a move to Goodison Park.

What’s the latest on Wilfried Gnonto to Everton?

According to Sport Italia, Gnonto is 'very close' to completing a move to Everton, with the fee for the Italian understood to be around €22m (£19m).

The report also states that Aston Villa are interested in the 19-year-old, but are yet to Leeds’ valuation.

In a previous article, Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor said Everton had been showing “interest” and named Gnonto in a group alongside Jack Harrison and Crysencio Summerville who were being courted by the Toffees, saying:

“I think these are the players that probably need to be moved on. They're probably not going to be there next season and once they go, there'll be a clearer sort of transfer budget. So I think departures should be the priority at this moment in time [for Leeds]."

This signing would finally see Everton begin to reinvest the £45m they accrued from the controversial sale of Anthony Gordon with Gnonto being an extremely shrewd acquisition.

Would Wilfried Gnonto be a good signing for Everton?

The former Inter Milan academy graduate joined Leeds last summer and in what was an extremely difficult season for the Yorkshire Giant, he emerged with a commendable reputation.

In just 14 top-flight starts, the winger recorded six goal involvements. The reluctance of Javi Gracia to give the winger regular minutes, only awarding him with three starts in 11 games, was a particularly baffling situation.

Back in January, after Leeds suffered a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was full of praise for the £20k-per-week dynamo, saying:

“I've seen a special young talent. He was absolutely exceptional. Honestly, sometimes you see potential and talent and you are excited but I watched him so closely, and his understanding of where to be, his choice of pass, his choice of when to run with it, his awareness if his teammates, really, really good.”

A player of this direct and effervescent profile could be the man to reignite the stuttering career of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Last campaign, the Englishman was restricted to just 17 domestic appearances due to persistent injury problems but has previously indicated that he has the devastating potential the lead the Everton line.

During the 2020/21 campaign, the frontman bagged 16 goals and formed a solid attacking partnership with Richarlison, who found the net on ten occasions.

This type of prolific link-up is what the Toffees have desperately lacked and Gnonto would be an ideal candidate to get Calvert-Lewin firing again.

Newcastle United could still sign a new centre-back from the "top shelf" this summer but are considering someone "a bit cheaper" as well, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Newcastle United transfer news – What's the latest on the search for a new centreback?

It has been a strong start to the summer for the world's richest football club, with the Magpies signing AC Milan's talismanic young midfielder Sandro Tonali for a cool £55m this week.

The deal is the Toon's first signing of the window and will see the Italian international play his football at St James Park until 2028.

As brilliant a signing Tonali is, Newcastle haven't had everything go their way in the window thus far, with long-term target James Maddison opting to join Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur instead.

The disappointment over that saga, however, hasn't seemed to impact the club's transfer ambitions, as they now look to shift focus and search for defensive reinforcements in the shape of a new centre-back.

One of the names that have been touted for a move up north is Crystal Palace captain and full England international Marc Guéhi.

According to Football Insider, Eddie Howe is 'keen' on a move for the 22-year-old defender; however, to have even a remote chance of landing the former Chelsea man, the Toon would have to fork out around £60m.

Whilst that is ultimately a drop in the ocean for the Magpies' generous benefactors, they still have to be cognizant of the implications on FFP and the Premier League's own rules around profit and loss, leading to some in the club to instead prefer a "cheaper option", per Dean Jones.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about Newcastle's search for a centre-back?

Jones was clear that whilst there is an option for the club to go and spend big on a new defender, that option is being counterbalanced by the desire to be sensible.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "There's still a chance they go and get one from the top shelf. That's tempered by the sensible option, which is to find someone a bit cheaper with big potential or an expiring contract, someone they can get good value from. So that's the scenario they're stuck in right now as they search for their centre-back".

Would Marc Guéhi be a good signing for Newcastle United?

While Howe managed to transform his team into the league's joint-best defensive side last season, a player of Guéhi's quality would undoubtedly propel the side further forward.

According to WhoScored, the "monster" centre-back achieved an average rating of 6.68 across his 37 Premier League appearances last season and maintained an impressive pass success rate of 85.5%.

It hasn't been a sudden rise for the youngster either, with football scout Jacek Kulig highlighting the 6 foot titan back in March of last year, describing him as "One of the best and most mature U-21 centre-backs in World football."

