All posts by z3u9t.icu

Wolves need to bring in both a centre-back and a midfielder in the January transfer window, according to journalist Luke Hatfield.

The Lowdown: Heartbreak against Liverpool

Bruno Lage’s side suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool on Saturday, with Divock Origi pouncing at the death at Molineux.

The loss is no disaster in the grand scheme of things, however, with Wolves sitting eighth in the Premier League after the weekend action – their season will not be decided by fixtures against teams like Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Still , it may be that January reinforcements are needed if Wanderers are to mount a genuine European push, given the quality of the teams around them – West Ham for example were able to grab three points against title-chasing Chelsea on Saturday.

The Latest: Journalist backs double signing

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Hatfield says that should be the case next month, claiming there are two clear areas that need to be improved upon:

“They need a really dominant centre-half, would be ideal for them along with an energetic midfielder.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“375704”]

The Verdict: Ideal for squad depth

It makes complete sense for these areas to be focused on, with Wolves appearing to run out of the steam against Liverpool on Saturday.

In Max Kilman, Conor Coady and Romain Saiss, Lage has a strong to back-three to call upon but another option would allow him to rotate and give his key defenders the odd breather.

Someone like Lille’s Sven Botman would be ideal, having been linked with a move, with the 21-year-old’s average of 2.5 aerial duel wins per game in the league this season only bettered by Saiss (2.9).

In midfield, the likes of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho are arguably too similar, oozing technical class but not covering endless ground, so a more combative middle man could be a perfect foil for the pair – perhaps the endlessly linked Renato Sanches.

In other news, three Wolves players struggled in the defeat to Liverpool. Find out who they are here.

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their interest in signing Cardiff City defender Aden Flint in the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Football League World, the Black Cats are eyeing up a swoop for the centre-back as Lee Johnson looks to improve his squad at the Stadium of Light.

The report does not reveal whether they are looking into a loan or permanent switch for the giant enforcer, or whether or not Cardiff are willing to part ways with the 32-year-old.

Imagine him & Doyle

Johnson must ensure that he is able to get a deal over the line for Flint, as he could seal a dream partnership for Sunderland by starting him alongside youngster Callum Doyle at the back.

The Cardiff monster is as experienced as they come in the EFL and has been playing in the Championship for a number of seasons. He has racked up 242 appearances in the second tier, having played 112 times in League One prior to getting his chance higher up the leagues.

Last year, former Bluebirds boss Mick McCarthy heaped praise on the player, saying: “He has been great, hasn’t he? I always admired him and thought he was a top defender when he got his moves. I was kind of surprised that he had been out on loan. But I had a word with him, the first week I was in and he has been brilliant. I am amazed at his resilience, how he has come back, having been three months off with a hamstring. He has been brilliant.”

He has a career average WhoScored rating of 7.12, winning an impressive 5.7 aerial battles per game throughout his playing days. This suggests that McCarthy’s comments are accurate, as Flint has proven with his performances that he is a top defender at Championship and League One level.

By contrast, Doyle is at the other end of his career and still learning his trade as a defender. The 18-year-old has started 24 games for Sunderland this season and averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.79. This shows that the Manchester City loanee has had a strong start to life at senior level, and playing next to an experienced head in the form of Flint could further aid his development.

This means that they could be the perfect pairing, as Johnson would be mixing Flint’s experience and guile with Doyle’s youthfulness and ability on the ball. They could complement each other well and the latter could benefit greatly from having such an established EFL player alongside him in the second half of the campaign.

AND in other news, Sunderland plotting swoop for 72-goal machine who’s a “real threat”, Johnson would love him…

Manchester United have been hit with a serious hammer blow in their pursuit of the UEFA Europa League this season with the potential formation of The Super League.

News broke on Sunday evening that the Red Devils had become one of the six Premier League teams to become founding members of the new competition – a prospect that has earned considerable backlash.

Supporters, and in fact governing bodies, have been staunch in their criticism of The Super League, with sanctions such as a ban from all European competition and domestic tournaments being mooted by Fabrizio Romano.

Furthermore, United have stood down from the European Club Association (ECA), which likely means that they cannot compete in UEFA competitions.

That consequence would simply be disastrous for the Red Devils and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they may not be able to compete in the competition that they find themselves in the semi-finals of.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-man-united-transfer-rumours-and-news-from-old-trafford-lingard-de-gea-pogba-bailly-johnstone” title=”The latest Man United transfer rumours and news from Old Trafford…”]

Solskjaer’s troops are currently in the race to finish in the top-four in the Premier League, whilst they have also managed to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League.

