All posts by z3u9t.icu

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has suggested that his club are considering dipping into the January transfer market, as reported by Goal.

It comes following news that the club will be without arguably their two best players – Harry Kane and Dele Alli – until March.

Fernando Llorente has stepped into the centre-forward role in recent matches and although the Spaniard scored against Chelsea in the EFL Cup on Thursday night, there remain question marks over his suitability for the role.

Whether Tottenham are able to secure the type of player that they want for the right price remains to be seen.

However, Pochettino has hinted that his team could make a signing before the window closes, despite the fact that Son Hueng-min will be back with the club sooner than expected.

The Tottenham fans have been reacting to Pochettino’s words on social media and it would be fair to say that not many are particularly confident.

Club chairman Daniel Levy is known to drive a hard bargain and it is always difficult to sign players of the required quality during the January transfer window.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Playmaker FC Exclusive: “Wolves absolutely spanked you” – Jermaine Jenas gives damning verdict of Arsenal’s season. Check out the video below…

Manchester United’s new manager Ralf Rangnick is tempted to move for RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara in the upcoming January transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to SPORTbible (who cite The Mirror), the 63-year-old tactician could sanction a deal for the box-to-box dynamo after previously signing him from Red Bull Salzburg for Leipzig back in January 2019.

Haidara’s current contract with the Bundesliga giants is believed to contain a £33m release clause, meaning a move to Old Trafford over the coming months could be relatively straightforward.

Man Utd can get rocking again

Securing the Mali international’s services during the winter window could get United rocking again, rescuing their stuttering season in the process.

The highly-rated 23-year-old has become a crucial cog in Leipzig’s setup over the last two years, scoring ten goals and providing six assists in 100 appearances for Jesse Marsch’s charges.

However, it’s the holding midfielder’s defensive work that really catches the eye.

As per FBref.com, Haidara has averaged 0.96 tackles won per 90 this term, 6.56 successful pressures and 2.26 blocks, outperforming Scott McTominay in each metric.

After bringing the midfield gem to the Red Bull Arena from sister club Salzburg, Rangnick made no effort to hide his pleasure at Haidara’s arrival, lauding the engine room operator’s quality.

“We’re delighted to have signed Amadou,” he told the club’s official website upon his unveiling (as relayed by Bundesliga.com).

“We’ve been following his progress in Salzburg, as he’s developed into an absolutely exceptional player there. There aren’t many players his age with so much potential. He has all the requirements to follow in Naby Keita’s footsteps.”

With Rangnick’s famous gegenpressing style requiring a set of players with a very specific set of physical and mental attributes, the temptation to bring in a player already familiar with what is required is obvious for the German coach.

United’s lack of a natural defensive midfielder has long been discussed amongst pundits, fans and journalists alike, and Haidara could be the ideal solution.

It remains to be seen whether United’s new boss will be backed with significant sums in order to improve his first-team squad over January, but if he is, then the versatile gem may well be top of his wishlist.

And, in other news…Rangnick can become instant hit at Man Utd by signing “complete” £45m-rated “machine” 

West Ham United maintained their Champions League push over the weekend, defeating European champions Chelsea 3-2 in an enthralling encounter at the London Stadium.

However, the three points may have come at a considerable price for David Moyes’ side, with Kurt Zouma and Ben Johnson joining the ever-growing injury list ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.

And while the experience Vladimir Coufal can comfortably deputise at right-back in Johnson’s absence, Zouma’s potential spell on the sidelines could cause a whole host of issues.

That’s because first-choice centre-back Angelo Ogbonna has already been ruled out of action for the remainder of the season after picking up an ACL problem against Liverpool.

As a result, it’s likely that Issa Diop will be awarded a run of games over the coming weeks, providing him with the perfect opportunity to revive his career and finally fulfil his top-class potential.

The 24-year-old arrived on English shores with an enviable reputation back in July 2018 and impressed throughout his maiden campaign, making 33 starts in the Premier League.

Diop’s eye-catching displays saw former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho label him a “monster” just months into his West Ham career, yet he has struggled to replicate that sort of form ever since.

Since the beginning of 2020/21, the £13.5m-rated gem has started just 19 top-flight fixtures for the east London outfit as he’s slipped down Moyes’ pecking order.

But Diop has shown signs of encouragement and improvement in recent months. Following an outstanding performance against Leicester City in the final weeks of last term, pundit Trevor Sinclair praised the Frenchman’s showing.