Considering he has played for a relatively limited team in Palace, his statistics still look impressive, with him putting in 1.2 interceptions, 1.4 tackles, and 3.6 clearances all per game via Sofascore.

With the young international passing the eye test with flying colours, possessing leadership qualities and showing a lot of promise for the future, Newcastle should certainly consider spending more to land Guéhi before someone else does.

Chelsea will stick with Kepa Arrizabalaga as their first-choice goalkeeping option, despite rumours linking them with other top goalkeepers, Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

What are Chelsea's current goalkeeping options?

Following Edouard Mendy's move to Saudi Arabia, Chelsea only have Kepa and Marcus Bettinelli as senior options, as well as young talent Gabriel Slonina, who was signed last year.

And there had been suggestions the Blues were open to selling both players this summer.

There have been links with the likes of Andre Onana and Mike Maignan as first choice options to replace Kepa, but it now seems that new manager Mauricio Pochettino will continue with the Spaniard as his number one.

The 28-year-old has received criticism at times during his Chelsea career, and even lost his place to Mendy under Thomas Tuchel before regaining it under Graham Potter.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Chelsea do not intend to sign a first-choice option, but do want a new backup to replace Mendy.

"Chelsea, at the moment, have a different idea. Chelsea are seriously considering to have Kepa as first goalkeeper, and to sign a second goalkeeper on the market to replace Edouard Mendy, who can create competition," he stated.

"For example, [Anatoliy] Trubin from Shakhtar is one of the goalkeepers they appreciate, also Inter are considering Trubin as one of the options, in case of course, Andre Onana leaves the club and so keep an eye on the solution, because Chelsea are looking for that kind of goalkeeper.

"A young, talented keeper, already experienced, but ready to create competition with Kepa, who's going to be the first goalkeeper."

Should Chelsea stick with Kepa?

Chelsea are set for another busy summer, and they are actively pursuing a midfielder in Moises Caicedo, whilst they've already brought in a striker.

Given how many changes they have made throughout the squad, having continuity at the back with Kepa may be a wise choice from Pochettino, rather than gambling on a new, and potentially expensive, first choice option.

If they are able to bring in an experienced second choice option, then the Spaniard continuing in goal at the start of the season makes sense for Chelsea. They will need to recover from last season, which saw them finish 12th.

Kepa did impress at times last season, making a number of outstanding saves, but whilst Chelsea's defence was fairly solid, they struggled going forward, scoring just 38 times in 38 league games.

A big goalkeeping investment is a lower priority than other positions, and therefore one Chelsea can afford to wait for.

Manchester United are ready to table an offer of €30m (£26m) for Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to reports from France.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

ESPN have recently given an overview of the midfielders Man United could consider if they are unsuccessful in their pursuit of Chelsea's Mason Mount, with Moises Caicedo, Mohammed Kudus and Taylor Booth all being named as potential options.

West Ham United captain Declan Rice remains a target, despite heavy interest from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City, and the Red Devils are currently considering whether to test the waters with an official bid.

With both Fred and Scott McTominay potentially on the move this summer, Erik ten Hag may be tasked with bringing in multiple new options in the engine room, and Baleba is now emerging as a target.

According to a report from La Voix des Sports (via Sport Witness), Man United are now ready to put €30m (£26m) on the table to sign the Lille midfielder, who has been attracting the interest of several Premier League clubs.

Ten Hag's side and Newcastle United are named as the "most insistent" clubs, meaning a transfer battle could soon be on the cards, although the report stipulates we might need to wait a few weeks before there is any movement.

Who is Carlos Baleba?

The 19-year-old has only just started to establish himself as a first-team regular for Lille, having now made a total of 21 appearances, however, it is clear to see why Paolo Fonseca has kept the faith with the youngster.

In Lille's final home game of the season, the Cameroonian performed very well in a deep-lying midfield role, receiving a 7.4 SofaScore rating after winning seven ground duels, the joint-highest figure of any player on the pitch.

Not only that, the starlet also has some very impressive attacking qualities, ranking in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, highlighting his remarkable dribbling ability.

Teammate Remy Cabella has hailed the up-and-coming Lille star as a "monster", while also adding that it is "very, very hard to stop him" due to his "incredible strength" on the ball.

If Baleba continues his current trajectory, he could go on to be a top player, so Man United could be pursuing a star in the making, however, he is still very young, and he may not immediately become a regular starter.