With the Norwegian having not yet lifted a trophy in his time at Old Trafford yet, the opportunity in which to do that has seemingly been cruelly snatched away.

So with United’s co-chairman Joel Glazer set to be appointed vice-chairman of the apparent Super League, he has seemingly done more damage to his club than good.

AND in more news, take a look Mason Greenwood’s exhilarating performance against Burnley this weekend…

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch could look to bring Manchester United assistant Chris Armas to Elland Road this summer, according to Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Armas profiled

The 49-year-old worked under Marsch at New York Red Bulls, serving as his assistant for 151 games.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-42/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Armas, labelled as a ‘winner’ with ‘infectious positivity’, has since gone on to manage Toronto and has been at Old Trafford under Ralf Rangnick since December.

His services in Manchester may no longer be needed after Erik ten Hag was announced as Manchester United’s new manager, and it looks as if Marsch could take full advantage ahead of his first full season in charge.

The Latest: Hay’s claim

Hay shared a story on The Athletic on Saturday morning, looking at Leeds’ U23s following a record PL2 attendance at Elland Road on Friday night.

Within his report, he claimed that Marsch looks set to make further alterations to his backroom staff this summer, revealing Armas is under consideration for a permanent post.

The Verdict: Makes sense

The pair know each other well following their time back in the USA and Marsch is clearly a fan of Armas, so a reunion in Yorkshire appears to be a shrewd move.

Marsch has already brought Franz Schiemer and Cameron Toshack to Thorp Arch, while Mark Jackson has been promoted from the U23s, so Amas could be the missing piece in the backroom staff jigsaw.

Hopefully, Leeds will be preparing for a first full season under the American as a Premier League side, which could persuade Armas to remain in England.

In other news: Phil Hay: Marsch now eyeing Leeds move for ‘quality’ rising star alongside Aaronson. 

Since Victor Orta joined Leeds United he has got the vast majority of his recruitment spot on.

Under Marcelo Bielsa, you need a very particular type of player, someone who’s willing to work hard and press from the front. They have to withstand his meticulous training ideas and his intense murder ball sessions.

Fail that, and you’ll be out the door quicker than you can say Thorp Arch. Jean-Kevin Augustin found that out the hard way.

Signed on loan from RB Leipzig in January 2020, he played just 48 minutes before departing Yorkshire with not even much of a farewell.

However, as Orta will tell you himself, there are plenty in this Leeds squad that appear to be tailor-made in a lab for Bielsa. One of them has been Patrick Bamford.

The striker has attracted his fair share of criticism during his time at Elland Road but this term he’s been a revelation, scoring 13 Premier League goals. To emphasise that achievement, Bamford had netted just once at this level before promotion last year.

One of the players who helped him get to such a promising level at Leeds was Kemar Roofe. The duo played in tandem during the 2018/19 campaign and brought the best out of each other.

Bamford was the player to make things stick up top, acting as a support act for other players. Roofe, meanwhile, was the striker who’d get in behind and stretch the defence.

Indeed, since he departed for Anderlecht in the summer of 2019, Leeds haven’t really had a player capable of doing the same. They tried to replace him with Eddie Nketiah but he never got a chance to prove himself, being recalled to Arsenal after half a season.

Leeds have been a breath of fresh air to the top-flight this term but you can’t help but think they need just a little more pizzazz in the final third. One man who could give them that is Ivan Toney.

The Brentford sensation was linked with a move to the Whites last week and if he arrives, he could replicate what Roofe gave so willingly to Bielsa’s side.

Speaking about the former Leeds man in February 2019, Eddie Gray typified the Rangers’ striker’s qualities expertly. This came after the forward suffered a cruel injury: “It’s a blow for a number of reasons (the injury), goalscoring obviously. He’s lead the line well, but he’s got that little bit of pace. It is something we [Leeds] have not got in abundance. Real pace. I’m talking about, like Norwich pace.”

Indeed, Leeds still lack a bit of speed. Raphinha has added to that but despite their free-flowing capabilities, few in the squad can blow a defender away.

Toney could do that, however. He has had a breathtaking season in the Championship, scoring a haul of 26 goals in 34 outings.

He has pace, and pivotally for Bielsa, can defend from the front. Peterborough owner Barry Fry said before he left for the Bees: “He’s turned into a tremendous all-round footballer. It’s important to remember Ivan is not just an exceptional goal-scoring forward, he’s also an outstanding defender.”

Indeed, those sentiments have also been delivered by Brentford boss Thomas Frank: “Ivan is a special, special player,” he began.