He tweeted: “Delighted to watch Issa turned a corner today @IssaDiop97. Well done young man,” highlighting his much-improved display.

And the youngster also put in an encouraging 90 minutes on his first Premier League outing of 2021/22 on Saturday, making two blocks, one clearance and one tackle, while winning two duels and securing a passing accuracy of 94%.

Therefore, the next few weeks could prove pivotal in Diop’s West Ham career, with Ogbonna and Zouma’s absence handing him the ideal opportunity to get back on track.

And, in other news…“They do like him”: Journo drops exciting West Ham transfer update, fans surely elated

West Ham United have been handed a huge boost concerning Ben Johnson and Kurt Zouma.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by Football.London, David Moyes revealed that he withdrew Johnson at half-time in the Hammers’ 3-2 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday as the defender was on a booking rather than because of an injury, while the 58-year-old also suggested that Zouma could be ahead of schedule in his recovery from a hamstring tendon injury.

Speaking about Johnson, Moyes said: “I would have liked to have used another sub as I took Ben off because he was booked.”

Regarding Zouma and the club’s efforts to sign a new centre-back in the January transfer window, the West Ham manager added: “A defender is in our priorities but if we get Kurt back that might alter it.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering how important both Johnson and Zouma have been for West Ham this season, the news that the 21-year-old did not suffer an injury against Palace, in addition to the suggestion that Zouma could be back in first-team action before January is up, will undoubtedly have left the London Stadium faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 11 Premier League appearances in the current campaign – the most recent of which have come at left-back as a result of Aaron Cresswell’s injury – the £2.7m-rated Johnson has helped his side keep two clean sheets and scored one goal, as well as making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 2.2 tackles, 2.6 clearances and winning 54% of his duels per game.

These returns have seen the England U21 international average an impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.00, ranking him as Moyes’ fifth-best performer in the top flight of English football.

Meanwhile, over Zouma’s own 11 league outings this term, the £28.8m-rated centre-back has also helped the Irons keep two clean sheets and has scored one goal, as well as making an average of 1.2 interceptions, 0.6 tackles, 5.2 clearances and winning 60% of his duels per match.

These returns have seen the £120k-per-week defender average a SofaScore match rating of 6.91, ranking him as the Hammers’ joint ninth-best player in the division.

As such, it is clear to see that both players are incredibly important to both Moyes and West Ham, meaning that the 58-year-old’s latest update is sure to have left fans of the club buzzing.

In other news: Big transfer twist emerges on “invaluable” 22 y/o that’ll leave West Ham fans outraged

Wolves manager Bruno Lage has revealed the latest on injured defender Willy Boly’s status, with the Ivory Coast international having made just one appearance under the Portuguese this season.

What’s the latest?

Boly endured an injury-stricken 2021, playing just 11 games in all competitions across the calendar year and is yet to appear in the Premier League this season, having made just one appearance in the EFL Cup.

The 30-year-old most recently made the squad for Wolves’ 1-0 win at Brighton in mid-December, although another setback has ruled the defender out of action for the Golden Boys as well as for his native Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations.

Speaking to the media about Boly’s situation, Lage said: “He has some muscular problems and sometimes doesn’t feel comfortable with it. That’s why sometimes he is ready to play, then he starts training and feels a little pain.

“It’s important when you are in that position you feel ready and confident.

“This situation is not good for Boly, it’s not good for me and it’s not good for the club,” the 45-year-old added. “Every time he comes, he goes. He needs time to work, to prepare himself, because he was important in the past and can help the team to be better.

“He has a contract with us, and he’s a top player, and he stayed with us instead of going to the national team – it means something. He preferred to stay with us and recover. This is a good signal.”

Wolves fans will be gutted

The Ivorian is certainly a popular figure amongst the Molineux faithful, having played a major part in getting the West Midlands club back to the Premier League in the 2017/18 campaign, in which he made 36 Championship appearances.

Moreover, the 30-year-old was vital in Wolves’ first campaign back in the top-flight as he missed just two of their 38 league matches.

However, it now appears as though there is little room for the centre-back in the starting line up, that is with everyone available.

The regular trio of Conor Coady, Max Kilman and Romain Saiss has been a revelation this campaign, with Wolves the Premier League’s second-best defenders behind league leaders Manchester City, having conceded just 15 goals in 20 matches.

Boly will have to find a solution to his reoccurring issues, if not, it may prove to be the end of his tenure in the West Midlands. Considering his popularity among the fanbase, this is an eventuality that would leave the Molineux faithful gutted.