Everton are in need of new options in multiple positions this summer, none more so than out wide after failing to replace Anthony Gordon following his exit to Newcastle United midway through last season.

Most of those Sean Dyche does have to call upon in attack have shown they are not good enough for a team with ambitions of battling for a place in the top half of the Premier League, Demarai Gray among them.

The 26-year-old, on a reported £25,000k-a-week at Goodison Park, could be on his way out in the coming weeks, further heightening the need for an upgrade in that wide position.

According to one report, Everton are locked in talks to bring in Wilfried Gnonto from Leeds United – a player who, like Gray, is capable of playing in multiple positions across the front-line

Should Everton sign Leeds United attacker Wilfried Gnonto?

Gnonto is expected to be offered a direct route back to the Premier League following Leeds' relegation to the Championship, with Arsenal another team supposedly interested in the 19-year-old.

While Gnonto hardly ripped up the top flight last season with his two goals and four assists, it was generally considered that he deserved far more of a chance to show his worth, having started just 14 of United's 28 league games.

When the young "firework" – as described by pundit Noel Whelan – was given a run of starts around the turn of the year, the 11-cap Italy international scored four goals in the space of seven games, including an early strike in February's 2-2 draw at Manchester United.

Even when he was not on target, the £20k-per-week starlet earned praise for his performances, such as in the 2-1 loss to Aston Villa. Gary Neville, covering the game for Sky Sports, said at the time: "To see someone so mature, so young is very unusual in that position.

"Sometimes you see potential and talent but watching him so closely, his understanding of where to be, his choice of pass, when to run with it, his awareness of team-mates, really good honestly."

When breaking down Gnonto's bare figures, the Italian scored and assisted at a rate of 0.31 goals per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref, with that also taking in his handful of appearances for FC Zurich. Gray, by comparison, recorded a figure of 0.18.

The pair found the net from a similar number of shots – 0.06 for Gnonto and 0.04 for Gray – but the Leeds ace did come out on top for passes completed per 90 minutes (24.7 v 20.8) and goal-creating actions per 90 (0.47 v 0.18), with the latter taking factors such as passes and take-ons leading to goals into consideration.

Gnonto surprisingly won more aerial duels, too, 30.8% to Gray's 22.4%, despite measuring just 5 foot 7. That is not to mention his pace, recorded at 18.21mph by Speedsdb, which makes him a "very direct" option, as former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford put it.

Leeds will not let the youngster go on the cheap as they attempt to recoup some funds following their relegation, but he has all the hallmarks of a player who can be a fan favourite at Goodison Park for a number of years to come, as well as representing a possible upgrade on Gray.

An update has emerged on Manchester United and their plans to bolster their options in the middle of the park ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Nicolo Barella to Man United?

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Red Devils are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing Inter central midfielder Nicolo Barella in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that fellow Premier League sides Chelsea, Liverpool, and Newcastle United are keen on the Italy international and would be willing to double his current salary, which is reportedly around £152k-per-week.

It states that United and Mauricio Pochettino's team have both made contact with the Serie A outfit to sound out a potential deal for the talented ace, although no official offers have been made for his services as of yet.

Inter are said to be wanting a fee of at least €80m (£69m) but it remains to be seen how much the English giants are willing to pay for him.

Would Nicolo Barella be a good signing for Manchester United?

Barella could be an excellent addition to Erik ten Hag's squad next term as the 26-year-old maestro would be a big upgrade on current midfielder Fred.

The Inter magician is an attack-minded number eight who stacked up well against other players in his position in Europe's top five leagues last season.

Indeed, Opta Analyst Radar shows that the Italian excelled at getting forward to make things happen in the final third, particularly when it came to creating chances and scoring goals, which has earned him a strong comparison with impressive Barcelona starlet Pedri.

Barella, who reporter Mike Piellucci dubbed a "genius", averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.08 across 35 Serie A matches in 22/23 and contributed with six goals and six assists from the middle of the park, whilst he also won 55% of his individual duels.

Fred, on the other hand, averaged an unimpressive Sofascore rating of 6.78 across 35 Premier League games and chipped in with two goals and two assists.

This suggests that the Inter ace, who was described as "outstanding" by writer Jerry Mancini, is capable of being more consistent with the quality of his performances and has the quality on the ball to make a greater impact at the top end of the pitch to win points for his side.