“He showed top positioning in the box, which is what we work with him on, but also he read cleverly (where to go) off the shoulder of the second central defender and showed perfect timing to get in front of him – and then a one-touch, perfect finish, just fantastic,” Frank added.

Playing off the shoulder and picking up little pockets of space is incredibly similar to Roofe. Put Toney’s clinical goal-scoring ability into the equation and you have a far more fearsome proposition.

Frank concluded: “But it is also his work ethic which is so important. Defending from the number nine backwards is key for me and there is so much more about him that he brings to the squad.”

With that in mind, the 24-year-old feels like the perfect man for Bielsa. If they can steal a march on other suitors for Toney’s signature, he would be a first-class signing.

AND in other news, Leeds have their perfect Pablo heir in rarely-seen 19 y/o, he’s a “great talent”…

Southampton have been heavily linked with Manchester United full-back Brandon Williams ahead of the summer transfer window and his signing would surely lead to Yan Valery’s time working under Ralph Hasenhuttl coming to an end.

Hampshire Live have suggested that Southampton and Norwich City will battle it out to sign the 21-year-old this summer as Hasenhuttl looks to add to his full-back options at St Mary’s.

The Saints were very interested in signing the United academy graduate in January but a deal fell through after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decided he wanted to keep him at Old Trafford. However, a move away could be on the cards this summer, as he is third-choice behind Luke Shaw and Alex Telles and managed just four Premier League appearances last season.

Described by Gary Lineker as an “exciting” talent, he could be an ideal option for the Austrian manager this summer, as he is desperately short of full-backs in his squad ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, and Williams has featured as both a left-back and a right-back during his time with the Red Devils.

Whilst Romain Perraud looks set to arrive as Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand replacement at left-back, Williams would still be a smart signing as he could provide cover for the Frenchman on the left and Kyle Walker-Peters on the right.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-southampton-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Read the latest Southampton transfer rumours and news!”]

This would leave little room for Valery in Southampton’s squad, with the young Frenchman a player who has been touted for a permanent exit this summer after failing to impress Hasenhuttl during his time at the club.

Despite a lack of cover at right-back this season, the Austrian manager decided to send Valery out on loan to Birmingham City in the Championship, where he would manage just seven appearances despite the Blues’ struggles in the lower half of the table. That certainly doesn’t bode well for his future at Southampton.

Once a regular under Mark Hughes, the 22-year-old has failed to push on at Southampton following a promising start, with the Athletic journalist Dan Sheldon describing him as the “weak link” in Hasenhuttl’s side last season.

Therefore, if Williams does arrive from Manchester United this summer, he will likely be back-up to Walker-Peters at right-back, which could allow Hasenhuttl to get rid of Valery for good.

And, in other news… Southampton can repeat Armstrong masterclass with swoop for “outstanding” beast

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa could land a bargain transfer in West Brom’s Matheus Pereira amid Carlton Palmer’s fresh transfer claim.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days and weeks have suggested that the Whites are interested in signing the Brazilian this summer, and it’s even been claimed that he could be available for as little as £15m.

And, speaking exclusively to This is Futbol (via MSN) about Leeds’ reported interest in Pereira and the reported price tag on his head, Palmer said: “I think it’s a good price and he’s a good player. The problem West Brom are going to have is the wage bill going down and players of his calibre wanting to play in the Premier League.”

Gets fouled more than Raphinha

Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan has already talked up the prospect of Pereira joining Raphinha at Elland Road, saying: “It is a mouth-watering prospect. We missed out on certain players last season, and this is a player that excites everybody. I would definitely take him all day long.

“He’s a fantastic player, he’s great on the ball, he can turn people inside out. Pereira’s another option we can use right across that front three and maybe in a number 10 role as well. He’s the right age and he’s the sort of player we should be looking at. Imagine, if you put him alongside Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison etc, that’s pretty formidable.”

In fact, Pereira’s average of two shots and 1.8 key passes per game in the Premier League last season was only a touch lower than Raphinha (2.2 and 2.1), while he was actually fouled significantly more times than his Brazilian counterpart (1.6 to one).

And, after a particularly fine performance earlier this year in the Premier League against Aston Villa, former England ace Jermain Jenas said of the 5 foot 9 maestro: “He’s just silky. When he’s on it, he’s just got that lovely left-foot, (tucked) his penalty away, the delivery into the box for set-pieces was brilliant, and he wanted to showcase his skills.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/leeds-united-marcelo-bielsa-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-elland-road-rodrigo-de-paul” title=”Read the latest Leeds transfer rumours and news!”]