In other news – £33k-p/w Wolves gem, who created two big chances, stars in victory over Southampton

Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane believes his career at the club ‘is over’ and is looking at his next move, as per journalist Nathan Hemmingham.

The Lowdown: Hourihane’s 2021

The Irishman, who was called ‘excellent’ by Steve Cooper earlier this year, has spent the majority of 2021 out on loan.

Hourihane joined Cooper’s Swansea City side in the January transfer window and almost helped them earn promotion to the Premier League, making 22 league appearances in south Wales as they reached the Championship play-off final.

The 30-year-old returned to the Midlands over the summer and made one appearance in the Carabao Cup before joining Sheffield United on a temporary basis. He has lined out 11 times for the Blades so far, with his Villa contract expiring in the summer of 2022.

The Latest: Villa Park career over

Yorkshire Live reporter Hemmingham posted a link to an interview with Hourihane on Twitter on Friday afternoon, with the midfielder apparently believing that his Villa Park career ‘is over’.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder now thought to be eyeing a permanent move to Bramall Lane, with Paul Heckingbottom now the man in charge.

The journalist tweeted: “Conor Hourihane says he has resigned himself to the fact his Villa career is over and is now playing for his future elsewhere, having worked with PH before, he would love to earn a permanent deal here next season”.

The Verdict: All good things must come to an end…

Hourihane has been a terrific servant to Villa after joining from Barnsley back in 2017, making 151 appearances in claret and blue. However, a permanent exit is now inevitable with his contract up at the end of the season and his limited Villa game-time since they returned to the Premier League

The midfielder made 46 appearances in Villa’s promotion-winning campaign of 2018/19, and while he has probably played for the club for the last time, his contribution in getting them back into the top flight should not be forgotten. Alas, all good things must come to an end.

In other news: Gerrard offered ‘aggressive’ versatile beast in Jan; Villa yet to dismiss idea. 

Everton could head into the winter transfer market head-on, with Rafa Benitez hoping to spend the club’s money more wisely going forward.

Sporting director, Marcel Brands, will have a job on his hands to make the right moves this January as Everton are currently falling behind in the race for European football spots in the Premier League.

Rafa Benitez’s side are sitting 11th in the league, with just four wins in their Premier League challenge so far, the Spanish manager will be looking to improve his side and climb up the table to achieve European football in the season ahead.

There has been one particular Premier League loan signing that has caught the attention of everyone over the season so far and has now captured the attention of England manager, Gareth Southgate, too.

Conor Gallagher has been tearing it up at Crystal Palace with the midfielder showing impressive attacking capabilities with four goals and two assists in 11 appearances for the South London club, with the performances earning him his first England call up.

The 20-year-old has been called up to the England side due to a number of players dropping out of the last World Cup Qualifying fixture of the international break against San Marino, and will be hoping to make his mark on the team to impress Southgate ahead of the World Cup 2022.

Everton were previously linked with the youngster, when they were encouraged to scout the £13.5m-rated midfielder, after Blues officials watched him over ten times between 2018 and 2020, but never made an official move.

The Chelsea loanee, should they reignite their interest, would be an incredible addition to Everton and would become a long term solution to short term problems that the Toffees have been experiencing with inconsistency in their midfield after Abdoulaye Doucoure’s injury.

For starters, he’d give them more of an all-around presence in the middle of the park, both from an offensive and defensive point of view when you consider the numbers he’s contributed this term.

Crystal Palace podcaster, HLTCO, took to his Twitter account to praise the “transformative force” of Gallagher upon his England selection;

“Conor Gallagher has been a truly transformative force in the Palace midfield since joining the club. I’m over the moon for him, it’s a richly deserved call-up for one of the most energetic footballers I’ve ever had the joy of watching.”

Brands and Benitez will have a challenge on their hands to secure the signature of the 20-year-old central midfielder, as he continues to thrive at Crystal Palace, and draw attention from many title-challenging Premier League clubs, including his parent club, Chelsea.

That said, if he finds himself with no future at Stamford Bridge, the top brass at Goodison must ensure he becomes their player. They can’t afford to let all of that scouting go down the drain.

And in other news, Rafa could revive Everton’s season by unleashing £40.5m-rated “nightmare”…

Newcastle United have been offered the chance to take Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti on loan on favourable terms, according to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder. 

The lowdown

Newcastle are trying to secure the signings of two centre-backs in the form of Lille’s Sven Botman and Sevilla’s Diego Carlos, but the 28-year-old could perhaps be an alternative option.