The Brazil international also lost 52% of his physical contests for Manchester United, indicating that Barella would be a stronger option in midfield, which could add some real steel to the team in front of the back four. Just imagine the thought of hm beside Casemiro; it's a tantalising prospect.

Indeed, it's clear that Ten Hag could land a big upgrade on the current Red Devils midfielder by swooping for the Serie A talent this summer. He would undoubtedly offer far more in and out of possession.

A summer of transition is under way at Wolverhampton Wanderers, with as many as nine players set to find new clubs in the summer transfer window.

While some players will soon be forgotten, such as striker Diego Costa, it will take far more time and consideration to find a replacement for a player of Joao Moutinho's standing at Molineux.

The Portugal international's five-season stay with the Premier League side came to an end at the conclusion of last season, and it is looking likely he will reunite with former Wolves boss Nuno Santo at Saudi club Al Ittihad.

There are plenty of adequate options available to freshen up Wolves' midfield next season, with Bristol City's Alex Scott among them.

Scott has long been touted as an option for Julen Lopetegui, and CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs reports that Wolves – as well as Tottenham Hotspur – have been boosted in their pursuit as Liverpool are no longer in the running for the midfielder's signature.

What can Alex Scott bring to Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Despite still being aged just 19, Scott has already racked up 89 senior appearances for Bristol City, 81 of which have come in the Championship.

That includes 40 starts in the second tier last season when used in a number of midfield positions. Whether it is as a holder, out wide or just off the striker, Scott has the ability to mix it up.

The teenager is more of a defensive and creative-minded midfielder than someone who gets forward and scores himself, as reflected by his four assists last season and smaller tally of just one goal.

Indeed, the team-high ten yellow cards he received in the Championship last season gives a good indication of what Scott is all about.

That is not to say Scott is dirty – he is someone who was described as "an unbelievable player" by Pep Guardiola earlier this year, after all – but it comes as part of his job as someone in the side to intercept the ball.

Interestingly, Scott's 0.98 interceptions per 90 minutes in the Championship last season, as per FBref, is almost identical to that of Moutinho in the Premier League – 0.91 per 90 minutes.

The pair also committed fouls at a similar rate (1.33 for Scott compared to 1.57 for Moutinho), and likewise when it comes to percentage of challenges won (40.3 and 41.3 respectively).

With 0.19 and 0.15 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes for their respective sides last season, neither Scott nor Moutinho were selected for their goalscoring ability alone (the latter did not find the net all season), but they each bring other vital components that help make a team tick.

If it is a like-for-like replacement of sorts Lopetegui is after to soften the blow of Moutinho's departure, Scott – who will not come cheap at a reported £25m – may be just their man.

Liverpool are keen on Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and it will soon become clear whether there is a roadmap for the Reds to sign the Netherlands international this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Ryan Gravenberch?

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are keen on signing Gravenberch this summer and will attempt to try and prize him away from Bayern Munich as Jurgen Klopp eyes a squad rebuild.

The report states that Liverpool have been admirers of Gravenberch for a long period of time and the Reds believe that the prospect of offering the 21-year-old more playing time at Anfield may be enough to tempt him to move to Merseyside.

As per The Daily Mail, Liverpool have previously held discussions with Gravenberch's entourage over the possibility of acquiring Gravenberch; however, it is said that Bayern Munich are reluctant to lose his services in the off-season.

Capology understand that Gravenberch earns around €176,923 (£153,680) per week at the Allianz Arena and is contracted to his current employers until June 2027.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that we will soon find out whether Liverpool moving to bring Gravenberch to Anfield is a viable option this summer.

Jones said: “I’d say we should probably keep an eye on the Gravenberch situation because that’s the other one they’ve really wanted to know about. And I think there will be indications very soon on Gravenberch and whether Liverpool could even get involved in that conversation.”

Would Ryan Gravenberch be a good signing for Liverpool?

Despite finding it difficult to make an impact at Bayern Munich, Gravenberch is a talented midfielder who would add some extra composure in Liverpool's engine room.

In 2022/23, the 21-year-old made 33 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga champions, registering one goal and a solitary assist apiece, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Gravenberch is a reliable outlet in possession for Bayern Munich and managed to maintain a pass success rate of 89.3% in the German top-flight this season.

As per FBRef, Gravenberch has also excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in the art of shot-creating actions, having averaged around 4.01 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the seventh percentile for this metric.