Given the very reasonable price that he is supposedly available for, Bielsa should be all over a move for Pereira this summer. It could be a “mouth-watering” signing as Whelan says.

Meanwhile, Leeds have been handed an exciting boost…

Writing on Twitter, reliable football.london correspondent Alasdair Gold has revealed the 10 most likely Tottenham Hotspur exits this summer – which includes in-form winger Lucas Moura for the right offer.

As also shared by the Daily Express in relaying Gold’s report, the list of likely Lilywhites for the chopping block is extensive, with chairman Daniel Levy needing to raise transfer window funds through sales.

Alasdair Gold drops Tottenham summer exit claim

Writing on Twitter and sharing his football.london piece, the journalist explained: “Ten players who I believe could leave Tottenham this summer to raise much-needed transfer funds. There are some names on this list that will upset people and of course all 10 will not leave. It’s more about what offers end up coming in to Spurs.”

Amid the financial climate, Gold says that Tottenham could be set for some tough summer decisions in regards to player exits.

While he is adamant that not all 10 will move on, Gold explains that Tottenham departures can be expected from within a list including Dele Alli, Harry Winks, Danny Rose, a centre-back, Serge Aurier, Moussa Sissoko, Erik Lamela, Juan Foyth, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Moura.

Transfer Tavern take

The latter is a particularly surprising addition, especially given his recent form which has seem him accrue four goal involvements in his last six league matches, but Gold believes that a sizeable offer could tempt Levy and co into a summer sale.

At the age of 29, Moura’s transfer value will only decrease over the years, with the journalist understanding that Tottenham have already turned down bids in the past.

Also, the lack of consistency in his end product would make an attractive outside bid very tempting.

In other news: Tottenham have been watching this potential Vertonghen heir, find out more here.

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has told The Transfer Tavern in an exclusive interview that he would not be surprised if Anwar El Ghazi ditched his old club for AS Roma this summer.

Roma, of course, recently announced that Jose Mourinho will be taking over ahead of the 2021/22 season, and it appears he could return to England to strengthen his squad before the new campaign kicks off.

According to Gazetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the Portuguese coach is looking to bolster his attack and El Ghazi is one name that could be considered.

The 26-year-old has been one of Villa’s form players of late, scoring goals in recent games against Everton and West Brom.

Speaking exclusively to TT about the speculation surrounding El Ghazi’s future, Hendrie said:

“I think he’d probably suit the more foreign game, you know, the Italian style of football. I’m not sure how concrete that is, that Mourinho’s certainly interested in him.

“It wouldn’t surprise me. Like I said, I feel that he would fit the bill playing in a more relaxed style of football because he’s fast and he’s very direct.”

Mourinho will obviously know the English market well and you would assume that he will not get the kind of transfer budget he was receiving during his days at Chelsea and Manchester United – two of the richest clubs in world football.

Bearing that in mind, perhaps the ex-Tottenham boss could turn to a player like El Ghazi this summer if he does indeed decide he wants to improve the Giallorossi’s forward line.

West Ham United are reportedly interested in making a move for Monaco defender Guillermo Maripan, as their search for defensive reinforcements continues.

Enjoying a productive 2020/21 campaign, the Chile international registered six goal contributions in 31 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit; five goals and one assist [Transfermarkt].

Now, he could be set to move to England owing to recent reports.

West Ham United are said to be considering a move for the 27-year-old, who Manuel Pellegrini attempted to sign during his tenure in London [Mirror via Hammers News].

He could be available for around £17.5million, after his current employers exited the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk.

In light of this news, no wonder loads of West Ham United diehards took to social media to comment on the latest developments, with the fan base desperate for a new centre-back addition before they embark on a gruelling campaign in Europa League football.

West Ham United FC fans react:

Replying to West Ham Central on Twitter, here is what some fans had to say about the news:

“We took about 6 months to decide between Zouma, Milenkovic and Caleta Car No chance they sign Maripan so quickly without identifying him as a target 37 times first”

Credit: @_a7un

“It’s the mirror spinning a target we have been linked with in the pellegrini era. Not looking into this at all.”

Credit: @HammerFromDevon”Weren’t we linked with him like 3/4 seasons ago?”Credit: @brad_hass4″oh no not him again”Credit: @danielluker10″Surely not ?”Credit: @LewisDowling7″Caught my eye the other night against Shaktar, made some good challenges and was extremely vocal”Credit: @IukesteggIesIn other news, West Ham United fans react to a Declan Rice update. Find out more here.