The Frenchman joined Barcelona from Lyon ahead of the 2016/17 season and made 25 league appearances in each of his first two campaigns (via WhoScored), but that dropped to 14 in 2018/19 and 13 in both of the subsequent two seasons. This year, he has featured just once in La Liga.

A succession of injuries, including a series of knee problems, has played a significant part in his limited involvement.

The latest

Posting a link to his piece in The Chronicle via his Twitter feed, Ryder stated: “Magpies offered cash incentive to take Barcelona star”

Barcelona have made it clear that they are willing to pay a portion of the defender’s £16m-a-year wages, something which Ryder claimed ‘could appeal to Newcastle should they go ahead with the deal’.

The verdict

Umtiti boasts a pretty enviable CV. He has won 10 major trophies at senior level, most notably the 2018 World Cup and two La Liga titles.

On an individual level, he featured in the FIFPro World XI second team in 2018, which indicates that he was deemed one of the four best centre-backs on the planet that year. Former Batcelona team-mate Lionel Messi has also spoken highly of him off the pitch, describing him an ‘excellent person’.

However, it’s simply too big a risk for relegation-threatened Newcastle to bank on a massively reimbursed player who’s been hit so hard by injuries and played so little football of late.

In other news, Nick Hammond is also interested in this potential signing

Rangers are plotting a key deal to ensure Alex Lowry’s future under Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Ibrox beyond 2023.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, a Gers source has revealed that the club have made the talented youngster a new contract offer worth £5k-per-week.

The report claims that he is set to meet with van Bronckhorst and club officials to discuss a deal this week, with Rangers hoping to pin him down to fresh terms until 2025.

His current contract expires in the summer of 2023 and the Light Blues are keen to avoid losing him for nothing at the end of next season. He is said to be attracting interest from unnamed clubs from England, and the Gers are hoping to ward off those advances with a new deal for the midfielder.

Van Bronckhorst will be elated

This update will surely leave Van Bronckhorst elated, as Rangers are pressing ahead with their attempts to keep Lowry at Ibrox. They are not waiting until bids have already come in for him to start trying to retain his services, which means that they are being proactive in their approach.

The Dutch head coach will be desperate to keep hold of the teenager heading into the 2022/23 campaign and beyond, as he is a talented young player with high potential.

At the age of 18, Lowry has already been exposed to first-team football at Ibrox. He made his Premiership debut earlier this season and scored his first senior goal for the club against Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup, which shows that he has the talent to make an impact outside of the youth team.

Last month, journalist Josh Bunting lavished him with praise, tweeting: “Alex Lowry is just a fabulous footballer, on this pitch the way he’s dribbling on it indicates he has so much quality, so good on the ball and has a wonderful sense of balance, really good at driving at the opposition defence he creates plenty of problems with his movement.”

This shows that the 18-year-old has been catching the eye throughout the campaign. He still has the majority of his career ahead of him to continue developing and Rangers cannot afford to lose him at the end of his current contract as they would not be able to benefit from his full potential.

Therefore, Van Bronckhorst will be elated with the efforts to keep Lowry at Ibrox and will be hoping that the Scotland youth international is willing to commit his future to the club.

AND in other news, Insider drops worrying behind-the-scenes Ibrox claim, it’s very bad news for Rangers…

Tottenham have held talks with a Championship club over an early exit agreement for striker Kion Etete, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Etete’s 2021/22

Etete, who made the move to north London from Notts County back in 2019, is currently on loan at League One side Cheltenham Town.

Labelled as ‘excellent’ by Harry Kewell, the 20-year-old has contributed to five goals in nine games.

Etete spent the first half of the current campaign with League Two side Northampton Town, where he netted six times, and it looks as if his natural progression will continue in the Championship next season.

The Latest: Source shares talks

Football Insider, who were informed by a Spurs source, shared a story on Etete on Thursday afternoon.

They revealed that Tottenham are lining up another loan move for the forward in the summer and have already held talks with a Championship side ahead of a possible early agreement.

The Verdict: Makes sense…

Etete appears to be making fine progress in the Football League, so a move to the second tier could well be the correct choice.

What matters most, though, is that Etete, who shares the same agent as Ryan Sessegnon, is playing regularly, as he has been this term.

Spurs have reportedly been left furious at Charlton Athletic’s handling of young midfielder Nile John, so if regular minutes can be guaranteed in the Championship for Etete, an early agreement could be a shrewd move.

In other news: Spurs now planning move for ‘brilliant’ player who left Pirlo amazed; valued at just £13.5m.