Liverpool need to add midfield depth to compensate for the loss of trio Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gravenberch would add some fresh legs and an ability to exert control in the middle of the park.

Leeds United are a club that will enter the Championship as one of its biggest. Therefore, their pull will immediately outrank most others seeking to snag promotion, and players offered the choice between Elland Road or elsewhere in the division will almost always opt for the former.

This monopoly over transfer targets is particularly useful at a level like this, where they could realistically use their enhanced funds and stature to bankroll all the competition, at immense risk in case it fails.

As such, they will want to remain careful of their spending, or else face another 16-year absence from the Premier League. That is where Andrea Radrizzani will feel they belong, and given his desperation to sell the club goes on, their presence at that level would surely boost any income he is sure to receive too.

This all feeds into their expected first move of the window, which reported late last month that they were moving in to sign free agent Ryan Manning. The £9k-per-week titan has seen his contract at Swansea City conclude this summer, and the Yorkshire club again have that pull to convince him that they are the best option.

How good is Ryan Manning?

In securing this fine left back, at last they could fix their long-term issue which even Marcelo Bielsa failed to solve.

Whilst the Argentine suffered from numerous failures that led to his eventual sacking, not limited to his stubbornness to alter his philosophy and the injury crisis he suffered, it could be argued that a failure to sign a top left back was his biggest gaffe.

Swooping for Junior Firpo in 2021, it quickly became clear that he would not be at the requisite level for the English game. And yet, he persevered, much to the detriment of his team.

The 26-year-old could only muster a 6.60 average Sofascore rating in that debut term, even forcing centre-back Pascal Struijk to fill in instead of him. They would ship a ridiculous 79 goals that campaign too, with Bielsa's dismissal an inevitability.

In Manning, they would gain an immediate upgrade on the former Barcelona flop, as his 7.46 average Sofascore rating marks him out as one of the best assets in this division.

Offensively gifted but defensively solid, the 26-year-old would give them the boost they need to waltz through the Championship potentially at the first time of asking.

He averaged 2.5 key passes, two tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game last season, to supplement his five goals and mammoth ten assists, via Sofascore. Such form even led his boss Russell Martin to brand him as "outstanding".

With Radrizzani surely seeking an instant return to the Premier League, there are few better signings on the market than this Manning deal, given his imperious domination of the division they are set to enter.

It would also surely spell the end of a longstanding issue that started with Bielsa's stubbornness.

Glasgow Rangers have managed to significantly strengthen their midfield department since Michael Beale took charge in November.

Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell have both impressed, with Joshua Barrie lauding the former as “impressive” while Cantwell has registered 11 goal contributions already and they both have a bright future at the club. Kieran Dowell has also joined on a pre-contract agreement from Norwich City and there will surely be more incomings, especially across the attacking department.

With Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent departing, Beale is short of quality up top, and according to TEAMtalk, the Ibrox side have been linked with striker Anastasios Douvikas in order to add some much-needed firepower to the first team.

Celtic are also thought to be interested, yet Beale will be looking to find a way to scupper their hopes and secure a deal for the Greek frontman over the coming weeks.

Could Anastasios Douvikas replace Antonio Colak?

The Croatian striker arrived at the Ibrox side just last summer and has gone on to enjoy a fairly decent debut campaign, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, but he has started just five matches under Beale, and with The Scottish Sun claiming that the Gers could listen to offers for him in the summer, he might well be on his way out.

Douvikas has been on fire this term for FC Utrecht, scoring 20 goals in all competitions, with 18 of these coming in the Eredivisie as he currently tops the scoring charts.

Across his 31 league appearances this term, the 23-year-old has, along with his 18 goals, grabbed four assists, created seven big chances, succeeded with 0.8 dribbles per match and won 1.9 aerial duels per game – a success rate of 41% – indicating that not only can he score plenty, but he is also adept at creating chances for his teammates and offering a solid aerial threat.

These statistics are an upgrade on the numbers Colak has registered this term, as he has scored 13 goals, grabbed three assists, created three big chances and succeeded with just 0.3 dribbles per game while winning only 0.6 aerial duels per game.

Beale urgently requires some reinforcements during the summer window to bolster his attacking options ahead of a title challenge next season and with the FC Utrecht hitman shining in the Netherlands, his next destination could be Glasgow.